electronically controlled valves

[eps]

Where can I find some research that’s been done on electronically controlled vales? I’m sure some company has done some kind of research. Somebody must have, this can’t be a new idea. I’ve exhausted google and the forum search, yet I’m having a hell of a time finding anything on this subject. Any suggestions for new search terms, new searches, whatever. Anything will help at this point.

[public]

What exactally are you wanting to know? Service life? Reference voltages? Who makes a car with them? Who invented the variable lift and duration concept (Cadillac in the 1890's)? How do they work?

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by eps

Where can I find some research that’s been done on electronically controlled vales? I’m sure some company has done some kind of research. Somebody must have, this can’t be a new idea. I’ve exhausted google and the forum search, yet I’m having a hell of a time finding anything on this subject. Any suggestions for new search terms, new searches, whatever. Anything will help at this point.

All the major auto manufacturers have been working on this. It is the Holy Grail for valvetrain engineers, since there would be no friction loss from a camshaft and lifters, and the valve timing can be optimised for the conditions.
They all can build electronic valve controls today, the problem is cost and durability. Such a system must be competitive with existing systems for manufaturing cost and service life. If they were, they would be on production cars right now.
It's difficult to research because manufacturers do not share the results of their research and development with the public. However, there may me some SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) papers published on the subject.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by public

Who invented the variable lift and duration concept (Cadillac in the 1890's)? How do they work?

I hate to be an **shole and point out the Cadillac we know was founded in 1903.

[public]

I stand corrected about the date. Sorry I am a guy-dates are very difficult.:-) The engine information makes for very interesting reading though. It is the most complicated way to throttle an engine I have ever heard of. The engine had a fixed carb. The engine had tappered lobes on the cam and a spring on one end of the cam pushed against oil pressure on the other end. You operated a hand lever bypass valve to cause the cam to move back and forth, changing lift and duration. Makes todays cars sound easy. There is a book called "The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942" It is really a wealth of info. And I am sure of the 1805 date. That was Oliver Evans "Steam Amphibian" A boat with wheels. Pretty Cool.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by public

I stand corrected about the date. Sorry I am a guy-dates are very difficult.:-) The engine information makes for very interesting reading though. It is the most complicated way to throttle an engine I have ever heard of. The engine had a fixed carb. The engine had tappered lobes on the cam and a spring on one end of the cam pushed against oil pressure on the other end. You operated a hand lever bypass valve to cause the cam to move back and forth, changing lift and duration. Makes todays cars sound easy. There is a book called "The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942" It is really a wealth of info. And I am sure of the 1805 date. That was Oliver Evans "Steam Amphibian" A boat with wheels. Pretty Cool.

That actually sounds a lot like one of the ways used to throttle steam engines. A lot of early automobile technology was based on adapting existing steam engine principles.
We tend to think of 19th century technology as being primitive, but the degree of sophistication in steam propulsion systems, especially in naval vessels was astounding, for the day.

[SaabJohan]

The problem with electronic actuated valves is that it doesn't work! It doesn't have the speed or the precision needed, it also requires a lot of power and increase weight. They are in other words inferior to cams. The advantage to increased number of ways to adjust the valvetrain is also smaller than one might believe since most can be done with mechanical systems.

If you want something that works look into hydraulics/pneumatics instead. The systems are mostly found in larger diesels where the speeds are lower, but Renault also worked on an electro hydraulic system for F1, some is mentioned here http://scarbsf1.com/valves.html