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(11) | EP 2 808 505 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Internal combustion engine |
| (57) Internal combustion engine, formed by a block (1) with one or more cylindrical chambers
(2), each of which houses a piston (3) and in which said piston (3) can move, the
chambers being covered at one end by a cylinder head (4) which forms intake and exhaust
nozzles (5). The cylinder head (4) has housings (6) which cross the nozzles, in which the valves are mounted, both intake and exhaust, which protrude from the housings (6) in order to connect to a drive mechanism. |
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention refers to an internal combustion engine and more specifically, to those engines formed by a block, which have one or more cylindrical chambers, each of which houses a piston and in which said piston can move, the chambers being closed at the top by a cylinder head, which forms intake and exhaust nozzles and bears intake and exhaust valves.
Background of the Invention
[0002] In engines of the indicated variety, the intake and exhaust valves close over seats, formed in the cylinder head itself, around the mouth of the nozzle on the surface of the cylinder head, which closes each cylinder chamber. In order to facilitate machine manufacture, these seats must be located on the surface of the cylinder head, which closes the cylindrical chambers in such a way that the valves can be mounted from the inner surface of the cylinder head.
[0003] This results in the need to disassemble the cylinder head and subsequently assemble it in order to access the valves for repair or replacement; such operations are complex and time-consuming.
[0004] In addition, with this traditional assembly method, the valves protrude into the cylindrical chambers, in which the pistons are accommodated, upon opening, running the risk of them coming into contact with one another in certain circumstances. Additionally, the head and shaft of the valves produce turbulence when gases pass through them.
Description of the Invention
[0005] The object of the present invention is to eliminate the problems set forth above by means of an internal combustion engine in which the valves are not located in such a way that they coincide with the cylinder chambers but are rather situated outside them, therefore not protruding into the chambers during operation, thus eliminating the risk of them coming into contact with the piston and gas turbulence.
[0006] Another object of the invention is to develop an engine of the indicated variety, formed in such a way that it is not necessary to disassemble the cylinder head in order to access the intake and exhaust valves. The valves parts exist separately from the cylinder head which may be disassembled and assembled without having to disassemble, in turn, the cylinder head in the engine block.
[0007] A further object of the invention is to provide an engine whose cylinder head does not have seats and guides for the valves, thereby eliminating the need to manufacture such seats and guides using machines. For this reason, the valve seats are located in one of the components of the aggregate of each valve, independently of the cylinder head, wherein springs are not required either.
[0008] The engine, object of the invention, is of the initially indicated variety, comprising a block with one or more cylindrical chambers, in each of which a piston is housed and may move. The chambers are closed on one side by means of a cylinder head which forms intake and exhaust nozzles for said chambers and bears intake and exhaust valves.
[0009] According to the invention the valves are mounted on the intake and exhaust nozzles via housings, which are formed by the outer surface of the cylinder head and intersect the nozzles. The valves mounted in these housings partially protrude in order to connect to a drive mechanism and may also be removed, through such housings, from the outer surface of the cylinder head.
[0010] The valves may be moved by means of the drive mechanism in a cross-wise direction to the nozzles between an inner position, in which they intersect and close the passage via said nozzles and an extracted position, in which they release and open the passage via the nozzle.
[0011] Each of the abovementioned valves comprises a case in which a movable shutter is mounted. The case defines a passageway between two of its opposing walls and the shutter may be moved within the case between opening and closing positions in the aforementioned passageway.
[0012] The valve case is mounted tightly in the cylinder head housing, going across and intercepting the passage through the corresponding nozzle, the passageway being defined between two of its opposing walls aligned with the nozzle. The shutter protrudes externally from the housing and cylinder head in a portion corresponding to a drive mechanism.
[0013] The case will form internal stops which serve as a means to limit the movement of the shutter between the closing and opening positions.
[0014] Once the case has been introduced into the corresponding housing, it is attached to the cylinder head by means of removable external bolts.
[0015] According to one possible embodiment, the case comprises two parallel fixed walls between which an intermediate, movable gate is tightly mounted. The two parallel and fixed walls have two opposing windows and the gate can be moved in a perpendicular direction in relation to the passageway defined between said windows, between closing and opening positions of the passageway. The gate, as in the previous cases, protrudes externally beyond the case walls in a portion which will also protrude from the surface of the cylinder head for its connection to a drive mechanism.
[0016] Ultimately, the valves are mounted onto the nozzles via the housings formed in the cylinder head from its upper surface; said valves may be removed through the same housings, without having to disassemble the cylinder head for its revision and/or replacement.
[0017] The aforementioned formation does not require the machine manufacture of guides or seats for the cylinder heads around the mouth of the nozzles on the surface of the cylinder heads which close the cylindrical chambers. It will suffice to make housings which intersect the nozzles in the cylinder head from its outer surface, which are preferably perpendicular to said nozzles and in which the valves will be mounted. In the engine of the invention, there will be a valve mounted on the intake nozzle and another within the exhaust nozzle; these valves may have one or two inlets, in which case they will have a bridge in the center for added valve support.
[0018] The valves with the described formation are composed of a fixed case and a shutter or movable gate, driven by an external mechanism based on unsprung cams moved by pinions, by chain-belt, through pneumatic, hydraulic or electric mechanisms, etc.
[0019] In the engine of the invention, the valves are parts which are mounted onto the cylinder head via openings in said cylinder head, intersecting the nozzles. The manufacture of the cylinder heads is simplified in the engine of the invention, since it does not require the machine manufacture of seats for the valves or guides.
[0020] A further advantage of the engine of the invention is that the valves can be assembled and disassembled for repair and/or replacement without having to disassemble the cylinder head of the engine. Furthermore, in the engine of the invention with the valve system described, an unlimited amount of gas may be taken in and extracted.
[0021] The intake and exhaust valves are characterized by not requiring seats on the cylinder heads and by not requiring guides or springs, as in the traditional valve systems.
[0022] In the engine of the invention, given the special arrangement of the valves, there is no part which can come into contact with the piston, since the entire valve system is mounted on the cylinder head, outside of the cylindrical chambers.
[0023] Another advantage of the engine of the invention is that the opening and closing of valves may be brought forward and/or delayed, as desired, in order to achieve the best engine performance, without risk of breakage.
[0024] With the engine of the invention, maximum gas compression may be achieved and both the intake and extraction via exhaust of these gasses occurs without obstacles.
[0025] Finally it may be noted that in the engine of the invention are barely produced engine power losses due to the special arrangement of the valves. It is also highlighted the importance of the lower weight in motion of the valve with respect to the current.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0026] The accompanying drawings serve as a schematic and non-limiting example of one possible embodiment of an internal combustion engine, with the characteristic features of the invention:
Figure 1 is a partial section of an internal combustion engine, taken along a diametrical plane of one of the cylindrical chambers and one of the nozzles in said chamber, including the valve which opens and closes the passage via said nozzle.
Figure 2 shows a similar view to figure 1, without the valve which opens and closes the passage of the nozzle.
Figure 3 is a partial section of the cylinder head in the engine, taken along the cut line III-III in figure 2.
Figure 4 is an in perspective representation of one possible embodiment of the valve mounted on the nozzle of the engine in figure 1.
Figures 5 and 6 are sections of the valve taken along the cut lines VV and VI-VI, respectively, in figure 4.
Figure 7 provides a piece by piece perspective view of the valve in figures 4 to 6.
Detailed Description of one Embodiment
[0027] The formation, features and advantages of the engine of the invention may be better understood with the following description, which refers to the example embodiment represented in the accompanying drawings.
[0028] Figure 1 shows, in partial section, an internal combustion engine which includes a block (1) defining one or more cylindrical chambers (2), in each of which a piston (3) is housed. The cylindrical chambers (2) are closed by a cylinder head (4), through which the intake and exhaust nozzles (5) pass, one of which is shown in figure 1. These nozzles flow into the cylinder chamber (2).
[0029] As best seen in figure 2, a housing (6) which crosses each nozzle (5) preferably perpendicular thereto and close to their mouth in the cylindrical chamber (2), is made in the cylinder head (4), from its outer surface. In the housing (6) which crosses each nozzle (5) a valve (7), figure 1, which intersects the passage through the nozzle (5) is mounted.
[0030] According to the embodiment shown in figures 4 to 7, the valve (7) comprises a housing which includes two opposing parallel walls (8 and 9) which are spaced apart at a distance defined by the longitudinal thickenings (10) of the wall (9), forming an intermediate chamber that is closed at the top and bottom by walls (11 and 12) protruding perpendicularly from the wall (8).
[0031] In the chamber defined between the walls (8 and 9) a gate (13) is housed, with thickness and width coinciding with those of said chamber but of lesser height, which extends into a neck (14) that protrudes through a recess (15) on the top wall (11) of the case.
[0032] The walls (8 and 9) have two opposing windows (16 and 17). The gate (13) is movable within the case defined between the walls (8 and 9) between a closed position, shown in figure 5, in which it intersects the passageway defined between the windows (16 and 17) and an opening position in which said gate (13) is displaced above the passageway defined between the windows (16 and 17), releasing the passage between them.
[0033] The bottom wall (12) of the wall (8) serves as a stop for limiting the lower position of the gate (13), which closes the passageway between the windows (16 and 17). For its part, the top wall (11) serves as a stop for limiting the upward movement of the gate (13) to free the passageway defined between the windows (16 and 17).
[0034] The housing (6) formed in the cylinder head, figure 2, will have a cross section which coincides with that of the valve case, consisting of the walls (8 and 9). The passageway (6) crosses the nozzles (5) perpendicularly and exceeds them slightly, as shown in figure 2.
[0035] The valve (7), with the formation described in figures 4 to 7, is mounted in each housing (6), in such a way that the case defined between the walls (8 and 9) is fitted cross-wise in said housing and with the passageway defined by the windows (16 and 17) aligned with said nozzle (5). In this way, when the gate (13) is in the lower limit position, it will close the passageway defined between the windows (16 and 17) and therefore the passage through the nozzle (5). In contrast, when the gate (13) moves towards the top position, it frees or opens the passageway defined between the windows (16 and 17) and therefore also the passage through the nozzle (5).
[0036] The various components that make up the valve (7) will fit with each other and to the walls of the housings (6) so as to avoid the risk of gas leakage. If necessary, fit and sealing elements may be arranged between these components in order to ensure a tight seal both between the components of the valve and between this valve and the housing walls (6).
[0037] As shown in figure 1 the valve (7) is fixed and secured within the housing (6) by external fastening elements, formed by pincers, screws, etc.
[0039] The neck (14) of the gate may finish at its free end in an enlargement or head (18), through which the valves are associated with a drive mechanism of the gate (13).
[0040] As can be understood, the gate (7) may have a different formation but always including a case defining a passageway between two of its opposing walls, between which a shutter is housed, which may be moved between opening and closing positions of said passageway, the case being mounted in the housing of the cylinder head intersecting the passageway through the corresponding nozzle is located thus acting as a seal, this passageway being defined between two of its opposing walls aligned with said nozzle.
1. Internal combustion engine, comprising a block with one or more cylindrical chambers,
in each of which a piston is housed which can move, whose chambers are closed on one
side by a cylinder head forming the intake and exhaust nozzles for said chamber and
bearing intake and exhaust valves, characterized in that:
- The cylinder head has housings formed by its outer surface and which cross the nozzles;
- The valves are manufactured separately from the cylinder head and are mounted on the nozzles via the aforementioned housings; they protrude externally from said housings, for their connection to a drive mechanism and may be removed through said housings;
- The valves may be moved by the drive mechanism, in a cross-wise direction to the nozzles between an inner position, in which they intersect and close the passage through said nozzles and an extracted position, in which they free and open the passage through the nozzle.
2. Engine according to claim 1, characterized in that each valve comprises a case, defining a passageway between two of its opposing walls
and a shutter which is mounted within said case, with the capacity to move between
closing and opening positions of the cited passageway; whose case is tightly mounted
on the housing of the cylinder head, crossing and intersecting the passage through
the corresponding nozzle, with the passageway defined between two of its opposing
walls, aligned with said nozzle; and whose shutter protrudes externally from the case
and cylinder head in a portion which is related to the drive mechanism.
3. Engine according to claim 2, characterized in that the case inwardly forms stops limiting the movement of the shutter between its opening
and closing positions.
4. Engine according to claim 2, characterized in that the valve case is fixed to the cylinder head by detachable bolts.
5. Engine according to claim 2, characterized in that the valve case comprises two fixed parallel walls, between which an intermediate
movable gate is tightly mounted, the walls of which have two opposing windows and
whose gate may be moved perpendicular to the passageway defined between said windows,
between opening and closing positions of said passageway and protrudes externally
with respect to said walls, in a portion through which it is related to a drive mechanism.