This would have been much easier with str_getcsv().
$test="Lorem ipsum "dolor sit amet" consectetur "adipiscing elit" dolor";
var_dump(str_getcsv($test, ' '));
Gives you
array(6) {
[0]=>
string(5) "Lorem"
[1]=>
string(5) "ipsum"
[2]=>
string(14) "dolor sit amet"
[3]=>
string(11) "consectetur"
[4]=>
string(15) "adipiscing elit"
[5]=>
string(5) "dolor"
}