A piston expander and transfer valve for the controlled metering of a pressurised working fluid into an expansion chamber as part of an energy conversion device, and in particular as part of a heat to power conversion device employing a rankine thermodynamic cycle. The piston expander comprising a cylinder having an inlet manifold connected to an aperture in the cylinder's inlet aperture, a piston movable within the cylinder, and a transfer valve assembly movable under the action of changing gas pressure in the main chamber of the piston expander.

A piston expander and transfer valve for the controlled metering of a pressurised working fluid into an expansion chamber as part of an energy conversion device, and in particular as part of a heat to power conversion device employing a rankine thermodynamic cycle. The piston expander comprising a cylinder having an inlet manifold connected to an aperture in the cylinder's inlet aperture, a piston movable within the cylinder, and a transfer valve assembly movable under the action of changing gas pressure in the main chamber of the piston expander.

A method for introducing combustion air into a cylinder (25) of an internal combustion engine, a high-pressure inlet valve (1) provided therefor and an internal combustion engine that operates using the method and the high-pressure inlet valve are described. All the combustion air for the respective cylinders (25) is introduced into the cylinder (25) of the internal combustion engine, by means of a high-pressure inlet valve (1) arranged in the relevant cylinder head (26) and on the basis of a controlled mass flow, such that mixture formation and charge exchange are intensified. In addition, the temperature and/or pressure of the combustion air is measured and the quantity of combustion air is introduced into the cylinder (25), in a controlled manner and on the basis of the measurement results, by means of the high-pressure inlet valve (1) by opening or closing a sliding piston (3) of the high-pressure inlet valve (1) by displacement. As a result of an axial displacement of the sliding piston (3) between guide sections (5) in the housing (2) of the high-pressure inlet valve (1), passage areas (6) for combustion air are blocked in a closed position (7) and opened in an open position (8). In the passage area (6), the sliding piston (3) has two pressurization areas (10, 11) facing each other, the surfaces of which are of equal size or differ from each other when projected in one plane. The first pressurization area (10) can be designed as a poppet valve (12) and the second pressurization area (11) can be designed as an annular surface (13). The internal combustion engine has a high-pressure line (27) for the combustion air, which line is connected to the high-pressure inlet valve (1). With respect to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder (25), the high-pressure inlet valve (1) is arranged in the cylinder head (26) in an upright or horizontal position.

A method for introducing combustion air into a cylinder (25) of an internal combustion engine, a high-pressure inlet valve (1) provided therefor and an internal combustion engine that operates using the method and the high-pressure inlet valve are described. All the combustion air for the respective cylinders (25) is introduced into the cylinder (25) of the internal combustion engine, by means of a high-pressure inlet valve (1) arranged in the relevant cylinder head (26) and on the basis of a controlled mass flow, such that mixture formation and charge exchange are intensified. In addition, the temperature and/or pressure of the combustion air is measured and the quantity of combustion air is introduced into the cylinder (25), in a controlled manner and on the basis of the measurement results, by means of the high-pressure inlet valve (1) by opening or closing a sliding piston (3) of the high-pressure inlet valve (1) by displacement. As a result of an axial displacement of the sliding piston (3) between guide sections (5) in the housing (2) of the high-pressure inlet valve (1), passage areas (6) for combustion air are blocked in a closed position (7) and opened in an open position (8). In the passage area (6), the sliding piston (3) has two pressurization areas (10, 11) facing each other, the surfaces of which are of equal size or differ from each other when projected in one plane. The first pressurization area (10) can be designed as a poppet valve (12) and the second pressurization area (11) can be designed as an annular surface (13). The internal combustion engine has a high-pressure line (27) for the combustion air, which line is connected to the high-pressure inlet valve (1). With respect to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder (25), the high-pressure inlet valve (1) is arranged in the cylinder head (26) in an upright or horizontal position.

A reciprocating cylinder seal assembly has an elastomeric seal with a radially inwardly directed oil sealing lip and a radially inwardly directed gas sealing lip, wherein both lips are in elastomeric-to-metal sealing contact with a reciprocating engine liner. The assembly further has a U-shaped seal retainer that is attached to the elastomeric seal, where the U-shaped seal retainer is placed in direct intimate contact with a cylindrical engine housing. The U-shaped seal retainer and a reciprocating engine housing may be separated by and be in contact with a major portion of a J-shaped gas shield with a hook portion that is located between the oil sealing lip and a manifold port, where the hook portion of the J-shaped gas shield has a metal backer ring embedded in it.

A reciprocating cylinder seal assembly has an elastomeric seal with a radially inwardly directed oil sealing lip and a radially inwardly directed gas sealing lip, wherein both lips are in elastomeric-to-metal sealing contact with a reciprocating engine liner. The assembly further has a U-shaped seal retainer that is attached to the elastomeric seal, where the U-shaped seal retainer is placed in direct intimate contact with a cylindrical engine housing. The U-shaped seal retainer and a reciprocating engine housing may be separated by and be in contact with a major portion of a J-shaped gas shield with a hook portion that is located between the oil sealing lip and a manifold port, where the hook portion of the J-shaped gas shield has a metal backer ring embedded in it.

A reciprocating cylinder seal assembly has an elastomeric seal with a radially inwardly directed oil sealing lip and a radially inwardly directed gas sealing lip, wherein both lips are in elastomeric-to-metal sealing contact with a reciprocating engine liner. The assembly further has a U-shaped seal retainer that is attached to the elastomeric seal, where the U-shaped seal retainer is placed in direct intimate contact with a cylindrical engine housing. The U-shaped seal retainer and a reciprocating engine housing may be separated by and be in contact with a major portion of a J-shaped gas shield with a hook portion that is located between the oil sealing lip and a manifold port, where the hook portion of the J-shaped gas shield has a metal backer ring embedded in it.

A reciprocating cylinder seal assembly has an elastomeric seal with a radially inwardly directed oil sealing lip and a radially inwardly directed gas sealing lip, wherein both lips are in elastomeric-to-metal sealing contact with a reciprocating engine liner. The assembly further has a U-shaped seal retainer that is attached to the elastomeric seal, where the U-shaped seal retainer is placed in direct intimate contact with a cylindrical engine housing. The U-shaped seal retainer and a reciprocating engine housing may be separated by and be in contact with a major portion of a J-shaped gas shield with a hook portion that is located between the oil sealing lip and a manifold port, where the hook portion of the J-shaped gas shield has a metal backer ring embedded in it.