Patent ID: 7320378

Claim:
An exhaust control apparatus for a vehicle, said exhaust control apparatus comprising: a collection pipe for collecting exhaust gas from a plurality of exhaust pipes; and an exhaust valve operatively connected to the collection pipe and comprising a shaft and a single valve plate attached to the shaft; wherein the exhaust valve is operable to control a flow of exhaust gas through the collection pipe, and wherein the shaft of the exhaust valve is situated at a position displaced from the respective centers of the plurality of exhaust pipes, wherein the plurality of exhaust pipes comprises two exhaust pipes arranged laterally side-by-side, and the shaft of the exhaust valve is inclined at an angle with respect to a straight line which connects respective axial center lines of the two exhaust pipes, in a manner such that the shaft does not intersect said axial center lines, and wherein the plate is sized and shaped to substantially fully obstruct the collection pipe when the exhaust valve is in a closed position.