Exhaust gas recirculation control assembly

Claim 1

An assembly for controlling flow of exhaust gases through an exhaust gas recirculation passage, said assembly comprising a valve pintle adapted for disposition in said passage, said pintle having an axially extending recess terminating at a transversely extending end wall and defining an internal chamber adjacent said end wall, said pintle further having one or more lateral openings for allowing entry of exhaust gases from said passage to said chamber, said assembly further comprising a valve stem having a portion received in said recess, said valve stem being of hollow tubular form to define a conduit for conducting exhaust gases from said chamber to a pressure responsive member, wherein said recess has a ledge facing away from said end wall, wherein said valve stem portion has a tip received by said ledge, wherein said valve stem portion has a tapered outer surface the diameter of which decreases with distance from said end wall, wherein said recess has a shoulder facing toward said end wall and extending radially inwardly toward said tapered surface, and wherein a retaining ring embraces said tapered surface and abuts said shoulder to hold said tip firmly in engagement with said ledge and thereby retain said valve stem portion within said recess, said retaining ring being radially elastic to allow withdrawal of said pintle from said stem whereby exhaust gas deposits may be removed from said chamber and said conduit.