Variable restriction valve for vehicle exhaust system
AssigneeFaurecia Emissions Control Technologies, USA, LLC
InventorsChad Mollmann, James Egan, Brandon Sobecki, Sebastien Royer
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims22
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.