motor

danroz · 04-06-2004, 02:58 PM

I recently stumbled upon this article:

http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Rotary_20Valve_20Engine

Here is the snip-it thats important that I read:

'An engine has several limitations when it comes to RPM. One is the potential for valves to "hang" open longer than they should and become food for a hungry engine. This idea takes shape from a solid metal bar with a notch cut for each valve. The bar has a gear at one end, with an alignment mark. The bar is connected to the workings of the engine, much as the cam is today, but with an exposed gear to allow the connection on the side of the block, and the ability to remove the bar as needed for maintenance and or engine performance shaping with a bar of different configuration. These notches are cut from the bar, and angled to allow for the intake and exhaust gasses to pass as needed. This basic system would remove the need for a cam (as we know it), lifters, valves and springs, all of which are moving in a plane (save the cam) that is non rotational, and thus a weaker link. This shaft is inserted into the engine and rides on a small amount of oil within the length of the tube.
Different engine designers might be better suited for this than others. The "valve shaft" or "rotary valve" would allow for extremely high rpm's without the risk to the pistons that are created when a spring looses it's performance traits. All this will not solve the problem of the pistons still having to move in that non-rotational plane, but should help the reliability, and perhaps the efficiency. An additional aspect to this is the ability to change the "valves" of an engine with the removing of a cover plate on the side, removing the old valve shaft, and replacing with a new one (checking the index for timing). The thought is that an engine could be built with relatively large openings for these valve notches (thus allowing larger amounts of fuel into the engine, increasing hp.), and with a few minutes of modification (replacing the valve shaft), taking the car from "wild" to "mild" for city driving and better gas mileage. Sure, there would need to be some other adjustments (fuel, etc...), but I believe it would allow options we don't have currently without pulling the heads off and working the engine from the ground up. '

I have heard the company who is researching this technology is having a problem with the apex seals...

My question is did the big name manufacturers figure out this technology yet? The specs of the engines seem to make rotary valves a reality...small v10 under 3 litres pushing 900+ at 18k RPM.

Anyone agree with my conspiracy theory?