I think you may be referring to the Aspin and Cross designs both of which have been tested extensively by various manufacturers, prewar,Austin converted some 4 and 6 cylinder engines to work with these types of rotary valve but the benefits were to costly. From an engineering standpoint though these designs offered high MEP,exceptional knock resistance, good specific power output coupled with good fuel consumption. All of course at a price and as we all know many good ideas have died on the accountants altar but who knows these might come into use driven by current pollution concerns.