Passive valve assembly for vehicle exhaust system

Abstract

A passive valve assembly for a vehicle exhaust system includes an exhaust component that defines an exhaust gas flow path and a vane that is positioned within the exhaust gas flow path. The vane is movable between a fully closed position where a maximum portion of the exhaust gas flow path is blocked by the vane and a fully open position where a minimum portion of the exhaust gas flow path is blocked by the vane. The closed position comprises a start position for the passive valve assembly when there is no exhaust gas flow. The vane is obliquely orientated to a plane that is perpendicular to a centerline of the exhaust component when the vane is in the start position.

1 . A passive valve assembly for a vehicle exhaust system comprising:
 an exhaust component defining an exhaust gas flow path; and   a vane positioned within the exhaust gas flow path, said vane having a fully closed position where a maximum portion of the exhaust gas flow path is blocked by said vane and a fully open position where a minimum portion of the exhaust gas flow path is blocked by said vane, said closed position comprising a start position for the passive valve assembly, and wherein said vane is orientated to be non-perpendicular to a direction of the exhaust gas flow when in said start position.   
     
     
         2 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said vane is orientated to be at an angle relative to the direction of the exhaust gas flow that is within a range of 10 to 35 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said vane is positioned within said exhaust component in a non-bypass arrangement, and wherein said exhaust gas flow path is 80%-97% blocked when said vane is in said closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said exhaust component comprises an exhaust pipe defining a pipe centerline extending along a length of said exhaust pipe, and wherein said vane is obliquely orientated relative to a plane perpendicular to said pipe centerline. 
     
     
         5 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 4  wherein said vane is orientated at an angle relative to said plane that is within a range of 10 to 35 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said passive valve assembly comprises the only valve assembly positioned within said exhaust component. 
     
     
         7 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 6  wherein said exhaust component comprises a non-bypass pipe with a first end to be connected to a first exhaust component and a second end to be connected to a second exhaust component and wherein said non-bypass pipe comprises the sole exhaust gas flow path between the first and the second exhaust components. 
     
     
         8 . The passive valve assembly according to  1  including a resilient member that biases said vane toward said closed position, said vane only being pivoted from said closed position towards said open position in response to an exhaust gas flow that exceeds a biasing force of said resilient member. 
     
     
         9 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 8  including a stop supported by said exhaust component and positioned within said exhaust gas flow path to engage a tip of said vane, said stop being positioned to hold said vane at an oblique angle relative to a plane that is perpendicular to a centerline of the exhaust component. 
     
     
         10 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 9  wherein said resilient member returns said vane into abutting engagement with said stop when the exhaust gas flow is less than said biasing force of said resilient member. 
     
     
         11 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 9  wherein said oblique angle is within a range of 10 to 35 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . A passive valve assembly for a vehicle exhaust system comprising:
 an exhaust pipe having an external surface and an internal surface that defines an exhaust gas flow path, said exhaust pipe having a first end to be connected to a first exhaust component and a second end to be connected to a second exhaust component such that said exhaust pipe provides a non-bypass pipe configuration between the first and the second exhaust components;   a housing attached to said external surface;   a shaft supported within said housing by at least one bushing, said shaft defining an axis of rotation;   a vane positioned within the exhaust gas flow path, said vane having a fully closed position where a maximum portion of the exhaust gas flow path is blocked by said vane and a fully open position where a minimum portion of the exhaust gas flow path is blocked by said vane, said closed position comprising a start position for the passive valve assembly, and wherein said vane is obliquely orientated relative to a plane that is perpendicular to a pipe centerline of said exhaust pipe at a valve mount position when said vane is in said start position; and   a resilient member that biases said vane toward said closed position, said vane only being pivoted from said closed position towards said open position in response to an exhaust gas flow that exceeds a biasing force of said resilient member.   
     
     
         13 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 12  including a stop positioned within said exhaust gas flow path to define said start position for said vane, and wherein a tip of said vane contacts said stop when said vane is pivoted to said closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 12  wherein said vane is orientated at an angle relative to said plane that is within a range of 10 to 35 degrees.