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Christian von Koenigsegg's Camshaft-Free, 'Free Valve' Engine: Smaller, More Powerful, More Efficient
Why won't the internal combustion engine die? To oversimplify the issue, it's partly because of its incumbency and partly because it's very good at what it does. Environmentalists hate it because it's dirty, and while some engineers pursue alternate energy forms, there are still plenty of smart people tweaking the internal combustion engine to make it less dirty, more efficient, and more powerful.
One person in the latter category is Christian von Koenigsegg, the rather brilliant inventor behind the Swedish supercar skunkworks that bears his name. Anyone with a basic understanding of how engines work is bound to be impressed by von Koenigsegg's latest, a camshaft-free design.
With a conventional engine, the valves are driven by cams that are necessarily egg-shaped, with each cam driving its attendant valve stem into its deepest extension at the pointiest part of the egg as the cam rotates on the camshaft. Simple physics dictate this be a gradual process; because of the egg shape the valve gradually opens, maxes out, and gradually closes. If a cam was shaped like an off-center square, for instance, the valve stem would break on the corners.
With von Koenigsegg's "Free Valve" engine design, the valves operate independently and electronically to depress/open, while a mechanical spring returns them to the closed position. This means the valves quickly slam open, allowing fuel to flood the combustion chamber, then quickly slam shut. Ditto for the exhaust valves. So fuel is not gradually seeping in and exhaust is not gradually seeping out—it's going BAM in, BAM out. The benefits? The engine is much smaller, of course, requiring no camshaft or timing belt. On top of that they're projecting 30% less fuel consumption, 30% more torque, 30% more horsepower, and a staggering 50% less emissions.
In the video below, von Koenigsegg walks you through it:
It might just be me, but I found the video somewhat freaky to watch because I never realized how much von Koenigsegg looks like a Swedish Vic Mackey from "The Shield." As he walked the factory floor, I kept expecting him to punch someone in the stomach.
By the way, for those of you skeptics who'd bet against von Koenigsegg: In the late '80s/early '90s he invented the Chip Player, a portable music player that stored music on chips rather than cassettes or CDs. No one was interested. In '91 he then invented a system of installing flooring without adhesives or nails; individual boards would just click together. He showed it to various flooring companies and again, no one thought it was viable, so he moved on. Four years later a European flooring company patented and launched the same idea.
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The company that can generate a "self sustaining" HHO on demand is located at the KSC in Florida. This 21st Century technology company is called Joi Scientific.
I like this engine because with Joi Scientific producing a self sustaining supply of hydrogen on demand we can fill the former gasoline tank up with water as a safe way to store hydrogen and oxygen gaseous fuel.
Another interesting idea is to place a zero emission steam boiler fueled by the self sustaining HHO on demand. The high pressure steam of 580 psi would be great for this "camless" engine. They could partner with Joi Scientific so the car could be fueled by HHO on demand. The water in the fuel tank safely stores the HHO for the zero emission steam boiler invented by Ed Stockton the CEO of Hydrogen Technology, Inc. located in Stockton, California.
No wonder the co-founder of GoPro Camera company invested $5.5 million after his scientific representatives confirmed the validity of this technology that closed minded skeptics reject.
1. Noise - the valves move so quickly they make a hell of a noise.
2. Presumably a compressor is required to supply air.
3. Cost - the cam drive is quite cheap - free valve will be expensive.
This looks like a good development as electrical actuation is currently a non-starter having been abandoned by most car manufacturers. The claims for efficiency savings seem very high to me. Are we comparing with say the best system from BMW ?
Powers is right the cyclone steam engine is the way forward. It is so simple and effective. Not even oil to lubricate. It is so clean and efficient compared to the outdated piston engines. The piston internal combustion engine has had over 100 years worth of development and yet it is still only on average 20% efficient in actual running. A disaster of an engine.
If the same amount of R&D money was used on steam engines we would be 90% efficient in engines now. The Cyclone is could be greatly improved if the billion of the corporations was used.
Recently GM spent a ton of money to research it again, no advantage found.
Perhaps one of the reasons is the more advanced mechanical cam operated systems are quite efficient, and have operated on the race course at 22,000 rpms. wasn't that the case 50 years ago with the Honda motorcycles?
Please eliminate the background music from your video, as it is most distracting and annoying.
Thank you for your insight and persistance.
Cheers.
I wish it would too. And now my obligatory steam promo: www.cyclonepower.com. Look for them to break the steam powered land speed record later this year. Also check out Jay Leno's 1925 Doble Steamer video. External Combustion FTW.
Cyclone Power would be ideal for zero emission steam boiler by Hydrogen Technology, Inc plus Joi Scientific.
Greg the good news is your wrong. But if you need a job they are hiring 40 people because so many customers want to buy the 6 million dollar car.