Rcv

How it works
The RCV 4-cycle engine has only one more moving component than a 2-cycle engine -the rotating cylinder itself. The cylinder is suspended between two bearings which allow it to rotate freely around the piston; the piston, and crank are entirely conventional. A gear formed around the base of the cylinder meshes with a 2:1 reduction gear on the crank. As the piston reciprocates and the crank turns, the cylinder rotates around the piston at half engine speed.
At the top end of the rotating cylinder there is a single port leading to the combustion chamber. This is surrounded by a fixed timing ring with three radially arranged ports; inlet, ignition and exhaust. This simple valve arrangement serves the combustion chamber as the engine cycles through the conventional 4-cycles: induction, compression, power and exhaust. Ignition is achieved through a standard 4-cycle glow plug exposed once only during each complete cycle.
The rotating cylinder is effectively combined with the rotary valve in a single component hence - RCV - Rotating Cylinder Valve. A shaft attached to the cylinder rotates at half engine speed producing high torque and facilitating use of larger and quieter scale propellers.

BREAKDOWN OF MAIN COMPONENTS

Use of modern materials and the beneficial honing action between the piston and rotating cylinder minimises any internal wear. With no complex overhead poppet valves, the 4-cycle RCV engine design has proved to be inherently reliable.