Passive exhaust valve with external torsion spring
AssigneeTenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
InventorStephen M. Thomas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A snap-action valve assembly for an exhaust system includes a valve flap positioned within a conduit. A shaft supports the valve flap in the conduit for rotation about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position. A roller is supported for rotation on a post. The post is fixed to the shaft by a lever arm. A torsion spring includes a first end coupled to the conduit and a second end coupled to the roller. The torsion spring is preloaded to urge the valve flap into contact with an inner surface of the conduit when the valve flap is in the closed position. A method of assembling the snap-action valve assembly with a predetermined spring preload torque is also discussed.
Claims11
A snap-action valve assembly for an exhaust system, comprising:
- a conduit extending along a longitudinal axis and including a wall having an inner surface;
- a valve flap positioned within the conduit for controlling exhaust flow through the conduit;
- a shaft supporting the valve flap in the conduit for rotation about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position;
- a roller supported for rotation on a post, wherein the post is fixed to the shaft by a lever arm;
- a torsion spring having a first end coupled to the conduit and a second end coupled to the roller, wherein the torsion spring is preloaded to urge the valve flap into contact with the inner surface of the conduit when the valve flap is in the closed position;
- and
- a retainer fixed to the conduit, the retainer restricting the first end of the torsion spring from movement once the preload has been set, wherein the retainer directly engages the torsion spring and restricts at least a portion of the torsion spring from moving relative to the conduit, wherein the retainer is rotatable to preload the torsion spring prior to the retainer being fixed to the conduit.
A snap-action valve assembly for an exhaust system, comprising:
- a conduit extending along a longitudinal axis and including a wall having an inner surface;
- a valve flap positioned within the conduit for controlling exhaust flow through the conduit;
- a shaft supporting the valve flap in the conduit for rotation about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position;
- a roller supported for rotation on a post, wherein the post is fixed to the shaft by a lever arm;
- and
- a torsion spring having a first end coupled to the conduit and a second end coupled to the roller, wherein the torsion spring is preloaded to urge the valve flap into contact with the inner surface of the conduit when the valve flap is in the closed position, wherein the roller includes a groove in receipt of a portion of the torsion spring.
A method of assembling a snap-action valve assembly, the method comprising:
- fixing a valve flap to a shaft and supporting the valve flap in a conduit for rotation about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position;
- supporting a roller for rotation on a post, wherein the post is fixed to the shaft by a lever arm;
- coupling a first end of a torsion spring to a retainer and a second end of the torsion spring to the roller;
- rotating the retainer and the torsion spring to a target spring preload torque prior to fixing the retainer such that the valve flap is urged into contact with an inner surface of the conduit when the valve flap is in the closed position;
- and
- fixing the retainer to the conduit to maintain the target spring preload torque.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.