MOTORED CAMSHAFT

On the standard steady flow testing rig, fluid flows into the cylinder head through a
permanently open gap which limits the effectiveness of the steady flow rig. This would not
occur in reality as the valves on a cylinder are continuously in motion (either opening or
closing) as the fluid enters. Incorporating a motored camshaft would simulate the flow much
more realistically.

Most engines incorporate the use of a timing belt which is a toothed belt that connects the
engine crankshaft to the camshafts. The timing belt needs to synchronize the camshaft to the
crankshaft position, so the valves will open and close at the proper time in the relation to the
position of the pistons which move up and down in the cylinders to ensure the engine running
properly.

http://www.samarins.com/glossary/timing_belt.html

It would, therefore, be helpful to feature a similar system in the steady flow testing rig so a
more realistic idea of the flow patterns can be seen. A motored camshaft could be used to
mimic the different calibrations set by timing belts, so a more varied range of research can be
undergone.

There are a couple of novel ways by which we vary the valve timing. One system we can use
in this situation is called VTEC. VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control)
is an electronic and mechanical system in some engines that allows the engine to have
multiple camshafts. This system maintains intake camshaft timing which can be analogously
used in the steady flow test rig to control both intake and exhaust valves timing
automatically.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/camshaft2.htm
The electric motor in the actuator spins together with the intake camshaft as the engine runs.
To maintain camshaft timing, the actuator motor will operate at the same speed as the
camshaft. To advance the camshaft timing, the actuator motor will rotate slightly faster than
the camshaft speed. To retard camshaft timing, the actuator motor will rotate slightly slower
than camshaft speed. The speed difference between the actuator motor and camshaft timing is
used to operate a mechanism that varies the camshaft timing.

When testing a cylinder head however only the cylinder head is attached to the air flow
bench, the rest of the engine is not present. Therefore the cam belt cannot be used to operate
the valves. A more appropriate solution would be to operate the valves by a motor.

If put into action on a system like the steady flow testing rig, a motored cam shaft would
allow for more data to be taken on a much more accurate scale, and research to be conducted
into fuel usage, engine output, and emissions. Anyway, when we add the motored camshaft
system to the steady flow testing rig, we can adjust the valves lifting accurately to ensure we
can get different values of the mass flow rate at a proper timing.

Reference
[1] Anonymous, no date, Timing belt [Online], Available at:
<http://www.samarins.com/glossary/timing_belt.html> [Accessed 21 Nov 2010]
[2] Karim Nice, no date, How Camshaft Work [Online], Available at:
<http://auto.howstuffworks.com/camshaft2.htm> [Accessed 21 Nov 2010]
[3] Julian Edgar, no date, Variable Valve Timing [Online], Available at:
<http://autospeed.com/cms/title_Variable-Valve-Timing/A_110859/article.html> [Accessed
21 Nov 2010]
[4] Anonymous, no date, Variable valve timing [Online], Available at:
<http://moodle.student.cnwl.ac.uk/moodledata_shared/CDX
%20eTextbook/dswmedia/engines/comp/vlves/variablevalvetiming.html> [Accessed 21 Nov
2010]