Camshaft Theory and Design

The brain of the engine
Controls valvetrain operation

Rotates at crankshaft speed

Along with the crankshaft it determines firing
order

Along with the induction and exhaust systems
it determines the useful rpm range of the
engine
8
Features
1. Max lift or nose
2. Flank
3. Opening clearance ramp
4. Closing clearance ramp
5. Base circle
6. Exhaust opening timing figure
7. Exhaust closing timing figure
8. Intake opening timing figure
9. Intake closing timing figure
10. Intake to exhaust lobe separation
Lift
Duration
Lobe separation angle
Valve overlap
Intake valve opening (IVO)
Intake valve closing (IVC)
Exhaust valve opening (EVO)
Exhaust valve closing (EVC)
Lobe lift is the distance the lifter moves in one
direction
Lobe lift is the difference in measurement
between the nose of the lobe and the base circle
of the lobe
Valve lift is what most people are taking about
when they refer to lift and is simply lobe lift
multiplied by the rocker arm ratio
Increasing the lift opens the valve further.
This reduces the restriction to airflow at
the valve and allows air to flow more
freely into the cylinder.
At some point the valve can be opened to
a point at which the port is the valve is no
longer the greatest restriction to airflow,
and at that point opening the valve
further will not increase airflow.
The distance a valve can be opened is
limited by duration, rocker arm ratio,
lifter design, camshaft design and valve
to piston clearance.
Duration is the length of time (measured in
degrees of crankshaft rotation) that the valve
remains open
The point at which a valve is considered open
will be given along with the duration figure (i.e.
.004, .006, .050)
Example (240 degrees @ .050)

At higher engine speeds the valve opens and
shuts in a shorter amount of time. This
limits how completely the cylinder can be
filled.
Longer duration camshafts hold the valve
open longer, increasing the amount of time
the cylinder has to fill.
At 2000 RPM a camshaft with 200 degrees
of intake valve duration, the intake valve
is open for 0.0166 seconds/cycle
At 6500 RPM the valve is only open for
.005128 seconds/cycle
If we substituted a camshaft with 245
degrees of duration this time would
increase to .0204 seconds/cycle @
2000RPM and .00628 seconds/cycle at
6500RPM
This is a 22% increase in time available to
fill the cylinder
Lobe separation angle (LSA) is
the number of degrees
separating the point of peak
exhaust lift and peak intake
lift.

Lobe separation angle
directly impacts the amount
of valve overlap.

Because of this, production
vehicles usually employ a
wide LSA to reduce valve
overlap and increase idle
quality.
Valve overlap is the time in which both the intake and
exhaust valves are open.
Valve overlap is affected by LSA and duration.
Valve overlap is used because of the principle of exhaust
scavenging (the exiting exhaust gases help pull in the
fresh intake charge, especially at higher rpm when fill
time is limited).
At low RPM when intake port speed is low, a long valve
overlap period will cause reversion into the intake port
(the cylinder pressure exceeds the force of the air in the
intake port and exhaust gasses are forced into the intake
port).
This causes the lumpy idle associated with big camshafts.
Most critical valve opening/closing point
To early of an IVC and the cylinder may
not have time to fill completely
To late of an IVC and the cylinder
pressure will overcome the inertia of the
incoming airflow and revert flow back
into the intake port
This causes a serious disruption to flow
and destroys any pressure waving tuning
2
nd
most critical valve opening/closing
event
Determines the balance between power
event efficiency and exhaust pumping
losses
To early of an exhaust opening will reduce
the amount of energy converted from
cylinder pressure to mechanical force on
the piston
To late of an EVO will cause an increase in
the amount of power needed to expel the
burned exhaust gases from the cylinder
Along with IVO it is the least critical valve
timing event
Along with IVO it determines the amount
of valve overlap and exhaust scavenging
Too early of an EVC will not allow the
exhaust gas to be fully purged from the
cylinder
Too late of an EVC will allow fresh
air/fuel mix to be purged into the exhaust
system
Along with EVC it is the least critical
valve timing event
Along with EVC it determines the amount
of valve overlap and exhaust scavenging
Too early of an IVO will allow exhaust gas
reversion into the intake ports causing
major flow disruption and intake charge
dilution
Too late of an IVO will limit the time
available for the cylinder to completely
fill

Camshaft Theory and Design

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Camshaft Theory and Design

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The brain of the engine

Controls valvetrain operation

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