Abstract: Check valve units having one or more sound attenuating members are disclosed. A check valve unit includes a housing defining an inlet port, an outlet port, and a chamber in fluid communication therewith thereby defining a flow path from the inlet port through the chamber to the outlet port. The chamber includes first and second valve seats and has a sealing member disposed therein that is moveable from a position seated on the first valve seat to a position seated on the second valve seat. A sound attenuating member is disposed in the flow path downstream of the chamber, within the chamber, or both. In another embodiment, the check valve unit includes a Venturi portion in fluid communication with the chamber. The Venturi portion has a fluid junction with the flow path downstream of the chamber or forms the discharge section of the Venturi portion thereby defining the outlet port.

Abstract: A solenoid-powered gate valve that provides a reliable, high quality seal with a reduced operating force requirement. The valve includes a solenoid coil and armature connected to a valve mechanism, with the valve mechanism including a conduit having a connection opening, an oppositely-disposed pocket, and a sprung gate assembly linearly movable between the connection opening and the pocket. The sprung gate assembly includes a first gate member with an opening, a second gate member with an opening, and an endless elastic band retained between the first and second gate members, with the openings and endless elastic band collectively defining a passage through the sprung gate assembly, with the first and second gate members being mechanically coupled to the armature for reciprocating linear movement between the connection opening and the pocket. The endless elastic band allows an interference fit within the pocket with reduced frictional opposition to gate movement.

Abstract: A sprung gate for a valve having an endless elastic band sandwiched between first and second gate members that each define an opening therethrough in an open position portion thereof, which collectively form a passage through the sprung gate. The first gate member includes a fastener connected to a fastener receiving member of the second gate member thereby securing the first and second gate members together as a unit. This sprung gate unit is operatively connected to an actuator for linear translation within a pocket of a conduit to control fluid flow through the conduit. This assembled device may be manufactured using spin welding to sealingly mate the conduit to a housing enclosing the actuator.

Abstract: An engine system having a flowpath between a junction upstream of a turbocharger and an intake manifold that includes an ejector and an aspirator connected in parallel relative to one another within the flowpath is disclosed. The motive flow through the ejector is in the opposite direction relative to the direction of the motive flow through the aspirator, and both the ejector and the aspirator have a suction port fluidly coupled to a device requiring vacuum. The engine system also includes a first check valve disposed in control of the motive flow through the ejector and a second check valve disposed in control of the motive flow through the aspirator and may also include a control valve in fluid communication within the flowpath upstream or downstream of the ejector and the aspirator that controls the flow into and/or out of both thereof.

Abstract: An engine system having a compressor coupled to an engine and supplying air to an intake manifold, a throttle controlling the supply of air from the compressor to the intake manifold, a compressor recirculation valve (CRV) having a pneumatic control chamber, and a throttle aspirator having its motive section in fluid communication with an inlet of the throttle and its discharge section in fluid communication with an outlet of the throttle and its suction port in fluid communication with the pneumatic control chamber of the CRV. Such an engine system automatically minimizes surge during boost without a control system activating the CRV. Here, the CRV operates purely on the changes in pressure within the system forming a loop that resets itself. In another embodiment, a gate valve and a vacuum canister may be included rather than having the throttle aspirator directly connected to the CRV's pneumatic control chamber.

Abstract: An engine system having a compressor coupled to an engine and supplying air to an intake manifold, a throttle controlling the supply of air from the compressor to the intake manifold, a vacuum reservoir, an aspirator having its motive section in fluid communication with the air intake system upstream of the compressor and its discharge section in fluid communication downstream of the compressor and a suction port in fluid communication with the vacuum reservoir, a compressor recirculation valve having a pneumatic control chamber in fluid communication with downstream air from the compressor and in fluid communication with the vacuum reservoir, a gate valve controlling the fluid communication of the pneumatic control chamber of the compressor recirculation valve with the downstream air and the vacuum reservoir, and a bleed line having a bleed valve in fluid communication with the vacuum reservoir and the pneumatic control chamber of the compressor recirculation valve.

Abstract: Aspirators 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 and have a suction port in fluid communication with the Venturi gap. 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. In one embodiment, the converging motive section defines an inner passageway that transitions as a hyperbolic function from the circular-shaped motive inlet to the elliptical- or polygonal-shaped motive outlet and the elliptical- or polygonal-shaped motive outlet has an area that is less than the area of the circular-shaped motive inlet.

Abstract: Valves having a sprung gate of various constructions are disclosed. In one embodiment, the sprung gate includes a first endless elastic band having an inner perimeter defining an open space sandwiched between a first gate member and a second gate member that each define an opening therethrough in an open position portion thereof. The first endless elastic band is sandwiched therebetween with its open space oriented for alignment with the opening in both of the first and second gate members, which are aligned with one another to form a passage through the sprung gate. In one aspect, the first endless elastic band in positioned inward a distance from the outer sides of the first and second gate members and spaces the first gate member a distance apart from the second gate member thereby defining a channel having a bottom defined by the first endless elastic band.

Abstract: Piston actuators and methods of its operation are described. The piston actuators include a housing defining a chamber having a piston therein and a spring seated against the piston to bias it into a starting position. The piston includes a ferromagnetic material, a magnet or both and a secondary magnet or ferromagnetic material, forming a first magnetic/ferromagnetic pair with the piston, is positioned to maintain the piston in a secondary position. A tertiary magnet or ferromagnetic material, forming a second magnetic/ferromagnetic pair with the piston, may assist the spring in maintaining the piston in the starting position. During operation, introduction into or removal from the chamber of an amount of fluid sufficient to overcome the force of the spring (and the tertiary magnet or ferromagnetic material) enables the attraction between the members of the first magnetic/ferromagnetic pair to move the piston to the secondary position as a snap movement.