Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Domenico Rampone

Nando Vennettilli

Fulvio Brosio

An EGR valve assembly is provided for an Internal Combustion Engine. The valve assembly includes, but is not limited to a duct having an inlet and an outlet. A portion of the duct is configured with an open section that defines a seat for a valve housing, the valve housing having a passage that leads into the duct and a valve flap for opening and closing the passage, and an engaging portion configured to seal the open section of the duct.

EGR valve assembly for internal combustion engines

A method is provided for diagnosing the integrity of a swirl generating system for an internal combustion engine. The swirl generating system includes, but is not limited to swirl controlling elements that are individually located in a respective air passage connecting the intake manifold of the engine to an intake port of an engine combustion chamber, an actuator having a movable shaft, a cinematic chain for mechanically connecting the swirl controlling elements to the actuator movable shaft, an actuator control unit for normally moving the actuator movable shaft in a first direction towards a first final position, and in a second opposite direction towards a second final position, and actuator sensor for sensing the position of the actuator movable shaft. The method providing to arrange at least a mechanical stop for directly acting on one component of the cinematic chain, in order to indirectly limit the movement of the actuator movable shaft in the first direction at a first checking position coincident or beyond the first final position, command the actuator control unit for moving the actuator movable shaft in the first direction towards the first checking position, and verify through the position sensing means whether the actuator movable shaft stops in the first checking position (CP) or goes beyond.

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Asti, Italy

Domenico Rampone