Integrated valve device

Abstract

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

1 . An integrated valve device for and internal combustion engine, the integrated valve device comprising:
 a casing having a plurality of intake passages separately connected with a plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine;   a plurality of valves each being provided to each of the plurality of intake passages, the plurality of valves each having a through hole extending along a rotation axis;   a shaft extending through the through hole along the rotation axis, the plurality of valves being skewered with the shaft; and   an actuator for generating driving force to rotate the plurality of valves via the shaft toward one of a valve-open direction and a valve-close direction,   wherein the shaft has a plurality of fitting portions respectively supporting the plurality of valves,   each of the plurality of valves is at a mount angle with respect to each of the plurality of fitting portions, and   the mount angle is determined correspondingly to load torque applied to each of the plurality of valves toward the valve-open direction when being in a full close position.   
     
     
         2 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein each of the plurality of valves includes a valve shaft and a valve member,   the valve shaft is in a substantially cylindrical shape defining the through hole, and   the valve member is in a substantially plate shape and radially extends from the valve shaft perpendicularly to the rotation axis.   
     
     
         3 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the valve member has a valve surface extending perpendicularly to a thickness direction of the valve member, and   the valve member is supported by corresponding one of the plurality of fitting portions via the valve shaft being located eccentrically on one side of to the valve surface.   
     
     
         4 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the valve member has an end surface on an opposite side of the valve shaft, and   the end surface of the valve member has a notch to define an opening portion for generating vortex flow in intake air flowing to the cylinders of the internal combustion engine.   
     
     
         5 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 1 , wherein the mount angle between each of the plurality of valves and each of the plurality of fitting portions is determined such that the plurality of valves respectively defines therethrough a plurality of valve openings being substantially equivalent to each other when the plurality of valves is in a full close position. 
     
     
         6 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the shaft has one axial end extending out of the plurality of valves, and   the one axial end of the shaft includes a stopper portion for limiting a plurality of valve openings of the plurality of valves when being in a full close position.   
     
     
         7 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 6 , wherein the mount angle increases from that of one of the plurality of valves, which is distant from the stopper portion, toward that of an other of the plurality of valves, which is in the vicinity of the stopper portion. 
     
     
         8 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein each of the plurality of fitting portions is in a substantially polygonal shape in cross section, and   each of the though holes of the plurality of valves is in a substantially polygonal shape correspondingly to the cross section of each of the plurality of fitting portions.   
     
     
         9 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the plurality of valves respectively includes a plurality of valve shafts each being in a substantially cylindrical shape defining the through hole,   each of the plurality of valve shafts has the through hole at a predetermined angle, and   the predetermined angle increases from that of one of the plurality of valves, which is distant from the stopper portion, toward that of an other of the plurality of valves, which is in the vicinity of the stopper portion.   
     
     
         10 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the plurality of valves respectively has the plurality of through holes each being inserted with each of the plurality of fitting portions, which is arranged along the rotation axis of the shaft and is distant at a predetermined distance from each other,   each of the plurality of fitting portions has an insertion surface being at a predetermined angle, and   the predetermined angle increases from that of one of the plurality of fitting portions, which is distant from the stopper portion, toward that of an other of the plurality of fitting portions, which is in the vicinity of the stopper portion.   
     
     
         11 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator has an output shaft connected with one axial end of the shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a biasing member for biasing the shaft to reduce a gap between the shaft and the output shaft of the actuator,   wherein the biasing member is provided to the shaft on an axially opposite side of the actuator.   
     
     
         13 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the casing is an intake manifold including a plurality of housings respectively defining the plurality of intake passages rotatably accommodating the plurality of valve members to respectively construct a plurality of valve units, and   the plurality of valve units is arranged along an axial direction of the shaft and is respectively distant at a predetermined distance from each other.   
     
     
         14 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is a rotation axis defining a rotation center of the plurality of valves. 
     
     
         15 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fitting portions is respectively inserted in the plurality of through holes of the plurality of valves, which is axially distant at a predetermined distance from each other. 
     
     
         16 . An integrated valve device for and internal combustion engine, the integrated valve device comprising:
 a casing having a plurality of intake passages separately connected with a plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine;   a plurality of valves each being provided to each of the plurality of intake passages, the plurality of valves each having a through hole extending along a rotation axis;   a shaft extending through the through hole along the rotation axis, the plurality of valves being skewered with the shaft; and   an actuator for generating driving force to rotate the plurality of valves via the shaft toward one of a valve-open direction and a valve-close direction,   wherein the shaft has a plurality of fitting portions respectively supporting the plurality of valves at mount angles,   each of the plurality of valves includes a valve shaft and a valve member,   the valve shaft is in a substantially cylindrical shape defining the through hole,   the valve member is in a substantially plate shape and radially extends from the valve shaft perpendicularly to the rotation axis, and   the valve member of each of the plurality of valves has rigidity, which is determined correspondingly to load torque applied to each of the plurality of valves toward the valve-open direction when being in a full close position.   
     
     
         17 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the valve member has a valve surface extending perpendicularly to a thickness direction of the valve member, and   the valve member is supported by corresponding one of the plurality of fitting portions via the valve shaft being located eccentrically on one side of to the valve surface.   
     
     
         18 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the valve member has an end surface on an opposite side of the valve shaft, and   the end surface of the valve member has a notch to define an opening portion for generating vortex flow in intake air flowing to the cylinders of the internal combustion engine.   
     
     
         19 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the shaft has one axial end extending out of the plurality of valves, and   the one axial end of the shaft includes a stopper portion for limiting a plurality of valve openings of the plurality of valves when being in the full close position.   
     
     
         20 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 19 ,
 wherein the plurality of the valve members respectively has a plurality of thick portions each being on a side of the valve shaft,   each of the plurality of thick portions has a predetermined thickness, and   the predetermined thickness decreases from that of one of the plurality of thick portions, which is distant from the stopper portion, toward that of an other of the plurality of thick portions, which is in the vicinity of the stopper portion.   
     
     
         21 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein each of the plurality of fitting portions is in a substantially polygonal shape in cross section, and   each of the though holes of the plurality of valves is in a substantially polygonal shape correspondingly to the cross section of each of the plurality of fitting portions.   
     
     
         22 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 16 , wherein the actuator has an output shaft connected with one axial end of the shaft. 
     
     
         23 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a biasing member for biasing the shaft to reduce a gap between the shaft and the output shaft of the actuator,   wherein the biasing member is provided to the shaft on an axially opposite side of the actuator.   
     
     
         24 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the casing is an intake manifold including a plurality of housings respectively defining the plurality of intake passages rotatably accommodating the plurality of valve members to respectively construct a plurality of valve units, and   the plurality of valve units is arranged along an axial direction of the shaft and is respectively distant at a predetermined distance from each other.   
     
     
         25 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 16 , wherein the shaft is a rotation axis defining a rotation center of the plurality of valves. 
     
     
         26 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of fitting portions is respectively inserted in the plurality of through holes of the plurality of valves, which is axially distant at a predetermined distance from each other. 
     
     
         27 . An integrated valve device for and internal combustion engine, the integrated valve device comprising:
 a casing having a plurality of intake passages separately connected with a plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine;   a plurality of valves each being provided to each of the plurality of intake passages, the plurality of valves each having a through hole extending along a rotation axis;   a shaft extending through the through hole along the rotation axis, the plurality of valves being skewered with the shaft; and   an actuator for generating driving force to rotate the plurality of valves via the shaft toward one of a valve-open direction and a valve-close direction,   wherein the shaft has a plurality of fitting portions respectively supporting the plurality of valves at mount angles,   each of the plurality of valves includes a valve shaft and a valve member,   the valve shaft is in a substantially cylindrical shape defining the through hole,   the valve member is in a substantially plate shape and radially extends from the valve shaft perpendicularly to the rotation axis,   the valve member has an end surface on an opposite side of the valve shaft,   the end surface of the valve member has a notch to define an opening portion for generating vortex flow in intake air flowing to the cylinders of the internal combustion engine, and   the opening portion of each of the plurality of valve members has an opening area, which is determined correspondingly to load torque applied to each of the plurality of valve members toward the valve-open direction when being in a full close position.   
     
     
         28 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 27 ,
 wherein the valve member has a valve surface extending perpendicularly to a thickness direction of the valve member, and   the valve member is supported by corresponding one of the plurality of fitting portions via the valve shaft being located eccentrically on one side of to the valve surface.   
     
     
         29 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 27 ,
 wherein the shaft has one axial end extending out of the plurality of valves, and   the one axial end of the shaft includes a stopper portion for limiting a plurality of valve openings of the plurality of valves when being in the full close position.   
     
     
         30 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 29 , wherein the opening area of the opening portion of each of the plurality of valve members increases from that of one of the plurality of valve members, which is distant from the stopper portion, toward that of an other of the plurality of valve members, which is in the vicinity of the stopper portion. 
     
     
         31 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 27 ,
 wherein each of the plurality of fitting portions is in a substantially polygonal shape in cross section, and   each of the though holes of the plurality of valves is in a substantially polygonal shape correspondingly to the cross section of each of the plurality of fitting portions.   
     
     
         32 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 27 , wherein the actuator has an output shaft connected with one axial end of the shaft. 
     
     
         33 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 32 , further comprising:
 a biasing member for biasing the shaft to reduce a gap between the shaft and the output shaft of the actuator,   wherein the biasing member is provided to the shaft on an axially opposite side of the actuator.   
     
     
         34 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 27 ,
 wherein the casing is an intake manifold including a plurality of housings respectively defining the plurality of intake passages rotatably accommodating the plurality of valve members to respectively construct a plurality of valve units, and   the plurality of valve units is arranged along an axial direction of the shaft and is respectively distant at a predetermined distance from each other.   
     
     
         35 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 27 , wherein the shaft is a rotation axis defining a rotation center of the plurality of valves. 
     
     
         36 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of fitting portions is respectively inserted in the plurality of through holes of the plurality of valves, which is axially distant at a predetermined distance from each other. 
     
     
         37 . An integrated valve device for and internal combustion engine, the integrated valve device comprising:
 a casing having a plurality of intake passages separately connected with a plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine;   a plurality of valves each being provided to each of the plurality of intake passages, the plurality of valves each having a through hole extending along a rotation axis;   a shaft extending through the through hole along the rotation axis, the plurality of valves being skewered with the shaft; and   an actuator for generating driving force to rotate the plurality of valves via the shaft toward one of a valve-open direction and a valve-close direction,   wherein the shaft has a plurality of fitting portions respectively supporting the plurality of valves at mount angles,   each of the plurality of valves includes a valve shaft and a valve member,   the valve shaft is in a substantially cylindrical shape defining the through hole,   the valve member is in a substantially plate shape and radially extends from the valve shaft perpendicularly to the rotation axis,   the casing has a plurality of cylindrical portions each defining therein each of the plurality of intake passages,   each of the plurality of cylindrical portions has a wall surface defining a protrusion in the vicinity of the valve member being in a full close position,   the protrusion extends to reduce a cross section of each of the plurality of intake passages, and has a tip end defining an opposed surface being faced to an end surface of the valve member being in the full close position,   the opposed surface of the protrusion is at a distance from a rotation center of each of the plurality of valve members, and   the distance is determined correspondingly to load torque applied to each of the plurality of valve members toward the valve-open direction when the plurality of valve members is in the full close position.   
     
     
         38 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 37 ,
 wherein the valve member has a valve surface extending perpendicularly to a thickness direction of the valve member, and   the valve member is supported by corresponding one of the plurality of fitting portions via the valve shaft being located eccentrically on one side of to the valve surface.   
     
     
         39 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 37 ,
 wherein the valve member has an end surface on an opposite side of the valve shaft, and   the end surface of the valve member has a notch to define an opening portion for generating vortex flow in intake air flowing to the cylinders of the internal combustion engine.   
     
     
         40 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 37 ,
 wherein the shaft has one axial end extending out of the plurality of valves, and   the one axial end of the shaft includes a stopper portion for limiting a plurality of valve openings of the plurality of valves when being in the full close position.   
     
     
         41 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 40 , wherein the distance increases from that of one of the plurality of valve members, which is distant from the stopper portion, toward that of an other of the plurality of valve members, which is in the vicinity of the stopper portion. 
     
     
         42 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 37 ,
 wherein each of the plurality of fitting portions is in a substantially polygonal shape in cross section, and   each of the though holes of the plurality of valves is in a substantially polygonal shape correspondingly to the cross section of each of the plurality of fitting portions.   
     
     
         43 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 37 , wherein the actuator has an output shaft connected with one axial end of the shaft. 
     
     
         44 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 43 , further comprising:
 a biasing member for biasing the shaft to reduce a gap between the shaft and the output shaft of the actuator,   wherein the biasing member is provided to the shaft on an axially opposite side of the actuator.   
     
     
         45 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 37 ,
 wherein the casing is an intake manifold including a plurality of housings respectively defining the plurality of intake passages rotatably accommodating the plurality of valve members to respectively construct a plurality of valve units, and   the plurality of valve units is arranged along an axial direction of the shaft and is respectively distant at a predetermined distance from each other.   
     
     
         46 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 37 , wherein the shaft is a rotation axis defining a rotation center of the plurality of valves. 
     
     
         47 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 37 , wherein the plurality of fitting portions is respectively inserted in the plurality of through holes of the plurality of valves, which is axially distant at a predetermined distance from each other. 
     
     
         48 . An integrated valve device for and internal combustion engine, the integrated valve device comprising:
 a casing having a plurality of intake passages separately connected with a plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine;   a plurality of valves each being provided to each of the plurality of intake passages, the plurality of valves each having a through hole extending along a rotation axis;   a shaft extending through the through hole along the rotation axis, the plurality of valves being skewered with the shaft; and   an actuator for generating driving force to rotate the plurality of valves via the shaft toward one of a valve-open direction and a valve-close direction,   wherein the shaft has a plurality of fitting portions respectively supporting the plurality of valves at mount angles,   each of the plurality of valves includes a valve shaft and a valve member,   the valve shaft is in a substantially cylindrical shape defining the through hole,   the valve member is in a substantially plate shape and radially extends from the valve shaft perpendicularly to the rotation axis,   the valve member of each of the plurality of valves has an end surface on an opposite side of the valve shaft,   the valve member has a protrusion in the vicinity of the end surface,   the protrusion is in a substantially arc shape along a locus of the valve member being rotatable,   the valve member has a valve surface on a side of the valve shaft with respect to the protrusion,   the protrusion of the valve member extends toward the valve-close direction relative to the valve surface,   the protrusion has a length with respect to the valve-close direction, and   the length of the protrusion is determined correspondingly to a maximum angle of torsion caused in the shaft by load torque applied to the plurality of valves toward the valve-open direction when being in the full close position.   
     
     
         49 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 48 ,
 wherein the valve member has a valve surface extending perpendicularly to a thickness direction of the valve member, and   the valve member is supported by corresponding one of the plurality of fitting portions via the valve shaft being located eccentrically on one side of to the valve surface.   
     
     
         50 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 48 ,
 wherein the valve member has an end surface on an opposite side of the valve shaft, and   the end surface of the valve member has a notch to define an opening portion for generating vortex flow in intake air flowing to the cylinders of the internal combustion engine.   
     
     
         51 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 48 ,
 wherein each of the plurality of fitting portions is in a substantially polygonal shape in cross section, and   each of the though holes of the plurality of valves is in a substantially polygonal shape correspondingly to the cross section of each of the plurality of fitting portions.   
     
     
         52 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 48 , wherein the actuator has an output shaft connected with one axial end of the shaft. 
     
     
         53 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 52 , further comprising:
 a biasing member for biasing the shaft to reduce a gap between the shaft and the output shaft of the actuator,   wherein the biasing member is provided to the shaft on an axially opposite side of the actuator.   
     
     
         54 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 48 ,
 wherein the casing is an intake manifold including a plurality of housings respectively defining the plurality of intake passages rotatably accommodating the plurality of valve members to respectively construct a plurality of valve units, and   the plurality of valve units is arranged along an axial direction of the shaft and is respectively distant at a predetermined distance from each other.   
     
     
         55 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 48 , wherein the shaft is a rotation axis defining a rotation center of the plurality of valves. 
     
     
         56 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 48 , wherein the plurality of fitting portions is respectively inserted in the plurality of through holes of the plurality of valves, which is axially distant at a predetermined distance from each other. 
     
     
         57 . An integrated valve device for and internal combustion engine, the integrated valve device comprising:
 a casing having a plurality of intake passages separately connected with a plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine;   a plurality of valves each being provided to each of the plurality of intake passages, the plurality of valves each having a through hole extending along a rotation axis;   a shaft extending through the through hole along the rotation axis, the plurality of valves being skewered with the shaft; and   an actuator for generating driving force to rotate the plurality of valves via the shaft toward one of a valve-open direction and a valve-close direction,   wherein the shaft has a plurality of fitting portions respectively supporting the plurality of valves at mount angles,   each of the plurality of valves includes a valve shaft and a valve member,   the valve shaft is in a substantially cylindrical shape defining the through hole,   the valve member is in a substantially plate shape and radially extends from the valve shaft perpendicularly to the rotation axis,   the casing has a plurality of cylindrical portions each defining therein each of the plurality of intake passages,   each of the plurality of cylindrical portions has a wall surface defining each of the plurality of intake passages,   the wall surface defines an opposed surface being faced to an end surface of the valve member being in the full close position,   the opposed surface of each of the plurality of cylindrical portions extends to an upstream of an intake air along the valve-open direction,   the opposed surface is in a substantially arc shape along a locus of the valve member being rotatable,   the opposed surface has a length with respect to the valve-open direction, and   the length of the opposed surface is determined correspondingly to a maximum angle of torsion caused in the shaft by load torque applied to the plurality of valves toward the valve-open direction when being in the full close position.   
     
     
         58 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 57 ,
 wherein the valve member has a valve surface extending perpendicularly to a thickness direction of the valve member, and   the valve member is supported by corresponding one of the plurality of fitting portions via the valve shaft being located eccentrically on one side of to the valve surface.   
     
     
         59 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 57 ,
 wherein the valve member has an end surface on an opposite side of the valve shaft, and   the end surface of the valve member has a notch to define an opening portion for generating vortex flow in intake air flowing to the cylinders of the internal combustion engine.   
     
     
         60 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 57 ,
 wherein each of the plurality of fitting portions is in a substantially polygonal shape in cross section, and   each of the though holes of the plurality of valves is in a substantially polygonal shape correspondingly to the cross section of each of the plurality of fitting portions.   
     
     
         61 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 57 , wherein the actuator has an output shaft connected with one axial end of the shaft. 
     
     
         62 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 61 , further comprising:
 a biasing member for biasing the shaft to reduce a gap between the shaft and the output shaft of the actuator,   wherein the biasing member is provided to the shaft on an axially opposite side of the actuator.   
     
     
         63 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 57 ,
 wherein the casing is an intake manifold including a plurality of housings respectively defining the plurality of intake passages rotatably accommodating the plurality of valve members to respectively construct a plurality of valve units, and   the plurality of valve units is arranged along an axial direction of the shaft and is respectively distant at a predetermined distance from each other.   
     
     
         64 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 57 , wherein the shaft is a rotation axis defining a rotation center of the plurality of valves. 
     
     
         65 . The integrated valve device according to  claim 57 , wherein the plurality of fitting portions is respectively inserted in the plurality of through holes of the plurality of valves, which is axially distant at a predetermined distance from each other.