Abstract: There are provided a substrate processing apparatus and a reaction tube for processing a substrate. The substrate processing apparatus comprises a process chamber configured to accommodate a substrate and process the substrate, a heater configured to heat the substrate, and a gas supply part configured to supply a gas to an inside of the process chamber. The process chamber comprises an alloy reaction tube made of a material comprising at least molybdenum (Mo) and cobalt (Co) but not comprising aluminum (Al).

Abstract: A hose element is configured for a milking device. The hose element includes a first end (3) and a hose portion (1) of a first material. The hose portion extends from the first end along a longitudinal centre axis (x) and has an outer size in a radial plane with respect to the longitudinal centre axis. An attachment section (4) extends around the hose portion in a peripheral direction in the proximity of the first end. The hose element includes a mounting member (10) of a second material which is joined to the hose portion (1). The mounting member includes a primary portion (11), which is joined to the hose portion (1) in the proximity of the attachment section and configured to permit, when being pressed inwardly towards the longitudinal centre axis, a reduction of the outer size of the hose portion at an end portion (5).

Abstract: An automatic livestock feeder system is disclosed. A vertical lifting means lifts feed allowing livestock to feed through feed bars. An electronic timer allows for automatic feeding on a timed schedule in a standalone mode. Livestock are feed automatically based on a timed schedule or an event based schedule. Historical livestock feeding habits are recorded and stored remotely.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an animal feeding devices that protect food in a pet food dish or bowl from infestation by crawling insects such as ants. The devices consists of a table with a flat top and four legs wherein each leg is surrounded by a liquid reservoir, which when filled with a suitable liquid, functions by presenting a liquid barrier to crawling insects thereby excluding the insects from the table top. The table top has one or more openings sized to accommodate a rimmed feed bowl or rendering the bowl stationary for a feeding pet. Certain embodiments also provide a liquid supply vessel for maintaining a suitable level liquid in the reservoirs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of raising crustaceans, comprising maintaining crustaceans in low salinity water having a Calcium-sensing Receptor (CaSR) modulator(s), and adding feed that contains an agent that contributes to modulation of a crustacean CaSR to the water.

Abstract: A process for breeding a Manila clam pedigree, includes: directively breeding present Manila clam pedigrees having different shell shapes to obtain a shell shape pedigree (A) having best phenotypic character; directively breeding the shell shape pedigrees (A) from different geographical populations to obtain a geographical population pedigree (B) having best phenotypic character; directively breeding the geographical population pedigrees (B) having different shell colors to obtain a growth shell color pedigree (C) of fastest growth and a resistance shell color pedigrees (E) of highest stress resistance; hybridizing the growth shell color pedigree (C) and the resistance shell color pedigree (E) to obtain a first hybridied pedigree (F1) of faster growth and higher stress resistance than the present Manila clam pedigrees; and directively breeding the first hybridied pedigree (F1) to obtain a second hybridied pedigree (F2) maintaining faster growth and higher stress resistance than the present Manila clam pedigre

Abstract: A process for polycross breeding a Manila clam pedigree, includes: providing present Manila clam pedigrees of different shell color types as parents; ecologically maturing the parents; reciprocally hybridizing the parents by every two of different shell color types to obtain offsprings thereof; nurturing the offsprings until gonads thereof mature synchronously; and hybridizing the matured offsprings with each other to obtain at least a four-way cross pedigree accumulating all valuable genes of the parents.

Abstract: A pet grooming tool is provided with a fur ejector portion that is at least partially movable relative to the teeth of the pet grooming tool and can be manually moved into engagement with fur that is wedged or lodged between the teeth. The engagement of the fur ejector portion with the fur forces the fur from the gaps between the teeth. Preferably, the fur ejector portion can be manually moved by the same hand a person uses to support and hold the grooming tool.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for tethering a companion animal close to a human being primarily as a means to avoid fines associated with untethered animals as well as a way to calm members of the public who may be fearful of an untethered animal, not knowing whether the animal is well-behaved or not. The tethering device of the instant invention cannot be used as a leash or restraining device. Accordingly, the instant invention seeks not to provide a retractable leash for an animal, but rather to provide a means of tethering the animal to the owner for owners with controllable animals who need to be tethered to be in compliance with local ordinances requiring the tethering of companion animals.

Abstract: The invention relates to heat exchangers used in high efficiency condensing boilers, in particular condensing gas boilers, and a method of manufacturing such heat exchangers. The heat exchanger comprises means to promote unidirectional flue gas flow before entering the primary part. This provides advantages in efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention depicts a reciprocating engine actuated by means of anaerobic fuel comprising at least one piston reversibly actuated inside a cylinder in an N-stroke operation, the piston being in communication with a crank; a feeding means adapted to introduce the anaerobic fuel to a cylinder head accommodating at least one piston and cylinder, in at least one event of each of said N-stroke; an ignition means igniting the anaerobic fuel in or adjacent to the cylinder head, whereat the piston is in at least one predetermined location in the cylinder along each of the N-strokes, so that in each stroke, a predetermined deflagration of the anaerobic fuel is actuating the crank. The invention also teaches a vehicle powered by a reciprocating engine with anaerobic fuel.

Abstract: A heat-pipe electric power generating device including a fan disposed between an evaporating end and a condensing end of a heat-pipe is provided. A magnetic substance is disposed on the fan to form a magnetic field. A stator coil of a generator is disposed at the outer of the heat-pipe, which is corresponding to the position of the fan. An induced current is generated by the stator coil of the generator when the magnetic substance spins. Since the heat-pipe is made of copper, and the magnetic field is not shielded by copper, a current is induced when a relative motion between the magnetic substance on the fan and the stator coil of the generator at the outer of the heat-pipe is generated. Further, the heat-pipe electric power generating device can be applied on a hydrogen/oxygen gas generating apparatus and an internal combustion engine system of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A heat-pipe electric power generating device includes a heat pipe having an evaporating end and a condensing end, a non-magnetic shell connected to the condensing end, a generator stator coil disposed at the outer of the non-magnetic shell, a turbine disposed in the heat pipe, a driving axle connected to the turbine and extended into the non-magnetic shell, and a magnetic element disposed at the driving axle and located in the non-magnetic shell. A vapor flow flowing to the condensing end is generated at the evaporating end. The vapor flow drives the turbine to move the magnetic element, such that the generator stator coil generates an induced current. In addition, a hydrogen/oxygen gas generating apparatus and an internal combustion engine system having the heat-pipe electric power generating device are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for liquid cooling of an internal combustion engine (11) and a process for producing it. The apparatus of the invention comprises a cooling circuit (13) which comprises at least one cooling channel (23, 24, 41) for a liquid coolant which is in thermal contact with at least one component (12a, 12b, 31) of the internal combustion engine (11), wherein a wall of the cooling channel (23, 24, 41) which comes into contact with the coolant has a microstructured surface having a certain porosity and roughness at least in a subregion. According to the invention, such an apparatus is produced by constructing a cooling circuit for a liquid coolant which has cooling channels which can at least partly be brought into thermal contact with the internal combustion engine, wherein a microstructured surface is produced on at least part of the walls of the cooling channels which come into contact with the liquid coolant.

Abstract: In the cylinder block of an engine including a heat storage apparatus, a water jacket is formed between a cylinder bore wall that forms a cylinder bore and a cylinder block outer wall. An actuator is installed on the cylinder block outer wall. A container is housed in the water jacket. A coolant temperature sensor is installed on the upper portion of the container. An ECU determines the state of a heat storage agent in the container and the state of the container, based on information on the temperature of coolant determined by the coolant temperature sensor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an engine which can easily cool oil within an oil circulation path The oil circulation path includes an oil reservoir, an oil pump for sucking oil from the oil reservoir so as to pressurize, an oil supplying oil passage conducting the oil from the oil pump to each of lubrication points, and an oil returning oil passage for returning the oil to the oil reservoir from the lubrication points. The cooling fluid path includes a cooling fluid pump, and a cooling fluid passage for supplying the cooling fluid, which conducts the cooling fluid from the cooling fluid pump to the cooling points. The oil passage and the cooling fluid passage come into contact with each other at one or more points of the engine main body so as to be heat exchangeable via a partition wall.

Abstract: A water pump attachment structure of a water-cooled internal combustion engine is provided to facilitate the maintenance of a valve train. A water pump attachment structure of a water-cooled internal combustion engine includes a semicircular cut-away surface of a water pump holder opposed to a semicircular surface of a cylinder head to form a water pump support circular hole. Screw members are passed through respective screw through-holes of the cylinder head and threadedly engaged with internal thread holes of the water pump holder. Thus, the water pump holder is fastened to the cylinder head. A water pump is fitted into and secured to the water pump support circular hole. A cylinder head cover is attached to the cylinder head by allowing their mating surfaces to conform with each other with the water pump holder liquid-tightly sandwiched therebetween.

Abstract: A lash adjustment system for a roller is provided which includes a cam plate surface and a frustoconically shaped roller in mechanical communication with the surface. Means for moving the roller relative to the surface are included to urge the roller inwardly with respect to the cam plate in order to reduce lash.

Abstract: A camshaft assembly, particularly for use in an internal combustion engine, having a shaft base body and a plurality of cam parts. In order to be able to selectively shut down individual cylinders, cam parts are provided with cams which are arranged so as to be rotationally fixed and axially displaceable in relation to the shaft base body. Depending on a desired sequence of axially fixed and axially displaceable cam parts, it is proposed to arrange the axially displaceable cam parts on a longitudinally extending profile in an axially displaceable manner and to push the axially fixed cam parts—insofar as these are necesary—over or across the receiving area for the axially displaceable cam parts and to secure them to the shaft.

Abstract: A method for intentionally imbalancing one or more mass elements of a camshaft assembly to provide overall rotational balance to the assembly, also referred to herein as “zero balance”. Such intentional imbalance may be imparted to any element of a camshaft assembly. In a currently-preferred embodiment, one or more components of an improved camshaft phaser assembly are manufactured as rotationally unbalanced, either by intentionally forming an unbalanced component such as a sprocket wheel having added material or by removing non-functional material from an otherwise standard component. Because the camshaft phaser assembly has a unique and fixed angular relationship to the camshaft, zero balance can be readily and repeatedly achieved for all camshaft assemblies by correct manufacture of parts without requiring separate balancing for each individual camshaft assembly as manufactured.

Abstract: A mechanical desmodromic fully variable valve actuation system capable for racing revs. Valve lift and valve duration continuously variable from a maximum to zero. Independently variable valve duration and valve lift.

Abstract: A valve actuation device may comprise a camshaft including first and second cams, the second cam having a larger lobe than the first cam. A valve lever includes a first follower component or surface adapted to follow the first cam and a second follower component or surface adapted to follow the second cam. The second follower component or surface may be mounted on or defined by an eccentrically-disposed device, which is rotatable relative to the first follower component or surface. When the rotatability of the second follower component or surface is locked by a latching device, the second follower surface translates the contour of the second cam into actuation of an engine valve and, when the second follower component or surface is freely rotatable, the first follower surface translates the contour of the first cam into actuation of the engine valve.

Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of: detecting engine speed NE (S100); and stopping power supply to an electric motor of an intake VVT mechanism (S104), if engine speed NE is equal to or lower than a threshold value NE (0) (YES at S102).

Abstract: A multigrade lubricating oil composition with enhanced anti-wear properties for use in an internal combustion engine comprises (a) a base oil comprising at least 90% by weight of the base oil, of one or more basestocks selected from the group consisting of base stocks derived from Fischer-Tropsch synthesised, waxy, paraffinic hydrocarbon material by processes comprising hydrocracking and/or hydroisomerisation, Group II basestocks, Group III basestocks and mixtures thereof; (b) one or more dispersant viscosity modifiers in a total amount of 0.15 to 0.8% by weight of the composition; (c) one or more dispersants in a total amount of active dispersants of 1.5 to 3% by weight of the composition; (d) one or more detergents; and (e) one or more metal dihydrocarbyl dithiophosphates.

Abstract: A fuel composition is provided that contains a major amount of a mixture of hydrocarbons in the gasoline boiling range and a minor amount of a p-anisidine and an aniline derivative compounds. Use of such additive compound in a combustion engine is also provided.

Abstract: A pneumatic starter system for a combustion engine of a recreational vehicle including one or more pistons moving within a respective plurality of cylinders includes a pneumatic pressure source and a starter converting the pneumatic pressure source into rotational force applied to the one or more pistons causing movement of the one or more pistons and ignition of the combustion engine.

Abstract: An intake manifold M for an internal combustion engine has two or more structural members P1 to P3 including a first structural member P1 integrally provided with an inlet flange 22 to which a throttle device 4 is connected, and an outlet flange 40 to be joined to a cylinder head 2 provided with intake ports 5. The first structural member P1 is provided integrally with an inlet part 21 forming at least part of an inlet passage 11 and including the inlet flange 22. The outlet flange 40 is formed integrally with the inlet part 21 so as to extend across a direction in which the inlet passage 11 extends, two bolts 451 and 452 for fastening the outlet flange 40 to the cylinder head are disposed respectively on the opposite sides of the inlet passage 11. The rigidity of the inlet flange and fastening of the outlet flange to the cylinder head by fastening means improves a vibration reducing effect on a throttle device joined to the inlet flange.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recoil starter including: a case having a reel supporting shaft; a rope reel having: a tubular shaft portion; an engaging portion; a rope housing groove to house a recoil rope; and a spring housing portion to house a spiral spring; a ratchet axially-slidably arranged outside the tubular shaft portion; a ratchet guide attached to an end of the reel supporting shaft; and a return spring provided between the ratchet guide and the ratchet, wherein an inclined surface and a locking surface are formed on the engaging portion to be engageable with the ratchet, and wherein the inclined surface guides the ratchet toward to be engaged with the driving pulley, thereby rotating the driving pulley and starting the engine, when the rope reel is rotated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a piston (10) for an internal combustion engine, having a combustion depression (13) which is provided in the piston head (11) and has an encircling undercut (14), wherein the encircling depression edge (15) which connects the undercut (14) to the piston head (11) has alternately rounded (16, 17) and sharp-edged depression edge regions (18, 19). It is provided according to the invention that the encircling depression edge (15) merges along its entire periphery into a planar encircling face (20) which in turn merges along its entire periphery with a sharp edge into the undercut (14).

Abstract: A piston device for internal combustion engines includes a first compression ring and a second compression ring in an outer circumference of a piston, wherein the second compression ring includes a notch extending from the inner circumference to the outer circumference on a lower surface of at least one of a pair of ends of the ring, and a gap between the ring ends at the notch on the second compression ring is larger than a gap between the ring ends of the first compression ring, and a gap between the ring ends at the section other than the notch on the second compression ring is the same or smaller than the gap between the ring ends of the first compression ring, and the second compression ring contains an outer circumferential surface comprised of a tapered surface decreasing the ring radial thickness towards the upper side, and an axial parallel surface formed below the tapered surface.

Abstract: An oil pan made of resin includes an oil reservoir. The oil reservoir includes a bottom wall and a peripheral wall rising from a periphery of the bottom wall and having an opening at a top of the oil reservoir. A rib is provided in the oil reservoir.

Abstract: There is described a hydraulic lubricating apparatus (252) for dosing cylinder lubricating oil, including a housing which via one or more valves (220) is connected to a source for supplying hydraulic oil (262) and cylinder lubricating oil (not shown), a number of hydraulic cylinders each having a hydraulic piston (6) and which may be pressurised by hydraulic oil. Furthermore, there are a number of injection units (251) corresponding to a multiple of the cylinder (250) number in the engine, and which are connected with each their dosing cylinder by a dosing piston (21). Also, there is provided a distributor plate (7) which at one side is in contact with the dosing pistons (21) and which at its other side is in contact with the hydraulic pistons (6) for displacing the distributor plate for actuating the dosing pistons.

Abstract: A center line of a cylinder of an engine of the present invention is inclined by an inclination angle of 60° or more relative to a vertical direction. The engine is provided with a first oil communication hole or opening providing communication between a crank chamber and a rotor housing chamber so as to distribute oil, and a second oil communication hole or opening providing communication between the rotor housing chamber and a transmission chamber so as to distribute the oil. The second oil communication hole opening is arranged at a position where the oil remains in an oil pan when the vehicle is inclined.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling an engine includes a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) operating zone boundary module determining a first HCCI operating boundary and a fuel rate module determining a first fuel rate from an operator input. The system also includes a switch module modifying the first HCCI operating boundary to a modified boundary in response to a measured mass airflow, cam positions and the first HCCI operating boundary. The system also includes a combustion control module operating the engine in a spark ignited mode when a second fuel rate request is outside the modified boundary.

Abstract: The system comprises an injector controlled by commands of a control unit. The injector comprises a dosing servo valve having a control chamber provided with an outlet passage that is opened/closed by an open/close element that is axially movable. The open/close element is carried by an axial guide element that is separate from an anchor of an electromagnet. The open/close element is held in the closing position by a spring acting through an intermediate body. Preferably, the strokes of the open/close element and of the anchor are chosen so as to eliminate, upon closing of the solenoid valve, the rebounds of the open/close element subsequent to the first rebound. The control unit controls an injection comprising a pre-injection and a main injection, via two distinct electrical commands, which are spaced apart by a dwell time such as to occur in an area of reduced variation of the amount of injected fuel; therefore, the stability of operation of the system increases as said dwell time varies.

Abstract: In an electronic throttle control system, a target intake pipe pressure as well as a presumed value for the intake pipe pressure is calculated, so that a deviation between the target value and the presumed value for the intake pipe pressure is calculated. The deviation is compensated in an advancing side by an amount corresponding to a delay of response in the throttle control system. An intake air amount passing through a throttle valve is calculated based on the above compensated deviation and a presumed intake air amount. A target opening degree of a throttle valve is finally calculated based on the above-calculated intake air amount passing through a throttle valve. Accordingly, a response and stability of the throttle control can be improved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a valve device (13) for controlling a gas flow in a fresh air system (6) of an internal combustion engine (2), in particular of a motor vehicle, with a housing (17) which encloses at least one duct section (19) through which the gas flow (14) can pass transversely to the main flow direction (18), with at least one flap (15) which can be rotated about an axis of rotation (21) which runs transversely with respect to the main flow direction (18) in the duct section (19). In order to improve the fail-safety of the valve device (13), at least one rotary frame (24) is provided, which can be rotated about an axis of rotation (25) which runs transversely with respect to the main flow direction (18) in the duct section (19) and has a frame opening (26) through which the gas flow (14) can pass.

Abstract: A throttle valve body includes a main body and a main valve. The main body includes an intake passage, a bypass passage, and a mounting hole. The intake passage has an upstream portion and a downstream portion. The bypass passage has an upstream section in fluid communication with the upstream portion, a downstream section extending along a first axis, and a downstream end in fluid communication with the downstream portion of the intake passage. The mounting hole extends along a second axis intersecting the first axis. The main valve is disposed in the intake passage to divide the intake passage into the upstream portion and the downstream portion.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine, in which a setpoint torque to be output by the internal combustion engine is restricted to a specifiable torque, in particular in response to an error in the control of the internal combustion engine. An engine speed of the internal combustion engine is determined as a function of at least one performance quantity of the internal combustion engine, and the specifiable torque is modified as a function of the determined engine speed.

Abstract: A combustion engine includes an cylinder block having a combustion chamber formed therein, a throttle body forming a part of an air intake passage for introducing an air therethrough into the combustion chamber, a throttle valve accommodated in the throttle body for adjusting a cross section of the air intake passage, and an electrically driven throttle device having an actuator for driving the throttle valve. At least a portion of the throttle body is positioned intermediate between the actuator and the cylinder block.

Abstract: Free piston assembly, comprising at least one piston accommodating device, at least one piston device having a first piston surface and a second piston surface facing away from the first piston surface, which is moveable in a linear manner in the corresponding piston accommodating device, and an expansion space which is arranged in the piston accommodating device and delimited by the first piston surface, wherein the piston device is arranged to be driven by the action of a medium which expands in the expansion space, wherein a resilience space arranged in the at least one piston accommodating device is delimited by the second piston surface, and wherein the resilience space is connected to at least one pre-compression chamber in fluidic manner.

Abstract: A device and a method for controlling an internal combustion engine are provided, in which the fuel quantity to be injected is controlled as a function of a Lambda signal. A setpoint value for the Lambda signal is specified on the basis of at least one maximally permitted exhaust-gas temperature value.

Abstract: A control device (5) for an internal combustion engine including a fuel injection device (3) is provided. The fuel injection device (3) includes an injection hole (31b, 31c), and is configured to inject fuel from the injection hole (31b, 31c) into a combustion chamber (21). The control device (5) includes an actual injection amount output section (53), an injection amount deviation output section (51a), and an abnormality treatment direction section (51a). The injection amount deviation output section (51a) outputs a signal that indicates the deviation between an actual injection amount and a command fuel injection amount. The abnormality treatment direction section (51a) outputs a signal to enable treatment if the deviation exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine provided with a variable compression ratio mechanism able to change a mechanical compression ratio and a variable valve timing mechanism able to individually control the opening timing and closing timing of the intake valve. At the time of engine low load operation, the maximum expansion ratio is obtained by making the mechanical compression ratio maximum and, while the mechanical compression ratio is made maximum, the opening timing of the intake valve is maintained at a target opening timing of substantially intake top dead center in the noninterference region where no interference between the valve and the piston occurs.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine 10 comprises a device having a mechanism that moves a cylinder block relative to a crankcase, a worm wheel (wheel) 54 fixed to the mechanism, and a worm 55 meshed with the wheel. The device is disposed at the position in the vicinity of an disposed-face OS1 and within the OS3 disposed-face when the disposed-face is viewed from the front. The internal combustion engine drives the worm for rotatably driving the wheel to drive the mechanism. The internal combustion engine has a noise shielding members 61, 62, and 83 arranged so as to cover a meshing portion EG where the wheel and the worm are meshed with each other, when the disposed-face is viewed from the front. The noise generated at the meshing portion is attenuated by the noise shielding member, and propagated to the outside of the internal combustion engine. Consequently, the noise heard at the outside is reduced.

Abstract: An electrohydraulic device for controlling the compression ratio of a variable compression-ratio engine, includes at least one dual-flow electrovalve (81) with no check valve and capable of opening and closing at least one hydraulic fluid duct (83) between the upper chamber (121) and the lower chamber (122) of a control jack (8), at least one position sensor (82) of a control rack (7), an angular position sensor (88) of the crankshaft (9) of the engine for adjusting the compression ratio, and at least one calculator (84).

Abstract: An engine ECU stores a map in which three regions, that is, a high-temperature region (1), a low-temperature region (3), and a region (2) therebetween, are prescribed. The pre-feed time T set when the present condition falls in the region (2) is the longest. An engine ECU executes a program that includes the step (S400) of detecting an engine cooling water temperature THW (S200) when the start-up of the engine is requested (YES in S100), the step (S600) of executing the pre-feed until the fuel pressure P becomes equal to or greater than a fuel pressure threshold value P(TH), and the step (S700) of starting the cranking when the fuel pressure P becomes equal to or greater than the fuel pressure threshold value P(TH) (YES in S600). Thus, the bad start-up caused by fuel vapor is avoided without operating the fuel pump unnecessarily for a long time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-pressure pump, particularly for delivering fuel for a common rail fuel injection system, having a pump body in which at least one cam drive having a cam shaft is received. The cam shaft is pivotally supported about a cam shaft axis in the pump body and/or in a flange body by at least one bearing arrangement. The bearing arrangement includes a radial bearing bush extending in the direction of the cam shaft axis, and an axial bearing washer, which is integrally formed on the radial bearing bush. The axial bearing washer extends in a radial extension direction of less than 90 degrees relative to the cam shaft axis in the non-installed state. The radial extension direction is directed toward the radial bearing bush and can be brought into an axial bearing plane extending at an angle of 90 degrees to the cam shaft axis in the installed state by elastic deformation of the axial bearing washer.

Abstract: An EGR control device is provided in a branched-off pipe portion of a recirculation pipe unit. The EGR control valve is opened during an exhaust gas recirculation period, which is a part of a valve-opening period of an intake valve, so that exhaust gas is re-circulated into a combustion chamber during the exhaust gas recirculation period. As a result, swirl flow of the re-circulated exhaust gas to be formed in the combustion chamber is increased to improve ignitionability and to facilitate combustion of air-fuel mixture.

Abstract: An electropneumatic converter for connection with an exhaust recirculation valve in a motor vehicle. The electropneumatic converter includes a vacuum port and an atmospheric pressure port configured to connect with a valve chamber using a valve device, wherein a mixed pressure is formed in the valve chamber and supplied to a mixed pressure port. An armature is affixed to a valve body of the valve device movable in an axial direction, the valve body being connected to a suspension device, wherein the armature is displaceable in the axial direction using a solenoid. The electropneumatic converter also includes a damping element configured to dampen the axial movement of the armature and the valve device affixed thereto. The damping element includes at least one of an elastomer or a foamed material.