Mouser

No camshaft,higher revving,more BHP,more torque and better MPG engines. Can we expect to see the technology on a mass production vehicle any time soon?

Might be SIAL but I haven't seen it before.

http://www.wimp.com/combustionengine/

dpb

So it needs air cylinder somewhere.

CrisPDuk

Very interesting, pneumatic valve technology will make it to production engines soon, it's the next level of control required for ever more stringent emissions regs.

Reliability will be the big hurdle to overcome, as far as control technology is concerned, there aren't many harsher enviroments than under a car bonnet.

I imagine it would require a compact compressor & reservoir somewhere but there should stil lbe a pretty sbstansial net weight decrease

Gambit

iTrader: (6)

been in F1 for years so engine manufacturers have experience of it, i assume its a cost issue but only a matter of time before it eventually finds its way into everyday cars

cster

I think F1 cars still use camshafts, where as this system dispenses with cams.

Mouser

Don't know why this was moved, probably should have left Koenigsegg out of the heading. Anyway, there was something a while back regarding the possibility of using an electromagnetic operation of the valves thereby also eliminating the need for a camshaft.

Neanderthal

iTrader: (6)

Don't the motoGP bikes use this?

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Can't see how it will be a weight loss, since it will need a compressor and reservoir and they are heavy.

Mouser

Are you referring to the desmodromic valve?

CrisPDuk

But probably nowhere near as heavy as a couple of camshafts and four sets of valve springs, rockers and/or tappets per cylinder

Kwik

iTrader: (10)

Ducati use this, and have done for years.

Mouser

My thoughts also and no timing chain or cambelt and associated parts.

Indeed, but they still use a camshaft.

dpb

How would you charge the battery

scubbay

iTrader: (61)

Off an alternator using an auxillary belt, the same way its done on quite a lot of engines, also known as a fan belt. There would just be no need for the cam belt.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Fantastic stuff!

CrisPDuk

Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki all experimented with pneumatic valve springs as engine speeds climbed during the 997cc and into the 800cc period, but these were replacements for the traditional coil valve spring not an air actuated valve. They still require the camshaft to dictate the valve events. I believe they aren't used any longer because max rpms have been reduced in recent years in the interests of engine longevity.

F1 engines have also used air springs, I don't know if they still do as I know longer follow it

The Ducati system is completely different, they use a pair of cams, one to open and one to close each valve. An absolute b@stard to set up correctly, but once running, there are none of the usual stresses associated with forcing valves open against strong springs. Meaning in turn that less power is consumed by turning the camshafts

scoobyc

iTrader: (2)

i believe with koeniggsegg engine its like kers. when decreasign in speed, the engine itself turns into the compressor to recarch the air cylinder. therefore not wasting the braking energy.

Im sure in that video on their test saab its 30% improvement in power and 30% improvement in economy?