BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to an exhaust gas recirculation device provided in
an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] As one of the methods for reducing the amount of NOx in the exhaust gas of an internal
combustion engine, the exhaust gas recirculation system for recirculating a part of
the exhaust gas into the intake air has been well known. The toughening of exhaust
gas regulations in recent years, however, has made it necessary to increase the amount
of recirculation of the exhaust gas. For this reason, various improvements have been
made, such as the addition of a valve for adjusting the flow rate of the recirculated
gas, that is, a throttle valve for restricting the flow of fresh air to the upstream
side of the recirculated gas control valve (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined
Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 6-17711).
[0003] In such an improved exhaust gas recirculation device, however, there is the problem
that, particularly in a transitional operating state such as a rapid acceleration
shifting from an operating region in which the amount of the recirculated gas is large
to an operating region in which the amount of the recirculated gas is small, even
if the recirculated gas control valve operates with a good response, where the volume
of the intake passage from the throttle valve to the intake valve of each cylinder
is large, the actual shut off of the recirculated gas is delayed, so the amount of
generation of smoke is increased.
[0004] As a countermeasure for this problem, it is possible to reduce the volume of the
intake passage between the throttle valve and the intake valve of each cylinder explained
above by arranging the two close in distance. However, as a result, the distance between
the throttle valve and the recirculated gas control valve also becomes short, therefore
the recirculated gas easily flows into a "backflow area" of the intake air generated
on the downstream side of the throttle valve (region in which the intake air flows
from the downstream side to the upstream side), the recirculated gas flows back to
the throttle valve, the components contained in the recirculated gas adhere to the
throttle valve, and therefore deposits build up.
[0005] When the deposits build up around the throttle valve, not only will the throttle
valve no longer smoothly open and close in operation, but also the effective size
of the valve opening with respect to the same amount of operation will change and
therefore the relationship between the opening and closing positions of the throttle
valve and the inflowing amount of the fresh air will change, the amount of fresh air
with respect to the amount of fuel injection is reduced, smoke is increased, and the
emission will become degraded. As is well known, in an internal combustion engine
of a configuration which recirculates the blow-by gas containing the lubricant oil
of the engine to the upstream side of the throttle valve and an internal combustion
engine using a turbocharger for supercharging, if the oil component contained in the
blow-by gas or the oil leaked from the turbocharger adhere to the recirculated gas
inflowing port, carbon particles etc. in the recirculated gas will easily adhere to
the recirculated gas inflowing port due to the oil and will form deposits there, therefore
there also arises the problem that the passage area of the flow path of the recirculated
gas inflowing port will be further reduced.
[0006] Further, in general, it is necessary to make the valve diameter of the recirculated
gas control valve large, but in the conventional exhaust gas recirculation device
as mentioned above, if the valve diameter of the recirculated gas control valve is
enlarged and the flow rate of the recirculated gas is increased, there arises a problem
that an actuator comprising a diaphragm or stepping motor or the like for opening
or closing the recirculated gas control valve will be damaged due to the heat of the
recirculated gas.
[0007] In order to prevent the damage of the actuator due to heat, in another related art,
the inflowing port of the recirculated gas to the intake passage and the valve body
of the recirculated gas control valve are provided at bottom portions of the intake
pipe, the actuator is provided at an upper portion of the intake pipe, the two are
connected by a long valve stem, and the valve stem is cooled by intake air (fresh
air) of a relatively low temperature flowing through the intake passage so as prevent
the heat of the recirculated gas received by the valve body from being directly transferred
to the actuator as thereby preventing actuator damage (for example, refer to Japanese
Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 60-243359).
[0008] However, in the latter related art as well, usually the oil component contained in
the blow-by gas flowing into the intake air at the upstream side from the recirculated
gas inflowing port and the carbon particles contained in the recirculated gas will
build up on the recirculated gas inflowing port to form deposits which will reduce
the cross-sectional area of the flow path or adhere to the valve seat portion or valve
body of the recirculated gas control valve and thereby cause them to stick and obstruct
the operation of the control valve. Further, even if the blow-by gas inflowing port
is not provided in the intake passage, where the turbocharger for the supercharging
is provided at the upstream side of the intake passage, the oil leaking from the turbocharger
will flow into the intake passage, so there is the possibility of occurrence of a
similar problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide an exhaust gas recirculation device
which deals with problems mentioned above in the related art and which uses a new
configuration to enable the recirculated gas can be smoothly fed into the engine.
[0010] Further, another object thereof is to provide an enhanced exhaust gas recirculation
device with which the deposits can be prevented from being adhered around the throttle
valve due to the back flow of the recirculated gas.
[0011] Still another object of the present invention is to provide an exhaust gas recirculation
device with which the recirculated gas can be smoothly fed into the engine without
trouble such as deposits being produced near the recirculated gas inflowing port at
which the recirculated gas control valve is provided and the inflowing port being
clogged or the valve body sticking to the valve seat portion.
[0012] The present invention provides exhaust gas recirculation devices as disclosed in
the claims as means for achieving the above objects.
[0013] According to the exhaust gas recirculation device of the present invention, the recirculated
gas inflowing port is opened in the forward flow area of the intake air flowing in
the intake pipe from the upstream side to the downstream side at the downstream side
part of the throttle valve provided in the intake pipe, therefore the recirculated
gas flowing into the intake pipe from the recirculated gas inflowing port smoothly
flows to the downstream side while riding the forward flow of the intake air so as
to be fed into the engine again, so it is possible to avoid the recirculated gas flowing
back in the intake pipe and reaching the throttle valve to cause the buildup of deposits.
[0014] Further, according to the exhaust gas recirculation device of the present invention,
one end of a bent passage means is connected to an end of the recirculated gas introduction
passage, the internal portion thereof is defined as the recirculated gas guide passage
and, at the same time, the other end thereof is defined as the recirculated gas inflowing
port and opened toward the downstream side at the forward flow area of the flow of
the intake air in the intake pipe, therefore, regardless of the positions of disposition
of the recirculated gas introduction passage and recirculated gas control valve, the
recirculated gas inflowing port can be opened in the forward flow area of the flow
of the intake air at the downstream side of the throttle valve and, at the same time,
the recirculated gas is smoothly guided to the opening thereof and can be discharged
toward the downstream side of the flow of the intake air. Accordingly, the recirculated
gas does not enter into the back flow area but flows into the forward flow area and
flows to the downstream side, therefore it is possible to reliably prevent deposits
from building up at the throttle valve.
[0015] Also, in the present invention, taking note of the fact that the deposits produced
in the intake pipe near the recirculated gas inflowing port where the recirculated
gas control valve is provided are generated due to buildup of the mixture of the oil
components in the blow-by gas or the oil leaking from the turbocharger and the carbon
particles in the recirculated gas, a prevention wall for preventing the intrusion
of the blow-by gas etc. as much as possible is formed at the upper portion of the
intake passage at which the adhesion of the oil components in the blow-by gas is most
difficult in the intake pipe and, at the same time, the valve seat portion of the
recirculated gas control valve is provided in that prevention wall, thereby solving
the problems possessed by the related art mentioned above.
[0016] More concretely, according to the exhaust gas recirculation device of the present
invention, by providing the valve seat portion of the recirculated gas control valve
at a position of the upper portion of the intake passage and, at the same time, providing
the partition wall extending toward the downstream side so as to provide a space between
the valve seat portion and the intake passage, the recirculated gas introduction port,
which opens toward the downstream side when seen from the valve seat portion, is formed
in the upper portion of the intake passage. By this, the recirculated gas passing
through the valve gap of the valve seat portion passes through the recirculated gas
introduction port and flows toward the downstream side where it merges with the intake
air flowing in the intake passage and is taken into the engine to perform a purification
action of the exhaust gas.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] These and other objects and features of the present invention will become clearer
from the following description of the preferred embodiments given with reference to
the attached drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a front view, partially sectional, of the overall configuration of an exhaust
gas recirculation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of part of the exhaust gas recirculation device shown
in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the constituent parts for explaining the mode
of operation of the exhaust gas recirculation device shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a lateral sectional side view taken along a line IV-IV in Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a partial vertical sectional view for explaining problems of the related
art;
Fig. 6 is a partial vertical sectional view for explaining the mode of operation and
effect of the first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a plan view, partially sectional, of the overall configuration of the exhaust
gas recirculation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 8 is a plan view, partially sectional, of the overall configuration of a conventional
exhaust gas recirculation device given as an example of poor distribution of the intake
air to the cylinders;
Fig. 9A is a sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the main parts
of the conventional exhaust gas recirculation device shown in Fig. 8;
Fig. 9B is a graph of an exhaust gas recirculation rate of the conventional exhaust
gas recirculation device shown in Fig. 8;
Fig. 10A is a sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the main parts
of the second embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 7;
Fig. 10B is a graph of the exhaust gas recirculation rate showing the effect of the
second embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 7;
Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional plan view showing the principal parts of an exhaust
gas recirculation device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional front view taken along a line XII-XII in Fig. 11;
Fig. 13 is a lateral sectional side view taken along a line XIII-XIII in Fig. 12;
Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional front view of the principal parts showing a problem
of the first embodiment;
Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional front view of the principal parts showing the effect
of the third embodiment;
Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional plan view showing the principal parts of an exhaust
gas recirculation device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 17 is a vertical sectional front view showing the principal parts of an exhaust
gas recirculation device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 18 is a vertical sectional front view taken along a line XVIII-XVIII in Fig.
17;
Fig. 19 is a lateral sectional side view taken along a line XIX-XIX in Fig. 17;
Fig. 20 is a front view, partially sectional, of the configuration of the exhaust
gas recirculation device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 21 is a plan view, partially sectional, of the exhaust gas recirculation device
shown in Fig. 20;
Fig. 22 is a plan view, partially sectional, of the overall configuration of a conventional
general exhaust gas recirculation device;
Fig. 23 is a front view, partially sectional, of the overall configuration of an exhaust
gas recirculation device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 24 is a vertical sectional view of the constituent parts for explaining the mode
of operation of the exhaust gas recirculation device according to the seventh embodiment;
Fig. 25 is a partial vertical sectional view for explaining the effect of the seventh
embodiment;
Fig. 26 is a front view, partially sectional, of the overall configuration of an exhaust
gas recirculation device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 27 is a front view, partially sectional, of the overall configuration of an exhaust
gas recirculation device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 28 is a partial vertical sectional front view of the overall configuration of
an exhaust gas recirculation device according to a 10th embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 29 is a partial vertical sectional plan view of the exhaust gas recirculation
device shown in Fig. 28 as seen from the bottom;
Fig. 30 is a lateral sectional side view taken along a line XXX-XXX of Fig. 28;
Fig. 31 is a partial vertical sectional front view of the overall configuration of
the conventional example;
Fig. 32 is a partial vertical sectional front view of the configuration of an exhaust
gas recirculation device according to an 11th embodiment;
Fig. 33 is a partial vertical sectional plan view of the exhaust gas recirculation
device shown in Fig. 32 as seen from the bottom;
Fig. 34 is a partial vertical sectional front view of the configuration of the exhaust
gas recirculation device according to a 12th embodiment; and
Fig. 35 is a partial vertical sectional plan view of the exhaust gas recirculation
device shown in Fig. 34 as seen from the bottom.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Figure 1 and Fig. 2 show an example of an internal combustion engine 2 provided with
an exhaust gas recirculation device 1 as a first embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 1 is a front view showing a cylinder block 9 of a multi-cylinder engine 2 from
the front of a not illustrated crankshaft; while Fig. 2 is a plan view showing this
from above. A throttle valve 3 of the engine 2 and a recirculated gas control valve
4 forming the principal element of the exhaust gas recirculation device 1 are successively
attached at a predetermined interval in an intake pipe 5 in a direction (direction
indicated by an arrow) in which the intake air, that is, an intaken fresh air (indicated
as FA in the figure) flows. Needless to say the throttle valve 3 is provided as a
variable opening valve at an appropriate position in the intake pipe 5 so as to adjust
the flow rate of the intake air flowing in the intake pipe 5, while the recirculated
gas control valve 4 is inserted as a variable opening valve at an appropriate position
of the recirculated gas introduction passage 8 so as to adjust the flow rate of the
recirculated gas (indicated as RG in the figure, with the gas exhausted to the outside
being conversely indicated as EG) for taking out part of the exhaust gas from the
exhaust manifold 6 side and refluxing the same into the intake air flowing in the
intake pipe 5 at the intake manifold 7 side. The first embodiment is an example showing
a case where the recirculated gas control valve 4 is directly attached to the pipe
wall of the intake pipe 5.
[0019] On the other hand, a blow-by gas introduction passage 10 which introduces the blow-by
gas (the blow-by gas is indicated as BG in the figure) accumulated in a crank case
or cylinder head cover of the engine 2 into the intake pipe 5 for processing is opened
in the pipe wall of the intake pipe 5 on the upstream side of the throttle valve 3.
[0020] In this case, when particularly viewing the flow of the intake air on the downstream
side of the throttle valve 3, as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, in the part on the downstream
side of the butterfly type throttle valve 3, a forward flow of the intake air flowing
from the upstream side to the downstream side is formed in the part close to the pipe
wall in the intake pipe 5 and, thereby, a low pressure part is formed at the center
of the intake pipe immediately after the throttle valve 3. Therefore a phenomenon
where part of the intake air flows back from the downstream side to the upstream side
of the intake pipe 5 toward that low pressure part is observed. When the region in
the intake pipe 5 in which the forward flow of the intake air exists is referred to
as a "forward flow area" (shown by FF in the figure) and, at the same time, the region
in which the back flow exists is referred to as a "back flow area" (shown by BF in
the figure), the characteristic feature of the present invention basically resides
in that the recirculated gas inflowing port 11 is opened in the forward flow area
of the intake air.
[0021] It should be noted here that the shape of a curve B indicating the border of the
forward flow area and the back flow area in the lateral cross sectional view is not
a circular shape following the pipe wall of the intake pipe 5 in Fig. 4 indicating
the lateral cross section of the intake pipe 5, but becomes a flat long oval shape
due to the influence of the valve stem 12 of the throttle valve 3. For this reason,
a phenomenon where the thickness of the forward flow area in the radial direction
becomes the smallest at the part where the valve stem 12 intersects the pipe wall
of the intake pipe 5 and becomes the largest at the part near a straight line R-R
orthogonal to the valve stem 12 was found. Accordingly, one of the concrete characteristic
features in the first embodiment resides in that, as shown in Fig. 3, the opening
of the recirculated gas introduction passage 8, that is, the recirculated gas inflowing
port 11, is provided particularly at the lower position of the pipe wall intersecting
the straight line R-R in the forward flow area at the downstream side of the throttle
valve 3. Where a throttle valve 3 of the butterfly type is used, the position suitable
for providing the recirculated gas inflowing port 11 corresponds to the downstream
side of the position where the throttle valve 3 opens earliest when it starts to open
from the closed state.
[0022] The difference in the mode of operation and effect between the conventional case
and the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained by a comparison
of Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. Namely, the state of the flow of the recirculated gas when the
recirculated gas flows into the back flow area of the intake air as in the conventional
case while setting the recirculation rate of the exhaust gas at 20 percent is shown
in Fig. 5 and, at the same time, the case of the first embodiment when the recirculated
gas flows into the forward flow area under similar conditions is shown in Fig. 6.
[0023] In the case of the conventional example shown in Fig. 5, one reason for the recirculated
gas inflowing port 11 often being opened in the back flow area of the intake air is
that it is desired to make the length of the pipe in the piping the shortest. Concretely
explaining this by Fig. 22 showing the related art, for example, in a four-cylinder
internal combustion engine 2, the intake pipe 5 is extended in a right angle direction
with respect to the direction of arrangement of the serially arranged four cylinders
#1 to #4, but in order to make the distribution of the intake air to the combustion
chambers 14 of the cylinders uniform, it is necessary to provide the valve stem 12
of the butterfly type throttle valve 3 parallel to the direction of arrangement of
the cylinders.
[0024] On the other hand, the recirculated gas introduction passage 8 extending from one
part of the exhaust manifold 6 to the intake pipe 5 side is guided to the opposite
side of the cylinder block 9 at substantially the same height as that of the intake
pipe 5, therefore due to the necessity of making the length of the passage 8 the shortest,
the recirculated gas inflowing port 11 is provided in the plane containing the valve
stem 12 of the throttle valve 3. However, on the downstream side of the throttle valve
3, near the valve stem 12, the thickness of the forward flow area of the intake air
has become small as shown in Fig. 4, and the back flow area of the intake air extends
to the considerably downstream side. Accordingly, as shown in Fig. 5, in the case
of the conventional example where the recirculated gas inflowing port 11 is provided
in the plane containing the valve stem 12, the inflowing port 11 will be opened in
the back flow area of the intake air.
[0025] When the recirculated gas inflowing port 11 is opened in the back flow area of the
intake air of the intake pipe 5 as in the conventional example shown in Fig. 5, the
recirculated gas flowing from the inflowing port 11 into the intake pipe 5 reaches
the throttle valve 3 while riding the flow flowing back from the downstream side of
the intake pipe 5 toward the upstream side and buildup of deposits on the throttle
valve 3 occurs, but if the recirculated gas inflowing port 11 is provided in the forward
flow area of the intake air as in the first embodiment of the present invention shown
in Fig. 6, the inflowing recirculated gas flows to the downstream side from the inflowing
port 11 while ridingthe forward flow of the intake air, so the buildup of deposits
on the throttle valve 3 can be prevented. In the first embodiment, the inflowing port
11 is provided at the position where the thickness of the forward flow area becomes
the largest, that is, the valve stem 15 of the poppet type recirculated gas control
valve is provided on a straight line at right angles relative to the valve stem 12,
therefore the best effect is obtained. As will be deduced from this fact, if the inflowing
port 11 exists in the forward flow area of the intake air, substantially the same
effect is obtained.
[0026] A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 7. If the recirculated
gas inflowing port 11 is opened in the forward flow area of the intake air on the
downstream side of the throttle valve 3 in this way, even if the recirculated gas
control valve 4 is provided at the middle of the recirculated gas introduction passage
8 as exemplified in Fig. 7, a similar effect to that of the case of the first embodiment
is obtained.
[0027] An undesirable conventional example is shown in Fig. 8. In this example, the valve
stem 12 of the throttle valve 3 is provided in a direction at right angles with respect
to the direction of arrangement of the cylinders #1 to #4 of the engine 2, therefore
the distribution of the intake air to the cylinders is no longer uniformly carried
out. If the recirculated gas inflowing port 11 is opened on the downstream side at
the position where the valve stem 12 intersects with the pipe wall of the intake pipe
5, it will cause the flow of the recirculated gas into the back flow area of the intake
air, therefore there arises the problem of buildup of deposits at the throttle valve
3. Contrary to this, in the second embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig.
7, these problems are simultaneously solved by merely aligning the valve stem 12 of
the throttle valve 3 in Fig. 8 in direction with the direction of arrangement of the
cylinders.
[0028] The effect of the second embodiment will be explained in comparison with the poor
example by Figs. 9A and 9B and Figs. 10A and 10B. Figure 9A shows a similar configuration
to that shown in Fig. 8, in which the valve stem 12 of the butterfly type throttle
valve 3 is arranged in the direction at right angles with respect to the direction
of arrangement of the plurality of cylinders. Figure 10A compared with this shows
a configuration of the present invention similar to that shown in Fig. 7, in which
the direction of arrangement of the plurality of cylinders and the direction of the
valve stem 12 of the throttle valve 3 coincide. When the exhaust gas recirculation
rate for each cylinder was measured under common conditions where the mean exhaust
gas recirculation rate is 14.3 percent when the degree of opening of the throttle
valve 3 is 100 percent, in the conventional system, a variation of 5 percent was confirmed
as shown in Fig. 9B, but according to the system of the present invention, the variation
could be suppressed to about 0.8 percent as shown in Fig. 10B.
[0029] Next, an explanation will be made of the third embodiment of the present invention.
In this example, as shown in Fig. 11 to Fig. 13, so as to enable a different design
from those of the first embodiment and second embodiment, the characteristic feature
resides in that the valve stem 15 of the recirculated gas control valve 4 is supported
in parallel to the valve stem 12 of the throttle valve 3 and, at the same time, the
position of the former is set at a position separate from the position of the latter
by exactly the required distance, whereby the valve stem 15 and the valve seat 16
of the recirculated gas control valve 4 are offset at the outside of the pipe wall
of the intake pipe 5. Then, in this case, a recirculated gas directing passage 17
is mounted on the pipe wall of the intake pipe 5, and the valve seat 16 is connected
to the recirculated gas inflowing port 11. In the recirculated gas directing passage
17, an inclined surface (indicated as 18) is provided so as to enable the recirculated
gas to easily ride on the forward flow of the intake air.
[0030] In the third embodiment, since the recirculated gas guide passage 18 having the inclined
surface 18 inclined toward the forward flow area of the intake air was provided, even
if the valve stem 12 of the throttle valve 3 and the valve stem 15 of the recirculated
gas control valve are provided close to each other in the direction of the intake
pipe 5, the back flow of the recirculated gas to the throttle valve 3 can be prevented.
Further, if the partition flange 19 as shown in Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 is added and the
opening position of the recirculated gas inflowing port 11 is shifted as much as possible
from the throttle valve 3 to the downstream side, the flow rate of the forward flow
of the intake air (mixture of the fresh air and blow-by gas) in the inflowing port
11 can be raised in comparison with a case where the partition flange 19 is not provided,
therefore the recirculated gas can easily ride on the forward flow and the back flow
of the recirculated gas to the throttle valve 3 can be further effectively hindered.
[0031] Further, since the recirculated gas directing passage 17 is provided with the inclined
surface 18 inclined toward the downstream side of the intake pipe 5, the recirculated
gas gradually smoothly flows out into the intake air flow and diffuses uniformly,
therefore the distribution of the recirculated gas with respect to the cylinders is
uniformly carried out, occurrence of a variation in the output of the different cylinders
can be prevented, and the speed of the engine at the time of a low load operation
becomes smoother than in the conventional case.
[0032] Further, in this embodiment, since the valve stem 12 of the throttle valve 3 and
the valve stem 15 of the recirculated gas control valve 4 are arranged in parallel
and the distance between the valve stems 12 and 15 in the direction of the intake
pipe 5 is made small, it becomes possible to shorten the length of the intake pipe
5 near the throttle valve 3, and consequently the entire engine can be made smaller
in size. By this, the response of acceleration is improved.
[0033] Even though both fall under the scope of the present invention, there is a slight
difference in the mode of operation and effect between the first embodiment and the
third embodiment due to the difference of the configurations. In the case of the first
embodiment, if the exhaust gas recirculation rate is about 20 percent, as shown in
Fig. 6, the recirculated gas flows to the downstream side while riding the forward
flow of the intake air and does not flow back to the throttle valve 3, but if the
recirculation rate exceeds a certain line of approximately 50 percent, a very large
amount of recirculated gas is fed into the intake pipe 5, and therefore, as shown
in Fig. 14, part of the recirculated gas sometimes still flows back and reaches the
throttle valve 3. When the configuration shown in the third embodiment is used, however,
due to the mode of operation of the partition flange 19, the inclined surface 18,
etc., as shown in Fig. 15, the recirculated gas does not flow backhand reach the throttle
valve 3 even in a state where the recirculation rate exceeds 50 percent.
[0034] Further, as a modification of the third embodiment, when the area of the flow path
of the recirculated gas inflowing port 11 opened to the intake pipe 5 is made larger
than the valve seat 16 of the recirculated gas control valve 4, and, for example,
as in the fourth embodiment shown in Fig. 16, a fan-shaped gas inflowing port 20,
the flow rate of the recirculated gas into the intake pipe 5 is lowered and, at the
same time, the recirculated gas can flow into the flow of the intake air (mixture
of the fresh air and blow-by gas) while being dispersed, therefore it becomes further
easier for the recirculated gas having a lowered density to ride on the forward flow
of the intake air, and the back flow to the throttle valve 3 can be prevented.
[0035] Further, in the fifth embodiment shown in Fig. 17 to Fig. 19, by providing the valve
seat 16 of the recirculated gas control gas 4 and the recirculated gas inflowing port
11 above the throttle valve 4 corresponding to the direction of the opening and closing
of the butterfly type throttle valve 3 with the parallel supported valve stem 12,
the buildup of deposits due to not only the components contained in the recirculated
gas, but also the lubricant oil particles of the engine contained in the blow-by gas
can be prevented, whereby the inconvenience of reduction of the sectional area of
the flow path of the valve seat 16 can be avoided.
[0036] The reason for this is that even if the lubricant oil particles etc. contained in
the blow-by gas adhere to the inner surface of the intake pipe 5 to form an oil film,
the oil film will flow downward due to gravity and therefore will not flow to near
the recirculated gas control valve 4 provided above the throttle valve 3, so the formation
of a deposit there due to the adhesion of the carbon particles etc. in the recirculated
gas will not occur.
[0037] Note that, in the fifth embodiment, the position of the upper portion of the throttle
valve 3 provided with the recirculated gas inflowing port 11 is downstream of the
position at which the throttle valve 3 opens earliest when it starts to gradually
open from the closed state. Accordingly, the recirculated gas flowing into the intake
pipe 5 from the recirculated gas inflowing port 11 is mixed well with the intake air
even if the degree of opening of the throttle valve 37 is small. Then, when the recirculated
gas is shut off, the influence of the recirculated gas quickly disappears at the downstream
side of the throttle valve 3, therefore the response with respect to the opening and
closing of the recirculated gas control valve 4 becomes high. Also in this case, there
is a large effect that the intrusion of the blow-by gas into the recirculated gas
control valve 4 can be hindered by providing the recirculated gas directing passage
17 provided with the partition flange 19 and the inclined surface 18.
[0038] Further, if the directing passage 17 of the recirculated gas is mounted on the upper
portion of the intake manifold 7 as part of the intake pipe 5 as in the sixth embodiment
shown in Fig. 20 and Fig. 21, the throttle valve 3 can be made placed closer to the
cylinder block 9 than that in the other embodiments, therefore, when the recirculated
gas control valve 4 is opened for acceleration, the volume of the intake pipe 5 containing
the intake manifold 7 on the downstream side from this is smaller than that of the
case where the throttle valve 3 and the recirculated gas control valve 4 are provided
at the more upstream position, therefore the amount of the recirculated gas remaining
in the intake pipe 5 is small, and thus the acceleration response of the engine 2
becomes high and, at the same time, it becomes possible to make the exhaust gas recirculation
device 1 compact in size.
[0039] The point that the recirculated gas directing passage 17 and the recirculated gas
inflowing port 11 are provided in the intake manifold 7 for this purpose is different
from the fifth embodiment, but substantially the same mode of operation and effect
are obtained.
[0040] Both of the fifth embodiment and the sixth embodiment have the recirculated gas directing
passage 17 provided with the inclined surface 18 as shown in Fig. 17 and Fig. 20,
therefore, similar to the above embodiments, the distribution of the recirculated
gas with respect to the cylinders of the engine becomes more uniform, the variation
of output of the different cylinders becomes small, the speed becomes stable in the
time of a low load operation, etc.
[0041] Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 23 to Fig. 25.
A common characteristic feature of the seventh embodiment with an eighth embodiment
(Fig. 26) and ninth embodiment (Fig. 27) mentioned later resides in that an elbow-shaped
bent pipe 24 is provided so as to be connected to the end of the recirculated gas
introduction passage 8, the recirculated gas directing passage 17 is formed inside
the bent pipe 24 and, at the same time, the opening of the other end of the bent pipe
24 is defined as the recirculated gas inflowing port 11 opening toward the downstream
side of the intake pipe 5, whereby the recirculated gas inflowing port 11 of this
bent pipe 24 is opened at a relatively downstream part of the flow of the intake air
in the forward flow area of the intake air formed in the intake pipe 5.
[0042] Note that, in these embodiments, all of bent pipes 24 are shaped as elbows, but the
pipes used as the bent recirculated gas guide passage in the present invention are
not always formed by just elbow-shaped bent pipes 24 and be any bent pipes 24 so far
as the bent recirculated gas directing passage 17 is formed and the recirculated gas
flowing inside this is guided to the forward flow area at the relatively downstream
side of the intake pipe 5 and, at the same time, they can discharge the recirculated
gas toward the downstream side of the flow of the intake air in the opening of the
other end. Therefore the bent pipe 24 should be generally read as a

bent passage means

.
[0043] In the case of the above first embodiment (Fig. 1 to Fig. 4), if the recirculation
rate of the exhaust gas is about 20 percent, the flow rate of the fresh air is high
and the flow rate of the recirculated gas is low, therefore the recirculated gas flowing
out of the recirculated gas inflowing port 11 opened in the forward flow area of the
exhaust gas into the intake pipe 5 flows toward the downstream side while riding the
forward flow of the fresh air in the intake pipe 5, so the recirculated gas does not
flow into the back flow area of the intake air, but if the recirculation rate becomes
high up to about 50 percent, as previously explained by using Fig. 14, the flow rate
of the fresh air in the intake pipe 5 becomes low, but in contrast, the flow rate
of the recirculated gas flowing out of the inflowing port 11 becomes high, therefore
there is a case where the recirculated gas penetrates through the forward flow area
of the fresh air and flows into the back flow area. In such a case, similar to the
related art, the recirculated gas will flow back, although the amount thereof is small,
and a deposit will sometimes be produced in the throttle valve 3, etc.
[0044] In the above third embodiment (refer to Fig. 11 to Fig. 13 and Fig. 15), a similar
problem is solved by providing the recirculated gas directing passage 17 having the
inclined surface 18, the partition flange 19, etc. but in the seventh embodiment,
this problem is solved by providing the bent pipe 24 opened toward the downstream
side of the flow of the intake air so as to be connected to the valve seat 16 of the
recirculated gas control valve provided at the position where the recirculated gas
introduction passage 8 penetrates through the pipe wall of the intake pipe 5 in the
forward flow area of the fresh air in the intake pipe 5 and defining the opening of
the end of the bent pipe 24 as the recirculated gas inflowing port 11 with respect
to the intake pipe 5.
[0045] Accordingly, in the seventh embodiment, as shown in Fig. 24, the recirculated gas
flowing in the introduction passage 8 passes the valve seat 16 of the recirculated
gas control valve and is then guided by the smooth directing passage 17 formed inside
the bent pipe 24 and changes in direction of flow, then is discharged to the direction
of flow of the forward flow area of fresh air from the inflowing port 11 opened in
the forward flow area of the fresh air, therefore even if the recirculated gas control
valve 4 is provided close to the throttle valve 3 and even in a case where the valve
stem 15 of the recirculated gas control valve 4 is located at the upstream side in
the direction of the intake pipe 5 from the valve stem 12 of the throttle valve 3
as an extreme case, it becomes possible to open the inflowing port 11 in the forward
flow area of the fresh air by using the bent pipe 24. Further, even in a case where
the recirculation rate is as high as about 50 percent, as shown in Fig. 25, the recirculated
gas is fed into the forward flow area of the fresh air (intake air) sufficiently downstream
from the throttle valve 3 by the directing passage 17 of the bent pipe 24, and therefore
the back flow of the recirculated gas to the throttle valve 3 is reliably hindered.
[0046] Figure 26 shows the eighth embodiment of the present invention. In this example as
well, similar to the seventh embodiment, the bent pipe 24 is used at the end of the
recirculated gas introduction passage 8. The different point of this from the seventh
embodiment resides in that the recirculated gas control valve 4 is not provided in
the pipe wall of the intake pipe 5, but is provided in the middle of the recirculated
gas introduction passage 8. Also in this case, in the mode of operation and effect,
similar to the seventh embodiment, the recirculated gas can be fed into the forward
flow area of the fresh air in the intake pipe 5 sufficiently downstream from the throttle
valve 3 by the bent pipe 24, therefore an adverse influence upon the throttle valve
3 due to the back flow of the recirculated gas can be prevented.
[0047] Figure 27 shows the ninth embodiment of the present invention. In the ninth embodiment,
the valve stem 12 of the throttle valve 3 and the valve stem 15 of the recirculated
gas control valve 4 have become parallel, therefore it is difficult to make the recirculated
gas evenly flow into the flow of fresh air at the downstream side of the throttle
valve 3 as it is, but by providing the bent pipe 24 so as to be connected to the downstream
side of the valve seat 16 of the recirculated gas control valve 4 and opening the
inflowing port 11 of the end of the recirculated gas directing passage 17 in the forward
flow area of the fresh air sufficiently downstream from the throttle valve 3, it becomes
possible to prevent the back flow of the recirculated gas to the direction of the
throttle valve 3 and, at the same time, the recirculated gas can be evenly mixed into
the fresh air. In this way, by providing the bent pipe 24 opened at the end of the
recirculated gas introduction passage 8, there is an advantage that a large degree
of freedom is obtained in the positional relationship between the throttle valve 3
and the recirculated gas control valve 4.
[0048] In the illustrated embodiments, the example of using a diaphragm actuator operating
by the negative pressure so as to operate the throttle valve 3 and the recirculated
gas control valve 4 (the negative pressure added is indicated as NP in the figure,
while atmospheric pressure is indicated as AP) was shown, but needless to say other
types of actuators, for example, a stepping motor, a piezoactuator, and a solenoid
type actuator can be used as the actuator of these valves.
[0049] Before explaining the 10th embodiment and subsequent embodiments of the present invention,
a further concrete explanation will be made of the configuration, mode of operation,
and problems of the exhaust gas recirculation device in the latter related art simply
explained in section on the related art by referring to Fig. 31. In Fig. 31, 101 is
a multi-cylinder engine, and 102 indicates a conventional exhaust gas recirculation
device mounted on this. Reference numeral 103 is an air cleaner, and 104 is an intake
passage connected to this and formed in an intake pipe 105, an intake manifold 106,
etc. Reference numeral 107 indicates an exhaust manifold of the engine 101. The exhaust
gas recirculation device 102 is constituted by a recirculated gas introduction passage
108 which extracts part of the exhaust gas EG from the exhaust manifold 107 as the
recirculated gas and feeds this to part of the intake passage 104 and a recirculated
gas control valve 109 provided at the end of the passage 108.
[0050] The conventional recirculated gas control valve 109 comprises a valve seat 110 acting
also as the recirculated gas inflowing port formed in the lower portion of the intake
pipe 105, a valve body 111 of a frustoconical shape opening and closing this, a long
rod-like valve stem 112 which is integrally formed with the valve body 111 and crosses
the intake passage 104, and an actuator 113 driving the upper end of the valve stem
112. Further, the actuator 113 is provided with a diaphragm 114 engaged with the upper
end of the valve stem 112 and a compression spring 116 placed in a negative pressure
chamber 115 formed in the upper portion of the diaphragm 114.
[0051] Separate from the exhaust gas recirculation device 102, in order to guide and process
the blow-by gas BG accumulated in the crank case and the cylinder head cover 117 of
the engine 101, a blow-by gas introduction passage 118 connecting them is provided.
The blow-by gas inflowing port 119 which is the outlet opening thereof is opened in
the pipe wall of the intake pipe 105 at the upstream side of the valve seat 110 of
the recirculated gas control valve 109.
[0052] As is well known, in the conventional exhaust gas recirculation device shown in Fig.
31, when the negative pressure NP for control acts upon the negative pressure chamber
115 of the diaphragm actuator 113, the diaphragm 114 moves upward against the biasing
force of the compression spring 116 and the valve body 111 opens the valve seat 110
via the valve stem 112. As a result, the recirculated gas, which is one part of the
exhaust gas from the exhaust manifold 107, passes through the recirculated gas introduction
passage 108, is mixed into the intake fresh air flowing in the intake passage 104
from the valve seat 110, is fed into the combustion chamber of the engine 101 where
it enhances the state of combustion and is used for the purification of the exhaust
gas.
[0053] Recently, the flow rate of the recirculated gas has been increased more and more,
but the temperature of the valve seat 110 and valve body 111 becomes high due to flow
of a large amount of recirculated gas. The heat causes deterioration of the diaphragm
114 of the actuator 113 or, if the actuator is a stepping motor or the like, damages
the same, but in the conventional example of Fig. 31, a long valve stem 112 of the
recirculated gas control valve 109 is provided so as to cross the intake passage 104
in which the intake air containing a large amount of low temperature fresh air flows,
therefore even if the temperature of the valve seat 110 and the valve body 111 becomes
high, the heat is scattered from the long valve stem 112 into the intake air, therefore
the breakage of the diaphragm 114 etc. of the actuator 113 due to the heat can be
prevented.
[0054] However, as in the conventional example of Fig. 31, when the valve seat 110 of the
recirculated gas control valve 108, which is the opening at the end of the recirculated
gas introduction passage 108, is provided in the lower portion of the intake passage
104, if blow-by gas containing a large oil component flows from the inflowing port
119 at the end of the blow-by gas introduction passage 118 which is ordinarily provided
at the upstream side of the recirculated gas control valve 109, that oil component
is separated and adhered to the wall surface of the intake passage 104 and, at the
same time, coagulates and forms an oil film which flows downward under the influence
of gravity to flow to near the valve seat 110 of the recirculated gas control valve
109. The valve seat 110, which is the opening of the end of the recirculated gas introduction
passage 108, emits the recirculated gas, therefore there is the possibility as mentioned
above that the carbon particles contained in this will be mixed with the oil component
in the blow-by gas and build up near the valve seat 110 to form a deposit that reduces
the sectional area of the flow path or that causes the valve body 111 to stick to
the valve seat 110 to make the operation impossible.
[0055] As a means for solving this problem, the present invention provides the exhaust gas
recirculation device of the 10th embodiment shown in Fig. 28 to Fig. 30. Below, the
configuration thereof will be explained in detail. For making the comparison easy,
the same reference symbols will be used for constituent parts substantially the same
as those of the conventional example mentioned above. Namely, 101 denotes a multi-cylinder
engine, 103 an air cleaner, 104 an intake passage, 105 an intake pipe, 106 an intake
manifold, 107 an exhaust manifold, 108 a recirculated gas introduction passage, 113
a diaphragm actuator, 114 a diaphragm, 115 a negative pressure chamber, 116 a compression
spring, 117 a cylinder head cover, 118 a blow-by gas introduction passage, and 119
a blow-by gas inflowing port.
[0056] As apparent from the comparison with the conventional example of Fig. 31, the characteristic
feature of the exhaust gas recirculation device 120 of the 10th embodiment of the
present invention shown in Fig. 28 to Fig. 30 resides in the related configuration
of the recirculated gas control valve 121 attached to the intake pipe 105 and the
downstream side part thereof. This control valve 121 is constituted in a pipe part
122 which is provided so as to be inserted into the middle of the intake pipe 105
and forms part of the intake passage 104. One part 105a of the intake pipe 105 which
is located on the downstream side of the pipe part 122 has a shape matched with the
end surface of the control valve 121 including the pipe part 122. In the illustrated
example, the part 105a of the intake pipe 105 is separately provided from the pipe
part 122 of the control valve 121, but it is also possible to integrally form them
from the first. Particularly, by providing the partition wall 123 with the intake
passage 104, the intake air and blow-by gas flowing toward the downstream side are
prevented from directly flowing into the recirculated gas control valve 121. Needless
to say, it is possible for the partition wall 123 to he formed by part of the pipe
part 122 so far as it does not hinder installation of the recirculated gas control
valve 121.
[0057] Further, the recirculated gas control valve 121 is provided with a valve body 124
which is attached in a direction with its axial line intersecting the axial line of
the pipe part 122 at right angles at the upper portion of the pipe part 122 and accordingly
at the upper portion of the intake passage 104, an inlet 125 of the recirculated gas
provided there, an annular valve seat 126 formed in the valve body 124, a valve body
127 of a frustoconical shape opening and closing this, and a recirculated gas introduction
port 128 which is opened toward the downstream side so that, when the valve body 127
is separated from the valve seat 126, the recirculated gas flowing through the valve
gap between them is guided to the intake passage 104 and flows into the intake flow.
[0058] The valve stem 129 integrally formed with the valve body 127 is driven by the actuator
133 in the same way as that of the conventional example. By attaching the valve body
124 of the recirculated gas control valve 121 so as to intersect with the pipe part
122, the actuator 113 can be located at a position close to the intake pipe 105, therefore
it will be cooled together with the valve body 124 by the intake air of the relatively
low temperature flowing in the intake pipe 105. Accordingly, when the actuator 113
is a diaphragm type, deterioration of the diaphragm 114 due to the heat of the recirculated
gas transferred from the valve body 127 via the valve stem 129 can be prevented.
[0059] In the operating state of the exhaust gas recirculation device 120, by the feeding
of the negative pressure from a not illustrated vacuum pump or the like to the negative
pressure chamber 115 of the diaphragm actuator 113, the valve body 127 of the recirculated
gas control valve 121 opens or closes the valve gap with the valve seat 126 and makes
an appropriate amount of recirculated gas flow into the flow of the intake air flowing
in the intake passage 104 toward the downstream side from the introduction port 128
when necessary.
[0060] The blow-by gas flowing from the blow-by gas inflowing port 119 opened at the upstream
side from the recirculated gas control valve 121 is contained in the intake air, and
therefore the oil component in the blow-by gas adheres to the inner wall surface of
the intake pipe 105 and coagulates to form an oil film, but the oil film flows downward
due to gravity. In addition, since the partition wall 123 is provided in the lower
portion of the recirculated gas control valve 121 with the intake passage 104, even
if there is no inflow of the recirculated gas, the blow-by gas will not slip around
to near the valve seat 126. Accordingly, due to these two functions, the intrusion
and adhesion of the oil component in the blow-by gas to the periphery of the valve
seat 126 of the recirculated gas control valve 121 are reliably hindered. As a result,
the trouble of the carbon particles contained in the recirculated gas flowing out
of the control valve 121 to be mixed with the oil component in the blow-by gas and
forming a deposit in the flow path which reduces the sectional area of the flow path
or causes sticking of the valve body 127 and the valve seat 126 and thereby poor operation
of the control valve 121 can be avoided.
[0061] Next, an explanation will be made of the exhaust gas recirculation device 130 of
an 11th embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Fig. 32 and Fig. 33. In
the 11th embodiment, the configuration of the recirculated gas control valve 121 in
the 10th embodiment is maintained as it is. Only the configuration of the downstream
part thereof is changed. Accordingly, the same reference symbols or numerals are attached
to parts common with the 10th embodiment such as the recirculated gas control valve
121 and overlapping explanations will be omitted. The 11th embodiment is characterized
by the provision of an inclined recirculated gas inflowing passage 131 which not only
is shaped so that the control valve 121 and the part 105b of the intake pipe 5 connected
to the downstream side of the pipe part 122 thereof match with the upstream side in
the connected end surface, but also is connected to the recirculated gas introduction
port 128 of the control valve 121 on the upstream side and, at the same time, opens
in the intake passage 104 on the downstream side. The opening of the inflowing passage
131 with respect to the intake passage 104, that is, the recirculated gas inflowing
port 132, can smoothly combine the recirculated gas flowing while passing through
the control valve 121 with the intake air in the intake passage 104.
[0062] In the 11th embodiment, since the recirculated gas inflowing passage 131 inclined
from the valve seat 126 of the recirculated gas control valve 121 toward the intake
passage 104 is provided, the flow rate is lowered during the period when the recirculated
gas passing through the valve gap between the valve body 127 and valve seat 126 of
the control valve 121 flows in the inflowing passage 131, thus there are the advantages
that the mixture with the intake air flowing in the intake passage 104 becomes better
and the distribution of the recirculated gas with respect to cylinders becomes more
uniform than that of the case of the 10th embodiment.
[0063] Figure 34 and Fig. 35 show the exhaust gas recirculation device 133 according to
a 12th embodiment of the present invention. The characteristic feature of the 12th
embodiment resides in that, while maintaining the substantive configuration of the
exhaust gas recirculation device 130 of the 11th embodiment as it is, the pipe part
122 of the recirculated gas control valve 121 and the part 105a of the intake pipe
105 on the downstream side are combined so as to provide the recirculated gas inflowing
member 134. Accordingly, in this case, part of the recirculated gas inflowing member
134 corresponds to the pipe part 122 in the 11th embodiment, therefore only the valve
part excluding the pipe part 122 from the recirculated gas control valve 121 in the
11th embodiment is shown as the recirculated gas control valve 121' in the 12th embodiment.
By providing the recirculated gas inflowing member 134, the number of parts and number
of installation steps are reduced, therefore, in the 12th embodiment, the production
costs can be reduced from the 11th embodiment.
[0064] In an engine, in order to prevent a deposit from building up at an EGR exhaust port
to close the port or to prevent an EGR valve from sticking, an EGR valve is provided
in a upper portion of an intake pipe, and a valve seat portion thereof is separated
from the intake pipe by a partition flange. An EGR gas passing through the EGR valve
flows from the inflowing port of an inflowing passage into an intake air and is mixed
with this. An oil component is contained in a blow-by gas flowing from the inflowing
port on the upstream side, therefore this is adhered to the inner surface of the intake
pipe and forms an oil film, but this oil flows downward due to gravity and the valve
seat located above is covered by the partition flange, therefore it is possible to
prevent the oil intruding into the EGR valve and the carbon particles in the EGR gas
mixing with the oil in the blow-by gas to form a deposit.
1. An exhaust gas recirculation device in an internal combustion engine provided with
a throttle valve which is provided in the middle of an intake pipe and adjusts an
amount of intake air passing through the intake pipe to be taken into a combustion
chamber in a cylinder; a recirculated gas introduction passage for refluxing part
of an exhaust gas as recirculated gas into said intake pipe; a recirculated gas control
valve provided in the middle of said recirculated gas introduction passage and adjusting
the amount of the recirculated gas passing through the passage and flowing into said
intake pipe; and a recirculated gas inflowing port opening in said intake pipe so
as to make the recirculated gas flow into said intake pipe at an end of said recirculated
gas introduction passage, wherein said recirculated gas inflowing port is opened in
a forward flow area of intake air flowing from the upstream to downstream side in
said intake pipe at the downstream side of said throttle valve.
2. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to claim 1, wherein provision is made
of a recirculated gas directing passage for connecting said recirculated gas inflowing
port and a valve seat portion of said recirculated gas control valve.
3. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to claim 2, wherein said recirculated
gas directing passage is provided with an inclined surface inclined toward the downstream
side of the intake pipe.
4. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
provision is made of a partition flange which is provided at an upstream side of intake
air of said recirculated gas inflowing port and hinders the flowing of the recirculated
gas to the upstream side of said recirculated gas inflowing port when it flows into
said intake pipe.
5. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
provision is made of a blow-by gas introduction passage for making the blow-by gas
generated in said engine flow into said intake pipe on the upstream side of said throttle
valve and, at the same time, said recirculated gas inflowing port is provided in the
upper portion of said throttle valve.
6. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein
said recirculated gas directing passage is opened in an intake manifold which is part
of said intake pipe.
7. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein
said throttle valve is a butterfly type, and the valve stem thereof is disposed in
parallel to the direction of arrangement of a plurality of cylinders of said engine.
8. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to claim 7, wherein said recirculated
gas inflowing port is opened in the lower portion of said throttle valve in the pipe
wall of the intake pipe on the downstream side of said butterfly type throttle valve.
9. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to claim 7, wherein said recirculated
gas inflowing port is opened in the upper portion of said throttle valve in the pipe
wall of the intake pipe on the downstream side of said butterfly type throttle valve.
10. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein
said recirculated gas inflowing port has a fan shape.
11. An exhaust gas recirculation device in an internal combustion engine provided with
a throttle valve which is provided in the middle of an intake pipe and adjusts an
amount of intake air passing through the intake pipe to be taken into a combustion
chamber in a cylinder; a blow-by gas inflowing port opened on the upstream side of
said throttle valve; a recirculated gas introduction passage for refluxing part of
an exhaust gas as recirculated gas into said intake pipe; a recirculated gas control
valve provided in the middle of said recirculated gas introduction passage and adjusting
the amount of the recirculated gas passing through the passage and flowing into said
intake pipe; and a recirculated gas inflowing port opening in said intake pipe so
as to make the recirculated gas flow into said intake pipe at an end of said recirculated
gas introduction passage, wherein one end of a bent passage means is connected to
an end of said recirculated gas introduction passage and an internal portion of said
bent passage means is defined as the recirculated gas directing passage and, at the
same time, the other end of said bent passage means is opened toward the downstream
side in the forward flow area of the flow of the intake air in said intake pipe as
the recirculated gas inflowing port.
12. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to claim 11, wherein an elbow-shaped
bent pipe is used as said bent passage means.
13. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to either of claim 11 or 12, wherein
said recirculated gas control valve is arranged on an upstream side of said throttle
valve in terms of position.
14. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein
said throttle valve is a butterfly type, and the valve stem thereof is arranged in
parallel to the direction of arrangement of a plurality of cylinders of said engine.
15. An exhaust gas recirculation device in an internal combustion engine provided with
a recirculated gas introduction passage for diverting the flow of part of the exhaust
gas and refluxing this to an intake passage as recirculated gas and a recirculated
gas control valve which is provided at an end of the recirculated gas introduction
passage and adjusts the amount of the recirculated gas flowing toward said intake
passage, wherein the valve seat portion of said recirculated gas control valve is
provided at a position of an upper portion of said intake passage and, at the same
time, a partition flange extending toward the downstream side is provided so as to
separate said valve seat portion and said intake passage, whereby a recirculated gas
introduction port opened toward the downstream side when seen from said valve seat
portion is formed in the upper portion of said intake passage and the recirculated
gas passing through a valve gap of said valve seat portion passes through said recirculated
gas introduction port and flows toward downstream by this and is combined with the
intake air flowing in said intake passage.
16. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to claim 15, wherein it has a blow-by
gas introduction passage and a blow-by gas inflowing port of the end of the passage
is opened in said intake passage on the upstream side from said recirculated gas control
valve.
17. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the recirculated
gas inflowing passage is provided so as to be connected to the downstream side of
said recirculated gas introduction port, and the recirculated gas inflowing port opened
in said intake passage is formed in an end portion at the downstream side of the recirculated
gas inflowing passage.
18. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to claim 17, wherein said recirculated
gas inflowing passage is inclined with respect to said intake passage.
19. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to claim 17 or 18, wherein said recirculated
gas inflowing passage is integrally formed with said recirculated gas control valve.
20. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein
a throttle valve is provided in said intake passage, and said blow-by gas inflowing
port of the end of said blow-by gas introduction passage is opened in said intake
passage further upstream from the throttle valve.
21. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to claim 20, wherein said throttle valve
is a butterfly type, and the valve stem thereof is disposed in parallel to the direction
of arrangement of the plurality of cylinders of said engine.
22. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein
the recirculated gas inflowing port on the downstream side of said recirculated gas
inflowing passage is opened in an intake manifold constituting part of said intake
passage.
23. An exhaust gas recirculation device in an internal combustion engine provided with
a recirculated gas introduction passage for diverting the flow of part of the exhaust
gas and refluxing this to an intake passage as recirculated gas and a recirculated
gas control valve which is provided at an end of the recirculated gas introduction
passage and adjusts the amount of the recirculated gas flowing toward said intake
passage, where a partition flange is provided extending toward the downstream side
is provided so as to separate the valve seat portion of said recirculated gas control
valve and said intake passage, whereby a recirculated gas inflowing passage opening
toward the downstream when seen from said valve seat portion is formed in part of
said intake passage and the recirculated gas passing through a valve gap of said valve
seat portion passes through said recirculated gas inflowing passage and flows toward
the downstream side by this to be combined with the intake air flowing in said intake
passage.
24. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to claim 23, wherein both of said partition
flange and recirculated gas inflowing passage are provided in the upper portion of
said intake passage.
25. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to either of claim 23 or 24, wherein
the recirculated gas inflowing port on the downstream side of said recirculated gas
inflowing passage is opened in the intake manifold constituting one part of said intake
passage.
26. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein
it has a blow-by gas introduction passage and a blow-by gas inflowing port of the
end of the passage is opened in said intake passage.
27. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to any one of claims 23 to 26, wherein
a throttle valve is provided in said intake passage, and the valve stem thereof is
supported in parallel to the valve stem of said recirculated gas control valve.
28. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to any one of claims 23 to 27, wherein
a throttle valve of a butterfly type is provided in said intake passage, and the valve
stem thereof is disposed in parallel to the direction of arrangement of the plurality
of cylinders of said engine.
29. An exhaust gas recirculation device according to any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein
said throttle valve and recirculated gas control valve are disposed in a common housing.