Bypass venturi assembly with single shaft actuator for an exhaust gas recirculation system

An internal combustion engine comprising:

• a combustion air supply;
• an exhaust manifold;
• and
• a bypass venturi assembly, including:
• a housing having an outlet, a combustion air inlet and an exhaust gas inlet;
• a center piece positioned within said housing and in communication with said combustion air inlet, said center piece defining a combustion air bypass section therein;
• a combustion air bypass valve positioned in association with said combustion air bypass section.

An internal combustion engine comprising:

• a combustion air supply;
• an exhaust manifold;
• and
• a bypass venturi assembly, including:
• a housing having an outlet, a combustion air inlet and an exhaust gas inlet;
• a center piece positioned within said housing and in communication with said combustion air inlet, said center piece defining a combustion air bypass section therein;
• a combustion air bypass valve positioned in association with said combustion air bypass section;
• an exhaust gas valve positioned in association with said exhaust gas inlet;
• and
• a single shaft coupled with and carrying each of said combustion air bypass valve and said exhaust gas valve;
• and
• said single shaft being supported on opposite sides of said combustion air bypass valve by said center piece, said single shaft and said exhaust gas valve being supported in a cantilever manner by said center piece.

A bypass venturi assembly for recirculating exhaust gas in an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a housing having an outlet, a combustion air inlet and an exhaust gas inlet;
• a center piece positioned within said housing and in communication with said combustion air inlet, said center piece defining a combustion air bypass section therein;
• a combustion air bypass valve positioned in association with said combustion air bypass section;
• an exhaust gas valve positioned in association with said exhaust gas inlet;
• and
• a single shaft coupled with and carrying each of said combustion air bypass valve and said exhaust gas valve.

A bypass venturi assembly for recirculating exhaust gas in an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a housing having an outlet, a combustion air inlet and an exhaust gas inlet;
• a center piece positioned within said housing and in communication with said combustion air inlet, said center piece defining a combustion air bypass section therein;
• a combustion air bypass valve positioned in association with said combustion air bypass section;
• an exhaust gas valve positioned in association with said exhaust gas inlet;
• and
• a single shaft coupled with and carrying each of said combustion air bypass valve and said exhaust gas valve;
• and
• a spring biasing said shaft and in turn biasing said combustion air bypass valve to an open position.

A bypass venturi assembly of for recirculating exhaust gas in an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a housing having an outlet, a combustion air inlet and an exhaust gas inlet;
• a center piece positioned within said housing and in communication with said combustion air inlet said center piece defining a combustion air bypass section therein;
• a combustion air bypass valve positioned in association with said combustion air bypass section;
• an exhaust gas valve positioned in association with said exhaust gas inlet;
• and
• a single shaft coupled with and carrying each of said combustion air bypass valve and said exhaust gas valve;
• and
• said single shaft being supported on opposite sides of said combustion air bypass valve by said center piece, said single shaft and said exhaust gas valve being supported in a cantilever manner by said center piece.

A method of recirculating exhaust gas in an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:

• providing a housing having an outlet, a combustion air inlet and an exhaust gas inlet;
• positioning a center piece within said housing and in communication with said combustion air inlet, said center piece having a combustion air bypass section therein;
• positioning a combustion air bypass valve within said combustion air bypass section;
• positioning an exhaust gas valve in association with said exhaust gas inlet;
• coupling each of said combustion air bypass valve and said exhaust gas valve with a single shaft;
• operating said single shaft to thereby control an operating position of each of said combustion air bypass valve and said exhaust gas valve;
• and
• inducting exhaust gas into a flow of combustion air, dependent upon said operating step.

A method of recirculating exhaust gas in an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:

• providing a housing having an outlet, a combustion air inlet and an exhaust gas inlet;
• positioning a center piece within said housing and in communication with said combustion air inlet, said center piece having a combustion air bypass section therein;
• positioning a combustion air bypass valve within said combustion air bypass section;
• positioning an exhaust gas valve in association with said exhaust gas inlet;
• coupling each of said combustion air bypass valve and said exhaust gas valve with a single shaft;
• operating said single shaft to thereby control an operating position of each of said combustion air bypass valve and said exhaust gas valve;
• inducting exhaust gas into a flow of combustion air, dependent upon said operating step;
• and
• the step of biasing said single shaft such that said combustion air bypass valve is biased to an open position.

A method of recirculating exhaust gas in an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:

• providing a housing having an outlet, a combustion air inlet and an exhaust gas inlet;
• positioning a center piece within said housing and in communication with said combustion air inlet, said center piece having a combustion air bypass section therein;
• positioning a combustion air bypass valve within said combustion air bypass section;
• positioning an exhaust gas valve in association with said exhaust gas inlet;
• coupling each of said combustion air bypass valve and said exhaust gas valve with a single shaft;
• operating said single shaft to there by control an operating position of each of said combustion air bypass valve and said exhaust gas valve;
• inducting exhaust gas into a flow of combustion air, dependent upon said operating step;
• and
• supporting said single shaft on opposite sides of said combustion air bypass valve, and supporting said single shaft and said exhaust gas valve in a cantilever manner.