Method and apparatus for controlling the ratio of ambient air to recirculated gases in an internal combustion engine

A gas injector, comprising:

• an intake air conduit defining an ambient air flow path;
• a recirculated gas conduit defining a recirculated gas flow path, the recirculated gas conduit operatively coupled and disposed within said intake air conduit;
• an actuator connected to the intake air conduit;
• and
• a valve apparatus operatively coupled to said intake air conduit and in fluid communication with the ambient air flow and recirculated gas flow, the valve apparatus includes:
• a shaft, a throttle valve coupled to the shaft and in fluid communication with the ambient air flow, and a recirculated gas valve coupled to the shaft in fluid communication with the recirculated gas flow, the shaft rotates one of the throttle valve and the recirculated gas valve independent of the rotation of the other one of throttle valve and said recirculated gas valve.

A method of controlling the ratio of ambient air to recirculated gas in an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• coupling a throttle valve element and a recirculated gas valve element rotatable between an open and closed position on a common shaft;
• rotating the throttle valve to the open and closed positions while the recirculated gas valve remains in the open position;
• and
• rotating the recirculated gas valve to the open and closed positions while the throttle valve remains in the open position.

A gas injector, comprising:

• an intake air conduit defining an ambient air flow path;
• a recirculated gas conduit defining a recirculated gas flow path, the recirculated gas conduit operatively coupled and disposed within said intake air conduit;
• an actuator connected to the intake air conduit;
• and
• a valve apparatus operatively coupled to said intake air conduit and in fluid communication with the ambient air flow and recirculated gas flow, the valve apparatus includes:
• a shaft,
• a throttle valve element coupled to the shaft and in fluid communication with the ambient air flow, and
• a recirculated gas valve element coupled to the shaft and extending at least partially within a cavity defined by the throttle valve element, wherein the shaft rotates one of the throttle valve and the recirculated gas valve independent of the rotation of the other one of throttle valve and said recirculated gas valve.