AU2007100064A4 - Modular supercharger induction assembly for an internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Description

29-JAN-2007 15:16 From:WYNNES PAT&TM RTT 0733421292 To:0262837999 o MODULAR SUPERCHARGER INDUCTION ASSEMBLY FOR AN INTERNAL CCOMBUSTION ENGINE ct SFIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to an induction assembly for a supercharged .0 internal combustion engine with particular but not exclusive application for cars and o trucks. In the body of the specification we describe the invention with reference to 17-- cars but this is by way of example only and the invention is not limited to this 0 example.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Automotive engineers and race car designers continually search for ways to boost the power of internal combustion engines of vehicles. One way to add power is to build a bigger engine. However, bigger engines weigh more, require more power to run and therefore are not necessarily more power efficient. Another way to boost the power of an internal engine is to connect a supercharger to the engine.

A supercharger functions to force more air into the combustion chamber of the engine. The supercharger is powered mechanically by the crankshaft of the engine.

Air is taken into the supercharger and compressed before being forced into the combustion chamber of the engine. Because more air has been added to the combustion chamber, more fuel can also be added, and the combustion of more fuel in turn increases the horsepower of the engine. More fuel cannot simply be pumped into the combustion chamber without also providing more air because an exact amount of oxygen is required to combust a given amount of fuel. Therefore a supercharger is required to compress air above atmospheric pressure in order to increase the air intake to the engine.

COMS ID No: SBMI-06063368 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:28 Date 2007-01-29 29-JAN-2007 15:17 From:WYNNES PRT&TM ATT 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.6 0 o Depending on the power output required, each engine can be fitted with one F, of a variety of different sized superchargers. Superchargers come from different manufacturers and differ greatly in size, shape and mounting patterns. As a consequence, each supercharger has to be custom fitted for each engine configuration. Therefore, when there is a change in application of the engine or the \0 S engine itself, not only does the supercharger need to be changed but the other Scomponents of the induction assembly also need to be changed to connect the Ssupercharger to the engine. The induction assembly is the assembly comprising the supercharger and the manifold for directing the compressed into the engine cylinder.

This manifold includes a chamber where the compressed air is pumped into and the intake runners that connect the chamber to the engine cylinders. This means that a totally new induction assembly needs to be custom fitted for engine supercharger engine arrangement. Also a supercharger cannot be easily moved from one engine configuration to a different engine configuration without having to change the manifold.

An induction assembly for a supercharged internal combustion engine is described in US Patent No. 6,029,637. This induction assembly includes an induction housing with a cover enclosing a supercharger and an intercooler. A portion of the supercharger housing and outer walls of the intake runners are integrated to form a single induction housing. This single integrated induction housing eliminates the requirement to fit a separate supercharger housing to intake runners because the intake runners are formed by a wall of the induction housing on one side and a wall of the rotor housing on the opposed side. This arrangement reduces the overall mass of the induction assembly and therefore improves engine efficiency. However, when a different sized supercharger is installed, the single COMS ID No: SBMI-06063368 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:28 Date 2007-01-29 29-JAN-2007 15:17 From:WYNNES PAT&TM ATT 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.7-123 0 o induction housing and the associated cover also needs to be changed to ensure that F1 airflow travel through the intake runners is optimal for engine efficiency. The induction assembly of US Patent No. 6,029,637 does not enable superchargers to be easily interchanged to suit different applications of the engine without also 5 substantially changing the induction assembly.

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SOBJECT OF THE INVENTION SIt is an object of the present invention to provide an alternate supercharger induction assembly for an internal combustion engine to overcome in part at least one or more of the above mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect the present invention broadly resides in a modular supercharger induction assembly for an internal combustion engine including a supercharger for compressing air, said supercharger has an outlet to discharge compressed air; a plurality of spaced apart intake runner members; an interface plate mountable to the supercharger, said interface plate has a non-peripheral aperture operatively associated with the supercharger outlet for passage of compressed air, said interface plate has a plurality of peripheral apertures operatively associated with the intake runner members for passage of compressed air to the engine; and a cover member mountable to the interface plate to define a space for receiving the compressed air discharged from the supercharger; wherein each of the intake runner members are aligned to correspond with each of the plurality of COMS ID No: SBMI-06063368 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:28 Date 2007-01-29 29-JAN-2007 15:17 From:WYNNES PAT&TM FTT 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.81123 -4- 0 0 peripheral apertures of the interface plate, each intake runner member has a first F1 end and a second end, the first end is mountable to the interface plate and the second end is mountable to the engine to enable the compressed air to pass from the space through the intake runner members to the engine to facilitate combustion of the engine; wherein the supercharger, the interface plate, the cover member and Va S the intake runner members are modular components of the induction assembly, each component being configured to enable one or more components to be changed to O accommodate a different engine or different supercharger without changing all the components of the induction assembly.

Preferably the second end of the intake runner member is configured to suit a particular engine and the first end of the intake runner member is of a standard configuration to form a complementary mounting arrangement with the interface plate.

Preferably, the configuration of the components of the modular induction assembly allows an intercooler to be positioned within the induction assembly. More preferably the intercooler is positioned between the interface plate and the cover.

The intercooler is preferably mountable between the interface plate and the cover member in a position adjacent the non-peripheral aperture to enable the compressed air to be cooled while passaging from the outlet into the space between the interface plate and the cover member. The intercooler provides an advantage of reducing air temperature which may rise with the compression of air.

The intercooler may be added after the fitting of the induction assembly and supercharger.

Preferably the non-peripheral aperture is located in the centre of the interface plate.

COMS ID No: SBMI-06063368 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:28 Date 2007-01-29 29-JRN-2007 15:17 From:WYNNES PFT&TM ATTfl 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.9-23 0 o The supercharger is preferably mounted above the engine. Preferably, the outlet is located in an upward face of the supercharger relative to the engine. More ct preferably, the interface plate is mounted above the supercharger.

It is an option of the present invention for the supercharger to be located in a valley of a V cylinder formation of the engine.

S Preferably, the cover member has a plurality of diverters to facilitate the flow of air from the space between the cover member and the interface plate into the 1"- Sintake runner members. The diverters are preferably a series of channel-like recesses formed on an internal surface of the cover member and each recess is configured to be located above one peripheral aperture when the cover member is mounted to the interface plate.

Preferably, one intake runner member is in fluid communication with one engine cylinder. Each intake runner member is preferably in fluid communication with a fuel rail that is connected to a fuel source. Preferably, a plurality of fuel injection pipes extend from the fuel rail to the plurality of intake runner members whereby one fuel injection pipe extends to one intake runner member. The fuel rail is preferably mounted to brackets that are supported on a side of one or more intake runner members.

In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a kit for after market installation of a modular induction assembly as described in the various different preferments above.

COMS ID No: SBMI-06063368 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:28 Date 2007-01-29 29-JAN-2007 15:18 From:WYNNES PFT&TM ftTT 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.10/23 r-6- 0 o BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS F1 In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and put

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into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein: S Figure 1 is a diagrammatic and exploded view of the modular supercharger

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Sinduction assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention showing the components of the induction assembly; o Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the modular supercharger induction assembly of Figure 1 that has been assembled and connected to an engine; Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the modular supercharger induction assembly of Figure 1 that has been assembled showing the path of the pressurized air that is discharged from the supercharger; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of a plenum cover of the modular supercharger induction assembly of Figure 1 showing the internal surface of the plenum cover; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the plenum cover of Figure 4 showing the external surface of the plenum cover; and Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of the plenum cover of Figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to Figures 1 to 6, there is shown a modular supercharger induction assembly 10 for an internal combustion engine 12. The modular supercharger induction assembly 10 shown includes a supercharger 14, an interface plate 16, a plenum cover 18, a series of spaced apart intake runners 20 and an optional intercooler 22. The supercharger 14, interface plate 16, plenum cover 18 COMS ID No: SBMI-06063368 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:28 Date 2007-01-29 29-JRN-2007 15:18 From:WYNNES PAT&TM FTT 0733421292 To:062837999 P.11/23 -7- 0 o and spaced apart intake runners 20 are modular components of the modular F1 supercharger induction assembly 10 that are configured to enable one or more ct components to be changed to accommodate a different engine or a different supercharger without changing all the components of the induction assembly. The ability to reuse components reduces the cost of constructing a supercharger and Va induction system to suit a different engine or different supercharger. This is of particular advantage in car racing activities where a vehicle engine is designed to o optimize the performance of the engine for individual types of races.

When a different sized supercharger is connected to the engine 12. a different interface plate is used to accommodate the new supercharger while the other components of the induction assembly can be reused. The interface plate 16 has a non-peripheral aperture 24 that is of a size designed to form a sealing fit with the outlet 26 of the supercharger 14. Therefore when a different sized supercharger is connected to the engine 12, a different interface plate with an appropriate (in size and or shape) non-peripheral aperture 24 is used to connect to the outlet 26 of the supercharger 14. The peripheral apertures 28 of the interface plate 16 are configured so that the dimensions of the peripheral aperture 28 are standard and complementary to the first end 30 of the intake runners 20. That is, the first end of the intake runner is the end that is mountable to the interface plate 16. The spacing between the intake runners 20 is formed so that the intake runners 20 align with the peripheral apertures 28.

If the same supercharger 14 is reused on a different type of engine, the intake runners are replaced to suit the configuration of the new engine but the interface plate 16 and plenum cover 18 can be reused. This is because the configuration of the second end 32 of the intake runners 20 (that is the end of the intake runners that COMS ID No: SBMI-06063368 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:28 Date 2007-01-29 29-JAN-2007 15:18 From:WYNNES PAT&TM RTT 0733421292 To:062837999 P.12/23 -8- 0 0 is mounted to the engine 12) is formed to suit a particular engine type while the F dimension of the first end 30 of the intake runners 20 is standard and complementary to the dimension and spacing of the peripheral apertures 28 of the interface plate 16.

The standardized configuration of each component of the induction assembly 5 reduces the cost of fitting or refitting an engine of a car because each modification of Va S the engine does not require the entire induction assembly to be changed or custom fitted.

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0 The standardized configuration of each component of the induction assembly allows an intercooler 22 to be included after the initial installation of the modular induction assembly 10. The compression of air by the supercharger 14 causes the compressed air to heat up. The intercooler 22 serves as a heat exchanger and cools the compressed air. The intercooler 22 is mounted between the interface plate 16 and the plenum cover 18 and positioned over a centrally located non-peripheral aperture 24 of the interface plate 16.

The interface plate 16 is mounted above the supercharger 14 and the supercharger 14 is in turn mounted above the engine 12. The outlet 26 of the supercharger 14 is located in an upward face 25 of the supercharger, this face being upwardly facing relative to the engine 12. The intercooler 22 is positioned above the interface plate 16 and over the non-peripheral aperture 24 so that compressed air discharged through the outlet 26 is cooled while passaging from the outlet 26 into the space 34.

The arrangement of the supercharger 14 above the engine 12 enables the supercharger 14 to be easily accessed for maintenance or a change of the supercharger 14 to meet a change in application of the engine 12. The positioning of the intercooler 22 above the interface plate 16 and the supercharger 14 allows the COMS ID No: SBMI-06063368 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:28 Date 2007-01-29 29-JAN-2007 15:19 From:WYNNES PRT&TM ATT 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.13-,23

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0 o intercooler 22 to be easily installed at a later stage after the initial installation of the cil F1 supercharger 14. The intercooler 22 can also be easily accessed for servicing.

In operation, air at atmospheric pressure is compressed by the supercharger 14. The compressed air is discharged through the outlet 26 of the supercharger 14 and the compressed air passes through the non-peripheral aperture 24 of the

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S interface plate 16. The outlet 26 is connected to the non-peripheral aperture 24 to form a sealing fit so that the compressed air is maintained at a pressure above o atmospheric pressure. The compressed air discharged from the supercharger flows into a space 34 that is formed when the interface plate 16 is mounted to the plenum cover 18 As the compressed air passes from the outlet 26 of the supercharger into the space 34, the air flows through the intercooler 22 and is cooled in the process.

The compressed and cooled air passes from the space 34 through the intake runners 20 to the engine cylinders 36, 37 of the engine 12 to facilitate combustion of fuel in the engine cylinders 36. 37.

The plenum cover 18 has a plurality of diverters 38 to facilitate the flow of air from the space 34 into the intake runners 20. The diverters are a series of channellike recesses 38 formed on the internal surface 40 of the plenum cover 18. Each recess 38 is configured to be located above one peripheral aperture 28 when the plenum cover 18 is mounted to the interface plate 16. This arrangement diverts the compressed and cooled air into the intake runners 20 that are in fluid communication with the engine cylinders 36, 37.

Each intake runner 20 is in fluid communication with a fuel rail 42 that is connected to a fuel source. A plurality or fuel injection pipes 44 extend from the fuel rail 42 to the plurality of intake runners 20 with each fuel injection pipe 44 being COMS ID No: SBMI-06063368 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:28 Date 2007-01-29 29-JRN-2007 15:19 From:WYNNES PRT&TM RTT 0733421292 To:026837999 P.14/23 o connected to one intake runner 20. The fuel rail 42 is mounted by one or more F1 brackets 46 to the side of the intake runners The individual components of the modular induction assembly 10 can be sold 0\ as a kit for after market installation of the induction assembly. The availability of the kit provides a convenient way of constructing a supercharged engine to suit the \0 Srequirements of the vehicle.

o ADVANTAGES The advantages of the preferred embodiment of the modular supercharger induction assembly include the ability to change one or more components to accommodate a different engine or different supercharger without changing all the components of the induction assembly, This allows the supercharger to be changed relatively easily to suit a change in the application of the engine.

The configuration of each component of the modular supercharger induction assembly also enables an intercooler to be installed at a later stage after the initial installation of the preferred embodiment of the induction assembly.

Another advantage of the preferred embodiment of the modular supercharger induction assembly is that since one end of the intake runner member is configured to suit a particular engine and the second end of the intake runner member is of a standard configuration that forms a complementary mounting arrangement with the interface plate, when a particular supercharger is connected to a different type of engine, only the intake runners need to be changed and the other components of the induction assembly can be reused.

VARIATIONS

COMS ID No: SBMI-06063368 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:28 Date 2007-01-29 29-JAN-2007 15:19 From:WYNNES PATTM ATT 0733421292 To:026283T999 P.15/23 0 o It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and Variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims this specification the word "comprise" o and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to 0exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

0"- COMS ID No: SBMI-06063368 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:28 Date 2007-01-29

Claims (1)

1. 29-JRN-2007 15:19 From:WYNNES PRT&TM FTT 0733421292 To:262837999 P.16/23 r-12- O CLAIMS ci 1. A modular supercharger induction assembly for an internal combustion engine including a supercharger for compressing air, said supercharger has an outlet to Va S discharge compressed air; a plurality of spaced apart intake runner members; r- O an interface plate mountable to the supercharger, said interface plate has a non-peripheral aperture operatively associated with the supercharger outlet for passage of compressed air, said interface plate has a plurality of peripheral apertures operatively associated with the intake runner members for passage of compressed air to the engine: and a cover member mountable to the interface plate to define a space for receiving the compressed air discharged from the supercharger; wherein each of the intake runner members are aligned to correspond with each of the plurality of peripheral apertures of the interface plate, each intake runner member has a first end and a second end, the first end is mountable to the interface plate and the second end is mountable to the engine to enable the compressed air to pass from the space through the intake runner members to the engine to facilitate combustion of the engine; wherein the supercharger, the interface plate, the cover member and the intake runner members are modular components of the induction assembly, each component being configured to enable one or more components to be changed to accommodate a different engine or different supercharger without changing all the components of the induction assembly. COMS ID No: SBMI-06063368 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:28 Date 2007-01-29 29-JAN-2007 15:19 From:WYNNES PAT&TM RTT 8733421292 To:0262837999 P.17/23 -13- o 2. A modular supercharger induction assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the F1 second end of the intake runner member is configured to suit a particular engine and the first end of the intake runner member is of a standard configuration to form a complementary mounting arrangement with the interface plate. \0 0 3. A modular supercharger induction assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the configuration of the components of the modular induction assembly o allows an intercooler to be positioned within the induction assembly between the interface plate and the cover. 4. A modular supercharger induction assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the outlet is located in an upward face of the supercharger relative to the engine and connectable to a centrally located non-peripheral aperture of the interface plate that is mountable above the supercharger, the intercooler is mountable over the non-peripheral aperture and between the interface plate and the cover member and the cover member has a plurality of channel-like recesses formed on an internal surface of the cover member where each recess is configured to be located above one peripheral aperture when the cover member is mounted to the interface plate. A modular supercharger induction assembly substantially described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. COMS ID No: SBMI-06063368 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:28 Date 2007-01-29