Patent ID: 9644544
Date: 2017-05-09
CPC Classifications: F01N,F02D,F16K,G05D

Claim:
1. An exhaust valve assembly comprising: a housing having a central axis, inlet and outlet portions and a middle portion between the inlet and outlet portions; a first strut located in the inlet portion of the housing and a second strut located in the outlet portion of the housing; a ride shaft extending between the struts inside the housing; a ram assembly movably mounted on the ride shaft, the ram assembly comprising a ram plate and a retainer secured to the ram plate, the ram plate and retainer having aligned openings, the ride shaft passing through the aligned openings of the ram plate and retainer; an inlet spring surrounding the ride shaft and having end portions and a middle portion, each portion of the inlet spring having multiple convolutions, the convolutions of the end portions having a diameter less than the diameter of the convolutions of the middle portion, the middle portion of the inlet spring being sandwiched between the ram plate and the retainer wherein the convolutions of the middle portion of the inlet spring are located in a recess between the ram plate and retainer regardless of the position of the ram assembly; and an outlet spring surrounding the ride shaft downstream of the inlet spring, wherein the ram assembly is maintained in a first position in the housing, the perimeter of the ram plate being spaced from the inlet portion of the housing to allow exhaust gases to pass through the valve assembly until pressure on the ram plate moves the ram assembly to a second position downstream of the first position inside the housing, thereby allowing additional exhaust gases to move through the housing.