Chapter 10

The Four-Stroke Cycle

and Cylinder
Arrangements
 Engine Cycles
• Thermodynamics
• Torque
• Top dead center (TDC)
• Bottom dead center (BDC)
• Stroke
• Displacement
• Volumetric efficiency
 Intake Stroke
• Piston travels from top dead center to bottom
dead center.
• Intake valve is opened.
• Exhaust valve is closed.
• Vaporized air-fuel mixture enters the cylinder
under atmospheric pressure.
 Compression Stroke
• Piston travels from bottom dead center to top
dead center.
• Intake valve is closed.
• Exhaust valve is closed.
• Air-fuel mixture is compressed, preparing it
for ignition by raising its temperature.
 Power Stroke
• Piston travels from top dead center to bottom
dead center.
• Expanding gases force the piston downward.
• Intake valve is closed.
• Exhaust valve is closed.
 Exhaust Stroke
• Piston travels from bottom dead center to top
dead center.
• Intake valve is closed.
• Exhaust valve is opened.
• Burned gases are expelled from the cylinder.
 Terms
• Reciprocating
• Valve overlap
• Scavenging
• Valve lift
• Duration
 Diesel Engine Principles
• Heat of compression
• Glow plugs
• Precombustion chamber
• Turbulence chamber
• Injection pump
 Cylinder Arrangements
• V type
• In-line
• Horizontally opposed
• Longitudinal
• Transverse
 Valve Arrangements
• Overhead valve (OHV)
• Overhead cam (OHC)
• Single overhead cam (SOHC)
• Dual overhead cam (DOHC)
 Alternate Power Sources
Hybrid vehicles
• Operate on two power sources – electric and
fuel
• Fuel cells – hydrogen fuel
• Transitional low emission vehicle (TLEV)
• Low emission vehicles (LEV)
• Ultra low emission vehicles (ULEV)
• Zero emission vehicle (ZEV)