Methods and systems are provided for a heat exchanger phase change material installed as a component of a variable exhaust tuning system. In one example, a method may include absorbing excess heat energy from exhaust gases during and after an engine-on event within a heat exchanger material, releasing heat energy stored in the heat exchanger material during and after an engine-off event, and heating an adjustable exhaust valve with the heat energy stored in the heat exchanger material.

A snap-action valve assembly for an exhaust system is provided with a conduit that defines an exhaust passageway. A valve flap is disposed within the exhaust passageway for controlling exhaust flow. A shaft supports the valve flap in the exhaust passageway and allows the valve flap to rotate between closed and open positions. A mass damper, positioned outside the conduit, includes a longitudinal segment that is rotatably coupled to the shaft and that extends between first and second coiled ends. The longitudinal segment includes an inboard side and an outboard side. The first and second coiled ends include a series of overlapping layers arranged in either a folded serpentine shape or a spiral shape.

A valve assembly for a vehicle exhaust system includes at least one pipe enclosing an exhaust gas flow path, the pipe defining a central axis, and at least one flexible flap positioned within the exhaust gas flowpath. The at least one flexible flap has one fixed edge held fixed to the pipe and extends to a distal edge that is free to bend in response to an increase in exhaust gas flow pressure to provide a variable restriction to flow through the pipe that varies in response to a pressure difference upstream and downstream of the at least one flexible flap.

A modular valve unit for controlling the flow rate of an intake or exhaust gas of a combustion engine through the passage of a valve, the valve unit comprising a valve having a valve housing (1) and at least one valve flap (2). The valve unit further comprises an interface (3) and an adapter (6), the interface (3) being connected to the valve housing (1) and having a support (32) and an engagement portion comprising at least two engagement legs (31) projecting from the distal end of the support (32) and being directed away from the valve housing (1). The adapter (6) has a connection plate (62) having at least two engagement orifices (61) for receiving the engagement legs (31) of the interface (3) and a mounting portion for holding an actuator (7). The at least two engagement orifices (61) of the connection plate (62) of the adapter (6) are each configured to engage the corresponding at least two engagement legs (31) of the engagement portion of the interface (3).

The present invention relates to a vehicle control unit (20). The vehicle control unit (20) comprises an input (26) for detecting a start demand and a driving condition. The vehicle control module also comprises a control module (28) arranged to control an engine start attribute according to a first profile (34) and a second profile (36). The vehicle control module (20) also comprises a selection module (30) arranged to select between the first and second profiles (34, 36) based on detecting a predetermined driving condition, in response to detecting a start demand.

A valve assembly for a vehicle exhaust system includes a rigid mount structure that is configured to be mounted within an exhaust component that defines an exhaust gas passage. The valve assembly further includes a plurality of flexible members that each extend from a first end to a second end. One of the first ends and second ends of the flexible members is fixed to the rigid mount structure and the other of the first ends and second ends is free to move such that the plurality of flexible members creates a variable restriction to flow through the exhaust component that varies in response to a pressure difference upstream and downstream of the plurality of flexible members.

Gas flow and sound control valve for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine comprising a housing including an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, and a valve member arranged within the housing for forming a first conduit connecting the inlet to the first outlet and/or a second conduit from the inlet to the second outlet, wherein the valve member can be moved relative to the housing between a first predetermined position in which the valve member closes the second conduit and a second predetermined position in which the valve member closes the first conduit, whereby the valve member is rotatable around a valve axis aligned parallel, in particular coaxial, to a centerline of the inlet.

A car having: two front wheels; two rear wheels; a bottom wall, which delimits a lower surface, which faces a road surface and, in use, is brushed by an air flow flowing under the car; an internal combustion engine; and an exhaust system, which is coupled to the internal combustion engine and is provided with an exhaust duct, which originates from the internal combustion engine and has an end chamber, which ends with an outlet opening, through which exhaust gases are released into the atmosphere. The end chamber of the exhaust duct has at least one movable partition, which can be moved to different positions so as to change the width of the outlet opening. The movable partition delimits a lower surface of the end chamber, which faces the road surface and, in use, is brushed by the air flow flowing under the car.

A changeover valve includes: a valve body portion that closes an opening formed at a switching position of an exhaust flow path; a fixing portion that rotatably fixes the valve body portion; a first raised portion protruding at one of a flow path forming portion and the fixing portion; a cushion portion; a second raised portion protruding at the valve body portion; and a biasing portion that biases the valve body portion. The first raised portion has an inclined portion inclined relative to a valve closing direction and the second raised portion has an inclined portion inclined relative to the valve closing direction. Both of the inclined portions are contactable with each other at the time of valve closing.

A muffler for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, especially for vehicles with hybrid drive, includes a muffler housing (12), a heat exchanger unit (48), arranged in the muffler housing (12), for transferring heat from combustion exhaust gas to a heat transfer medium, an inlet pipe (38), a first outlet pipe (52) and a second outlet pipe (40). A first exhaust gas flow path (54), in the muffler housing, routs exhaust gas through the heat exchanger unit (48) to the first outlet pipe (52). A second exhaust gas flow path (56), in the muffler housing, routs exhaust gas to a second outlet pipe (40), bypassing the heat exchanger unit (48). A flow path blocking/releasing device (58) for blocking and releasing at least one exhaust gas flow path (54, 56), of the first exhaust gas flow path (54) and of the second exhaust gas flow path (56).