VALVE FOR CONTROLLING EXHAUST GAS OR FRESH AIR IN A DRIVE UNIT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE OR GENERATOR

Abstract

A valve for controlling exhaust gas or fresh air in a drive unit has an axial support structure arranged at the free end of a driveshaft for a valve body. The axial support structure has a securing ring arranged between a cover pressed into a valve housing and a bearing. The cover seals the valve housing and has an annular bead.

Claims

1.-9. (canceled)

10. A valve configured to control exhaust gas or fresh air in a drive unit of a motor vehicle or generator, comprising: a driveshaft; a valve housing that has a duct; a valve body, fastened to the driveshaft, for opening or closing a flow cross section of the duct; a drive configured to pivot the driveshaft; and a bearing for the driveshaft arranged in the valve housing and having an axial support structure for the driveshaft in the valve housing; wherein the axial support structure is arranged at a free end of the driveshaft as seen from the bearing.

11. The valve as claimed in claim 10, wherein the bearing is arranged between the axial support structure and a shoulder of the valve housing.

12. The valve as claimed in claim 10, wherein the axial support structure has an edge of the driveshaft and a support, connected to the valve housing, configured to support the edge.

13. The valve as claimed in claim 12, wherein the support has a cover configured to seal the valve housing over the free end of the driveshaft.

14. The valve as claimed in claim 13, wherein the cover is manufactured from sheet metal and is pressed into the valve housing.

15. The valve as claimed in claim 14, wherein the cover has an annular bead as the support.

16. The valve as claimed in claim 12, wherein the edge of the axial support structure protrudes from the driveshaft.

17. The valve as claimed in claim 12, wherein the driveshaft has a groove and a securing ring that is inserted into the groove that forms the edge of the support.

18. The valve as claimed in claim 10, wherein the driveshaft has an aperture, the valve body is a disk that is fastened in the aperture.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The invention permits numerous embodiments. To further illustrate its basic principle, one of these embodiments is illustrated in the drawing and will be described in the following text. In the drawing:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic subregion of a motor vehicle having a drive motor and a valve;

[0019] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective exploded illustration of the valve from FIG. 1;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a sectional view through a subregion of the valve from FIG. 2 along the line and

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a detail IV of the valve from FIG. 3 on a greatly enlarged scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] FIG. 1 schematically shows a subregion of a motor vehicle 1 having a drive unit that has a drive motor 2. The drive motor 2 can mechanically drive the motor vehicle or supply an electric drive (not illustrated) with electric current. The drive unit has two feed ducts 3, 4 for fuel, for example gaseous fuel and fresh air, and an exhaust line 5. The drive motor 2 can be, for example, a fuel cell or an internal combustion engine. Arranged in the exhaust line 5 is a valve 7 that is controllable by an electromotive drive 6.

[0023] In an embodiment that is not illustrated, the valve 7 can also be arranged in the feed duct 3, 4 conducting fresh air or conducting fuel.

[0024] Electric current generated by the drive motor 2 is supplied to a control device 8. The control device 8 is connected to an on-board electrical system (not illustrated) of the motor vehicle.

[0025] The electromotive drive 6 of the valve 7 is supplied with electric current via the control device 8. Arranged between the valve 7 and the electromotive drive 6 is a gear mechanism 9 having a position sensor 10. The position sensor 10 senses the position and thus the function of the valve 7.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged perspective illustration of the valve 7 from FIG. 1. The valve 7 has a valve housing 11 having a duct 12. Fastened to the valve housing 11 is a drive housing 13 having the electromotive drive 6. The gear mechanism 9, schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, is likewise arranged in the drive housing 13.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a sectional illustration through the valve housing 11 from FIG. 2 with adjoining regions of the drive housing 13 along the line The valve 7 has a driveshaft 14, which is pivotable by the electromotive drive 6, having a disk-like valve body 15 arranged thereon. The valve body 15 is fastened in an aperture 16 in the driveshaft 14. As a result of the driveshaft 14 being pivoted, the flow cross section of the duct 12 is thus opened or entirely or partially closed. The driveshaft 14 has two bearings 17, 18. One of the bearings 18 is arranged close to the free end of the driveshaft 14 between a shoulder 19 in the valve housing 11 and an axial support structure 20. The valve housing 11 is closed by a cover 21 in the region of the free end of the driveshaft 14.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows, on a greatly enlarged scale, the detail IV from FIG. 3 with the bearing 18 arranged close to the free end of the driveshaft 14. The axial support structure 20 has a securing ring 23 arranged in a groove 22 of the driveshaft 14, and a support 24 arranged on the cover 21. The support 24 supports an outer edge 25 of the securing ring 23. In this way, the driveshaft 14 is axially supported and held in its position. The cover 21 additionally has an encircling bead 26 for reinforcing the support 24.

[0029] Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.