Vortex generator with sub-aperture and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A vortex generator is disclosed for flow of a fluid. The vortex generator includes a housing that includes a passage through which the fluid flows. The vortex generator also includes a valve that is movably coupled to the housing between a fully closed position and a fully open position for changing flow of the fluid in the passage. The valve includes an open portion that defines a main aperture for generating a vortex in the flow of the fluid. Also, the valve has an intermediate position between the fully closed position and the fully open position. The housing further includes a recessed portion such that the recessed portion of the housing and the valve cooperate to define a sub-aperture through which the fluid flows when the valve is positioned in the intermediate position. A method of manufacturing the vortex generator is also disclosed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by like reference numbers and in which:

FIG. 1A is a sectional front view of a vortex generator according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1B is a sectional side view taken along the IB-IB line of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a sectional side view of the vortex generator of FIG. 1A with a valve shown in an intermediate position;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the vortex generator according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 3A is a sectional front view of the vortex generator according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 3B is a sectional side view taken along the IIIB-IIIB line of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C is a sectional side view of the vortex generator of FIG. 3A with a valve shown in an intermediate position;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are sectional views of the vortex generator of FIG. 3A shown in a molding die;

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of the vortex generator according to a fourth embodiment;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are sectional side views of the vortex generator according to a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a vehicle engine with a vortex generator of the prior art;

FIG. 8A is a front view of a flow control valve of a vortex generator of the prior art; and

FIG. 8B is a sectional side view of a vortex generator of the prior art.

Claims

1. A vortex generator for flow of a fluid comprising: a housing that includes a passage through which the fluid flows; anda valve that is movably coupled to the housing between a fully closed position and a fully open position for changing flow of the fluid in the passage, wherein the valve includes an open portion that defines a main aperture for generating a vortex in the flow of the fluid, wherein the valve also has an intermediate position between the fully closed position and the fully open position, wherein:the housing further includes a recessed portion such that the recessed portion of the housing and the valve cooperate to define a sub-aperture through which the fluid flows when the valve is positioned in the intermediate position.

2. A vortex generator according to claim 1, wherein the sub-aperture provides fluid communication between an upstream side of the valve and a downstream side of the valve such that the fluid flows through the sub-aperture when the valve is in the closed position and the intermediate position.

3. A vortex generator according to claim 1, further comprising a shaft that rotationally couples the valve and the housing, wherein the shaft is provided approximately at a central portion of the valve and defines a rotational center thereof.

4. A vortex generator according to claim 1, further comprising a shaft that rotationally couples the valve and the housing, wherein the shaft is provided at a rotational end of the of the valve opposite from a free end of the valve and defines a rotational center of the valve.

5. A vortex generator according to claim 3, wherein the housing includes a face that is curved according to the track of rotational movement of the valve.

6. A vortex generator according to claim 1, wherein an axis of the recessed portion of the housing extends approximately parallel to an axis of the passage.

7. A vortex generator according to claim 1, wherein the passage includes an entrance through which the fluid enters the passage and an exit through which the fluid exits the passage, and wherein the recessed portion extends linearly from the entrance to the exit.

8. A vortex generator according to claim 1, wherein the passage includes an entrance through which the fluid enters the passage and an exit through which the fluid exits the passage, wherein the housing includes a first recessed portion that extends from the entrance to an area adjacent the valve when the valve is in the fully closed position, and wherein the housing includes a second recessed portion that extends from the exit to an area adjacent the valve when the valve is in the fully closed position.

9. A vortex generator according to claim 1, wherein the passage includes an entrance through which the fluid enters the passage and an exit through which the fluid exits the passage, and wherein the recessed portion extends from the exit to an area adjacent the valve when the valve is in the fully closed position.

10. A vortex generator according to claim 9, further comprising a shaft that rotationally couples the valve and the housing, wherein the housing includes a first recessed portion and a second recessed portion, and wherein the first recessed portion is provided between the shaft and the second recessed portion.

11. A vortex generator according to claim 10, wherein the first and second recessed portions each include an end point at the exit of the passage and a start point at the area adjacent the valve when the valve is in the fully closed position, and wherein the first and second recessed portions are staggered such that the start point of the second recessed portion is closer to the exit of the housing than the start point of the first recessed portion.

12. A vortex generator according to claim 11, wherein the valve is inclined at a positive, acute first angle with respect to an axis of the passage when the valve is in the fully closed position, and wherein the respective starting point of the first and second recessed portions each includes an inclined portion that is inclined at a positive, acute second angle relative to the axis of the passage, and wherein the second angle is approximately equal to the first angle.

13. A vortex generator according to claim 1, wherein the passage includes an exit through which the fluid exits the passage, and wherein the recessed portion of the housing is triangular in shape and extends from the exit to an area adjacent the valve when the valve is in the fully closed position, wherein a width of the recessed portion increases in a downstream direction of the passage.

14. A vortex generator according to claim 1, wherein the recessed portion of the housing extends linearly at a positive acute angle with respect to an axis of the passage.

15. A vortex generator according to claim 14, wherein the passage includes an entrance through which the fluid enters the passage and an exit through which, the fluid exits the passage, and wherein the recessed portion extends from the exit to an area adjacent the valve when the valve is in the fully closed position.

16. A vortex generator according to claim 15, further comprising a shaft that rotationally couples the valve and the housing, wherein the housing includes a first recessed portion and a second recessed portion, and wherein the first recessed portion is provided between the shaft and the second recessed portion.

17. A vortex generator according to claim 16, wherein the first and second recessed portions each include an end point at the exit of the passage and a start point at the area adjacent the valve when the valve is in the fully closed position, and wherein the first and second recessed portions are staggered such that the start point of the second recessed portion is closer to the exit of the housing than the start point of the first recessed portion.

18. A vortex generator according to claim 17, wherein the valve is inclined at a positive, acute first angle with respect to an axis of the passage when the valve is in the fully closed position, and wherein the respective starting point of the first and second recessed portions each includes an inclined portion that is inclined at a positive, acute second angle relative to the axis of the passage, and wherein the second angle is approximately equal to the first angle.

19. A method of manufacturing a vortex generator for flow of a fluid comprising: simultaneously molding a housing and a valve in a molding die, wherein:the housing includes a passage through which the fluid flows, the passage having an axis;the valve is movably coupled to the housing between a fully closed position and a fully open position for changing flow of the fluid in the passage, wherein the valve includes an open portion that defines a main aperture for generating a vortex in the flow of the fluid, and wherein the valve also has an intermediate position between the fully closed position and the fully open position;the housing further includes a recessed portion such that the recessed portion of the housing and the valve cooperate to define a sub-aperture through which the fluid flows when the valve is positioned in the intermediate position; andthe molding die is moved in a direction approximately parallel to the axis of the passage to remove the housing and the valve from the molding die.