Snap action valve with inertia damper
View Patent ↗Snap action valve assemblies for use in conduits of automotive exhaust systems have their operation controlled by use of inertia damper elements coupled to an axle of a rotatable valve plate of the valve assembly.
1. A valve assembly for reducing engine exhaust noise exiting a conduit, the valve assembly comprising:
a rotatable axle adapted to be mounted to the conduit;
a valve plate fixed for rotation with the axle;
a return spring having a first end coupled to the axle and a second end adapted to be coupled to the conduit, the return spring biasing the valve plate toward a closed position;
a tuned damper assembly including an inertia damping element rotatably coupled to the axle and a damping spring having a first portion coupled to the damping element and a second portion coupled to the axle.
2. The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the damping spring includes a coil spring having one end positioned in an aperture of the inertia damping element.
3. The valve assembly of claim 2 wherein the damping spring includes multiple coils surrounding the axle.
4. The valve assembly of claim 3 wherein the inertia damping element includes a substantially cylindrical shape having a central aperture in receipt of the axle.
5. The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the mass of the damping element and the spring rate of the damping spring are set to minimize vibrations at a predetermined resonance.