Patent ID: 7621264

Claim:
An exhaust bypass valve assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising: a housing defining an inlet passageway and first and second passageways in communication with the inlet passageway and with each other, and a bore at a juncture of the passageways and in communication with the passageways, the inlet passageway being constructed and arranged to receive exhaust gas from an exhaust manifold of a vehicle, the first passageway being constructed and arranged to be associated with a cooler of the vehicle and the second passageway being constructed and arranged to be associated with an engine of the vehicle, an exhaust bypass valve cartridge comprising: a valve member removably disposed in the bore of the housing, and shaft structure associated with the valve member so that rotation of the shaft structure rotates the valve member, the valve member being movable between first and second positions such that when the valve member is in the first position, the inlet passageway only communicates with the first passageway so that exhaust gas can be directed to the cooler, and when the valve member is in a second position, the inlet passageway only communicates with the second passageway so that exhaust gas can be directed to the engine, wherein bore is generally cylindrical and the valve member is cylindrical having cutout that defines a U-shape of the valve member with first and second sides and a valve portion joined between the first and second sides, the valve portion substantially blocking exhaust gas flow and the cutout permitting exhaust gas flow past the valve member.