Slotted snap-action valve assembly for exhaust system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10598059-B2
Application number	US-201615238838-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 17, 2016
Priority date	Aug 17, 2016
Publication date	Mar 24, 2020
Grant date	Mar 24, 2020

Abstract

A snap-action valve assembly for an exhaust system and a method for manufacturing the same is provided. The valve assembly includes a first conduit and a second conduit that is partially received in the first conduit. A valve flap is disposed within the first conduit for controlling exhaust flow. A shaft supports the valve flap in the first conduit for rotation between open and closed positions. The first conduit has first and second slots, each extending from an open slot end to a closed slot end. First and second bushings supporting the shaft are disposed within the slots between the second conduit and the closed slot ends. A pad made of wire mesh is attached to the valve flap. The pad includes an end portion that contacts the first conduit in the closed position to dampen vibration and reduce valve flap flutter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A snap-action valve assembly for an exhaust system comprising:
a first conduit extending along a central axis from a junction end to a distal end, said first conduit having a first conduit wall with an outside surface and an inner mating surface;
a second conduit extending co-axially with said central axis between an insertion end and a proximal end, said second conduit having a second conduit wall with an inner surface and an outer mating surface;
said first and second conduits cooperating to define an exhaust passageway therein that extends from said proximal end of said second conduit to said distal end of said first conduit;
a valve flap disposed within said first conduit for controlling exhaust flow through said exhaust passageway;
a shaft supporting said valve flap in said first conduit for rotation about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position;
first and second bushings supporting said shaft on said first conduit, each of said first and second bushings including a shaft opening that receives said shaft;
said insertion end of said second conduit being received in said junction end of said first conduit such that said outer mating surface of said second conduit faces said inner mating surface of said first conduit;
said first conduit including first and second slots, each of said first and second slots extending through said first conduit wall from an open slot end positioned at said junction end of said first conduit to a closed slot end that is longitudinally spaced from said junction end of said first conduit a distance greater than said first bushing extends in a direction parallel to said central axis; and
said first and second bushings being disposed within said first and second slots respectively between said insertion end of said second conduit and said closed slot ends of said first and second slots.

2. The snap-action valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second slots include opposing linear edges that run parallel to one another and wherein said first and second slots extend parallel to one another in a slot plane.

3. The snap-action valve assembly of claim 2 , wherein said slot plane is parallel to and spaced from said central axis of said first conduit by an offset distance and wherein said pivot axis of said valve flap extends in said slot plane.

4. A snap-action valve assembly for an exhaust system comprising:
a first conduit extending along a central axis from a junction end to a distal end, said first conduit having a first conduit wall with an outside surface and an inner mating surface;
a second conduit extending co-axially with said central axis between an insertion end and a proximal end, said second conduit having a second conduit wall with an inner surface and an outer mating surface;
said first and second conduits cooperating to define an exhaust passageway therein that extends from said proximal end of said second conduit to said distal end of said first conduit;
a valve flap disposed within said first conduit for controlling exhaust flow through said exhaust passageway;
a shaft supporting said valve flap in said first conduit for rotation about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position;
first and second bushings supporting said shaft on said first conduit, each of said first and second bushings including a shaft opening that receives said shaft;
said insertion end of said second conduit being received in said junction end of said first conduit such that said outer mating surface of said second conduit faces said inner mating surface of said first conduit;
said first conduit including first and second slots, each of said first and second slots extending through said first conduit wall from an open slot end positioned at said junction end of said first conduit to a closed slot end that is longitudinally spaced from said junction end of said first conduit;
said first and second bushings being disposed within said first and second slots respectively between said insertion end of said second conduit and said closed slot ends of said first and second slots; and
first and second bushing sleeves supporting said first and second bushings within said first and second slots respectively, wherein each of said first and second bushing sleeves includes a bushing cavity that receives and supports one of said first and second bushings, and wherein each of said first and second bushing sleeves is received in one of said first and second slots and is disposed between said insertion end of said second conduit and one of said closed slot ends.

5. The snap-action valve assembly of claim 4 , wherein each of said first and second bushing sleeves includes at least one flat portion that contacts one of said first and second slots to prevent rotation of said first and second bushing sleeves within said first and second slots.

6. The snap-action valve assembly of claim 5 , wherein each of said first and second bushings includes at least one flat that contacts said at least one flat portion of one of said first and second bushing sleeves to prevent rotation of said first and second bushings within said first and second bushing sleeves.

7. The snap-action valve assembly of claim 4 , wherein each of said first and second bushing sleeves includes at least one protrusion that extends therethrough into said bushing cavity, wherein each of said first and second bushings includes at least one dimple that is aligned with one of said protrusions of said first and second bushing sleeves, and wherein said protrusions of said first and second bushing sleeves extend into said dimples in said first and second bushings to prevent axial movement of said first and second bushings relative to said first and second bushing sleeves.

8. The snap-action valve assembly of claim 4 , wherein said first and second bushings are made of wire mesh.

9. A snap-action valve assembly for an exhaust system comprising:
a first conduit extending along a central axis from a junction end to a distal end, said first conduit having a first conduit wall with an outside surface and an inner mating surface;
a second conduit extending co-axially with said central axis between an insertion end and a proximal end, said second conduit having a second conduit wall with an inner surface and an outer mating surface;
said first and second conduits cooperating to define an exhaust passageway therein that extends from said proximal end of said second conduit to said distal end of said first conduit;
a valve flap disposed within said first conduit for controlling exhaust flow through said exhaust passageway;
a shaft supporting said valve flap in said first conduit for rotation about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position;
first and second bushings supporting said shaft on said first conduit, each of said first and second bushings including a shaft opening that receives said shaft;
said insertion end of said second conduit being received in said junction end of said first conduit such that said outer mating surface of said second conduit faces said inner mating surface of said first conduit;
said first conduit including first and second slots, each of said first and second slots extending through said first conduit wall from an open slot end positioned at said junction end of said first conduit to a closed slot end that is longitudinally spaced from said junction end of said first conduit;
said first and second bushings being disposed within said first and second slots respectively between said insertion end of said second conduit and said closed slot ends of said first and second slots; and
wherein said shaft includes an axle portion, a lever arm, and a spring at

Assignees

• Tenneco Automotive Operating Co Inc

Inventors

• Geer Larry J
• Peters Erwin
• Thomas Stephen M
• Hill William E

Classifications

• F01N1/165 Primary

  for adjusting flow area · CPC title

• F02D9/106

  Sealing of the valve shaft in the housing, e.g. details of the bearings · CPC title

• F01N2390/00

  Arrangements for controlling or regulating exhaust apparatus · CPC title

• F16K1/2007

  specially adapted operating means therefor (operating means per se F16K31/00) · CPC title

• F02D9/1065

  Mechanical control linkage between an actuator and the flap, e.g. including levers, gears, springs, clutches, limit stops of the like · CPC title