Someone told me about this neat little 19-second long animation which shows the BMW Valvetronic system in action. No narration, &plays using Windows Media on my Dell: http://www.fh-meschede.de/public/bechtloff...mit_Schwenk.avi

 

I can't figure out what the long thing that presses down on the rocker arm is attached to. It looks like there are two places where it pivots but wouldn't that mean that whatever it's connected has to be able to move as well?

I suppose it could be "floating" but it just doesn't look right to me. (I guess maybe the idea behind the video is simply to illustrate the concept in a simple way -- they obviously left out some key stuff...)

Thanks for posting it...it was neat to see!

 

Eh Dont know what the heck its doing... looks like any engine valve thingy to me... LOL

 

I cannot open the link. Is it still working for you guys?

 

It is a 10Meg file. Try a right click and save to your desktop. Click Open when it completes.
Hope this helps.

DT

 

It seems that it does float. The second cam mechanism is actually the pivot point.

Take a look at the pictures here for better detail.

 

Cool. Thanks for posting that. It either floats or the two points where it looks like a cylindrical shaft attaches to it fits into a slotted hole instead of a round one...

 

Good question. I think its relatively floating. The spring is contacted to the peice at the bottom, giving it tension connection and stability. Spring remains centered. The upper part of the peice would be stabilized by its opposite shape in relation to the valvetronic guide cam, which likely gives the most stability. The tapered curve of the lower part allows for the two lobe positions during cam rotatation, while the center positon of the peices maintains alignment with the center of the cam. It does move from side to side but the center is identifical to the cam. The curve on the lower part also touches the top of the rocker at all times and it seems the lower end is curved as such to allow for two cam positions with the leftmost curve shape is designed to ensure the peice doesnt slip forward of the pivot point of the rocker.

Just my quick take. Of course the diagram might not show other component that supports the various pieces. I guess is the valvetronic guide cam and main cam provide the top and mid support, with lower curve and spring doing the job on the bottom.

 

Okay, I'm out...

 

All I know is the whach a ma call it, hits the whosie whatsit and then the thingy goes up and down, nuff said.....