a few years ago i saw a prototype F-1 engine with a notched cylinder running along the top of the head that acted in place of the valve train with the notches opening and closing over the input and exhaust ports. it was crank powered turning over ten grand too before running into problems. i wonder how it would work on an engine like this that doesn't turn high revs???
Piston ported engines (2 strokes) have been around for a long long time.
I'd say this engine would work good as a 2 stroke. Lower rpm and more torque, which 2 stroke lack. Most good 2 strokes today run around 9,000 rpm. This engine would run about 1/3 of that as a 2 stroke but produce much more torque.
Are you sure it was a cylinder and not a series of spherical constructions? That sounds a lot like the Coates engine.