Bypass assembly with annular bypass venturi for an exhaust gas recirculation system

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;
• an annular venturi nozzle positioned between said housing and said center piece, said venturi nozzle in communication with said combustion air inlet and defining a combustion air venturi section, said venturi nozzle in communication with said exhaust gas inlet and defining an exhaust gas venturi section;
• a combustion air bypass valve positioned in association with said combustion air bypass section;
• and
• an exhaust gas valve positioned in association with said exhaust gas inlet.

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 defining a combustion air bypass section therein;
• positioning an annular venturi nozzle between said housing and said center piece, said venturi nozzle in communication with each of said combustion air inlet and exhaust gas inlet;
• defining a combustion air venturi section between said venturi nozzle and said center piece;
• defining an exhaust gas venturi section between said center piece and said housing;
• positioning a combustion air bypass valve in association with said combustion air bypass section;
• positioning an exhaust gas valve in association with said exhaust gas inlet;
• controlling 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 using said venturi nozzle, dependent upon said controlling step.