An overview of experimental methods for cam-tappet interactions

In an engine, the valve train is responsible for approximately 6% to 35% of the total friction losses, with the value varying with the design and operating conditions. Even a 1% improvement in the fuel economy of a vehicle model is of great economic and environmental relevance. One of the engine systems subject to considerable friction is the control system and actuation of gas admission and discharge valves, the valve control system. Friction efforts and wear between the cam and the tappet depend on the relative speeds of the parts, the state of the surfaces in contact, the lubrication and temperature conditions, and the materials and geometries of the cam and tappet. A carefully project of the cam-tappet system is needed to preserve parts integrity and system functionality. This work presents some important experiments carried out with various cam-tappet systems, measured on engines or constructed using parts of an engine. Several important quantities are measured and analyzed by the reported experiments. The main objective of this paper is to promote a better understanding of these quantities that can be useful to engine designers to minimize energy losses or for optimize desirable mechanical characteristics of the system. Also, this paper allows researchers to plan new experiments and/or rapidly identify typical experimental results. It was possible to conclude that typical friction coefficients between cam and tappet varies from 0.05 to 0.15, that the force between valve stem-valve guide represents only about 1.5 -2% of the force acting on the valve stem, that the cam-follower friction was low for viscous oil SAE 50, compared with other lubricants, whereas camshaft bearing friction was low for lubricant SAE 5W-40 in the same engine, that the friction at the cam-follower interface decreases with increasing engine speed, that viscous oil gave greater oil film thickness as compared to the low-viscosity lubricant at the cam-follower interface, among others.