Abstract: An aspirator for creating vacuum is disclosed that includes a housing defining a fluid passageway with a first tapering portion and a second tapering portion. Each tapering portion has a larger internal opening and a smaller internal opening, the smaller openings facing one another. The aspirator includes a gate positioned between and in fluid communication with the first and second tapering portions, the gate having a first Venturi tube with a Venturi opening creating vacuum when fluid flows in a direction and a second Venturi tube with a Venturi opening that creates vacuum when fluid flows in the opposite direction. The Venturi openings are in fluid communication with a suction port, and the first and second Venturi tubes may provide different mass flow rates through the aspirator. An engine system having an aspirator with a gate having a first bore and a second bore and an actuator is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for producing vacuum using the Venturi effect, systems utilizing the device, and methods of making the device are disclosed. The device has a housing defining a Venturi gap, a motive passageway converging toward the Venturi gap and in fluid communication therewith, a discharge passageway diverging away from the Venturi gap and in fluid communication therewith, and a suction passageway in fluid communication with the Venturi gap. The suction passageway has an interior surface with a surface topography that renders the interior surface hydrophobic and has an oleophobic coating applied to the interior surface while maintaining the surface topography.

Abstract: Check valves, Venturi devices and engines having such check valves, define an internal cavity having a first port and a second port, a first seat and a second seat, and a translatable seal disk. The check valves have an outlet conduit extending from the second port and/or the first seat has a first annular seal bead and a second annular seal bead disposed radially inward of the first annular seal bead with a plurality of ribs extending between the first annular seal bead and the second annular seal bead within the fluid flow path of the first port. The outlet conduit defines an outlet passageway having a restrictor profile that is circular in a transverse profile, and the ribs decrease the flow area of the fluid flow path of the first port by about 10% to about 60%.

Abstract: Engine systems have an air induction system, a turbocharger in fluid communication with an intake manifold, an evacuator defining a Venturi gap with a suction port in fluid communication therewith, a relief valve enclosing a piston and defining an inlet and an outlet in selective fluid communication with one another, and a storage tank of high pressure air in fluid communication with the evacuator. The relief valve has a valve element connected to the piston, and the piston divides the housing into a pressurized chamber in fluid communication with the suction port of the evacuator and a bypass portion in fluid communication with the inlet, which is in fluid communication with the compressed air from the turbocharger, and the outlet, which is in fluid communication with the air induction system or atmosphere. A discharge cone of the evacuator is in fluid communication with atmosphere or the air induction system.

Abstract: A variable flow valve assembly is disclosed, and includes a main body, a piston, a position sensor, a controller, a solenoid, and a cover. The main body defines a chamber, an inlet port, an outlet port, and a wall located between the inlet port and the outlet port. The wall defines a metering orifice for selectively allowing a medium to flow from the inlet port to the outlet port. The chamber of the main body includes a pressurized chamber. The piston is moveable within the chamber of the main body in a plurality of partially open positions to vary the amount of medium flowing through the modulation orifice. The piston separates the pressurized chamber from the inlet port. The position sensor determines the position of the piston within the chamber of the main body, and the controller is in signal communication with the position sensor.

Abstract: Check valves, Venturi devices and engines that include the check valves are disclosed. The check valves define an internal cavity having a first port and a second port, a first seat and a second seat, and a translatable seal disk. The first seat is proximate the first port and has a first annular seal bead, and a second annular seal bead radially inward from the first annular seal bead. The seal disk has a first sealing portion seatable against the first annular seal bead and a second sealing portion seatable against the second annular seal bead (both of a first thickness), an intermediate portion between the first and second sealing portions of a second thickness, and a lip portion defining the outer periphery of the seal disk of a third thickness. The second thickness is greater than the first thickness, and the third thickness is less than the first thickness.

Abstract: A turbocharged engine air system is disclosed. The system includes a vacuum consuming device, a turbocharger having a compressor fluidly connected to an intake manifold of an engine, a first check valve located upstream of the compressor, a second check valve located downstream of the compressor and upstream of the intake manifold, and an evacuator. The evacuator includes a converging motive section, a diverging discharge section, at least one suction port, and a Venturi gap located between an outlet end of the converging motive section and an inlet end of the diverging discharge section. The diverging discharge section of the evacuator is fluidly connected to both the first check valve and the second check valve. The suction port is fluidly connected to the vacuum consuming device.

Abstract: Ejector assemblies and engine systems have a pressure regulator in fluid communication with an ejector. The pressure regulator receives boost pressure and selectively allows the boost pressure to pass through a valve opening therein under selected engine conditions and into the ejector as regulated boost pressure. Both the pressure regulator and the ejector each have a conduit defining a passageway that includes a Venturi gap separating the passageway into a converging section and a first diverging section that both narrow toward the Venturi gap. The pressure regulator has a piston operatively connected to a valve mechanism positioned for movement therewith to control the passage of the boost pressure through the valve opening, and the valve mechanism defines a passage therethrough that includes a gradually narrowing portion that is narrower than the valve opening.

Abstract: Check valves, Venturi devices and engines having such check valves, define an internal cavity having a first port and a second port, a first seat and a second seat, and a translatable seal disk. The check valves have an outlet conduit extending from the second port and/or the first seat has a first annular seal bead and a second annular seal bead disposed radially inward of the first annular seal bead with a plurality of ribs extending between the first annular seal bead and the second annular seal bead within the fluid flow path of the first port. The outlet conduit defines an outlet passageway having a restrictor profile that is circular in a transverse profile, and the ribs decrease the flow area of the fluid flow path of the first port by about 10% to about 60%.

Abstract: A Venturi device has a body defining a motive section and a discharge section converging toward and spaced a distance apart to define a Venturi gap, defining a first suction port and a second suction port each in fluid communication with the Venturi gap, and defining a chamber having an outlet end of the motive section and an inlet end of the discharge section dividing the chamber into a first portion and a second portion in fluid communication with one another above and below the inlet and outlet ends and through the Venturi gap. The first and second portions both have a plurality of spaced apart fingers protruding radially and axially from an inner wall thereof. A suction housing is sealingly connected to the chamber and collectively defines a check valve with the body, and a cap is sealing connected to close another end of the chamber.

Abstract: Venturi devices are disclosed herein that include a body defining a Venturi gap between an outlet end of a converging motive section and an inlet end of a diverging discharge section, having a suction port in fluid communication with the Venturi gap, a gate valve linearly translatable to open and close the Venturi gap, and an actuator connected to the gate valve to operatively move the gate valve between an open position and a closed position. The gate valve, in a longitudinal cross-section, is generally U-shaped, thereby having continuous, opposing sides that one each close the motive outlet and the discharge inlet and defining a void between the opposing sides that is in fluid communication with the suction port. The converging motive section defines a circular-shaped motive inlet and defines an elliptical- or polygonal-shaped motive outlet, and the diverging discharge section defines an elliptical- or polygonal-shaped discharge inlet.

Abstract: A latching solenoid gate valve is disclosed, and includes a housing defining a conduit having a flow path therethrough and a cavity separating the conduit into a first section and a second section. The latching solenoid assembly also includes a gate assembly enclosed within the cavity of the housing and a first solenoid assembly and a second solenoid assembly seated within the cavity with the gate assembly linearly translatable therebetween. The gate assembly includes a first gate member comprising magnetizable material and defining an opening therethrough. The first gate member is linearly movable within the cavity between an open position with the opening aligned with the conduit and a closed position with the opening out of alignment with the conduit. The first gate member is moved linearly from either the open position or the closed position.

Abstract: Fluidic diodes are disclosed that have a housing defining an inlet and an outlet and a divided fluid passageway therebetween defined by mirror image partitions generally tear-drop shaped spaced apart a first distance from one another by a constant width primary fluid pathway with the tip thereof pointed generally toward the outlet and spaced apart a second distance from an interior wall of the housing to define a constant width secondary fluid pathway. Fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet is through the primary fluid pathway with some additional flow through the secondary fluid pathways joining the primary fluid pathway proximate the outlet for flow together in the same direction, and fluid flow from the outlet to the inlet through the secondary fluid pathways exits the secondary fluid pathways into the primary fluid pathway, proximate the inlet, in a direction substantially opposite the flow in the primary fluid pathway.