CAMS AND

CAM LESS
ENGINE
BY: PRASHANT PANDEY
ME-B
1203240111

OVERVIEW
What is CAM?
How does camshaft starts
working?
Disadvantages of camshaft
in an engine.
What is Camless engine?
Types of camless engine.
Advantages of camless
engine.
Application and future scope
of camless engine.

WHAT IS CAM?
It

is a mechanical device which mainly

control the breathing channels (valves) of
an IC engine.
It is connected to camshaft which is
operated by crankshaft.
Cams push open valves at proper time &
guide their closure.

How does CAMSHAFT starts

working?

Disadvantages of using
camshaft in an engine
Friction generated in camshaft, springs,
cam belts etc robs the precious power and
worsens fuel economy.
Wear and tear also occurs in camshafts
while running.
We could not vary timing, lift & duration of
valve opening infinitely in cam shaft.

What is CAMLESS ENGINE?

The engine which doesnt use camshaft for
intake and exhaust of a/f mixture is called
camless engine.
In this type of engine,the inlet and exhaust
port is governed with the help of actuators.
This type of engine reduces mechanical
linkages in an engine thus making it more
simple.

 This type of engines can provide

infinite variation in valve
parameters ie.we can vary
duration,lift and time opening of
the both inlet and outlet valves.
It can make engines clean,
efficient & responsive.

Working Of Camless Engines

Camless engine made debut on 2009

fiat 500.
Could provide infinite variation of
valve parameters
Sensors sense parameters & send
signals to ECU
ECU contains microprocessors with
associated software
This ECU controls the actuators to
work according to requirements

Valeo estimates that the efficiency

of a camless engine would be 20%
greater than a comparable camshaftoperated engine.

Mechanism Of Camless Engine

Mainly five sensors are present, which senses:

1. speed of the engine.
2. load on the engine.
3. exhaust position sensor.
4. valve position sensor.
5. current sensor. Microprocessors are present in ECU to issue
signal and control the actuators.

Types Of Camless
Mechanisms
Electromechanical

poppet

valvesv
Electromechanical Ball Valves

Electro-mechanical Poppet Valves

Early systems employed solenoid

and magnetic
attraction/repulsion was used on
an iron or ferromagnetic
armature
Varying air gaps which lead to
high seating velocities which
made varying of the lift difficult.
It is replaced with a currentcarrying armature coil.
A magnetic field is generated by
a magnetic field generator and
directed across the fixed air gap.

The force generated on the armature coil drives the

armature coil linearly in the gap in a direction parallel with
the valve stem.
Depending on the direction of the current supplied to the
armature coil. The valve will be driven toward an open or
closed position.
Siemens report that a special software algorithm is used to
control the actuator coil currents such that the valves are
decelerated to a speed near zero they land.
In conjunction with a switching time of barely three
milliseconds.
The 16-valve four cylinder engines that is currently
undergoing tests in Germany, by Siemens, is equipped with
16 valve actuator and corresponding armature-position
sensors.

Different views of poppet valves

Electromechanical Ball Valves

It consists of a ball through which

there is a passage passes.
If the ball is rotated such that
passage lines up with other
openings in the valve assembly,
gas can pass through it.
The disc is permanently attached
and indexed to the ball valve and
contains permanent magnets
around its perimeter.
A crank trigger sensor on the
crankshaft provides information
about the position of the piston
relative to top dead center.

Electromechanical Ball Valves

Electromechanical valve train

implementation would not be
possible with a normal 12v
electrical system.
The automotive industry has
chosen a 42v electrical system as
the next automotive standard.
The valve housing arrangement in
a four stroke reciprocation piston
engine
eliminates
all
the
independent moving parts in the
valve train.

Current application of camless

engine
Camless valve trains
using solenoids or
magnetic system are
being
investigated
by BMW and fiat.
They
are
being
prototyped by Valeo
and Ricardo.
Used in the new fiat
500.

Advantages

Offers continuously variable & independent control of all

aspects of valve motion - lift, operation duration, event of
opening
ECV system can control valve velocity, valve acceleration
and deceleration
Better fuel economy- 7 to 10 % increase
Higher torque & power- 10 to 15 % increase
Lower exhaust emissions- EGR system is eliminated since
EGR effect occurs on its own & thus reduces NOx
emissions
Reduction in size & weight

Limitations Of Camless Engines

Relatively

high cost.
Packaging.
Power consumption.
Noise and vibration.

CONCLUSION

An electro mechanical camless valve train was developed for a camless

engine. Initial development confirmed its functional ability to control the
valve timing, lift, velocity, and event duration, as well as to perform
selectively variable deactivation in a four-valve multicylinder engine.

Review of the benefits expected from a camless engine points to

substantial improvements in performance, fuel economy, and emissions
over and above what is achievable in engines with camshaft-based valve
trains.

The development of a camless engine with an electro mechanical valve

train described in this report is only a first step towards a complete engine
optimization. Further research and development are needed to take full
advantage of this system exceptional flexibility.

REFERENCE

Michael M.Schechter and Michael B.Levin Camless Engine, SAE

paper [960581]
John B. Heywood, Internal combustion engine fundamentals
www.machinedesign.com
www.halfbakery.com
www.deiselnet.com
www.greendieseltechnology.com
www.autospeed.com
P. Kreuter, P. Heuser, and M. Schebitz, "Strategies to Impove SIEngine Performance
by Means of Variable Intake Lift, Timing and Duration", SAE paper
[920449].