Variable valve for muffler and dual muffler having the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11319848-B2
Application number	US-201916288335-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2019
Priority date	Oct 18, 2018
Publication date	May 3, 2022
Grant date	May 3, 2022

Abstract

A variable valve for a muffler may include an actuator; a valve tube having an inlet into which exhaust gas is flowed, and a first outlet and a second outlet into which the exhaust gas is discharged, and installed in a middle of a tail pipe into which the exhaust gas is discharged from a muffler; and a valve body in a ball shape rotatably installed in the valve tube, and rotatable by a rotational force delivered from the actuator to block the inlet, or to communicate the inlet with a selected one of the first outlet and the second outlet according to a rotated state of the valve body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A variable valve for a muffler, comprising:
an actuator;
a valve tube having an inlet into which exhaust gas is flowed, and a first outlet and a second outlet into which the exhaust gas is discharged, the valve tube being installed in a middle of a tail pipe into which the exhaust gas is discharged from a muffler; and
a valve body in a ball shape rotatably installed in the valve tube, and rotatable by a rotational force delivered from the actuator to block the inlet or to communicate the inlet with a selected one of the first outlet and the second outlet according to a rotated state of the valve body,
wherein the inlet of the valve tube is connected to an upstream pipe of the tail pipe between the muffler therewith,
wherein the first outlet of the valve tube is connected to a downstream pipe of the tail pipe for discharging the exhaust gas to atmosphere, and
wherein the second outlet of the valve tube is connected to a branch pipe for recirculating the exhaust gas flowed into the valve tube through the inlet into the muffler.

2. The variable valve for the muffler of claim 1 ,
wherein the valve body in the ball shape comprises
a closing part for blocking a selected one of the inlet, the first outlet, and the second outlet of the valve tube according to the rotated state of the valve body;
a flow path hole penetrating and connecting the inlet and the first outlet of the valve tube in a state where the closing part blocks the second outlet; and
an opening hole connected to the flow path hole,
wherein the opening hole and the flow path hole connect the inlet and the second outlet of the valve tube in a state where the closing part blocks the first outlet of the valve tube.

3. The variable valve for the muffler of claim 1 ,
wherein the opening hole is connected to the inlet of the valve tube and the flow path hole is connected to the second outlet of the valve tube, in a state where the closing part blocks the first outlet of the valve tube.

4. The variable valve for the muffler of claim 1 ,
wherein the muffler discharges the exhaust gas having passed through an inside thereof to the atmosphere through the tail pipe and another tail pipe installed separately from the tail pipe.

5. A dual muffler, comprising:
a housing;
a first tail pipe for discharging exhaust gas having passed through an inside of the housing;
a second tail pipe for discharging the exhaust gas having passed through the inside of the housing;
a variable valve installed in a middle of the first tail pipe; and
a branch pipe interposed between the variable valve and the inside of the housing,
wherein the variable valve has an inlet into which the exhaust gas is flowed, and a first outlet and a second outlet into which the exhaust gas is discharged,
wherein the inlet of the variable valve is connected to an upstream pipe of the first tail pipe between the housing therewith,
wherein the first outlet of the variable valve is connected to a downstream pipe of the first tail pipe for discharging the exhaust gas to atmosphere, and
wherein the second outlet of the variable valve is connected to a branch pipe for recirculating the exhaust gas flowed into the variable valve through the inlet into the housing.

6. The dual muffler of claim 5 ,
wherein the variable valve comprises
an actuator;
the valve tube having the inlet, the first outlet, and the second outlet, and installed in the middle of the first tail pipe; and
a valve body in a ball shape rotatably installed in the valve tube, and rotatable by a rotational force delivered from the actuator to block the inlet, or to communicate the inlet with a selected one of the first outlet and the second outlet according to a rotated state of the valve body.

7. The dual muffler of claim 6 ,
wherein the valve body in the ball shape comprises
a closing part for blocking a selected one of the inlet, the first outlet, and the second outlet of the valve tube according to the rotated state of the valve body;
a flow path hole penetrating and connecting the inlet and the first outlet of the valve tube in a state where the closing part blocks the second outlet; and
an opening hole connected to the flow path hole,
wherein the opening hole and the flow path hole connect the inlet and the second outlet of the valve tube in a state where the closing part blocks the first outlet of the valve tube.

8. The dual muffler of claim 7 ,
wherein the opening hole is connected to the inlet of the valve tube and the flow path hole is connected to the second outlet of the valve tube, in a state where the closing part blocks the first outlet of the valve tube.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Ku Ja Kyung

Classifications

• F01N13/08

  Other arrangements or adaptations of exhaust conduits {(pipes, joints or supports therefor in general F16L; collecting or removing exhaust gases of vehicle engines in workshops B08B15/00, on highways E01C1/005)} · CPC title

• F01N2390/02

  using electric components only · CPC title

• F01N1/003

  by using dead chambers communicating with exhaust gas flow passages · CPC title

• F16K5/0605

  with particular plug arrangements, e.g. particular shape or built-in means · CPC title

• F01N2470/14

  Plurality of outlet tubes, e.g. in parallel or with different length · CPC title