Transcript File

How Does a Gasoline Engine Work?
by Ryan Cramer… 6th grade
How Gasoline Powers an Engine
www.howstuffworks.com/engine
• A gasoline engine works on the concept of Internal Combustion
• Internal Combustion is the burning of a mixture of air and fuel
inside the engine cylinders to create power to move the vehicle
• Four Stroke Cycle (also know as the Otto Cycle): includes
intake, compression, power and exhaust strokes
Brief History of the Internal Combustion Engine
• 1860- Jean Joseph
Etienne Lenoir: designed
the first gas-fired internal
combustion engine. His
design included cylinders,
pistons, connecting rods
and a flywheel.
http://www.outrefranc.com/shows/ol/img/lenoir.jpg
History of the Internal Combustion Engine Cont.
• 1862- Nikolaus Otto: was the
first to build and sell the fourcycle engine. His design at this
time was a free-piston, noncompression engine.
http://www.vezess.hu/hirek/180_eves_lenne_benzinmotor/37544/
• 1876- Otto improved on his
previous design and developed
the first four-cycle, internal
combustion engine that
compressed the air and fuel
mixture prior to the power
stroke or combustion.
History of the Internal Combustion Engine Cont.
• 1885/1886 Karl Benz: Developed
and patented the first high-speed,
four stroke engine with a controlled
exhaust valve, spark plug, highvoltage electrical vibrator and water
cooling system. This is considered
by some to be the “birth” of the first
automobile.
http://imguol.com/2012/09/24/benz-model-1-1348527291472_615x470.jpg
Main Components of the Modern Internal Combustion Engine
• Engine Block & Cylinder Head
• Cylinders
• Crankshaft
• Connecting Rods
• Pistons
• Spark Plugs
• Fuel Injectors
• Intake & Exhaust Valves
• Cam Shaft
• Timing Belt/Chain
www.carbibles.com
The Four Stroke Cycle
• Intake Stroke
• Compression Stroke
• Power Stroke
• Exhaust Stroke
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4_stroke_engine
ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu
Step 1: Intake Stroke
• 1. The intake stroke begins by the
intake camshaft rotating which
make some valves open and some
close.
http://xorl.wordpress.com/2011/03/05
• 2. As the piston moves downward,
the chamber fills with a mixture of
air and fuel while the exhaust
valve remains closed. When the
piston reaches the lowest point,
the intake valve closes.
Step 2: Compression Stroke
• 1. Both the intake and
exhaust valves close.
• 2. The fuel and air mixture is
pushed upward by the piston
while compressing the air
and fuel.
http://xorl.wordpress.com/2011/03/05
Step 3: Power Stroke
• 1. Both the intake and exhaust
valves remain closed and the piston
is at the top of the chamber.
• 2. The power stroke begins when
the spark plug fires and ignites the
compressed fuel and air mixture.
• 3. The pressure of the explosion will
force the piston in a downward
stroke.
• 4. The controlled explosion (or
combustion) transmits power to the
crankshaft. This “mechanical
energy” is transferred to the axles
and ultimately makes the wheels of
the vehicle move.
http://xorl.wordpress.com/2011/03/05
Step 4: Exhaust Stroke
• 1. As the piston moves in an
upward motion, the exhaust valve
opens.
• 2. This releases the smoke or
exhaust from the combustion
process.
• 3. The 4 stroke cycle begins
again.
http://xorl.wordpress.com/2011/03/05
Four Stroke Cycle
ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu
Just Imagine………
• Most car engines idle (run without the gas being depressed)
between 600 rpm-1000 rpm
• Trucks and buses idle around 540 rpm.
• Rpm= Revolutions per minute... That’s how many times the
crankshaft turns…. There are 2 revolutions per cycle.
• If your car idles at 800 rpm….. That would mean the cycle
repeats 400 times per minute or 6.67 cycles per second.
• If your car is going around 65 mph at 3000 rpm…… That would
mean the cycle repeats 1500 times per minute or 25 cycles per
second.
• That’s really fast…………
Examples of Engines:
4, 6 and 8 Cylinders
Most vehicles today have one of these three types of engines.
The more cylinders it has, the more powerful the vehicle.
Cool YouTube Engine Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60QX5RY_ohQ
http://www.origo.hu/i/0907/20090728ferrari455.jpg
References:
1.
www.autolife.umd.umich.edu
2.
www.Daimler.com
3.
www.ehow.com
4.
www.xorl.wordpress.com
5.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA_19bHxEYg
6.
www.wikianswers.com
7.
www.Wikipedia.org
8.
www.howstuffworks.com/engine