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Camless engine?

Reliability is a problem, said the article. Oh well, cool tech anyway.
 
Will be interesting if they can get the reliability solved before EV/battery tech beats the ICE.
 
If you could truly adjust lift, duration and timing, you could do away with the throttle, which BMW did some time back. Still working on making it.... work. :D
 
There used to be this strange engine with no valves... it was very simple, interesting and powerful design. I think they called them 2-strokes...

There were folks that have tired to make various sorts of camless engines over the years.

I can't recall what they were called but they used discs in the cylinder head instead of poppet valves we are used to seeing.

The discs rotated and opened ports in the head just like disc valves opened crankcase ports in disc valve 2 strokes.

adjusting the timing and shapes of the discs gives you variable valve timing.

but that design had lots of issues with compression losses and overheating parts and additional rotating masses, lubrication, cooling...
 
LOL welcome to 1979 - when I worked on the exact same system at a certain aerospace company. :afm199

Lotus ran with the idea 10 years later and it was slated for F1 until a certain FIAT subsidiary complained and they were banned. :x
 
While the flexibility is great, the complexity would increase along with wear parts.

Now, if electromagnetics were currently a viable option, that would be the best solution, but the efficiency just isn't there.
 
It's using a solenoid to open/close the valves? Surprised they're able to act that fast.
 
My question is - could you eliminate the starter motor?

Open or close particular valves, squirt some gas in and light it...:dunno

Yes I know, compression might be an issue. But it might work.
 
Last edited:
SM610 said:
My question is - could you eliminate the starter motor?

Open or close particular valves, squirt some gas in and light it...:dunno

Yes I know, compression might be an issue. But it might work.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure that's been tried. Don't remember who or when.
 
F1 has been using pneumonic valves for a long time to close valves in place of a valve spring. They react faster than springs therefore reduce valve float at high rpm.
 
Blankpage said:
F1 has been using pneumonic valves for a long time to close valves in place of a valve spring. They react faster than springs therefore reduce valve float at high rpm.
Click to expand...

those motors also get taken apart after every race, so long term reliability at the seals isn't really an issue.
 
Blankpage said:
F1 has been using pneumonic valves for a long time to close valves in place of a valve spring. They react faster than springs therefore reduce valve float at high rpm.
Click to expand...

The pneumatic valve springs on f1 engines are air chambers that are compressed as the cam lobe pushes down on the valve and the air pressure pulls the valve back up. But there is still a cam compressing the valves.

The design in the first post has no cams and uses air pressur to push the valves down and a spring to close them.
 
motomania2007 said:
The pneumatic valve springs on f1 engines are air chambers that are compressed as the cam lobe pushes down on the valve and the air pressure pulls the valve back up. But there is still a cam compressing the valves.

The design in the first post has no cams and uses air pressur to push the valves down and a spring to close them.
Click to expand...

Yes I know the camshaft is still there in F1 that why I said pneumatic to close valves.
 
Blankpage said:
Yes I know the camshaft is still there in F1 that why I said pneumatic to close valves.
Click to expand...

I mentioned it only because I was talking with a buddy sometime back and he thought F1 pneumatic valve springs meant no more cams
 
channelcat said:
those motors also get taken apart after every race, so long term reliability at the seals isn't really an issue.
Click to expand...

You sure about that? Im pretty sure they cant touch the engine our transmission unless they fail or else its a grid penalty
 
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