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Torvec Wins Patent for Key Transmission Component

29 August 2000

Torvec Wins Patent for Key Transmission Component; Portfolio of Patent-Protected Advances Continues to Grow

    ROCHESTER, N.Y., Aug. 28 Torvec, Inc.
(OTC Bulletin Board: TOVC) announced that it received United States patent
protection for its spool valve, a key subcomponent in the Company's
fuel-efficient and soot-reducing transmission for cars and trucks.
    Torvec was founded by the same team that invented and commercialized the
Torsen differential, which improves the handling of high-performance vehicles
made by General Motors, Toyota, Audi, Porsche, Hummer, Mazda and Volkswagen
and in Formula 1 and Indy race cars.
    Torvec was awarded US patent #6,095,192 for a spool valve that controls
the flow of high-speed and high-pressure fluids in Torvec's hydraulic pump,
which in turn is a key component in the Company's Infinitely Variable
Transmission.
    Keith Gleasman, President of Torvec, said, "Patent protection is the
foundation of our Company's value, and this patent is an important
cornerstone. Torvec's spool valve is a key part of our transmission, which
reduces soot emissions and increases fuel efficiency in gas and diesel powered
cars and trucks.  Cleaner-running engines are a top priority for automotive
manufacturers as well as the EPA."
    Mr. Gleasman explained the engineering breakthrough achieved by the
Company:

    "Torvec's spool valve is a significant advance in hydraulics because it
has a smooth mechanical operation instead of a spring operation.  Spool valves
that open and close with springs are speed limited and require regular
maintenance because of fatigue.  Torvec's spool valve opens and closes
mechanically, so we achieve higher speeds without fatigue.
    "Our spool valve also causes less turbulence in the pump's hydraulic fluid
compared to spring-based valves, which have stems that upset the smooth flow
of fluid like a twig stuck into a stream.  Torvec's mechanical spool valve is
an engineering breakthrough that has applications in hydraulic pumps for many
different applications."

    The following is excerpted from the US Patent Torvec announced today:

    "Valve design is of particular importance ... to control the flow of
hydraulic fluids under high speed and high pressure conditions, e.g., in
automotive pump/motors which are capable of developing high horsepower and
must be able to achieve speeds as high as 4000 r.p.m. and to withstand
pressures as high as 4000 p.s.i. Consistent fluid flow under such conditions
is critical.
    "Valving according to the invention overcomes the response time problems
of spring-biased valving and not only assures consistency of valve timing but
also significantly increases the efficiency of fluid flow past the stem
portion of each spool."