Mass flow air meter

Claim 2

An air valve for use in an engine air induction system having throttle means for controlling air flow therethrough, said air valve including a housing in the system upstream of the throttle means, a cross bore in said housing, a first contoured hole of continuous profile extending from one surface of said housing to run out at said cross bore, a second contoured hole, identical in size but inverted with respect to said first contoured hole, extending from the opposite surface of said housing to run out at said cross bore, a rectangular valve plate rotatably mounted in said cross bore for movement between closed and open positions relative to said contoured holes, said valve plate when in an open position relative to said contoured holes defining flow areas, the total flow area uncovered for any given valve plate open position being comprised of two diametrically opposite orifices, the orifice areas uncovered by said valve plate being in planes parallel to the continuous cross sections of said contoured holes, said first contoured hole and said second contoured hole each being of a shape to provide a straightthrough flow path through said housing with large flow areas immediately upstream and downstream, relative to fluid flow through said housing, from said orifices, and with predetermined scheduled flow areas, which as uncovered by said valve plate, define said orifices, the contoured shape of each of said scheduled flow areas being such so as to control the percentage change in flow area for a fixed incremental change in said valve plate rotative angle to a constant value.

Claim 3

A flow control valve including a valve body having a cross bore therethrough, side cover means on opposite sides of said valve body to enclose said cross bore, a first contoured hole of continuous profile extending from one surface of said valve body to run out at said cross bore, a second contoured hole of continuous profile, identical in size but inverted with respect to said first contoured hole, extending from the opposite surface of said valve body to run out at said cross bore, a shaft means journalled in said side cover means and extending through said cross bore concentrically therewith, a rectangular valve plate fixed to said shaft means for rotation in said cross bore about the axis of rotation of said shaft for movement between a closed position and a full open position relative to said first contoured hole and said second contoured hole, said valve plate when in a position other than said closed position defining, with said contoured hOles, two flow areas, each flow area being defined by a segment of one of said contoured holes and a radial edge of said valve plate, said contoured holes being of a size and shape to provide a straight-through flow path through said valve body with large flow areas immediately upstream and downstream, relative to fluid flow in said flow path, from said flow areas and whereby the size of said flow areas increases at a predetermined fixed rate, as desired, relative to the opening angle of said valve plate.

Claim 4

A flow control valve including a valve body having a cross bore therethrough, side cover means on opposite sides of said valve body to enclose said cross bore, a first contoured hole of continuous profile extending from one surface of said valve body to run out at said cross bore, a second contoured hole of continuous profile, identical in size but inverted with respect to said first contoured hole, extending from the opposite surface of said valve body to run out at said cross bore, a shaft means journalled in said side cover means and extending through said cross bore concentrically therewith, a rectangular valve plate fixed to said shaft means for rotation in said cross bore about the axis of rotation of said shaft for movement between a closed position and a full open position relative to said first contoured hole and said second contoured hole, said valve plate when in a position other than said closed position defining, with said contoured hOles, two flow areas, each flow area being defined by a segment of one of said contoured holes and a radial edge of said valve plate, said contoured holes being of a size and shape to provide a straight-through flow path through said valve body with large flow areas immediately upstream and downstream, relative to fluid flow in said flow path, from said flow areas and whereby the size of said flow areas increases at a predetermined fixed rate, as desired, relative to the opening angle of said valve plate.

Claim 5

A scheduled area valve including housing means having an enclosed cylindrical cavity therein of a predetermined axial length defined by an annular inner peripheral wall and opposed side walls in said housing means, a first contoured hole of continuous profile and of a predetermined scheduled area in cross section extending from an outer surface of said housing means through said inner peripheral wall, a second contoured hole of continuous profile, identical in size and shape but inverted with respect to said first contoured hole, extending from an opposite outer surface of said housing means through said inner peripheral wall, a shaft means rotatably journalled in said housing means to extend through said cylindrical cavity concentric therewith, a valve plate of a length and width corresponding to the diameter and length of said cylindrical cavity fixed to said shaft means for rotation in said cylindrical cavity about the axis of rotation of said shaft whereby said valve plate is moved between a closed position and a full open position relative to said contoured holes, said valve plate as it is moved toward said full open position defining with said contoured holes a pair of flow areas, each of said flow areas being defined by a segment of one of said contoured holes and a radial edge of said valve plate, said contoured holes being of a shape and aligned with respect to each other to provide a straight-through flow path through said housing means with large flow areas immediately upstream and downstream, relative to fluid flow through said housing means, from said flow areas, the scheduled area of said first contoured hole and said second contoured hole being shaped as desired to control the percentage change in flow area for each incremental change in said valve plate rotative angle to a constant value.

Claim 6

A scheduled area valve including housing means having an enclosed cylindrical cavity therein of a predetermined axial length defined by an annular inner peripheral wall and opposed side walls in said housing means, a first contoured hole of continuous profile and of a predetermined scheduled area in cross section extending from an outer surface of said housing means through said inner peripheral wall, a second contoured hole of continuous profile, identical in size and shape but inverted with respect to said first contoured hole, extending from an opposite outer surface of said housing means through said inner peripheral wall, a shaft means rotatably journalled in said housing means to extend through said cylindrical cavity concentric therewith, a valve plate of a length and width corresponding to the diameter and length of said cylindrical cavity fixed to said shaft means for rotation in said cylindrical cavity about the axis of rotation of said shaft whereby said valve plate is moved between a closed position and a full open position relative to said contoured holes, said valve plate as it is moved toward said full open position defining with said contoured holes a pair of flow areas, each of said flow areas being defined by a segment of one of said contoured holes and a radial edge of said valve plate, said contoured holes being of a shape and aligned with respect to each other to provide a straight-through flow path through said housing means with large flow areas immediately upstream and downstream, relative to fluid flow through said housing means, from said flow areas, the scheduled area of said first contoured hole and said second contoured hole being shaped as desired to control the percentage change in flow area for each incremental change in said valve plate rotative angle to a constant value.

Claim 7

A flow control valve including housing means having an enclosed cylindrical cavity therein of a predetermined diameter and of a predetermined axial length defined by an annular inner peripheral wall and opposed side walls in said housing means, a first contoured hole extending from an outer surface of said housing means to run out at said inner peripheral wall, a second contoured hole of continuous profile extending from an opposite outer surface of said housing means to run out at said inner peripheral wall, said second contoured hole being identical to but inverted relative to said first contoured hole, a shaft rotatably journalled in said housing means and extending coaxially through said cylindrical cavity, a valve plate within said cylindrical cavity, said valve plate being of a length and width complementary to the diameter and length of said cylindrical cavity, and being fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith about the axis of rotation of said shaft whereby one radial edge of said valve plate is moved between a closed position and a full open position relative to said first contoured hole and the opposite radial edge of said valve plate is simultaneously moved between a closed position and a full open position relative to said second contoured hole, whereby two flow areas are uncovered, each of said flow areas being defined by a segment of one of said contoured holes and a radial edge of said valve plate, said contoured holes being of a shape to provide a straight-through flow path through said housing means with large flow areas, immediately upstream and downstream, relative to the direction of fluid flow in said flow path, from said flow areas and tO control the percentage change in flow area for an incremental change in rotation of said valve plate to a constant value.

Claim 8

A flow control valve including housing means having an enclosed cylindrical cavity therein of a predetermined diameter and of a predetermined axial length defined by an annular inner peripheral wall and opposed side walls in said housing means, a first contoured hole extending from an outer surface of said housing means to run out at said inner peripheral wall, a second contoured hole of continuous profile extending from an opposite outer surface of said housing means to run out at said inner peripheral wall, said second contoured hole being identical to but inverted relative to said first contoured hole, a shaft rotatably journalled in said housing means and extending coaxially through said cylindrical cavity, a valve plate within said cylindrical cavity, said valve plate being of a length and width complementary to the diameter and length of said cylindrical cavity, and being fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith about the axis of rotation of said shaft whereby one radial edge of said valve plate is moved between a closed position and a full open position relative to said first contoured hole and the opposite radial edge of said valve plate is simultaneously moved between a closed position and a full open position relative to said second contoured hole, whereby two flow areas are uncovered, each of said flow areas being defined by a segment of one of said contoured holes and a radial edge of said valve plate, said contoured holes being of a shape to provide a straight-through flow path through said housing means with large flow areas, immediately upstream and downstream, relative to the direction of fluid flow in said flow path, from said flow areas and tO control the percentage change in flow area for an incremental change in rotation of said valve plate to a constant value.