Turbocharger compressor recirculation system

A system comprising:

• a turbocharger compressor having an inlet and an outlet;
• a recirculation pathway connecting fluid flow from the outlet of the turbocharger compressor to fluid flow into the inlet of the turbocharger compressor;
• and
• a recirculation valve assembly controlling fluid flow through the recirculation pathway, the recirculation valve assembly comprising an electropneumatic actuator operating a valve coupled to an aspirator assembly that produces vacuum when the fluid flows through the recirculation pathway from the inlet to the outlet and when the fluid flows through the recirculation pathway from the outlet to the inlet, wherein the vacuum generated by the aspirator assembly is in fluid communication with a device requiring vacuum;
• a reservoir in fluid communication with the aspirator assembly and the electropneumatic actuator, wherein the reservoir stores vacuum for selective activation of the electropneumatic actuator;
• and
• a control valve disposed between the reservoir and the electropneumatic actuator, wherein the control valve is activatable by an engine computer on demand to apply vacuum to the electropneumatic actuator to operate the valve.

A system comprising:

• a turbocharger compressor having an inlet and an outlet;
• a recirculation pathway connecting fluid flow from the outlet of the turbocharger compressor to fluid flow into the inlet of the turbocharger compressor:
• and
• a recirculation valve assembly controlling fluid flow through the recirculation pathway, the recirculation valve assembly comprising:
• an electropneumatic actuator operating a valve coupled to an aspirator assembly that produces vacuum when the fluid flows through the recirculation pathway from the inlet to the outlet and when the fluid flows through the recirculation pathway from the outlet to the inlet:
• wherein the vacuum generated by the aspirator assembly is in fluid communication with a device requiring vacuum;
• and
• wherein the valve is integrated into the aspirator assembly and is translatable between at least a first position and a second position that each provide a Venturi effect, but in opposite directions of flow through the aspirator assembly.

A system comprising:

• a turbocharger compressor having an inlet and an outlet;
• a recirculation pathway connecting fluid flow from the outlet of the turbocharger compressor to fluid flow into the inlet of the turbocharger compressor;
• a recirculation valve assembly controlling fluid flow through the recirculation pathway, the recirculation valve assembly comprising:
• a housing defining a fluid passageway therethrough, the fluid passageway comprising:
• a first tapering portion gradually tapering from a larger internal opening to a smaller internal opening;
• a second tapering portion gradually tapering from a larger internal opening to a smaller internal opening;
• wherein the first tapering portion and the second tapering portion converge toward one another with their smaller internal openings facing one another;
• a gate positioned between and in fluid communication with the first tapering portion and the second tapering portion of the housing, the gate having a first bore therethrough that includes a Venturi opening within a portion of the first bore that creates vacuum when fluid flows through the first bore and a second bore therethrough that includes a Venturi opening within a portion of the second bore that creates vacuum when fluid flows through the second bore;
• and
• an electropneumatic actuator coupled to the gate, the actuator operable to move the gate to place the first bore or the second bore, as selected, into alignment with the smaller internal openings of the first and second tapering portions, wherein the vacuum generated by the recirculation valve assembly is in fluid communication with a device requiring vacuum.

A valve assembly for creating vacuum comprising:

• a first flow path having a first aspirator that creates vacuum for fluid flow through the first flow path;
• a second flow path having a second aspirator that creates vacuum for fluid flow through the second flow path;
• a valve in fluid communication with an inlet, the first flow path, and the second flow path;
• and
• an actuator coupled to the valve and operable to actuate the valve to place the first flow path or the second flow path, as selected, in fluid communication with the inlet, wherein the vacuum generated by the valve assembly is in fluid communication with a device requiring vacuum;
• wherein the valve comprises:
• a housing having a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet in fluid communication with the first flow path, a second outlet in fluid communication with the second flow path, and a gate passageway;
• and
• a gate translatable within the gate passageway, the gate having a bore therethrough, and wherein the actuator is coupled to the gate to translate the gate between a first position, in which the bore fluidly connects the first inlet to the first outlet, and a second position, in which the bore fluidly connects the second inlet to the second outlet.