Hybrid valve for attenuation of low frequency noise

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9376947-B2
Application number	US-201213664467-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2012
Priority date	Mar 29, 2007
Publication date	Jun 28, 2016
Grant date	Jun 28, 2016

Abstract

A hybrid valve assembly for an exhaust system includes an exhaust tube having a bore defining an exhaust flow path. A vane is mounted within the bore and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. A resilient member biases the vane toward the closed position. A valve actuator has an ON position where movement of the vane is actively controlled by the valve actuator and an OFF position where movement of the vane is passively controlled by exhaust gas flow.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A valve assembly for an exhaust system comprising:
an exhaust tube having a bore defining an exhaust flow path, said exhaust tube having one end to be connected to a first exhaust component and a second end to be connected to a second exhaust component;
a vane mounted within said bore and being moveable between an open position and a closed position;
a resilient member that biases said vane toward said closed position; and
a valve actuator having an ON position where movement of said vane is actively controlled by said valve actuator as said vane moves between a fully open position and a fully closed position and an OFF position where movement of said vane is passively controlled by exhaust gas flow as said vane moves between the fully open position and the fully closed position, and wherein the fully open position defines a maximum open area of the exhaust flow path and the fully closed position defines a minimum open area of exhaust flow path.

2. The valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein said vane provides 80% to 97% coverage of said exhaust flow path when in said fully closed position.

3. The valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein, when said valve actuator is in said ON position, said vane is coupled to said valve actuator such that movement of said valve actuator causes said vane to move from the closed position to the open position, and wherein, when said valve actuator is in said OFF position said vane is uncoupled from said valve actuator such that said vane is solely movable from said closed position toward said open position in response to exhaust gas pressure being greater than a biasing force of said resilient member.

4. The valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein said exhaust tube forms a sole exhaust path extending between the first and the second exhaust components, and wherein said vane comprises the only valve assembly positioned between the first and the second exhaust components.

5. The valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second exhaust components comprises a muffler.

6. The valve assembly according to claim 5 wherein the other of the first and second exhaust components comprises one of a tailpipe and another muffler.

7. The valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the valve actuator includes an extendible member that extends in an axial direction that is transverse to an axis of rotation defined by a shaft that supports said vane, and including a rigid arm that extends outwardly from the extendible member and a radially extending tab fixed for rotation with the shaft, and wherein said arm abuts against said radially extending tab to cause said vane to move from the closed position toward the open position when in the ON position.

8. The valve assembly according to claim 7 wherein said actuator comprises a linear actuator having an extendible member that moves along a linear path, and wherein said arm is fixed for movement with said extendible member.

9. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said exhaust flow path has a cross-sectional area, and wherein said vane provides 80% to 97% coverage of said cross-sectional area when in said closed position.

10. The valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the vane pivots about an axis of rotation, and wherein the valve actuator comprises a housing, an extendible member moveable relative to the housing, and a rigid arm extending transversely to the extendible member, and wherein the rigid arm extends in a direction that is generally parallel to the axis of rotation.

11. A valve assembly for an exhaust system comprising:
an exhaust tube having a bore defining an exhaust flow path said exhaust tube having one end to be connected to a first exhaust component and a second end to be connected to a second exhaust component;
a vane mounted within said bore and being moveable between an open position and a closed position;
a resilient member that biases said vane toward said closed position;
a shaft mounted to said vane, said shaft being pivotally supported by at least one bushing, and wherein said resilient member comprises a spring that is supported on said shaft; and
a valve actuator having an ON position where movement of said vane is actively controlled by said valve actuator as said vane moves between a fully open position and a fully closed position and an OFF position where movement of said vane is passively controlled by exhaust gas flow as said vane moves between the fully open position and the fully closed position.

12. The valve assembly according to claim 11 including a spring retainer having a rotating portion fixed for rotation with said shaft, and wherein said valve actuator is configured to control movement of said vane by rotating said rotating portion when said valve actuator is in said ON position.

13. The valve assembly according to claim 12 wherein said spring retainer includes a radially extending tab and wherein said valve actuator includes an arm that abuts against said radially extending tab.

14. The valve assembly according to claim 13 wherein, when said valve actuator is in said OFF position, said arm comprises an abutment stop that defines the closed position, and wherein when said valve actuator is in said ON position, said arm abuts against and rotates said radially extending tab to move said vane toward said open position.

15. A valve assembly for an exhaust system comprising:
an exhaust tube having a bore defining an exhaust flow path, said exhaust tube having one end to be connected to a first exhaust component and a second end to be connected to a second exhaust component;
a vane mounted within said bore and being moveable between an open position and a closed position;
a resilient member that biases said vane toward said closed position;
a valve actuator having an ON position where movement of said vane is actively controlled by said valve actuator as said vane moves between a fully open position and a fully closed position and an OFF position where movement of said vane is passively controlled by exhaust gas flow as said vane moves between the fully open position and the fully closed position; and
an input configured to be selectively actuated by a user to move said valve actuator between said ON and said OFF positions, and wherein selection between said ON and said OFF positions is based upon providing a desired valve characteristic.

16. The valve assembly according to claim 15 wherein said desired valve characteristic comprises a desired exhaust sound, and wherein when in said ON position said exhaust sound is louder than when in said OFF position.

17. The valve assembly according to claim 15 wherein said desired valve characteristic comprises a desired back pressure, and wherein when in said ON position said back pressure is lower than when in said OFF position.

18. A method of controlling a valve assembly comprising the steps of:
providing an exhaust tube having a bore defining an exhaust flow path, a vane mounted within the bore and being moveable between an open position and a closed position, and a resilient member that biases the vane toward the closed position; and
selectively moving a valve actuator between an ON position where movement of the vane is actively controlled by the valve actuator as the vane moves between a fully closed position and a fully open position and an OFF position where movement of the vane is passively controlled by exhaust gas flow as the vane moves between the fully open position and the fully closed position; and
providing

Assignees

• Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies
• Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies Usa Llc

Inventors

• Abram Kwin
• Callahan Joseph
• Willats Robin

Classifications

• F01N2410/00

  By-passing, at least partially, exhaust from inlet to outlet of apparatus, to atmosphere or to other device · CPC title

• F02D9/103

  the rotation axis being located at an edge · CPC title

• F02D9/04

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

• Y10T137/7898

  Pivoted valves · CPC title

• F01N13/085

  having means preventing foreign matter from entering exhaust conduit · CPC title