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US 9,097,214 B2Granted
Exhaust gas recirculation system having active material actuated by-pass
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsAlan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Patrick G. Szymkowicz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An exhaust gas recirculation system adapted for use by an internal combustion engine, and for selectively diverting a recirculated portion of the engine exhaust away from the EGR cooler, includes a by-pass conduit and/or feed line shiftable between open and closed conditions, and an active material actuator.
Claims4
An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system adapted for use by an internal combustion engine comprising an intake and producing an exhaust, and for selectively recirculating at least a predominant portion of the exhaust back to the intake, said system comprising:
- an EGR cooler fluidly coupled to the intake and said portion of the exhaust;
- and
- a by-pass including a conduit fluidly coupled to the intake and said portion of the exhaust, the conduit including:
- a shape memory polymer longitudinal section that is shiftable between an opened shape when deactivated and a memorized pinched shape when activated;
- and
- a thermally insulative and flexible cover interiorly disposed within the shape memory polymer longitudinal section;
- wherein the shape memory polymer longitudinal section is activated by a heat energy by-product of the engine and wherein the thermally insulative and flexible cover prevents the portion of the exhaust from activating the shape memory polymer longitudinal section.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.