Manifold Having Plenum Patents (Class 123/184.34)
  • Patent number: 11913491
    Abstract: A coupling structure includes a welding member formed of resin and a welded member that is formed of resin and to which the welding member is welded. In the welding member, a region that is welded to the welded member on the rear side in a predetermined direction is smaller than a region that is welded to the welded member on the front side in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsu Naito
  • Patent number: 11637410
    Abstract: A vehicle component, and a method and tool for forming the component are provided. First and second tools with first and second surfaces, respectively, are provided. The first tool is translated along a first axis towards the second tool such that the first and second surfaces cooperate to define a mold cavity configured to form an accessory mount feature with an aperture. The second surface is configured to form an integrated rib extending outwardly from an upper surface of the mount feature to a planar bearing surface surrounding the aperture with the planar bearing surface oriented at an acute angle relative to the upper surface. The first axis is substantially parallel to the upper surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Stancavage, Sandra Davidson Osip
  • Patent number: 11136950
    Abstract: Piston engine updraft and downdraft air intake systems, having a heat exchanger core and first and second intercooler flange structures having the same pattern of bolt apertures. The updraft air intake system has an air inlet component with an air inlet flange bolted to and having the same pattern of bolt apertures as the first intercooler flange structure, with the assembly configured to be mounted over the engine intake manifold with the air inlet component below the heat exchanger core. The downdraft air intake system has an air distribution tray with distribution channels, and an air passage closure tray that mates with the air distribution tray to form air conduits with outlet ports configured to be connected to cylinder air intake ports, and an air tray distribution flange bolted to and having the same pattern of bolt apertures as the second intercooler flange structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Auto IP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Tiramani, Kyle Denman
  • Patent number: 10590872
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for measuring exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) distribution among individual engine cylinders. In one example, a method may include fluidly coupling a plurality of intake runners of an engine to a vacuum pump, diverting a portion of intake charge gas from the intake runner to a gas composition sensor with the vacuum pump, measuring an oxygen concentration of the diverted intake charge portion with the gas composition sensor, and estimating an EGR concentration of the intake charge based on the measured oxygen concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tyler Lacey, Shawn Spannbauer, Norman Opolsky, Chad Stateler
  • Patent number: 10364777
    Abstract: An intake apparatus of a V-type internal combustion engine including first cylinders arranged along a first direction in a first bank and second cylinders arranged along the first direction in a second bank, the intake apparatus includes a surge tank, first branch paths, second branch paths, and a protrusion. The surge tank is provided above the first and second banks. The surge tank includes a lower wall, an air inlet, first air outlets, and second air outlets. The first air outlets are arranged along the first direction in the lower wall. The second air outlets are arranged along the first direction in the lower wall. The first branch paths connect the first outlets to the first cylinders. The second branch paths connect the second outlets to the second cylinders. The protrusion is provided on the lower wall between a closest first air outlet and a closest second air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsunori Murakami, Yuki Tomitani, Kenta Obana
  • Patent number: 10267273
    Abstract: A variable intake system includes a pair of surge tanks connected in a communicating manner to a main intake pipe through a low speed communication pipe and a high speed communication pipe, a middle speed communication pipe for connecting the pair of surge tanks, and a noise reducing member integrally provided at the middle speed communication pipe to reduce noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Sang Kyu Kang, Gue Hyun Jung, Teok Hyeong Cho, Woo Tae Kim, Youn Soo Im, Kwang Min Won, Seong Hyuk Kang
  • Patent number: 10221757
    Abstract: Disclosed is an intake joint structure capable of blocking backflow of lubricating oil 18 at a connection position between an air inlet 12 of a turbocharger and a suction pipe 24. A backflow-preventive plate 25 is integrally molded to have a cylindrical portion 25a fitted over the air inlet 12 and a tapered portion 25b curved inward from an upstream end of the cylindrical portion 25a and converged downstream to provide an open end. A downstream end 24a of a suction pipe 24 is molded by soft material over a predetermined range using exchange blow molding. The cylindrical portion 25a of the backflow-preventive plate 25 is fitted over the air inlet 12 through a grommet 26 (first soft layer) and the downstream end 24a of the suction pipe 24 is fitted over the cylindrical portion 25a and is banded by a hose band 27.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignees: HINO MOTORS, LTD., EXCELL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Onishi, Takashi Tamura
  • Patent number: 10167828
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine for a vehicle, a fuel delivery pipe (37) is favorably protected from a load of a frontal crash. An intake chamber member (42) positioned in an upper part of an intake manifold (31) is supported by an engine main body (11) via a first support member (50) and a second support member (51) at laterally spaced apart parts of the intake chamber member. A lower part of the intake manifold is connected to a cylinder head of the engine via downstream ends of branch pipes (43) of the intake manifold. The fuel delivery pipe extends laterally between an intake side of the engine main body and the branch pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Morimoto
  • Patent number: 10167827
    Abstract: A modular intake manifold for a V-style motor cycle engine is configured to interface with manifold ports on cylinder heads of a first engine and with manifold ports on cylinder heads of a second engine. The first engine has cylinders of a first length, and the second engine has cylinders of a second length larger than the first length. The manifold port of each cylinder head of the first engine is offset from the centerline of the respective cylinder bore by a first offset distance. The manifold port of each cylinder head of the second engine is offset from the centerline of the respective cylinder bore by a second offset distance that is greater than the first offset distance. A method includes manufacturing the first cylinder and second cylinders, the first and second cylinder heads, and the intake manifold with the respective same considerations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: MIDWEST MOTORCYCLE SUPPLY DISTRIBUTORS CORP.
    Inventor: John M. Garrison
  • Patent number: 10001093
    Abstract: A method and system to restrict the flow of accumulated liquid water from the intake manifold into the cylinders of an internal combustion engine by reducing the velocity of contained liquid water as it moves through the containment feature during vehicle maneuvering are disclosed. The body of the intake manifold includes a water containment feature having a water containment reservoir having an open upper portion and water-restricting interior walls. A water passageway is provided in each interior wall. The water passageway may be of any of several shapes, including a V-shape notch extending from the top of the wall. The interior wall is a central interior wall and the containment reservoir further includes an intermediate interior wall between the side walls that intersects the central interior wall. The water passageway is formed in at least one of the interior walls and may be formed in all of the walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Gary Nola
  • Patent number: 9995255
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for an intake manifold for an engine. In one example, the intake manifold comprises a first passage for supplying intake air to a plurality of cylinders of the engine and a second passage for supplying gaseous fuel to the plurality of cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alexis Gruschow, Leslie Orin Trask, Eric Richard Dillen, John Stephen Roth, Matthew Joseph Felion
  • Patent number: 9850861
    Abstract: A snowmobile includes an engine including an engine head including a cylinder head, a supercharger, an intake manifold, throttle bodies, first joints that connect the intake manifold to the throttle bodies, second joints that connect the throttle bodies to the cylinder head, and a restrictor that connects the engine head to the first joints. The restrictor includes an engaging member that fits into grooves of the first joints, and connectors that connect the engaging member and the engine head to each other. A steering shaft is inserted between two mutually adjacent first joints which have a distance from each other greater than a distance between the other two mutually adjacent first joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Eshima, Takashi Ashida, Atsushi Murashima
  • Patent number: 9683481
    Abstract: The dual pass intercooled supercharger includes a supercharger and intercooler. The system is configured such that air leaving the supercharger traverses the intercooler from one side to an opposing side two or more times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Edelbrock, LLC
    Inventors: Chad Magana, Robert Simons
  • Patent number: 9677514
    Abstract: An air induction system for delivering equal quantities of combustion air to an internal combustion engine has an air box assembly comprising a housing that defines a filter chamber that is configured to receive an air filter assembly, an air inlet that admits the fresh air into the housing and the filter chamber and outlets extending from the housing. The air filter assembly further comprises a filter media disposed between the air inlet and the outlets to define a filtered air chamber on a flow side of the filter media and a partition extending across the filtered air chamber to divide filtered, fresh air passing through the filter media into two flow paths, the divided flows paths exiting the housing and the filtered air chamber through the outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eric R. Tucker, Steven A. Kornburger
  • Patent number: 9617904
    Abstract: Self-cooled engine including a cylinder, a cylinder head and a turbo-piston which freely reciprocates inside the cylinder. The cylinder head has a valve that achieves circumferential suction of air-fuel mixture into the cylinder. The valve mechanism is closed and opened by cylindrical cam by means of cam shaft. Circumferential suction of air-fuel mixture enables the cylinder to cool itself and to burn the fuel at the energy center effectively. The force of incoming stream of air-fuel mixture rotates the impeller on the piston which acts as a fan to cool the cylinder walls. The impeller blades deflect the flame from reaching the cylinder walls and acts as a thermal barrier between the energy center and cylinder walls. The high intensity compression swirl (HICS) created at the end of the compression stroke to ensure that the fuel combustion is efficient and instantaneous release of maximum energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Anisun EcoTech Pvt Ltd.
    Inventor: Sundararajan Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 9322364
    Abstract: An intake manifold having an EGR-air flow distributor for distributing the desired air flow and EGR-air mixture through the intake manifold to each cylinder is disclosed. The EGR-air flow distributor includes a set of guide vanes defining plural flow channels in a plenum region of the inlet manifold. The EGR-air flow distributor also includes an EGR tube partially extending into the inlet manifold and having a slot formed therein for introducing EGR into the plenum region at a single location between the engine throttle and the guide vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Edward J. Keating, Alan W. Hayman, Robert S. McAlpine
  • Patent number: 9273653
    Abstract: A bolt-on replacement intake manifold has an asymmetrical plenum with a first end including an inlet, a closed terminal end, a concave top surface and a convex bottom surface; a flange; and a plurality of runners extending from the bottom surface of the plenum and terminating at the flange. The plenum defines an interior space in flow communication with the runners. The bottom surface of the plenum is wider than the top surface. The plenum initially widens from the inlet to the first runner and then begins to narrow from the first runner toward the last runner adjacent to the closed terminal end. The runners are tapered, curved, and vary in length. The intake manifold causes air to exit each of the plurality of runners at substantially the same angle. The manifold balances airflow across each runner and increases swirl inside the cylinders enhancing fuel economy, power output, and torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: MNC Flow, LLC
    Inventor: Keith Wilson
  • Patent number: 9120524
    Abstract: A vehicle can include a pair of right and left main frames extending from a head pipe of a front portion to a rear direction. An engine is disposed below the main frames, a fuel tank is disposed above the main frames, and an air cleaner is disposed above the engine E and adjacent to the fuel tank. The air cleaner is disposed in the front direction side of the fuel tank, and a part of the air cleaner is disposed in the lower direction side of the fuel tank. An inner side portion disposed between the pair of right and left main frames and outer side portions disposed so as to bulge to the outer side in the width direction of the vehicle of the pair of right and left main frames are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Ozaki
  • Patent number: 9004047
    Abstract: An engine assembly generally includes an engine and an intake manifold. The engine includes a plurality of cylinders. The plurality of cylinders includes a pair of cylinders. The engine is configured to sequentially fire the pair of cylinders. The intake manifold defines a plurality of ports. Each port is in fluid communication with one of the plurality of cylinders. The plurality of ports includes a pair of ports. Each of the pair of ports is disposed in fluid communication with one of the pair of cylinders. The intake manifold further includes a baffle disposed between the pair of ports to restrict fluid flow within the intake manifold between the pair of ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mark R. Claywell, Daniel J. Hommes
  • Patent number: 8701635
    Abstract: A supercharger system is disclosed herein having a front end, a rear end, an inlet and an outlet, the system contained within a housing, wherein the supercharger system includes a rotor assembly, and a plurality of intake runners that comprise an interlaced cross-runner pattern, wherein the supercharger system comprises a front drive, front inlet configuration and an inverted orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Simons, Chad Magana
  • Patent number: 8640667
    Abstract: A mounting device can mount an intake manifold to an engine and includes a bending moment applying device applying a bending moment to the intake manifold as the intake manifold is mounted to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ichiro Hisada, Shoubin Han, Hironori Tanikawa
  • Patent number: 8607756
    Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure may provide an intake manifold that may include a plastic shell defining an intake passage in fluidic communication with a runner configured to pass inlet air to a combustion chamber. The runner may have a substantially flat inner surface. The intake manifold may also include one or more ribs disposed along the inner surface. The one or more ribs may have a length extending along a portion of the inner surface in a direction substantially corresponding to a flow direction in order to reduce NVH while maintaining reducing overall volume of the manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Milind B. Kulkarni, Christopher William Newman
  • Patent number: 8550049
    Abstract: A composite material intake manifold cover includes braces integral to the outside surface of the cover to stiffen the cover and reduce noise and vibration associated with the cover. The cover has a flange around the periphery with a raised weld bead, the weld bead provided for welding the cover to a mating piece. The flange extends outwardly from the cover for a first distance over most of the periphery and a second distance to support the braces over the remainder of the periphery. The braces extend upwardly from the upper surface of the flange at the sections of the flange extending out the second distance and may be placed between adjacent intake runner ports. By providing portions of the flange extending out a greater distance, a more substantial brace can be supported, thereby improving the noise and vibration characteristics relative to conventional stiffening ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John Carl Lohr
  • Patent number: 8528510
    Abstract: An intake assembly for a 3-cylinder, V-configured engine comprises an intake manifold configured to conduct combustion air to a first, two-cylinder, cylinder head housing assembly and a second, single-cylinder, cylinder head housing assembly. A centrally extending plenum defines a plenum axis. A first plurality of intake runners, in fluid communication with the plenum, extend from a front side and transition through a circumferential arc around an upper side to deliver combustion air to, the first, two-cylinder, cylinder head housing assembly. A single intake runner, in fluid communication with the centrally extending plenum, extends from a rear side and transitions through a circumferential arc around the upper side to deliver combustion air to, the second, single-cylinder, cylinder head housing assembly. A zip tube delivers combustion air to the central plenum at a location that is between one of the first plurality of intake runners and the single cylinder intake runner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan W. Hayman, Eric C. Douse
  • Patent number: 8522741
    Abstract: An air-intake duct, which is disposed between an air outlet of an air cleaner box constituting an air cleaner and an air inlet of a throttle body constituting a throttle device, is configured to guide air cleaned by the air cleaner to the throttle device. The air-intake duct includes a tubular coupling member including an upstream coupling portion coupled in an air tight manner to the air outlet of the air cleaner box and a downstream coupling portion air-tightly coupled to the air inlet of the throttle body, the coupling member being entirely formed of an elastic rubber material. The air-intake duct also includes an air guide member including a first air inlet configured to take in air therethrough from inside the air cleaner box, a first air outlet configured to discharge the air therethrough toward the throttle body, and a fitting portion fitted to the coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Matsuda, Takafumi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8430073
    Abstract: An intake manifold for a multiple-cylinder internal combustion engine has a collective part forming an intake gas distribution chamber, and a branch part forming branch intake passages. The collective part includes a first section defining a first space joined to a second section defining a second space. The first and second spaces define the intake gas distribution chamber. The first and second sections have corner parts, the second section being provided with a guide wall covering the inside surfaces of the corner parts. The guide wall has a guide surface and opposes the intake gas inlet, the intake gas distribution chamber being defined between the intake gas inlet and the guide wall. The guide wall and the corner parts define a back space communicating with the intake gas distribution chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co. Ltd., Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Taira, Shojiro Fukuda, Masato Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8201534
    Abstract: An intake system for a V-type multiple cylinder internal combustion engine includes a plurality of parallel first intake pipes 15L connected to the plurality of cylinders of a first cylinder row, a plurality of parallel second intake pipes 15R connected to the plurality of cylinders of a second cylinder row. The first intake pipes 15L and the second intake pipes 15R extend into an air distribution case 10 so as to extend across each other. A first inlet pipe 13R is provided at a part of a first side wall 11R of the air distribution case 10 corresponding to a substantially middle point of the row of the first intake pipes 15L, and a second inlet pipe 13L is provided at a part of a second side wall 11L of the air distribution case 10 corresponding to a substantially middle point of the row of the second intake pipes 15R. Air flows through the first inlet pipe 13R into the first intake pipes 15L and air flows through the second inlet pipe 13L into the second intake pipes 15R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Sato
  • Patent number: 8122864
    Abstract: An intake manifold for a multicylinder internal combustion engine includes a number of inlet runners operatively connected with a mounting flange. A sealing region circumscribes only an outer periphery of the mounting flange and does not extend between adjacent ones of the intake runners. The sealing region includes a continuous groove formed in the mounting flange and a sealing composition applied to the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Katherine Jane Randall, Christopher William Newman, Todd Brewer
  • Patent number: 8065982
    Abstract: In a variable intake apparatus for a V-type internal combustion engine, each of plural intake pipes is separated from a surge tank by a partition wall, and communication ports, provided in the partition wall for the respective intake pipes, are opened and closed by respective variable intake valves to adjust length of intake passages. The variable intake valves in one of two parallel rows are offset from the variable intake valves in the other row. The variable intake valves are opened and closed by turning the turning shafts to which the variable intake valves are connected. Further, a synchronization mechanism synchronously turns the turning shafts (5a; 5b), and is connected between the paired turning shafts. The turning motion of one turning shaft is transmitted to the other turning shaft via the synchronization mechanism, and the variable intake valves are synchronously opened and closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hironori Kitadani, Shigeo Takeuchi, Masaaki Iinuma, Shinji Iwata
  • Publication number: 20110277717
    Abstract: An intake manifold assembly for mounting to a cylinder head and configured to deliver combustion air thereto comprises a centrally positioned zip tube having an opening for receipt of combustion air from a throttle body. First and second flow runners extend from the centrally positioned zip tube to terminate at a common intake manifold plenum for delivery of combustion air thereto. A centrally located access opening is defined between the first and second flow runners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Wayne Groleau, Christopher K. Clarke, David Charles Klemstine
  • Patent number: 8056525
    Abstract: An induction system for an internal combustion engine includes an upper intake for receiving air from a supply, such as a turbocharger, and a lower intake which combines a cylinder valve actuator cover, a plenum for receiving air from the upper intake, and a number of intake runners which extend across, an integrally with, the cylinder valve actuator cover to cylinder head intake ports which are configured at outboard sides of the engine cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: David Currie, Ivan Lazich
  • Patent number: 8033019
    Abstract: A lower manifold for a V-style internal combustion engine comprising at least three shells: a top shell for mating with an upper manifold; a left shell for mating with a left engine head; and a right shell for mating with a right engine head. The three shells are formed independently by injection molding and are joined as by vibration welding when aligned in a welding jig. The molds for the left and right shells are formed such that the seal ring groove has a rectangular cross-section having sidewalls perpendicular to the lower shell surface because each left and right shell has its own draft angle preferably perpendicular to its lower shell surface. The method and apparatus of the invention permits runner cross-sections to be significantly rounded, which improves air flow characteristics of the runners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Peffley, Keith A. Confer, Debra L. Benson
  • Publication number: 20110174257
    Abstract: An intake assembly for a 3-cylinder, V-configured engine comprises an intake manifold configured to conduct combustion air to a first, two-cylinder, cylinder head housing assembly and a second, single-cylinder, cylinder head housing assembly. A centrally extending plenum defines a plenum axis. A first plurality of intake runners, in fluid communication with the plenum, extend from a front side and transition through a circumferential arc around an upper side to deliver combustion air to, the first, two-cylinder, cylinder head housing assembly. A single intake runner, in fluid communication with the centrally extending plenum, extends from a rear side and transitions through a circumferential arc around the upper side to deliver combustion air to, the second, single-cylinder, cylinder head housing assembly. A zip tube delivers combustion air to the central plenum at a location that is between one of the first plurality of intake runners and the single cylinder intake runner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Alan W. Hayman, Eric C. Douse
  • Publication number: 20100065003
    Abstract: An induction system for an internal combustion engine includes an upper intake for receiving air from a supply, such as a turbocharger, and a lower intake which combines a cylinder valve actuator cover, a plenum for receiving air from the upper intake, and a number of intake runners which extend across, an integrally with, the cylinder valve actuator cover to cylinder head intake ports which are configured at outboard sides of the engine cylinder head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: David Currie, Ivan Lazich
  • Publication number: 20090250025
    Abstract: In a variable intake apparatus for a V-type internal combustion engine, each of plural intake pipes is separated from a surge tank by a partition wall, and communication ports, provided in the partition wall for the respective intake pipes, are opened and closed by respective variable intake valves to adjust length of intake passages. The variable intake valves in one of two parallel rows are offset from the variable intake valves in the other row. The variable intake valves are opened and closed by turning the turning shafts to which the variable intake valves are connected. Further, a synchronization mechanism synchronously turns the turning shafts (5a; 5b), and is connected between the paired turning shafts. The turning motion of one turning shaft is transmitted to the other turning shaft via the synchronization mechanism, and the variable intake valves are synchronously opened and closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hironori Kitadani, Shigeo Takeuchi, Masaaki Iinuma, Shinji Iwata
  • Patent number: 7581522
    Abstract: Upper and lower split components include upper and lower concave parts, respectively, forming the inner periphery of an intake pipe. An internal pipe is placed between the upper and lower concave parts. The upper concave part is formed a distance away from the outer periphery of the internal pipe. The outer periphery of the internal pipe is provided with a fitting part fitted into the lower concave part and a sealing part accommodated in an accommodation recess formed in the upper concave part. The inner face of the accommodation recess and the sealing part are formed along the direction of vibration of vibration welding and are in contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: DaikyoNishikawa Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Enokida
  • Patent number: 7503302
    Abstract: An intake device for outboard motors, which makes it possible to improve intake performance and reduce the size of the device at the same time. Cylinder banks have a plurality of cylinder bores arranged in a vertical direction, and extend rearward to form a V shape. Intake ports of the respective cylinder bores are formed in the cylinder banks to open in the inner sides of the V shape. An intake manifold is connected to the intake ports. A surge tank is connected to the intake manifold. A throttle body is connected to the surge tank. The surge tank comprises a plurality of intake passage members connected to the respective cylinder bores via the intake manifold, wall members provided between respective adjacent ones of the intake passage members, and a lid member configured to hermetically close a space defined by the intake passage members and the wall members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Miyashita, Hiromichi Takewaki, Jun Itoh, Hideo Koyama
  • Patent number: 7441528
    Abstract: An outboard motor mounted to a hull of a watercraft includes a V-type engine having right and left cylinder banks positioned in a cowling and having a crankshaft generally vertically disposed when the watercraft is under a running condition. A surge tank is disposed in the cowling. Right and left side long intake conduits and right and left side short intake conduits both connect the surge tank to intake ports of respective right and left banks of cylinders. The associated long intake conduits and short intake conduits can be selectively established depending on information about operational conditions of the hull and/or the outboard motor. The outboard motor includes right and left shut-off valves interchanging the long intake conduits and the short intake conduits. Right and left actuators individually actuate the right and left shut-off valves in accordance with information about operational conditions. A control means individually controls operations of the respective actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Osakabe, Yoshibumi Iwata
  • Patent number: 7428888
    Abstract: A V-type engine air intake device is provided for a V-type internal combustion engine. The V-type engine air intake device has a volume chamber, a first intake pipe, a second intake pipe and a plurality of curved branch pipes. The first intake pipe has a first outlet end connected to a first intake opening of the volume chamber. The second intake pipe has a second outlet end connected to a second intake opening of the volume chamber. The first and second outlet ends are arranged with first and second center outlet axes where that the first and second intake pipes connect to the volume chamber. The second center outlet axis is non-coincident with the first center outlet axis. The branch pipes each has an inlet end that opens inside the volume chamber in a substantially vertical downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junya Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20080210189
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tunable engine manifold which employs sliders to form one wall of the inlet runners. The sliders can be moved to alter the cross sectional area of the runners as desired. Seals on the sliders provide an efficient means to seal the runners to prevent undesired leaks within runners and, while not required by the present invention, the overmolding of the seals onto the sliders provides a cost effective and mechanically effective manner of providing the desired seals between the inlet runners and the sliders. The tunable engine manifold can be an inlet or an exhaust manifold and can provide a crossover between the banks of inlet runners, or between individual runners, to control resonance in the manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Andrew Boyes, Alvin Hong Mo Cheung, Rares I. Cosma, Nikolaus Spyra
  • Patent number: 7404387
    Abstract: An intake system for an internal combustion engine having at least two cylinder bank rows, each being assigned an intake bend having individual tubes leading to the cylinders, where the intake bends are interconnected in terms of fluid flow via a distributor tube (38) and at least one resonance tube (30) equipped with a switch valve, where the resonance tube and the distributor tube are combined in a central intake module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erwin Rutschmann, Matthias Benz
  • Patent number: 7389759
    Abstract: An internal-combustion engine has cylinders 21 arranged preferably in a V-formation with corresponding cylinder heads (27) including connectors for the supply and discharge of fluids. The cylinders are mounted in a crankcase (41) and are supplied with air for combustion by a cast air manifold (51) running the length of the engine, the air manifold being located adjacent to the row of cylinders, preferably in the V. To reduce the amount of pipework the manifold has shaped connectors for at least one of the fluids, in particular the air intake (33) and the water coolant (55), these connectors connecting directly to the relevant connectors on the cylinder head and being pressed against them by the pressure in the manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: MAN B & W Diesel, Ltd.
    Inventor: David Gerard McCullagh
  • Patent number: 7357110
    Abstract: A raised portion is formed at a predetermined location on an inside surface of a wall portion of an intake manifold. A gas introduction hole for introducing gas containing water vapor is formed in another predetermined location, other than in the raised portion, in the inside surface of the wall portion. An intake air negative pressure outlet hole for releasing intake air negative pressure within the surge tank to the outside is formed in the raised portion. A guide groove which catches moisture that trickles down the inside surface of the wall portion above the raised portion and guides it to a location away from the intake air negative pressure outlet hole, is formed in a region above the intake air negative pressure outlet hole in a rising surface of the raised portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuki Hashimoto, Fumihiro Shinkai
  • Publication number: 20080078349
    Abstract: An intake device of a V-type internal combustion engine is provided. In the V-type internal combustion engine, a pair of banks is mounted on an engine body in an approximately V-shape, and a throttle body connected to intake ports of cylinder heads of the banks is arranged between the banks. The throttle body is arranged below uppermost ends of head covers which are respectively mounted on the banks. Therefore, the height of the internal combustion engine can be set as small as possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Takashi Kudo, Osamu Emizu
  • Patent number: 7325530
    Abstract: An engine intake manifold includes a casing having a plurality of air intake passages, and a plurality of valve plates, wherein each valve plate is disposed in one of the air intake passages to control airflow through the air intake passage. The valve plates are connected to a common valve shaft for rotation between an open position and a closed position. The engine intake manifold may further include an actuator that is mounted to the casing or to the valve shaft via a snap connection, and is rotationally connected to the valve shaft to allow the actuator to rotate the valve shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventor: Kevin Vichinsky
  • Patent number: 7322332
    Abstract: An intake system of a V-engine provided with a surge tank arranged at a position higher than a cylinder head and divided in internal space into a top part and a bottom part. The surge tank has a plurality of intake tubes communicating the surge tank and intake ports, wherein intake tubes communicated with one cylinder bank of the V-engine are connected to the top part of the surge tank and intake tubes communicated with the other cylinder bank are connected to the bottom part of the surge tank. The surge tank is formed so that a front end of the top part is positioned further toward a rear side of the vehicle compared with the front end of the bottom part when the intake system is mounted to a V-engine mounted in the vehicle, whereby the height of the engine hood can be effectively lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Abe
  • Publication number: 20070272190
    Abstract: A V-type engine air intake device is provided for a V-type internal combustion engine. The V-type engine air intake device has a volume chamber, a first intake pipe, a second intake pipe and a plurality of curved branch pipes. The first intake pipe has a first outlet end connected to a first intake opening of the volume chamber. The second intake pipe has a second outlet end connected to a second intake opening of the volume chamber. The first and second outlet ends are arranged with first and second center outlet axes where that the first and second intake pipes connect to the volume chamber. The second center outlet axis is non-coincident with the first center outlet axis. The branch pipes each has an inlet end that opens inside the volume chamber in a substantially vertical downward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Junya SASAKI
  • Patent number: 7296551
    Abstract: In an intake manifold in which air introduced from an introduction port is fed to each cylinder of an engine by use of multiple ducts which are disposed parallel, a communication space section which provides communication between the introduction port which introduces air and inlets of the ducts is provided, this communication space section is formed so as to extend in a direction in which the inlets of the ducts are arrayed, a funnel section which causes the inlets of the ducts to be arrayed on a same surface is formed in this communication space section, and this funnel section is formed from a single member only in the main body section by providing mating surfaces of the main body section and the duct component member off the funnel section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Toyo Roki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takamasa Murata, Chikara Shimomura
  • Patent number: 7296552
    Abstract: An air intake system for an engine of an outboard motor includes an air intake support member that provides support for other components of the air intake system. The other component of the air intake system that can be supported by the air intake support member include a throttle valve assembly, plenum chambers, and air intake passages. The air intake passages can be made longer to increase engine performance and can be manufactured with less material because the air intake passages do not need to provide support for the air intake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Goichi Katayama
  • Patent number: RE43734
    Abstract: A V-type engine air intake device is provided for a V-type internal combustion engine. The V-type engine air intake device has a volume chamber, a first intake pipe, a second intake pipe and a plurality of curved branch pipes. The first intake pipe has a first outlet end connected to a first intake opening of the volume chamber. The second intake pipe has a second outlet end connected to a second intake opening of the volume chamber. The first and second outlet ends are arranged with first and second center outlet axes where that the first and second intake pipes connect to the volume chamber. The second center outlet axis is non-coincident with the first center outlet axis. The branch pipes each has an inlet end that opens inside the volume chamber in a substantially vertical downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junya Sasaki