An engine includes a housing defining an annular bore and a piston assembly disposed within the annular bore. The engine also includes a rotary valve comprising a circular faceplate and a wall structure disposed at an outer periphery of the faceplate, a portion of the at least one rotary valve disposed within the annular bore, and a rotary drive mechanism connected to the rotary valve and configured to rotate the rotary valve between a first position to align an opening of the wall structure with the annular bore to allow the piston of the piston assembly to travel within the annular bore from a first location relative to the rotary valve to a second location relative to the rotary valve and a second position to define a chamber relative to the piston of the piston assembly at the second location.

An engine includes a housing defining an annular bore and a piston assembly disposed within the annular bore. The engine also includes a rotary valve comprising a circular faceplate and a wall structure disposed at an outer periphery of the faceplate, a portion of the at least one rotary valve disposed within the annular bore, and a rotary drive mechanism connected to the rotary valve and configured to rotate the rotary valve between a first position to align an opening of the wall structure with the annular bore to allow the piston of the piston assembly to travel within the annular bore from a first location relative to the rotary valve to a second location relative to the rotary valve and a second position to define a chamber relative to the piston of the piston assembly at the second location.

Provided herein is a rotary steam motor comprising an inlet assembly, a rotor assembly, and an exhaust assembly. The inlet assembly includes an inlet port and an inlet housing, the inlet port being configured to allow steam to enter the inlet housing. The rotor assembly includes a rotor having a plurality of vane slots, a support shaft, and a plurality of vanes, wherein the support shaft is configured to rotate with the rotor, and each vane is configured to slidably engage within a respective vane slot. The exhaust assembly includes an exhaust port and an exhaust housing, the exhaust port being configured to allow steam to exit the exhaust housing. The rotary steam engine further comprises a variable duration throttle assembly, wherein the variable duration throttle assembly is configured to regulate the flow of steam into the rotor assembly from the inlet assembly.

An engine includes a housing defining an annular bore and a piston assembly disposed within the annular bore. The engine includes a rotary valve comprising a loop-shaped wall structure defining an opening substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the loop-shaped wall structure. A portion of the rotary valve is disposed within the annular bore such that the axis of rotation of the loop-shaped wall structure is substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the piston assembly. The engine includes a rotary drive mechanism connected to the rotary valve and configured to rotate the rotary valve between a first position to align the opening of the loop-shaped wall structure with the annular bore to allow a piston of the piston assembly to travel within the annular bore and a second position to define a combustion chamber relative to the piston of the piston assembly at the second location.

An engine includes a housing defining an annular bore and a piston assembly disposed within the annular bore. The engine includes a rotary valve comprising a loop-shaped wall structure defining an opening substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the loop-shaped wall structure. A portion of the rotary valve is disposed within the annular bore such that the axis of rotation of the loop-shaped wall structure is substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the piston assembly. The engine includes a rotary drive mechanism connected to the rotary valve and configured to rotate the rotary valve between a first position to align the opening of the loop-shaped wall structure with the annular bore to allow a piston of the piston assembly to travel within the annular bore and a second position to define a combustion chamber relative to the piston of the piston assembly at the second location.

A control ring for controlling the flow of a pressure medium in a displacement pump is provided. The control extends along a first rotational axis, and includes a first and a second axial surface. The first axial surface has an interface section provided with at least a first and a second opening, which first and second openings are arc shaped and are separated by a first and a second land. The first land is provided with a first tapered groove extending from the first opening into the first land, and having its broader edge in a direction of the first opening and its tip in a direction of the second opening. The first tapered groove extends into the first land such that an angular distance between the first and second openings over the first land is different at different radial distances.

A control ring for controlling the flow of a pressure medium in a displacement pump is provided. The control extends along a first rotational axis, and includes a first and a second axial surface. The first axial surface has an interface section provided with at least a first and a second opening, which first and second openings are arc shaped and are separated by a first and a second land. The first land is provided with a first tapered groove extending from the first opening into the first land, and having its broader edge in a direction of the first opening and its tip in a direction of the second opening. The first tapered groove extends into the first land such that an angular distance between the first and second openings over the first land is different at different radial distances.

A commutator/manifold assembly controls a flow of hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic fluid system. The assembly includes a commutator having an offset design including an inner portion eccentrically encompassed within an outer portion, and offset commutator porting to control the hydraulic flow. A manifold includes manifold ports having a straight configuration by which walls defining the manifold ports run substantially along a longitudinal axis through an entirety of the manifold. The commutator is configured to rotate to sequentially align the commutator porting with differing portions of the manifold ports to control the flow. The commutator porting includes inner ports and outer ports that are isolated from each other by a commutator seal. A commutator ring has a guiding surface that guides rotation of the commutator. The rotation of the commutator provides a timed flow through the manifold ports straight through the manifold and without any directional flow restriction.

A commutator/manifold assembly controls a flow of hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic fluid system. The assembly includes a commutator having an offset design including an inner portion eccentrically encompassed within an outer portion, and offset commutator porting to control the hydraulic flow. A manifold includes manifold ports having a straight configuration by which walls defining the manifold ports run substantially along a longitudinal axis through an entirety of the manifold. The commutator is configured to rotate to sequentially align the commutator porting with differing portions of the manifold ports to control the flow. The commutator porting includes inner ports and outer ports that are isolated from each other by a commutator seal. A commutator ring has a guiding surface that guides rotation of the commutator. The rotation of the commutator provides a timed flow through the manifold ports straight through the manifold and without any directional flow restriction.

An internal combustion engine is provided using parts that can be produced simply and inexpensively, in which internal combustion engine the fuel is burned optimally by adjustments of compression ratio and valve control times and thus the least possible harmful exhaust gases are emitted while maximum effective power is achieved. Furthermore, all liquid and gaseous fuels can be used.