Uniflow engine with intake and/or exhaust valves

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10626787-B2
Application number	US-201515775286-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2015
Priority date	Dec 4, 2015
Publication date	Apr 21, 2020
Grant date	Apr 21, 2020

Abstract

A uniflow engine includes a cylinder having a cylinder wall, a volume exterior to the cylinder, at least one channel extending between the cylinder wall and the volume, and a valve outside of the cylinder configured to open and close flow communication between the cylinder and the volume through the channel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A uniflow engine, comprising:
a cylinder having a cylinder wall;
an intake air gallery, the intake air gallery having an intake air gallery wall;
at least one intake port extending between the cylinder wall and the intake air gallery wall;
an intake valve outside of the cylinder and configured to open and close flow communication between the cylinder and the intake air gallery through the at least one intake port;
an exhaust gallery having an exhaust gallery wall;
at least one, exhaust port extending between the cylinder wall and the exhaust gallery wall, an exhaust channel extending from the exhaust gallery;
an exhaust valve configured to open and close the exhaust channel;
at least one second exhaust port extending between the cylinder wall and the exhaust gallery wall, a second exhaust channel extending from the exhaust gallery; and
a second exhaust valve configured to open and close the second exhaust channel.

2. The uniflow engine as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the intake valve comprises a cover arranged to reciprocate in a longitudinal direction of the cylinder between a first position in which flow communication between the cylinder and the intake air gallery through the at least one intake port is open and a second position in which flow communication between the cylinder and the intake air gallery through the at least one intake port is closed.

3. The uniflow engine as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the cover comprises a tubular portion disposed adjacent the intake air gallery wall.

4. The uniflow engine, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the intake valve comprises a cover with at least one cover opening, the cover being adapted to rotate relative to the cylinder to a first position in which the at least one cover opening is aligned with the at least one intake port and flow communication between the cylinder and the intake air gallery is open, and a second position in which flow communication between the cylinder and the intake air gallery is closed.

5. The uniflow engine as set forth in claim 1 , comprising a plurality of intake ports extending between the cylinder wall and the intake air gallery wall.

6. The uniflow engine as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the exhaust valve is a rotary valve.

7. The uniflow engine as set forth in claim 1 , comprising means for moving the exhaust valve and the intake valve such that the exhaust valve closes the exhaust channel before the intake valve closes flow communication between the cylinder and the intake air gallery.

8. The uniflow engine as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the moving means moves the exhaust valve and the intake valve such that the exhaust valve opens the exhaust channel before the intake valve opens flow communication between the cylinder and the intake air gallery.

9. The uniflow engine as set forth in claim 1 , comprising means for moving the exhaust valve and the intake valve such that the exhaust valve opens the exhaust channel before the intake valve opens flow communication between the cylinder and the intake air gallery.

10. The mallow engine as set forth in claim 1 , comprising,
a first piston that moves in the cylinder between a first piston top dead center position in which the first piston blocks flow communication between the cylinder and the intake air gallery through the at least one intake port and a first piston bottom dead center position in which the at least one intake port is exposed and the first piston does not block flow communication between the cylinder and the intake air gallery through the at least one intake port, and
a second piston that moves in the cylinder between a second piston top dead center position in which the second piston blocks flow communication between the cylinder and the exhaust gallery through the at least one exhaust port and a second piston bottom dead center position in which the at least one exhaust port is exposed and the second piston does not block flow communication between the cylinder and the exhaust gallery through the at least one exhaust port,
wherein the first piston and the second piston are each closest to a centerpoint of the cylinder when the first and second pistons are at the first piston top dead center position and the second piston top dead center position, respectively, and a distance of the at least one intake port from the centerpoint is different from a distance of the at least one exhaust port from the centerpoint.

11. The uniflow engine as set forth in claim 1 , comprising a piston that moves in the cylinder between a top dead center position in which the first piston blocks flow communication between the cylinder and the intake air gallery through the at least one intake port and a bottom dead center position in which the at least one intake port is exposed and the piston does not block flow communication between the cylinder and the intake air gallery through the at least one intake port, and means for moving the intake valve so that flow communication between the cylinder and the intake air gallery through the at least one intake port is blocked by the intake valve for at least a portion of a movement of the piston toward the bottom dead center position after the movement of the piston at least partially exposes the at least one intake port.

12. A uniflow engine, comprising:
a cylinder having a cylinder wall;
an exhaust gallery having an exhaust gallery wall;
at least one exhaust port extending between the cylinder wall and the exhaust gallery wall;
an exhaust channel extending from the exhaust gallery;
an exhaust valve configured to open and close the exhaust channel; and
at least one second exhaust port extending between the cylinder wall and the exhaust gallery wall, a second exhaust channel extending from the exhaust gallery, and a second exhaust valve configured to open and close the second exhaust channel.

13. The uniflow engine as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the exhaust valve is a rotary valve.

14. The uniflow engine as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the exhaust valve is a reciprocating valve.

15. The uniflow engine as set forth in claim 12 , comprising means for moving the exhaust valve and the second exhaust valve so that the exhaust valve closes the exhaust channel at a different time than the second exhaust valve closes the second exhaust channel.

16. The uniflow engine as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the moving means moves the exhaust valve and the second exhaust valve so that the exhaust valve opens the exhaust channel at a different time than the second exhaust valve opens the second exhaust channel.

17. The uniflow engine as set forth in claim 12 , comprising means for moving the exhaust valve and the second exhaust valve so that the exhaust valve closes the exhaust channel at a different time than the second exhaust valve closes the second exhaust channel.

18. The uniflow engine as set forth in claim 12 , comprising
an intake air gallery, the intake air gallery having an intake air gallery wall,
at least one intake port extending between the cylinder wall and the intake air gallery wall,
a piston that moves in the cylinder between a top dead center position in which the piston blocks flow communication between the cylinder and the intake air gallery through the at least one intake port and a bottom dead center position in which the at least one intake port is exposed and the piston does not block flow communication between the cylinder and the intake air gallery through the at least one intake port, and
means for moving the exhaust valve so

Assignees

• Volvo Truck Corp
• Morton Richard Kellogg

Inventors

• Morton Richard Kellogg

Classifications

• F02B2075/025

  two · CPC title

• F02B25/08 Primary

  Engines with oppositely-moving reciprocating working pistons · CPC title

• F02B75/282

  the pistons having equal strokes · CPC title

• F01L5/06

  surrounding working cylinder or piston · CPC title

• F02D9/02

  concerning induction conduits (throttle valves, or arrangements thereof in conduits F02D9/08) · CPC title