Abstract: A valve device has a valve that opens and closes a passage, and a cantilever bearing member rotatably supporting a rotating shaft of the valve. The cantilever bearing member has rolling-element bearings arranged in series in an axial direction of the rotating shaft. One of the rolling-element bearings located the closest to the passage has a rolling element, an inner race, an outer race and a seal portion. A space is defined between the inner race and the outer race to receive the rolling element. The seal portion made of rubber tightly seals the space on a side adjacent to the passage.

Abstract: A valve device has a valve that opens and closes a passage, and a cantilever bearing member rotatably supporting a rotating shaft of the valve. The cantilever bearing member has rolling-element bearings arranged in series in an axial direction of the rotating shaft. One of the rolling-element bearings located the closest to the passage has a rolling element, an inner race, an outer race and a seal portion. A space is defined between the inner race and the outer race to receive the rolling element. The seal portion made of rubber tightly seals the space on a side adjacent to the passage.

Abstract: A rotational angle sensor for an EGR valve memorizes a correlated characteristic between hall voltage and output voltage. Hall voltage of the rotational angle sensor at a reference angle is matched to a boundary value for the hall voltage on a valve closing side, wherein the reference angle is set at such an angle, which is shifted by a predetermined angle in the valve closing side from an upper-limit angle of a flow-rate dead zone. A valve full-closing control is carried out in order that the hall voltage will coincide with the boundary value on the valve closing side. An actual value of the rotational angle coincides with a value, which is shifted from the reference angle in a valve closing or opening direction by a changing range decided by changing factors of a sensor side and/or a mechanical-part side.

Abstract: An intake controller includes a casing defining an intake passage that communicates with a combustion chamber of an engine, a valve received in the casing to open/close the passage, a rotational shaft that changes an opening degree of the valve, an actuator having a gear that drives the valve through the shaft, a gear retaining member retaining the gear, a sensor including a magnet that rotates according to rotation of the shaft and a magnetic detection element that detects magnetic flux generated from the magnet, and a sensor retaining member retaining the sensor. The sensor detects the opening degree of the valve based on a change of density of the magnetic flux passing through the element. One of the gear and the gear retaining member, and one of the sensor and the sensor retaining member are separately fixed on the shaft.

Abstract: A valve apparatus includes a valve shaft, a body, a bearing housing, a fixing device, and an actuator. The body has a flow path therein, and the flow path has an opening degree that is operated by rotation of the valve shaft. The bearing housing rotatably supports the valve shaft, and the bearing housing has a predetermined attachment portion. The fixing device fixes the bearing housing to the body by fastening the predetermined attachment portion of the bearing housing to an outer surface of the body. The actuator is provided to cover the fixing device from outside, and the actuator is fixed to the body and the bearing housing. The actuator applies a driving force to the valve shaft.

Abstract: An integrated valve device includes a casing having cylindrical portions each defining therein a fluid passage. The fluid passage accommodates a valve being adapted to opening and closing the fluid passage. A shaft extends through the valves to manipulate positions of the valves all together. Each cylindrical portion has a pair of wall portions each opposed to corresponding one sidewall surface of each of the valves. The pair of wall portions is located in a range out of an open-close range between a full close position and a full open position of the valve. Each wall portion has a protrusion for supporting the valve by being in direct contact with corresponding one of the sidewall surfaces when the protrusions of the pair of wall portions interpose therebetween the valve.

Abstract: A valve assembly is disclosed that includes a first and a second valve assembly parts that collectively define a duct. The valve assembly also includes a valve unit that includes a housing defining a fluid flow path therethrough. The valve unit is coupled to the first valve assembly part such that the fluid flow path is in fluid communication with the duct. A control valve is also included for controlling flow of fluid in the flow path. Furthermore, the valve assembly includes a sealing member that seals a space between the first valve assembly part and the second valve assembly part, that seals a space between the first valve assembly part and the valve unit, and that dampens vibration transmitted to the valve unit.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a valve unit is disclosed that includes providing a plurality of injection molding dies that define a cavity corresponding in shape to the valve unit. The valve unit includes a housing and a valve, and the housing defines a fluid flow path with an axis having an upstream direction and a downstream direction corresponding to a predetermined direction of fluid flow in the fluid flow path. The valve is cantilevered and includes a valve body having a coupled end rotationally coupled to the housing and a free end, and the valve body rotates about the coupled end to thereby change flow through the fluid flow path. The method also includes simultaneously molding the housing and the valve within the cavity such that the valve body is formed with the free end extending away from the downstream direction of the axis of the fluid flow path.

Abstract: A valve apparatus includes a valve shaft, a body, a bearing housing, a fixing device, and an actuator. The body has a flow path therein, and the flow path has an opening degree that is operated by rotation of the valve shaft. The bearing housing rotatably supports the valve shaft, and the bearing housing has a predetermined attachment portion. The fixing device fixes the bearing housing to the body by fastening the predetermined attachment portion of the bearing housing to an outer surface of the body. The actuator is provided to cover the fixing device from outside, and the actuator is fixed to the body and the bearing housing. The actuator applies a driving force to the valve shaft.

Abstract: An air-intake device includes a throttle valve pivotally movable around a shaft connected to one end of the throttle valve and an airflow passage formed in the intake air passage above an upper end of the throttle valve. In a region where an amount of intake air is small (i.e., in a region where an opening-degree of the throttle valve is small), an amount of intake air passing through the airflow passage is precisely controlled. In the same region, a high-speed airflow is generated in the airflow passage thereby to formulate a uniform air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. These functions are easily realized by simply adding a member for forming the airflow passage to a throttle valve unit disposed in the intake air passage.

Abstract: An intake controller includes a casing defining an intake passage that communicates with a combustion chamber of an engine, a valve received in the casing to open/close the passage, a rotational shaft that changes an opening degree of the valve, an actuator having a gear that drives the valve through the shaft, a gear retaining member retaining the gear, a sensor including a magnet that rotates according to rotation of the shaft and a magnetic detection element that detects magnetic flux generated from the magnet, and a sensor retaining member retaining the sensor. The sensor detects the opening degree of the valve based on a change of density of the magnetic flux passing through the element. One of the gear and the gear retaining member, and one of the sensor and the sensor retaining member are separately fixed on the shaft.

Abstract: A vortex generator is disclosed for flow of a fluid. The vortex generator includes a housing that includes a passage through which the fluid flows. The vortex generator also includes a valve that is movably coupled to the housing between a fully closed position and a fully open position for changing flow of the fluid in the passage. The valve includes an open portion that defines a main aperture for generating a vortex in the flow of the fluid. Also, the valve has an intermediate position between the fully closed position and the fully open position. The housing further includes a recessed portion such that the recessed portion of the housing and the valve cooperate to define a sub-aperture through which the fluid flows when the valve is positioned in the intermediate position. A method of manufacturing the vortex generator is also disclosed.

Abstract: An integrated valve device includes a casing having intake passages respectively accommodating valves and separately connected with cylinders of an engine. The valves are skewered with a shaft extending through a through hole of each valve along a rotation axis. An actuator generates driving force to rotate the valves via the shaft. The shaft has a fitting portions respectively supporting the valves at mount angles. The mount angle of each valve with respect to each fitting portion is determined correspondingly to load torque applied to each valve toward a valve-open direction when being in a full close position.

Abstract: An integrated valve device includes a casing having cylindrical portions each defining therein a fluid passage. The fluid passage accommodates a valve being adapted to opening and closing the fluid passage. A shaft extends through the valves to manipulate positions of the valves all together. Each cylindrical portion has a pair of wall portions each opposed to corresponding one sidewall surface of each of the valves. The pair of wall portions is located in a range out of an open-close range between a full close position and a full open position of the valve. Each wall portion has a protrusion for supporting the valve by being in contact with corresponding one of the sidewall surfaces when the protrusions of the pair of wall portions interpose therebetween the valve.

Abstract: An electrically controlled throttle apparatus is constructed with a throttle body and a throttle valve that are simultaneously molded of a resinous material in the same molding dies. The throttle valve is rotatably assembled in a bore wall part of the throttle body while the throttle valve is rotated by a predetermined rotation angle ? between 45° and 135° with respect to a rotation angle 0° corresponding to its full close position. An outer circumferential periphery of the filler, which is molded to be the throttle valve in a cavity of the molding dies, is compressed by a predetermined pressure when the throttle valve and the throttle body are molded. Thus, dispersion of contraction of the throttle valve can be reduced in its molding process by adding the compression process.

Abstract: An air-intake device includes a throttle valve pivotally movable around a shaft connected to one end of the throttle valve and an airflow passage formed in the intake air passage above an upper end of the throttle valve. In a region where an amount of intake air is small (i.e., in a region where an opening-degree of the throttle valve is small), an amount of intake air passing through the airflow passage is precisely controlled. In the same region, a high-speed airflow is generated in the airflow passage thereby to formulate a uniform air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. These functions are easily realized by simply adding a member for forming the airflow passage to a throttle valve unit disposed in the intake air passage.

Abstract: A vortex generator is disclosed for flow of a fluid. The vortex generator includes a housing that includes a passage through which the fluid flows. The vortex generator also includes a valve that is movably coupled to the housing between a fully closed position and a fully open position for changing flow of the fluid in the passage. The valve includes an open portion that defines a main aperture for generating a vortex in the flow of the fluid. Also, the valve has an intermediate position between the fully closed position and the fully open position. The housing further includes a recessed portion such that the recessed portion of the housing and the valve cooperate to define a sub-aperture through which the fluid flows when the valve is positioned in the intermediate position. A method of manufacturing the vortex generator is also disclosed.

Abstract: A valve assembly is disclosed that includes a first and a second valve assembly parts that collectively define a duct. The valve assembly also includes a valve unit that includes a housing defining a fluid flow path therethrough. The valve unit is coupled to the first valve assembly part such that the fluid flow path is in fluid communication with the duct. A control valve is also included for controlling flow of fluid in the flow path. Furthermore, the valve assembly includes a sealing member that seals a space between the first valve assembly part and the second valve assembly part, that seals a space between the first valve assembly part and the valve unit, and that dampens vibration transmitted to the valve unit.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a valve unit is disclosed that includes providing a plurality of injection molding dies that define a cavity corresponding in shape to the valve unit. The valve unit includes a housing and a valve, and the housing defines a fluid flow path with an axis having an upstream direction and a downstream direction corresponding to a predetermined direction of fluid flow in the fluid flow path. The valve is cantilevered and includes a valve body having a coupled end rotationally coupled to the housing and a free end, and the valve body rotates about the coupled end to thereby change flow through the fluid flow path. The method also includes simultaneously molding the housing and the valve within the cavity such that the valve body is formed with the free end extending away from the downstream direction of the axis of the fluid flow path.

Abstract: A fail-safe mechanism of an air induction control apparatus for automotive engines is provided which is designed to hold a throttle valve at a middle position when a valve actuator has failed to move the throttle valve. The fail-safe mechanism includes a middle position hold stopper, an opener lever connected to the throttle shaft, and a first and a second coil spring. The first coil spring works to exert a first spring pressure on the opener member in a first rotational direction in which the throttle valve is rotated from a fully opened position to the middle position. The first coil spring is urged at an end thereof into constant engagement with the middle position hold stopper to hold the opener member from rotating in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. The second coil spring has a first and a second end between which the opener member extends. The first end abuts against the middle position hold stopper.