Valve Assembly For Exhaust System

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021199057-A1
Application number	US-202117203045-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 16, 2021
Priority date	Jul 26, 2019
Publication date	Jul 1, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A valve assembly for an exhaust system of a vehicle comprises a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and a longitudinally extending exhaust gas passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The valve assembly further comprises a valve flap disposed in the housing and rotatable between a first position restricting exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway, and a second position whereat exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway is less restricted. A mass damper is disposed within the exhaust gas passageway and attached to the valve flap. The mass damper includes end portions and an intermediate portion disposed between the end portions with the intermediate portion having a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the end portions. The mass damper is positioned proximate an inner surface of the housing and positioned between the valve flap and the housing when the valve flap is at the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A valve assembly for an exhaust system of a vehicle, comprising:
a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and a longitudinally extending exhaust gas passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet; a valve flap disposed in the housing and rotatable between a first position restricting exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway, and a second position whereat exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway is less restricted; and a mass damper disposed within the exhaust gas passageway, the mass damper attached to the valve flap, wherein the mass damper includes end portions and an intermediate portion disposed between the end portions, the intermediate portion having a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the end portions, the mass damper being positioned proximate an inner surface of the housing as well as being positioned between the valve flap and the housing when the valve flap is at the second position.

2 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate portion of the mass damper is intersected by a line that transversely passes through the exhaust gas passageway and perpendicularly intersects an axis of rotation of the valve flap.

3 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pad coupled to the valve flap on an opposite side of the valve flap as the mass damper, the pad being positioned between the valve flap and the housing when the valve flap is in the first position.

4 . The valve assembly of claim 3 , wherein a fastener extends through the pad, the valve flap, and the mass damper to interconnect each other.

5 . The valve assembly of claim 3 , wherein the pad comprises a wire-mesh material.

6 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mass damper faces the outlet when the valve flap is in the first position.

7 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mass damper includes a curved periphery aligned with a curved periphery of the valve flap.

8 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mass damper is formed by a molding process.

9 . The valve assembly of claim 3 , wherein the mass damper is positioned to remain spaced apart from the housing at all positions of the valve flap.

10 . The valve assembly of claim 9 , wherein the pad is in direct contact with the housing when the valve flap is at the first position.

Assignees

• Tenneco Automotive Operating Co Inc

Inventors

• Thomas Stephen M
• Alexander Danny D

Classifications

• F02D9/1005

  Details of the flap · CPC title

• F02D9/10

  having pivotally-mounted flaps · CPC title

• F02D9/04 Primary

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

• F16K15/033

  spring-loaded · CPC title

• F01N1/165

  for adjusting flow area · CPC title