Air Injection Valve for a Muffler

Abstract

An air injection valve includes: a valve housing having first and second housing halves coupled detachably to each other, the first housing half defining a first inner space and having a flat wall that is formed with a plurality of suction holes in fluid communication with the first inner space, the second housing half defining a second inner space and being formed with an outlet in fluid communication with the second inner space and adapted to be connected to the muffler; a valve seat secured in the second inner space and formed with a valve opening for permitting fluid communication between the first and second inner spaces; and a flexible thin film reed having one end secured to the valve seat for covering and uncovering the valve opening.

1 . An air injection valve for a muffler, comprising:
 a valve housing having first and second housing halves coupled detachably to each other, said first housing half defining a first inner space and having a flat wall that is formed with a plurality of suction holes in fluid communication with said first inner space, said second housing half defining a second inner space and being formed with an outlet in fluid communication with said second inner space and adapted to be connected to the muffler;   a valve seat secured in said second inner space and formed with a valve opening for permitting fluid communication between said first and second inner spaces; and   a flexible thin film reed having one end secured to said valve seat for covering and uncovering said valve opening.   
   
   
       2 . The air injection valve of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter mounted detachably in said first inner space and covering said suction holes. 
   
   
       3 . The air injection valve of  claim 2 , further comprising a positioning member that is in the form of a perforated thin plate fitted securely into said first inner space so as to position said filter. 
   
   
       4 . The air injection valve of  claim 3 , wherein said perforated thin plate is corrugated. 
   
   
       5 . The air injection valve of  claim 1 , further comprising a curved stopper having one end secured to said valve seat and a shape conforming to that of said thin film reed so as to stop further flexing of said thin film reed when said thin film reed is flexed to uncover said valve opening. 
   
   
       6 . The air injection valve of  claim 1 , wherein said second housing half has a flat wall that is opposite to said flat wall of said first housing half in a first direction, and an end flange that extends from one end of said flat wall of said second housing half, that is disposed transversely of said flat wall of said second housing half, and that is adapted to be connected to the muffler, said suction holes being aligned with said valve opening in said first direction, said outlet extending through said end flange and facing in a second direction transverse to said first direction. 
   
   
       7 . The air injection valve of  claim 6 , wherein said suction holes are arranged in an array that has a size conforming to that of said valve opening. 
   
   
       8 . A muffler comprising:
 a muffler housing defining a chamber therein, an exhaust gas inlet, and an exhaust gas outlet;   a catalyst mounted in said chamber and disposed between said exhaust gas inlet and said exhaust gas outlet; and   an air injection valve mounted on said muffler housing and including
 a valve housing having first and second housing halves coupled detachably to each other, said first housing half defining a first inner space and having a flat wall that is formed with a plurality of suction holes in fluid communication with said first inner space, said second housing half defining a second inner space and being formed with an outlet in fluid communication with said second inner space and said chamber, 
 a valve seat secured in said second inner space and formed with a valve opening for permitting fluid communication between said first and second inner spaces, and 
 a flexible thin film reed having one end secured to said valve seat for covering and uncovering said valve opening. 
   
   
   
       9 . The muffler of  claim 8 , wherein said air injection valve further includes a filter mounted detachably in said first inner space and covering said suction holes. 
   
   
       10 . The muffler of  claim 9 , wherein said air injection valve further includes a perforated thin plate fitted securely into said first inner space so as to position said filter. 
   
   
       11 . The muffler of  claim 8 , wherein said air injection valve further includes a curved stopper having one end secured to said valve seat and a shape conforming to that of said thin film reed so as to stop further flexing of said thin film reed when said thin film reed is flexed to uncover said valve opening. 
   
   
       12 . The muffler of  claim 8 , wherein said second housing half has a flat wall that is opposite to said flat wall of said first housing half in a first direction, and an end flange that extends from one end of said flat wall of said second housing half, that is disposed transversely of said flat wall of said second housing half, and that is connected to said muffler housing, said suction holes being aligned with said valve opening in said first direction, said outlet extending through said end flange and facing in a second direction transverse to said first direction. 
   
   
       13 . The muffler of  claim 12 , wherein said suction holes are arranged in an array that has a size conforming to that of said valve opening.