ANTI-RATTLING EXHAUST VALVE

Abstract

An exhaust valve comprises a body, a shaft rotating relative to the body along a first axis of symmetry, a gate secured to the shaft, a ball joint hinging the shaft relative to the body, and an interface comprising a power take-off. The power take-off has a misalignment relative to the first axis of symmetry.

Claims

1. An exhaust valve, comprising: a hollow tubular body having a first passage section; a shaft passing through the hollow tubular body and engaged on each side in a respective bearing secured to the hollow tubular body in order to allow a rotation of the shaft, relative to the hollow tubular body, along a first axis of symmetry of the shaft; a gate secured to the shaft and positioned in the hollow tubular body, the gate having a second section substantially identical to the first section; a ball joint hinging the shaft relative to the hollow tubular body; and an interface organ secured to the shaft to transmit, to said shaft, any rotational torque about the first axis of symmetry and at least a force along the first axis of symmetry, the interface organ comprising a power take-off able to receive said torque and/or force, wherein the power take-off has a misalignment relative to the first axis of symmetry to create a lever arm able to transform a force applied to the interface organ along the first axis of symmetry into a torque about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis of symmetry.

2. The exhaust valve according to claim 1, wherein the ball joint includes a female part such as a hollow conical part and a male part such as a solid hemispherical part, an opening of the female part facing the male part, one of the female and male parts being secured to the hollow tubular body and the other of the female and male parts being secured to the shaft, and the female and male parts being positioned to come into contact with one another.

3. The exhaust valve according to claim 1, wherein the torque generated by the misalignment is at least equal to 0.05 Nm.

4. The exhaust valve according to claim 1, wherein the power take-off has a profile that is rectilinear.

5. The exhaust valve according to claim 4, wherein the power take-off is a rectilinear bar.

6. The exhaust valve according to claim 4, wherein the power take-off is a rectilinear notch.

7. An exhaust line comprising: an exhaust valve positioned in the exhaust line, the exhaust valve comprising a hollow tubular body having a first passage section, a shaft passing through the hollow tubular body and engaged on each side in a respective bearing secured to the hollow tubular body in order to allow a rotation of the shaft, relative to the hollow tubular body, along a first axis of symmetry of the shaft, a gate secured to the shaft and positioned in the hollow tubular body, the gate having a second section substantially identical to the first section, ball joint hinging the shaft relative to the hollow tubular body, and an interface organ, secured to the shaft to transmit, to said shaft, any rotational torque about the first axis of symmetry and at least a force along the first axis of symmetry, the interface organ comprising a power take-off able to receive said torque and/or force, wherein the power take-off has a misalignment relative to the first axis of symmetry to create a lever arm able to transform a force applied to the interface organ along the first axis of symmetry into a torque about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.

8. A vehicle comprising: an exhaust line associated with the vehicle; and an exhaust valve positioned in the exhaust line, the exhaust valve comprising a hollow tubular body having a first passage section, a shaft passing through the hollow tubular body and engaged on each side in a respective bearing secured to the hollow tubular body in order to allow a rotation of the shaft, relative to the hollow tubular body, along a first axis of symmetry of the shaft, a gate secured to the shaft and positioned in the hollow tubular body, the gate having a second section substantially identical to the first section, a ball joint hinging the shaft relative to the hollow tubular body, and an interface organ, secured to the shaft to transmit, to said shaft, any rotational torque about the first axis of symmetry and at least a force along the first axis of symmetry, the interface organ comprising a power take-off able to receive said torque and/or force, wherein the power take-off has a misalignment relative to the first axis of symmetry s to create a lever arm able to transform a force applied to the interface organ along the first axis of symmetry into a torque about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The disclosure will be better understood upon reading the following description, provided solely as an example, and in reference to the appended figures, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1, already described, shows, in perspective view, a valve according to the prior art,

[0021] FIG. 2 shows, in perspective view, a modified valve according to a first embodiment of the disclosure, and

[0022] FIG. 3 shows, in cut front view, a modified valve according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] In reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a valve 1 according to the disclosure is similar to a valve 1 according to the prior art. The description previously given in the prior technical section applies in its entirety.

[0024] It may be specified that the ball joint 7 is, most often, positioned outside the two bearings 5, 6. The reverse is also possible.

[0025] Likewise, the interface 10 is most often positioned outside the two bearings 5, 6. The reverse is also possible.

[0026] The interface 10 is, for example as illustrated, positioned on the same side, relative to the bearings 5, 6, as the ball joint 7. However, the opposite configuration, where the interface 10 is positioned on the opposite side from the ball joint 7, is also possible. The valve 1 further includes the interface 10, which in one example, comprises an interface organ such as a coupler or connector component that interfaces with an actuator.

[0027] The two parts 8, 9 of the ball joint 7 are advantageously positioned to come closer to one another when a force is exerted on the interface 10 toward the body 2. However, the reverse configuration, the two parts 8, 9 of the ball joint 7 being positioned to come closer to one another when a force is exerted on the interface 10 moving away from the body 2, with an actuator applying a force moving away from the body 2, in traction, is also possible.

[0028] The points modified by the disclosure will now be described more specifically.

[0029] While the power take-off 11 according to the prior art is systematically centered, according to one important feature of the disclosure, the power take-off 12 according to the disclosure has a misalignment D relative to the first axis A. This is intended to create a lever arm. This lever arm makes it possible to transform a force F applied to the interface 10 along the first axis A into a torque about a second axis B perpendicular to the first axis A. Indeed, the lever arm produced by the misalignment D transforms a force applied along the first axis A, via the ball joint 7, into a torque about a second axis B perpendicular to the first axis A and passing through the center of the ball joint 7. This torque results in applying, to the shaft 3, a rotation centered on the ball joint 7, about the second axis B. This rotation results in creating a bearing C of the shaft 3 on the bearing furthest from the ball joint 7, here the bearing 6. This bearing C, maintained by the maintenance of the force F along the axis A, ensures a sustained contact of the shaft 3 with said bearing furthest from the ball joint 7 and prevents any impact between the shaft 3 and the bearing 6 furthest from the ball joint 7, but also, in so doing, prevents any impact between the shaft 3 and the other bearing 5, the bearing closest to the ball joint 7, here the bearing 5. Thus, by ensuring sustained contact C, the disclosure eliminates the drawback of the prior art.

[0030] According to another feature of the disclosure, the ball joint 7 includes a female part 8, such as a hollow conical part 8, and a male part 9, such as a solid hemispherical part 9. These two parts are positioned such that the opening of the female part 8 faces the male part 9. One of the two parts 8, 9 is secured to the body 2, while the other of the two parts 8, 9 is secured to the shaft 3. The two parts 8, 9 are relatively positioned to come into contact with one another, under the effect of the force F.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the conical part 8 is made using a conical washer. According to one embodiment, the hemispherical part 9 is made using a spherical washer.

[0032] According to another feature, the part 8, 9 secured to the body 2 is positioned outside the bearings 5, 6.

[0033] According to another feature, the misalignment D must be sufficient for the part of the force along the first axis A with diverted torque to be sufficient to ensure maintenance of the contact C between the shaft 3 and the remote bearing 6, but not unreasonably greater. Indeed, any needless supplement is harmful in that it creates too much bearing C of the shaft 3 on the remote bearing 6, which may be a source of increased wear in this location or be the cause of increased return friction force on the actuator, requiring an increase in the power of the latter.

[0034] In order to perform the desired function of maintaining contact between the shaft 3 and the remote bearing 6, the misalignment D is dimensioned to produce a torque at least equal to 0.05 Nm.

[0035] According to another feature, the profile of the power take-off 12 is rectilinear. This feature allows a degree of freedom along a direction perpendicular to a ray bearing the misalignment D, or along the direction of the power take-off 12. This degree of freedom allows automatic positioning of the power take-off of the actuator, which interfaces with the power take-off 12, in translation along the direction of the power take-off 12.

[0036] In order to achieve the preceding feature, the power take-off 12 is a rectilinear bar, that is to say a solid form, or a rectilinear notch, that is to say a hollow form.

[0037] The rectilinear bar or notch can have any orientation with respect to the orientation of the gate 4.

[0038] According to another embodiment, the profile of the power take-off that receives the torque about the second axis is rectilinear, while the profile of the power take-off receiving the force applied to the interface along the first axis is periodic.

[0039] The disclosure further relates to an exhaust line comprising such a valve 1.

[0040] The disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description. The latter must be considered to be illustrative and provided as an example, and not as limiting the disclosure to this description alone. Many embodiment variants are possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0041] 1: valve, [0042] 2: body, [0043] 3: shaft, [0044] 4: gate, [0045] 5, 6: bearing, [0046] 7: ball joint, [0047] 8: female part, conical, [0048] 9: male part, hemispherical, [0049] 10: interface, [0050] 11: power take-off according to the prior art, [0051] 12: power take-off according to the disclosure, [0052] A: axis of the shaft, [0053] B: axis perpendicular to the axis A, [0054] C: contact, bearing, [0055] D: misalignment.