Abstract: An apparatus includes a crankshaft gear operatively coupled to an engine. An auxiliary gear is operatively coupled to the engine. An idler gear is operatively coupled to the engine, and is in meshed engagement with each of the crankshaft gear and the auxiliary gear. A ring dowel is fixedly coupled to an engine block. An idler hub has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface is fixedly coupled to the ring dowel and the idler gear is rotatably coupled to the outer surface. The idler hub is eccentrically-shaped so that an idler gear centerline is offset from a ring dowel centerline so as to reduce a crankshaft backlash between the crankshaft gear and the idler gear relative to a nominal crankshaft backlash, and so as to substantially maintain an auxiliary backlash between the auxiliary gear and the idler gear relative to a nominal auxiliary backlash.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a crankshaft gear operatively coupled to an engine. An auxiliary gear is operatively coupled to the engine. An idler gear is operatively coupled to the engine, and is in meshed engagement with each of the crankshaft gear and the auxiliary gear. A ring dowel is fixedly coupled to an engine block. An idler hub has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface is fixedly coupled to the ring dowel and the idler gear is rotatably coupled to the outer surface. The idler hub is eccentrically-shaped so that an idler gear centerline is offset from a ring dowel centerline so as to reduce a crankshaft backlash between the crankshaft gear and the idler gear relative to a nominal crankshaft backlash, and so as to substantially maintain an auxiliary backlash between the auxiliary gear and the idler gear relative to a nominal auxiliary backlash.

Abstract: An adaptive valve assembly includes a pipe defining a passageway for conducting engine exhaust gases, a pivot shaft supported by the pipe, and a valve body coupled to the pivot shaft. The valve body is moveable between an open position where exhaust gas flow through the passageway is increased and a closed position where exhaust gas flow through the passageway is reduced. A spring biases the valve body toward the closed position. The spring includes a plurality of coils that have torsional displacement relative to each other as the valve body moves between the open and closed positions. A torsional damper feature is associated with at least one coil of the plurality of coils to provide torsional spring damping.

Abstract: A vehicle exhaust system includes an exhaust component having an outer surface and an inner surface that defines an internal exhaust component cavity. At least one hole is formed in the exhaust component to extend through a wall of the exhaust component from the outer surface to the inner surface. A member is formed from a resistive material and is configured to overlap the at least one hole. At least one spacer is configured to space the member away from the inner or outer surface of the exhaust component to create an open cavity between the member and the exhaust component. In one example, an actuator is configured to cover and uncover the member dependent upon an operating characteristic to vary damping.

Abstract: A vehicle exhaust system includes an exhaust component having an outer surface and an inner surface that defines an internal exhaust component cavity. At least one bleed hole is formed in the exhaust component to reduce a resonance frequency. The bleed hole comprises a discontinuous opening into the exhaust component cavity.

Abstract: An exhaust component assembly includes a first pipe that defines a center axis and has a first end, and a second pipe that has a second end inserted into the first end of the first pipe such that an outer surface of the second end is in contact with an inner surface of the first end. At least one axial weld connects the first and second ends together.

Abstract: An adaptive valve assembly includes a pipe defining a passageway for conducting engine exhaust gases, a pivot shaft supported by the pipe, and a valve body coupled to the pivot shaft. The valve body is moveable between an open position where exhaust gas flow through the passageway is increased and a closed position where exhaust gas flow through the passageway is reduced. A resilient member biases the valve body toward the closed position. A retainer assembly includes at least one damping feature that engages the resilient member to dampen vibrations.

Abstract: A vehicle exhaust system includes an exhaust component having an outer surface and an inner surface that defines an internal exhaust component cavity. At least one hole is formed in the exhaust component to extend through a wall of the exhaust component from the outer surface to the inner surface. A member is formed from a resistive material and is configured to overlap the at least one hole. At least one spacer is configured to space the member away from the inner or outer surface of the exhaust component to create an open cavity between the member and the exhaust component. In one example, an actuator is configured to cover and uncover the member dependent upon an operating characteristic to vary damping.

Abstract: An adaptive valve assembly includes a pipe defining a passageway for conducting engine exhaust gases, a pivot shaft supported by the pipe, and a valve body coupled to the pivot shaft. The valve body is moveable between an open position where exhaust gas flow through the passageway is increased and a closed position where exhaust gas flow through the passageway is reduced. A resilient member biases the valve body toward the closed position. A retainer cooperates with the resilient member to define a valve stop for the valve body when in the closed position.

Abstract: An adaptive valve assembly includes a pipe defining a passageway for conducting engine exhaust gases, a pivot shaft supported by the pipe, and a valve body coupled to the pivot shaft. The valve body is moveable between an open position where exhaust gas flow through the passageway is increased and a closed position where exhaust gas flow through the passageway is reduced. A spring biases the valve body toward the closed position. The spring includes a plurality of coils that have torsional displacement relative to each other as the valve body moves between the open and closed positions. A torsional damper feature is associated with at least one coil of the plurality of coils to provide torsional spring damping.

Abstract: A hybrid valve assembly for an exhaust system includes an exhaust tube having a bore defining an exhaust flow path. A vane is mounted within the bore and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. A resilient member biases the vane toward the closed position. A valve actuator has an ON position where movement of the vane is actively controlled by the valve actuator and an OFF position where movement of the vane is passively controlled by exhaust gas flow.

Abstract: A vehicle exhaust system includes an exhaust component having an outer surface and an inner surface that defines an internal exhaust component cavity. At least one bleed hole is formed in the exhaust component to reduce a resonance frequency. The bleed hole comprises a discontinuous opening into the exhaust component cavity.

Abstract: A passive valve assembly for an exhaust component includes a vane that is positioned within an exhaust gas flow path. The vane is pivoted from a closed position to an open position in response to exhaust gas flow overcoming a biasing force. A stop is positioned within the exhaust component and cooperates with the vane to define a closed position for the vane.

Abstract: An exhaust component assembly includes a first pipe that defines a center axis and has a first end, and a second pipe that has a second end inserted into the first end of the first pipe such that an outer surface of the second end is in contact with an inner surface of the first end. At least one axial weld connects the first and second ends together.

Abstract: An exhaust system includes first and second exhaust components with an inter-pipe that fluidly connects an outlet of the first exhaust component to an inlet of the second exhaust component. A passive valve is mounted within the inter-pipe. The second exhaust component defines an internal cavity that is at least partially packed with a high frequency absorption material and cooperates with the passive valve to effectively attenuate low and high frequency noise.

Abstract: An exhaust gas carrying of an exhaust gas system of a combustion engine fulfills a sound-absorbing function and has an outer shell that comprises at least one sound-absorbing portion. The sound-absorbing portion is provided with micro perforations which have a sound-absorbing effect and through which exhaust gas is directly discharged to an external environment.

Abstract: A vehicle exhaust system includes at least one exhaust component that defines an exhaust passage from an engine to an exhaust outlet. An active noise attenuation component is associated with the exhaust component. A valve is positioned within the exhaust component downstream of the engine and upstream of the active noise attenuation component. The valve and active noise attenuation component cooperate with each other to control noise generated by the exhaust system.

Abstract: A passive valve assembly for a vehicle exhaust system includes an exhaust component that defines an exhaust gas flow path and a vane that is positioned within the exhaust gas flow path. The vane is positioned at an initial start position and is movable between a closed position to provide a minimum exhaust gas flow and an open position to provide a maximum exhaust gas flow. The start position is orientated at a negative angle relative to the closed position.

Abstract: A vehicle exhaust system includes an exhaust component having an inlet and an outlet. The exhaust component is configured to be fixed to a vehicle body. A pipe extends through the exhaust component from the inlet to the outlet. The pipe is mounted for movement relative to the exhaust component at the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: An exhaust valve assembly includes a flapper valve that is mounted on a shaft for rotation within an exhaust component housing between a closed position, an intermediate position, and an open position. An electric actuator is coupled to the shaft to control movement of the flapper valve. The electric actuator moves the flapper valve to the open position for high speed engine conditions. When engine speeds are lowered, and while all engine cylinders remain active, the electric actuator moves the flapper valve to the intermediate position. Once the flapper valve is in the intermediate position, if an engine cylinder is subsequently deactivated, the electric actuator quickly and quietly moves the flapper valve from the intermediate position to the closed position.