Continuously variable electricallly actuated control valve for high temperature applications

• Main Authors: SIEDOW, HENRI A, PINTAURO, ARTHUR C, SAMUELSON, DONALD R
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 21.09.2005
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ACTUATING-FLOATS; BLASTING; COCKS; COMBUSTION ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING; CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PHYSICS; REGULATING; SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES; TAPS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; VALVES; WEAPONS

A continuously variable electrical actuator (22) is rotationally coupled to and thermal isolated from a butterfly valve (24). The butterfly valve (24) may be used to modulate high temperature exhaust gas flow through an engine turbocharger (200). An electrical actuator (42) provides a continuously variable output to an output shaft (44). The butterfly valve (24) has its rotary position controlled by an input shaft (34). The input shaft (34) and output shaft (44) are rotationally coupled through minimum contact points to reduce heat transfer. The connection between input and output shafts (34, 44) also minimizes vibration transfer therebetween. A coupling tube (58) coaxially interposed between the input and output shafts (34, 44) provides a thermal block to further reduce heat transfer. The input and output shafts (34, 44) are rotationally coupled to the intermediate shaft by torsion spring mechanisms (68, 66) to allow a limited range of axial translation for the input shaft (34). The torsion spring mechanisms (68, 66) are preloaded to prevent rotational hysteresis in the butterfly valve.