Variable restriction valve for vehicle exhaust system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11326490-B2
Application number	US-201815968942-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2018
Priority date	May 2, 2018
Publication date	May 10, 2022
Grant date	May 10, 2022

Abstract

A valve assembly for a vehicle exhaust system includes a rigid mount structure that is configured to be mounted within an exhaust component that defines an exhaust gas passage. The valve assembly further includes a plurality of flexible members that each extend from a first end to a second end. One of the first ends and second ends of the flexible members is fixed to the rigid mount structure and the other of the first ends and second ends is free to move such that the plurality of flexible members creates a variable restriction to flow through the exhaust component that varies in response to a pressure difference upstream and downstream of the plurality of flexible members.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A valve assembly for a vehicle exhaust system comprising:
a rigid mount structure configured to be mounted within an exhaust component defining an exhaust gas passage;
a plurality of flexible members each extending from a first end to a second end, and wherein one of the first ends and second ends of the flexible members are fixed to the rigid mount structure and the other of the first ends and second ends are freely moveable ends that are each free to move relative to each other such that the plurality of flexible members creates a variable restriction to flow through the exhaust component that varies in response to a pressure difference upstream and downstream of the plurality of flexible members; and
wherein at least some of the flexible members are partially overlapping each other, and wherein each freely movable end bends in a downstream direction from an initial position to increase an open area within the exhaust gas passage in response to increased exhaust gas pressure above a predetermined level, and wherein the freely moveable ends each freely move in an upstream direction to return to the initial position when exhaust gas pressure falls below the predetermined level.

2. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein, when in the initial position, the freely movable ends of the plurality of flexible members are spaced apart from each other to define an open space radially inward of the freely movable ends, and wherein the freely movable ends bend from the initial position to increase the open space within the exhaust gas passage in response to increased exhaust gas pressure above the predetermined level.

3. The valve assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the exhaust gas passage defines a center axis, and wherein the open space is concentric with the center axis.

4. The valve assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the exhaust gas passage defines a center axis, and wherein the open space is non-concentric with the center axis.

5. The valve assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the open space comprises at least two separate annuli.

6. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the rigid mount structure comprises an outer band defining an inner surface surrounding the exhaust gas passage, and wherein the flexible members extend outwardly from the inner surface toward a center of the exhaust gas passage.

7. The valve assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the outer band is circular, ovoid, or elliptical.

8. The valve assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the outer band is polygonal.

9. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the rigid mount structure comprises an inner mount positioned within the exhaust gas passage to define a mount interface that is spaced from an inner surface of the exhaust component, and wherein the flexible members extend outwardly from the mount interface toward the inner surface of the exhaust component.

10. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flexible members comprises a plurality of stiffener members that are inside a flexible material.

11. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flexible members comprises a plurality of bristles.

12. The valve assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the bristles have varying lengths and/or thicknesses.

13. The valve assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the bristles are formed as a spiral structure that extends along a predetermined length of the exhaust component.

14. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each freely movable end moves between an initial position to a bent position where the freely movable ends are downstream from the initial position of the freely movable ends, and wherein the freely movable ends bend independently of each other while moving between the initial and bent positions.

15. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flexible members extend generally perpendicularly relative to a center axis defined by the exhaust gas passage when in the initial position.

16. A valve assembly for a vehicle exhaust system comprising:
a rigid mount structure configured to be mounted within an exhaust component defining an exhaust gas passage; and
a plurality of flexible members each extending from a first end to a second end, and wherein one of the first ends and second ends of the flexible members are fixed to the rigid mount structure and the other of the first ends and second ends are freely moveable ends that are each free to move relative to each other such that the plurality of flexible members creates a variable restriction to flow through the exhaust component that varies in response to a pressure difference upstream and downstream of the plurality of flexible members, wherein the plurality of flexible members comprises a plurality of bristles, and wherein the bristles overlap each other to define a bristle density that can be varied to provide a desired variable open area in relation to the predetermined level of exhaust gas pressure.

17. A valve assembly for a vehicle exhaust system comprising:
a rigid mount structure configured to be mounted within an exhaust component defining an exhaust gas passage;
a plurality of flexible members each extending from a first end to a second end, and wherein one of the first ends and second ends of the flexible members are fixed to the rigid mount structure and the other of the first ends and second ends are freely moveable ends that are each free to move relative to each other such that the plurality of flexible members creates a variable restriction to flow through the exhaust component that varies in response to a pressure difference upstream and downstream of the plurality of flexible members; and
a guide positioned downstream from the plurality of flexible members to define a bend stop position for the flexible members when the exhaust gas pressure exceeds the predetermined level.

18. A vehicle exhaust component assembly comprising:
an exhaust component body having an inner surface defining an exhaust gas passage;
a rigid mount structure positioned within the exhaust gas passage;
a plurality of flexible members each extending from a first end to a second end, and wherein the plurality of flexible members comprise a plurality of bristles or stiffeners, and wherein the first ends of the flexible members are fixed to the rigid mount structure and the second ends are freely moveable ends that are each free to move relative to each other such that the plurality of flexible members creates a variable restriction to flow through the exhaust component body that varies in response to a pressure difference upstream and downstream of the plurality of flexible members;
wherein the freely movable ends bend from an initial position to increase an open area within the exhaust gas passage in response to increased exhaust gas pressure above a predetermined level, and wherein the freely moveable ends return to the initial position when exhaust gas pressure falls below the predetermined level; and
a guide positioned downstream from the plurality of flexible members to define a bend stop position for the flexible members when the exhaust gas pressure exceeds the predetermined level.

19. The vehicle exhaust component assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the rigid mount structure comprises an outer band defining an inner surface surrounding the exhaust gas passage, and wherein the flexible members extend outwardly from the inner surface toward a center of the exhaust gas passage, and

Assignees

• Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies Usa Llc

Inventors

• Mollmann Chad
• Egan James
• Sobecki Brandon
• Royer Sebastien

Classifications

• F01N1/165 Primary

  for adjusting flow area · CPC title

• F01N1/22 Primary

  the parts being resilient walls · CPC title

• F01N1/168

  for controlling or modifying silencing characteristics only · CPC title