U.S. patent application number 11/244371 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-09 for pressure pulse communication in an engine intake manifold.
This patent application is currently assigned to Eaton Corporation. Invention is credited to Robert J. Boychuk, Robert D. Keller, Kevin Petri, Marc H. Sanderson.
Application Number | 20060027778 11/244371 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33477088 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060027778 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Keller; Robert D. ; et
al. |
February 9, 2006 |
Pressure pulse communication in an engine intake manifold
Abstract
A servo-operated rotary vane valve is intended for external
assembly through an opening in an engine inlet manifold passage
with an integral rib formed therein. Baffling surfaces on the edge
of the vane minimize pressure pulse communication over the rib when
the valve is in the closed position.
Inventors: |
Keller; Robert D.;
(Davisburg, MI) ; Sanderson; Marc H.; (Clarkston,
MI) ; Petri; Kevin; (Lapeer, MI) ; Boychuk;
Robert J.; (Sterling Heights, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Anna M. Shih
26201 Northwestern Hwy.
P.O. Box 766
Southfield
MI
48037
US
|
Assignee: |
Eaton Corporation
Cleveland
OH
|
Family ID: |
33477088 |
Appl. No.: |
11/244371 |
Filed: |
October 5, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10620114 |
Jul 15, 2003 |
|
|
|
11244371 |
Oct 5, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
251/305 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F02D 9/1015 20130101;
F02B 27/0273 20130101; Y02T 10/12 20130101; F02D 9/101 20130101;
F02D 11/10 20130101; Y02T 10/146 20130101; F02B 27/0294 20130101;
F16K 1/222 20130101; F02D 9/1045 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
251/305 |
International
Class: |
F16K 1/22 20060101
F16K001/22 |
Claims
1. A motorized rotary valve assembly comprising: (a) a housing
including a mounting surface and a motor drive, wherein the housing
is configured for insertion into an aperture formed in a flow
passage to be valved, the housing having an opening for accessing
the motor drive; and (b) a vane valve member associated exteriorly
with the housing and operatively connected with the motor drive
through the opening for rotation relative to the housing, the vane
valve member having a flow baffling surface along an edge thereof,
wherein the housing and the valve member are adapted for insertion
as a unit through the aperture and located therein by the mounting
surface.
2. The assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the flow baffling
surface includes an offset edge of the vane valve member.
3. The assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the housing has at
least one portion that is configured to be received in the
aperture.
4. The assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the vane valve member
is connected to the motor drive by a centrally disposed shaft.
5. The assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the vane valve member
has a rectangular cross section.
6. The assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the vane valve member
includes a plurality of stiffening ribs formed integrally
therewith.
7. The assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the motor drive
includes a rotatable shaft extending externally to the housing with
the vane valve member mounted thereon.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a divisional of application U.S. Ser. No. 10/620,114
filed on Jul. 15, 2003, which is now U.S. Pat. No.______.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to servo operated valves and
particularly servo operated rotary valves for use in an engine to
control pressure pulse communication between different channels in
an engine inlet manifold.
[0003] In the design and manufacture of engines for passenger cars
and light trucks, it has been found desirable to provide alternate
runners or channels in the engine inlet manifold for providing
pressure pulse communication at different rates according to the
engine operating speed and load. In particular it has been desired
to prevent pressure pulse communication for use at low speeds and
low loads; whereas for high speed or high loads it has been
required to allow pressure pulse communication.
[0004] In known production engines for light vehicles, an
electrically operated rotary vane valve has been employed in the
engine manifold to control the opening and closing of such
additional or secondary passages as required by the engine
operating conditions. Such valves are typically installed through
an access opening in the manifold to position the rotary vane at
the inlet end of the secondary passages with the vane contacting a
rib or stop surface provided in the manifold, for example, by
integral molding therein. However, in view of the variation in
dimensions between the parts and the variation in the positioning
of the valve vane upon assembly into the manifold, it has been
found difficult to provide a valve installation which eliminates
pressure pulse communication in the secondary passages when the
valve vane is in the closed position. This problem is particularly
aggravated by the nature of the valve construction because it is
required that the servo motor actuator for the valve be disposed
externally of the airflow passage in the manifold. The valve must
be assembled through an access opening in the manifold rather than
built in during forming of the manifold.
[0005] Thus, it has been desired to provide an inexpensive
relatively simple and easy to install diverter valve for an engine
air inlet manifold which prevents residual pressure pulse
communication in the secondary passages when the valve is in the
closed position.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a solution to the
above-described problem and presents an assembly of a servo motor
and rotary vane valve adapted for installation through an access
opening in an engine air inlet manifold and has provisions on the
vane for the baffling surface to break up pressure pulses around
the vane when the valve is in the closed position for the intended
passage in the manifold. The valve vane may be integrally formed
with an offset surface or flap which provides the baffling surface
when the vane is in the closed position with respect to a rib or
stop provided in the inlet passage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the valve assembly of the
present invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 taken from the left-hand
side with a portion of the housing broken away;
[0009] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the assembly of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the valve of the present
invention mounted in a section of an engine air inlet manifold;
and,
[0011] FIG. 5 is a section view taken along section-indicating
lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, the valve assembly of the
present invention is indicated generally at 10 and includes a
housing 12 which has a motor drive unit 14 disposed therewithin
which may include a speed reducer (not shown). The housing 12
preferably includes a mounting flange 16 having apertures 18, 20
formed therein for receiving therethrough suitable fasteners (not
shown) for attachment to an intake manifold as will hereinafter be
described.
[0013] Mounting flange 16 has mounted thereover a cap 22 which has
formed therein an electrical receptacle shell 24 which has
electrical terminal pins 26, 28 disposed therein for external
electrical connection thereto. The terminal pins are internally
connected by suitable electrical leads (not shown) to motor drive
14. Cap 22 also has apertures 30, 32 formed therein located to
coincide with apertures 18, 20 of the flange 16 for receiving
suitable mounting fasteners (not shown) therethrough.
[0014] Flange 16 preferably has a pair of spaced raised bosses 34,
36 formed thereon, each of which has therethrough a hole adapted
for receiving a fastener. Cap 22 has correspondingly located holes
38, 40 formed therein, each of which has received therethrough a
suitable fastener denoted 42, 44 respectively. In the present
practice of the invention fasteners 42, 44 comprise rivets;
however, it will be understood that other suitable types of
fasteners may be employed as, for example, screws with retaining
nuts or self-tapping fasteners.
[0015] The housing has a shaft 46 received through an unshown
opening provided in the lower end of an extension 48 formed on the
bottom of housing 12; and, it will be understood that the shaft 46
is operatively engaged with the motor drive 14 which may include a
suitable speed reducer (not shown). The lower end of the shaft 46
preferably has driving surfaces 50 provided thereon such as, for
example, a knurled surface or splines. It will be understood
however that other configurations may be employed such as a
hexagonal or square in cross-section configuration.
[0016] A vane type valve member 52 has a central hub 54 into which
is received the lower end of shaft 46, it being understood, that
hub 54 has provided therein suitable surfaces corresponding to the
driving surfaces 50 on the shaft for transmitting torque from the
shaft to the vane. In the present practice of the invention, vane
52 and hub are formed integrally as one piece, such as by molding,
and preferably, has a plurality of radially outwardly extending
stiffening ribs 56 formed thereon.
[0017] The lower edge of the vane 52 has provided thereon, on
opposite sides of the hub 54, a pair of oppositely directed baffles
or baffling surfaces 58, 60 which may be formed by an offset or
flap formed on the bottom edge of the vane. The baffling surfaces
58, 60 function in a manner as will be hereinafter described.
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the valve assembly 10 is shown
installed on an engine intake manifold having a portion thereof
illustrated and denoted by reference numeral 62 and which has
formed therein an auxiliary or secondary pressure pulse
communication passage 64 having a typical rectangular cross-section
as shown in FIG. 4.
[0019] The passage 64 has provided therein and disposed
peripherally thereabout a raised rib 66 which has one edge thereof
forming a seating surface denoted 68 for vane 52, which is shown in
the fully open position in FIG. 4. With continuing reference to
FIG. 4, the vane 52 is shown in the fully open position; and, when
engine operating conditions require, an unshown controller
energizes the motor drive unit which causes the vane to rotate in a
clockwise direction to the closed position causing the baffling
surface 60 to move to a post-adjacent rib 66; and, surfaces 58, 60
thereby provide baffling of the pressure pulse communication
between the vane 52 and the rib minimizing pressure pulse building
effects around the vane.
[0020] It will be understood that the assembly 10 is retained on
the manifold by suitable fasteners (not shown) in FIGS. 1 through 4
received through the mounting hole 30, 32 and holes 18, 20 in the
flange 16. The fasteners are shown in cross-section and denoted by
reference numerals 70, 72 in FIG. 5. The aperture or mounting hole
through which the assembly 10 is received in the manifold is
denoted in FIG. 5 by reference numeral 74.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 3, upon installation of assembly 10 into
opening 74, the undersurface of flange 16 is sealed about the
access hole 74 by a suitable seal ring denoted by reference numeral
76.
[0022] The present invention thus provides a simple and relatively
low-cost, easy to assemble, rotary servo operated valve for
controlling pressure pulse communication in an engine manifold
passage which may be assembled externally through an opening formed
in the manifold and provides for sufficient baffling of the
pressure pulse communication when the valve is in the closed
position to minimize pressure pulse communication or leakage
thereabout.
[0023] Although the invention has hereinabove been described with
respect to the illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that
the invention is capable of modification and variation and is
limited only by the following claims.
* * * * *