This application is a U.S. national phase of International application PCT/DE2006/000431 filed Mar. 11, 2006, which claims priority to German application DE 10 2005 020 484.8 filed Apr. 29, 2005, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
The present invention relates to an exhaust gas recirculation device for an internal combustion engine, in particular in a motor vehicle, having the features of the preamble of Claim 1.
An exhaust gas recirculation device of this type is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,397, which is equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation line for introducing exhaust gas into a fresh air line of the internal combustion engine. Furthermore, an exhaust gas recirculation valve is provided for controlling the exhaust gas recirculation line. The exhaust gas recirculation line has an end section, which runs inside the fresh air line and which has an axially open orifice opening. The exhaust gas recirculation line thus penetrates an envelope of the fresh air line to be able to introduce the recirculated exhaust gases into the fresh air line. In the known exhaust gas recirculation device, the exhaust gas recirculation line comprises a pipe which is mounted so it is axially adjustable in relation to the fresh air line, which has an orifice opening at the outlet and an inlet opening at the intake, as well as a feed section, which is connected to a connection chamber, in which the inlet opening of the pipe is also located. The exhaust gas recirculation valve comprises a final control element, with the aid of which the pipe is adjustable between an open position, in which the inlet opening is at an axial distance from a valve seat, and a closed position, in which the inlet opening of the pipe presses against the valve seat to form a seal. The recirculation rate may be set by changing the distance between valve seat and inlet opening of the pipe. The pipe is subjected to the recirculated exhaust gases in the area of its inlet opening. An actuator, via which the final control element axially drives the pipe, is also subjected to recirculated exhaust gases. The components of the exhaust gas recirculation device which are subjected to the exhaust gas may foul and/or soot. This may result in sluggishness and in the extreme case seizing of the exhaust gas recirculation valve, which endangers proper function of the exhaust gas recirculation device.
The present invention begins here. The present invention is concerned with the problem of specifying an improved embodiment of an exhaust gas recirculation device of the type cited at the beginning, in which the danger of functional impairment by fouling and/or sooting is reduced in particular.
This problem is solved according to the present invention by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.
The present invention is based on the general idea of aerodynamically controlling the recirculation rate using a nozzle. The recirculation rate is controlled by the axial relative position between orifice opening and nozzle, because the pressure existing in the orifice opening is a function of the axial position of the orifice opening within the nozzle. This control principle is combined in the present invention with the end section having the orifice opening being situated fixed inside the fresh air line, while a sleeve having or implementing the nozzle is situated so it is adjustable in the fresh air line. In this way, the exhaust gas flow reaches the orifice opening unobstructed, without impinging on movable parts. Furthermore, it is possible through the suggested construction to adjust the sleeve using a final control element, without the final control element being impinged by the recirculated exhaust gases. This construction reduces the danger of fouling or sooting of components of the exhaust gas recirculation device, because contact with the recirculated exhaust gases is largely avoided. In addition, the exhaust gases are introduced into the fresh air flow in the area of the nozzle, i.e., in an area of elevated flow velocities. Higher flow velocities reduce the danger of fouling and sooting, however.
According to an especially advantageous embodiment, at least one closure body may be situated on the sleeve, preferably coaxial to the orifice opening, which, when the sleeve is maximally adjusted upstream, works together with the orifice opening to set a minimal opening cross-section of the at least one exhaust gas recirculation line. In this way, the recirculation rate may be mechanically controlled in limits which may no longer be aerodynamically controlled. In particular, in the limiting case, a recirculation rate having the value zero may also be set. I.e., the exhaust gas recirculation line may be blocked in that the closure body closes the orifice opening.
According to another advantageous embodiment, the final control element, with the aid of which the sleeve may be axially adjusted in relation to the fresh air line, may be equipped with at least one electromagnetic actuating drive, which may axially adjust the sleeve using electromagnetic forces. Because movable parts are thus dispensed with on the part of the actuating drive, the danger of fouling or sooting of components of the actuating drive is also reduced. Simultaneously, it is possible to situate the actuating drive outside the fresh air line, so that the complete actuating drive is subjected to neither the exhaust gases nor the fresh air.
Further important features and advantages of the present invention result from the subclaims, the drawings, and the associated description of the figures on the basis of the drawings.
It is obvious that the features cited above and to be explained in the following are usable not only in the particular specified combination, but rather also in other combinations or alone, without leaving the scope of the present invention.
Preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in greater detail in the following description, identical reference numerals referring to identical or similar or functionally identical components.
According to
Correspondingly,
The EGR line 2 may be controlled with the aid of the EGR valve 3. I.e., the quantity of the recirculated exhaust gases, thus the EGR rate, may be set with the aid of the EGR valve 3. For this purpose, the EGR valve 3 has a sleeve 10. The sleeve 10 is situated in the interior of the fresh air line 4, in such a way that it envelops the EGR line 2 and/or its end section 7 in the area of the orifice opening 8. Furthermore, the sleeve 10 is provided on its interior side facing toward the orifice opening 8, i.e., its radial interior, with a nozzle contour 11. This nozzle contour 11 is characterized in that it has a flow cross-section which first decreases and then increases again in the flow direction of the fresh air flow 5. An inflow-side axial section of the nozzle contour 11 having the decreasing flow cross-section is axially shorter than an outflow-side axial section having the increasing flow cross-section. For example, the inflow-side axial section is approximately half as large as the outflow-side axial section. The nozzle contour 11 is expediently designed as a Venturi nozzle, i.e., the cross-sectional shape inside the nozzle contour 11 is selected in such a way that it implements a Venturi nozzle.
Furthermore, the sleeve 10 is situated so it is axially adjustable in relation to the fresh air line 4 and is preferably mounted so it is axially adjustable on the fresh air line 4 for this purpose. In addition, the EGR valve 3 comprises a final control element 12, with the aid of which the sleeve 10 may be adjusted in relation to the fresh air line 4. The relative position of the orifice opening 8 within the nozzle contour 11 may be set by the adjustability of the sleeve 10. Upon flow through the nozzle contour 11, there is a change of the pressure existing in the fresh air flow 5, the current pressure value being a function of the current position within the nozzle contour 11. Correspondingly, the pressure existing at the orifice opening 8 may be varied by setting the relative position between orifice opening 8 and sleeve 10. However, the quantity of the recirculated exhaust gases, i.e., the EGR rate, is also correlated with the pressure existing at the orifice opening 8. Finally, the EGR rate may thus be set by positioning the sleeve 10 in relation to the orifice opening 8.
In the embodiments shown here, the EGR valve 3 is additionally equipped with at least one closure body 13, which is situated fixed in relation to the sleeve 10. This closure body 13 is positioned coaxially to the orifice opening 8. Upon an adjustment of the sleeve 10 opposite to the fresh air flow 5, the closure body 13 approaches the orifice opening 8. When the sleeve 10 is adjusted maximally upstream, the closure body 13 works together with the orifice opening 8 to set a minimal opening cross-section of the EGR line 2.
The closure body 13 is expediently equipped with a flow profile. This flow profile may be designed as a streamlined profile, for example. Preferably, the closure body 13 has a semispherical profile on the inflow side in the embodiments shown here and may be equipped with a conical profile on the outflow side. It is essential that the closure body 13, if it is provided for closing the orifice opening 8, is shaped complementarily to the orifice opening 8 at least on the inflow side. Therefore, for a circular orifice opening 8, a semispherical shape is preferred for the inflow side of the closure body 13. Other shapes for the closure body 13 which are also distinguished by a low flow resistance are also fundamentally conceivable.
Moreover, the closure body 13 and additionally or alternatively the particular orifice opening 8 may be provided with an adhesion-reducing coating. A coating of this type using PTFE or silicone, for example, may reduce an accumulation of dirt particles on the orifice opening 8 and/or on the closure body 13. Optionally, at least one seal element may also be provided, which is situated on the closure body 13 and/or on the orifice opening 8.
The closure body 13 is fastened to the sleeve 10. The connection between sleeve 10 and closure body 13 is preferably produced using at least one radial web 14. In the embodiments of
The final control element 12 comprises an actuating drive 15, with the aid of which the sleeve 10 is drivable. In the embodiments of
In contrast thereto, in the embodiments of
In the embodiments of
In contrast thereto, in the embodiment shown in
As may be recognized especially clearly here, the individual radial webs 19 and/or 17 and/or 14 may be aerodynamically profiled in such a way that they have the lowest possible flow resistance.
The embodiment shown in
In the embodiment according to
Additionally or alternatively, the electromagnetically operating actuating drive 15 may also work together with an actuator 16 (not shown here), which is connected to the sleeve 10 to drive the sleeve 10 for axial adjustment.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the EGR valve 3 may additionally be equipped with a restoring device, which is not shown in the embodiments shown here, however. A restoring device of this type may be provided in the form of a restoring spring, for example, and may particularly be integrated in the actuating drive 15. The restoring device is designed in such a way that it drives the sleeve 10 upstream in the event of malfunctioning or shutdown final control element 12. With the aid of the restoring device, the sleeve 10 thus assumes a position having minimized EGR rate by itself. If the closure body 13 is provided, it is driven into the position having minimal opening cross-section and/or into the closure position.
According to the embodiment shown in
Moreover, a variant is illustrated in
The flow conduction elements 20, 20′ shown here are fundamentally subjected to a strong impingement by exhaust gas, however, these flow conduction elements 20, 20′ do not participate in the setting of the EGR rate, so that fouling or sooting of these flow conduction elements 20, 20′ has no influence on the function of the EGR device 1.
Additionally or alternatively to the at least one flow conduction element 20, 20′, the end section 7 may have an inclined course in relation to the flow direction of the fresh air flow 5, at least in an end area 21 having the orifice opening 8. In this way, the exhaust gas receives a directional component at the orifice opening 8 which guides the exhaust gas past the closure body 13 situated aligned with the orifice opening 8. With the aid of the inclined end area 21 and/or with the aid of the at least one flow conduction element 20, 21, a direct impingement of the closure body 13 with the recirculated exhaust gases is avoided, by which the danger of fouling or sooting of the closure body 13 is reduced.
In the embodiments shown here, the end section 7 extends at least regionally parallel to the fresh air line 4. The end section 7 or at least the orifice opening 8 is expediently situated concentrically inside the fresh air line 4.
However, an eccentric configuration of the orifice opening 8 is also fundamentally possible.
In the embodiments of
In the embodiment shown in
In contrast thereto, in the embodiment shown in
According to
To be able to introduce fresh air 23 centrally into the recirculated exhaust gases 6, the fresh air auxiliary line 22 is coupled at the inlet to a corresponding fresh air source. In the present case, the fresh air auxiliary line 22 extends on the inlet side up into the fresh air line 4, in such a way that its inlet-side end is located upstream from the orifice opening 8 of the EGR line 2. This is achieved here in that the fresh air auxiliary line 22 extends through a wall of the EGR line 2 (not shown in greater detail). The inlet-side end of the fresh air auxiliary line 22 is then located upstream from the EGR line 2 in the fresh air line 4. The fresh air auxiliary line 22 preferably extends linearly between its ends, as here.
The positioning of the outlet-side end of the fresh air line 22 within the orifice opening 8 is expediently performed in such a way that at least the orifice opening 8 may be closed in the desired way with the aid of the closure body 13 in the event of deactivated exhaust gas recirculation. Simultaneously, the outlet-side end of the fresh air auxiliary line 22 may additionally be closed with the aid of the closure body 13. If a predetermined minimum gap is to remain open as the minimal cross-section for the orifice opening 8, a corresponding stop for the closure body 13 may be defined with the aid of the outlet-side end of the fresh air auxiliary line 22.
It is clear that in an embodiment having two EGR lines 2, 2′, two fresh air auxiliary lines 22 may also accordingly be provided.
In the embodiment shown
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2005 020 484 | Apr 2005 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/DE2006/000431 | 3/11/2006 | WO | 00 | 5/16/2008 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2006/116957 | 11/9/2006 | WO | A |
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