Variable valve apparatus and muffler provided with the same

Abstract

A variable valve apparatus includes: a housing having a pair of shaft holes and a gate hole formed in the housing; a gate provided to selectively open the gate hole; a shaft provided in the shaft holes and connected to the gate; and a spring provided on the shaft so as to elastically support the gate, in which a gap is formed between the gate and the housing. The variable valve apparatus may be provided as part of a muffler installed in a vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A variable valve apparatus comprising:
 a housing having a pair of shaft holes and a gate hole formed therein;   a gate provided to selectively open the gate hole;   a shaft provided in the shaft holes and connected to the gate; and   a spring provided on the shaft so as to elastically support the gate,   wherein a gap having a predetermined size is formed between the gate and the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The variable valve apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a metal mesh for supporting the gate is provided in the housing at a position adjacent to the shaft.   
     
     
         3 . The variable valve apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a guide space is formed between the housing and the gate so as to guide exhaust gas to flow into the gap.   
     
     
         4 . The variable valve apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the housing has an inclined portion formed to be inclined outward,   the gate has a protruding portion protruding to be inclined to an inside of the housing, and   the guide space is defined as a space between the inclined portion and the protruding portion.   
     
     
         5 . The variable valve apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the gate is completely inserted into the housing without interference.   
     
     
         6 . The variable valve apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 one end of the gate and one end of the housing, which form the gap, are positioned on the same plane.   
     
     
         7 . The variable valve apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the shaft holes are provided with a bushing to support the shaft.   
     
     
         8 . The variable valve apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the predetermined size ranges from about 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.   
     
     
         9 . A muffler having a variable valve apparatus, comprising:
 a plurality of chambers formed by partitioning an inside of a housing using partition walls;   an inlet pipe for introducing exhaust gas into the housing;   a discharge pipe for discharging exhaust gas introduced into the chambers to the outside;   an inner pipe directly connecting the chambers inside the housing; and   a variable valve apparatus formed in a downstream side of the inner pipe and automatically controlling an opening/closing amount according to exhaust gas pressure,   wherein the variable valve apparatus comprises:   the housing having a pair of shaft holes and a gate hole formed therein;   a gate provided to selectively open the gate hole;   a shaft provided in the shaft holes and connected to the gate; and   a spring provided on the shaft so as to elastically support the gate,   and a gap having a predetermined size is formed between the gate and the housing.   
     
     
         10 . The muffler of  claim 9 , wherein:
 a metal mesh for supporting the gate is provided in the housing at a position adjacent to the shaft.   
     
     
         11 . The muffler of  claim 9 , wherein:
 a guide space is formed between the housing and the gate so as to guide the exhaust gas to flow into the gap.   
     
     
         12 . The muffler of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the housing has an inclined portion formed to be inclined outward,   the gate has a protruding portion protruding to be inclined to the inside of the housing, and   the guide space is defined as a space between the inclined portion and the protruding portion.   
     
     
         13 . The muffler of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the gate is completely inserted into the housing without interference.   
     
     
         14 . The muffler of  claim 11 , wherein:
 one end of the gate and one end of the housing, which form the gap, are positioned on the same plane.   
     
     
         15 . The muffler of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the shaft holes are provided with a bushing to support the shaft.   
     
     
         16 . The muffler of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the predetermined size ranges from about 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.