Abstract:
A throttle valve includes a valve body defining a flow passage. A plurality of non-overlapping occluder members are mounted in the flow passage and have synchronized movement due to devices externally of the flow passage. The occluder members have mating edges which engage when closed together to substantially restrict flow through the passage. The occluder members are movable to multiple open positions wherein the mating edges are spaced apart to permit unobstructed and centralized flow through the passage.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/830,173 filed Jun. 3, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure is for a variable-flow throttling valve for controlling fluid flow, and more particularly, for controlling fluid flow into an internal combustion engine. 
         [0003]    In an attempt to improve the performance of internal combustion engines, especially such engines used in automobiles, throttle bodies containing throttling valve members have been used to control and vary the amount of air entering engine cylinders where air and fuel mix and burn to provide mechanical energy. The throttle bodies are typically mounted on the air intake manifold of the engine. In some cases, a single throttle body may be used such as in a straight or in-line cylinder arrangement, and a pair of throttle bodies may be used in a V-shaped engine block with multiple rows of cylinders. 
         [0004]    Prior throttling valves have used sliding, rotating and butterfly valve members as adjustable occluders, which are movable to vary, adjust or block the passage of air passing through the valve to the engine. A common problem present in some valve occluders is that they are supported by members which extend into or across the path of the air passing through the throttling valve. The presence of such members causes restriction to airflow and turbulence in the airflow. Another common problem present in some valve occluders is that they open at opposing sides of the air passage. These non-centralized openings cause turbulence in the airflow. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a throttling valve having occluders which are movable to block and open airflow and which are not supported by members which extend into the airflow so as to cause airflow restriction and turbulence and which open at the center of the air passage so as not to cause turbulence. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    One embodiment accordingly, includes apparatus having a valve body defining a flow passage. A plurality of non-overlapping occluder members are mounted in the flow passage. The occluder members have mating edges and the occluder members are also movable to multiple open positions wherein the mating edges are spaced apart, and to a closed position wherein the mating edges are engaged. Means are provided, externally of the flow passage, for moving the occluders. Also, other means are provided, externally of the flow passage, for synchronizing the movement of the occluders. The occluders substantially restrict flow through the passage in response to the mating edges of the occluders being engaged, and the occluders permit unobstructed and centralized flow through the passage in response to the occluders being in the multiple open positions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view illustrating an embodiment of a throttle body system. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a throttle housing. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  are perspective views illustrating an embodiment of arcuate occluders for use in the housing of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the occluders of  FIG. 2   a ,  2   b , mounted in the housing of  FIG. 2  in the fully opened position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the occluders of  FIG. 3  in a partially opened position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating the occluders of  FIG. 3  in the fully closed position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a top view illustrating an embodiment of the occluders and housing of  FIG. 3 , having the occluders in the fully opened position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a top view illustrating the occluders of  FIG. 6  in the partially opened position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a top view illustrating the occluders of  FIG. 6  in the fully closed position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view illustrating an embodiment of the occluders and housing of  FIG. 3 , having the occluders in the fully opened position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view illustrating the occluders of  FIG. 9  in the partially opened position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional side view illustrating the occluders of  FIG. 6  in the fully closed position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view illustrating an alternate embodiment of a rectangular occluder. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    In  FIG. 1 , a block diagram  10  illustrates an embodiment of a throttle body system for use in a motor vehicle for example. Such a system may include a flow path via an air filter  12 , a mass flow sensor  14 , a throttle body  16 , an intake manifold  18 , a motor (internal combustion engine)  20 , an exhaust manifold  22  and an oxygen sensor  24 . An electronic control module  26  receives inputs from the mass flow sensor  14  and the oxygen sensor  24 , and provides inputs to the throttle body  16 . This exemplary system is for a normally aspirated fuel injected engine as found in most vehicles today. Depending on configuration, there may be two each of the mass flow sensors  14 , throttle bodies  16  and oxygen sensors  24 . A turbo charged engine would also have a turbo charger with a turbine stage between the exhaust manifold  22  and the oxygen sensor  24 , and a compressor stage between the air filter  12  and the throttle body  16 . In higher performance turbo charged engines, there is also an intercooler between the compressor stage and the throttle body  16 . 
         [0021]    Throttle body  16 ,  FIG. 2 , includes a valve body housing  28 , defining a flow passage  30 . A base  32  is provided for attachment to the above-mentioned intake manifold  18 . A first shaft housing  34  and a second shaft housing  36  are provided for pivoting means  38  and associated shafts  38   a,  and for synchronizing means  40  and associated shafts  40   a  respectively. The first and second shaft housings  34 ,  36 , respectively, are provided on an outer wall surface  28   a.  A swept or bulbous surface  42  is provided on an inner wall surface  28   b  of valve body housing  28 . 
         [0022]    A pair of occluders  43 ,  45 ,  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , each include a smooth arcuate wall  44 , a mating edge  46  and a trailing edge  48 . Each occluder  43 ,  45  fixedly receives shafts  40   a  and the associated pivoting means  38  and associated synchronizing means  40 . Shafts  38   a,    40   a  extend through shaft apertures  41  provided in the shaft housings  34 ,  36 , respectively. Shafts  38   a  are also attached to include dogs  37 , which drive torsion springs (not shown) to limit backlash and flutter. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  6  and  9 , occluders  43 ,  45  are illustrated in a fully open position 0, in response to shafts  38   a,    40   a  being symmetrically rotated so that occluders  43 ,  45  substantially align with and engage inner wall surface  28   b  of valve body housing  28 . In this open position 0, the smooth arcuate wall  44  of each occluder  43 ,  45  is adjacent to and covers the swept or bulbous surface  42  of inner wall surface  28   b,  thus forming a substantially planar wall in flow passage  30  for reducing turbulence and reducing any occluder restriction to the flow of air through flow passage  30 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  7  and  10 , occluders  43 ,  45  are illustrated in any one of multiple partially closed and partially open positions P, in response to shafts  38   a ,  40   a  being symmetrically rotated so that their trailing edges  48  engage and sweep the bulbous surface  42  of the throttle body  16 . In this partially open position P, the smooth arcuate wall  44  of each occluder  43 ,  45  is moved out of engagement with a portion of inner wall surface  28   b  of valve body housing  28 , and the mating edges  46  of occluders  43 ,  45  are symmetrically moved toward each other, but remain spaced apart, thus maintaining substantially reduced turbulence and increasing occluder restriction to the flow of air through flow passage  30 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 ,  8  and  11 , occluders  43 ,  45  are illustrated in a fully closed position C, in response to shafts  38   a,    40   a  and being symmetrically rotated so that their mating edges  46  engage and close flow passage  30  and their trailing edges  48  are engaged with a terminal end of bulbous surface  42  adjacent inner wall surface  28   b.  In this fully closed position C, the mating edges are closed in a clamshell-like manner and thus, flow is restricted through the flow passage  30 . 
         [0026]    Returning briefly to  FIG. 2   a , it should be noted that each shaft  38   a  and  40   a  extend into an aperture  39 , two of which are provided in each occluder  43 ,  45  and terminate flush with an inner surface  41  a of arcuate wall  44 . In this manner, none of the shafts  38   a  and  40   a  extend into flow passage  30 . Also, as clearly shown in  FIG. 6 , the gears  40  of each shaft  40   a  are synchronized in their movement due to their meshed engagement. 
         [0027]    Although the housing  28 ,  FIG. 6 , is illustrated as having a substantially circular cross-section, and similarly, the flow passage  30  with occluders  43 ,  45  shown in the fully open position 0, see also  FIGS. 3 ,  6  and  9 , have a substantially circular cross-section, it is possible to provide housing  28  and occluders  43 ,  45  in other than a circular configuration. For example, an alternative housing and occluders may have an oval cross-section (not shown). A further alternate housing and occluders may have a rectangular cross-section such as occluders  43   a  and  45   a  illustrated in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0028]    Referring again to  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  11 , a preferred embodiment illustrates the valve body housing  28  having a substantially circular cross-section forming the flow passage  30 . The inner wall surface  28   b  is a multiple size opening and includes a first diameter D1, and the bulbous portion  42  of inner wall surface  28   b  includes a second diameter D2, which is greater than first diameter D1. As is best illustrated in  FIG. 9 , movement of occluders  43  and  45  to the fully open position 0, converts the multiple size opening  28   b  to a substantially single size opening formed by the smooth arcuate walls  44 . 
         [0029]    Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.