US 7,621,264 B2Granted

Cartridge style exhaust bypass valve

AssigneeContinental Automotive Canada, Inc.

InventorDavid W. Balsdon

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Abstract

An exhaust bypass valve assembly is provided for a vehicle. The assembly includes a housing (22) defining an inlet passageway (21) and first and second passageways (24, 26) in communication with the inlet passageway and with each other, and a bore (28) at a juncture (25) of the passageways and in communication with the passageways. The inlet passageway is associated with an exhaust manifold, the first passageway is associated with a cooler of a vehicle, and the second passageway is associated with an engine of a vehicle. An exhaust bypass valve cartridge (30) includes a valve member (32) removably disposed in the bore of the housing, and shaft structure (40, 42) associated with the valve member so that rotation of the shaft structure rotates the valve member. The valve member is movable between first and second positions to control the flow of exhaust gas flow from the inlet passageway through the first and second passageways.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An exhaust bypass valve assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a housing defining an inlet passageway and first and second passageways in communication with the inlet passageway and with each other, and a bore at a juncture of the passageways and in communication with the passageways, the inlet passageway being constructed and arranged to receive exhaust gas from an exhaust manifold of a vehicle, the first passageway being constructed and arranged to be associated with a cooler of the vehicle and the second passageway being constructed and arranged to be associated with an engine of the vehicle,
an exhaust bypass valve cartridge comprising:
a valve member removably disposed in the bore of the housing, and
shaft structure associated with the valve member so that rotation of the shaft structure rotates the valve member,
the valve member being movable between first and second positions such that when the valve member is in the first position, the inlet passageway only communicates with the first passageway so that exhaust gas can be directed to the cooler, and when the valve member is in a second position, the inlet passageway only communicates with the second passageway so that exhaust gas can be directed to the engine,
wherein bore is generally cylindrical and the valve member is cylindrical having cutout that defines a U-shape of the valve member with first and second sides and a valve portion joined between the first and second sides, the valve portion substantially blocking exhaust gas flow and the cutout permitting exhaust gas flow past the valve member.

3 more elements

A method of providing a removable exhaust bypass valve cartridge for an exhaust bypass valve assembly of a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a housing defining an inlet passageway and first and second passageways in communication with the inlet passageway and with each other, and a bore at a juncture of the passageways and in communication with the passageways, the inlet passageway receiving exhaust gas, the first passageway being associated with a cooler of a vehicle and the second passageway being associated with an engine of a vehicle,
providing an exhaust bypass valve as a cartridge, the cartridge comprising a valve member and shaft structure associated with the valve member so that rotation of the shaft structure moves the valve member, and
inserting the valve member into the bore in such a manner that the valve member is removable from the bore, with the shaft structure being accessible to be rotated such that rotation of the shaft moves the valve member to control a flow of exhaust gas from the inlet passageway through the first and second passageways,
wherein the bore is generally cylindrical and the valve member is cylindrical having cutout that defines a U-shape of the valve member with first and second sides and a valve portion joined between the first and second sides, the valve portion substantially blocking exhaust gas flow and the cutout permitting exhaust gas flow past the valve member.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.