Camless engine...(not a rotary)

[SSRacer]

Very interesting idea:
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/07/camless-engine-may-debut-on-2009-fiat-500-alfa-junior/

It's been bandied about for some time, but Valeo is looking to finally make it a reality. The supplier is developing a camless engine that utilizes electromagnetic solenoids to drive the valves, providing unlimited control of the valves, reducing emissions by up to 20-percent and improving performance in the process.

The system, which is also being developed by both Jacobs Vehicle Systems of Connecticut and Lotus Engineering, has had its share of fits and starts. Packaging issues have caused problems for all involved, particularly on engines with three or four valves per cylinder.

Although Valeo has yet to get an automaker to sign on, industry sources claim that Fiat is looking to employ a similar system, dubbed Multiair, on the 2009 900cc 500 and possibly some of its diesel offerings. Alfa Romeo might get in the game as well, when it releases the "Junior" model with a turbocharged inline four.

[DOHC_tuner]

and the first vehicle is with a turbocharged inline four....that i like

[GregFarz78]

Sounds like just something else to go wrong and expensive to fix...I wouldn't want to buy a car with that until about 10 years of real world guinea pigs test it out

[AMRAAM4]

psssst, a rotary has a cam, it's just not called a "cam", it's called an eccentric shaft. You think the rotars turn inside the housing by magic?

[SSRacer]

psssst, a rotary has a cam, it's just not called a "cam", it's called an eccentric shaft. You think the rotars turn inside the housing by magic?

You mean they don't...never would have guessed it by some of the rotary fanboy talk you hear lol

[timberwoof]

You mean they don't...never would have guessed it by some of the rotary fanboy talk you hear lol

And all this time I thought Harry Potter was working for Mazda. Damn it, I'm wrong again.

[AMRAAM4]

It doesn't look exactly like a piston engine camshaft, but you can see the lobes. This runs down the center of the housing with the flywheel attached at the backside. Front side just ends at the front plate cover.

http://www.xtremerotaries.com/main2/guru/eshaft/Lge%20eshaft/assembled-eshaft-2.jpg

[AaronGTR]

It's not exactly a camshaft either though. It's closer to the crank shaft on a piston engine. The only real difference being that the rotary has no valves either and the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust ports are controlled and timed by the position of the ports in the housing and the movement of the rotors.


Anyway back on topic. Cam-less piston engines would only be new on a street car. They've been used in formula one engines for some time now. The biggest reason why is because of the extreme rpm they turn to create power. On a street engine turning lower rpm is questionable if the advantages would be worth the engineering costs and complexity. Most formula one engines use valves that are either hydraulic or electromagnetically operated. Both system are expensive and very touchy. They also require a great deal of pressure or electricity, which would require upgrading the car from 12v to something much higher.

[lone_wolf025]

It's not exactly a camshaft either though. It's closer to the crank shaft on a piston engine. The only real difference being that the rotary has no valves either and the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust ports are controlled and timed by the position of the ports in the housing and the movement of the rotors.


You beat me to it.

[AMRAAM4]

It's not exactly a camshaft either though. It's closer to the crank shaft on a piston engine. The only real difference being that the rotary has no valves either and the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust ports are controlled and timed by the position of the ports in the housing and the movement of the rotors.


Anyway back on topic. Cam-less piston engines would only be new on a street car. They've been used in formula one engines for some time now. The biggest reason why is because of the extreme rpm they turn to create power. On a street engine turning lower rpm is questionable if the advantages would be worth the engineering costs and complexity. Most formula one engines use valves that are either hydraulic or electromagnetically operated. Both system are expensive and very touchy. They also require a great deal of pressure or electricity, which would require upgrading the car from 12v to something much higher.
whatever you say, you'd know more than me obviously...........