Snap action valve with inertia damper

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.