IP Library Granted Patent US 10,788,136
Granted Patent B1
US 10,788,136 · App. 16/370,179 · Granted Sep 29, 2020

Damper valve assembly

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,788,136
App. No.
16/370,179
Granted
Sep 29, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

A damper valve assembly for an exhaust system of a vehicle includes a valve housing and a valve flap. The valve housing is adapted to be attached to a pipe of the exhaust system and defines an opening. The valve flap is rotatable relative to the valve housing and about a pivot axis between a first position whereat fluid flow through the opening of the valve housing is restricted and a second position whereat fluid flow through the opening of the valve housing is allowed. The valve flap includes a body and a mass damper. The mass damper is integral with the body and includes a plurality of segments that are folded so that the plurality of segments are in a stacked arrangement.

Claims (33)

1. A damper valve assembly for an exhaust system of a vehicle, the damper valve assembly comprising:

a valve housing adapted to be attached to a pipe of the exhaust system and defining an opening; and

a valve flap rotatably coupled to the valve housing about a pivot axis, the valve flap movable between a first position whereat fluid flow through the opening of the valve housing is restricted and a second position whereat fluid flow through the opening of the valve housing is allowed, the valve flap including a body and a mass damper,

wherein the mass damper is integral with the body and includes a plurality of segments that are folded such that the plurality of segments are in a stacked arrangement.

2. The damper valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mass damper is pressed to a first surface of the body of the valve flap once the plurality of segment are folded.

3. The damper valve assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a pad attached to one of a second surface of the body and the valve housing, and wherein the pad is sealingly engaged with the valve housing and the valve flap along a periphery of the opening when the valve flap is in the first position.

4. The damper valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segments are parallel to each other and to the body of the valve flap.

5. The damper valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segments are folded about fold lines such that bends are created.

6. The damper valve assembly of claim 5 , wherein one of the bends at least partially wraps around another one of the bends.

7. The damper valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve flap includes a first rim portion extending at least partially around a periphery of the body and the valve housing includes a second rim portion extending at least partially around a periphery of a valve seat, and wherein first and second slots in the first and second rim portions, respectively, accommodate the mass damper.

8. The damper valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve flap is in the first position when a pressure drop of fluid in the pipe is below a predetermined threshold and is moved to the second position when the pressure drop of fluid in the pipe is above the predetermined threshold.

9. A damper valve assembly for an exhaust system of a vehicle, the damper valve assembly comprising:

a valve housing adapted to be attached to a pipe of the exhaust system and defining an opening;

a shaft rotatably coupled to the valve housing;

a valve flap rotatable about a pivot axis of the shaft between a first position whereat fluid flow through the opening of the valve housing is restricted and a second position whereat fluid flow through the opening of the valve housing is allowed, the valve flap including a body and a mass damper; and

a spring engaging the valve flap to bias the valve flap toward the first position,

wherein the mass damper is integral with the body at a periphery thereof and includes a plurality of segments that are folded such that the plurality of segments are in a stacked arrangement.

10. The damper valve assembly of claim 9 , wherein the mass damper is pressed to a first surface of the body of the valve flap once the plurality of segments are folded.

11. The damper valve assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a pad attached to a second surface of the body along a periphery thereof, and wherein the pad is sealingly engaged with the valve housing along a periphery of the opening when the valve flap is in the first position.

12. The damper valve assembly of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of segments are parallel to each other and to the body of the valve flap.

13. The damper valve assembly of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of segments are folded about fold lines such that bends are created and one of the bends at least partially wraps around another one of the bends.

14. The damper valve assembly of claim 9 , wherein the valve flap includes a first rim portion extending at least partially around a periphery of the body and the valve housing includes a second rim portion extending at least partially around a periphery of a valve seat, and wherein the mass damper extends through first and second slots in the first and second rim portions, respectively.

15. The damper valve assembly of claim 9 , wherein one of the segments includes a clip extending therefrom, and wherein the spring is disposed around the shaft and is engaged to the shaft and the clip to bias the valve flap toward the first position.

16. The damper valve assembly of claim 9 , wherein the valve housing includes a bracket portion extending therefrom, and wherein the spring is disposed around the shaft and is engaged to the bracket portion and a surface of the body to bias the valve flap toward the first position.

17. The damper valve assembly of claim 9 , wherein the spring includes a first portion fixed to the shaft and another portion engaging the valve flap to bias the valve flap toward the first position.

18. A damper valve assembly for an exhaust system of a vehicle, the damper valve assembly comprising:

a valve housing adapted to be attached to an end of a pipe of the exhaust system, the valve housing including a valve seat and an opening;

a shaft coupled to the valve housing;

a valve flap rotatable between a first position whereat the valve flap engages the valve seat and fluid flow through the opening of the valve housing is restricted and a second position whereat the valve flap is spaced apart from the valve seat and fluid flow through the opening of the valve housing is allowed, the valve flap including a body and a mass damper; and

a spring engaging the valve flap to bias the valve flap toward the first position,

wherein the mass damper and the body are formed from a single sheet, the mass damper including a plurality of segments that are folded such that the plurality of segments overlap one another.

19. The damper valve assembly of claim 18 , wherein the mass damper is pressed to a first surface of the body of the valve flap once the plurality of segments are folded.

20. The damper valve assembly of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of segments are folded about fold lines such that bends are created and one of the bends at least partially wraps around another one of the bends.

Assignments (8)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 20, 2025
From: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
To: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 072553/0215 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Apr 7, 2023
From: TENNECO INC.; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063268/0506 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Nov 22, 2022
From: DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; TENNECO INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061989/0689 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 061975/0031 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 061971/0156 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 17, 2021
From: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 055626/0065 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 1, 2020
From: TENNECO INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 054555/0592 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2019
From: THOMAS, STEPHEN M., MR.; ALEXANDER, DANNY D., MR.
To: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
Reel/Frame 049255/0666 →