Advanced Valve Control

Submitted for MAE 442

(sec 001)

Dr. Klang
May 4, 2007
Chris Dirito
Taylor Hobgood
Dawn Glover

Outline
Valve

Basics
Advantages of Variable Valve Control
Operation Characteristics
Types of Variable Valve Control
Lift
Duration
Phase

Manufacturers

and Examples
Future Possibilities

Variable Valve Timeline

VVT- Variable Valve Timing

It can be seen that according to the trend VVT will reach ~ 90 percent
of vehicles in 2010 (according to Prof. Dr. Peter Walzer)

Variable Valve Introduction

Why Use

Variable Valve Timing and Lift?

Most basic form of a push rod valvetrain is shown in the

adjacent picture.

This systems Valvetrain characteristics cannot be changed

once the engine is started

Limitations:

Fuel Economy and Power are only

optimized at one particular RPM, Throttle
Position
Broad torque curves are sacrificed

VVT Advantage
It

can be seen from the graph the

increases in torque across the power
range of the VVT engine

Variable Valve Types

Valve

Lift

Specified Amount

the Valve Opens to Allow Air and/or Fuel Air Mixture Into Combustion

Chamber
Controlled by Camshaft Lobe Height, Maximum at the Cam Nose
Typically Specified as Height Valve Lifts Away From Valve Seat

Variable Valve Types

Valve Duration

Specified Time the Valve is Open

Controlled By Camshaft Profile Geometry, Length of Lobe
Measured in Degrees of Rotation, Either from Camshaft or Crankshaft

Variable Valve Types

Valve Timing
Changes Point at which Valve Opening begins
with respect to crankshaft position.
Typically attained by controlling an interface
between the timing belt or chain, and the
camshaft itself.
Allows for finer tuning of Combustion chamber
cross flow, and coupled with variable ignition
timing can be adjusted to increase
Combustion Efficiency.

Operation Characteristics

Intake Opening

Intake valves are opened before TDC (~10-25degrees)

Higher

engine speed have shorter time for air/fuel ingestion

Speeds decrease volumetric flow rate
Time delay for valve to open fully
At higher engine speeds intake valves must open earlier
Higher

Intake Closing
closed

after BDC (~40-50degrees)

The

intake flow momentum is greater than pressure created by

upstroke of piston
This momentum is greater at higher engine speeds
thus at higher engine speeds intake valve will close later in cycle.

Operation Characteristics
(cont)

Valve

Overlap

Definition:

Valve overlap occurs when both intake and

exhaust valves are opened

At

higher engine speeds exhaust from other cylinders in

exhaust manifold will pull more air into cylinder
Increased

speeds

valve overlap is desired at higher engine

Decreased

valve overlap at lower engine speeds

increases effective compression ratio which in turn
increases torque.

Variable Valve Types and Common

Manufacturers
Valvetronic

Offers continuously variable valve timing and

valve lift on the intake cam only. Relies
on amount of valve lift to throttle engine

BMW

VANOS

Varies the timing of the valves by moving the

position of the camshafts in relation to
the drive gear.

BMW

VTEC

Utilizes two camshaft profiles and

electronically selects between the profiles

Honda

VarioCam

Varies intake timing by adjusting the tension

of a cam chain

Porche

AVCS/AVLS

AVCS - varies timing (phase) with hydraulic

pressure
AVLS - Varies duration, timing and lift by
switching between two different sets of
cam lobes

Subaru
Mitsubishi MIVEC
similar to AVLS

Variable Valve Types and Common

Manufacturers
VVT-i / VVTL-i

VVT-i varies timing of intake

valves by adjusting the
relationship between camshaft
drive and intake camshaft
VVTL-i alters valve lift and
timing

Toyota - Avalon,
RAV4, Camry,
Corolla, Celica
Pontiac - Vibe

VVC

Varies timing with eccentric disk

Rover

Toyota Schematic of VVTL-i

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:VVTLi.jp

Valvetronic
Variable Valve Control which uses variable valve Lift
(lift can be altered in 300 milliseconds)

Under
During

high loads valve lift will increases

low load situations valve lift will decrease

Advantages:
Fuel consumption reduced by 10 %
No need for throttle butterfly (increased throttle response) (Due to no throttle
butterfly pumping loss is reduced )
No timing belt or chain required) (Belt/chain only required to spin cam shafts)
Disadvantages:
Low valve spring rates are required (stepper motor needs to be able to compress
valve springs), thus high engine speeds are not able to be achieved.

Valvetronic
Simplified

Explanation: Valvetronic varies valve lift by adjusting the fulcrum

point of the rocker arm.
The

eccentric shaft is turned by an electric stepper motor which is controlled

by the engine control unit.
This

will influence how much the cam can push down on the valve

Valvetronic in Action

http://youtube.com/watch?vrEELtXVTymU

The Mystical Vtec

Explained
Vtec
Variable

valve Timing and Electronic lift Control

Variable in that two or more camshaft profiles can be utilzed
Electronic due to the fact that an electronic solenoid
controls the oil flow used to activate and deactivate the
system
Standard Vtec
Varies Valve lift and/or duration by utilizing multiple
camshaft profiles.
Two Camshaft Profiles can be used. Each cam lobe has its
own rocker arm.
Desired cam profile is then locked together with the rocker
arm controlling the valve on which desired effect is to take
place.
Locking is accomplished with oil pressure and a sliding pin
mechanism. A solenoid triggers at the specified kick-in speed
and allows oil flow to the sliding pin mechanism.
Advantages are better fuel economy and smoother engine
operation at low speeds, while at higher speeds more
aggressive camshaft profile allows more power to be utilized.
System shown varies both valves the same. Both valves
are either at low speed profile or high speed profile

Vtec in Action

Vtec-e
Vtec-e
Vtec

system where a extremely low cam profile

is used at low rpm for one valve. And a standard
cam profile is used for the other valve at low rpm
and the standard cam profile is used for both
valves at higher rpm speeds.
This effectively closes one valve on a 16 valve
cylinder head. Allowing a lean mixture to be
used through the one open valve.
Lean mixture is swirled through the open valve
creating a more efficient distribution of the fuel in
the combustion chamber.
Leads to increased fuel mileage, increased
engine efficiency, and decreased emissions.
Does not create more power, is purely for
efficiency reasons.
Interestingly the one closed valve is slightly
opened to allow any residual fuel that may pool
in the closed intake passage to be used, but this
lift is miniscule.
Example Head

3 Stage Vtec

3 Stage Vtec
Vtec system which combines the standard Vtec and Vtec-e concepts to create a high power,
fuel efficient valvetrain.
Utilizes 3 separate Camshaft Profiles. This system operates like Vtec-e closing one valve at
low speeds and then opening both valves at a standard lift and duration at a midrange rpm.
It then has a high rpm cam which opens both valves aggressively as in standard Vtec.
Like standard Vtec one rocker arm, usually on the highest lift profile, is not attached to a
valve so that the highest lift is only used when the system is in operational Vtec range.
In the illustration below the three significant camshaft profiles can be seen. And the sliding
pins for each stage are shown as well

Vanos
Valve

Timing Control
Method of adjusting cam sprocket relation
to camshaft position. Allows for advanced
or retarded valve timing to be used.
Typical System
Typically phase angle is adjusted with oil
pressure radially. Most Japanese and
American Manufacturers use this method.
Usually only intake camshaft is adjusted.
Vanos
BMW utilizes Vanos which adjusts relation
between camshaft and sprocket by using
two concentric pitched gears. A oil fed cup
pushes one sprocket through the other
axially thereby adjusting their relative phase
angle.
This allows for more precise movement,
and a more controllably linear motion as
opposed to the radial motion of other
systems.
Oil Flow is Controlled by electronic
solenoid.
Double Vanos controls both intake and
exhaust camshafts

Other Phase Changers

i-Vtec
Utilizes

Oil actuated cam

sprocket and follower.
Angle is adjusted using oil
pressure as in Vanos but is
actuated in a rotational
method, as opposed to
BMWs linear actuation.
Oil pressure controlled with
electronic solenoid Typically
Other manufacturers use
similar technology

Japanese Continuous Lift

Modification
A-Vtec
Stands

For
Advanced Vtec
Utilises a
Intermediate
Rocker Arm
between the
Camshaft and the
Valve Rocker.
This is housed in
a rotating housing,
allowing for
camshaft lift to be
mechanically
adjusted from no
lift to maximum lift.

Aftermarket Adjustments
Infinite Adjustability
Almost

all systems controlled electronically. Either directly by solenoids

or stators, or by electronically actuated oil flow.
These electronic components can be tapped into and controlled by
remappable software.
This allows for updates to be implemented without major tear down and
rebuild.
In car capabilities
A laptop with correct software can be used to continuously analyze
engine performance.
Ignition Timing and Phase Timing can be measured and changed to
optimize performance.
Multi-stage systems such as Vtec can be changed to engage at
different RPM settings.
Benefits
Can readily change engine tuning from a useful efficient street setting
to an aggressive racing setting at the push of a button.
Allows for changes to be made on site to experiment with the most
useful settings without extensive R&D.
Personalized Engine performance, Not just what the Pros think is right,
whatever You think is right.

Future

Pneumatic Valves

The valve spring pocket is

replaced with a chamber
pressurized with a gas
(usually nitrogen because it is
less temperature-sensitive
than O2)
Still use traditional camshafts
The system has been used in
Formula 1 racing since 1980s
Allows higher RPMs valve
springs have to be very stiff to
allow high RPMs which
creates more engine drag and
slower valve timing

Future

Electrical Solenoids

Presently only used in the most modern systems

Open and close valves without using valve springs as the main
mode of valve closer. Solenoids accomplish this either directly or
through electromechanical or electro-hydraulic connections.
Soft closings less destructive force can allow for use of
ceramic valves which can withstand higher temperatures
Can potentially have infinite variability in controlling valve timing,
duration, and lift
Drawback large size of components may be impractical for
some vehicles with standard 12-volt system
Instead can use 42-volt electrical system with smaller
components which also eliminates camshafts and thus reduces
engine friction and increases mechanical efficiency

Future

Camless Valve Actuation

Future

Solenoids Camless Valve

Actuation
1. Current flows through the coil
and a magnetic field forms
around the coil
2. The magnetic field attracts
the armature toward the
center of the coil
3. As the armature moves
upward, the spring collapses
and the valve opens
4. When current stops flowing
to the coil, the magnetic field
collapses and the spring
expands and shuts the valve

References:
Delphi

Variable Cam Phasers. 2006. 1 May 2007

http://www.delphi.com/manufacturers/auto/powertrain/gas/valvetrain/vcp/
VANOS.

2007. 1 May 2007. http://www.bmw.dk/teknisk/en_artikkel.asp?id=5

Different

Types of VVT. 2005. 3 May 2007.

http://www.autozine.org/technical_school/engine/vvt_2.htm
US

Patent # 6,968,819. USPTO. 4 May 2007.

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1
&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6,968,819.PN.&OS=PN/6,968
,819&RS=PN/6,968,819
Honda

Worldwide. 2003. 1 May 2007.

http://world.honda.com/motorcycle-technology/vtec/img/p3_04.jpg
VTEC.
BMW

2004. 1 May 2007. http://www.luk-korbmacher.de/Autos/Technik/vtec.htm

Valvetronic. 2007. 4 May 2007. http://youtube.com/watch?v=rEELtXVTymU

References:
Hope A.

Bolton and Jay M. Larson. Valvetrain System Design and Materials .

Materials Park, OH, 1997
Willard

W. Pulkrabek. Engineering Fundamentals of the Internal Combustion

Engine, 2nd Edition. Pearson Education, Inc, NJ, 2004
BMW

World. 2005. 2 May 2007. <

http://www.bmwworld.com/technology/valvetronic.htm >
Ford

Muscle. 2004. 1 May 2007.

<http://www.fordmuscle.com/fundamentals/pistontovalve/images/overlap.gif>
Honda

Engines. 2007. 2 May 2007.<http://www.honda-engineseu.com/en/images/249.gif >

Prof.

Dr. Peter Walzer. Technology Highlights and R and D Activities. 2002

http://www.fev.com/data/documents/spectrum20.pdf

References
Wikipedia: Variable Valve Timing. 2007. 1 May 2007.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_valve_timing>

RACER MAGAZINE: F1 Engine Power Secrets. 2000. 3 May 2007.

<http://www.pureluckdesign.com/ferrari/f1engine/>

Motorcycle Daily. The Sportbike Engine of the Future: Other Valvetrain Options. 2006.
3 May 2007.
<http://www.motorcycledaily.com/12february06_valves.htm>

Smart Valve Actuation: The Camless Engine Becomes a Reality. 2005. 3 May 2007.
<http://www.valeo.com/automotive-supplier/Jahia/lang/en/pid/1317>

Engineers Edge. 2007. 3 May 2007.

<http://www.engineersedge.com/hydraulic/electric_solenoid_actuator.htm>