Patent ID: 6135415
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: F02M

Abstract:
An exhaust gas recirculation assembly, comprising: a housing comprising an airflow passage having a longitudinal axis and an exhaust gas recirculation passage communicating with the airflow passage; a valve mechanism comprising a butterfly disposed in the exhaust gas recirculation passage for selectively restricting the exhaust gas recirculation passage; an electric actuator for operating the valve mechanism to selectively restrict exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas recirculation passage to the airflow passage; wherein the valve mechanism further comprises a valve shaft that is journaled on the housing for turning about its own valve shaft axis, the butterfly is disposed on an end of the valve shaft which is disposed to one side of an imaginary plane that contains the longitudinal axis of the airflow passage, an opposite end of the valve shaft is disposed to the other side of the imaginary plane and is operatively connected to the electric actuator, the electric actuator comprises an actuator shaft that turns about its own actuator shaft axis to turn the valve shaft, and the actuator shaft axis and the valve shaft axis are non-coaxial, but are mutually parallel.