Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation valve is provided. The exhaust gas recirculation valve has a base, a spring biasing the valve closed, and an actuator including a rotary motor and a linearly displaceable shaft that is coupled to the motor's rotor. The valve includes a valve member and valve seat disposed within a fluid conduit, and the spring is disposed between the actuator and the valve.

Abstract: An evaporative fuel vapor control system, purge valve and methods are described. The system includes a fuel supply, internal combustion engine, vapor canister, and a purge valve. The purge valve includes a sensor disposed in the body housing of the purge valve and in communication with the flow passage to provide a signal indicative of the magnitude of chemicals in the fuel vapor being provided to the engine. Various methodologies relating the system, purge valve and sensors are described.

Abstract: A solenoid for use in valves used in evaporative emission control systems, such as canister purge valves or vent solenoid valves. The solenoid includes a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port. The housing further includes a guide element having a bobbin section. A valve shaft is slidably mounted to the guide element, wherein the valve shaft includes a permanent magnet and a valve element. The valve element is movable between a closed position wherein the inlet port is closed and an open position wherein the inlet port is opened. A coil is formed on the bobbin adjacent the magnet. In use, the coil generates directional magnetic fields oriented to cause the magnet to be repelled to move the valve element to the open position and oriented to cause a magnetic attraction with the magnet to move the valve element to the closed position.

Abstract: A solenoid for use in valves used in evaporative emission control systems, such as canister purge valves or vent solenoid valves. The solenoid includes a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port. The housing further includes a guide element having a bobbin section. A valve shaft is slidably mounted to the guide element, wherein the valve shaft includes a permanent magnet and a valve element. The valve element is movable between a closed position wherein the inlet port is closed and an open position wherein the inlet port is opened. A coil is formed on the bobbin adjacent the magnet. In use, the coil generates directional magnetic fields oriented to cause the magnet to be repelled to move the valve element to the open position and oriented to cause a magnetic attraction with the magnet to move the valve element to the closed position.

Abstract: A system and method for regulating steam pressure. The system includes a steam source, a reformer, and a pressure regulator. The reformer includes an inlet that is in fluid communication with a steam source, and an outlet that provides a supply of hydrogen gas. The pressure regulator includes a valve body, a valve movable between first and second positions, and an actuator. The valve body defines an internal flow passage between first and second ports. The first port is in fluid communication with the inlet of the reformer. The first position of the valve substantially prevents steam communication through the internal flow passage, and the second position of the valve permits generally unrestricted steam communication through the internal flow passage. The actuator includes an actuator body that defines a chamber, a movable actuator wall that divides the chamber into first and second chamber spaces, and a shaft that couples the movable actuator wall to the valve.

Abstract: An evaporative fuel vapor control system, purge valve and methods are described. The system includes a fuel supply, internal combustion engine, vapor canister, a bypass passage, and a purge valve. The bypass passage includes a sensor disposed in the bypass passage and in communication with the flow passage to provide a signal indicative of the magnitude of chemicals in the fuel vapor being provided to the engine. Various methodologies relating the system, purge valve and sensors are described.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation valve is provided. The exhaust gas recirculation valve has a base, a spring biasing the valve closed, and an actuator including a rotary motor and a linearly displaceable shaft that is coupled to the motor's rotor. The valve includes a valve member and valve seat disposed within a fluid conduit, and the spring is disposed between the actuator and the valve.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation valve is provided. The exhaust gas recirculation valve has a base, a spring biasing the valve closed, and an actuator including a rotary motor and a linearly displaceable shaft that is coupled to the motor's rotor. The valve includes a valve member and valve seat disposed within a fluid conduit, and the spring is disposed between the actuator and the valve.

Abstract: A canister purge valve for use in an evaporative emission control system. The valve includes a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port. The housing further includes a guide element having a bobbin section. A valve shaft is slidably mounted to the guide element, wherein the valve shaft includes a permanent magnet and a valve element. The valve element is movable between a closed position wherein the inlet port is closed and an open position wherein the inlet port is opened. A pick coil is formed on the bobbin adjacent the magnet. The pick coil generates a first magnetic field having a polarity that is oriented to cause a magnetic attraction with the magnet to move the magnet and thus the valve element to the open position. In addition, a release coil is formed on the bobbin adjacent to the magnet, wherein the release coil generates a second magnetic field having a polarity that is oriented to cause the magnet to be repelled to move the magnet and thus the valve element to the closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dissipating heat from a steam pressure regulator for a reformer of a fuel cell system. The reformer including an inlet in fluid communication with a steam source, and an outlet providing a supply of hydrogen gas. The steam pressure regulator including a valve body, a valve movable between first and second positions, an actuator, and an intermediate body. The valve body defines an internal flow passage between first and second ports. The first port is adapted to be in fluid communication with the inlet of the reformer. The first position of the valve substantially prevents fluid communication through the internal flow passage, and the second position of the valve permits generally unrestricted fluid communication through the internal flow passage. The actuator includes an actuator body that defines a chamber, a movable actuator wall that divides the chamber into first and second chamber spaces, and a shaft that couples the movable actuator wall to the valve.

Abstract: A canister purge valve for use in an evaporative emission control system. The valve includes a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port. The housing further includes a guide element having a bobbin section. A valve shaft is slidably mounted to the guide element, wherein the valve shaft includes a permanent magnet and a valve element. The valve element is movable between a closed position wherein the inlet port is closed and an open position wherein the inlet port is opened. A pick coil is formed on the bobbin adjacent the magnet. The pick coil generates a first magnetic field having a polarity that is oriented to cause a magnetic attraction with the magnet to move the magnet and thus the valve element to the open position. In addition, a release coil is formed on the bobbin adjacent to the magnet, wherein the release coil generates a second magnetic field having a polarity that is oriented to cause the magnet to be repelled to move the magnet and thus the valve element to the closed position.

Abstract: A method of diverting flow with a valve through a first filter and a second filter to purify exhaust gas with at least one of the filters and to regenerate at least one of the filters with the exhaust gas. Positioning the valve in a first operative position purifies the exhaust gas with the first filter and regenerates the second filter with the exhaust gas. Positioning the valve in a second operative position that is different that the first operative position purifies the exhaust gas with the second filter and regenerates the first filter with the exhaust gas. The method can be achieved by a valve for an exhaust system that including a body and a flow inhibitor. The body defines a volume and has a first inlet, a second inlet, a recirculation chamber, and an outlet chamber in fluid communication with the volume.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dissipating heat from a steam pressure regulator for a reformer of a fuel cell system. The reformer including an inlet in fluid communication with a steam source, and an outlet providing a supply of hydrogen gas. The steam pressure regulator including a valve body, a valve movable between first and second positions, an actuator, and an intermediate body. The valve body defines an internal flow passage between first and second ports. The first port is adapted to be in fluid communication with the inlet of the reformer. The first position of the valve substantially prevents fluid communication through the internal flow passage, and the second position of the valve permits generally unrestricted fluid communication through the internal flow passage. The actuator includes an actuator body that defines a chamber, a movable actuator wall that divides the chamber into first and second chamber spaces, and a shaft that couples the movable actuator wall to the valve.

Abstract: A system and method for regulating steam pressure. The system includes a steam source, a reformer, and a pressure regulator. The reformer includes an inlet that is in fluid communication with a steam source, and an outlet that provides a supply of hydrogen gas. The pressure regulator includes a valve body, a valve movable between first and second positions, and an actuator. The valve body defines an internal flow passage between first and second ports. The first port is in fluid communication with the inlet of the reformer. The first position of the valve substantially prevents steam communication through the internal flow passage, and the second position of the valve permits generally unrestricted steam communication through the internal flow passage. The actuator includes an actuator body that defines a chamber, a movable actuator wall that divides the chamber into first and second chamber spaces, and a shaft that couples the movable actuator wall to the valve.

Abstract: Various embodiments of air control valves are disclosed. Each has a mechanism, controlled by a solenoid and by the difference between fluid pressure at its inlet and fluid pressure at its outlet, for allowing communication between an air pump and an exhaust gas treatment system as long as fluid pressure at the outlet does not exceed fluid pressure at the inlet by more than a predetermined difference during absence of a predetermined electric energization of the solenoid, for disallowing communication between the air pump and the gas treatment system during presence of the predetermined electric energization of the solenoid, and for disallowing communication between the air pump and the gas treatment system whenever fluid pressure at the outlet exceeds fluid pressure at the inlet by more than the predetermined difference.

Abstract: A method of diverting flow with a valve through a first filter and a second filter to purify exhaust gas with at least one of the filters and to regenerate at least one of the filters with the exhaust gas. Positioning the valve in a first operative position purifies the exhaust gas with the first filter and regenerates the second filter with the exhaust gas. Positioning the valve in a second operative position that is different that the first operative position purifies the exhaust gas with the second filter and regenerates the first filter with the exhaust gas. The method can be achieved by a valve for an exhaust system that including a body and a flow inhibitor. The body defines a volume and has a first inlet, a second inlet, a recirculation chamber, and an outlet chamber in fluid communication with the volume.

Abstract: Various embodiments of air control valves are disclosed. Each has a mechanism, controlled by a solenoid and by the difference between fluid pressure at its inlet and fluid pressure at its outlet, for allowing communication between an air pump and an exhaust gas treatment system as long as fluid pressure at the outlet does not exceed fluid pressure at the inlet by more than a predetermined difference during absence of a predetermined electric energization of the solenoid, for disallowing communication between the air pump and the gas treatment system during presence of the predetermined electric energization of the solenoid, and for disallowing communication between the air pump and the gas treatment system whenever fluid pressure at the outlet exceeds fluid pressure at the inlet by more than the predetermined difference.

Abstract: The purge valve embodies a solenoid that has a linear force vs. current characteristic acting on the armature. Effects of hysteresis are minimized by certain constructional features and the manner of operating the valve by an associated control circuit.

Abstract: An installation for an exhaust gas recirculation valve in which the valve is mounted directly in the intake manifold, a tubular base piece receiving exhaust gas mounted in an opening in the manifold by a double-walled thin metal heat gradient element. An attached solenoid housing is mounted in an opening in an opposite manifold wall. An operating rod having an attached valve element is actuated by a pushing force generated by energization of the solenoid, the valve element controlling the flow of exhaust gas out of a valve seat in a partition in the tubular base piece and out of the tubular base piece into the air flow in the air induction ducting. The solenoid is designed by allow controlled proportionate opening movement of the valve element to correspondingly control the volume of exhaust gas diverted into the manifold air flow. The valve is cooled by air flow within the air induction duct to prevent heat damage to the manifold and the solenoid components are isolated from direct exposure to exhaust gas.

Abstract: A valve assembly for introducing exhaust gas into the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, preferably, an electric exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly. The valve assembly includes an actuator having a centered solenoid assembly that reciprocates a floating valve mechanism to provide a substantially constant flow rate of exhaust gas regardless of the reciprocating direction of the floating valve mechanism. That is, the valve assembly delivers a gas flow rate that is substantially free of hysteresis because the valve assembly provide substantially the same exhaust gas flow rate for a given percentage of a pulse width modulated duty cycle when the floating valve mechanism is reciprocating in a valve opening direction or a valve closing direction.