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AUTOMOTIVE ENGINES
I Introduction
1 General - Historical development of automobiles, Types of power plant, Principle of engine operation,
Classification of engines.
2. Two stroke & four stroke engines; Principles of engine operation (SI & CI), Scavenging - systems,
theoretical processes, parameters, relative merits & demerits; Port timing diagrams, port design.
Relative merits & demerits compared to petrol & diesel engines, scavenging pumps.
II Engine components –
Classification/types, function, materials, construction details, design and manufacturing processes of
the following engine components
3. Cylinders and liners - design, cylinder wear and corrosion, details of water jacket, dry and wet liners,
Cylinder head - design;
4. Piston, piston rings, piston pin - design - stress analysis, methods of manufacture, compensation of
thermal expansion in pistons, heat treatment, piston ring selection, limits of fit for pins
5. Connecting rod - design, effects of whipping, bearing materials, lubrication
6. Crank shaft - design, firing order, balancing and torsional vibration analysis, vibration dampers,
bearings,. Lubrication
7. Flywheel - design; Camshaft - drives of cams, materials, Types (only descriptive)
8. Valve and valve mechanism - design, types of valve operating mechanisms, valve springs, guides,
push rods, rocker arms, tappets, valve timing diagrams
9. Crank Case- Design of crank case, oil sumps and cooling features
10. Manifolds-construction and design of inlet and exhaust manifolds.
TEXT BOOKS:
I. High Speed Engines - P .M.Heldt, Oxford & IBH , 1965
2. Auto Design - R.B Gupta, Satya Prakashan, New Delhi 1999
REFERENCE BOOKS:
I.A course in I.c. Engine - Mathur & Sharma, Dhanput Rai & Sons, Delhi, 1994
2.Automobile Engineering VoU & II - Kirpal Singh, Standard publications, New Delhi, 1972
3. Modem Petrol Engine ~ A.W.Judge, B.I. Publications. 1983
4. I.c. Engine - Maleev &Litchy, McGrawHill
5. I.C.Engines - H.B.Keshwani, Standard Pub New Delhi., 1982
6. Fundamentals of I.C.Engines - J.B.Heywood
7. Machine design exercises - S.N.Trikha, Khanna publications, Delhi
8. Automotive mechanics - N.K.Giri, Khanna publications,Delhi
9. Automotive mechanics - William H. Crouse, Tata Mc,Graw Hill Publications Co. New Delhi
10. I.C.Engines and Air Pollution - B.P.Obel'rlntext harper & Roni Pub, New york )
The history of the automobile actually began about 4,000 years ago when the first wheel was
used for transportation in India.
In the early 15th century the Portuguese arrived in China and the interaction of the two cultures
led to a variety of new technologies, including the creation of a wheel that turned under its own power.
By the 1600s small steam-powered engine models had been developed, but it was another century
before a full-sized engine-powered vehicle was created.
In 1769 French Army officer Captain Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot built what has been called the first
automobile. Cugnot’s three-wheeled, steam-powered vehicle carried four persons. Designed to move
artillery pieces, it had a top speed of a little more than 3.2 km/h (2 mph) and had to stop every 20
minutes to build up a fresh head of steam.
Cugnot Steam Tractor
-the first self-propelled road vehicle, thus,
the earliest automobile. Powered by steam,
the three-wheeled tractor- invented in 1769
by Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot. designed to
carry artillery, but similar vehicles soon
found many other uses in industry.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Internal-Combustion Engine
Development of lighter steam cars during the 19th century coincided with major developments
in engines that ran on gasoline or other fuels. Because the newer engines burned fuel in cylinders inside
the engine, they were called internal-combustion engines.
In 1860 French inventor Jean-Joseph-Étienne Lenoir patented a one-cylinder engine that used
kerosene for fuel. Two years later, a vehicle powered by Lenoir’s engine reached a top speed of about
6.4 km/h (about 4 mph).
In 1864 Austrian inventor Siegfried Marcus built and drove a carriage propelled by a two-
cylinder gasoline engine.
American George Brayton patented an internal-combustion engine that was displayed at the
1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In 1876 German engineer Nikolaus August Otto built a four-stroke gas engine, the most direct ancestor
to today’s automobile engines. In a four-stroke engine the pistons move down to draw fuel vapor into
the cylinder during stroke one; in stroke two, the pistons move up to compress the vapor; in stroke three
the vapor explodes and the hot gases push the pistons down the cylinders; and in stroke four the pistons
move up to push exhaust gases out of the cylinders. Engines with two or more cylinders are designed so
combustion occurs in one cylinder after the other instead of in all at once. Two-stroke engines
accomplish the same steps, but less efficiently and with more exhaust emissions.
Automobile manufacturing began in earnest in Europe by the late 1880s.
German engineer Gottlieb Daimler and German inventor Wilhelm Maybach mounted a gasoline-
powered engine onto a bicycle, creating a motorcycle, in 1885.
In 1887 they manufactured their first car, which included a steering tiller and a four-speed
gearbox. Another German engineer, Karl Benz, produced his first gasoline car in 1886.
Early Car
The first practical car, built by German engineer Karl Benz in 1885,
initiated the era of automobile manufacturing. Benz made
improvements to the internal combustion engine and invented the
differential drive and other automotive components. The company Benz
founded grew into one of the largest automobile manufacturers in
Germany.
In 1890 Daimler and Maybach started a successful car manufacturing company, The Daimler
Motor Company, which eventually merged with Benz’s manufacturing firm in 1926 to create Daimler-
Benz. The joint company makes cars today under the Mercedes-Benz nameplate.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
In France, a company called Panhard-Levassor began making cars in 1894 using Daimler’s
patents. Instead of installing the engine under the seats, as other car designers had done, the company
introduced the design of a front-mounted engine under the hood. Panhard-Levassor also introduced, a
clutch and gears, and separate construction of the chassis, or underlying structure of the car, and the car
body. The company’s first model was a gasoline-powered buggy steered by a tiller.
French bicycle manufacturer Armand Peugeot saw the Panhard-Levassor car and designed an
automobile using a similar Daimler engine. In 1891 this first Peugeot automobile paced a 1,046-km
(650-mi) professional bicycle race between Paris and Brest.
Other French automobile manufacturers opened shop in the late 1800s, including Renault.
In Italy, Fiat (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino) began building cars in 1899.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
American automobile builders were not far behind. Brothers Charles Edgar Duryea and James
Frank Duryea built several gas-powered vehicles between 1893 and 1895. The first Duryea, a one-
cylinder, four-horsepower model, looked much like a Panhard-Levassor model.
Horseless Carriage
The original
horseless
carriage was
introduced in
1893 by
brothers
Charles and
Frank
Duryea. It
was
America’s
first internal-
combustion
motor car,
and it was
followed by Henry Ford’s first experimental car that same year.
In 1893 American industrialist Henry Ford built an internal-combustion engine from plans he
saw in a magazine. In 1896 he used an engine to power a vehicle mounted on bicycle wheels and
steered by a tiller.
Early Electric Cars
For a few decades in the 1800s, electric engines enjoyed great popularity because they were
quiet and ran at slow speeds that were less likely to scare horses and people. By 1899 an electric car
designed and driven by Belgian inventor Camille Jenatzy set a record of 105.8810 km/h (65.79 mph).
Early electric cars featured a large bank of storage batteries under the hood. Heavy cables connected the
batteries to a motor between the front and rear axles. Most electric cars had top speeds of 48 km/h (30
mph), but could go only 80 km (50 mi) before their batteries needed recharging. Electric automobiles
were manufactured in quantity in the United States until 1930.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
engine. Although drivers of horse-drawn vehicles usually sat on the right, automotive steering wheels
were on the left in the United States.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
In 1903 Henry Ford incorporated the Ford Motor Company, which introduced its first
automobile, the Model A, in that same year. It closely resembled the 1903 Cadillac, which was hardly
surprising since Ford had designed cars the previous year for the Cadillac Motor Car Company. Ford’s
company rolled out new car models each year, and each model was named with a letter of the alphabet.
By 1907, when models R and S appeared, Ford’s share of the domestic automobile market had soared to
35 percent.
Ford Model T
A Ford Model T rolls off the assembly line. Between 1908 and 1927,
Ford built 15 million Model Ts.
Ford’s famous Model T debuted in 1908 but was called a 1909 Ford. Ford built 17,771 Model
T’s and offered nine body styles. Popularly known as the Tin Lizzy, the Model T became one of the
biggest-selling automobiles of all time. Ford sold more than 15 million before stopping production of
the model in 1927. The company’s innovative assembly-line method of building the cars was widely
adopted in the automobile industry.
Silver Ghost
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
One of the highest-rated early luxury automobiles, the 1909 Rolls-
Royce Silver Ghost’s features included a quiet 6-cylinder engine,
leather interior, folding windscreens and hood, and an aluminum body.
Generally driven only by chauffeurs, the emphasis of the luxury car was
on comfort and style rather than speed.
By 1920 more than 8 million Americans owned cars. Major reasons for the surge in automobile
ownership were Ford’s Model T, the assembly-line method of building it, and the affordability of cars
for the ordinary wage earner.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Improvements in engine-powered cars during the 1920s contributed to their popularity:
synchromesh transmissions for easier gear shifting; four-wheel hydraulic brake systems; improved
carburetors; shatterproof glass; balloon tires; heaters; and mechanically operated windshield wipers.
Phaeton
Cars of the 1920s exhibited design refinements such as balloon tires,
pressed-steel wheels, and four-wheel brakes. Although assembly lines
(which originated with Henry Ford in 1908) continued to bring the price
of automobiles down, many cars in this time were one-of-a-kind vintage
models, made to individual specifications. The 1929 Graham Paige DC
Phaeton shown here featured an 8-cylinder engine and an aluminum
body.
From 1930 to 1937, automobile engines and bodies became large and luxurious. Many 12- and
16-cylinder cars were built. Independent front suspension, which made the big cars more comfortable,
appeared in 1933. Also introduced during the 1930s were stronger, more reliable braking systems, and
higher-compression engines, which developed more horsepower. Mercedes introduced the world’s first
diesel car in 1936.
Automobiles on both sides of the Atlantic were styled with gracious proportions, long hoods,
and pontoon-shaped fenders. Creative artistry merged with industrial design to produce appealing,
aerodynamic automobiles.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
De Luxe Sedan
The roomy interior and rear-hinged back door of this 1937 Pontiac De
Luxe sedan represent a move toward a car more suited to the needs of
families. With these consumers in mind, cars were designed to be
convenient, reliable, and relatively inexpensive. Vehicles in the 1930s
were generally less boxy and more streamlined than their
predecessors.
Some of the first vehicles to fully incorporate the fender into the bodywork came along just after
World War II, but the majority of designs still had separate fenders with pontoon shapes holding
headlight assemblies. Three companies, Ford, Nash, and Hudson Motor Car Company, offered postwar
designs that merged fenders into the bodywork. The 1949 Ford was a landmark in this respect, and its
new styling was so well accepted the car continued in production virtually unchanged for three years,
selling more than 3 million. During the 1940s, sealed-beam headlights, tubeless tires, and the automatic
transmission were introduced.
Two schools of styling emerged in the 1950s, one on each side of the Atlantic. The Europeans
continued to produce small, light cars weighing less than 1,300 kg (2,800 lb). European sports cars of
that era featured hand-fashioned aluminum bodies over a steel chassis and framework.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Studebaker
T
his
In America, automobile designers borrowed features for their cars that were normally found on
aircraft and ships, including tailfins and portholes. Automobiles were produced that had more space,
more power, and smoother riding capability. Introduction of power steering and power brakes made
bigger cars easier to handle. The Buick Motor Car Company, Olds Motor Vehicle Company
(Oldsmobile), Cadillac Automobile Company, and Ford all built enormous cars, some weighing as
much as 2,495 kg (5,500 lb). The first import by German manufacturer Volkswagen AG, advertised as
the Beetle, arrived in the United States in 1949. Only two were sold that year, but American consumers
soon began buying the Beetle and other small imports by the thousands.
VW Beetle
The
Volkswagen Beetle dominated the market for several years, during which few
modifications were made on the original design. Volkswagen’s name means “car
for the people,” and the car served at least two important consumer needs. The
rear-mounted engine and small, rounded, buglike shape of the European car
represented an appealing combination of look and economy that remained
popular for more than four decades.
That prompted a downsizing of some American-made vehicles. The first American car called a
compact was the Nash Rambler. Introduced in 1950, it did not attract buyers on a large scale until 1958.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
More compacts, smaller in overall size than a standard car but with virtually the same interior body
dimensions, emerged from the factories of many major manufacturers. The first Japanese imports, 16
compact trucks, arrived in the United States in 1956.
In the 1950s new automotive features were introduced, including air conditioning and
electrically operated car windows and seat adjusters. Manufacturers changed from the 6-volt to the 12-
volt ignition system, which gave better engine performance and more reliable operation of the growing
number of electrical accessories.
By 1960 sales of foreign and domestic compacts accounted for about one-third of all passenger
cars sold in the United States. American cars were built smaller, but with increased engine size and
horsepower. Heating and ventilating systems became standard equipment on even the least expensive
models. Automatic transmissions, power brakes, and power steering became widespread. Styling
sometimes prevailed over practicality—some cars were built in which the engines had to be lifted to
allow simple service operations, like changing the spark plugs. Back seats were designed with no
legroom.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Gullwing
Powerful high-performance cars
such as this 1957 Mercedes-Benz
300SL were built on compact and
stylized lines. Also called the
Gullwing because its doors open
upward into the shape of a gull’s
wings, the 300SL was capable of
230 kmh (144 mph), its on-road
performance matching its racing
capacity.
El Dorado
This 1957 Cadillac El Dorado convertible epitomizes the large cars of the
“American Dream” era. Tail fins are an example of a trend in car design.
Although the feature did little for the performance of the vehicle, consumers
loved the look, and demanded fins of increasing size until the 1960s.
Mustang
More than 100,000 Ford Mustangs sold during
first four months the model was on the market
in 1964, making it Ford’s best early sales
success since the introduction of the Model T. A
vehicle from the “muscle car” category, the
Mustang’s popular characteristics included a
small, fast design, excellent handling, a
powerful engine, and a distinctive look.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
In the 1970s American manufacturers continued to offer smaller, lighter models in addition to
the bigger sedans that led their product lines, but Japanese and European compacts continued to sell
well. Catalytic converters were introduced to help reduce exhaust emissions.
Digital speedometers and electronic prompts to service parts of the vehicle appeared in the
1980s. Japanese manufacturers opened plants in the United States. At the same time, sporty cars and
family minivans surged in popularity.
Advances in automobile technology in the 1980s included better engine control and the use of
innovative types of fuel. In 1981 Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) introduced an on-board
computer to monitor engine performance. A solar-powered vehicle, SunRaycer, traveled 3,000 km
(1,864 mi) in Australia in six days.
MR-2 Turbo
Modern cars like the Japanese 1992 MR-2 Turbo T-bar Toyota are generally
light, aerodynamically shaped, and compact. Japanese imports changed the
automobile industry significantly. The generally reliable, inexpensive cars
increased competition between manufacturers dramatically, to the benefit of
consumers.
New technologies
Gas-Electric Hybrids
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Gas-Electric Hybrids The Toyota Prius, a four-seat hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), was the first
HEV to be marketed when Toyota introduced it in Japan in 1997. The Honda Insight, a two-seat HEV,
followed in 1999 when it was sold in both Japan and the United States. The Prius had its U.S. debut in
2000.
Pollution-control laws adopted at the beginning of the 1990s in some of the United States and in
Europe called for automobiles that produced better gas mileage with lower emissions. In 1996 General
Motors became the first to begin selling an all-electric car, the EV1, to California buyers. The all-
electric cars introduced so far have been limited by low range, long recharges, and weak consumer
interest.
Engines that run on hydrogen have been tested. Hydrogen combustion produces only a trace of
harmful emissions, no carbon dioxide, and a water-vapor by-product. However, technical problems
related to the gas’s density and flammability remains to be solved.
Diesel engines burn fuel more efficiently, and produce fewer pollutants, but they are noisy.
Popular in trucks and heavy vehicles, diesel engines are only a small portion of the automobile market.
A redesigned, quieter diesel engine introduced by Volkswagen in 1996 may pave the way for more
diesels, and less pollution, in passenger cars.
While some developers searched for additional alternatives, others investigated ways to combine
electricity with liquid fuels to produce low-emissions power systems. Two automobiles with such
hybrid engines, the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight, became available in the late 1990s. Prius hit
automobile showrooms in Japan in 1997, selling 30,000 models in its first two years of production. The
Prius became available for sale in North America in 2000. The Honda Insight debuted in North America
in late 1999. Both vehicles, known as hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), promised to double the fuel
efficiency of conventional gasoline-powered cars while significantly reducing toxic emissions.
Computer control of automobile systems increased dramatically during the 1990s. The central
processing unit (CPU) in modern engines manages overall engine performance. Microprocessors
regulating other systems share data with the CPU. Computers manage fuel and air mixture ratios,
ignition timing, and exhaust-emission levels. They adjust the antilock braking and traction control
systems. In many models, computers also control the air conditioning and heating, the sound system,
and the information displayed in the vehicle’s dashboard.
Expanded use of computer technology, development of stronger and lighter materials, and
research on pollution control will produce better, “smarter” automobiles.
In the 1980s the notion that a car would “talk” to its driver was science fiction; by the 1990s it
had become reality.
Onboard navigation was one of the new automotive technologies in the 1990s. By using the
satellite-aided global positioning system (GPS), a computer in the automobile can pinpoint the vehicle’s
location within a few meters. The onboard navigation system uses an electronic compass, digitized
maps, and a display screen showing where the vehicle is relative to the destination the driver wants to
reach. After being told the destination, the computer locates it and directs the driver to it, offering
alternative routes if needed.
Some cars now come equipped with GPS locator beacons, enabling a GPS system operator to
locate the vehicle, map its location, and if necessary, direct repair or emergency workers to the scene.
Cars equipped with computers and cellular telephones can link to the Internet to obtain constantly
updated traffic reports, weather information, route directions, and other data. Future built-in computer
systems may be used to automatically obtain business information over the Internet and manage
personal affairs while the vehicle’s owner is driving.
During the 1980s and 1990s, manufacturers trimmed 450 kg (1,000 lb) from the weight of the
typical car by making cars smaller. Less weight, coupled with more efficient engines, doubled the gas
mileage obtained by the average new car between 1974 and 1995. Further reductions in vehicle size are
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
not practical, so the emphasis has shifted to using lighter materials, such as plastics, aluminum alloys,
and carbon composites, in the engine and the rest of the vehicle.
Looking ahead, engineers are devising ways to reduce driver errors and poor driving habits.
Systems already exist in some locales to prevent intoxicated drivers from starting their vehicles. The
technology may be expanded to new vehicles. Anti-collision systems with sensors and warning signals
are being developed. In some, the car’s brakes automatically slow the vehicle if it is following another
vehicle too closely. New infrared sensors or radar systems may warn drivers when another vehicle is in
their “blind spot.”
Catalytic converters work only when they are warm, so most of the pollution they emit occurs in
the first few minutes of operation. Engineers are working on ways to keep the converters warm for
longer periods between drives, or heat the converters more rapidly.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Types of power plant
An engine is a device which transforms one form of energy into another form. However, while
transforming energy from one form to another, the efficiency of conversion plays an important role.
Normally, most of the engines convert thermal energy into mechanical work and therefore they are
called 'heat engines'.
Heat engine is a device which transforms the chemical energy of a fuel into thermal energy and
utilizes this thermal energy to perform useful work. Thus, thermal energy is converted to mechanical
energy in a heat engine.
Heat engines can be broadly classified into two categories:
(i) Internal Combustion Engines (IC Engines) (ii) External Combustion Engines (EC Engines)
Engines whether Internal Combustion or External Combustion are of two types, viz.,
(i) Rotary engines (ii) Reciprocating engines
Of the various types of heat engines, the most widely used ones are the reciprocating internal
combustion engine, the gas turbine and the steam turbine. The steam engine is rarely used nowadays.
The reciprocating internal combustion engine enjoys some advantages over the steam turbine due to the
absence of heat exchangers in the passage of the working fluid (boilers and condensers in steam turbine
plant). This results in a considerable mechanical simplicity and improved power plant efficiency of the
internal combustion engine.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Another advantage of the reciprocating internal combustion engine over the other two types is
that all its components work at an average temperature which is much below the maximum temperature
of the working fluid in the cycle. This is because the high temperature of the working fluid in the cycle
persists only for a very small fraction of the cycle time. Therefore, very high working fluid temperatures
can be employed resulting in higher thermal efficiency.
Further, in internal combustion engines, higher thermal efficiency can be obtained with
moderate maximum working pressure of the fluid in the cycle, and therefore, the weight of power ratio
is less than that of the steam turbine plant. Also, it has been possible to develop reciprocating internal
combustion engines of very small power output (power output of even a fraction of a kilowatt) with
reasonable thermal efficiency and cost.
The main disadvantage of this type of engine is the problem of vibration caused by the
reciprocating components. Also, it is not possible to use a variety of fuels in these engines. Only liquid
or gaseous fuels of given specification can be efficiently used. These fuels are relatively more
expensive.
Considering all the above factors the reciprocating internal combustion engines have been found
suitable for use in automobiles, motor-cycles and scooters, power boats, ships, slow speed aircraft,
locomotives and power units of relatively small output.
External Combustion and Internal Combustion Engines
External combustion engines are those in which combustion takes place outside the engine
whereas in internal combustion engines combustion takes place within the engine. For example, in a
steam engine or a steam turbine, the heat generated due to the combustion of fuel is employed to
generate high pressure steam which is used as the working fluid in a reciprocating engine or a turbine.
In case of gasoline or diesel engines, the products of combustion generated by the combustion of fuel
and air within the cylinder form the working fluid.
Fig 1.2
Basic geometry of the reciprocating
internal combustion engine.
Vc, Vd, and Vt, indicate clearance,
displaced, and total cylinder volumes.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
The majority of reciprocating engines operate on what is known as the four-stroke cycle. Each
cylinder requires four strokes of its piston-two revolutions of the crankshaft-to complete the sequence of
events which produces one power stroke. Both SI and CI engines use this cycle which comprises
1. An intake stroke, which starts with the piston at TC and ends with the piston at BC, which draws
fresh mixture into the cylinder. To increase the mass inducted, the inlet valve opens shortly before the
stroke starts and closes after it ends.
2. A compression stroke, when both valves are closed and the mixture inside the cylinder is compressed
to a small fraction of its initial volume. Toward the end of the compression stroke, combustion is
initiated and the cylinder pressure rises more rapidly.
3. A power stroke, or expansion stroke, which starts with the piston at TC and ends at BC as the high-
temperature, high-pressure, gases push the piston down and force the crank to rotate. About five times
as much work is done on the piston during the power stroke as the piston had to do during compression.
As the piston approaches BC the exhaust valve opens to initiate the exhaust process and drop the
cylinder pressure to close to the exhaust pressure.
4 An exhaust stroke, where the remaining burned gases exit the cylinder: first, because the cylinder
pressure may be substantially higher than the exhaust pressure; then as they are swept out by the piston
as it moves toward TC. As the piston approaches TC the inlet valve opens. Just after TC the exhaust
valve closes and the cycle starts again.
Though often called the Otto cycle after its inventor, Nicolaus Otto, who built the first engine
operating on these principles in 1876, the more descriptive four-stroke nomenclature is preferred.
The four-stroke cycle requires, for each engine cylinder, two crankshaft revolutions for each
power stroke.
To obtain a higher power output from a given engine size, and a simpler valve design, the two-
stroke cycle was developed. The two-stroke cycle is applicable to both SI and CI engines.
Figure 1.4 shows one of the simplest types of two-stroke engine designs. Ports in the cylinder
liner opened and closed by the piston motion, control the exhaust and inlet flows while the piston is
close to BC. The two strokes are:
A compression stroke, which starts by closing the inlet and exhaust ports, and then compresses
the cylinder contents and draws fresh charge into the crankcase. As the piston approaches TC,
combustion is initiated.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
A power or expansion stroke, similar to that in the four-stroke cycle until the piston approaches
BC, when first the exhaust ports and then the intake ports are uncovered. Most of the burnt gases exit
the cylinder in an exhaust blow down process. When the inlet ports are uncovered, the fresh charge
which has been compressed in the crankcase flows into the cylinder.
The piston and the ports are generally shaped to deflect the incoming charge from flowing directly into
the exhaust ports and to achieve effective scavenging of the residual gases.
Each engine cycle with one power stroke is completed in one crankshaft revolution. However, it
is difficult to fill completely the displaced volume with fresh charge, and some of the fresh mixture
flows directly out of the cylinder during the scavenging process. The example shown is a cross-
scavenged design; other approaches use loop-scavenging or uniflow systems
20
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Engine classifications
Fig.1.5
IC engine classification
There are many different types of internal combustion engines. They can be classified by:
1. Application.
Automobile, truck, locomotive, light aircraft, marine, portable power system, power generation
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
3. Working cycle.
Four-stroke cycle: naturally aspirated (admitting atmospheric air), supercharged (admitting pre-
compressed fresh mixture), and turbocharged (admitting fresh mixture compressed in a compressor
driven by an exhaust turbine),
Two-stroke cycle: crankcase scavenged, supercharged, and turbocharged,
Constant volume heat addition cycle engine or Otto cycle engine -SI engine or Gasoline engine,
Constant pressure heat addition cycle engine or Diesel cycle engine-CI engine or
Diesel engine.
Fig1.7 (C)
classification of SI engine
by port/ valve location
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
5. Fuel
Gasoline (or petrol), fuel oil (or diesel fuel), natural gas, liquid petroleum gas, alcohols
(methanol, ethanol), hydrogen, dual fuel
7. Method of ignition
Spark ignition (in conventional engines where the mixture is uniform and in stratified-charge
engines where the mixture is non-uniform), compression ignition (in conventional diesels, as well as
ignition in gas engines by pilot injection of fuel oil)
. All these distinctions are important and they illustrate the breadth of engine designs available
from a fundamental point of view. The method of ignition has been selected as the primary classifying
feature. From the method of ignition-spark-ignition or compression-ignition-follow the important
characteristics of the fuel used, method of mixture preparation, combustion chamber design, method of
load control, details of the combustion process, engine emissions, and operating characteristics. Some of
the other classifications are used as subcategories within this basic classification. The engine operating
cycle--four-stroke or two-stroke--is next in importance.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Table 1.2
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Table 1.3 Engine characteristics Emphasized by Type of Service
References:
1. Microsoft Encarta
2. Fundamentals of IC Engines By J B Heywood
3. Theory & Practice in IC Engines By C F Taylor
4. I C Engines By M L Mathur & RP Sharma
5. I C Engines By Ganesan
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
CHAPTER 2
In Four-stroke cycle engine, the cycle of operation is completed in four-strokes of the piston or
two revolutions of the crankshaft. Each stroke consists of 180°, of crankshaft rotation and hence a cycle
consists of 720°of crankshaft rotation. The series of operations of an ideal four-stroke. SI engine are as
follows (see Fig.2.1 & 2.2)
1. Suction stroke
Suction stroke 0-1 starts when the piston is at top dead centre and about to move downwards.
The inlet valve is open at this time and the exhaust valve is closed. Due to the suction created by the
motion of the piston towards bottom dead centre, the charge consisting of fresh air mixed with the fuel
is drawn into the cylinder. At the end of the suction stroke the inlet valve closes.
2. Compression stroke.
The fresh charge taken into the cylinder during suction stroke is compressed by the return stroke
of the piston 1-2. During this stroke both inlet and exhaust valves remain closed. The air which
occupied the whole cylinder volume is now compressed into clearance volume. Just before the end of
the compression stroke the mixture is ignited with the help of an electric spark between the electrodes of
the spark plug located in combustion chamber wall. Burning takes place when the piston is almost at top
dead centre. During the burning process the chemical energy of the fuel is converted into sensible
energy, producing a temperature rise of about 2000°C, and the pressure is also considerably increased.
3. Expansion or power stroke.
Due to high pressure the burnt gases force the piston towards bottom dead centre, stroke 3-4,
and both the inlet and exhaust valves remaining closed. Thus power is obtained during this stroke. Both
pressure and temperature decrease during expansion.
4. Exhaust stroke.
At the end of the expansion stroke the exhaust valve opens, the inlet valve remaining closed, and
the piston is moving from bottom dead centre to top dead centre sweeps out the burnt gases from the
cylinder, stroke 4-0. The exhaust valve closes at the end of the exhaust stroke and some 'residual' gases
remain in the cylinder.
Each cylinder of a four-stroke engine completes the above four operations in two engine
revolutions. One revolution of the crankshaft occurs during the suction and compression strokes, and
second revolution during the power and exhaust strokes. Thus for one complete cycle, there is only one
power stroke while the crankshaft turns by two revolutions. Most of the spark-ignition internal
combustion engines are of the four-stroke type. They are most popular for passenger cars and small
aircraft applications.
26
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Fig.2.1-The four-stroke spark-ignition (SI) engine cycle (Otto cycle or constant volume cycle)
27
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Fig. 2.3 Four-stroke petrol engine valve timing diagram in relation to the pressure volume diagram
28
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Intake valve timing has a bearing on the actual quantity of air sucked during the suction stroke
i.e. it affects the volumetric efficiency. Fig.2.4 shows the intake valve timing diagram for both low
speed & high speed SI engines.
Fig:2.4 Valve timing for low and high speed four-stroke SI engine
It is seen that for both low speed and high speed engine the intake valve opens 10 0 before the
arrival of the piston at TDC on the exhaust stroke. This is to insure that the valve will be fully open and
the fresh charge starting to flow into the cylinder as soon as possible after TDC. As the piston moves out
in the suction stroke, the fresh charge is drawn in through the intake port and valve. When the piston
reaches the BDC and starts to move in the compression stroke, the inertia of the entering fresh charge
tends to cause it to continue to move into the cylinder. To take advantage of this, the intake valve is
closed after BDC so that maximum air is taken in. This is called ram effect. However, if the intake valve
is to remain open for too long a time beyond BDC, the up-moving piston on the compression stroke
would tend to force some of the charge, already in the cylinder, back into the intake manifold. The time
the intake valve should remain open after BDC is decided by the speed of the engine.
At low engine speed, the charge speed is low and so the air inertia is low, and hence the intake
valve should close relatively early after BDC for a slow speed engine (say about 100 after BDC).
In high speed engines the charge speed is high and consequently the inertia is high and hence to
induct maximum quantity of charge due to ram effect the intake valve should close relatively late after
BDC (up to 600 after BDC).
For a variable speed engine the chosen intake valve setting is a compromise between the best
setting for low and high speeds.
There is a limit to the high speed for advantage of ram effect. At very high speeds the effect of
fluid friction may be more than offset the advantage of ram effect and the charge for cylinder per cycle
falls off.
29
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
work on this stroke. However, the overall effect of opening the valve prior to the time the piston reaches
BDC results in overall gain in output.
The closing time of exhaust valve effects the volumetric efficiency, By closing the exhaust valve
a few degrees after TDC (about 150 in case of low speed engines and 200 in case of high speed engines)
the inertia of the exhaust gases tends to scavenge the cylinder by carrying out a greater mass of the gas
left in the clearance volume. This results in increased volumetric efficiency.
Note that there may be a period when both the intake and exhaust valves are open at the same time. This
is called valve over-lap (say about 150 in low speed engine and 300 in high speed engines). This overlap
should not be excessive otherwise it will allow the burned gases to be sucked into the intake manifold,
or the fresh charge to escape through the exhaust valve.
30
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
FOUR-STROKE CI ENGINES- PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The four-stroke CI engine is similar to four-stroke SI engine except that a high compression
ratio is used in the former, and during the suction stroke, air alone, instead of a fuel-air mixture, is
inducted. Due to high compression ratio, the temperature at the end of compression stroke is sufficient
to ignite the fuel which is injected into the combustion chamber.
In the CI engine a high pressure fuel pump and an injector is provided to inject fuel into
combustion chamber.
The carburettor and ignition system, necessary in the SI engine, are not required in the CI
engine.
The ideal sequence of operation for the four-stroke CI engine is as follows:
1.Suction stroke
Only air is inducted during the suction stroke. During this stroke intake valve is open and
exhaust valve is closed.
2.Compression stroke
Both valves remain closed during compression stroke.
3. Expansion or power stroke
Fuel is injected in the beginning of the expansion .stroke. The rate of injection is such that the
combustion maintains the pressure constant. After the injection of fuel is over (i.e. after fuel cut off) the
products of combustion expand. Both valves remain closed during expansion stroke.
4. Exhaust stroke.
The exhaust valve is open and the intake valve remains closed in the exhaust stroke.
Due to higher pressures the CI engine is heavier than SI engine but has a higher thermal efficiency
because of greater expansion. CI engines are mainly used for heavy transport vehicles, power
generation, and industrial and marine applications.
31
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
TWO-STROKE CYCLE ENGINE-PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
In two-stroke engines the cycle is completed in two strokes, i.e., one revolution of the crankshaft
as against two revolutions of four-stroke cycle. The difference between two-stroke and four-stroke
engines is in the method of filling the cylinder with the fresh charge and removing the burned gases
from the cylinder. In a four-stroke engine the operations are performed by the engine piston during the
suction and exhaust strokes, respectively. In a two stroke engine suction is accomplished by air
compressed in crankcase or by a blower. The induction of compressed air removes the products of
combustion, through exhaust ports. Therefore no piston strokes are required for suction and exhaust
operations. Only two piston strokes are required to complete the cycle, one for compressing the fresh
charge and the other for expansion or power stroke.
Fig.2.7-Crankcase-scavenged
two-stroke engine
32
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Fig. 2.8 Ideal and actual indicator diagrams for a two-stroke SI engine
33
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Separately scavenged engine
In the loop-scavenged engine (Fig. 2.10) an external blower is used to supply the charge, under
some pressure, at the inlet manifold. During the downward stroke of the piston exhaust ports are
uncovered at about 65° before bottom dead
centre. At about 100 later the inlet ports open
and the scavenging process takes place.
The inlet ports are shaped so that most
of the air flows to the top of the cylinder for
proper scavenging of the upper part of the
cylinder. Piston deflectors are not used as they
are heavy and tend to become overheated at
high output. The scavenging process is
moreefficient in properly designed loop-
scavenged engine than in the usual crank-case
compression engine with deflector piston.
Fig.2.10. Loop-scavenged two-stroke engine (separately scavenged
engine)
Opposed piston or end to end scavenged engine (uniflow scavenged) two stroke engine.
34
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Valvetiming for two-stroke engines
Fig. 2.12(a), (b) and (c) show typical valve timing diagram for a crankcase-scavenged two-
stroke engine and supercharged two-stroke engine and a four-stroke engine, respectively.
Fig 2.12
In case of two-stroke engine the exhaust port is opened near the end of the expansion stroke.
With piston-controlled exhaust and inlet port arrangement the lower part of the piston stroke is always
wasted so as far as the useful power output is concerned; about 15% to 40% of the expansion stroke is
ineffective. The actual percentage varies with different designs. This early opening of the exhaust ports
during the last part of the expansion stroke is necessary to permit blow down of the exhaust gases and,
also to reduce the cylinder pressure so that when the inlet port opens at the end of the blow down
process, fresh charge can enter the cylinder. The fresh charge, which comes from the crankcase for
scavenging pump, enters the cylinder at a pressure slightly higher than the atmospheric pressure. Some
of the fresh charge is lost due to short-circuiting. For petrol engine this means a loss of fuel and high
unburnt hydrocarbons in the exhaust.
By comparing the valve timing of two stroke and four-stroke engines, (Fig. 2.12), it is clear that the time
available for scavenging and charging of the cylinder of a two stroke engine is almost one-third that
available for the .four-stroke engine. For a crankcase-scavenged engine the inlet port closes before the
exhaust port whilst for a supercharged engine the inlet port closes after the exhaust port [Fig. 2.12 (b)].
Such timing allows more time for filling the cylinder.
35
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Scavenging process
At the end of the expansion stroke, the combustion chambers of a two-stroke engine is left full
of products of combustion. This is because, unlike four-stroke engines, there is no exhaust stroke
available to clear the cylinder of burnt gases. The process of clearing the cylinder of burned gases and
filling it with fresh mixture (or air}-the combined intake and exhaust process is called scavenging
process. This must be completed in a very short duration available between the end of the expansion
stroke and start of the charging process.
The efficiency of a two-stroke engine depends to a great degree on the effectiveness of the
scavenging process, since bad scavenging gives a low mean indicated pressure and hence, results in a
high weight and high cost per bhp for the engine. With insufficient scavenging the amount of oxygen
available is low so that the consequent incomplete combustion results in higher specific fuel
consumption. Not only that, the lubricating oil becomes more contaminated, so that its lubricating
qualities are reduced and results in increased wear of piston and cylinder liners. Poor scavenging also
leads to higher mean temperatures and greater heat stresses on the cylinder walls.
Thus it goes without saying that every improvement in the scavenging leads to improvement in
engine and its efficiency in several directions and hence, a detailed study of scavenging process and
different scavenging systems is worthwhile.
The scavenging process is the replacement of the products of combustion in the cylinder from the
previous power stroke with fresh-air charge to be burned in the next cycle. In the absence of an exhaust
stroke in every revolution of the crankshaft, this gas exchange process for a two-stroke engine must take
place in its entirety at the lower portion of the piston travel. Obviously, it cannot occur instantaneously
at bottom dead centre. Therefore, a portion of both the expansion stroke and the compression stroke is
utilized for cylinder blow-down and recharging.
36
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Fig. 2.13 Fiat 782 S engine standard scavenging & typical valve timing diagram of a two-stroke engine
37
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
38
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
(I)Perfect scavenging.
Ideally, the fresh fuel-air mixture should remain separated from the residual combustion products with
respect to both mass and heat transfer during the scavenging process. Fresh air pumped into the
cylinder by the blower through the inlet ports at the lower end of the cylinder pushes the products of
combustion ahead of itself and of the cylinder through the exhaust valve at the other end. There is no
mixing of air and products. As long as any products remain in the cylinder the flow through the exhaust
valves consists of products only. However, as soon as sufficient fresh .air has entered to fill the entire
cylinder volume (displacement plus clearance volume) the flow abruptly changes from one of products
to one of air. This ideal process would represent perfect scavenging with no short -circuiting loss.
(iii)Short-circuiting.
The third type of scavenging process is that of short-circuiting in which the fresh charge coming from
the scavenge manifold directly goes out of the exhaust ports without removing any residual gas. This is
a dead loss and its occurrence must be avoided.
The actual scavenging process is neither one of perfect scavenging nor perfect mixing. It probably
consists partially of perfect scavenging, mixing and short-circuiting.
Fig. 2.16shows the delivery ratio and trapping efficiency variation with crankangle for three different
scavenging modes., i.e.,perfect scavenging (displacement), perfect mixing and intermediate
scavenging.
Fig. 2.17shows the scavenging parameters for the intermediate scavenging. This represents the actual
scavenging process. It can be seen from this Fig. that a certain amount of combustion products is
initially pushed out of the cylinder without being diluted by fresh air. Gradually, mixing
and short circuiting causes the out flowing products to be diluted by more and more fresh air until
ultimately the situation is the same as for perfect mixing, i.e., the first phase of the scavenging process
is a perfect scavenging process which then gradually changes into a complete mixing process.
Fig,2.16 Delivery ratio and efficiency variation with ` Fig. 2.17 Scavenging parameters for
crankcase for three different scavenging modes. intermediate scavenging
39
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Scavenging parameters ..
The delivery ratio - The delivery ratio represents the ratio of the air volume, under the ambient
conditions of the scavenge manifold, introduced per cycle and a reference volume. This reference
volume has been variously chosen to be displacement volume, effective displacement volume, total
cylinder volume or total effective cylinder volume. Since it is only the quantity or charge in the
remaining total cylinder volume at exhaust port closure that enters into the combustion, the total
effective cylinder volume should be preferred. The delivery ratio is mass of fresh air delivered to the
cylinder divided by a reference mass,
mass of delivered air (or mixture) per cycle
i.e., Rdel = ,
reference mass
The delivery ratio compares the actual scavenging air mass (or mixture mass) to that required in
an ideal charging process. OR The delivery ratio is a measure to the air (mixture) supplied to the
cylinder relative to the cylinder content.
If Rdel = 1, it means that the volume of the scavenging air supplied to the cylinder is equal to the
cylinder volume (or displacement volume whichever is taken as reference).
Delivery ratio usually varies between 1.2 to 1.5, except for closed crankcase-scavenged, where it
is less than unity.
(If scavenging is done with fuel-air mixture, as in spark-ignition engines, then mixture mass is
used instead of air mass.) The reference mass is defined as displaced volume × ambient air (or mixture)
density.
Ambient air (or mixture) density is determined at atmospheric conditions or at intake conditions.
This definition is useful for experimental purposes. For analytical work, it is often convenient to use the
trapped cylinder mass mtr as the reference mass.
The trapping efficiency - The amount of fresh charge retained in the cylinder is not same as
that supplied to the cylinder because some fresh charge is always lost due to short-circuiting. Therefore,
an additional term, trapping efficiency, is used to indicate the ability of the cylinder to retain the fresh
charge. It is defined as the ratio of the amount of charge retained in the cylinder to the total charge
mass of delivered air (or mixture) retained
delivered to the engine, i.e., ηtr =
mass of delivered air (mixture)
Trapping efficiency indicates what fraction of the air (or mixture) supplied to the cylinder is
retained in the cylinder. This is mainly controlled by the geometry of the ports and the overlap time.
The scavenging efficiency Scavenging efficiency is the ratio of the mass of scavenge
air which remains in the cylinder at the end of the scavenging to the mass of the cylinder itself at the
moment when the scavenge and exhaust ports of valves are fully closed. It is given by
mass of delivered air (or mixture) retained
η sc = ,
mass of trapped cylinder charge
indicates to what extent the residual gases in the cylinder have been replaced with fresh air.
If η sc = 1 , it means that all gases existing in the cylinder at the beginning of scavenging have
been swept out completely.
mass of air in trapped cylinder charge
The purity of the charge: purity = , indicates
mass of trapped cylinder charge
the degree of dilution, with burned gases, of the unburned mixture in the cylinder.
mass of delivered air (or mixture) retained
The charging efficiency ηch = , indicates
displaced volume x ambient density
how effectively the cylinder volume has been filled with fresh air (or mixture)
Relative cylinder charge.- The air or mixture retained, together with the residual gas, remaining
in the cylinder after flushing out the products of combustion constitutes the cylinder charge. Relative
cylinder charge is a measure of the success of filling cylinder irrespective of the composition of charge.
The relative cylinder charge may be either more or less than unity depending upon the scavenging
pressure and port heights.
40
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Excess air factor, λ - The value (Rdel-1) is called the excess air factor. If the delivery ratio is 1.4,
the excess air factor is 0.4.
Fig.2.16 Methods of Scavenging (a)Cross Scavenging (b) Loop Scavenging, M.A.N. Type
(c)Loop Scavenging Schüürle Type, (d) Loop Scavenging, Curtis Type
Another classification of two-stroke cycle engines is based on the air flow.
Based on a transversal air stream, the most common arrangement is cross scavenging, illustrated
in Fig.2.16 (a). Most small engines are cross-scavenged. The cross scavenging system employs inlet and
exhaust ports placed in opposite sides of the cylinder wall. The incoming air is directed upward, to
combustion chamber on one side of the cylinder and then down on the other side to force out the
exhaust gases through the oppositely located exhaust ports. This requires that the air should be guided
by use of either a suitably shaped deflector formed on piston top or by use of inclined ports. With this
arrangement the engine is structurally simpler than that with the uniflow scavenging, due to absence of
valves, distributors, and relative drive devices. The inlet and exhaust of gases is exclusively controlled
by the .opening and closure of ports by piston motion. The main disadvantage of this system is that the
scavenging air is not able to get rid of the layer of exhaust gas near the wall resulting in poor
scavenging. Some of the fresh charge also goes directly into the exhaust port. The result of these factors
is poor bmep of cross-scavenged engines.
Based on a transversal air stream, with loop or reverse scavenging, the fresh air first sweeps
across the piston top, moves up and then down and finally out through the exhaust. Loop or reverse
scavenging avoids the short -circuiting of the cross-scavenged engine and thus improves upon its
scavenging efficiency. The inlet and exhaust ports are placed on the same side of the cylinder wall.
In the M.A.N. type of loop scavenge, Fig.2.16(b), the exhaust and inlet ports are on the same side, the
exhaust above the inlet.
In the Schnuerle type, Fig.2.16(c), the ports are side by side. the inlet ports are placed on both
sides of the exhaust ports so that the incoming air enters in two streams uniting on the cylinder wall
opposite the exhaust ports, flows upwards, turns under the cylinder head, then flows downwards the
other side to the exhaust ports. Such a system of air deflection reduces the possibilities of short-
circuiting to minimum. With this system flat-top pistons without deflectors are used. The speed of loop
or reversed scavenged engine is not restricted by mechanical limitations because valves are not used,
the charging process being controlled by the piston only. The speed can thus, exceed that of valve
controlled two-stroke engines. Owing to the absence of cams, valves and valve gear, engines are simple
and sturdy. They have a high resistance to thermal stresses and are, thus, well suited to higher
41
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
supercharge. The major mechanical problem with a loop scavenged two-stroke engine is that of
obtaining an adequate oil supply to the cylinder wall consistent with reasonable lubricating oil
consumption and cylinder wear. This difficulty arises because when the piston is at top dead centre there
is only a very narrow sealing belt available to prevent leakage of oil from crankcase into the exhaust
ports. Since for loop scavenging greater cylinder distance is necessary to accommodate scavenge-air
passage between the cylinder, a strong connecting rod and crankshaft need for supercharged engine can
be used.
The Curtis type of scavenging, Fig.2.16(d), is similar to the Schnuerle type, except that
upwardly directed inlet ports are placed also opposite the exhaust ports.
The most perfect method of scavenging is the uniflow method, based on a unidirectional air
stream. The fresh air charge is admitted at one end of the cylinder and the exhaust escapes at the other
end flowing through according to parallel flow lines normally having a slight rotation to stabilize the
vertical motion. Air acts like an ideal piston and pushed on the residual gas in the cylinder after the
blowdown period and replaces it at least in principle, throughout the cylinder. The air flow is from end
to end, and little short-circuiting between the intake and exhaust openings is possible. Due to absence, at
least in theory, of any eddies or turbulence it is easier in a uniflow scavenging system to push the
products of combustion out of the cylinder without mixing with it and short circuiting. Thus, the
uniflow system has highest scavenging efficiency. Construction simplicity is, however, sacrificed
because this system requires either opposed pistons, poppet valves or sleeve valve all of which increases
the complication.
The three available arrangements for uniflow scavenging are shown in Fig.2.17 A poppet valve
is used in (a) to admit the inlet air or for the exhaust, as the Case may be. In (b) the inlet and exhaust
ports are both controlled by separate pistons that move in opposite directions. In (c) the inlet and
exhaust ports are controlled by the combined motion of piston and sleeve. In an alternative arrangement
one set of ports is controlled by the piston and the other set by a sleeve or slide valve. All uniflow
systems permit unsymmetrical scavenging and supercharging.
42
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Fig. 2.19 scavenging efficiency, versus delivery ratio of different scavenging system.
Table 2.2 Typical values for areas for different scavenging systems
Loop or cross-scavenged engines with their inlet ports limited half of the cylinder circumference
fall in low speed category. Uniflow scavenged engines with adequate air inlet port are and limited
exhaust port areas fall in medium speed category, whilst the opposed piston engine takes on to high
speeds because of its high rate of exhaust port opening, freedom from valve gear speed limits, good
scavenging and perfect balancing. Un-supercharged uniflow engine has a considerable higher mean
effective pressure than the loop-scavenged engine. There is more freedom in design of combustion
chamber for loop scavenging. This results in low fuel consumption and the engine is simple to make and
easy to produce. Table 2.3 compares the typical bmep values obtainable with different types of
44
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
scavenging systems. The output of both uniflow and loop scavenged engines is limited 'by the thermal
stresses imposed. But the loop scavenged engine due to its simple cylinder head can better withstand the
thermal stresses.
45
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Table 2.3 Typicalvaluesof bmep for the C.I. two-stroke oil engines
Table 2.4compares the representative port timings for different types of two-stroke engines.
Port design
The Design of the inlet and exhaust ports for two stroke engines depends on various parameters.
Some of the important basic parameters are;
a) Scavenging method
b) Shape, inclination & width of ports
c) Amount of air/charge delivered
d) Scavenging pressure
e) Mean inlet velocity –fn. Of pr. Ratio, temp. of scavenging & scavenging factor
f) Duration(crank angle) of port opening & average port height uncovered by piston
Blowdown time area (for exhaust)–[which is a fn. of temperature of exhaust Gas, expansion end
volume(fn. of displacement volume), exhaust Gas pr., scavenging pr., & indicated mean
effective pressure]
g) Inlet duration, exhaust lead* & hence exhaust duration
h) Number of ports & height of ports
*
during exhaust Lead, only exhaust port is kept open, & during super charging only inlet port is kept
open.
46
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
I. CROSS FLOW -for low power o/p engines eg. Two wheelers,
Simple, but more short circuiting, hence more charge loss, super charging
is not possible. It is found that port position is limited with in 50% of
circumference.
A comparison
A. MAN type -intake & exh. ports positioned one below the other. -Good
B. SCHNURLE type-intake & exh. ports positioned side by side. -Better
C. CURTIS type -intake on one side & exhaust on the other side. -Best
Rectangular -BEST
With rounded corners, which gives maximum flow area & smooth edges reduce friction
&
Inclination -is given for better mixing, scavenging, turbulence, swirl and combustion.
Width -for Uniflow scavenging -0.6πD (entire circumference available for porting
-for lLoop scavenging -0.2πD (both ports are on same side of the wall)
-for Crossflow scavenging -0.3πD (50% of circumference is available for porting)
Ports should be sufficiently wider for max. flow area, But should not create problem of piston ring
entrance into it.
• Scavenging pressure
Proper scavenging pressures to be adopted for the respective scavenging method
• Duration(crank angle) of port opening & average port height uncovered by piston
With Duration (crank angle) of port opening, average port height & port timing can be calculated.
48
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
The flow of gases through a two-stroke cycle engine is diagrammatically represented in fig. The
hatched areas represent fresh air or mixture and the cross hatched areas represent combustion gases. The
width of the channels represents the quantity of the gases expressed by volume at NTP condition.
49
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Scavenging pumps
Since the pumping action is not carried out by the piston of a two-stroke engine, a separate
pumping mechanism, called the scavenging pump, is required to supply scavenging air to the cylinder.
Different types of scavenging pumps used range from crankcase compression, piston type blowers to
roots blower. The design of a two-stroke engine is significantly affected by the type of scavenging pump
used; hence a careful selection of the scavenging pump is a pre-condition to good performance.
Crankcase Scavenging. The most obvious and cheapest in initial cost is the use of crankcase for
compressing the incoming air and then transferring it to the cylinder through a transfer port. Fig.2.20
shows such a system. This system is, however, very uneconomical and inefficient in operation. This is
because the amount of air which can be used for scavenging is less than the swept volume of the
cylinder due to low volumetric efficiency of the crankcase which contains a large dead space. Thus, the
delivery ratio of a crankcase scavenged engine is always less than unity.
Since the delivery ratio is less than unity it
is not possible to scavenge the cylinder
completely of the products of combustion
and some residual gases always remain in
the cylinder. This results in low mean
effective pressure for the crankcase
scavenged engine. Typical values are 3 to 4
bar. The output of the engine is strictly
limited because the amount of the charge
transferred through the transfer port is only
40-50% of the cylinder volume.
50
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
51
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
The two-stroke SI engine suffers from two big disadvantages-fuel loss and idling difficulty. The
two-stroke CI engine does not suffer from these disadvantages and hence CI engine is more suitable for
two-stroke operation.
If the fuel is supplied to the cylinders after the exhaust ports are closed, there will be no loss of
fuel and the indicated thermal efficiency of the two-stroke engine will be as good as that of four-stroke
engine. However, in an SI engine using carburettor, the scavenging is done with fuel-air mixture and
only the fuel mixed with the retained air is used for combustion. To avoid the fuel loss instead of
carburettor fuel injection just before the exhaust port closure may be used.
The two-stroke SI engine runs irregularly and may even stop at low speeds when mean effect
pressure is reduced to about 2bar. This is because large amount of residual gas (more than in four-stroke
engine) mixing with small amount of charge. At low speeds there may be back firing due to slow
burning rate. Fuel injection improves idling and also eliminates backfiring as there is no fuel present in
the inlet system.
In CI engines there is no loss of fuel as the charge is only air and there is no difficulty at idling
because the fresh charge (air) is not reduced.
52
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
SI and CI Engine application
We have seen that both SI and CI engines have certain advantages and disadvantages. The
selection of a type of engine for particular application needs consideration of various factors.
The SI engine offers the following advantages:
(1) Low initial cost.
(2) Low weight for a given power output.
(3) Smaller size for a given power output.
(4) Easy starting.
(5) Less noise.
(6) Less objectionable exhaust gas odor and less smoke.
The SI engine finds wide application in automobiles because passenger comfort and in small
airplanes because of low weight. Two stroke petrol engines finds extensive use in motor cycles,
scooters, mopeds, pleasure motor boats, etc., because of simplicity and low cost. The SI engine is also
used for light mobile duty like lawn movers, mobile generating sets, water pumps, air compressors,
etc...
The CI engine offers the following advantages.
(1) Low specific fuel consumption at both full load and part load conditions.
(2) Utilizes less expensive fuels.
(3) Reduced fire hazard,
(4) Long operating life.
(5) Better suited for supercharging.
(6) Better suited for two-stroke cycle operating, as there is no loss of fuel in scavenging.
Because of fuel economy the CI engine finds wide usage in buses, trucks, locomotives, stationary
generating plants, heavy duty equipment such as bulldozers, tractors and earthmoving machinery.
Because of the reduced fire hazard the CI engine is also used for confined installations and marine use.
The great advantage of the CI engine is lower fuel consumption which counteracts the disadvantage of
higher initial cost, if the engine is used for long duties. (Table 2.6a gives complete comparison of
the two types of engines.)
53
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
The two-stroke diesel engine does not suffer from these defects. There is no loss of fuel with exhaust
gases as the intake charge in diesel engine is air only. The two-stroke diesel engine is therefore used
quite widely. Many of the biggest diesel engines work on this cycle. They are generally bigger than
60cm bore and are used in marine propulsion.
A disadvantage common to all two-stroke engines, petrol as well as diesel, is greater cooling and
lubrication requirements due to one power stroke in each revolution of crankshaft. Consumption of
lubricating oil is also high in the two-stroke engine due to higher temperatures.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
55
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
table 2.6a detailed comparison of SI & CI engines
56
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
References-
6. Theory & Practice of I C Engines By C F Taylor
7. Fundamentals of I C Engines By J B Heywood
8. I C Engines By M L Mathur & RP Sharma
9. I C Engines By Ganesan
57
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Chapter-3
Cylinder Block
Forms the basic frame work of the engine it houses engine cylinders, where combustion take
place & serves as a bearing & guide for piston reciprocating in it. It carries lubricating oil to various
components through drilled passages.
At lower end the crank case is cast integral with the block. At the top, is attached the cylinder
head. Besides, other parts like timing gear, water pump, ignition distributor, flywheel, fuel pump etc.
are also attached
Around cylinders, there are passages for circulation of cooling water
58
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
In the case of L-head engines with integral cylinder heads, the valves were introduced through
openings in the head which were closed by threaded plugs generally referred to as "valve caps." These
plugs presented to the hot gases in the cylinder a considerable surface which was not water-cooled, and
which therefore formed "hot spots." It was customary to screw the spark plug into one of these "valve
caps." Since the insulator of the plug naturally is a poor conductor of heat, and the additional threaded
joint also formed an obstruction to heat flow, this further
aggravated the situation with respect to "hot spots" and made it
necessary to keep the compression quite low.
With the valve-in-head type of cylinder there are two
alternate designs of integral heads. With one of these, exemplified
in Fig, 1, the valves seat directly on the metal of the head, but this
has the disadvantage that when they are to be reground, the whole
block has to be removed from the car. With the other, use is made
of so-called valve cages, that is, cylindrical sleeves which are set
into bores in the cylinder head and retained therein between a
shoulder and a ring nut. The valve seat is fom1ed on the inner end
of the cage, and there is a port in the wall of the latter through
which the gases flow from or into a valve passage cast in the
cylinder head. The objection to valve cages is that they add another
"joint" to the path for heat flow from the valve head to the jacket
water, and therefore result in higher valve temperatures
(particularly of the exhaust valve), which promotes detonation and
makes the construction unsuitable for high speed, high-compression engines.
Fig.1. Cylinder with integral head
When the cylinder head is a detachable casting, the cylinder and jacket cores can be more
securely supported in the mold, and the cylinder castings are likely to be more nearly true to pattern,
with the result that after the cylinder is finished, its walls will be more nearly uniform in thickness.
With an engine having a removable head it is possible to thoroughly clean the combustion
chamber of carbon, by scraping, after the head has been removed. If it is desired to locate the valves in
the head, they may be seated directly on a water-cooled surface.
One reason for the continued, limited use of integral heads is that they avoid trouble due to
distortion of the upper or outer end of the cylinder bore due to the drawing up of the cylinder-head
retaining nuts. Such trouble is experienced occasionally, with detachable cylinder heads (blow-by past
piston rings, leakage past valves, and excessive oil consumption), but it can be guarded against by
performing the final finishing operation on the bore with a dummy cylinder head in place~ This
produces a bore which is true when the retaining nuts are tightened.
Gaskets
Copper-Asbestos Gaskets.
Separate cylinder heads were rendered practical by
the introduction of the copper-asbestos gasket. This consists
of an asbestos sheet cut or stamped to the required form,
which is armored with thin sheet copper. There is a copper
sheet on each side of the asbestos sheet, and the two copper
sheets lap along the outer edges of the asbestos sheet, so that
the latter is completely encased. Copper grommets are
inserted in the waterway openings and sometimes also in the combustion-chamber openings. In heavy
duty engines the combustion-chamber grommet of the gasket may be reinforced by a copper-wire loop
or a copper washer. In these copper-asbestos gaskets the copper provides the tenacity and the asbestos
the compressibility needed in a packing. A gasket for a four-cylinder L-head engine is shown in Fig.2.
59
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Cylinder-Head Studs.
To obtain a gas-tight permanent joint with a cylinder-head gasket it is necessary to make
provision for an adequate number of studs distributed as nearly uniformly as possible. With L-head
cylinders from 16 to 20 studs are used for a four-cylinder block, from 24 to 26 for a six-cylinder, and
from 30 to 32for an eight-cylinder. With , valve-in-head cylinders only two rows of studs are required,
instead of three, and the total number therefore is less, viz., 12 for a four-cylinder block, 16 for a six-
cylinder, and 20 for an eight-cylinder. To prevent distortion of the casting by drawing up the nuts, there
must be plenty of metal in the bosses for the studs, and the studs must not be too near the valve seats. In
the design of the heads careful attention must be given to the avoidance of pockets which might form
steam traps. It is not necessary to use very large water ports. Moderate-sized ports judiciously
distributed, are better, as they make it easier to prevent leaks.
Cylinder Material.
In the past automobile-engine cylinders have been generally cast of close-grained gray iron
approximating the following composition.
Percent
Silicon 1.9 to 2.2
Sulphur not over 0.12
Phosphorus not over 0.15
Manganese 0.6 to 0.9
Combined carbon 0.35 to 0.55
Total carbon 3.2 to 3.4
The SAE has standardized five grades of cast iron, of which four are recommended for cylinder
blocks and cylinder heads as follows: No. 111 for small cylinder blocks; No. 120 for cylinder blocks
generally. No.121 for truck and tractor-, and No. 122 for diesel engine cylinder blocks. Pistons also are
cast of these irons.
It was determined from tests conducted, that to obtain the better physical properties the total
carbon & silicon contents must be reduced and the phosphorus content held to a lower limit.
Among other points usually covered in specifications for cylinder castings arc the following:
Castings must be smooth, well cleaned and free from shrinkage cavities, cracks and holes, large
inclusions, chills, excess free carbides and any other defects detrimental to machinability, appearance,
or performance. They must finish to the size specified. When tensile tests are provided for, the portion
of the casting from which the test piece is to be machined is usually specified. .
60
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
The use of steel for cylinders has often been suggested, and for racing and aircraft engines,
cylinders are sometimes made from hollow steel forgings. Several American manufacturers use cylinder
castings of semi-steel, more properly called high-test cast iron. This material is made by adding a
certain percentage of scrap steel to the melt of cast iron, which results in a finer grain and in somewhat
better tensile properties.
To make it possible to successfully cast a multiple-cylinder block with thin walls, the iron must
pour well and have a "long life" (as the foundry men call it). These characteristics are strengthened, by
high phosphorus content, but, unfortunately, this element tends to make the iron soft and less resistant to
wear.
Nickel-Chromium irons.
Certain iron ore mined in Cuba contains small percentages of nickel and chromium, and the
metal made from this are, known as Mayari iron, is sometimes added to gray iron for cylinder castings:
Mayan iron therefore is a natural alloy. It is claimed that it is free from oxidation & has a lower
solidification point, and that the "longer life" of the iron improves the "feeding" of castings when they
are properly gated, in spite of low phosphorus content. Castings when sectioned -show sound metal
even where there are heavy bosses and thick sections. Cylinder castings made of a mixture containing
10 per cent of Mayari iron showed a tensile strength of 36,740 psi, according to makers of the iron; a
transverse strength of 4250 lb, and a Brinell hardness of 223-229. The same iron is also used for
cylinder heads and pistons. Results similar to those from Mayari iron are being obtained by the addition
of small quantities of nickel and chromium, and such alloy irons are now used not only for cylinder
blocks, but also for pistons, particularly for heavy duty, commercial-vehicle engines.
The chief advantage of alloyed irons is that they possess greater hardness and wear resistance,
and that without being harder to machine. The machinability of grey iron is dependent upon the absence
of excess iron carbide of chilled or hard spots. Nickel acts to eliminate both, and so to improve
machinability. In many cases the alloyed iron, although having a Brinell hardness from 30 to 40 points
greater, is actually easier to machine than ordinary gray iron.
When nickel is used alone as an alloying element, the content usually ranges between 1.25 and
2.5%, whereas if it is used in combination with chromium, the nickel content ranges between o.50 and
1.50 % and that of chromium between 0.25 and 0.50 % it is claimed that a combed content of nickel and
chromium of 1 per cent will give cast iron with a Brinell hardness of 207-217; of 2 per cent, 223-235,
and of 3 per cent, 241-255.
Chromium and nickel, however, are not the only alloying elements purposely added to cylinder
irons; others added to improve the fluidity of the molten iron, the resistance of the iron to wear, its
machinability, or both of the latter qualities, include, molybdenum, vanadium and titanium.
61
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
because the hot gases pass over it during the exhaust period, and a crack naturally starts easily at a sharp
edge. Rounding off this edge has been found a good preventative against heat fatigue cracks. Cracks
may start also at either the inlet- or exhaust-valve seat. It was shown that such cracks usually are the
result of pre-ignition. The latter causes local overheating of the combustion-chamber wall, and the crack
forms when the overheated metal cools again. By installing a "hot" spark plug in one cylinder and then
running the engine under full load at from 3000 to 3500 rpm, cracks could be produced at will. The
"hot" plug causes pre-ignition, and usually one 10-minute run under these conditions resulted in the
formation of a crack, though sometimes several such runs were required.
Cylinder Wear.
The characteristic which is most important in judging cylinder irons is their resistance to wear
under engine- operating conditions. As the cylinder bore wears, the engine loses power, consumes
excessive quantities of oil, and gives off smoke in the exhaust. In fact, the rate of oil consumption is
usually taken as an index of the state of wear of the cylinder bore.
It was observed many years ago that the wear of cylinder bores is very non-uniform. It is greatest at the
top end of piston travel (under the topmost ring with the piston at the end of its up-stroke), and
decreases rather rapidly from there down. (Fig. 3.) It has been pointed out that cylinder wear is due to
three separate causes, viz.,
• Abrasion, which is due to foreign particles in the oil film;
• Erosion, which is due to metal-to-metal
contact between the cylinder wall on the
one hand and the piston and rings on the
other; and
• Corrosion, which results from chemical
action on the cylinder walls by the
products of combustion.
The order of importance of the three
causes varies with conditions of operation.
That corrosion may play an important part in the wear of cylinder bores, it was found that accelerated
cylinder wear occurs at low cylinder temperatures and is attributable to corrosion resulting from
deposition of acid-bearing moisture on the cylinder walls. The reasons for assuming corrosion to be
responsible were briefly as follows:
1. The pitted and discolored appearance of the cylinder walls and piston rings after low-temperature
operation.
2. The fact that increased wear begins just below the calculated dew point.
3. The detection of acids in the water of combustion.
4. A large reduction in the rate of wear obtained with hydrogen fuel.
5. A reduction in wear obtained when using corrosion-resisting materials.
The research work showed that corrosion is largely due to carbonic acid formed by the solution
of carbon dioxide, a product of combustion, in water condensed from the gases of combustion. When
hydrogen is used as fuel there is no carbon dioxide in the exhaust, so that no carbonic acid can form.
63
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Jacket walls must be made heavier when cylinder liners (especially the "wet" kind) are used and
the tensile stresses due to the force of explosion are sustained chiefly or wholly by these walls.
On the cylinder head the water jacket is usually made of somewhat greater depth than around the
cylinders, so as to provide adequate heat-storage capacity over the area where most of the waste heat
enters the cooling water. There should be water spaces between all adjacent valve pockets (instead of
common walls), and the water should come quite close to the valve seats, as it is only in this way that
uniform cooling of the valve seat can be assured, and distortion and consequent leakage prevented.
Cylinder heads must be so designed that no steam pockets can form in them; that is, it must be possible
for the water to flow from any part of the jacket to the outlet along a continuously rising path. Trouble
from overheating is most likely to arise at the exhaust-valve seats, and it is therefore desirable that the
cooling effect of the circulating water be most intense at the valve pockets. This can be assured by
inserting a distributing header in the water jacket, the header connecting with the water entrance to the
jacket at the front of the block and having an outlet adjacent to each exhaust-valve pocket. The header is
usually made of sheet metal and set into the mold. Two arrangements are illustrated in Fig. 5.
With valve-in-head cylinders the location of the water outlet presents some difficulty: because
the valve mechanism on top of the engine is usually provided with a cover. One solution of the problem
consists in forming a number of outlet bosses on the head over to one side, so they come outside the
valve cover, and using a water-return manifold. While this tends to promote uniformity of circulation, it
makes for dissymmetry of appearance, which is
the more objectionable because the manifold is
located very prominently on top of the engine.
The more common plan is to have an outlet at
the front end of the head, just outside the valve
cover, and usually oblong in form, with the long
diameter across the engine, so as to minimize
the overhang.
In cylinders provided with "full-length"
jackets, the central portion of the barrel lacks
the reinforcement which with "half-length"
jackets is provided by the flange that forms the bottom of the jacket. If the barrel also happens to be of
minimum thickness its central portion will have very little rigidity and will distort easily, particularly if
during machining operations the tool strikes a “hard spot:” This makes it almost impossible to obtain a
true cylindrical bore. Conditions can be improved in this respect by providing the barrels of such
engines with one or two circumferential ribs at intermediary points of their length.
While the flange around the cylinder at mid-length in engines with half-length water jackets has
the advantage of affording the rigidity of structure desirable during machining operations it is
detrimental under certain operating conditions. For instance, when an engine is being run under full load
immediately after a cold start, the piston heats up much more rapidly than the cylinder block and is apt
to get tight in the cylinder and scuff. It has been observed that in engines with half-length jackets such
scuffing occurs particularly at the level of the water-jacket bottom flange, which latter prevents the
cylinder from expanding.
64
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Removable Liners.
In most engines the pistons hear directly on walls forming part of the cylinder block, hut in
some-and particularly in engines with large cylinders-removable liners are used. There are two types of
these liners:
A "dry" liner is one which is in contact with metal of the block
over its whole length, or nearly its whole length, while a "wet"
liner is one which is supported by the block over narrow belts only,
and is surrounded by cooling water between these belts.
In the United States "wet" liners came into use first,
especially in the engines of farm tractors and commercial vehicles.
Aside from the fact that any liner when worn or damaged can be
replaced at relatively low cost, the construction offers the
advantage that because of their uniform wall thickness (being
machined inside and lout) and because they are very little affected
by the tension of cylinder-head studs, separate liners distort less in
service than the integral barrels of conventional cylinder blocks.
Fig. 7 "Wet" cylinder liner with packing rings.
65
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
At first the liners were made of the same gray iron that was used for cylinder blocks, but in the
course of time materials of greater wear resistance were developed, and as most of these were more
expensive than ordinary gray iron, they lent themselves particularly to use in liners. One method of
installing a removable "wet" liner in a cylinder block is illustrated in Fig. 7. At the top the liner is
provided with an external flange which enters a counter bore in the cylinder. The top of the liner is flush
with the top of the block, and the joint is sealed by the cylinder-head gasket. In some cases and
especially in Diesel engines-the hole in the gasket is made slightly larger than the cylinder bore, and a
ring or loop of copper is inserted to reduce the pressure on the gasket.
At the bottom the liner is enlarged in diameter and has three grooves for packing rings cut in it. Instead
of in the liner, the grooves may be cut in the block. These packing rings are made of synthetic rubber,
which is more resistant to mineral oil and other petroleum products than natural rubber. The packing
rings may be made of circular section, of a diameter slightly larger than the width of the grooves, and
insertion of the liner then will deform them so that they substantially fill the grooves. To permit easy
insertion of the liner, either it or the bore of the block is chamfered, depending on which part contains
the packing rings.
Inaccuracies in the section diameter of these packing rings are said to have been the cause of
some trouble. If the diameter is too small there may be leakage, whereas if it is too large the pressure
exerted when the liner is forced into place may crack it. To overcome this difficulty, a cork-synthetic
rubber composition of greater elastic compressibility has been developed. Packing ring of this material
are molded with a square section, and when inserted project slightly above the surface of the part in
which the grooves are cut. Insertion of the liner compresses them flush with that surface. Single and two
packing rings also are used, and in the case of two rings, a third groove sometimes is cut between the
two containing the packing rings, to collect any oil or water that may seep past the rings and allow it to
drain off.
"Dry" liners, which in Great Britain were used
practically exclusively from the beginning, seem to have
gained the ascendancy over the "wet" type in this country
after World War II. A typical "dry-liner" installation (in a
GMC engine) is shown in Fig. 8. In this engine the
cylinder block and crankcase are separate castings, and the
liner extends some distance into the crankcase. It is held in
position by a flange. at the top. In some other engines with
dry liners and a separate crankcase the retaining flange on the
liner is near the bottom and is held between the cylinder
block and the crankcase. A British manufacturer of Diesel
truck engines (Albion) copper-plates the dry liners on the
outside. The copper is said to act as a lubricant, facilitating the
insertion of the liner, and also to improve the heat flow
from liner to cylinder wall. Fig. 8 "Dry" cylinder
liner in position.
66
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Materials for Cylinder Liners
For the engines of public-service vehicles, which latter run up enormous mileages in the course
of a year, it has been found advisable to use alloy iron for the liners and to heat-treat them. General
Motors Truck & Coach Division, for instance, uses such hardened liners in all of its larger engines, the
material being a nickel-chromium iron of the following composition:
Percent
Total carbon 3.10-3.40
Combined carbon 0.75-0.90
Manganese 0.55-0.75
Phosphorus 0.20 max.
Sulphur 0.10 max.
Silicon 1.90-2.10
Nickel 1.80-2.20
Chromium 0.55-0.75
In the "as cast" condition the liners show a Brinell hardness of 212-241, a transverse strength of
2400 lb on A.S.T.M. arbitration bars (bars of 1.2 in. diameter and 18 in. between supports), a transverse
deflection of 0.20-0.30 in., and a minimum tensile strength of 37,000 psi on test bars machined from-the
casting. A hydrostatic test also is applied to the liners, which must withstand 1500 psi for a wall
thickness of l/8 in. and. bores of 4-5 in. To increase their wear resistance, the liners are hardened, by
being heated to. 1540- 1560 F for 30 to 40 minutes and quenched in still oil. After this they must show a
Brinell hardness of at least tensile 512 while the strength must range between 28,000 and 36,000 psi and
the transverse strength between 2700 and 2900 lb for the arbitration bar. With these liners the mileage
between cylinder overhauls is said to be practically trebled, as compared. With solid cylinders of gray
cast iron showing from 230 to 240 Brinell. A minor disadvantage is that it takes up to 5000 miles for the
piston rings to wear in fully, hence the oil consumption is rather high during the early part of the life of
the liner.
Chromium Plating.
Another method of reducing the rate of wear consists in chromium plating the bore. The process
differs radically from that of chromium plating for ornamental purposes. .It gives a "porous" coating
which holds oil, while the so called bright plating process gives a dense coating to which oil will not
adhere & which for this reason is readily is scored in service. From 200 to 500 times as much chromium
as in conventional decorative plating is deposited per unit of area. If slightly too much should be
deposited, so that the bore is undersize by from 0.0005 to 0.001 in., the excess can be removed by
honing. Wear tests made on a plain gray-iron cylinder of 241 Brinell hardness and a similar cylinder
plated indicated that chromium plating reduces the rate of cylinder wear approximately in the
proportion of 7:1 and that the wear on the top piston ring is coincidentally reduced about 4:1.
67
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Such methods as nitriding and chromium plating of cylinder bores are applicable particularly to
bus and railcar gasoline engines and to Diesel engines, which have a much longer service life than
passenger-car engines. Cylinder bores in plain cast iron must be reconditioned about every 50,000
miles, and with either a nitrided or chromium-plated bore, if reconditioning is required at all, it will be
required only after a much longer interval.
The primary function of a cylinder of an IC Engine is to maintain the working fluid & the secondary
function is to guide the trunk piston.
68
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Valve Seats
Water jackets should be carried close to and all around the valve seats. It
has been shown that the heat absorbed by the valve heads through their
contact with the burning gases passes off chiefly through the seats, and if the
water comes close to the seats the heads will be cooled more effectively, while if
it extends all around, the heads will be cooled more nearly uniformly and will
not warp.
Particularly effective cooling of the valve seats and valve guides is
claimed for the arrangement shown in Fig. 9. Here a water distributor is cast in
the block, and has discharge openings in both the top and the side adjacent to
the valve guide. The outlets in the top discharge into the space between the
exhaust valve pocket and the cylinder wall, and the water discharged there is
induced to flow completely around the valve pocket, by scallops directly
above the valve passage, through which it passes into the cylinder-head jacket.
The outlets at the side discharge against the bottom of the valve pocket
adjacent to the upper part of the valve guide.
In laying out the valve pocket, enough clearance must be allowed all
around the valve seat so the gases will pass fairly uniformly through all
sections of the valve port.
Fig. 9
Valve-Seat Inserts.
In high-speed, heavy duty engines the exhaust-valve seats, if directly on the cast iron of the
block, are likely to erode or wear way rather rapidly, causing the valve to sink deeper into the seat,
reducing the valve clearance, and necessitating valve-stem adjustment. To eliminate the necessity for
frequent adjustments, valve-seat inserts of heat-resistant material were introduced in 1931, first for
commercial-vehicle engines and shortly thereafter also for passenger-car engines. Such inserts had long
been used on engines having the part containing the valves made of aluminum, as the ordinary
aluminum alloys are far too soft to sustain the pounding of the valve heads. In that case the inserts are
made of aluminum bronze -(90 percent copper, 10 per cent aluminum), which has about the same
coefficient of heat expansion as the aluminum alloys used for cylinder heads. Aluminum-bronze inserts
are forced into counter bores in the head with a shrink fit.
One of the requirements of a valve-insert material therefore is that it must have substantially the
same coefficient of heat expansion as the material of the block or head; another is that it must be
sufficiently hard to withstand the pounding of the valve head at high temperatures over long periods.
The materials commonly used include nickel-chromium iron with moderate alloy contents, and the
high-percentage tungsten steel known as high-speed steel. Where the conditions are too severe for these
materials the seat of the insert can be provided with a facing or veneer of a nonferrous, heat-resistant
alloy. Alloys available for the purpose include "Eatonite" (chromium, tungsten, nickel and cobalt),
"Elkonite" (tungsten and copper), and "Stellite" (cobalt, chromium and tungsten). These alloys are
applied to the seat portion of the inserts by "puddling" with a welding torch.
In most applications the inserts are shrunk in place, and to get the necessary shrink fit without the use of
too great pressure (which might cause distortion), the inserts are cooled to about -100 F in dry ice or
-220 F in liquid air, while the blocks are heated in water to about 200 F. The interference is made about
0.0015 in. Per inch in the case of steel inserts, and 0.003 in. per inch in the case of cast iron.
As a rule, the inserts are chamfered at both top and bottom-at the bottom to facilitate entering
them in the counter bore, and at the top so that the block material can be rolled over the edge of the
insert to help retain it. In addition to rolling the block material over the top chamfer, the insert
sometimes is provided with a number of axial grooves into which metal of the block is forced by the
rolling process.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Fig. 10 shows a Stellite-faced, threaded insert.
The Stellite is puddled onto the steel base with
an acetylene torch. The insert is provided with
splines in its throat, to take a tool for screwing it
in place, and a 0.014-in. washer of extra-soft
iron is placed underneath it to assure a good
path for heat flow. After the insert is screwed
home, it is-locked in place by rolling the metal
of the block around it. The shape of the rolling
tool and the method of rolling are illustrated in
Fig. 11.
Valve inserts have been
standardized by the S.A.E. (Fig. 12). The
standard includes two series, one intended
for- passenger-car, the other for heavy-
duty engines. It specifies the diameter and
depth of the bore in the cylinder or head,
and the thickness of the insert. This leaves
the diameter of the insert-which determines the interference-to be set by the manufacturer.
Valve-seat inserts shrunk in place sometimes come loose in service, and this is particularly likely
to occur if the interference is relatively large. This is due to the fact that in severe service such high
temperatures may be reached that the resulting stresses exceed the elastic limit of the metal and produce
a permanent set. Then, when the: engine cools down, the insert will be loose. It is therefore
recommended that the interference be made no greater than needed to firmly hold the- insert in place
when the engine is cold.
An insert specially designed to prevent trouble from distortion and loosening. in severe service
is illustrated in Fig. 13. The main portion, which has-a section similar to that of the S.A.E. standard
insert, is given a clearance of 0.004 in. around its circumference, so that the metal around-it can distort
freely without subjecting the insert to undue stress. In addition there is an extension or skirt, which is
made an interference fit in the head or block. Owing to its greater distance from the valve seat, this
portion will not reach as high a temperature, and therefore is not likely to take a permanent set. The
considerable length of valve port or throat required seems to be a disadvantage of this type.
Length of Bore
In most modem engines of both the L-head and I-head type the combustion chamber is formed
in the cylinder head and at the end of the up-stroke the top of the piston is flush with the finished top
surface of the cylinder block. One reason for not making the piston overrun the end of the bore is that
that would bring the top ring beyond the upper end of the water jacket at the end of the up-stroke, where
it would not be so effectively cooled, in the ring groove. The lower end of the piston generally is made
to overrun the end of the bore slightly.
The total length of the finished bore evidently is equal to the length of stroke plus the length of
the piston minus any overrun of the piston at both ends, the overrun being considered negative when the
piston does not come quite to the end of the bore. To facilitate getting the piston rings into the cylinder,
the bore is chamfered at the end from which the piston is entered
70
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Location of Spark-Plug Bosses
In L-head cylinders the sparkplug bosses usually are located over the passage between the valve
chamber and the cylinder barrel, as this location reduces the tendency to detonation to a minimum. The
spark points must never be directly in line with the cylinder wall, where they would become fouled by
oil thrown off by the piston.
The length of thread of standard spark plugs is considerably less than the average thickness of
the cylinder head, and to compensate for this difference, a conical depression is formed in either the
inner or outer wall of the head, as shown
in Fig. 14. There appears to be one
objection to each arrangement, which is
probably the reason designers have not yet
agreed on one or the other of these
designs. If there is a depression in the
outer wall, any water getting onto the top
of the engine will collect in it and tend to
cause rusting of the spark-plug shell and
its thread. A conical depression in the
inner wall adds to the cooling surface of
the combustion chamber. Besides, the
mixture at the spark points, near the bottom of the depression, may be less ignitable.
In valve-in-head engines the depth of the head is altogether too great to permit of having the
spark-plug bosses extend through it vertically, and in such engines they extend through the head from
the side at an angle, a recess being formed in the side of the head to obtain a square seat (Fig. 15). In
larger cylinders, of course, the vertical depth of the compression space is sufficient to allow of the plug
being screwed horizontally into the compression chamber wall.
Fouling of spark plugs by lubricating oil is most likely to occur in valve-in-head engines, where
the plugs are located directly over the pistons. One method of combating trouble from this source
consists in reducing the diameter of the spark-plug hole by about one-half at the inner end (see Fig. 15),
and making the thread of the plug slightly shorter than the depth of the threaded hole, so that a small
chamber is formed at the inner end. In engines which do not have this provision the same effect can be
obtained by the use of "adapters," which screw into the spark-plug hole and have an internal thread
which will take the plug.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
72
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
DESIGN OF CYLINDER AND CYLINDER HEAD
Cylinder should be
- designed to withstand the high pr. & temp. conditions.
- be able to transfer the unused heat effectively so that metal temp. does not approach the
dangerous limit.
The Cylinder wall is subjected to gas pressure & the piston side thrust.
-Piston side thrust tends to bend the wall but the stress in the wall due to side thrust is very small
& can be neglected.
-The gas pressure Produces 2 types of stresses;
-longitudinal and circumferential - which act at right angle to each other & the net stress in each
direction is reduced. The longitudinal stress is usually small & can be neglected.
πD 2
p max
force 4
f l =longitudinal stress= =
(
area π D 2 O − D 2 )
4
p max × D
f c =circumferential force=
2t
D=cylinder diameter, DO= cylinder outside diameter,
p max =max. gas pr.
fc fl
fl fl fc fc
Net = -m & Net = -m ,
1 1
=
where m poision’s ratio= 4
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
The thickness of the cylinder wall usually varies from 4.5mm to more than 25mm, depending upon the
cylinder size.
According to an empirical relation,
For liners of oil engines,
D
t≥ near the top portion & through 20% of the stroke.
15
For dry liners,
The total thickness ‘t’ is the thickness of the liner & that of the cylinder wall.
The thickness of the Dry liner is given as t ' =0.03D to 0.035D
The thickness of the inner walls of the automobile engine cylinders is usually given empirically as
t =0.045D+1.6mm
1 3
The thickness of Jacket wall is given as = to t , larger ratio for smaller cylinder
3 4
or =0.032D+1.6mm
The water space between the outer cylinder wall & inner jacket wall is =10mm for a 75mm cylinder to
about 75mm for a 750mm cylinder
or =0.08D+6.5mm
74
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
CYLINDER FLANGES AND STUDS
The cylinder is either cast integral with the upper half of the crankcase or attached to it with the help of
flanges, studs and nuts.
The cylinder flange is made thicker than the wall of the cylinder.
Flange thickness should not be less than 1.1 to 1.25 t
Common value for flange thickness = 1.2 to 1.4 t
Or =1.25 to 1.5 d where d =bolt diameter, nominal
The distance of the end of the flange from the center of the stud or bolt should not be < d +6mm, and
not > 1.5 d .
The use of studs decreases the bending stress at the flange root since the moment arm can be made very
small.
The material of the studs or bolts is usually nickel steel with a yield point of 630 to 945MPa.
The diameter of the bolt or stud is calculated by equation of the gas load to the area of all the studs at
the root of the threads multiplied by the allowable fibre stress.
∴, π D 2 × p max . = z × π d c2 × f t Core
4 4
∴ D 2 × p max . = z × d c2 × f t Diameter
Outside
p max
∴ dc = D ,
z × ft Diameter
75
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
CYLINDER HEAD
Usually a separate cylinder cover or head is provided with all but the smallest engines. A box type
section is employed of considerable depth to accommodate ports. The general design of the cover is
governed by the following factors along with the strength consideration.
Air and gas passages
Accommodation of valves and their gear
Accommodation of the atomizer at the centre of the cover in the case of the diesel engines.
Cylinder head is the most difficult part to be designed and manufactured. The cylinder heads are
usually made of close grained cast iron or alloy cast iron containing nickel, chromium and
molybdenum, for small and medium sized engines, while for large engines, the material is low carbon
steel.
The thickness of the cylinder wall ranges from about 6.5mm for small engines to proportionately
larger values for large engines. The thickness depends on the shape of the head. If the cylinder head is
approximately a flat circular plate, the thickness can be determined by the relation:
Cp max
t=D
ft
Where C=const., in this case equal to 0.1, f t =allowable stress, taken to be 35 to 56 N/mm2
A low value of ' f t ' is taken because both pr. & temp. stresses are induced in the cylinder head
and the above equation is based upon only the cylinder pressure. The heat transfer through the head is
about 5 to 13 times as much heat per unit area as the cylinder walls, depending on the design and
amount of cooling.
76
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
• Example - 1
Determine the thickness of a cast iron cylinder wall & the stresses for a 300mm petrol engine,
with a maximum gas pressure of 3.5N/mm 2
• Solution :
Given
D = cylinder bore = 300mm, p max = max. gas pr. = 3.5N/mm2
Cylinder bore, mm 75 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
Reboring factor, mm 1.5 2.3 4.0 6.0 7.5 9.5 10.5 12.5 12.5 12.5
77
Example 2 Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Α vertical 4 stroke CI Εngine has the following specifications:
Βrake power = 4.5kW, Speed = 1200rpm, imep = 0.35Ν / mm 2 , ηmech = 0.80.
Detrmine the dimensions of the cylinder.
Solution :
Brake Power
Since ηmech =
Indicated Power
Brake Power 4 .5
∴ Indicated Power = = = 5.625kW
ηmech o.8
Pimep Ν / mm 2 × L m × A mm 2 × n rpm
Indicated Power = Watt
60
m
[1Watt = 1N ]
s
n 1200
n= for single acting 4 stroke Engine = = 600
2 2
0.35 × L × A × 600
∴ 5.625 × 103 watt =
60
5.625 × 103 × 60
or L m × A mm 2 = = 1.608 × 103
0.35 × 600
π × D2
or L m × mm 2 = 1.608 × 103
4
Stroke L
Now assuming i.e. ratio as 1.35 , or L = 1.35 D
Bore D
π × D2
∴ 1.35D m × mm 2 = 1.608 × 103
4
1.35D π × D2
or mm × mm 2 = 1.608 ×103
1000 4
or Bore Diameter D = 115mm,
∴ Stroke Length L = 1.35 D = 1.35 × 115 = 155mm
Now Length of Cylinder = Stroke + clearance on both sides
= Stroke + 10 to 15% of the stroke
∴ Length of Cylinder = 155 + (155 × 0.15)
= 178.5mm
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Example 3
Determine the thickness of a plain cylinder head for 0.3m cylinder.
The maximum gas pressure is approximately 3.2N/mm 2 . Design the studs also for the cylinder cover.
C × pmax
Solution : Thickness of cylinder cover = t = D
ft
whereD = 300mm, pmax = 3.2 N / mm 2 {C = constant = 0.1, & f t = allowable fibre stress = 35 to 56 N / mm 2 }
assuming f t = 42 N / mm 2 , for good grade cast iron
0 .1 × 3 .2
∴ t = 300 = 26.2mm
Studs 42
The gas will actually act upon the p. c. d . of the studs, but as the stud diameter is not known initially ,
the pressure may be assumed to be acting the cylinder diameter. Or , it is a common practice that the
centre of the stud should be 1.25d to 1.5d from the the inner wall of the cylinder.
(d = nominal bolt diameter , d c = core diameter )
∴ Pitch circle diameter D p = D + 3d = 300 + 3d mm
π × D p2
∴ Load on the stud = × max . gas pressure
4
π × (300 + 3d ) 2
= × 3.2
4
π × d c2
But load = Z × × ft ,
4
2
where ft = 35 to 70 N / mm & d c = core diameter , Z = No. of studs
let , core diameter , d c = 0.8 × nominal diameter = 0.8 × d
D D 300 300
Now No. of studs Z = + 4 to + 4 = + 4 to + 4 = 7 to 10,
100 50 100 50
2
Let Z = 8 & ft = 63 N / mm
π × (300 + 3d ) 2 π × (0.8d ) 2
∴ × 3 .2 = 8 × × 63
4 4
By trial & error , we get , d = 43mm
∴ D p = D + 3d = 300 + 3d = 300 + 3 × 43 = 429mm
π × D p π × 429
∴ Pitch of the studs = = = 168.5mm
Z 8
Now minimum pitch should be 3d = 3 × 43 = 129mm and maximum pitch lies between 19 d to 28.5 d
i.e., 124.5mm to187 mm, ∴ Both conditions are satisfied
References:
1. High Combustion Engines – P M Heldt
2. M/C Design –Sharma & Agarwal
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Chapter-8
VALVE AND VALVE MECHANISM
80
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Valve and valve mechanism
To admit the air-fuel mixture in the engine cylinder and to force the
exhaust gases out at correct timings, some control system is necessary, which
is provided by the valves.
Out of these three, poppet valve is the one which is being universally used for automobile engines.
81
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Construction of Poppet Valves
The poppet valve derives its name from its
motion of popping up and down. This is also called
"mushroom valve" because of its shape which is
similar to a mushroom. It consists of a head and a
stem as shown in Fig.
It possesses certain advantages over the other valve
types because of which it is extensively used in the
automotive engines:
1. Simplicity of construction
2. Self-centering.
3. Free to rotate about the stem to
new position.
4. Maintenance of sealing efficiency
is relatively easier.
Generally inlet valves are larger than the
exhaust valves, because speed of incoming air-fuel
mixture is less than the velocity of exhaust gases
which leave under pressure. Further, because of
pressure, the density of exhaust gases is also comparatively high. Moreover, smaller exhaust valve is
also preferred because of shorter path of heat flow in this case and consequent reduced thermal loading.
Generally inlet valves and exhaust valves are 45% and 38% of the cylinder bore respectively.
Further, to improve heat transfer to the cylinder head, the stem diameter of the exhaust valve is
generally 10 to 15% greater than that of the inlet valve. Moreover, the valve lift in both inlet and
exhaust valves should be at least equal to 25% of the valve head diameter which would provide the
annular valve-opening area equal to the port throat area. If the valve lift is less, the volumetric
efficiency of the engine will be decreased. On the other hand if it is excessive, the inertia of the valve
actuating mechanism would be unduly large resulting in excessive noise and wear.
The valve face angle (with the plane of the
valve head) is generally kept 45° or 30°. A smaller
face angle provides greater valve opening for a
given lift, but poor sealing because of the reduced
seating pressure for a given valve spring load.
Due to this reason in some engines, the inlet valve
face angle may be kept 30° or 45° whereas the
exhaust valve face angle is only 45°, as this
increases its heat dissipation. In some cases, a
further differential angle of about 1/2 deg to 1 deg
is provided between the valve and its seating (Fig.), which results in better sealing conditions.
The machined surface of the block or the cylinder head on which the valve rests when closed is
known as the valve seat. This surface usually forms a truncated cone whose generatrices make an angle
of either 45° or 30° with the plane of the valve head. During the early years of the industry flat-seated
poppet valves were used to a certain extent, which have the advantage that for a given port diameter and
lift, the flow area is considerably greater than with conical valves. A disadvantage of flat-seated valves,
which led to their abandonment-is that they are not self centering, and therefore are more likely to leak,
especially after the guides have become worn.
In the analysis it has been assumed that the flow through the valve is parallel to the seat
elements. This is substantially correct at small lifts, when the distance between valve and seat is only a
fraction of the width of the seat, but with increase in the lift the direction of flow changes. The gases
naturally seek the path of least resistance, and in turning a corner they approach the inner boundary of
the flow path.
82
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
In an L-head engine the direction of flow on the side of the valve toward the cylinder, where the
gases can flow off freely, is somewhat different from that on the opposite side, where there is only a
moderate clearance between valve and valve-chamber wall. There the gases must describe nearly a
semi-circle, and in seeking the path of least resistance, they approach the edge of the valve head. The
best measure of valve capacity evidently is the minimum sectional area normal to the direction of flow.
From Fig., where the dashed lines are meant to
represent the center lines of the flow paths, it
can be seen that the direction of flow relative to
the seat elements varies around the
circumference of the valve. In modern engines
the valve seats are made comparatively narrow,
and in Fig., which closely represents actual
proportions, the line BC connecting the inner
edge of the valve seat at full lift with the outer
edge of the seat on the block, makes an obtuse
angle with the elements of the seats, instead of
a right angle as in flat-seated valve Fig.. It has
been suggested that the area of the conical
frustrum of which BC, is an element be taken
as a measure of the valve capacity, but in view of the fact that the direction of flow is not normal to that
line this plan is of doubtful value.
The valve lift generally is slightly more than one-fourth the port diameter in the case of 45-deg, and
slightly less in the case of 30-deg valves. Valve-stem diameters are made equal to one-fourth the valve
diameter. The outside diameter of the valve head will be about 1.175 times the port diameter.
83
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Valve-Operating Conditions
The heads of the valves are subjected to the high
temperature of the burning gases, and it is essential that
they should not warp under the influence of the heat, and
that their seats should not scale or corrode, as in either case
they would become leaky. Occasionally small particles of
scale will get onto the valve seats, and the valve heads must
be of sufficient hardness at the high temperature at which
they operate so they will not pit under this condition.
Lubrication of the valve stems is hard to effect, and
the stems must not wear too rapidly in their guides, even
though poorly lubricated or not lubricated at all. That
portion of the stem immediately below the head is subject
also to the heat of the burning gases which, when the
exhaust opens rush by it at a velocity of up to 300 fps; and
to the corrosive action of unconsumed, hot oxygen and
intermediate products of combustion.
84
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Valve-Operating Temperatures
85
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Exhaust valves operate under relatively
more severe conditions on account of higher
temperatures involved. An exhaust valve is
subjected to:
1. Longitudinal cyclic stresses due to the
return spring load and the inertia response of the
valve assembly.
2. Thermal stresses in the
circumferential and longitudinal directions due
to the large temperature gradient from the centre
of the head to its periphery and from the crown
to the stem. A typical variation of temperature in
an exhaust valve is given in Fig.
3. Creep conditions due to operation at
very high temperatures, particularly in case of
valve head.
4. Corrosion conditions.
86
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Materials for Valves
Owing to the expensive character of the material necessary for the exhaust valves, the inlets are
now generally made of more common and cheaper material. This practice is encouraged also by the fact
that the inlet valves now are generally made of somewhat larger diameter, so they would not be
interchangeable with the exhaust valves even if they were made of the same material.
Both the mechanical and the thermal stresses on engine valves increase with the speed of
operation, and as engine speeds have increased continuously, there has been a constant search for better
materials, especially for the exhaust valves. Silicon-chromium (Silcrome) steel containing 3-3.5 per cent
silicon and 8-9 per cent chromium came into use during the early twenties, and was considered an
excellent exhaust-valve material at the time. This steel possessed good workability and good machining
qualities, but it left something to be desired with respect to hot strength. While at normal temperature it
showed a tensile strength in excess of 200,000 psi, at 1200 F this dropped to 42,000 psi, and at 1600 F it
was only 4600 psi. The steel began to scale at 1800 F. Its resistance to warpage and corrosion at high
temperatures was poor.
In the middle thirties specific outputs had increased so much that a better material was needed
for heavy-duty bus and truck engines. What was called for particularly was higher hot strength and a
higher scaling temperature. These properties could be obtained by a more liberal use of alloying
elements, particularly chromium, and a new type of valve steel was then introduced of which Silcrome
XB, developed by Thompson Products, Inc., is representative. This has a higher carbon content than the
original Silcrome steel, viz., 0.60-0.86 per cent; less silicon, 1.25-2.75; but more than twice as much
chromium, 19.00-23.00, and in addition from 1.00 to 2.00 per cent nickel. This steel resists warping
much better, and it also has greater resistance to heat corrosion. At 1600 F its tensile strength is 7625
psi, and its scaling temperature is 2150 F.
Austenitic Valve Steels
More recently so-called austenitic, non hardening steels have been introduced as a
material; for exhaust valves. They excel silicon-chromium steel with respect to hot strength, impact
value, hot hardness, and resistance to oxidation and corrosion. These steels, which contain high
percentages of chromium and nickel-the combined contents of these two elements usually ranging
between 25.00 and 30.00 per cent-in addition to being non-responsive to heat treatment, are non-
magnetic.
An austenitic valve steel contains 0.30-0.45 carbon, 0.80-1.30 manganese, 2.50-3.25
silicon, 17.50-20.50 chromium, 7.00-9.00 nickel and not over 0.03 phosphorus and sulphur each.
It has a hot strength of 17,500 psi at 1600 F and a scaling temperature of 2200 F. But
while these austenitic valve steels possess many advantages, they also have some undesirable qualities.
One thing against them is that their coefficient of heat expansion is materially greater than that of
silicon-chromium steel (0.000011 as compared with 0.0000078). This calls for a slightly greater
clearance between the valve stem and its guide and between the valve and its tappet. For heavy-duty
engines a valve-stem clearance of 0.010 to 0.015 in. per inch of stem diameter is recommended. The
hardness of austenitic steel is rather low (about 45 Rockwell C, as compared with 55 for the original
Silcrome steel) ,and it does not resist the hammering action on the tip very well, especially where there
is line or point contact, as with rocker arms contacting the tip. To meet this condition, valves of heavy-
duty engines sometimes have tips of Stellite or tool steel applied by either electric or acetylene welding.
The wear of austenitic valve stems' in the guides also is somewhat more rapid than that of other steels.
This difficulty may be overcome by nitriding the stems, but the injurious effect of tetraethyllead on
nitrided surfaces would seem to discourage this practice. Cold-working (rolling) of the stems to increase
their hardness
also has been suggested. The various processes by which nonmetallic coatings are formed on wearing
surfaces to keep them from scoring may be applied also to valve stems. Carbon-steel stems may be.
welded to heads of austenitic steel, which has the further advantage that the carbon steel is much lower
in cost. This process of building up valves by welding has been carried to its logical conclusion by
welding heads of a material resistant to scaling and pitting, to a stem of a material having good bearing
87
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
qualities in cast iron under conditions of poor lubrication, and to the latter a tip of a material which is
capable tappet action well of withstanding the
Precipitation-Hardening Steel
The latest addition to the list of exhaust-valve materials is a steel intermediate between
the ferritic and the austenitic types; it shares the property of harden ability with the ferritic steels, and
high hot strength with the austenitic. This steel, Silcrome XCR, contains 0.40-0.50 carbon, not more
than 1.00 manganese, 23.25-24.25 chromium, 4.50-5.00 nickel, 2.50-3.00 molybdenum, and not more
than 0.035 phosphorus and sulphur each. At 1600 F it shows a tensile strength of 20,000 psi, which is a
tremendous improvement over the 4600 psi of the original Silcrome. With respect to heat expansion it is
intermediate between the ferritic Silcromes and the austenitic type. Its oxidation and corrosion
resistances are excellent, but its workability is only fair, and its machinability definitely poor. Valves of
Silcrome XCR are hardened to 48-58 Scleroscope all over, and owing to the relatively great hardness,
both the seat and the stem wear well. This steel must be forged within a narrow temperature range; if
overheated it loses its hardenability; while if forged at too lower temperature, it is likely to shatter, its
impact value being quite low. In spite of these drawbacks and its rather high cost, this steel is being used
extensively for the exhaust valves of heavy-duty engines.
The inlet valve does not present nearly so difficult a materials problem as the exhaust valve, as
the temperature attained by it in service is always considerably lower. Two types of low alloysteel are
used extensively for inlet valves. Nos. 3140 and 8645. The former is a chrome-nickel steel- containing
1.0 to 1.5 percent of nickel and 0.50-0.80 percent chromium (besides 0.37-0.45 per cent carbon and
0.60-0.95 per cent manganese); the latter a chromium-nickel-molybdenum steel containing 0.35-0.75
percent nickel, 0.35-0.65 per cent chromium, and 0.12- 0.25 per cent molybdenum, besides normal
amounts of carbon and manganese. Some-use has been made of a medium-alloy chromenickel- silicon
steel-with(8 to 9 per cent nickel, 12 to 13 per cent chromium, and 2.5 to3 per cent silicon. This CNS
steel, which has low carbon and manganese contents, is said to be immune to the corrosive influences of
tetra-ethyl lead.
Miscellaneous Considerations
1. An adequately designed valve with proper material can also fail due to local stress
concentrations if there is any unevenness around the valve-seat interface on account of distortion of
valve heads or seats, bending of valve stem or trapping of carbon particles between the valve and the
seat.
2. Excessive surface finish of the valve stem will result in loss of lubricating oil film, while
excessive roughness of the stem would increase the guide wear. A thin layer of chromium giving the
surface finish of about 0.5 μm would provide the optimum condition.
3. As engine thermal efficiency is increased with increase of compression ratio, lower valve
temperatures would result in case of higher compression ratio.
4. Arranging the inlet and the exhaust ports in the cylinder head alternately would increase the
transfer of heat from the exhaust to the inlet valves, compared to the case when the like valves are
placed together. This would result in decreased exhaust valve temperatures. However, this would also
complicate the design of the inlet and the exhaust manifolds in case both are to be on the same side of
the engine.
88
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
89
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Sodium-Cooled Valves
The exhaust valve temperatures in modern engines reach very high values of the order of 750°C.
In heavy duty engines, it may be still higher. Therefore, cooling of exhaust valves becomes very
important. To do this cooling water jackets are arranged as near the valve as possible. In many cases,
nozzles are directed towards the hot spot caused by the exhaust valve.
Large valves of heavy-duty engines can be
kept at a reasonably low temperature by sodium-
cooling, which is now employed extensively for
aircraft-engine valves, and occasionally for bus- and
truck-engine valves.
Originally a mixture of potassium nitrate
and lithium nitrate was used, which melts at about
260 F, but later metallic sodium -was substituted for
these salts.
The advantages of sodium are a low specific gravity
(0.97), a high specific heat, a low melting point
(207 F), and a high boiling point (1616 F). Fig.
shows a section of a sodium-cooled valve designed for
use in aircraft engines. The stem is of somewhat
larger diameter than usual, and is drilled out from
the end & the chamber thus formed, after being
nearly closed at the end by swaging process, is
filled about half full with metallic sodium.
Assuming the valve to be positioned as in an L-head vertical engine, the sodium will be at the bottom
(tip end) of the chamber when the valve is closed. it may be seen that in normal operation the valve is
alternately accelerated and decelerated at rates many times that due to gravity, with the result that the
sodium is thrown violently from one end of the chamber to the other. When at the top end, it absorbs
heat from the hot wall, which it gives up to the cooler, lower end of the stem when next it drops to the
bottom of the chamber, whence the heat passes to the valve guide and into the cylinder block. These
sodium-cooled valves are sometimes furnished with an inner lining of copper, which latter has four
times the heat conductivity of valve steels. The end of the stem is sealed with a steel plug, over which is
welded a cap of hard steel.
In the sodium-cooled valve shown in Fig., which is of an earlier design, only the stem is hollow
and partly filled with sodium. Later it was found possible to make both the head and the stem hollow, as
in Fig., which shows a valve designed for installation in the cylinder head. In operation the highest
temperatures are reached by the center portion of the top surface of the valve and a point on the stem
some distance below the head. In comparative tests under similar conditions with a conventional "solid"
valve, a sodium cooled valve with hollow stem, and a sodium-cooled valve with hollow stem and head,
the maximum temperatures reached by the center portions of the heads were approximately 1380 F,
1240 F, and 1170 F, respectively. At the seat the temperatures of the valves in these cases ranged
between 1000 F and 1100 F. In solid valves the higher temperature of the center portion of the head
sometimes results in the formation of cracks at the seat.
There can be no doubt as to the great operating advantages of sodium-cooled valves, and the
only reason they are not widely used in automotive engines is that they are rather expensive to produce.
Considerable effort has been devoted in recent years to the development of improved processes of
production. In one process a piece of steel tubing of slightly more than the diameter of the finished
stem, after being cut off to the right length, is upset at one end and then spun to what may be called
"tulip shape." A disc of steel is then welded on to close the opening in the head, while the end of the
stem is closed in the same way as in the case of a valve in which only the stem is hollow.
90
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Valve Seats
The valve seats must be faced very accurately, so that there is complete contact between the
valve and the valve seat when the former closes. Valve seat face is thus ground to the same angle to
which the valve face is ground. This may have any value from 30° to 45°. For cylinder blocks or heads
made of grey iron, the inlet valve seats are directly machined on the cylinder blocks or heads as the case
may be because working conditions are not severe. These are called integral seats. However, where
aluminium blocks or heads are used, separate valve seat inserts are employed even for inlet valves. For
the exhaust valves, always the separate valves seat inserts are used, the operating conditions being very
severe. Insert seats are also used as salvage procedure when badly damaged integral seats are
reconditioned. Valve seat inserts are simply rings made of alloy steel consisting of chromium, silicon,
tungsten or cobalt with a conical seat on one of the inside edges. These are force-fitted in the recesses
machined in the cylinder head. When worn, these inserts can be easily replaced.
91
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Valve Springs
92
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Valve Rotators
Ordinarily the temperature is not uniform around the circumference of a valve head, being
highest where the greatest mass of hot gases passes over it, as on the side nearest the cylinder in an L-
head engine. By actual test it was found that in an engine of this type, under certain operating
conditions, the exhaust valve- seat insert reached a temperature about 280 F higher on the "near" than
on the "far" side, and there can be little doubt that even greater temperature differences exist between
opposite sides of the valve head. Such temperature differences cause distortion and leakage. If while in
operation the valve could be made to rotate on its seat, that would tend to equalize temperatures and
keep down their maximum value. It would tend to keep the seat clean and if leakage should start at any
point of the circumference, the resulting damage to the valve would be reduced. A number of so-called
valve rotators have been brought out, but so far they have not come into extensive use, probably
because they have not always been reliable. Some merely "free" the valve of the restraining effect of the
friction due to the spring pressure, while others, in addition, convert some of the axial force producing
the opening or the closing motion into a tangential force. The problem of a simple mechanism that will
positively rotate the valve on its seat evidently is not an easy one, and complicated and delicate
mechanisms can hardly be tolerated in the valve gear. However, according to one valve specialist,
positive rotation is more effective in prolonging valve life than any other known means.
Fig. shows a valve-rotating mechanism. The valve spring rests on a seating collar which
transmits the spring pressure to the retainer cap through a conical spring washer. When the valve is
closed (left view) the pressure of the valve spring is relatively light, hence the spring washer is
distended and bears with its inner edge on the retainer cap at 2. As the valve is being lifted (right view)
the pressure of the spring increases, the spring washer flattens out, and its point of support is transferred
from 2 on the retainer cap to 3 on the steel balls, which latter rest on inclined surfaces on the retainer
cap. The effect of the
incline is to create a
horizontal force
component tending to
produce relative
angular motion
between spring washer
and retainer cap. Both
parts are subject to
friction, but the
restraining moment on
the spring washer is
much greater than that
on the valve, and as a
result an angular
motion is imparted to
the assembly consisting
of valve, retainer cap
and retainer lock.
During each valve lift
each ball moves down
the incline, and in
between lifts it is
returned to the top of
the incline by a light
spring.
93
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Valve Guides
In low-cost engines the valve guides are sometimes cast integral with the
cylinder block or head, but the more general practice is to make them in the form
of a bushing which is pressed into a hole drilled in the cylinder or head casting.
Separate guides have the advantage that they can be renewed when worn. A fairly
close fit for the valve stem in the guide is necessary, particularly in the case of
inlet valves, because if there is excessive clearance between the stem and guide of
these valves, air will be drawn into the cylinder through this clearance during the
inlet stroke and dilute the charge received by the cylinder. If the clearances of the
valve stems of an engine differ, the charges received by the different cylinders
will be unequally diluted, a condition that cannot be corrected by carburetor
adjustment. In passenger-car engines the clearance between inlet-valve stem and
guide ranges between 0.002 and 0.003 in. It is very difficult to lubricate the
exhaust valve guides effectively, owing to the high temperatures reached by them,
and these, therefore, are subject to comparatively rapid wear. Exhaust-valve stems
should have a clearance of between 0.002 and 0.004 in. in their guides.
Separate guides are usually made of cast iron, of 1/8 to 3/16-in. wall
thickness, and are made a force fit in the hole in the cylinder or head casting. Sometimes the guide is
provided with a flange or shoulder which abuts against a finished surface on the cylinder or head casting
as the guide is pressed into position, but more generally this is omitted.
The exhaust-valve guide is preferably made to extend substantially up to the point of the stem
where the fillet under the head begins, as it has been found that this keeps the valve head cooler than a
design which leaves more of the stem exposed to the action of the hot gases during the exhaust period.
A slight further reduction of the valve-head temperature can be achieved by counter boring the upper
part of the valve guide, or, alternatively, undercutting the upper part of the valve stem, so that there is no
contact between stem and guide over
this portion of the length of the latter,
which then serves merely as a shield for
the valve stem, protecting it from the
hot gases rushing by during the exhaust
period. The guides of inlet valves are
preferably made shorter, so that they
project into the valve pocket only very
slightly, as this reduces the resistance to
flow. As indicated in Fig., in the case of
the exhaust valve it is advantageous to
water-jacket the whole length of the
boss for the valve guide, as this keeps
down the valve temperature. Lengths of
valve guides are usually between 2 and
3 times the valve-port diameter.
An unusual type of valve guide
(Fig.) was used in early Ford engines. The valves of this engine were formed with an enlargement on
the end of their stem, which supported a horseshoe-shaped spring retainer. Owing to this enlargement, it
was impossible to insert the valve into a one-piece guide. The guide therefore was split through its axis,
and valve and guide were inserted and with drawn together. The guide was held in position in the bore
in the cylinder block by a horseshoe-shaped stamping which entered a groove turned in the guide and
rested against a machined surface on the block.
94
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Design of Valve Tappets
In L-head engines the valves are operated from the cams through
the intermediary of tappets, which latter usually consist of a cylindrical
steel part moving in a cast-iron guide formed on or secured to the
crankcase. The tappet carries the cam follower at its lower end and is
provided with clearance adjusting means at its upper end.
95
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Tappets are used also in valve-in-head engines, but in that case
the clearance-adjusting means are located on the top of the engine,
where they are more accessible. Two designs of tappets for this type of
engine are shown in Fig.. The one on the left is thimble shaped and
formed on the inside with a spherical seat for the ball end of the side rod.
Solid side rods are used where the distance between the tappet and the
rocker lever is comparatively short, as where the camshaft is located on
the side of the cylinder block; with the camshaft in the crankcase,
tubular side rods are preferable, because of their greater resistance to
buckling. It will be seen that the side rod is shown to make a small angle
with the axis of the tappet. This has the advantage that its reaction on the
tappet has a small horizontal component which can be made to
counteract the friction between cam and tappet, thus reducing the
friction encountered by the latter. In the design shown at the right the
spherical seat for the tubular side rod is at the top
Clearance Required
The amount of valve clearance required has increased in the course of time, because modern
engines, on account of their much higher speeds, operate at higher temperatures. In passenger-car
engines of the L-head type the average clearance between pushrod and valve stem with the engine cold
is about 0.010 in. for the inlet, and 0.012 in. for the exhaust valves. For service purposes the "hot"
clearances usually are specified, and are somewhat smaller than the figures given. Valve-in-head
engines require greater clearances, especially where the cam motion is amplified by the tappet levers.
96
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Automatic "Zero-Clearance" Tappets
By means of a hydraulic device supplied with oil from the engine
lubricating system (or from a separate source), it is possible to take up
clearance between the tappet and valve automatically as soon as it develops.
A hydraulic tappet is used extensively by engine manufacturers. A sectional
view of this tappet is shown in Fig.. The adjusting means is a separate
hydraulic unit which is set into the valve lifter body during the process of
assembly. The lifter body is of substantially the same design as the
conventional valve lifter, hence only the hydraulic unit needs to be described.
97
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Rocker Arm and Rocker Shaft
The function of the rocker arm is to reverse the
upward motion of the push rod to downward motion of
the valve and vice versa. The rocker arm may be either
solid or hollow.
A stationary hollow rocker shaft serves as a
pivot to the rocker arms and provides passage for
lubricating oil simultaneously. Rocker arm is made of
steel (forged or stamped) or iron (cast). Cast rocker
arms are comparatively cheaper but are not as strong as
forged or stamped ones. However, these give
satisfactory service in cars. Stamped rocker arms have
been found to be light, very strong, yet cheapest of all
the types. Rocker shafts are made from hollow steel
tubing. A typical material for these would consist of
0.55% carbon, 0.2% silicon, 0.65% manganese and the
remainder iron. After machining the shaft is case-
hardened. It is mounted on cast iron or aluminium
pedestals placed between each pair of rocker arms.
98
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Push Rod
99
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Dual Valves
Large valves are more troublesome than small ones, because a large disc will be warped more by
the heat, and, besides, the weight of the valve increases
rapidly with the linear dimensions, hence the stress on
the valve and its mechanism due to rapid opening and
closing becomes very great for large diameters. For this
reason it has become customary in high-speed engines
with large cylinder bores to use two inlet and two
exhaust valves per cylinder.
An experimental investigation of the relative
capacities of large and small valves was made in
connection with the development of the Liberty aircraft
engine, and the conclusions reached were that at the
same pressure drop, one valve of diameter D and lift h
is equal in capacity to, first, a pair of valves of diameter
O.707D (equal port area) and lift 0.70h and, second, a
pair of valves of diameter 0.6D and lift h, for values of
h not exceeding about O.25D. Engines with two, three,
four & five valves are shown in the following Figures.
100
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Valve Timing
The valves are operated by cams on a shaft which turns at one-half the speed of the crankshaft,
so that each valve is opened and closed once during two revolutions of the crankshaft. In order that an
engine may operate satisfactorily at high speeds, it is necessary that the exhaust valve open before the
end of the power stroke and close after the completion of the exhaust stroke; and that the inlet open
before the end of the exhaust stroke and close after the completion of the inlet stroke. This involves an
overlapping of the exhaust and inlet periods, which is made necessary in part by the very slow opening
and closing motions now employed for the sake of quiet operation. If the inlet began to open only after
the exhaust had closed, the effective valve opening during a considerable part of the inlet stroke would
be so small that the incoming charge would be seriously throttled. For an engine which is intended to
"peak" at 3000-4000 rpm the valve timing shown in Fig. should prove satisfactory. That there is
considerable latitude with respect to the different valve functions may be seen from the following table
which applies to 1953 passenger-car engines:
101
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Overhead Valves
Valves in the head are operated either by tappet rods extending up the side of the cylinders, or by
means of an overhead camshaft. When tappet
rods are used, they extend up through an
enclosed space and the rocker arms, etc., at the
top of the engine are enclosed by a valve
cover, which is usually of pressed steel. When
the whole valve mechanism is thus enclosed,
not only are any noises produced by it
muffled, but the joints can all be effectively
lubricated and all bearings are protected
against dust. In multi-cylinder overhead-valve
engines the rocker arms are mounted on a
hollow shaft, to which is connected a lead
from the pressure lubricating system. At the
center of each rocker arm bearing an oil hole
is drilled through the wall-of the hollow shaft,
so that oil will feed to the bearing surface, and
sometimes a hole is drilled lengthwise of the
rocker arm from the rocker bearing surface to
the point of contact with the valve stem. By
placing the breather pipe on the valve cover
and establishing communication with the
crankcase by means of the tappet-rod
passages, an oil-misty atmosphere is created in
the valve chamber, and the lubrication of all
bearings is provided for.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
In determining the weight of the valve-reciprocating parts where rocker levers are used, it is
necessary to first find the radius of gyration of the rocker lever, which can be done either by calculation
or experimentally by the pendulum method. The actual weight of the rocker is then reduced in the
proportion of the radius of gyration to the length of the rocker arm bearing on the side rod, and the value
thus obtained is added to the weight of the tappet and side rod. The weight of the valve and parts
moving with it is reduced in the proportion of valve motion to tappet motion, and then added to the
other weights.
103
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Overhead Camshahs
The simplest
and most direct
method of
actuating valves
in the cylinder
head is by
means of an
overhead
camshaft, Fig..
It reduces the
necessary
weight of valve
reciprocating
parts, thus
making it
possible to get
along with
lighter springs
and to increase the maximum speed.
It appears that one reason for the less
quiet operation of the engine is that the
source of the noise (the cam gear) is
directly underneath the hood, and the
noise is therefore more readily transmitted to the passengers ears than when it originates down in the
crankcase. It has been found that a contributing factor to noise in the valve gear is the discontinuity of
the torque; that is, when the nose of a cam has passed a cam follower, the pressure of the valve spring
causes the cam and its shaft to snap forward, thereby taking up the clearance between gear teeth.
Trouble from this source may be guarded against by "burdening" the camshaft with additional load,
such as the fan, water pump, or generator.
104
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Valve Actuating Mechanisms
In all the valve actuating mechanisms a cam driven at half the crankshaft speed is used to
operate each valve
inlet or exhaust.
However, there are
different methods of
operating the valves
from the cam.
These may
be broadly divided
into two types viz.,
1. Mechanisms with
side camshaft and
2.The mechanisms
with overhead
camshaft.
105
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
1. Mechanisms with side camshaft
In these the camshaft is on the side of the engine and the valves are operated either directly by
the cams or through the push rods and rocker arms.
In this the inlet and the exhaust valves are all arranged in a single row and operated from the same
camshaft (Fig.). This method was once quite popular on account of the following advantages:
106
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
(c) Overhead inlet and side exhaust valve mechanism (F-head)
This is a combination of the two systems described
above. Overhead valve mechanism is used for the inlet valve
operation and the side valve mechanism for the exhaust valve.
It is used in F-head engines. This mechanism is simpler than
the overhead camshaft operated types and allows the use of
larger inlet valves, but larger valves being heavier, there is also
a limitation on the maximum speed of the engine that could be
allowed. F-head engines were found to be less efficient and
were also more expensive due to which these have also become
obsolete.
107
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
2. Mechanisms with overhead camshaft
The valve operating mechanisms
with overhead single or double camshafts
are highly efficient. However, with these
considerably more lubricating oil is
needed to flood the cam profiles as
compared to the overhead valves operated
by side camshafts. Moreover, they have
the disadvantage of higher initial costs.
108
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
In Fig. is depicted a mechanism for inlet and exhaust valves in separate rows, but operated by a
single overhead
camshaft with inverted
bucket type follower
and the pivoted rocker
arm.
However, quite
often the double-row
valves are operated by
two separate overhead
camshafts as shown in
Figures.
109
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Comparison of the Side Camshaft and the Overhead Camshaft Mechanisms
110
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Desmodromic
A form of valve actuation that uses mechanical means to open & close the valves, thus
eliminating valve springs & the resulting bounce at high speeds. They featured in the Mercedes racing
cars of the mid-50’s but are now associated with Ducati road & racing motor cycles
111
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Valve Production
The forgings for conventional poppet valves may be produced by several processes, including
drop-forging, upsetting extruding, and electric gathering. In each case the stock used comes in rod or
bar form. The extrusion process employs stock of a diameter approximately 70 per cent that of the
finished valve head and forms the stem by forcing some of the material through a die while at a red
heat. To prevent fracture during the shearing operation, the bars are first brought up to red heat either by
induction or in an open furnace. Burrs on the slugs are removed by tumbling.
The average valve forging is completed in one heating on a 500- ton or 750-ton press operating
at about 45 rpm. Valve slugs are placed in a hopper which feeds them into an induction-heating coil.
The rate of feed can be varied by the operator from 8 to 20 slugs per minute, by means of a variable-
speed motor drive. The average automotive valve requires a 1-in. slug, and of these slugs 16 are heated
to about 2000 F per minute, the power consumption amounting to 50kw.
All automotive valves have the following operations carried out on them: Roll
straightening of stem and head, inspection for straightness, center-less rough-grinding of stem,
hardening tip, finish grinding stem, finish grinding seat, inspection
The valve forging is straightened on a machine of the Waterbury- Farrell thread-roller type, the
valves are heated to 1425 F in a Surface Combustion chain-type furnace, which is loaded through a
hopper and discharges into a chute feeding the straightening machine. The center-less grinders used to
grind the stems are pro vided with an infeed attachment which causes the valves to drop into position
between the wheels, and with a "kicker" which removes the valves at the end of the grinding cycle. All
valves are forged with a flash on the periphery of the head. Most automotive valves are "forge-finished"
on top and under the head, but the heads must be finished on the outside diameter and on the seat. That
operation, which is usually performed on multiple-spindle automatics with carbide tools is followed by
machining of the tip of the valve stem and of the ,keeper groove chamfering of the tip, and facing the
valve to length.
Heat Treatment
Valves made of XCR and chrome-manganese. steel usually are age-hardened after the semi-
finish machining operation, and many intake valves of SAE 3140 steel also are hardened in the semi-
finish stage. If the valve is to be heat-treated, semi finish grinding of the stem follows the heat
treatment; otherwise it precedes machining of the retainer groove. Heat-treated valves usually are grit-
blasted to remove surface scale, and then are hand straightened before any grinding is done on them.
The semi-finish grind is performed on a Cincinnati centerless grinder.
112
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Hardening and Grinding of Tip
Tips of high-production valves usually are hardened by induction heat, those of others by the
conventional flame-hardening process. A 20-kw high-frequency generator supplies the current for
induction hardening. Induction hardening permits much better control of the hardness than flame
hardening. It is usually specified that tips shall be ground to 15 RMS surface finish, and square with the
valve stem to within 0.0015 in.. Large-production valves have the tip ground on automatic grinder
equipped with a rotating fixture in which the valves are located from the seat face.
Grinding of the seat is the last operation on the valve, and usually is done on a hydraulic grinder.
The total indicator reading of seat runout to stem can be held to less than 0.001 in. in large-volume
production. For this operation most valves are located from the tip end.
Inspection
All valves are visually inspected for surface defects, possible operations missed, etc., at 'the end
of the line. Scleroscope and Rockwell machines are used to check the hardness. Stellited and welded
valves are inspected 100 per cent. Magnaflux inspection is made to discover seams, subsurface
stringers, and other defects difficult to recognize with the naked eye. Standard gauges are used
throughout the line, masters being provided to check the dimensions from seat to tip, from seat to
groove, and from groove to tip, and determinations are made of the runout of the tip and the seat relative
to the stem. The machined retainer grooves are checked for form, radii, etc., in Comparators with a
magnification of 25 to 1.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
SLEEVE VALVES
ROTARY VALVES
References
• High speed Combustion Engines-P M Heldt
• Automobile Engineering-Dr. Kirpal Singh
• Machine Design-Abdulla sheriff
• Theory & Practice in I C Engines-C F Taylor
• Autocar India Illustrated Automotive Glossary
114
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
VALVE DESIGN
• Material -For valve -Nickel steel for inlet valves; & High nickel chromium steel for exhaust valves
(due to high temp. and corrosive action)
For valve seat-Cast iron or bronze – Replaceable, (Cast iron-for big engines – due to economic reasons.)
πd port
2
πD 2
a=port area= ; Ap=area of piston= ; Cp ave= average piston velocity=2LNm/min
4 4
*Fix vel. of gas, calculate port area & port diameter
14.7Vg Tη ch ×180
Vg' =
520 P (180 + α + β )
Where Vg=gas velocity – fixed – in ft/min (180+α+β) =duration of valve opening
T=temp. in Rankine - T F=1.8T C+32, and T(R)= ToF+459.67
o o
Hence calculate Vg' -For stationary engines ≤ 12000ft/min – for intake valve & ≤ 18000ft/min – for exhaust valve
-For automobile engines ≤ 18000ft/min – for intake valve & ≤ 27000ft/min – for exhaust valve
( pistonspeed ) mean
• d1=dport=port diameter= D
velocityofgasthroughvalve
• valve lift h
πd12 0.25d1
Angular area of opening πd1h cosα v = =port area or h=
4 cos α
But this gives hammering effect (h=0.1d1 to 0.2d1)
Therefore empirical relation h=0.2d1 may be adopted
P
• Thickness of valve disc = t = k1d1
S
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Where k1=0.54-for cast iron; 0.42-for carbon steel & high grade steel
S =4000psi-forcast iron; 8000psi-forcarbon steel & 15000psi-for high grade steel
P =max. gas pressure; d1=dport=port diameter
Pmax
[Or t = 0.5d1 , where, σ =allowable stress=420ksc for carbon steel & 700 to 800ksc for high grade steel]
σ
• d 3= (d 1
2
+ d 22 )
Sb
− 1
S − Pmax
• b=0.5(d2-d1) = 0.5d1 b ,
d1 3
• do=diameter of valve stem = + inch
18 16
load load
=
bearing pressure = bearingarea (d 2 − d1 )
× π × d1
2
116
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Example - 1
Determine the valve lift & valve dimensions of an engine from the following data;
Max. Gas Pressure = 5N/mm 2 , Cylinder Bore Diameter = 80mm,
Gas Velocity = 1500m/min, Mean Piston Speed = 300m/min,
Allowable Stress = 42N/mm 2 , Valve Seat Angle = 30 0 ,
Solution; Given, Pmax = 5N/mm 2 , D = 80mm,
V = 1500m/min, σ = 42N/mm 2 ,
πDN
α = 30 0 , S = 300m/min = πDNm/min = m / sec
60
S 300
Port diameter = d1 = D = 80 = 35.8mm
V 1500
d1 35.8
Max. Valve Lift = h= = = 10.33mm
4 cos α 4 × cos 30
p 5
Thickness of valve head = t = 0.5 × d1 max = 0.5 × 35.8 = 6.2mm
σ 42
t 6.2
And Width of seating = b= = = 10.74mm
tanα tan30
Also, b = 0.1d1 + 4mm = 0.1× 35.8 + 4mm = 7.58mm
∴ Diamter of Valve head = d2 =d1 +2b = 35.8 + 2 × 7.58 = 50.96mm
(assuming, b = 7.58mm)
d1 35.8
Diameter of valve stem = d0 = + 4mm = + 4mm = 8.5mm
8 8
Diameter of valve head opening area = d3 = (d
2
1 )
+ d22 = (35.8 2
+ 50.96 2 )
= 62.27mm
117
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Firing Order
Every engine cylinder must fire once in every cycle. This requires that for a four-stroke four-
cylinder engine the ignition system must fire for every 180 degrees of crank rotation. For a six-cylinder
engine the time available is only 120 degrees of crank rotation.
The order in which various cylinders of a multi cylinder engine fire is called the firing order.
The number of possibilities of firing order depends upon the number of cylinders and throws of the
crankshaft. It is desirable to have the power impulses equally spaced and from the point of view of
balancing this has led to certain conventional arrangements of crankshaft throws. Further, there are three
factors which must be considered before deciding the optimum firing order of an engine. These are:
(i) Engine vibrations
(ii) Engine cooling and
(iii) Development of back pressure
Consider that the cylinder number 1 of the four-cylinder engine, shown in Fig., is fired first. A
pressure p, generated in the cylinder number 1 will give rise to a force equal to {pA × [b/(a + b)]} and
{pA × [a/(a + b)]} on the two bearings A and B respectively. The load on bearing A is much more than
load on bearing B. If the next cylinder fired is cylinder number 2, this imbalance in load on the two
bearings would further aggravate the problem of balancing of the crankshaft vibrations & would result
in severe engine vibrations. If we fire cylinder number 3 after cylinder number 1, the load may be more
or less evenly distributed.
Further, consider the effect of firing sequence on engine cooling. When the first cylinder is fired
its temperature increases. If the next cylinder that fires is number 2, the portion of the engine between
the cylinder number 1 and 2 gets overheated. If then the third cylinder is fired, overheating is shifted to
the portion between the cylinders 2 and 4. Thus we see that the task of the cooling system becomes very
difficult because it is then, required to cool more at one place than at other places and this imposes great
strain on the cooling system. If the third cylinder is fired after the first the overheating problem can be
controlled to a greater extent.
Next, consider the flow of exhaust gases in the exhaust pipe. After firing the first cylinder,
exhaust gases flow out to the exhaust pipe. If the next cylinder fired is the cylinder number 2, we find
that before the gases exhausted by the first cylinder go out of the exhaust pipe the gases exhausted from
118
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
the second cylinder try to overtake them. This would require that the exhaust pipe be made bigger.
Otherwise the back pressure in it would increase and the possibility of back flow would arise. If instead
of firing cylinder number 2, cylinder number 3 is fired. then by the time the gases exhausted by the
cylinder 3 come into the exhaust pipe, the gases from cylinder 1 would have sufficient time to travel the
distance between cylinder 1 and cylinder 3 and thus, the development of a high back pressure is avoided
It should be noted that to some extent all the above three requirements are conflicting and
therefore a trade-off is necessary.
For 4-Cylinder engines the possible firing orders are: 1-3-4-2 or 1-2-4-3
The former is more commonly used in the vertical configuration of cylinders.
For a 6-Cylinder engine firing orders can be: 1-5-3-6-2-4 or 1-5-4-6-2-3 or 1-2-4-6-5-3 or 1-2-3-6-5-4
The first one is more commonly used.
Other Firing Orders
For 3 Cylinder engine 1-3-2
8 Cylinder in-line engine 1-6-2-5-8-3-7-4
8 Cylinder V shape engine 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2, 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2, 1-6-2-5-8-3-7-4,
1-8-7-3-6-5-4-2, 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8
Cylinder No. 1 is taken from front of the in-line engines whereas in V shape front cylinder on
right side-bank is considered cylinder No.1 for fixing H.T. leads according to engine firing order.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Vibration Damper
The power impulses tend to set up a twisting vibration in the crankshaft. When a piston moves
down on its power stroke, it thrusts through the connecting rod, against a crankpin with a force that may
exceed 2 tons. This force tends to twist the crankpin ahead of the rest of the crankshaft. Then, as the
force against the crankpin recedes, it tends to untwist, or move back into its original relationship with
the rest of the crankshaft. This twist-untwist action, repeated with every power impulse, tends to set up
an oscillating motion in the crankshaft. This is called Torsional vibration. If it were not controlled, it
could cause the crankshaft to break at certain speeds. To control torsional vibration, devices which are
called vibration dampers, or harmonic balancers, are used. These dampers are usually mounted on
the front end of the crankshaft and the drive-belt pulleys are incorporated into them.
A typical damper is made in two parts, a small inertia ring or damper flywheel and the pulley.
They are bonded to each other by a rubber insert about 4-inch [6-mm] thick. The damper is mounted to
the front end of the crankshaft. As the crankshaft speeds up or slows down, the damper flywheel has a
dragging effect. This effect, which slightly, flexes the rubber insert, tends to hold the pulley and
crankshaft to a constant speed. This tends to check the twist-untwist action, or torsional vibration, of the
crankshaft.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Engine Bearings
Bearings are placed in the engine wherever there is rotary motion between engine parts. These
engine bearings are called sleeve bearings because they are shaped like sleeves that fit around the
rotating shaft. The part of the shaft that rotates in the bearing is called a journal. Connecting-rod and
crankshaft (also called main) bearings are of the split, or half, type. The upper half of a main bearing is
installed in the counter bore in the cylinder block. The lower half is held in place by the bearing cap.
The upper half of a connecting rod big end (or crankpin) bearing is installed in the rod. The lower half is
placed in the rod cap. The typical bearing half is made up of a steel or bronze back, with up to five
linings of bearing material. The bearing material is soft therefore, the bearing wears, and not the more
expensive engine part. Then, the bearing, and not the engine part, can be replaced when it has worn too
much.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
122
Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Thrust bearing
The crankshaft has to be kept from moving back and forth in the block. To prevent back-and-
forth movement, one of the main bearings is a thrust, or end-thrust, bearing. This bearing has flanges on
its two sides. Flanges on the crankshaft fit close to the flanges on the thrust bearing. If the crankshaft
tends to shift forward or backward, the crankshaft flange comes up against the thrust-bearing flange.
This prevents endwise movement.
Bearing Lubrication
Oil from the engine oil pump flows onto the bearing surfaces. The rotating shaft journals are
supported on layers of oil. The journal must be smaller than the bearing so that there is a clearance
(called oil clearance) between the two. In the engine oil moves through this clearance. The lubricating
system feeds oil to the main bearings. It enters through the oil holes and the rotating journals carry it
around to all parts of the bearings. The oil works its way to the outer edges of the main bearings. From
there, it is thrown off-and drops back into the oil pan. The oil thrown off helps lubricate other engine
parts, such as the cylinder walls, pistons, and piston rings. The connecting-rod bearings are lubricated
through the oil holes drilled in the crankshaft. As the oil moves across the faces of the bearings, it also
helps to cool them. The oil is relatively cool as it leaves the oil pan. It picks up heat in its passage
through the bearings. This heat is carried down to the oil pan and released to the air around the oil pan.
The oil also flushes and cleans the bearings. It flushes out particles of grit and dirt from the bearings.
The particles are carried back to the oil pan by the oil. They then settle to the bottom of the oil pan, or
are removed from the oil by the oil screen or filter.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Bearing Oil Clearances
The greater the oil clearance, the faster oil flows through the bearing. Proper clearance varies with
different engines, but 0.0015 inch [0.037mm] is a typical clearance. As the clearance becomes greater
(owing to bearing wear, for example), the amount of oil
flowing through and being thrown off increases. With a
0.003inch [0.076-mm] clearance only twice 0.0015 inch
[0.037 mm], the oil throw off increases as much as five
times. A 0.006inch [0.152-mm] clearance allows25 times as
much oil to flow through and be thrown off. As bearings
wear, more and more oil is thrown onto the cylinder walls.
The piston rings cannot handle so much oil. Part of it works
up into the combustion chambers, where it burns and forms
carbon. Carbon deposits in the combustion chambers
reduce engine power and cause other engine troubles.
Excessive oil clearances can also cause some bearings to fail from oil starvation. An oil pump
can deliver only a certain amount of oil. If the oil clearances are excessive most of the oil will pass
through the nearest bearings. There won't be enough for the more distant bearings. Then these will
probably fail from lack of oil. An engine with excessive bearing oil clearances usually has low oil
pressure: The oil pump cannot build up normal pressure because of the large oil .clearances in the
bearings. If bearing oil clearances are too small, there will be metal to- metal contact between the
bearing and the shaft journal. Very rapid wear and quick failure will result. Also, there will not be
enough oil throw off to lubricate cylinder walls, pistons, and rings.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
Bearing Requirements
Bearings must be able to do other things besides carry loads. Some of these are listed below.
1. Load Carrying Capacity-Modern engines are lighter and more powerful. They have higher
compression ratios which impose greater bearing loads. Only a few years ago, bearing loads were
around 1600 to 1800 psi [11,032 to 12,411kPa]. Today, connecting-rod bearings carry loads of up to
6000 psi [41,369 kPa].
2. Fatigue Resistance-When a piece of metal is bent back and forth, over and over, it hardens
and finally breaks. This is called fatigue failure. You have probably done this with a piece of wire or
sheet metal. Bearings are subject to such loads and must withstand them without failing from fatigue.
3. Embedability This term refers to the ability of a bearing to permit foreign particles to embed
in it. Dirt and dust particles enter the engine despite the air cleaner and oil filter. Some of them work
onto the bearings and are not flushed away by the oil. A bearing protects itself by letting such particles
sink into, or embed in, the bearing lining material. If the bearing were too hard to allow this, the
particles would lie on the surface. They would scratch the shaft journal and probably gouge out the
bearing. This would cause overheating and rapid bearing failure. Therefore, the bearing material must
be soft enough for adequate embedability.
4. Conformability This is associated with embedability. It is the ability of the bearing material to
conform to variations in shaft alignment and journal shape. For example, suppose that a shaft journal is
slightly tapered. The bearing under the larger diameter will be more heavily loaded. If the bearing
material has high conformability, it will "flow" slightly, from the heavily loaded areas to the lightly
loaded areas. This slight flow evens the load on the bearing. A similar action takes place when foreign
particles embed in the bearing. As they embed, they displace bearing material, producing local high
spots. However with high conformability, the material flows away from the high spots. This prevents
local heavy loading that could cause bearing failure.
5. Corrosion resistance - the by-products of combustion may form corrosive substances harmful
to some metals. Bearing materials must be resistant to corrosion. Unleaded gasoline, required on cars
using catalytic converters, changes the chemistry of the engine oil. Catalytic converters, are installed in
the exhaust systems to reduce the pollutants coming out the tail pipe. The unleaded gasoline, in
changing the chemistry of the oil, tends to increase bearing corrosion. Therefore, the composition of
engine bearings has been changed. For example, instead of the copper-lead bearings used for years,
some engines now have aluminum-lead bearings. These appear to withstand corrosion better.
6. Wear Rate The bearing material must be so hard and tough that it will not wear too fast. At the
same time, it must be soft enough to permit good embedability and conformability.
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Theory and Design of Automotive Engines
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