Valve structure for engine exhaust system

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6736160
  • Patent Number
    6,736,160
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, February 7, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 18, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A support member 10 having a tubular portion 11 is joined at an end portion of a muffler pipe 1. The support member 10 forms a flange 12 as a valve seat and a support bracket 14. The support bracket 14 has a valve disk 20 supported rotatably via a hinge axis 15. The valve disk 20 has an outer peripheral portion 12 as a contact surface with the valve seat, and a weight 30 is welded to a bead portion 23 with an inner portion thereof projecting to the back face. A spring is wound around the hinge axis, with one end 18 engaging a back face of the valve wall 21 for the valve disk, the other end engaging a support bracket. The resonance frequency is decreased by the weight, thereby preventing the beat sound from arising in a normal range of the engine speed. The weight is welded to the bead portion, thereby not causing the outer peripheral portion 23 as the contact surface to be distorted.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a valve structure installed in an engine exhaust system.




2. Description of the Related Art




Conventionally, as a valve of this kind, a structure is known in which a valve is installed in a pipe passage within a muffler of the vehicle.




This structure improves the silencer effect by opening or closing an exhaust passage corresponding to a variation in pressure of an exhaust gas flowing in from the engine side, and prevents a decrease in the engine output. In such an exhaust pressure sensitive valve, a spring is annexed for biasing a valve disk in a closing direction, and the valve is opened when an exhaust pressure enough to overcome a biasing force of the spring is exerted.




By the way, in an environment where high pressure exhaust gases flow, a hinge portion for carrying the valve disk can not be fitted minutely in view of an expansion or shrinkage due to thermal expansion, the precision of the rotation axis being relatively rough. Hence, if a contact surface between the valve disk and a valve seat is inclined conically, for example, the center between them is dislocated even in a state where the valve is closed, developing a gap in practice.




Accordingly, the contact surface between the valve disk and the valve seat is made planar, as shown in FIG.


10


.




In the valve structure as shown in the figure, a support member


10


extending from a muffler pipe


1


has a flange


12


and forms the valve seat. The valve disk


40


carried around a hinge axis


15


by a support bracket


14


of the support member


10


has an entire smooth face that is opposed to the flange


12


of the support member, with a flange


41


around its peripheral edge. A spring


16


is wound around the hinge axis


15


, and biases the valve disk


40


toward the flange


12


that is the valve seat.




The valve disk


40


is opened when the exhaust pressure is increased, or closed when the exhaust pressure is decreased. In the case where the valve disk is made from a thin sheet by press molding, the resonance frequency is higher due to a combined effect between the valve disk and the spring


16


annexed, so that the valve disk


40


is caused to vibrate at an engine speed of 2000 to 3000 rpm in a normal range of the engine, leading to a problem that beats are produced and the quality sense of the vehicle is deteriorated.




To suppress the vibration of the valve disk, it is conceived to increase a biasing force of the spring


16


for biasing the valve disk


40


in the closing direction. However, if the spring force is increased, the valve may not be opened till the exhaust pressure becomes a considerably high value, so that the proper object can not be attained.




On the other hand, if the spring force is reduced to make the resonance frequency lower, the opening valve pressure for opening the valve is decreased, so that the valve is frequently opened or closed due to slight variations in exhaust pressure because the valve disk


40


itself is light in weight.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




Accordingly, the invention has been achieved in the light of the above-mentioned problems associated with the conventional art, and it is an object of the invention to provide a valve structure for an engine exhaust system in which vibration of a valve disk due to resonance is suppressed in the case where the valve disk is made from a thin sheet and light in weight.




According to the invention, there is provided a valve structure for an engine exhaust system in which a valve installed in an exhaust passage is opened or closed in accordance with an exhaust pressure, with a valve disk biased in a closing direction by a spring being supported around a rotation axis, wherein the valve disk is formed with a bead portion in a region excluding a contact surface of a valve wall with a valve seat, and a weight is fixed to the bead portion.




Since the weight is fixed to the valve wall, the resonance frequency of the valve disk can be changed while the predetermined characteristics of the spring are retained.




The valve wall of the valve disk has an outer peripheral portion shaped like a ring as the contact surface, the bead portion has an inner diameter portion projecting out to the back side from the outer peripheral portion, and the weight is fixed to the bead portion on a back face of the valve wall. Since the weight is fixed to the back face of the valve wall, there is no risk of interference with the valve seat.




The spring is wound around the rotation axis, with one end engaging the back face of the valve wall, and the weight is fixed except for an engagement point at one end of the spring. Since the engagement point of the spring is avoided, there is no risk that one end of the spring is engaged on the weight accidentally.




According to the invention, there is provided a valve structure for an engine exhaust system in which a valve installed in an exhaust passage is opened or closed in accordance with an exhaust pressure, a valve disk biased in a closing direction by a spring is supported around a rotation axis, wherein the valve disk has a weight of circular arc fixed on a back face along an outer peripheral edge including an arcuate portion most left away from the rotation axis of a valve wall.




Since the weight is fixed to the valve wall, the resonance frequency of the valve disk can be changed while the spring is kept at the predetermined characteristics. Particularly, since the weight is fixed along the arcuate portion around the outer periphery edge of the valve disk, the maximum moment can be obtained for the rotation axis.




A flange is formed around the outer periphery of the valve wall, and the weight is disposed along the inside of the flange, and welded to the flange. Thereby, the weight can be positioned by abutting it against the flange.




The flange is further provided with a projection piece, and the weight is welded at the tip of the projection piece. Since the welded part is separated away from the contact surface of the valve wall, the welding heat is not passed to the contact surface.




A flange with a holding piece is formed around the outer periphery of the valve wall, and a convex portion projecting to the back side is formed inside a contact surface of the valve wall with a valve seat, whereby the weight is disposed between the flange and the convex portion along the inside of the flange, and pressed and fixed to the valve wall by caulking of the holding piece. Since the weight is fixed by caulking of the holding piece, the effect of welding heat does not arise at all.




The weight is formed by cutting a strip steel plate. The weight can be produced with excellent yield by cutting the strip steep plate along the arcuate portion around the outer peripheral edge of the valve disk.




The weight is formed by bending a steel material of a predetermined cross section. The weight can be produced with excellent yield only by cutting and bending the steel material.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIGS. 1A and 1B

are views showing a first embodiment of the present invention.





FIGS. 2A and 2B

are enlarged views of a valve disk.





FIGS. 3A and 3B

are views showing a second embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 4

is a side view of the second embodiment of the invention.





FIG. 5

is an explanatory view showing a way of fabricating a weight.





FIG. 6

is a view showing a variation of the weight.





FIGS. 7A

to


7


C are views showing a third embodiment of the invention.





FIGS. 8A

to


8


C are views showing a fourth embodiment of the invention.





FIG. 9

is a view showing a variation.





FIG. 10

is a view showing a conventional art example.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION




The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.




First Embodiment




A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.




Each of

FIGS. 1A and 1B

shows a muffler pipe inside a muffler according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1A

is a front view of the muffler pipe, and

FIG. 1B

is a cross-sectional view of the muffler pipe taken along the line A—A. Also,

FIGS. 2A and 2B

are enlarged views showing a valve disk in enlargement.

FIG. 2A

is a front view of the valve disk, and the

FIG. 2B

is a cross-sectional view of the valve disk taken along the line B—B.




A support member


10


having a tubular portion


11


is joined to an end portion of the muffler pipe


1


, with a flange


12


as a valve seat formed in a tube end of the support member


10


.




A mesh sheet


3


made of stainless material is bonded to a flange


12


that is the valve seat or a contact surface of the support member


10


and extends to an inner wall of the tubular portion


11


.




A part of the flange


12


is extended downward in the figure and bent like a U-shaped character in an opposite direction of the muffler pipe


1


to form a support bracket


14


.




The support bracket


14


supports a hinge axis


15


as a rotation axis, and a valve disk


20


is borne on the hinge axis


15


rotatably.




The valve disk


20


has a valve wall


21


opposed to the flange


12


of the support member


10


, and a flange


22


around the peripheral edge of the valve wall


21


.




One end


18


of the spring


16


wound around the hinge axis


15


engages a back face of the valve wall


21


, the other end


19


being engaged by the support bracket


14


.




As will be apparent from

FIGS. 2A and 2B

, the valve wall


21


has a ring-like outer peripheral portion


23


directly opposed to the flange


12


of the support member


10


and serving as a contact surface, the outer peripheral portion


23


being made a smooth plane. An inner diameter portion is a bead portion


24


projecting to the back side of the outer peripheral portion


23


or in a direction leaving away from or the flange


12


of the support member


10


.




A flange


22


is formed around the outer peripheral edge of the outer peripheral portion


23


in the same projecting direction of the bead portion


24


, and partially extended. A hinge portion


25


like a U-shaped character is composed of a bearing portion


27


rising from a base portion


26


and its both ends to align with the support bracket


14


like a U-shaped character. Reference numeral


32


denotes a notch to avoid the interference with an end


19


of the spring


16


engaging the support bracket


14


.




The bearing portion


27


is provided with a pierced hole


28


, into which is fitted a washer


29


formed of a stainless material mesh and having an inner diameter for allowing the hinge axis


15


to be passed.




On a back face of the valve wall


21


, a weight


30


of rectangular block is fillet welded to the bead portion


24


on the inside of the peripheral flange


22


and fixed.




The weight


30


is attached with its center of gravity G offset from the center C of the valve wall


21


in the same direction as the hinge axis


15


, as shown in FIG.


2


A.




As shown in

FIG. 1A

, a coil portion


17


of the spring


16


on the hinge axis


15


is located on the sale side of the weight


30


in an axial direction, one end


18


of the spring being engaged in a region avoiding the weight


30


for bead portion


24


on a back face of the valve wall


21


.




In the first embodiment as described above, the contact surface between the valve disk


20


and the valve seat (flange


12


) is not inclined but planar, whereby there is less gap when the valve is closed even at a relatively low precision of the rotation axis of the valve disk


20


, and owing to the weight


30


for the valve disk


20


, the resonance frequency is reduced without changing the biasing force of the spring


16


, whereby the beat sound is prevented from occurring in a normal range of the engine speed.




For example, in an ordinary exhaust system for the automobile, when the valve disk for a muffler pipe with a diameter of 50 mm is made of a steel plate with a thickness of 1.2 mm, the weight is selected in a range from 50 to 100 g.




While the outer peripheral portion


23


of the valve wall


21


that is the contact surface between the valve disk


20


and the valve seat is made planar, the bead portion


24


with its inside projecting to the back side from the outer peripheral portion


23


has the weight


30


welded thereto, whereby the effect of heat in welding is not conducted to the outer peripheral portion


23


to distort the contact surface.




Further, since the weight


30


is offset, a wide space is fixed on one side, one end


18


of the spring


16


can be easily engaged in the back face of the valve wall


21


by avoiding the weight


30


. Conversely, since the weight


30


avoids an engagement point at one end


18


of the spring, there is no risk that one end of the spring is engaged accidentally in the weight


30


to change the urging force of the spring


16


.




Since the mesh sheet


3


made of stainless material is bonded onto the flange


12


of the support member


10


as the valve seat, there occurs no impactive sound when the valve disk


20


is closed. And the mesh sheet


3


extends to an inner wall of the tubular portion


11


for the support member, thereby resulting in the secure bonded state.




In the first embodiment, the shape of the weight


30


is a rectangular block, but may be a circle, a semi-circle, and any other shapes.




The weight


30


may be fixed to the valve wall


21


by plug welding with a welding hole welded in the bead portion


24


, and any other suitable means, without being limited to fillet welding.




Second Embodiment




The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below.




Each of

FIGS. 3A and 3B

shows a muffler pipe inside a muffler according to the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3A

is a front view of the muffler pipe, and

FIG. 3B

is a cross-sectional view of the muffler pipe taken along the line A—A. Also,

FIG. 4

is a side view of a valve disk.




A support member


10


having a tubular portion


11


is joined to an end portion of the muffler pipe


1


, with a flange


12


as a valve seat formed in a tube end of the support member


10


.




A part of the flange


12


is extended downward in the figure and bent like a U-shaped character in an opposite direction of the muffler pipe


1


to form a support bracket


14


.




The support bracket


14


supports a hinge axis


15


as a rotation axis, and a valve disk


20


is borne on the hinge axis


15


rotatably.




The valve disk


20


has a valve wall


21


opposed to the flange


12


of the support member


10


, and a flange


22


around the peripheral edge of the valve wall


21


.




One end


18


of the spring


16


wound around the hinge axis


15


engages a back face of the valve wall


21


, and the other end


19


engages the support bracket


14


.




As will be apparent from

FIG. 3B

, the valve wall


21


of the valve disk has a ring-like outer peripheral portion


23


directly opposed to the flange


12


of the support member


10


and serving as a contact surface, the outer peripheral portion


23


being made a smooth plane. An inner diameter portion is a bead portion


24


projecting to the back side of the outer peripheral portion


23


or in a direction leaving away from or the flange


12


of the support member


10


.




A flange


22


is formed around the outer peripheral edge of the outer peripheral portion


23


, and partially extended. A hinge portion


25


like a U-shaped character is composed of a bearing portion


27


rising from a base portion


26


and its both ends to align with the support bracket


14


like a U-shaped character. Reference numeral


25




a


denotes a notch to avoid the interference with an end


19


of the spring


16


engaging the support bracket


14


.




The bearing portion


27


is provided with a pierced hole


28


, into which is fitted a washer


29


formed of a stainless material mesh and having an inner diameter for allowing the hinge axis


15


to be passed.




In an arcuate portion R away from the hinge axis


15


of the valve wall


21


, the flange


22


has two projection pieces


32


projecting directly from the flange that are formed at two positions.




These projection pieces are arranged in bilateral symmetry with respect to the center line S passing through the center of the valve wall


21


and perpendicular to the hinge axis


15


, as shown in FIG.


3


A.




On a back face of the valve wall


21


, the weights


30


of circular arc are disposed in bilateral symmetry of the center line S along the inside of the flange


22


in the arcuate portion R, and fillet welded (W) to the projection pieces


32


of the flange


22


.




Each of the weights


30


is fabricated by cutting a strip steel plate P, in which its long sides are a circular arc to align with an inner wall of the flange


22


in the valve wall


21


, and its short sides are parallel lines, as shown in FIG.


5


.




In the second embodiment, the contact surface between the valve disk


20


and the valve seat (flange


12


) is not an inclined face but a plain face, thereby developing less gap when the valve is closed even if the precision of the rotation axis for the valve disk


20


is relatively low. Because of the weights


30


for the valve disk


20


, the resonance frequency is decreased without changing the biasing force of the spring


16


, whereby the beat sound is prevented from occurring in a normal range of the engine speed.




Particularly, since the weights


30


are fixed along the arcuate portion R of the flange


22


around the outer peripheral edge of the valve disk, the maximum moment can be obtained for the hinge axis


15


. Therefore, the resonance frequency can be effectively decreased by setting the weights


30


relatively lightly. For example, as compared with an instance where a weight of 90 g is fixed in the center of the valve wall


21


, the weights


30


of 60 g or less can be employed to obtain the same moment.




The weights


30


can be produced in continuous basis with excellent yield without causing end material from the strip steel plate P. And when the weight is desired to change, as required, any weight can be produced only by changing the plate thickness of the strip steel plate P.




Since the weights


30


are welded to the projection pieces


32


projecting from the flange


22


, the effect of heat in welding is suppressed not to distort the contact surface (outer peripheral portion


23


) for the valve wall


21


.




Further, the bead is formed on the valve wall, so that the rigidity is increased, and the smoothness of the contact surface with the valve seat can be kept.




In the second embodiment, the cut shape of the weights


30


is a simple circular arc. However, if a weight


30


A is formed with the stages


30




a


at right angles to the line of short side along both edges of the long side, the acute angle at the end portion can be eliminated, whereby the weights are easy to handle in manufacture, as shown in FIG.


6


.




Third Embodiment




A third embodiment of the invention will be described below. In the third embodiment, the weight is formed of a round bar steel.





FIGS. 7A

to


7


C are views showing the third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7A

is a front view,

FIG. 7B

is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B—B, and

FIG. 7C

is a side view of a valve disk.




A flange


22


is formed around the outer peripheral edge of an outer peripheral portion


23


, and partially extended, as in the second embodiment. A hinge portion


25


like a U-shaped character is composed of a bearing portion


27


rising from a base portion


26


and its both ends to align with the support bracket


14


like a U-shaped character.




The flange


22


has a narrower width in a certain range of an arcuate portion R along the outer peripheral portion


23


that is most left away from a hinge axis


15


, but has a broader portion


22




a


toward the hinge axis


15


to link to a bearing portion


27


.




On a back face of a valve wall


21


B, the weights


30


bent arcuately and made of round bar steel are disposed along the inside of the flange


22


in the arcuate portion R, and fillet welded (W) to the broader portion


22




a


of the flange


22


. The weights


30


are arranged in bilateral symmetry with respect to the center line S of the valve wall


21


B, with the welded portions (W) also in bilateral symmetry, as shown in FIG.


7


B.




Other constitution is the same as in the second embodiment, including the muffler pipe side.




In the third embodiment, since the weights


30


B are fixed along the arcuate portion R of the flange


22


around the outer peripheral edge of the valve disk, the resonance frequency can be effectively decreased by setting the weights


30


relatively lightly, as in the second embodiment.




The weights


30


B can be produced in continuous basis with excellent yield only by cutting and bending the round bar steel in required length, with reduced manufacturing costs. And when the weight is desired to change, as required, any weight can be produced only by changing the diameter or the cut length of the steel.




Since the welded portion of the weight


30


B is a broader portion


22




a


of the flange, the effect of heat in welding is not conducted to a contact surface of the valve wall


21


B to distort the contact surface.




Further, the bead is formed on the valve wall


21


B, so that the rigidity is increased, and the smoothness of the contact surface with the valve seat can be kept.




Fourth Embodiment




A fourth embodiment of the invention will be described below. In the fourth embodiment, like the third embodiment, the weight is formed of a round bar steel.





FIGS. 8A

to


8


C are views showing the fourth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8A

is a front view,

FIG. 8B

is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C—C in

FIG. 8A

, and

FIG. 8C

is a side view of a valve disk.




A valve wall


21


C of the valve disk


20


C has an entire smooth plane, with its outer peripheral area being a contact surface of a support member


10


with a flange


12


.




A flange


22


is formed around the outer peripheral edge of the valve wall


21


C, and the flange


22


leads to a bearing portion


27


in a certain width.




In an arcuate portion R away from a hinge axis


15


of the valve wall


21


C, the flange


22


has two holding pieces


34


extending directly from the flange that are formed at two positions in bilateral symmetry with respect to the center line S, as shown in FIG.


8


A.




On a back face of the valve wall


21


C, a weight


30


B bent arcuately and made of round bar steel is disposed along the inside of the flange


22


in the arcuate portion R, and the holding pieces


34


for the flange


22


extend over the weight


30


B by caulking to press the weight


30


B against the back face of the valve wall


21


C.




Moreover, the valve wall


21


C is formed with a convex portion


36


projecting to the back side between the holding pieces


34


,


34


on the center line S to be contact with the inner face of the weight


30


B of circular arc.




Thereby, the weight


30


B is carried between the flange


22


and the convex portion


36


in a direction along a back face of the valve wall


21


C, and carried between the back face and the holding pieces


34


in a direction perpendicular to the back face, so that the weight


30


B is securely fixed to the valve wall


21


C.




Other constitution is the same as in the third embodiment.




In the Fourth embodiment as described above, since the weight


30


B of round bar steel bent is fixed along the arcuate portion R of the flange


22


around the outer peripheral edge of the valve disk, the resonance frequency can be effectively decreased by setting the weight


30


relatively lightly, as in the previous embodiment. Also, the weight can be easily changed.




Since the weight


30


B is fixed by caulking between the convex portion


36


formed on the valve wall and the holding pieces


34


, the welding is not required, and there is no effect of welding heat at all to distort the contact surface of the valve wall


21


C.




In the fourth embodiment, the weight


30


B made of round bar steel is employed as in the previous embodiment. However, a weight


30


C having a rectangular section may be used as shown in FIG.


9


. Thereby, the weight


30


C is carried between the flange


22


and the convex portion


36


in a direction along the back face of the valve wall


21


C, and carried between the back face and the holding pieces


34


in a direction perpendicular to the back face, so that the weight


30


C can be securely fixed to the valve wall


21


without welding. Of course, other steel having a polygonal section may be also employed so long as the cross section is the same.




In the fourth embodiment, the valve disk is directly contacted with the flange


12


of the support member


10


that is the valve seat. However, the mesh sheet made of stainless material may be bonded from the flange


12


to the inner wall of the tubular portion


11


to suppress the impactive sound caused when the valve disk is closed.




As described above, the invention provides a valve structure for an engine exhaust system in which a valve is opened or closed in accordance with an exhaust pressure, with a valve disk being biased by a spring, wherein the valve disk is formed with a bead portion in a region excluding a contact surface of a valve wall with a valve seat, and a weight is fixed to the bead portion. Thereby, the resonance frequency of the valve disk can be changed while the predetermined characteristics of the spring are retained. Hence, it is possible to prevent the beat sound from arising due to vibration of valve disk in a normal range of the engine speed, and the quality sense of the vehicle can be improved.




Particularly, the valve wall has the outer peripheral portion shaped like a ring as the contact surface, the bead portion has an inner diameter portion projecting to the back side from the outer peripheral portion, and the weight is fixed to the bead portion on the back face of the valve wall. Thereby, there is no risk that the weight interferes with the valve seat.




The spring is wound around the rotation axis, with one end engaging the back face of the valve wall, and the weight is fixed except for an engagement point at one end of the spring. Thereby, there is no risk that one end of the spring is engaged on the weight accidentally to change the biasing force of the spring.




According to the present invention, a valve is opened or closed in accordance with an exhaust pressure, with a valve disk biased in a closing direction by a spring being supported around a rotation axis, wherein the valve disk has a weight of circular arc fixed on a back face along an outer peripheral edge including an arcuate portion most left away from the rotation axis of a valve wall. Thereby, the resonance frequency of the valve disk can be changed while the spring is kept at the predetermined characteristics. The vibration of the valve disk in a normal range of the engine speed is prevented from causing the beat sound, whereby the quality sense of the vehicle can be improved.




And since the weight is fixed along the arcuate portion around the outer periphery edge of the valve disk, the maximum moment can be obtained for the rotation axis. Thereby, the resonance frequency can be controlled while the lighter weight is set.




Since the flange is formed around the outer periphery of the valve wall, the weight can be positioned by abutting it against the inside of the flange, and securely welded to the flange.




In this case, the flange is further provided with a projection piece, and the weight is welded at the tip of the projection piece. Thereby, the welded part is separated away from the contact surface with the valve seat, and the effect of welding heat on the contact surface is suppressed.




Also, the flange comprises a holding piece is formed around the outer periphery of the valve wall, and a convex portion projecting to the back side is formed inside a contact surface of the valve wall with the valve seat, whereby the weight is disposed between the flange and the convex portion along the inside of the flange, and pressed and fixed to the valve wall by caulking of the holding piece. Thereby, no welding is used, and the effect of welding heat is not caused.




The weight is formed by cutting a strip steel plate, or bending a steel material of a predetermined cross section. Thereby, the weight can be produced with excellent yield.



Claims
  • 1. A valve structure for an engine exhaust system, comprising:a valve disk attached to an exhaust pipe, the valve disk being opened or closed in accordance with an exhaust pressure in the exhaust pipe, the valve disk comprises: a valve wall having a contact surface to abut with a valve seat of the exhaust pipe; and a convex portion; a spring for biasing the valve disk to close the exhaust pipe; a rotation shaft for rotatably supporting the valve disk; and a weight fixed to the convex portion.
  • 2. The valve structure according to claim 1, wherein the valve wall of the valve disk is defined around the convex portion.
  • 3. The valve structure according to claim 2, wherein the convex portion projects from a back surface of the valve disk opposed to the contact surface of the valve wall; andthe weight is fixed to the convex portion on the back surface of the valve wall.
  • 4. The valve structure according to claim 1, wherein the spring is wound around the rotation shaft;one end of the spring engages the back surface of the valve wall; and the weight is fixed on the back surface of the valve wall except for an engagement point with the one end of the spring.
  • 5. A valve structure for an engine exhaust system, comprising:a valve disk attached to an exhaust pipe, the valve disk being opened or closed in accordance with an exhaust pressure in the exhaust pipe, the valve disk comprising a valve wall defined on an outer peripheral edge of the valve disk, the valve disk having a contact surface to abut with a valve seat of the exhaust pipe; and a spring for biasing the valve disk to close the exhaust pipe; a rotation shaft for rotatably supporting the valve disk; and a weight formed of a circular arc and fixed on a back surface of the valve disk, the weight disposed along an arcuate portion of the valve wall most left away from the rotation shaft.
  • 6. The valve structure according to claim 5, wherein the valve disk comprises a flange formed around the outer periphery of the valve wall; andthe weight is disposed along the inside of the flange and welded to the flange.
  • 7. The valve structure according to claim 6, wherein the flange includes a projection piece, and the weight is welded at the tip of the projection piece.
  • 8. The valve structure according to claim 5, wherein the valve disc comprises:a flange having a holding piece, the flange formed around the outer periphery of the valve wall; a convex portion projects from a back surface of the valve disk opposed to the contact surface of the valve wall; and the weight is disposed between the flange and the convex portion along inside of the flange; and the holding piece of the flange presses the weight to be caulked and fixed to the valve wall.
  • 9. The valve structure for the engine exhaust system according to claim 5, wherein the weight is formed by cutting the strip steel plate.
  • 10. The valve structure according to claim 5, wherein the weight is formed by bending a steel material having a predetermined cross section.
Priority Claims (2)
Number Date Country Kind
2001-030891 Feb 2001 JP
2001-099113 Mar 2001 JP
US Referenced Citations (6)
Number Name Date Kind
3703937 Tenney Nov 1972 A
3883111 Jourdan May 1975 A
4850059 Dickerson Jul 1989 A
5327933 Ishikawa et al. Jul 1994 A
5747753 Eder May 1998 A
5801343 Suzuki et al. Sep 1998 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number Date Country
9-250326 Sep 1997 JP
9-250330 Sep 1997 JP
10-131738 May 1998 JP