Patent ID: 6135418
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: B29L,F02B,F02D,F05C,Y02T,Y10T

Abstract:
A low-leakage air valve assembly for an air intake manifold, comprising:a valve manifold, said valve manifold having a plurality of ports therethrough, each port being defined by a perimeter having a shoulder on one side thereof and a shelf on an opposite side wall contoured radially about an upper edge thereof, said valve manifold including a channel extending axially across said valve manifold;a shaft constructed for mounting in said channel of said valve manifold; anda plurality of butterfly valves selectively spaced on said shaft to provide one butterfly valve for each port, each butterfly valve having a passage fairly centrally axially located therethrough for receiving said shaft therein, each butterfly valve having a first and second wing on each side of said passage, each of said wings having a periphery constructed to sealingly contact the perimeter of the port in the valve manifold for providing a sealing fit of said butterfly valve within the port in the valve manifold, said first wing of said butterfly valve having first elastic sealing means mounted on the periphery thereof for providing a fairly low-leakage air seal within the valve manifold, each of said first elastic sealing means being constructed of an elastic material and including a projecting lip that is self-sealing against the radially contoured side wall having the shelf in the valve manifold when acted upon by a vacuum, said second wing of said butterfly valve further having second elastic sealing means mounted on the periphery for providing a fairly low-leakage air seal, said second sealing means being constructed of an elastic material and including a beam portion for bending upon contact with the shoulder in the port in the valve manifold, each butterfly valve further including third elastic sealing means axially positioned at each side of said passage and radially provided to a predetermined extent thereabout for sealing said butterfly valve axially during rotation of the shaft.