Coaxial Valve System

Certain embodiments relate generally to an engine valve and, more specifically, to a coaxial valve system for internal combustion engines and machines that require valves.

Engine valves are devices that are used in internal combustion engines that allow or prevent the flow of a gas or fluid from the combustion chambers of an engine during operation. A single combustion chamber for a four-stroke engine requires two valves that control the flow of a fluid or gas to and from the engine. Typically, the valves open and close in a linear path by means of a rotating cam as the cycle of the engine occurs. The two valves are referred to as an intake valve and an exhaust valve. The intake valve, also commonly referred to as an inlet valve, controls the fluid, gas, or fuel that enters into the combustion chamber from the intake port. The exhaust valve is the valve that allows the spent air-fuel mixture to escape from the combustion engine through the exhaust port. In a four-stroke engine, there are four strokes of the piston, meaning that the piston head travels the length of the cylinder four times, in order to complete the cycle. The cycle has four strokes including an intake stroke, a compression stroke, a combustion stroke, and an exhaust stroke. The intake stroke occurs while the exhaust valve is closed and the intake valve is open, allowing for air and fuel to enter into the combustion chamber as the piston moves down the cylinder, increasing the volume of the combustion chamber. Following the intake stroke, the compression stroke is the stroke in which the intake valve closes, sealing the combustion chamber, and the piston compresses the air-fuel mixture as the piston moves up the cylinder reducing the volume of the combustion chamber. Next, in the combustion stroke, the air-fuel mixture is ignited by means of a spark plug, as in a gasoline engine, or by the heat generated by compression, as in diesel engines, forcing the piston back down the cylinder. Lastly, the final stroke of the cycle is the exhaust stroke, in which the exhaust valve opens and the piston decreases the volume within the combustion chamber, expelling the spent air-fuel mixture from the system. The prior art discloses that in internal combustion engines, there must be two distinct engine valves that are typically diametrically opposed to each other on the cylinder head, thus leading to two distinct ports as well. Because there are two distinctly different valves and two distinctly different ports, internal combustion engine systems have a limit to the space that they may be compacted. Also, it has been found that during the cycle of the internal combustion engines, the exhaust port may reach temperatures that may compromise the structural integrity of the surrounding components of the engine. Furthermore, when examining internal combustion engines, it is known that lower ambient temperatures may impact the performance of the engine, especially upon startup.

An objective of some embodiments of the invention is to provide a system which utilizes coaxial valves for internal combustion engines and machines that utilize at least one valve such as compressors, pumps, and the like. Some embodiments of the invention reduce the amount of space taken up by traditional engine valve systems by providing a single coaxial valve system in place of the two distinct valve system as taught by the prior art. By having two concentric valves, one interposed, or housed, within the other, some embodiments of the invention provide for a compacted system with better valve control and timing. An additional objective of the invention is to provide a concentric valve system that cools the exhaust valve and exhaust port of an internal combustion engine system. Furthermore, some embodiments of the invention provide an improved design for internal combustion engines, especially diesel engines, that allows for increased fuel efficiency and an improvement of engine startups in environments with ambient temperatures lower than what is ideal for traditional internal combustion engine startups, as taught by the prior art. Additionally, some embodiments of the invention may be utilized in a hydrogen engine as well. Unlike the prior art, where the exhaust valve absorbs the heat of the spent fuel, the exhaust valve of some embodiments of the invention is cooled by intake air, thus preventing overheating of the system. Additionally, some embodiments of the invention allow for easier manufacturing of components as computer numerical control machines (CNC machines) may be used in the manufacturing process.

Furthermore, the valve system may be adapted for uses outside of that of an internal combustion engine. Such uses may extend to industries such as but not limited to agriculture, biofuel, construction, food and beverage processing, mining, nuclear power, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and medical industries, and water and wastewater treatment.

One embodiment is a coaxial valve system comprising an interior valve and an exterior valve wherein;

In some embodiments, the exterior valve comprises:

In some embodiments, the interior valve also comprises: a bottom plate connected to an opposite end of a rod.

In some embodiments, the plate of the interior valve is configured to engage with the upper portion of the exterior valve; and the bottom plate of the interior valve is configured to engage with the lower portion of the exterior valve.

In some embodiments, the coaxial valve system also comprises an interior valve spring wherein said spring is circumferentially positioned around the rod of the interior valve.

In some embodiments, the coaxial valve system further comprises an exterior valve spring wherein said spring is circumferentially positioned around a central portion of the exterior valve.

In some embodiments, an upper portion of the exterior valve comprises:

In some embodiments, the system is contained within a housing.

In some embodiments, the housing comprises an intake chamber and an exhaust chamber

In some embodiments, the housing further comprises an intake port and an exhaust port wherein the intake port is an open passageway to the intake chamber and the exhaust port is an open passageway to the exhaust chamber.

In some embodiments, the interior valve comprises a rod, wherein the top plate is integrally connected to one end of the rod, and wherein the exterior valve comprises a through hole proximate the central axis through which the rod of the interior valve transverses a length of a central portion of the exterior valve.

In some embodiments, the cutout is in an upper portion of the exterior valve and the plate is a top plate.

Another embodiment is a coaxial valve system comprising an interior valve and an exterior valve wherein;

In some embodiments, the cutout is in an upper portion of the exterior valve and the plate is a top plate.

In some embodiments, the exterior valve comprises:

In some embodiments, said system is contained within a housing comprising:

Certain embodiments provide a coaxial valve system with a plurality of coaxial interposed valves. Certain embodiments may be used in internal combustion engines, pumps, compressors, and any other machine that requires valves.

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of some embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by one having ordinary skill in the relevant art that the present disclosure has broad utility and application. As should be understood, any embodiment may incorporate only one or a plurality of the above-disclosed aspects of the disclosure and may further incorporate only one or a plurality of the above-disclosed features. Furthermore, any embodiment discussed and identified as being “preferred” is considered to be part of a best mode contemplated for carrying out the embodiments of the present disclosure. Other embodiments also may be discussed for additional illustrative purposes in providing a full and enabling disclosure. Moreover, many embodiments, such as adaptations, variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosed by the embodiments described herein and fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Accordingly, while embodiments are described herein in detail in relation to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is illustrative and exemplary of the present disclosure, and are made merely for the purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure. The detailed disclosure herein of one or more embodiments is not intended, nor is to be construed, to limit the scope of patent protection afforded in any claim of a patent issuing here from, which scope is to be defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof. It is not intended that the scope of patent protection be defined by reading into any claim a limitation found herein that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself.

Additionally, it is important to note that each term used herein refers to that which an ordinary artisan would understand such term to mean based on the contextual use of such term herein. To the extent that the meaning of a term used herein—as understood by the ordinary artisan based on the contextual use of such term—differs in any way from any particular dictionary definition of such term, it is intended that the meaning of the term as understood by the ordinary artisan should prevail.

Furthermore, it is important to note that, as used herein, “a” and “an” each generally denotes “at least one,” but does not exclude a plurality unless the contextual use dictates otherwise. When used herein to join a list of items, “or” denotes “at least one of the items,” but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. Finally, when used herein to join a list of items, “and” denotes “all of the items of the list.”

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar elements. While many embodiments of the disclosure may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the disclosure. Instead, the proper scope of the disclosure is defined by the appended claims. The present disclosure contains headers. It should be understood that these headers are used as references and are not to be construed as limiting upon the subjected matter disclosed under the header.

Other technical advantages may become readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after review of the following figures and description. It should be understood at the outset that, although exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the figures and described below, the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or not. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplary implementations and techniques illustrated in the drawings and described below.

Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up”, “down” and the like, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, “radially”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms “inwardly,” “outwardly” and “radially” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.

In the case of some embodiments of the invention, the term “coaxial” is defined as two or more forms sharing a common axis. More specifically, in the case of some embodiments of the invention, some embodiments comprises two valves, both comprising a cylindrical shape, and thus the valves both have an imaginary straight line that runs through the center of the cross-sectional area of the valve, wherein said line is referred to and understood by those in the art, as an axis. In some embodiments of the invention, the term coaxial refers to the imaginary axes of the two valves having alignment and it is well understood by those in the art.

Further, as is the case in some embodiments of the invention, the term “interposed” is defined as two distinct objects, one of the objects existing within the other object. In some embodiments of the invention, there are two valves, one valve is interposed in the other valve.

Moreover, within the invention, reference has been made to “intake” and “exhaust” components. Within the application, these have remained consistent throughout as the intake components refer to the components that facilitate the entering of a fluid, whereas exhaust refers to the components that facilitate the existing of fluids. Although these have been described and referred to herein in a particular arrangement, it is understood to those in the art, and thus should not be limited to, in practice and by scope of the protection afforded by any granted rights, that the arrangement of “intake” and “exhaust” components are strictly arranged in the same manner. Rather, “intake” and “exhaust,” as used herein, are merely placeholders to identify differing components, and thus in practice the “intake” component of the application may be used within an exhaust process of an internal combustion engine, and vice versa.

The present disclosure includes many aspects and features. Moreover, while many aspects and features relate to, and are described in the context of a coaxial valve system, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to use only in this context.

More specifically, some embodiments of the invention pertain to a coaxial valve systemfor the purpose of internal combustion engines and the like. It is known and understood within the prior art that an internal combustion engine is a power-generating mechanism that operates through the combustion of fuel inside its cylinders. There are two commonly used types: the four-stroke engine and the diesel engine. In a four-stroke engine, there are four unique strokes including an intake stroke, a compression stroke, a power stroke, and an exhaust stroke. First, during the intake stroke, a piston descends, creating a vacuum that opens an intake valve and allows a fuel-air mixture to enter a cylinder. Second, in the compression stroke, the piston ascends, compressing the fuel-air mixture while keeping both the intake valve and an exhaust valve closed. Third, at the top of the compression stroke, a spark plug ignites the highly compressed fuel-air mixture, leading to controlled combustion. This combustion causes rapid gas expansion, forcefully driving the piston downward and generating power in the power stroke. Finally, in the exhaust stroke, the piston ascends again while the exhaust valve opens, enabling the expulsion of the burned gases as the piston reaches the top, preparing for the subsequent intake stroke.

In the case of a diesel engine, the process shares similarities with the four-stroke engine but with distinct differences. During the intake stroke, only air is drawn into the cylinder, with fuel injection occurring at a later stage. The compression stroke follows, during which the highly compressed air heats up significantly. As the piston nears the top of the compression stroke, fuel is directly injected into the hot, compressed air. The fuel self-ignites due to the high compression heat, eliminating the need for a spark plug. This leads to combustion, propelling the piston downward and generating power in the power stroke. Subsequently, in the exhaust stroke, the burned gases are expelled from the cylinder as the piston ascends.

Some embodiments of the invention provide a coaxial valve systemcomprises a main valvecomprising a plurality of interposed valves. As shown in, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the main valveof the coaxial valve systemcomprises an interior valveand an exterior valvewhich are coaxially interposed with the exterior valvehousing the interior valve. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the exterior valveis used as the exhaust valve whereas the interior valveis used as the intake valve. The interior valvemay comprise a top plate, a rod, and a bottom platecomprising a bevel. The rodof the interior valvemay comprise a first end and a second end wherein said ends are opposite each other; the top plateof the interior valvelocated at one end of the rodand the bottom plateof the interior valvebeing located at the opposite end of the rod. The bottom plateof the interior valvemay comprise the bevelwherein said bevelis an angled surface.

The exterior valvemay comprise an upper portion, a center portion, a lower portion, and a through hole. The upper portionof the exterior valvemay be adjacent to the center portionof the exterior valve. The center portionof the exterior valvemay be adjacent to the lower portionof the exterior valve, wherein the lower portionmay be at an end of the center portionopposite an end of the center portionof the exterior valvewherein the upper portionis located. The upper portionof the exterior valvemay comprise a cutout, an upper face, and a lip. The cutoutof the upper portionmay be a section of the upper portionthat has been removed to allow the movement of the interior valve, thus constraining the movement of the interior valveto lateral movement which is perpendicular to the upper faceof the upper portion, unidirectional to the imaginary centered axis of the rodof the interior valve. The upper faceof the upper portionof the exterior valveis the topmost surface of the exterior valve, comprising two coplanar sections, separated by the cutout. The lipof the exterior valveis a protruded edge proximate the top of the upper portionof the exterior valve. The center portionof the exterior valvecomprises a duct, a plurality of openings, and an interior valve guide rail comprising a plurality of bore holes. The interior guide rail is located within the duct. The plurality of bore holesof the interior valve guide rail may comprise a plurality of conical shaped bore holes, a plurality of cylindrical shaped bore holes, and a plurality of other geometrically shaped bore holes. The plurality of bore holesis to allow for fluid flow throughout the ductof the center portionof the exterior valveto the lower portionof the exterior valve. The lower portionof the exterior valvecomprises a top face, an inner diameter bevel, an outer diameter bevel, a bottom face, and a recess cavity. In the preferred embodiment of some embodiments of the invention, the various portions of the exterior valve; the upper portion, the center portion, and the lower portion; are defined and distinguished by the difference in outer diameters of each portion.

One version of the coaxial valve systemcomprises an elongated interior valvehaving a central axis, an elongated exterior valvehaving a central axis, the central axis of the interior valveand the central axis of the exterior valvecomprising a coaxial alignment and wherein the interior valveinterposes within the exterior valve. The interior valveand the exterior valvehave the capability to linearly move independently along the coaxial axes. The interior valveincludes a plate, for example a top plate. A cutoutin an upper portion of the exterior valveis configured to allow movement of the interior valvebut limit this movement along the central axis of the interior valve. The plateof the interior valvefits within the cutoutof the exterior valve. The plateof interior valvecannot rotate within the cutout(of exterior valve). In one version, this is because the clearance between them is minimal and they are not both round. Thus the plateand the cutout are shaped to prevent rotation of the interior valve. In some implementations, the plateis at a middle or lower portion of the interior valveand the cutoutis at a middle or lower portion of the exterior valve, wherein the plateof the interior valvefits within the cutoutof the exterior valveand cannot rotate within the cutout, and therefore interior valvecannot rotate.

Additionally, as shown in, the coaxial valve systemfurther comprises a housingin which the plurality of interposed valves is contained. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing, as shown inand, comprises an interior valve platform, a plurality of vertical supports, a central horizontal plate, an exterior valve guide rail, and a plurality of internal chambers. The vertical supportsare adjacent to both the interior valve platformand the central horizontal plate. The interior valve platformis elevated above the central horizontal plate, rigidly secured by the plurality of vertical supports. In one preferred embodiment of the invention the interior valve platformcomprises a through hole allowing for the rodof the interior valveto pass through the interior valve platform. In one embodiment, the exterior of the housingmay further comprise fins. In the embodiment comprising fins, heat may transfer differently than in alternative embodiments.

Furthermore, as shown in, in some embodiments, the coaxial valve systemfurther comprises a camshaft, a plurality of cams, an interior valve spring, and an exterior valve spring. The plurality of cams, in the preferred embodiment, are coupled to the camshaftof the system wherein said plurality of camscomprises a first cam, a second cam, and a third cam. The first camis adjacent to the second cam, the second camis adjacent to the third cam. The interior valve springis interposed between the bottommost surface of the top plateof the interior valveand the topmost surface of the interior valve platformof the housing. The exterior valve springis interposed between the upper portionof the exterior valveand the central horizontal plateof the housing. The plurality of internal chambers, separated by the exterior valve guide rail, comprises an intake chamber, an exhaust chamber, an intake port, and an exhaust port. The intake portintersects the intake chamber. The exhaust portintersects the exhaust chamber. The intake portand the exhaust portprovide a passage for a fluid, a gas, or a combination of fluid and gas, to pass through the system. In the preferred embodiment, the intake portis diametrically opposed to the exhaust portproximate the diameter of the housing. The intake portand the exhaust portare merely naming conventions and may be used interchangeably.

As shown in, the housingfurther comprises a bottom plate. In the preferred embodiment, the bottom plateof the housingmay exist as the cylinder head of the engine or machine in which the valves are being used in. Furthermore, as shown in by the bottom plateof the interior valveand the bottom faceof the lower portionof the exterior valveas seen, the interior valveand the exterior valveare coaxially aligned.

As shown in, the bottom plateof the housingcomprises a recess and a beveled edge. The beveled edgeof the housingcreates an angled surface around the perimeter of the recess of the housing. In the preferred embodiment, the coaxial valve systemwill comprise three configurations including an intake configuration, an exhaust configuration, and a closed configuration. When the coaxial valve systemis in the closed configuration, the bevelof the bottom plateof the interior valveengages with the inner diameter bevelof the lower portionof the exterior valve, thus sealing the recess cavity. Additionally, while in the closed position, the outer diameter bevelof the lower portionof the exterior valveengages with the beveled edgeof the housing, thus sealing the recessof the housing. When coaxial valve system, in accordance with some embodiments, is in the intake configuration, the outer diameter bevelof the lower portionof the exterior valveengages with the beveled edgeof the housing, while the interior valveis lowered thus exposing the recess cavityof the lower portionof the exterior valve. While the coaxial valve system is in the exhaust configuration, the bevelof the bottom plateof the interior valveengages with the inner diameter bevelof the lower portionof the exterior valve, thus sealing the recess cavityof the lower portionof the exterior valvewhile both the interior valveand exterior valveare lowered the same distance simultaneously, thus exposing the recessof the housingand the beveled edgeof the housing.

In alternate embodiments, the coaxial valve systemmay comprise an at least one seal ring. The at least one seal ringis concentric around the outer diameter of the exterior valveas shown in. The at least one seal ringis intended to prevent the leakage of the fluid, the gas, or the combination of fluid and gas at points where components interact.

As shown in, the interior valvecomprises the top plate, the rod, and the bottom platecomprising the bevel. The top plateis adjacent to the rod. The rodis adjacent to the bottom plate. The bottom platecomprises the bevelof the bottom plateof the interior valve.

As shown in, the exterior valvecomprises the upper portion, the center portion, and the lower portion. The upper portioncomprises the lipand the cutout. The through holeof the exterior valvedescends though the upper portionof the exterior valvethrough the top half of the center portionof the exterior valve. The upper portionis adjacent to the center portion. In the preferred embodiment, the upper portionhas a greater outer diameter than the outer diameter of the center portionof the exterior valve. The center portionis adjacent to the lower portion. The lower portionof the exterior valvecomprises the top faceof the lower portionof the exterior valve, the outer diameter bevelof the lower portionof the exterior valve, the bottom faceof the lower portionof the exterior valve, the recess cavity, and the inner diameter bevelof the lower portionof the exterior valve. In the preferred embodiment, the diameter along the edge of the top faceof the lower portionof the exterior valveis greater than the diameter of the center portionof the exterior valve. In the preferred embodiment, the diameter along the edge of the bottom faceof the lower portionof the exterior valveis greater than the diameter along the edge of the top faceof the lower portionof the exterior valve. The top faceof the lower portionof the exterior valveis adjacent to the outer diameter bevel. The outer diameter bevelof the lower portionof the exterior valveis adjacent to the bottom faceof the lower portionof the exterior valve.

As shown in, the through holeof the exterior valveextends through the cutoutof the upper portionand the center portionof the exterior valveincluding through the center of the internal valve guide rail. When assembled, the valve of the internal valve is capable of moving linearly within the through holeof the exterior valve. Furthermore, as shown in, the internal valve guide railcomprises a plurality of bore holes.

As shown in,,, and, the interior valvein certain embodiments is capable of moving exclusive on the exterior valve, especially when the internal valve is in an open configuration. The interior valveand the exterior valveare able to move linearly within the exterior valveand the housing, respectively. In one preferred embodiment, when the second camapplies a downward force to the interior valve, the interior valve springcompresses and the bottom plateof the interior valveis forced downward such that the bottommost face of the bottom plateof the interior valveextends past the bottom faceof the lower portionof the exterior valve, thus exposing a passageway into the ductof the exterior valve.

As shown in, the plurality of interposed valves are driven up and down, linearly, by the plurality of cams. In the preferred embodiment, the plurality of camscomprises cam shapes that are oblong or non-concentrically rotated disks. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, the plurality of camsrotate as they are connected to a single camshaft. As the camshaftrotates, the cams will drive the plurality of interposed valves upwards and downwards in a linear path. In additional embodiments, the valves may be driven by way of an electric motor or electronic solenoid actuator.

As shown in,, and, when in the intake configuration, the outer diameter bevelof the lower portionof the exterior valveengages with the beveled edgeof the housing, while the interior valveis lowered thus exposing the recess cavityof the lower portionof the exterior valve. In the preferred embodiment, the fluid, the gas, or the combination of fluid and gas, will travel through the intake portinto the intake chamber, through the plurality of openingsin the center portionof the exterior valve, down through the bore holes in the internal valve guide rail, and then exit through the recess cavityof the lower portionof the exterior valvewhen the interior valvelowers into the intake configuration. The names for the intake portand the exhaust portare merely naming conventions and may be used interchangeably.

As shown in,, and, when the coaxial valve system, in accordance with some embodiments is in the exhaust configuration, the bevelof the bottom plateof the interior valveengages with the inner diameter bevelof the lower portionof the exterior valve, thus sealing the recess cavityof the lower portionof the exterior valvewhile both the interior valveand exterior valveare lowered the same distance simultaneously, thus exposing the recessof the housingand the beveled edgeof the housing. In the preferred embodiment, after the fluid, the gas, or the combination of fluid and gas has been spent, the exterior valveand the exterior valvewill lower, thus putting the coaxial valve system in the exhaust configuration. Once the coaxial valve system is in the exhaust configuration, the fluid, the gas, or the combination of fluid and gas that has been spent will enter into the exhaust chamberthrough the recessof the housing, then exit the system through the exhaust port. The intake portand the exhaust portare merely naming conventions and may be used interchangeably.