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US 6,802,295 B2Granted
Air intake shutoff device with connecting linkage
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsMatthew Ross Bedwell, Jeffrey Yeager
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air intake shutoff device is disclosed for an engine. The device includes at least two air shutoff valve assemblies. Each of these assemblies has a gate for controlling air flow into the engine. A linkage couples together the gates of each of the air shutoff valve assemblies such that closing of one gate of the at least two air shutoff valve assemblies effectuates closing of all other gates of the at least two air shutoff valve assemblies.
Claims26
An air intake shutoff device for an engine comprising:
- at least two air shutoff valve assemblies, each including a gate for controlling air flow into the engine;
- and
- a linkage that couples together each gate of the at least two air shutoff valve assemblies such that closing of one gate of the at least two air shutoff valve assemblies effectuates closing of all other gates of the at least two air shutoff valve assemblies, wherein one of the at least two air shutoff valve assemblies is operated as a master assembly and all others of the at least two air shutoff valve assemblies are operated as slave assemblies.
A linkage for an air shutoff device of an engine, comprising:
- a shaft having a first end and a second end and defining a longitudinal axis;
- a first universal joint having a near end and a distal end, the near end being attached to the first end of the shaft;
- and
- a second universal joint having a near end and a distal end, the near end being attached to the second end of the shaft,
- wherein the near end of at least one of the first universal joint and second universal joint makes sliding contact with the shaft and slides in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the shaft during operation of the air shutoff device.
2 more elements
An engine comprising:
- at least two air intakes;
- an air shutoff valve assembly attached to each of the at least two air intakes, each air shutoff valve assembly including a gate for controlling the flow of air to the engine;
- and
- a linkage that couples together the gate of each air shutoff valve assembly such that closing of the gate of one air shutoff valve assembly effectuates closing of all other gates of the air shutoff valve assemblies, wherein one of the air shutoff valve assemblies is operated as a master assembly and all others of the air shutoff valve assemblies are operated as slave assemblies.
1 more element
An air intake shutoff device for an engine having two turbochargers operating in parallel, comprising:
- a first air shutoff valve assembly attached to one of the two turbochargers, the first air shutoff valve assembly including a first gate for controlling air flow through the first shutoff valve assembly;
- a second air shutoff valve assembly attached to the other of the two turbochargers, the second air shutoff valve assembly including a second gate for controlling air flow through the second shutoff valve assembly;
- a linking member attached to both the first gate and the second gate, the linking member including:
- a shaft having a first end and a second end,
- a first universal joint connected between the first gate and the first end of the shaft, and
- a second universal joint connected between the second gate and the second end of the shaft;
- and
- wherein the linking member mechanically couples the first gate and the second gate together such that when the first gate is in a fully open position, the second gate is also in a fully open position, and when the first gate is in a fully closed position, the second gate is also in a fully closed position.
5 more elements
An air intake shutoff device for an engine comprising:
- at least two air shutoff valve assemblies, each including a gate, wherein the gates are configured to substantially block all air flow into the engine;
- and
- a linkage that couples together each gate of the at least two air shutoff valve assemblies such that closing of one gate of the at least two air shutoff valve assemblies effectuates closing of all other gates of the at least two air shutoff valve assemblies, wherein the linkage includes:
- a shaft having a first end and a second end and defining a longitudinal axis;
- a first connection element attached to the first end of the shaft, and
- a second connection element attached to the second end of the shaft,
- wherein at least one of the first and second connection elements makes sliding contact with the shaft and slides in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the shaft.
4 more elements
An air intake shutoff device for an engine comprising:
- at least two air shutoff valve assemblies, each including a gate, wherein the gates are configured to substantially block all air flow into the engine;
- and
- a linkage that couples together each gate of the at least two air shutoff valve assemblies such that closing of one gate of the at least two air shutoff valve assemblies effectuates closing of all other gates of the at least two air shutoff valve assemblies, wherein the linkage includes:
- a shaft having a first end and a second end and defining a longitudinal axis;
- a first connection element attached to the first end of the shaft, and
- a second connection element attached to the second end of the shaft,
- wherein both the first connection element and the second connection element include a universal joint.
4 more elements
An engine comprising:
- at least two air intakes;
- an air shutoff valve assembly attached to each of the at least two air intakes, each air shutoff valve assembly including a gate, wherein the gates are configured to substantially block all flow of air to the engine;
- and
- a linkage that couples together the gate of each air shutoff valve assembly such that closing of the gate of one air shutoff valve assembly effectuates closing of all other gates of the air shutoff valve assemblies, wherein the linkage includes:
- a shaft having a first end and a second end and defining a longitudinal axis;
- a first connection element attached to the first end of the shaft;
- and
- a second connection element attached to the second end of the shaft,
- wherein at least one of the first and second connection elements makes sliding contact with the shaft and slides in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the shaft.
6 more elements
An engine comprising:
- at least two air intakes;
- an air shutoff valve assembly attached to each of the at least two air intakes, each air shutoff valve assembly including a gate, wherein the gates are configured to substantially block all flow of air to the engine;
- and
- a linkage that couples together the gate of each air shutoff valve assembly such that closing of the gate of one air shutoff valve assembly effectuates closing of all other gates of the air shutoff valve assemblies, wherein the linkage includes:
- a shaft having a first end and a second end and defining a longitudinal axis;
- a first connection element attached to the first end of the shaft;
- and
- a second connection element attached to the second end of the shaft,
- wherein both the first connection element and the second connection element include a universal joint, the universal joints of both the first and second connection elements being rotationally oriented with respect to the shaft such that the gates of respective air shutoff valve assemblies reach a fully closed position substantially simultaneously.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.