Editing Poppet valve

[[Image:poppetvalve.jpg|right|thumb|175px|Poppet valve & components]]
A '''poppet valve''' is a [[valve]] consisting of a hole, usually round or oval, and a tapered plug, usually a disk shape on the end of a shaft also called a valve stem. The shaft guides the plug portion by sliding through a [[valve guide]]. In most applications a pressure differential helps to seal the valve and in some applications also open it.

Presta and Schrader valves used on air-filled [[tire]]s are examples of poppet valves. The Presta valve has no spring and relies on a pressure differential for opening and closing while being inflated.

==Etymology==
The word poppet shares etymology with "puppet": it is from the Middle English ''popet'' ("youth" or "doll"), from Middle French ''poupette'', which is a diminutive of ''poupe''. The use of the word ''poppet'' to describe a valve comes from the same word applied to marionettes, which &ndash; like the poppet valve &ndash; move bodily in response to remote motion transmitted linearly.<ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poppet '''Poppet''' at Merriam-Webster]</ref><ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puppet '''Puppet''' at Merriam-Webster]</ref> In the past, "puppet valve" was a synonym for ''poppet valve'';<ref>[http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/Pu/Puppet+valve.html '''Puppet valve''' from 1913 Webster's dictionary]</ref><ref>[http://patimg1.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=00339809&homeurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO1%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526d%3DPALL%2526p%3D1%2526u%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsrchnum.htm%2526r%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526s1%3D0339809.PN.%2526OS%3DPN%2F0339809%2526RS%3DPN%2F0339809&PageNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=NONE&Input=View+first+page U.S. Patent No. 339809, "Puppet Valve", issued April 13, 1886]</ref> however, this usage of "puppet" is now obsolete.

==Operation==

The operating principle of poppet valves is described in <ref name="lexairinc.com">{{cite web | url=http://www.lexairinc.com/valves/learning/poppet.html | title=How Poppet Valves Work | year=2007 | publisher=lexairinc.com | accessdate=2007-06-28}}</ref>.
[[Image:4-Stroke-Engine.gif|thumb|right|Poppet valves in action at the top of the cylinder]]

In most cases it is beneficial to have a "balanced poppet" in a direct acting valve.  Less force is needed to move the poppet because all forces on the poppet are nullified by equal and opposite forces.  The solenoid coil has t counteract only the spring force.  Marotta direct acting solenoid valves use a balanced poppet to keep solenoid coil size and power requirements to a minimum. <ref name="balanced_poppet_design_reference">"[http://www.marotta.com/tech-info-a-faqs/balanced-poppet.html What is a Balanced Poppet? on Marotta.com]."</ref>

==Applications==
Poppet valves are used in many industrial process from controlling the flow of milk to isolating sterile air in the semiconductor industry. However, they are most well-known for their use in internal combustion and steam engines, as described below.

==Internal combustion engine==
[[Image:Four stroke engine diagram.jpg|thumbnail|right|175px|Components of a typical, [[four stroke cycle]], DOHC piston engine:<br>(E) Exhaust [[camshaft]],<br>(I) Intake camshaft,<br>(S) [[Spark plug]],<br>(V) Valves,<br>(P) [[Piston]],<br>(R) [[Connecting rod]],<br>(C) [[Crankshaft]],<br>(W) Water jacket for coolant flow.]]
''Poppet valves'' are used in most [[piston engine]]s to open and close the intake and exhaust [[cylinder head porting|ports]] in the [[cylinder head]]. The valve is usually a flat disk of metal with a long rod known as the ''valve stem'' out one end. The stem is used to push down on the valve and open it, with a spring generally used to close it when the stem is not being pushed on. [[Desmodromic valve]]s are closed by positive mechanical action instead of by a spring, and are used in some high speed [[motorcycle]] and auto racing engines, eliminating '[[valve float]]' at high [[RPM]].

For certain applications the valve stem and disk are made of different steel alloys, or the valve stems may be hollow and filled with sodium to improve heat transport and transfer.

The engine normally operates the valves by pushing on the stems with [[cam]]s and [[Tappet|Cam follower]]s. The shape and position of the cam determines the valve lift and when and how quickly (or slowly) the valve is opened. The cams are normally placed on a fixed [[camshaft]] which is then geared to the [[crankshaft]], running at half crankshaft speed in a [[four stroke cycle|four-stroke]] engine. On high performance engines (e.g., Ferrari cars), the camshaft is movable and the cams have a varying height, so by axially moving the camshaft in relation with the engine [[RPM]], also the valve lift varies. See [[variable valve timing]].

Although better heat conductors, aluminum cylinder heads require steel [[valve seat]] inserts while cast iron cylinder heads often used integral valve seats in the past.

Because the valve stem extends into lubrication in the cam chamber it must be sealed against blow-by to prevent cylinder gases from escaping into the [[crankcase]]. A rubber lip-type seal ensures that excessive amounts of oil are not drawn in from the crankcase on the induction stroke and that exhaust gas does not enter the crankcase on the exhaust stroke.  Worn valve seals are characterized by a puff of blue smoke from the exhaust when pressing back down on the accelerator pedal after allowing the engine to over-run, such as when changing gears.

===Valve position===
In very early engine designs the valves were 'upside down' in the block, parallel to the [[cylinder (engine)|cylinder]]s - the so called '''L-head''' engine because of the shape of the cylinder and [[combustion chamber]], also called '[[flathead engine]]' as the top of the [[cylinder head]] is flat. Although this design makes for simplified and cheap construction, it has two major drawbacks; the tortuous path followed by the intake charge limits [[cylinder head porting|air flow]] and effectively prevents speeds greater than 2,000-2,500 RPM, and the travels of the exhaust through the block can cause overheating under sustained heavy load. This design evolved into '[[IOE engine|Intake Over Exhaust]]', '''IOE''' or '''F-head''', where the intake valve was in the block and the exhaust valve was in the head; later both valves moved to the head.

In most such designs the camshaft remained relatively near the crankshaft and the valves were operated through [[pushrod]]s and [[rocker arm]]s.  This led to significant energy losses in the engine, but was simpler, especially in a [[V engine]] where one camshaft can actuate the valves for both [[cylinder bank]]s; for this reason, pushrod engine designs persisted longer in these configurations than others.

More modern designs have the camshaft on top of the cylinder head, pushing directly on the valve stem (again through cam followers, also known as [[tappet]]s), a system known as ''overhead camshaft''; if there is just one camshaft, this is a [[single overhead cam]] or ''SOHC'' engine. Often there are two camshafts, one for the intake and one for exhaust valves, creating the [[dual overhead cam]], or ''DOHC''. The camshaft is driven by the [[crankshaft]] - through gears, a chain or a [[timing belt]].

===Valve wear===
In the early days of engine building, the poppet valve was a major problem. Metallurgy was not what it is today, and the rapid opening and closing of the valves against the cylinder heads led to rapid wear. They would need to be re-ground every two years or so, in an expensive and time consuming process known as a ''[[valve job]]''. Adding tetra-ethyl lead to the petrol reduced this problem to some degree as the lead would coat the valve seats, in effect lubricating the metal.  Valve seats made of improved alloys such as stellite have generally made this problem disappear completely and made leaded fuel unnecessary.

==References==
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[[Category:Definitions]]
[[Category:Motorcycle technology]]