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 valve assembly for an exhaust system of a vehicle. The valve assembly includes a housing, a valve flap and a mass damper. The housing defines an inlet, an outlet, and a longitudinally extending exhaust gas passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The valve flap is disposed in the housing and is rotatable between a first position restricting exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway, and a second position whereat exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway is less restricted. The mass damper is disposed within the exhaust gas passageway. The mass damper is attached to the valve flap and comprise of a material having a high density. The mass damper is shielded from the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas passageway when the valve flap is in the second position.

A valve assembly for an exhaust system of a vehicle. The valve assembly includes a first housing, a second housing, a valve flap and a spring. The first housing defines an inlet, an outlet, and an exhaust gas passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The second housing is attached to the first housing and defines a compartment. The valve flap is rotatable between a first position restricting exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway, and a second position whereat exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway is allowed. The spring is disposed in the compartment and out of the exhaust gas passageway. The spring engages the valve flap to bias the valve flap toward the first position.

A valve assembly for an exhaust system of a vehicle. The valve assembly includes a housing, a valve shaft and a valve plate. The housing defines an inlet, an outlet, and a longitudinally exhaust gas passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The valve shaft is rotatable. The valve plate is coupled to the valve shaft and is rotatable between a first position restricting exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway, and a second position whereat exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas passageway is less restricted. The first housing includes spaced apart ears integral with and laterally extending from the first housing. The ears opposing each other. The shaft includes an axis of rotation being positioned at the ears and outside of the exhaust gas passageway.

The preferred invention is directed to a controller for a vehicle exhaust valve. The controller comprises a vehicle interface for determining a live value for an operating parameter of a vehicle, a recording module being configured to, upon activation, instantaneously record the live value of the operating parameter, and a programming module for determining a value range based on the recorded live value and allowing a desired position of the valve to be set such that during operation, the control system automatically moves the valve to the desired position when the operating parameter is within the value range.

An engine exhaust control valve of a saddle-riding vehicle is provided with: a valve shaft disposed in an intersecting manner with a center line of a main pipe portion of an engine exhaust pipe; a valve plate mounted on the valve shaft and rotatably positioned within an inner peripheral surface of the main pipe portion; a valve rotational drive portion mounted on one shaft end of the valve shaft; a drive motor for driving the valve rotational drive portion; and a control unit for controlling the drive motor. Protruding portions with which outer peripheral edges of the valve plate are brought into contact at a rotational limit of the valve plate in a closing direction are formed on an inner peripheral surface of the main pipe portion. The above structure provides a high degree of sealing.

Methods and systems are provided for opportunistically mitigating an intermittent degradation of an active exhaust valve. In one example, a method may include differentiating between a permanent degradation of the active exhaust valve and an intermittent degradation of the active exhaust valve and adjusting actuation of the valve based on a vehicle operating condition and a road condition to mitigate the intermittent degradation.

Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an active exhaust valve in an exhaust system based on thermal data. In one example, a method may include indicating degradation of a first active exhaust valve positioned in a first exhaust pipe of a first engine bank based on a difference between a first temperature of exhaust downstream of the first active exhaust valve and a second temperature of exhaust downstream of a second active exhaust valve positioned in a second exhaust pipe of a second engine bank. Degradation of the valve may be confirmed based on thermal image data acquired at outlets of the first and second exhaust pipes.

A damper valve assembly includes a valve housing, a valve flap and a torsional spring. The valve housing is adapted to be attached to a pipe of an exhaust system and defines an opening. The valve flap is rotatably coupled to the valve housing about a pivot axis. The valve flap is movable between a first position whereat fluid flow through the opening of the valve housing is restricted and a second position whereat fluid flow through the opening of the valve housing is allowed. The torsional spring engages the valve flap to bias the valve flap toward the first position. A preload of the torsional spring when the valve flap is in the first position is adjustable.

A damper valve assembly for an exhaust system of a vehicle includes a valve housing and a valve flap. The valve housing is adapted to be attached to a pipe of the exhaust system and defines an opening. The valve flap is rotatable relative to the valve housing and about a pivot axis between a first position whereat fluid flow through the opening of the valve housing is restricted and a second position whereat fluid flow through the opening of the valve housing is allowed. The valve flap includes a body and a mass damper. The mass damper is integral with the body and includes a plurality of segments that are folded so that the plurality of segments are in a stacked arrangement.