Passive valve assembly with elongated vane

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 has an elongated body structure that has a greater height than width. The vane is positioned to provide a high percentage of coverage when closed but is able to pivot to a fully horizontal position when open to allow maximum flow.

1 . A passive valve assembly for a vehicle exhaust system comprising:
 a vane to be positioned within an exhaust gas flow path, said vane having an elongated body structure defined by a maximum vertical height dimension and a maximum horizontal width dimension that is perpendicular to said maximum vertical height dimension, said maximum vertical height dimension being greater than said maximum horizontal width dimension.   
     
     
         2 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said elongated body structure comprises a generally oval-shaped disc. 
     
     
         3 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 2  wherein said oval-shaped disc comprises a curved upper edge, a curved lower edge, and a pair of opposing straight side edges that extend between said curved upper edge and said curved lower edge. 
     
     
         4 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said vane is resiliently biased toward a closed position and is movable toward an open position in response to an increase in exhaust gas flow sufficient to overcome the biasing force, and wherein said maximum vertical height dimension is generally perpendicular to a direction of the exhaust gas flow. 
     
     
         5 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said elongated body structure includes a first portion to be coupled to a pivotable shaft, said first portion extending to a distal vane tip, and wherein said maximum vertical height dimension is defined by a line extending from said first portion to said distal vane tip. 
     
     
         6 . A passive valve assembly for a vehicle exhaust system comprising:
 an exhaust component having a curved inner wall surface defining an exhaust gas flow path;   a shaft supported by a wall of said exhaust component, said shaft defining an axis of rotation; and   a vane positioned within the exhaust gas flow path, said vane having an elongated body structure that extends from a first portion coupled to said shaft to a distal tip, and said elongated body structure being defined by a maximum width dimension and a maximum height dimension that extends in a direction from said first portion to said distal tip, and wherein said maximum height dimension is greater than said maximum width dimension.   
     
     
         7 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 6  wherein said elongated body structure includes a curved upper edge, a curved lower edge, and a pair of opposing straight side edges that extend between said curved upper edge and said curved lower edge. 
     
     
         8 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 7  wherein said pair of opposing straight side edges are perpendicular to said axis of rotation. 
     
     
         9 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 7  wherein said pair of opposing straight side edges do not intersect said axis of rotation. 
     
     
         10 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 6  wherein said vane is pivotable between 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, and wherein said exhaust gas flow path is 80%-97% blocked when said vane is in said fully closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 10  wherein said exhaust gas flow path is 90-97% blocked when said vane is in said fully closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 6  wherein said fully closed position comprises a start position for the passive valve assembly, and wherein said vane is obliquely orientated to a plane that is perpendicular to a centerline of said exhaust component when in said start position. 
     
     
         13 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 12  wherein said vane is orientated to be at an angle relative to said plane with said angle being within a range of 10 to 35 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 13  wherein said angle is at least 20 degrees and wherein said vane is pivotable to an angle that is 90 degrees relative to said plane when said vane is in said fully open position. 
     
     
         15 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 6  wherein said vane is positioned within said exhaust component in a non-bypass arrangement, and wherein the passive valve assembly comprises the only valve assembly positioned within said exhaust component. 
     
     
         16 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 15  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. 
     
     
         17 . The passive valve assembly according to  6  including a resilient member supported by said shaft that biases said vane toward said fully closed position, said vane only being pivoted about said axis of rotation from said fully closed position towards said fully open position in response to an exhaust gas flow that exceeds a biasing force of said resilient member. 
     
     
         18 . The passive valve assembly according to  claim 17  including a stop supported by said exhaust component and positioned within said exhaust gas flow path to engage said distal tip of said elongated body structure, said stop being positioned to hold said vane at an oblique angle relative to a plane that is perpendicular to a centerline of said exhaust component.