Manifold Having Plenum Patents (Class 123/184.34)
  • Patent number: 7287502
    Abstract: An air intake apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes an air intake manifold that has a plurality of branch pipes that are connected to an internal combustion engine and has a collecting pipe to which a throttle body is connected, in which an air intake quantity that is taken into the internal combustion engine is adjusted using a throttle valve of the throttle body, and in which a fuel injection quantity is adjusted in accordance with the air intake quantity. In this air intake apparatus for an internal combustion engine, an air flow meter that detects a quantity of air that is taken into the internal combustion engine is provided in each branch pipe of an air intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventor: Shogo Hattori
  • Publication number: 20070240666
    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: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Takayuki Osakabe, Yoshibumi Iwata
  • Publication number: 20070199543
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine includes an intake valve port that opens into a combustion chamber on one side of a plane containing the axis of a cylinder bore. An exhaust valve port opens into the combustion chamber on the other side of the plane. A spark plug has a tip end that fronts a substantially central portion of the combustion chamber. The spark plug is disposed between the intake valve and the exhaust valve. In order to restrain the blow-by of an unburned fuel-air mixture, and to suppress the bulging of the cylinder head to the intake system side, the operation axis of an intake valve is set to be substantially parallel to the axis of the cylinder bore. In addition, one side surface of a cylinder head is formed to be substantially parallel to the axis of the cylinder bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventor: Hiroatsu Inui
  • Patent number: 7246592
    Abstract: An intake manifold is provided to an internal combustion engine including a first and second cylinder heads each having an intake port. The first and second cylinder heads are distant from each other, and defining a crank angle therebetween. The intake manifold includes a manifold body that defines intake passages each connecting with each intake port. Each intake passage has an interior divided into divisional passages. A butterfly valve communicates and blocks at least one of the divisional passages. Tanks are formed integrally with the manifold body for accumulating negative pressure in the manifold body. The tanks include a first tank, which is provided to the first cylinder head, and a second tank, which is provided to the second cylinder head. An actuator operates the butterfly valve by being applied with negative pressure from the plurality of tanks. The manifold body has a communication passage that communicates the first tank with the second tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Ino
  • Patent number: 7222600
    Abstract: An intake system of a V-engine provided with a surge tank arranged at a position higher than a cylinder head of the V-engine when attached to the V-engine and divided in internal space into a top part and a bottom part and a plurality of intake tubes communicating the surge tank and intake ports of the V-engine, 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 and 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: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Abe
  • Patent number: 7025029
    Abstract: An air intake, especially for internal combustion engines with a V-shaped cylinder arrangement, which is composed of two units (16a, 16b). From the two units (16a, 16b) extend the intake ducts (19a, 19b), each associated with one cylinder bank (11) of the internal combustion engine. By dividing the air intake device into two units (16a, 16b), the unit (16a) can be mounted first on the internal combustion engine, a free space (20) for the mounting tool being necessary. Then the unit (16b) is placed and bolted on, the air intake ducts (19b) being able to run through the free space (20) in the hatched area (23), since the unit (16a) is already installed. The advantage of this air intake tube configuration is a substantially greater geometric freedom of design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Kevin Vichinsky, Brad Olson, Herbert Pietrowski
  • Patent number: 7021263
    Abstract: A modular intake manifold for an internal combustion engine that has a lower base member, a center runner section, and an upper shell. The lower base member has a series of outlets and witness marks formed within the outlets and attaches to an engine between right and left cylinder heads. The center runner section is situated within the base member for channeling incoming air into the series of outlets in the lower base member. The upper shell attaches to the lower base member, includes a throttle body mounting boss, seals and isolates the individual runner sections of the center runner section, and encloses the intake manifold. The intake manifold may be assembled and disassembled freely. Once disassembled, a different upper shell or center runner section, each having differing features from the components previously removed, may be reattached to the lower base member to alter the engine performance in some way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Competition Cams, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Agnew, Tim Collins
  • Patent number: 6990941
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for intake air plenum construction for an automobile's internal combustion engine is claimed. The intake air plenum consists of an air inlet flange connected through a chamber to an air outlet flange. The intake air plenum improves upon conventional intake air plenums with a contoured interior chamber that eliminates restrictions and sharp turns. The method improves engine performance by optimizing air flow to the engine with an improved intake air plenum construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: C&L Performance, Inc.
    Inventor: Lee Frederick Bender
  • Patent number: 6807935
    Abstract: An intake pipe (10) for an internal combustion engine composed of shells (11a, 11b) in which the geometry of the joining surfaces (19) adopts an approximately stepped course in areas with a slight incline relative to to joining force (F). This produces areas with a greater or lesser inclination relative to a joint line (16) indicating the average inclination of the joining surfaces. This results in areas which can be welded with a high degree of stability because of their considerable incline towards the joining force. These areas can then support areas which are less inclined towards the joining force. This allows the shells (11a, 11b) to have strongly curved joining surfaces, which increases the geometric design freedom of the intake pipe and, in particular, makes it possible to manufacture intake pipes with strongly curved intake channels constructed from just two shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Pietrowski, Arthur Klotz, Ingo Koch, Matthias Teschner
  • Publication number: 20040187827
    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: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventor: Goichi Katayama
  • Publication number: 20040118362
    Abstract: To secure a large space that can be utilized effectively above an air cleaner, a low-deck vehicle 10 is constructed to mount an engine shaped like a letter V in the fore-and-aft direction under a low-deck and an air cleaner. The air cleaner is adapted to be capable of being maintained and inspected from the side of the vehicle. A filter element is provided in the air cleaner, and is attachable and detachable by a lid member on the side of the air cleaner. An inspection lid opposing the lid member is provided on a vehicle body cover covering the air cleaner. A space for arranging vehicle accessories such as a fuel tank is provided above the air cleaner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoichi Inayama
  • Patent number: 6739301
    Abstract: A composite air intake manifold assembly adapted for use with an internal combustion engine includes an upper half shell formed from a polymer, a lower half shell formed from a polymer and joined to the upper half shell to define a housing having an internal cavity, and a one piece inner shell formed from a polymer and disposed within the cavity. The one piece inner shell in combination with the upper half shell and the lower half shell cooperate to define at least a pair of spaced apart air intake runners. Each of the runners includes an opened air intake end adapted to receive atmospheric air, and an opened air inlet end adapted to be connected to an associated air inlet side of a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
    Inventors: David Brassell, Archie Hoebecke, II
  • Patent number: 6725822
    Abstract: In an intake system of a variable air-intake characteristic type for a multi-cylinder engine, an intake air-dispensing box is comprised of a dispensing box body which includes an intake air inlet, first and second intake branch pipes and one of halves of a partition wall and which has an opening provided in its outer wall opposite from the first and second intake branch pipes to extend between first and second dispensing chambers, and a lid detachably coupled to the dispensing box body to close the opening and having the other half of the partition wall. The lid is made of a light alloy by casting, and a valve bore and bearing bores for supporting a valve shaft of the on-off valve are defined in the other half of the partition wall. Thus, it is possible to carry out the maintenance of the on-off valve only by removing the lid disposed outside the intake air-dispensing box from the box, leading to an enhancement in maintenance property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Matsumoto, Masahiko Kikuchi, Tomonori Ikuma, Tetsu Wada
  • Publication number: 20040060531
    Abstract: The object of this invention is that a suction device for an internal combustion engine is to be compact. The suction device comprising a casing having an air inlet and a plurality of outlets, a filter in the casing for filtering air from said air inlet, a collection chamber in the casing for receiving air from the filter, at least one throttle valve in the casing for controlling the flow of air from said filter to said collection chamber, and a plurality of suction pipes. According to the present invention, the suction device can be made compact to thereby effectively use an engine room of an automobile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Minoru Ohsuga, Junichi Yamaguchi, Nobuo Kurihara, Yasushi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6701881
    Abstract: The object of this invention is that a suction device for an internal combustion engine is to be compact. The suction device comprising a casing having an air inlet and a plurality of outlets, a filter in the casing for filtering air from said air inlet, a collection chamber in the casing for receiving air from the filter, at least one throttle valve in the casing for controlling the flow of air from said filter to said collection chamber, and a plurality of suction pipes. According to the present invention, the suction device can be made compact to thereby effectively use an engine room of an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Ohsuga, Junichi Yamaguchi, Nobuo Kurihara, Yasushi Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20040035392
    Abstract: A one-piece suction device is provided for an internal combustion engine including a collector into which air flows through an electronically controlled throttle valve driven by an electric motor and individual suction pipes for distributing the air to respective cylinders of the internal combustion engine from the collector. A first bent-form air flow passage is formed which extend from an air intake inlet port of the suction device to an inlet port of the throttle valve and from an outlet port of the throttle valve to the collector. A second bent-form air flow passage is formed between an inlet port of the collector and an outlet port of one of the individual suction pipes. The air flow amount flowing through said first and second bent-form air flow passages is adjusted by said electronically controlled throttle valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Minoru Ohsuga, Junichi Yamaguchi, Nobuo Kurihara, Yasushi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6679215
    Abstract: An improved air intake manifold for a V-style internal combustion engine comprising three individual injection molded sections joined by friction welding of flanged mating elements. Each section is formed of a high-melting temperature composite polymer. The welds are all on the exterior of the manifold. The mating surfaces are formed to be directly accessible to welding apparatus and are so oriented that friction welding may be carried out by relative motion between the components in the axial direction. When joined, the lower and middle sections form the individual air distribution runners from the plenum to the intake ports in the engine heads. The lower and middle sections are so configured that each such runner crosses the valley of the engine, providing great strength and rigidity to the module. All runners are identical, so that air flows from the plenum to the individual cylinders are substantially identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra L. Benson, David Chinnici, Dominic N. Dalo
  • Patent number: 6675756
    Abstract: An air induction system for an engine is provided with a flow meter to sense a flow amount of air introduced into a combustion chamber of the engine. The air induction system includes an improved construction that can protect the flow meter from rigorous environment. The construction includes a primary intake passage through which the air flows. A secondary intake passage extends from the primary passage to communicate with the primary passage. At least a portion of the air flows through the secondary passage. A filter is disposed in the secondary passage to filtrate the portion of the air. The flow meter is positioned downstream of the filter in the secondary passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Goichi Katayama
  • Patent number: 6659058
    Abstract: A V-type engine having an intake system structure formed of a surge tank and intake pipes. The intake system structure is divided into upper and lower blocks by a horizontal dividing surface positioned below the surge tank. The upper block includes the surge tank, and first and second upper pipe parts of the intake pipes. The lower block includes first and second lower pipe parts of the intake pipes. First and second seal parts surround the intake passages on the dividing surface toward the upper block. First and second straight inner sealing surfaces are arranged at the portion where the seal parts extend inwardly of the engine banks. Only these straight inner sealing surfaces are positioned below the surge tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Hisashi Ozeki
  • Patent number: 6622682
    Abstract: In an intake manifold of an internal combustion chamber comprising a surge tank assembly and intake pipe assembly, a seal member is interposed between the end surface of the intake pipe assembly and the mating surface of the surge tank assembly so as to seal off the intake passage and mounting holes individually. Thus, the seal member, combined with the use of the blind threaded holes for the threaded bolts joining the two parts, ensures the sealing of both the intake passages and mounting holes at the interface between the end surface of the intake pipe and the mating surface of the surge tank assembly in a both reliable and simple manner. Preferably, the seal member comprises an O-ring made of elastomeric material, and at least one of the mating surface and end surface is provided with a groove for receiving the seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Mikuni Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonori Ikuma, Tetsu Wada, Kazuyoshi Sato, Kazuyori Kito, Yoshio Shibuya
  • Patent number: 6584946
    Abstract: In an intake manifold, a resin intake air introduction portion has a semicircular lower intake pipe, a volume chamber and joints provided in the volume chamber at opposite sides and along an axis of the lower intake pipe. An aluminum intake air distribution portion has a semicircular upper intake pipe, which is combined with the lower intake conduit to constitute an intake conduit, and distribution pipes extending alternately in opposite directions so as to cross an axis of the upper intake pipe. The aluminum intake air distribution portion overlaps the resin intake air introduction portion on a side opposite to the engine. Each end of the distribution pipes is connected to the joints and each another end thereof is fixed to the engine. The lower intake pipe is provided in an axial center thereof with a communication bore through which intake air is supplied from the intake conduit via the volume chamber, the joints and the distribution pipes to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Cardno, Yasutoshi Kameda
  • Patent number: 6581561
    Abstract: The invention describes a plastic embodiment for a suction system, whereby various configurations of said embodiment can be produced at low cost. According to the invention, a modular structured suction system is created. Said system comprises a plastic air distributor module which can be connected to an air feed pertaining to an internal combustion engine; several plastic, single-pieced suction pipe modules, whereby one end of the suction pipes is joined to the air distributor module and the suction pipes are respectively allocated to a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine; in addition to at least one plastic single-pieced flange module that is connected to the other end of the suction pipe of at least one suction pipe module and which can be secured to the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Mahle Filtersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Kay Brodesser, Hans-Peter Drespling, Hans Jensen, Günter Kachler, Horst Schneider, Jürgen Stehlig
  • Publication number: 20030101957
    Abstract: An improved air intake manifold for a V-style internal combustion engine comprising three individual injection molded sections joined by friction welding of flanged mating elements. Each section is formed of a high-melting temperature composite polymer. The welds are all on the exterior of the manifold. The mating surfaces are formed to be directly accessible to welding apparatus and are so oriented that friction welding may be carried out by relative motion between the components in the axial direction. When joined, the lower and middle sections form the individual air distribution runners from the plenum to the intake ports in the engine heads. The lower and middle sections are so configured that each such runner crosses the valley of the engine, providing great strength and rigidity to the module. All runners are identical, so that air flows from the plenum to the individual cylinders are substantially identical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Debra L. Benson, David Chinnici, Dominic N. Dalo
  • Publication number: 20030098004
    Abstract: The object of this invention is that a suction device for an internal combustion engine is to be compact. The suction device comprising a casing having an air inlet and a plurality of outlets, a filter in the casing for filtering air from said air inlet, a collection chamber in the casing for receiving air from the filter, at least one throttle valve in the casing for controlling the flow of air from said filter to said collection chamber, and a plurality of suction pipes. According to the present invention, the suction device can be made compact to thereby effectively use an engine room of an automobile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: Minoru Ohsuga, Junichi Yamaguchi, Nobuo Kurihara, Yasushi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6523517
    Abstract: The object of this invention is that a suction device for an internal combustion engine is to be compact. The suction device comprising a casing having an air inlet and a plurality of outlets, a filter in the casing for filtering air from said air inlet, a collection chamber in the casing for receiving air from the filter, at least one throttle valve in the casing for controlling the flow of air from said filter to said collection chamber, and a plurality of suction pipes. According to the present invention, the suction device can be made compact to thereby effectively use an engine room of an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd
    Inventors: Minoru Ohsuga, Junichi Yamaguchi, Nobuo Kurihara, Yasushi Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20030019457
    Abstract: A V-type engine having an intake system structure formed of a surge tank and intake pipes. The intake system structure is divided into upper and lower blocks by a horizontal dividing surface positioned below the surge tank. The upper block includes the surge tank, and first and second upper pipe parts of the intake pipes. The lower block includes first and second lower pipe parts of the intake pipes. First and second seal parts surround the intake passages on the dividing surface toward the upper block. First and second straight inner sealing surfaces are arranged at the portion where the seal parts extend inwardly of the engine banks. Only these straight inner sealing surfaces are positioned below the surge tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventor: Hisashi Ozeki
  • Publication number: 20020189567
    Abstract: In an intake manifold of an internal combustion chamber comprising a surge tank assembly and intake pipe assembly, a seal member is interposed between the end surface of the intake pipe assembly and the mating surface of the surge tank assembly so as to seal off the intake passage and mounting holes individually. Thus, the seal member, combined with the use of the blind threaded holes for the threaded bolts joining the two parts, ensures the sealing of both the intake passages and mounting holes at the interface between the end surface of the intake pipe and the mating surface of the surge tank assembly in a both reliable and simple manner. Preferably, the seal member comprises an O-ring made of elastomeric material, and at least one of the mating surface and end surface is provided with a groove for receiving the seal member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomonori Ikuma, Tetsu Wada, Kazuyoshi Sato, Kazuyori Kito, Yoshio Shibuya
  • Patent number: 6474284
    Abstract: An air routing system, especially an air intake system of an internal combustion engine, which makes optimal use of available installation space by integrating a bypass channel (25) into an air intake module (10). The volume of the bypass channel also provides an acoustic shield for the collector chamber or plenum (22). The free area (13) behind the mounting flange (11) that is required for screwing in mounting bolts in order to mount the air intake module (10) is used by an air intake hood (14) which can be installed on the filter housing (15) after the air intake module has been mounted. This assures that there is a greater volume available in the filter housing (15), thereby reducing the noise at the inlet opening of the air intake module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Christof Baumann, Werner Blossey, Hans-Peter Hielscher, Thomas Jessberger, Herbert Pietrowski, Achim Rehmann, Hans-Peter Scholl
  • Patent number: 6467449
    Abstract: A composite air intake manifold assembly adapted for use with an internal combustion engine includes an upper half shell formed from a polymer, a lower half shell formed from a polymer and joined to the upper half shell to define a housing having an internal cavity, and a one piece inner shell formed from a polymer and disposed within the cavity. The one piece inner shell in combination with the upper half shell and the lower half shell cooperate to define at least a pair of spaced apart air intake runners. Each of the runners includes an opened air intake end adapted to receive atmospheric air, and an opened air inlet end adapted to be connected to an associated air inlet side of a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
    Inventors: David Brassell, Archie Hoebecke, II
  • Patent number: 6357411
    Abstract: Branching pipes connect a surge tank to an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. The branching pipes are made such that each gas column of the internal combustion receives a uniform intake volume. This is achieved by either making each branching pipe of the same length, or by adjusting the inside diameters of the branching pipes, thereby creating a flow delay of the intake into the gas columns, resulting in uniform intake volume. The inside diameters of the branching pipes are either made uniformly of a different diameter, or, alternatively, the inside diameters of the branching pipes include throttles for reducing the diameter of the branching pipe at a localized portion. In both cases, a flow delay of the intake into the gas columns is compensated, resulting in a uniform intake volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Aoki
  • Publication number: 20020005183
    Abstract: In an intake manifold, a resin intake air introduction portion has a semicircular lower intake pipe, a volume chamber and joints provided in the volume chamber at opposite sides and along an axis of the lower intake pipe. An aluminum intake air distribution portion has a semicircular upper intake pipe, which is combined with the lower intake conduit to constitute an intake conduit, and distribution pipes extending alternately in opposite directions so as to cross an axis of the upper intake pipe. The aluminum intake air distribution portion overlaps the resin intake air introduction portion on a side opposite to the engine. Each end of the distribution pipes is connected to the joints and each another end thereof is fixed to the engine. The lower intake pipe is provided in an axial center thereof with a communication bore through which intake air is supplied from the intake conduit via the volume chamber, the joints and the distribution pipes to the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: Robert Cardno, Yasutoshi Kameda
  • Patent number: 6286472
    Abstract: A four stroke engine having at least two cylinders spaced vertically relative to each other. Each cylinder includes a cylinder body having a cylinder bore extending generally horizontally. Plurality of air intake ducts are provided for connecting a common plenum chamber and respective air intake passages which extends to respective combustion chambers. Each of the air intake ducts has a generally straight section extending generally horizontally and parallel to each other. The distance between the straight sections is less than the distance between the axes of the cylinder bores. Also, in another feature, throttle body means are interposed between duct members, which are upstream components of the air intake ducts, and the intake passages for controlling the flow of air to the combustion chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanori Takahashi, Goichi Katayama
  • Patent number: 6234132
    Abstract: The invention concerns an intake system, in particular an intake pipe of thermoplastic plastics for the intake air of an internal combustion engine with in particular cylinder rows arranged in a V-shape. The intake system comprises at least two elements (10, 14), the first element (10) having a substantially closed shape and simultaneously forming the lower half-shell of the intake pipes. The second element (14) is designed as the upper half-shell of the intake pipes and is connected to the first element (10) by the plastics welding technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Edvard Kopec, Klaus Wachsmann, Volker Ernst, Rudolf Leipelt
  • Patent number: 6216656
    Abstract: A surge tank structure in an intake manifold has a serge tank to which a plurality of branch tubes are joined at one end. The branch tubes are joined at the other end to a cylinder head mounting flange, and one end of each branch tube in the surge tank is enlarged to have a horn-like shape. The serge tank comprises a main body and a top plate. The main body has through holes provided therein for accepting the branch tubes and has its top side opened. The top plate is joined in a plane to the top of the main body. The main body has a bottom which has engagement recesses formed by raised portions, so that each engagement recess has a horn-like surface that conforms to the horn-like shape of one end of each branch tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignees: Aichi Kikai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Sanoh Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatoshi Hada, Yasuo Sunaga
  • Patent number: 6202627
    Abstract: A V-type multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having a high volumetric efficiency and a high output torque is provided. Ignitions in right and left banks occur alternately and at equal intervals. A suction manifold shaped symmetrically in respect of right and left is disposed between the right and left banks. The suction manifold comprises right and left throttle base, a suction manifold upper formed with right and left suction passages communicating with respective suction ports in the left and right banks and arranged one by one alternately, right and left first chambers formed at contact surface portions between the throttle bases and the suction manifold upper, a suction manifold lower having right and left chambers. The right and left first chambers and the right and left second chambers always communicate with each other, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Akima
  • Patent number: 6199530
    Abstract: A composite air intake manifold assembly adapted for use with an internal combustion engine includes an upper half shell formed from a polymer and a lower half shell formed from a polymer and joined to the upper half shell. The upper half shell formed includes an upper perimeter flange having a pair of side flanges and a pair of end flanges, the side flanges having an inner surface and the end flanges having an inner surface. The lower half shell includes a lower perimeter flange having a pair of side flanges and a pair of end flanges, the side flanges having an inner surface and the end flanges having an inner surface. The lower half shell is joined to the upper half shell to define a housing having an internal cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
    Inventors: David Brassell, Archie Hoebecke, III
  • Patent number: 6192849
    Abstract: A field replaceable unitary manifold housing for providing combustion air and combustion fuel to an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The housing includes an air purification cavity having a spaced apart air intake and air discharge. The housing also includes a filter for purifying air disposed in the air purification cavity intermediate the air intake and the air discharge. The housing also includes a hollow elongate member having a first end coupled to the filter and a second end coupled to a plenum chamber for directing the air, the plenum chamber being integral with the air purification cavity. The housing also includes a plurality of channels, each channel integral with the housing and having a first end integral with the plenum chamber and a second end coupled to a cylinder head of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Canada Limited
    Inventor: Jeffrey J. Powell