Adjustable Cross Section Passage Patents (Class 123/184.56)
  • Patent number: 7255197
    Abstract: A muffler which reduces noises of a wide frequency band with a simple structure. Sound waves of an intake duct enter into and are received in a resonance box via a branch pipe. At the branch pipe, a movable body slidingly abuts a peripheral portion of an opening of a cut-out portion. Due to the movable body rotating, a range of opening/closing of the cut-out portion is changed, and a length of a neck portion formed by the branch pipe and an arc-shaped plate, and a lateral cross-sectional surface area of a distal end of the neck portion, are changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Toyoda Boshoku Corporation
    Inventor: Yukihisa Horiko
  • Patent number: 7225779
    Abstract: In an intake system for an engine incorporated with a resonance chamber (32), a variable communication unit (50) for controlling the communication between an intake passage with the resonance chamber comprises an outer tube (51) having an open axial end (51a) and an opening (51b) defined in a circumferential wall thereof for communication with the resonance chamber and an inner tube (52) rotatably and coaxially received in the outer tube, the inner tube being provided with a communication inlet port (52a) at an axial end on a same side as the axial end of the outer tube and an opening (52b) in a circumferential wall thereof for defining a communication outlet port (50a) jointly with the opening in the outer circumferential wall of the outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Akima, Yoshiyuki Umino
  • Patent number: 7210444
    Abstract: An air intake system for an internal combustion engine has at least one air box and a short duct for each cylinder. Each duct can be extended to provide higher torque at low speed. At high speed, the shorter duct length can be selectively provided for enhanced engine performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Korenjak, Heinz Kusel
  • Patent number: 7143733
    Abstract: A tunable intake manifold extends between a plenum and an intake of an internal combustion engine. A manifold housing defines an interior and a runner wall extending through the interior. A slider extends through the interior and slidably engages the manifold housing. The slider defines a slider wall cooperative with the runner wall to form a runner for transporting air therethrough. The runner defines a cross section. A drive assembly is operatively coupled between the manifold housing and the slider to move the slider transversely along the manifold housing to change the defined cross section of the runner such that the volume of air passing therethrough changes with the movement of the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Litens Automotive Partnership
    Inventor: Andrew Boyes
  • Patent number: 7121246
    Abstract: Branch pipes (3) of an intake manifold (1) comprise main bodies (3c), a common flange (11b) and pipe shape joining portions (11c) respectively connecting the main bodies (3c) to the flange (11b). By injection molding, the common flange (11b), the joining portions (11c) and a portion of the main bodies (3c) are formed in one piece as a first component (11), and the remaining portion of the main bodies (3c) is formed in one piece as a second component (12). A notch that has a metal mold draft angle (11d) is formed on the inner circumference of joining portion (11c) and the flange (11b). Filling the notch by using an adjusting member (22) when attaching the intake manifold (1) to an engine through the flange (11b) compensates for changes in shape of a passage cross section caused by the draft angle. A constant passage cross section is thus maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeki Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 7107958
    Abstract: A tunable intake manifold extends between a plenum and an intake of an internal combustion engine. A manifold housing defines an interior and a runner wall extending through the interior. A slider extends through the interior and slidably engages the manifold housing. The slider defines a slider wall cooperative with the runner wall to form a runner for transporting air therethrough. The runner defines a cross section. A drive assembly is operatively coupled between the manifold housing and the slider to move the slider transversely along the manifold housing to change the defined cross section of the runner such that the volume of air passing therethrough changes with the movement of the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Litens Automotive Partnership
    Inventor: Andrew Boyes
  • Patent number: 7089909
    Abstract: A choke valve for an intake manifold with a retracting tumble system for an engine provided with a number of cylinders, the choke valve being adapted to vary the passage section of the air through an intake duct which connects each cylinder with the intake manifold and is regulated by at least one intake valve; the choke valve comprises a butterfly mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation disposed transversely and externally with respect to the corresponding intake duct under the thrust of a corresponding rotary electric motor which comprises a stator and a rotor housed directly in the butterfly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renzo Moschini, Nazario Bellato, Federico Lancioni, Riccardo Nazzaro, Sandro Sirani
  • Patent number: 7073473
    Abstract: A tunable intake manifold is provided for directing a flow of air between a plenum and an internal combustion engine. The tunable intake manifold includes a manifold housing defining an interior. The manifold housing has a plurality of runner walls extending through the interior. The tunable intake manifold also includes a slider having a slider wall having an angled portion separated from a primary portion by a curved portion. The slider wall extends through the interior of the manifold housing. The slider wall cooperates with the runner wall to define a runner having a defined cross sectional area for transporting the flow of air therethrough. The slider is slidably engaged with the manifold housing for moving the slider wall relative to the runner wall to selectively change the defined cross sectional area of the runner, such that the volume of air passing therethrough changes with the movement of the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Litens Automotive Partnership
    Inventor: Andrew Boyes
  • Patent number: 7055484
    Abstract: The tunable resonator is coupled to the engine speed control such that the resonator is set to a different frequency range when the engine speed is changed. The frequency range is changed by opening and closing necks and/or changing the effective volume of the resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick C. Marks, Thomas S. Katra
  • Patent number: 7032557
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an intake device (1), the intake pipes (5 to 8) for the intakes of cylinders of the internal combustion engine and actuators for adjusting the effective pipe lengths of the intake pipes (5 to 8) by closing or opening at least one opening of the intake pipes (5 to 8) up to a hollow body and at least one actuator for controlling the actuators. Within a first speed range whose upper limit is a first threshold value (N1), the actuators are moved into a closed position. For a speed (N), exceeding a first threshold value (N1) and being less than a second threshold value (N2), the actuators are moved into a leakage position. For a speed exceeding the second threshold value (N2), the actuators are moved into an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hubert Limbrunner, Frank Tettenborn, Berthold Wolfram
  • Patent number: 7011066
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified intake manifold having short runner valves in the manifold tuning valve. Anti-chatter devices are disclosed for reducing shaft chatter without placing friction on the shafts. A lost motion linkage is used to ensure closure of the short runner valves. Radiused seating surfaces are used for seating of the manifold tuning valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Lyle Ward, Kevin Beach, Mike Ruthenberg, Michael Jones
  • Patent number: 6986333
    Abstract: A tunable intake manifold extends between a plenum and an intake of an internal combustion engine. A manifold housing defines an interior and a runner wall extending through the interior. A slider extends through the interior and slidably engages the manifold housing. The slider defines a slider wall cooperative with the runner wall to form a runner for transporting air therethrough. The runner defines a cross section. A drive assembly is operatively coupled between the manifold housing and the slider to move the slider transversely along the manifold housing to change the defined cross section of the runner such that the volume of air passing therethrough changes with the movement of the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Litens Automotive
    Inventor: Andrew Boyes
  • Patent number: 6732509
    Abstract: A number of embodiments of acoustical devices for improving either or both the intake and exhaust sounds emanated from an internal combustion engine. This is achieved by employing acoustical devices which are configured so as to discharge the desired sound waves to the atmosphere rather than by attempting to dampen the undesired sound waves generated in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Yamaha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takao Shiga
  • Publication number: 20040035383
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified intake manifold having short runner valves in the manifold tuning valve. Anti-chatter devices are disclosed for reducing shaft chatter without placing friction on the shafts. A lost motion linkage is used to ensure closure of the short runner valves. Radiused seating surfaces are used for seating of the manifold tuning valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Lyle Ward, Kevin Beach, Mike Ruthenberg, Michael Jones
  • Patent number: 6666182
    Abstract: An intake device for an internal combustion engine including a mounting flange (10) for mounting to a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine and a plurality of intake manifolds (11-14) which open into a common collecting chamber. The mounting flange (10) and upper shells (23, 24, 25, 26) form a first component; lower shells (27, 28, 29, 30) form a third component, and a central, second component (31) is provided between the first and third components. The respective components are assembled to each other in such a way that the second component is fixed to the first component by a positive fit, and the third component is fixed to the second component in the same way. The components are preferably secured together by friction welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Schermuly, Juergen Lang
  • Publication number: 20030230272
    Abstract: An engine noise control system (100) controls engine noise in multiple engine operating modes by controlling a size of an air inlet (104) with a movable valve. An actuator (114) moves the valve (112) between an open position and a closed position depending on the engine operating mode, to control the amount of air travelling into an air cleaner. The actuator (114) is coupled to an engine cylinder de-activation unit (200) to link the valve operation to the engine operating mode. When the engine is operating in a low-power mode, which requires less air, the actuator (114) moves a cable drive (204), which rotates an actuation lever (208) that turns the valve (112) into a closed position. When the engine is operating in a high-power mode, the actuator (114) moves the cable drive (204) to move the valve (112) to an open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip Edward Arthur Stuart
  • Patent number: 6591805
    Abstract: A duct system, especially an intake manifold for an internal combustion engine, having flap valves (13) for selective opening and closing of at least some of the ducts. The valves should be continuously adjustable in position in order to produce a swirl in the combustion airflow. To achieve this a high degree of angular precision is required in the positioning of the valves. Intake manifold manufacturing tolerances need to be compensated during assembly of the valves. Valve adjusting mechanisms are provided on the axles of the valves or in the mechanical connections of the valve gear pertaining to the valve drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignees: Volvo Car Corporation AB, Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Karlsson, Arthur Klotz, Rudolf Leipelt, Stefan Maier, Holger Paffrath, Robert Vaculik
  • Patent number: 6591804
    Abstract: In a variable intake apparatus for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, each cylinder is allowed to communicate with each other through air intake passageways including at least a pair of air intake passageway portions. Further, an air intake control valve integrally provided with a pair of valve bodies is disposed at an opening which is formed at a partition wall. The partition wall is formed between the intake air collecting chamber and the air intake passageway. Further more, the air intake control valve is actuated according to engine speeds of the internal combustion engine such that the air intake passageway portion is opened and closed by one of the valve bodies whereas the opening in the partition wall is opened and closed by the other of the valve bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Matsumoto, Yoshiyuki Umino, Tatsuya Sagano
  • Patent number: 6520138
    Abstract: A rotating shaft and a drive shaft are used in an air intake apparatus for an internal combustion engine. At one end portion of the rotating shaft and the drive shaft a sphere portion and a projection portion are formed, and another end portion of the rotating shaft and the drive shaft a cup portion and a faucet portion are formed. The sphere portion is inserted to the cup portion and further the projection portion is engaged with the faucet portion, thereby a universal joint is formed. Since a connection structure between the rotating shaft and the drive shaft is constituted with few component elements, a cost reduction in the air intake apparatus for the internal combustion engine can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruhiko Minegishi, Misturu Yamashita, Hiroyuki Nemoto, Akihiro Munakata
  • Publication number: 20020152982
    Abstract: An intake manifold (10) for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine includes a tubular intake distributor (12) from which a plurality of long intake tubes (13) extend and lead to the individual cylinders. Short intake tubes (14) likewise extend from the intake distributor and open into the respective associated long intake tubes (13). The intake distributor (12) and the long and short intake tubes (13, 14) are formed from a one-piece housing (11) which has a cavity (21) which intersects the short intake tubes (14). In this cavity (21) a control element (15) is installed, which includes flaps (16), flap frames (17), a shaft (19) and a control element frame (18). By moving the shaft (19) either rotationally or translationally, the short intake tubes (14) can be opened or closed. In contrast to arrangements known in the prior art, the control element (15) has no sealing elements which can catch or jam during assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Herbert Pietrowski, Thomas Jessberger, Ingo Koch, Helmut Neuschwander, Eckehard Mandel
  • Publication number: 20020139340
    Abstract: In a variable intake apparatus for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, each cylinder are allowed to communicate with each other through air intake passageways including at least a pair of air intake passageway portions. Further, an air intake control valve integrally provided with a pair of valve bodies is disposed at an opening which is formed at a partition wall. The partition wall is formed-between the intake air collecting chamber and the air intake passageway. Further more, the air intake control valve is actuated according to engine speeds of the internal combustion engine such that the air intake passageway portion is opened and closed by the valve body whereas the opening in the partition wall is opened and closed by the other valve body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Matsumoto, Yoshiyuki Umino, Tatsuya Sagano
  • Patent number: 6450141
    Abstract: A continuous partition wall is formed in the air introducing duct. The air introducing duct has a length L. The partition wall has a length equal to or greater than L/2. The partition wall divides the air introducing duct into first and second sections. A resonance silencer and a connecting duct are connected to the first section. A connecting position of the resonance silencer and the connecting duct is set such that the connecting position is fully included within a partition wall positioned range. A valve is arranged in the second section. Thus, intake noises is decreased in a wide range from a low frequency about 40 Hz to an intermediate frequency about several hundred Hz, which is normally hearable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co.
    Inventor: Yuuichi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 6425356
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a piston-type internal combustion engine comprising gas-exchange valves which can be driven in a completely variable manner by a motor control (2) and which communicate with an air supply channel (4) provided with a device (6) for generating a negative pressure using the energy components of the air flowing through said air supply channel (4). This device is provided with means that can be driven for adaptation to the modifications in the flow energy which are inherent to the operation, and communicates with at least one negative-pressure user (8, 9, 10) through at least one negative-pressure duct (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Pischinger, Markus Duesmann, Enno Lohse, Michael Schebitz, Wolfgang Salber
  • Patent number: 6341589
    Abstract: A switching unit 10 for closing inlet passages 11 in an air intake system having a plurality of inlet passages 11 arranged side by side in an internal combustion engine. The switching unit 10 comprises one switched and one unswitched flow cross section 20 for each cylinder of the internal combustion engine, flap valves 12 and a shaft 27. The switched flow cross sections 20 can be closed and opened by flap valves 12 which are operated with the shaft 27, which is outside of the unswitched flow cross sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Jessberger, Armin Ludmann, Helmut Neuschwander
  • Patent number: 6332442
    Abstract: An intake air duct serves as a passage for supplying air to an engine, and includes a first intake air passage, a second intake air passage, an opening-and-closing valve, an interlocking member and a coiled spring. The opening-and-closing valve is disposed swingably in the second intake air passage so as to open and close the second intake air passage. The interlocking member is disposed outside the first intake air passage or the second intake air passage, and swings by interlocking with the swinging of the opening-and-closing valve. The coiled spring is disposed swingably outside the first intake air passage or the second intake air passage, and has a swinging end, which is brought into contact with a surface of the interlocking member. The swinging end slides on a surface of the interlocking member as the swinging of the interlocking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Komada, Kazuo Fujihara, Yoshikazu Hirose, Takahiro Komori, Hitoshi Kino, Hidetoshi Ishihara
  • Patent number: 6289864
    Abstract: The invention relates to an intake manifold arrangement for an internal combustion engine, in particular for a direct injection diesel oil combustion engine, with at least one region with an intake manifold having a flexible manifold wall, with the flexible manifold wall being formed by an inflatable element. In order to achieve a control of the swirl in the easiest possible manner without having a disadvantageous effect on the intake flow it is provided that the inflatable element is arranged in a recess of the intake manifold wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Marko-Deja Vide, Reinhard Glanz
  • Patent number: 6279530
    Abstract: There are a number of controlling elements of an internal combustion engine which have an influence on the charge of the cylinders. For each controlling element, a triggering instant is determined that is adapted to its individual reaction time, so that all the controlling elements simultaneously deploy their action influencing the charge. In this manner, a desired charge is attained at a defined instant, thus permitting a harmonious adjustment of the charge to other operating parameters. This optimizes the driving properties, the performance and the fuel consumption of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ruediger Becker
  • Publication number: 20010002591
    Abstract: A controller for an internal combustion engine is disclosed that improves drivability by always stabilizing combustion. A combustion state is detected based on an engine speed fluctuation every cylinder, and whether combustion is stable is determined. When combustion is stable, whether the condition of executing fuel stability deteriorating operation is satisfied is determined. When combustion is unstable or the condition of executing the fuel stability deteriorating operation is satisfied, a control item adapted to current operating state is selected from control items of ignition timing, ignition method, in-cylinder flow velocity, EGR rate, and air-fuel ratio, and a control is performed so that the combustion velocity and the combustion pressure are stabilized. In the ignition control method, a spark is made a plurality of times by a spark plug. In the control of the in-cylinder flow velocity, a gas flow velocity in a cylinder is increased by strengthening a swirl flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Publication date: June 7, 2001
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Majima
  • Publication number: 20010000573
    Abstract: A rotating shaft and a drive shaft are used in an air intake apparatus for an internal combustion engine. At one end portion of the rotating shaft and the drive shaft a sphere portion and a projection portion are formed, and another end portion of the rotating shaft and the drive shaft a cup portion and a faucet portion are formed. The sphere portion is inserted to the cup portion and further the projection portion is engaged with the faucet portion, thereby a universal joint is formed. Since a connection structure between the rotating shaft and the drive shaft is constituted with few component elements, a cost reduction in the air intake apparatus for the internal combustion engine can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Publication date: May 3, 2001
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruhiko Minegishi, Misturu Yamashita, Hiroyuki Nemoto, Akihiro Munakata
  • Patent number: 6209503
    Abstract: An intake duct capable of reducing intake noise when an engine runs at a low speed and supplying a sufficiently large amount of air when the engine runs at a high speed without using any electron control circuit or electromagnetic valve, which is produced at low costs. The intake duct includes valve adjusting means which restrains the movement of the valve member when the valve member brings a second intake passage from the closed state to the open state, and facilitates the movement of the valve member when the valve member brings the second intake passage from the open state to the closed state. When the second intake passage is brought to the open state from the closed state, the restraining force of the valve adjusting means is great to restrain the movement of the valve member, and when the second intake passage is brought to the closed state from the open state, the valve member readily pivots to open the second intake passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Komada, Kazuo Fujihara, Yoshikazu Hirose, Takahiro Komori, Hitoshi Kino, Hidetoshi Ishihara
  • Patent number: 6196178
    Abstract: A rotating shaft and a drive shaft are used in an air intake apparatus for an internal combustion engine. At one end portion of the rotating shaft and the drive shaft a sphere portion and a projection portion are formed, and another end portion of the rotating shaft and the drive shaft a cup portion and a faucet portion are formed. The sphere portion is inserted to the cup portion and further the projection portion is engaged with the faucet portion, thereby a universal joint is formed. Since a connection structure between the rotating shaft and the drive shaft is constituted with few component elements, a cost reduction in the air intake apparatus for the internal combustion engine can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruhiko Minegishi, Misturu Yamashita, Hiroyuki Nemoto, Akihiro Munakata