Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/974,069 filed on Oct. 10, 2001. This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/240,576, filed Oct. 10, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a plastic short runner valve plate for use in a short runner valve manifold assembly.  
           [0003]    In the past, it has typically been necessary to adjust and secure valve plates on shafts with built-on type mechanisms. There has been a need in the art to provide a self-centering and easy-to-assemble valve plate for use in a short runner valve. Details of a short runner valve manifold are found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,370, which patent is hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
           [0004]    As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,370, typically these plates are secured with screws or fasteners. In fact, because of the difference in coefficients of expansion between the aluminum or metal plates and the polymer or plastic manifold, it is necessary to provide either increased tolerances or very specific assembly requirements, as shown in FIG. 10 of the &#39;370 patent. Therefore, it has been a goal in the art to provide further streamlined manufacturing processes, lighter weight assemblies in the valve plate area, and closer tolerance parts with less differences of coefficients of expansion.  
           [0005]    Additionally, the anti-chatter feature of the &#39;370 patent discloses useful apparatus for reducing chatter in the short runner valve shafts. These are highly effective in reducing shaft chatter. However, there is some friction associated with these anti-chatter devices and their use. Therefore, it has been a goal in the art to further reduce friction of these anti-chatter devices while maintaining the effectiveness of anti-chatter devices. This would allow reduced actuation toward further streamlining and reducing weight in the short runner valve manifold.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Thus, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a plastic or polymer valve plate for use in a short runner manifold. The short runner manifold includes a shaft portion with at least a first slot therein. The plate includes barbed tabs, which are insertable through the stop portion but expand at the other side of the slot portion. Also included is a stop for securing the plate from further movement through the slot. Thus, the plate is secured in the slot, with very little assembly required. Also provided in the present invention is a grease applicator and method for applying grease in the shaft biasing assemblies of a short runner valve manifold.  
           [0007]    A further understanding of the present invention will be had in view of the description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention, when viewed in conjunction with the subjoined claims.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a plan view of the valve plate assembly of the present invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1, showing the valve plate assembly of the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is an alternate embodiment of a clip-in valve plate assembly as set forth in the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a top view of the clip in the valve plate of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the clip on the valve plate of FIG. 4 taken along line  5 - 5  of FIG. 4;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of FIG. 4;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a detailed sectional view taken from area  6  of FIG. 4;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the clip of FIG. 3;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 9 is a further sectional view of the valve plate of FIG. 3;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 10 shows a sectional view of a lubrication applicator for the anti-chatter or shaft biasing of the short runner valve shaft; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a short runner shaft assembly showing the applicator of FIG. 10 lubricating the shaft at the anti-chatter or shaft biasing locations.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a first embodiment of a plastic clip-on valve plate assembly, generally shown at  10 . FIGS. 3 through 9 show an alternate embodiment of the plastic short runner valve plate assembly, generally shown at  100 .  
         [0020]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the valve plate  12  includes a widened portion  14  and tabs A and B for securing the member in a widened area of a slot in a short runner valve shaft  16 . Tabs A and B are compressible for installation, and then flare out to lock, hold and secure the plate in the shaft. The plate is self-centering and is lighter and easier to assemble than short runner valve plates of the past.  
         [0021]    Referring now to FIG. 3, a similar protrusion  114  of valve plate  112  stops the clip on the valve plate from traveling too far into the slot portion  116  of the shaft  118 . In this embodiment, a resilient clip portion  120  is included for engaging the outer surface of the shaft. Tabs  122  prevent the clip from being withdrawn from the slot by engaging shelf  124  in the wide area of the slot.  
         [0022]    In a preferred embodiment, a pair of resilient clip portions  120  and  120   a  are provided for stabilizing the valve plate  112  on the shaft  118 . The clip portion  120  includes a resilient base portion  126 , a shaft engagement portion  128  and a ramp portion  130 . As shown in FIG. 3, the ramp portion  130  deflects arms  120  and  120   a  over the shaft  118  until engagement portion  128  engages the shaft against abutment  114 . This secures the plate  112  to the shaft  118  and the position is locked in place via the deflectable tab  122 .  
         [0023]    The clips of the present invention may be readily constructed of a suitable plastic or polymer material, such as a 25% to 40% carbon fiber loaded PPA (polythalamide) or a Nylon 66™ polyamide material, and are lightweight and easy to install in the shafts. Preferably, the valve plate is injection molded in a single piece. These plates are also self-centering in the short runner valve orifice.  
         [0024]    Referring now to FIG. 9, a sectional of the valve plate  112  is shown. The difference being that a pre-designed indentation  101  is provided. This indentation reduces the amount of plastic where the clip  102   a  joins the body of the valve plate  100 . This allows and compensates for curing characteristics of the injection mold plastic. This indentation  101  provides for a more constant thickness part which is less susceptible to warpage during cure. The rib  103  is configured to be an injection gate during manufacturing of the part.  
         [0025]    Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, a method and apparatus for lubricating a short runner valve shaft at the anti-chatter or shaft biasing locations is shown generally at  300 . An applicator  302  is provided which is insertable into shaft biasing device cavity or orifice  304  (such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,370). The applicator  302  is inserted into the cavity  304  and a lubricant is injected through hollow opening  306  in the applicator  302 . Therefore, the anti-chatter device is secured in the cavity or orifice  304 . A suitable lubricant such as grease or the like may be utilized.  
         [0026]    Thus, the subject lubrication apparatus and method enhances the runner valve biasing or anti-chatter system by adding lubrication. This results in improved performance of the short runner valve system. The lubrication reduces the friction associated with the biasing load or anti-chatter device. This provides for improved system performance, including faster response times, increased durability and reduced actuator torque requirements.  
         [0027]    Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this invention has been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention should not be so limited, since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification and following claims.

Technology Category: 4