Balanced flow EGR control apparatus

Abstract

An internal combustion engine of the V-type configuration includes a balanced flow EGR control apparatus having a valve comprising a stem having two linearly aligned, substantially similarly plug valve bodies engaged thereto with a predetermined distance therebetween. The valve housing has separate ports for receiving exhaust flow from each cylinder bank and a common outlet passageway communicating with the intake manifold, the ports being in linear alignment. One valve body is disposed to plug the exhaust port from the exhaust port side while the other valve body plugs the other exhaust port from the intake outlet side. Each valve body is configured, sized and positioned over a respective port in a manner where pressure of flow against one valve body effectively cancels out the pressure of flow against the other valve body, producing a valve that is easily maintained in an appropriate seated position thereof and opened with minimum force. The apparatus is disclosed in two embodiments, one of which accommodates rotary actuation and another of which accommodates linear actuation, with each embodiment being operable under control of an engine ECU in response to readings of operational parameters of the engine.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.