Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site zehntel.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!zehntel!jackh From: jackh@zehntel.UUCP (jack hagerty) Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: Re: Re: Camless valve operation Message-ID: <1743@zehntel.UUCP> Date: Mon, 14-Jan-85 16:46:50 EST Article-I.D.: zehntel.1743 Posted: Mon Jan 14 16:46:50 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 15-Jan-85 02:32:25 EST References: <6848@watdaisy.UUCP> <1737@zehntel.UUCP> <6852@watdaisy.UUCP> <522@amdcad.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: Zehntel Automation Systems Inc, Walnut Creek CA Lines: 32 > I was > actually thinking about using a rotating sphere with a cylinderical > hole perpendicular to the axis of rotation as a valve. I can see > problems with lubrication, however. Any comments on this? > -- > > Phil Ngai (408) 749-5790 > UUCP: {ucbvax,decwrl,ihnp4,allegra}!amdcad!phil > ARPA: amdcad!phil@decwrl.ARPA This sounds like a variation on the sleeve valve. This is an arrangement where the intake and exhaust ports are not in the cylinder head, but rather are holes near the top of the cylinder wall. A slowly rotating sleeve with matching holes surrounds each cylinder, hence the name. As the sleeve rotates, the holes are alternately covered and uncovered providing the valving action. This, as someone has already pointed out, is very similar to the way the valving on a rotary (Wankle) works. Advantages of this design are quiet operation (no valve clatter), low valve actuation energy (no recipricating masses and, since the sleeve can have many holes, it can rotate at only a fraction of engine speed) and fewer moving parts. Disadvantages are uneven cooling (water jackets can go only part way up the cylinder), poor sealing between the cylinder/valve sleeve/intake- exhaust ports causing a high amount of blow by and lubrication problems. The design was used by several high powered aircraft engines during WWII. The only automobile of any significance to use it was the Knight in the teens and twentys. Due to its quiet operation, the engine was called, I kid you not, the Silent Knight. -- Jack Hagerty, Zehntel Automation Systems ...!ihnp4!zehntel!jackh