The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 14, 2008
Filed:
Mar. 16, 2007
William E. Hill, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
William E. Hill, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc., Lake Forest, IL (US);
Abstract
A passive, exhaust pressure actuated valve assembly for placement inside a tubular exhaust conduit is pivotally mounted to an off-center axle for rotation between fully closed and fully opened positions. A bias element forces the valve flap toward the fully closed position. The valve flap is shaped in a manner enabling use of the interior surface of the exhaust conduit to define stops at the full closed and full opened positions. The valve flap shape, in conjunction with the bias element arrangement, enables the flap to lie substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the conduit in the fully opened position, which provides for minimum back pressure in the conduit.