Patent ID: 9624837
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: F01N,F02D,F16K,Y10T

Claim:
1. An adaptive valve assembly comprising: a pipe defining a passageway for conducting engine exhaust gases; a pivot shaft supported by said pipe; a valve body coupled to said pivot shaft, said valve body moveable between an open position where exhaust gas flow through said passageway is increased and a closed position where exhaust gas flow through said passageway is reduced; a resilient member biasing said valve body toward said closed position, wherein said resilient member comprises a spring having a first spring end configured to be fixed to a non-rotating structure and a second spring end configured to be rotatable with said pivot shaft; and a retainer that cooperates with said resilient member to define a valve stop for said valve body when in said closed position, wherein said retainer comprises a first retainer piece fixed to said non-rotating structure and a second retainer piece fixed to said pivot shaft, and wherein said first retainer piece provides said valve stop, and said first retainer piece includes an abutment surface surrounding a pivot shaft opening which directly abuts against an end face of said spring, and wherein the first retainer piece comprises a first end plate with said pivot shaft opening through which the pivot shaft extends and an extension portion that extends axially away from one edge of the first end plate to define the valve stop, and wherein the first end plate includes the abutment surface surrounding said pivot shaft opening.