Exhaust line valve with facilitated coupling between the actuator and the flap, and method of assembling such a valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10927797-B2
Application number	US-201816210134-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2018
Priority date	Dec 6, 2017
Publication date	Feb 23, 2021
Grant date	Feb 23, 2021

Abstract

An exhaust valve includes a body defining a passage and a flap that pivots about an axis relative to the body to selectively close/open the passage. An actuator moves the flap and a device couples the flap to the actuator. This coupling device comprises: a compression spring having a proximal end that rotates about the axis with a first element between the flap and an actuator output shaft and a distal end; a seat engaged with the distal end, while the seat is fixed in rotation about the axis with the first element, and a torsionally-rigid transmission member fixed in rotation about the axis with the first element and that immobilizes the distal end relative to the proximal end in a plane that is orthogonal to the axis. The transmission member has a slot that is elongated parallel to the axis and is traversed by the distal end.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A valve for a motor vehicle exhaust line comprising:
a tubular valve body defining a passage;
a flap mounted to pivot relative to the valve body about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position of the passage;
an actuator causing movement of the flap between the closed and open positions; and
a coupling device that couples the flap to the actuator, wherein the coupling device comprises:
a compression spring having a proximal end that is fixed in rotation about the pivot axis with a first element chosen between the flap and an output shaft of the actuator, and a distal end,
a seat that is engaged with the distal end of the compression spring, wherein the seat is fixed in rotation about the pivot axis with a second element chosen between the flap and the output shaft of the actuator, and
a transmission member that is torsionally-rigid and fixed in rotation about the pivot axis with the first element, and that is designed to immobilize the distal end of the compression spring relative to the proximal end in a plane that is orthogonal to the pivot axis, the transmission member having at least one support branch that is off-center and extends at least partly parallel to the pivot axis,
wherein the compression spring is torsionally constrained about the pivot axis by the transmission member to exert on the distal end of the compression spring a holding torque that holds the distal end against the at least one, or each, support branch.

2. The valve according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one support branch comprises two support branches spaced apart radially from one another.

3. The valve according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one, or each, support branch defines a wall of a respective slot that is elongated parallel to the pivot axis and traversed by the distal end of the compression spring.

4. The valve according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission member comprises a base coupled to the first element, the proximal end of the compression spring being attached to said base.

5. The valve according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one, or each, support branch defines a wall of a respective slot that is elongated parallel to the pivot axis and traversed by the distal end of the compression spring, and wherein the transmission member comprises at least one arm protruding from the base in a direction parallel to the pivot axis, the, or each, slot being formed in a respective arm.

6. The valve according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one arm comprises two arms that are spaced radially apart from one another.

7. The valve according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one, or each, arm comprises two branches that flank the slot in a direction that is orthoradial to the pivot axis, one of the two branches being constituted by the at least one support branch.

8. The valve according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one arm comprises a finger protruding orthoradially from the at least one support branch, towards the other branch of the two branches, at a distance from the base.

9. The valve according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling device comprises a tab that is integral with the seat, and wherein the tab protrudes from the seat in a direction that is substantially radial to the pivot axis, while the transmission member comprises a safety stop that is arranged relative to the tab in such a manner that a circle may be traced that is centered on the pivot axis and passes through both the tab and the safety stop.

10. The valve according to claim 1 , wherein the flap is subjected to a resisting torque that opposes the movement of the flap between the closed and open position, the holding torque being greater than the resisting torque.

11. The valve according to claim 1 , wherein the seat has at least one notch in which the distal end of the compression spring is received.

12. The valve according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one, or each, notch is oriented in a radial direction, opens into an axial end of the seat through an opening that is formed in the axial end, and comprises a bottom portion defining a bottom of the notch opposite the opening, the bottom portion having, in a plane that is orthoradial to the pivot axis, a section that is substantially shaped as a V whose tip defines the bottom of the notch.

13. The valve according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one, or each, notch comprises an outlet portion connecting the bottom portion to the opening, the outlet portion being delimited in a direction that is orthoradial to the pivot axis through two substantially flat opposed surfaces, each of which extend in a plane that is substantially parallel to the pivot axis.

14. The valve according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission member is formed in one piece.

15. The valve according to claim 1 , wherein the seat has a complementary recess in a distal axial end, the complementary recess being formed by two notches.

16. The valve according to claim 15 , wherein the distal end of the compression spring is received in each of the two notches to allow transmission of a torque between the compression spring and the seat.

17. The valve according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission member comprises a base, arms spaced apart from one another and protruding from the base in a direction toward the seat, and at least one loop or tab that extends outwardly from a periphery of the base to engage with the proximal end of the compression spring, and wherein the arms include the at least one support branch that engages the distal end of the compression spring.

18. The valve according to claim 17 , wherein the at least one support branch comprises a plurality of support branches, and wherein the base comprises a substantially flat plate having two primary edges opposite one another and two secondary edges opposite one another, and wherein the at least one loop or tab extends from one of the second edges and each arm protrudes from one primary edge of the plate and extends to a free end opposite the base, and wherein each arm comprises two support branches spaced apart from each other to form a slot that receives the distal end of the compression spring.

Assignees

• Faurecia Systemes Dechappement

Inventors

• Oblinger Benjamin
• Cambillard Julien
• Delplanque Gilbert
• Lacouture François

Classifications

• F02D2009/0261

  having a specially shaped transmission member, e.g. a cam, specially toothed gears, with a clutch · CPC title

• F02D2009/0264

  in which movement is transmitted through a spring · CPC title

• F02M26/67

  Pintles; Spindles; Springs; Bearings; Sealings; Connections to actuators · CPC title

• F02D9/04

  concerning exhaust conduits (throttle valves, or arrangements thereof in conduits F02D9/08) · CPC title

• F16K1/221

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