Outward-opening gas-exchange valve system for an internal combustion engine

Abstract

An outwardly-opening gas-exchange valve assembly for an internal combustion engine. The valve assembly includes a port in a firing chamber in an engine head, the port having a valve seat on a side opposite from the firing chamber. A piston-shaped poppet valve head slides in a bore in the engine head for mating with the valve seat to occlude passage of gas across the valve seat. Withdrawal of the poppet valve head from the seat opens the firing chamber to communication with an intake or exhaust manifold runner in the engine head. The poppet valve head may be actuated by an overcenter lever arrangement actuated selectively by hydraulic pressure or mechanical actuation. In a preferred embodiment, OO intake and exhaust valves are radially arranged in a hemispherical fire deck and may include an adjustable pitch helical channel to induce swirl to the incoming gas.

1 . A gas-exchange valvetrain for controlling the flow of gas between a gas manifold and a combustion cylinder of an internal combustion engine, said valvetrain being supported by a valve train housing of the engine, comprising:
 a) a valve chamber in communication with said gas manifold;   b) a port configured for passage of gas between said valve chamber and said combustion cylinder;   c) a valve seat surrounding said port and facing away from said combustion cylinder;   d) a first bore formed coaxially with said port and valve seat;   e) a poppet valve head slidingly disposed in said first bore for reciprocally moving through said valve chamber into and out of mating contact with said valve seat to vary gas flow between said combustion cylinder and said valve chamber;   f) an abutment disposed at an end of said first bore;   g) a scissor mechanism pivotably attached at a first end to said poppet valve head and disposed between said poppet valve head and said abutment which, when said scissor mechanism is fully extended, defines a rigid linear strut for urging said poppet valve head in a direction toward said combustion cylinder into a valve-closed position against said valve seat, and when collapsed urges said poppet valve head in a direction away from said valve seat into a valve-open position; and   h) an actuator mechanism for actuating said scissor mechanism.   
   
   
       2 . A valvetrain in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said actuator mechanism for actuating comprises:
 a) a connecting rod attached to said scissor mechanism at an intermediate hinge thereof for actuating said scissor mechanism to move said valve head between said valve-closed position and said valve-open position; and   b) an actuator for displacing said connecting rod.   
   
   
       3 . A valvetrain in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a gap adjuster disposed between said scissor mechanism and said abutment. 
   
   
       4 . A valvetrain in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said gap adjuster includes a shaft extending from an end of said scissor mechanism, a ring positionally adjustable along an axis of said shaft, and a biasing member disposed between said ring and said abutment. 
   
   
       5 . A valvetrain in accordance with  claim 4  wherein said biasing member is selected from the group consisting of a coil spring, a Belleville washer, hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure, and an elastomeric medium. 
   
   
       6 . A valvetrain in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said chamber includes an annular portion concentric with said port and valve seat. 
   
   
       7 . A valvetrain in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said poppet valve head includes a cavity therein for receiving materials to aid in heat transfer. 
   
   
       8 . A valvetrain in accordance with  claim 7  wherein said materials are sodium salts. 
   
   
       9 . A valvetrain in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said scissor mechanism further comprises a spring configured for returning said scissor mechanism from said valve-open position to said valve-closed position. 
   
   
       10 . A valvetrain in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said poppet valve head further comprises an obturator for extending through a wall of said valve train housing to substantially fill said port when said valve is closed. 
   
   
       11 . A valvetrain in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said valvetrain is selected from the group consisting of combustion intake valvetrain, combustion exhaust valvetrain, and exhaust gas recirculation valvetrain. 
   
   
       12 . A valvetrain in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said actuator for displacing said connecting rod includes hydraulic pressure. 
   
   
       13 . A valvetrain in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said valve train has a first axis, and wherein said combustion chamber includes a hemispherical fire deck, and wherein said first valvetrain axis is disposed radially of said hemispherical fire deck. 
   
   
       14 . A cylinder head for an internal combustion engine comprising:
 a) a firing chamber defined by a fire deck; and   b) a plurality of valve trains disposed in said cylinder head, each of said valve trains including   c) a valve chamber formed in said cylinder head,   d) a port extending from said fire deck through a wall of said cylinder head for passage of gas between said valve chamber and said firing chamber,   e) a valve seat surrounding said port and facing into said valve chamber,   f) a first bore formed in said cylinder head coaxially with said port and valve seat,   g) a poppet valve head slidingly disposed in said first bore for reciprocally moving through said valve chamber into and out of mating contact with said valve seat to vary gas flow between said firing chamber and said valve chamber,   h) an abutment disposed at an end of said first bore,   i) a scissor mechanism pivotably attached at a first end to said poppet valve head and disposed between said poppet valve head and said abutment which, when said scissor mechanism is fully extended, defines a rigid linear strut for urging said poppet valve head in a direction toward said firing chamber into a valve-closed position against said seat, and when collapsed urges said poppet valve head from said seat in a direction away from said firing chamber into a valve-open position, and   j) an actuator for actuating said scissor mechanism.   
   
   
       15 . A cylinder head in accordance with  claim 14  wherein each of said valvetrains has a longitudinal axis defining a plurality of longitudinal axes, and wherein said firing chamber is hemispherical, and wherein said plurality of longitudinal axes are radially disposed with respect to said hemispherical firing chamber and fire deck. 
   
   
       16 . A cylinder head in accordance with  claim 15  wherein each of said piston-shaped poppet valve heads includes a fire face, and wherein each of said plurality of fire faces is hemispherically formed at substantially the same radius as a radius of said hemispherical firing chamber. 
   
   
       17 . An intake valvetrain for controlling and swirling a flow of gas between an intake manifold and a combustion cylinder of an internal combustion engine, said intake valvetrain being formed in a cylinder head of the engine, comprising:
 a) a valve chamber formed in said cylinder head in communication with said intake manifold;   b) a port extending from a combustion fire deck through a wall of said cylinder head for passage of air from said valve chamber into said combustion cylinder, said port having a first diameter;   c) a valve seat surrounding said port and facing into said valve chamber;   d) a first bore formed in said head coaxially with said port and valve seat and having a second diameter greater than said first diameter;   e) a coil spring slidingly disposed in said first bore and having an internal and third diameter intermediate in size between said first and second diameters;   f) a poppet valve head slidingly disposed within said coil spring for reciprocally moving through said valve chamber into and out of mating contact with said valve seat to vary air flow between said intake manifold and said combustion cylinder;   wherein air passing from said intake manifold through said valve chamber into said combustion chamber is directed by the coils of said spring to assume a helical flow path around said piston shaped poppet valve head and thereby acquiring a vortical swirl motion upon leaving said valve chamber and passing through said port to enter said combustion cylinder.   
   
   
       18 . An intake valvetrain in accordance with  claim 17  further comprising a sleeve configured for selectively varying the pitch of coils in said coil spring to vary the intensity of said vortical swirl motion.