DUAL EXHAUST SYSTEM WITH INDEPENDENT VALVE CONTROL

• US 20100043398A1
• Filed: 08/17/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EMCON Technologies LLC (Forvia SE)
• Original Assignee: EMCON Technologies LLC (Forvia SE)
• Inventors: Arbuckle, Ivan, Egan, James, Abram, Kwin, Willats, Robin, Callahan, Joseph E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,365,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/273
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 1/16 by using movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 1/168 for controlling or modifying silencing characteristics only
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/04 having two or more silencers in parallel, e.g. having interconnections for multi-cylinder engines
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2240/36 an exhaust flap

Abstract

A dual exhaust system includes a first exhaust component defining a first exhaust path and a second exhaust component defining a second exhaust path that is different from the first exhaust path. A first valve is associated with the first exhaust path and a second valve is associated with the second exhaust path. The first valve and second valve operate independently of each other to vary exhaust flow and provide sufficient noise control for varying applications.

Claims

1. A dual exhaust system comprising:

at least one first exhaust component defining a first exhaust path;

at least one second exhaust component defining a second exhaust path different from said first exhaust path;

at least one first valve associated with said first exhaust path; and

at least one second valve associated with said second exhaust path, wherein said at least one first valve and said at least one second valve operate independently of each other to vary exhaust flow.

2. The dual exhaust system according to claim 1, wherein one of said at least one first valve and said at least one second valve comprises a passive valve and the other of said at least one first valve and said at least one second valve comprises an actively controlled valve.

3. The dual exhaust system according to claim 1, wherein both of said first and said second valves comprise actively controlled valves.

4. The dual exhaust system according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said actively controlled valves comprises a continuously variable valve.

5. The dual exhaust system according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said actively controlled valves comprises a valve that is only moveable between a discrete set of positions.

6. The dual exhaust system according to claim 1, wherein said first exhaust path comprises a primary exhaust path to extend from an engine to an exhaust outlet, and wherein said second exhaust path comprises a secondary exhaust path that extends from a first connection interface at an upstream location of said primary exhaust path to a second connection interface at a downstream location of said primary exhaust path.

7. The dual exhaust system according to claim 6, wherein said first valve comprises a continuously variable valve and said second valve comprises a valve moveable between a set of discrete positions.

8. The dual exhaust system according to claim 6, wherein said first valve is located within said primary exhaust path downstream of said first connection interface and upstream of said second connection interface.

9. The dual exhaust system according to claim 6, wherein said primary exhaust path extends from a first set of engine cylinders to a first muffler and said secondary exhaust path extends from a second set of engine cylinders to a second muffler, and wherein said primary exhaust path is configured to be able to selectively direct exhaust gas from said first and second sets of engine cylinders to flow to both of said first and said second mufflers with said secondary exhaust path only being able to direct exhaust gas from said second set of engine cylinders to said second muffler.

10. The dual exhaust system according to claim 1, including a controller that generates a control signal to move at least one of said first and second valves to optimize sound quality.

11. The dual exhaust system according to claim 1, wherein said first and said second exhaust paths are symmetrically configured relative to each other with said first exhaust path extending from a first set of engine cylinders to an outlet from a first muffler and said second exhaust path extending from a second set of engine cylinders to an outlet from a second muffler, and including an interconnection pipe that extends between said first and said second exhaust paths.

12. A dual exhaust system comprising:

a first exhaust path to extend from a first set of engine cylinders to a first muffler;

a second exhaust path to extend from a second set of engine cylinders to a second muffler;

at least one first valve associated with said first exhaust path;

at least one second valve associated with said second exhaust path wherein at least one of said first and said second valves comprises an actively controlled valve; and

a controller generating a control signal to vary a position of said actively controlled valve independently of a position of the other of said first and said second valves.

13. The dual exhaust system according to claim 12, wherein said other of said first and said second valves comprises a passive valve.

14. The dual exhaust system according to claim 12, wherein said other of said first and said second valves comprises an actively controlled valve.

15. The dual exhaust system according to claim 12, wherein said controller determines whether an engine is operating in a full cylinder operational mode or a deactivated cylinder operational mode, and wherein said controller controls a position of said actively controlled valve dependent on whether the engine is operating in said full or deactivated cylinder operational mode.

16. The dual exhaust system according to claim 12, wherein said first and said second exhaust paths are symmetrically configured relative to each other with said first exhaust path to extend directly from the first set of engine cylinders to said outlet from said first muffler and with said second exhaust path to extend from the second set of engine cylinders to said outlet from said second muffler, and including an interconnection pipe extending between said first and said second exhaust paths upstream of said first and said second mufflers.

17. The dual exhaust system according to claim 12, wherein said first and said second exhaust paths are asymmetrically configured relative to each with said first exhaust path comprising a primary exhaust path to extend from the first and second sets of engine cylinders to said outlets of said first and said second mufflers, and wherein said second exhaust path comprises a secondary exhaust path that extends from a first connection interface at an upstream location of said primary exhaust path to a second connection interface at a downstream location of said primary exhaust path such that said controller is able to selectively direct exhaust gas through said primary exhaust path from the first and second sets of engine cylinders to both of said first and said second mufflers by generating a first control signal to prevent exhaust gas from flowing through said secondary exhaust path, and wherein said controller selectively generates a second control signal to open flow through said secondary flow path with said secondary exhaust path only being able to direct exhaust gas from said second set of engine cylinders to said second muffler.

18. A method of varying exhaust flow within a dual exhaust system comprising the steps of:

(a) providing at least one first exhaust component defining a first exhaust path, at least one second exhaust component defining a second exhaust path different from the first exhaust path, at least one first valve associated with the first exhaust path, and at least one second valve associated with the second exhaust path; and

(b) independently operating the first and second valves from each other to vary exhaust flow.

19. The method according to claim 18, including providing at least one of the first and second valves as an actively controlled valve and the other of the first and second valves as a passive valve that is configured to be responsive to variations in exhaust gas flow, and controlling a position of the actively controlled valve independently of a position of the passive valve.

20. The method according to claim 18, including providing the first and second valves as first and second actively controlled valves, and controlling a position of the first actively controlled valve independently of a position of the second actively controlled valve.