EP2299100B1 - Intake manifold with integrated crankcase ventilation and vehicle comprising such an intake manifold - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field of internal combustion engine vehicles and more particularly the power systems of these engines.

The invention relates to a distributor or intake manifold for an internal combustion engine and a vehicle equipped with such a distributor.

It is known that the casings of the internal combustion engines recover, during the operation of said engines, a gaseous mixture that must be evacuated in a controlled manner and to treat, preferably to recycle. This gaseous mixture results essentially from the accumulation of successive leaks of unburned combustion gases at the segment segments (hence their English designation of "blow-by gas"). These gas mixtures are loaded with oil and must undergo one or more separation operation (s) before reinjection. These operations can be carried out either in the immediate vicinity of the pistons, by means of appropriate devices integrated or associated with the engine block (see for example EP 0 454 512 or EP 2 050 935 ), or remotely in dedicated separation devices and forming separate modules of the motor unit (see for example EP 2 038 520 ), or partially by these two types of devices, in successive and complementary processing phases.

The transport of these gases from the crankcase however supposes the provision of particular adapted ducts, requiring a clean space and a specific corresponding connection.

However, the driving environment is already extremely stressed in terms of density of connections and the presence of equipment and any establishment of new traffic circuits is detrimental for existing equipment and tedious for assembly and maintenance and increases the complexity overall.

The document DE-A-103 30 493 offers an internal combustion engine whose cylinder head is equipped with an intake manifold and a valve cover.

The intake manifold incorporates a blow-by recovery and exhaust system from the crankcase.

However, this known recovery circuit has a large footprint and a complex internal structure.

In addition, the solution proposed in this German document requires a significant extension of the contact surface between the connecting flanges of the cylinder head and the manifold (at the ends of the pipes).

In addition, the output of the "blow-by" gases is separated and delocalized with respect to the feed opening of the manifold, thus creating another connection interface and requiring an additional circuit.

The present invention aims to provide a solution for the evacuation of gas in the housing, while avoiding the main disadvantages described above.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a distributor or intake manifold consisting of a hollow body formed by the assembly of at least two constituent parts coming from molding thermoplastic material (s) or metal said hollow body comprising, on the one hand, a mixing / distribution chamber or plenum with at least one supply opening associated with a mounting plate or the like and, on the other hand, a plurality of tubings connected to said chamber and extending from the latter, said pipes being provided or forming at their free ends a mounting plate and sealing connection to the cylinder heads of an internal combustion engine.

This distributor is characterized in that it also comprises a separate or separate circuit for recovering and evacuating gases, in particular unburned combustion gases emanating from the casing and loaded with oil or gas called "blow-by", this circuit being integrated in the structure of said distributor, in that the integrated recovery and evacuation circuit comprises, on the one hand, at least a first portion of recovery conduit having an inlet opening intended to be connected to a drain orifice present at a cylinder head, when mounting the distributor on the engine, and, secondly, a second portion of collection conduit and / or evacuation fluidly connected to the or each recovery portion, and, in that the or each first portion of conduit is at least partially contiguous to a pipe, with which it shares a common wall portion, in particular near its inlet opening, and that the second portion of conduit is at least partially contiguous to the mixing / distribution chamber, with which it shares a common wall portion.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un répartiteur selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• La figure 2 est une vue éclatée du répartiteur de la figure 1 montrant les trois parties constitutives de ce dernier ;
• La figure 3A est une vue en coupe transversale au niveau de l'ouverture d'entrée d'une portion de récupération du circuit de récupération et d'évacuation des gaz intégré au répartiteur des figures 1 et 2 ;
• Les figures 3B et 3C sont des vues en coupe similaires à la figure 3A, selon des plans de coupe décalés longitudinalement dans la direction longitudinale du plénum ;
• La figure 4 est une vue en perspective d'un répartiteur selon un second mode de réalisation de l'invention, et,
• La figure 5 est une vue en coupe transversale au niveau d'une tubulure du répartiteur de la figure 4.

The invention will be better understood, thanks to the following description, which refers to preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, and explained with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawings, in which:

• The figure 1 is a perspective view of a splitter according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• The figure 2 is an exploded view of the dispatcher of the figure 1 showing the three constituent parts of the latter;
• The figure 3A is a cross-sectional view at the inlet opening of a recovery portion of the gas recovery and evacuation circuit integrated in the distributor of the figures 1 and 2 ;
• The Figures 3B and 3C are sectional views similar to the figure 3A , according to cutting planes longitudinally offset in the longitudinal direction of the plenum;
• The figure 4 is a perspective view of a splitter according to a second embodiment of the invention, and
• The figure 5 is a cross-sectional view at a manifold of the distributor of the figure 4 .

The Figures 1 to 5 show a distributor or intake manifold 1 consisting of a hollow body formed by the assembly of at least two constituent parts 2, 2 ', 2 "come from molding thermoplastic material (s) or metal.

This hollow body comprises, on the one hand, a mixing / distribution or plenum chamber 3 with at least one feed opening 4 associated with a fixing plate 4 'or the like and, on the other hand, a plurality of tubes 5 connected to said chamber 3 and extending from the latter, said pipes 5 being provided or forming at their free ends a plate or flange 6 for fixing and sealing connection to the cylinder heads of an internal combustion engine.

At these ends adjacent to the common plate 6, the pipes 5 may have valve receiving housings and their control shaft.

According to the invention, said distributor 1 also comprises a separate or separated circuit 7, 8 for recovering and evacuating gases, in particular unburned combustion gases emanating from the casing and charged with oil or gas called "blow-by", this circuit 7, 8 being integrated in the structure of said distributor 1.

Thus, the distributor 1 performs a second function in addition to its power function, namely a crankcase evacuation function.

According to the invention, the integrated recovery and evacuation circuit further comprises, on the one hand, at least a first portion of recovery duct 7 having an inlet opening 7 'intended to be connected to an orifice of emptying present at a cylinder head, during assembly of the distributor 1 on the engine, and, secondly, a second portion of collection conduit and / or evacuation 8 fluidly connected to the or each recovery portion 7 .

Also in accordance with the invention, the or each first portion of duct 7 is at least partially contiguous to a pipe 5, with which it shares a common wall portion 5 ', in particular near its inlet opening 7', and the second conduit portion 8 is at least partially contiguous to the mixing / distribution chamber 3, with which it shares a common wall portion 3 '.

Thus, each portion 7 and 8 at least partially follows, preferably in all, the conformation and the configuration of the basic structure of the distributor 1, in particular the tubes 5 and the chamber 3, so as to generate a minimum of space additional, to make the most of the walls of the pipes 5 and the chamber 3 and to create the least possible parts protruding.

Thanks to these arrangements according to the invention, the general shape of the distributor 1 is not substantially modified (with respect to a distributor 1 without circuit 7, 8) and its size is not substantially increased.

In addition, the amount of additional material needed to form the circuit 7, 8 is minimized.

In addition, depending on the conformation of the cylinder block, and in particular the number and location of blow-by gas discharge ports, the number of duct portions 7 and the location of the openings 7 'of these The latter can be easily modified for the realization of a suitable distributor 1, without substantially changing the structure of the latter.

In accordance with an embodiment variant emerging from the Figures 1 to 3 , it can be expected that the or each first portion of conduit 7 has a proximal portion of the second conduit portion 8, which is attached to the mixing / distribution chamber 3, with which it shares a common wall portion 3 ".

In order to facilitate and simplify the connection of the distributor 1 to the cylinder head unit and to ensure an optimum seal, the inlet opening 7 'of the or each recovery conduit portion 7 is located substantially in the connection plane of the tubing 5 to the cylinder heads, at the mounting and connection plate 6.

Similarly and for similar reasons, the outlet opening 8 'may be adjacent to one or to the feed opening (s) 4 of the mixing / distribution chamber 3 and is located substantially in the connection plane of this supply opening 4.

The splitter 1 may have only one portion of conduit 7 if such a configuration is sufficient.

However, preferably and as shown in figures 1 and 4 , the integrated circuit 7, 8 recovery and removal of unburned gases from the housing comprises at least two portions of recovery ducts 7 associated with two different pipes 5.

According to a characteristic favoring the manufacture of the distributor 1, in particular by assembling at least two molded integrally molded parts, the recovery pipe 7 and discharge 8 portions consist of tubular parts formed on the pipes 5 and the mixing chamber 3 / distribution, for example partially in one piece and partially by cooperation of the constituent parts 2, 2 ', 2 "forming said distributor or collector 1, these tubular portions or fragments of tubular parts being integral with these constituent parts 2 , 2 ', 2 ".

According to a first embodiment, illustrated for example on Figures 1 to 3 , the distributor 1 may consist of an assembly of three constituent parts 2, 2 'and 2 "in the form of separate parts integrally integrally molded, namely, a first part 2 comprising the tubes 5, a lower portion of the wall of the mixing / distribution chamber 3 and the tubular ends of the recovery pipe portions 7 defining the inlet openings 7 ', a second part 2' comprising the upper portion complementary to the wall of the mixing chamber 3 distribution, the complementary portion of the recovery pipe portions 7, a lower longitudinal portion of the portion discharge duct 8 and the connection interface of the feed opening 4 and a third portion 2 "forming the complementary upper longitudinal portion of the discharge portion 8.

According to a second embodiment, illustrated for example on figures 4 and 5 , the distributor 1 may consist of an assembly of two constituent parts 2 and 2 'in the form of separate parts integrally integrally molded, namely on the one hand, a first part 2 comprising the tubes 5, the plate 6 fixing the pipes 5, a lower portion of the wall of the mixing / distribution chamber 3, the lower portions of the recovery pipe portions 7 and their tubular ends defining the inlet openings 7 'and, on the other hand, a second part 2 'comprising the upper complementary portion of the wall of the mixing / distribution chamber 3, the supply opening 4 thereof and its fixing plate 4', the exhaust duct portion 8, the complementary upper parts of recovery ducts 7.

Preferably, the constituent parts 2, 2 'and 2 "are molded parts made of thermoplastic material and their assembly is performed by vibration welding.

During this assembly, the double sealing of the supply circuits 3, 5 and exhaust 7, 8 relative to the outside and between them is performed without further intervention or additional operation.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine, characterized in that its air / fuel mixture supply system comprises an intake distributor as described above, the internal combustion engine comprising at least one gas evacuation orifice in the housing, located (s) near at least one injection port of the air / fuel mixture of a cylinder head.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (9)

1. Intake manifold comprising a hollow body formed by the assembly of at least two constituent parts moulded from thermoplastic material(s) or metal, said hollow body comprising on the one hand a mixing/distribution chamber or plenum with at least one supply opening connected to a mounting plate or the like and on the other hand multiple pipes connected to said chamber and extending from the latter, said pipes being provided with or forming at their free ends a plate for forming a secure and sealed connection with the cylinder heads of an internal combustion engine,

   - said manifold (1) also comprising a circuit (7, 8) for the recovery and evacuation of gas, in particular uncombusted combustion gases coming from the sump and charged with oil or so-called "blow-by" gases, said circuit (7, 8) being integrated into the structure of said manifold (1),

   - said integrated recovery and evacuation circuit comprising on the one hand at least one first portion of the recovery pipe (7) comprising an inlet opening (7') intended to be connected to a evacuating opening provided at the cylinder head during the assembly of the manifold (1) onto the engine, and on the other hand a second portion of conduit for collection and/or evacuation (8) connected fluidi-cally to the or each recovery portion (7),

   said manifold (1) being characterised in that the circuit (7, 8) is a separate or dissociated circuit, of which the or each first portion of conduit (7) is at least partly coupled to a pipe (5) with which it shares a common wall part wall (5'), in particular close to its inlet opening (7') and of which the second portion of pipe (8) is at least partly coupled to the mixing/distribution chamber (3) with which it shares a common wall part (3'),
   the portions of conduits (7 and 8) being formed by tubular parts formed on the pipes (5) and the mixing/distribution chamber (3).
2. Intake manifold according to claim 1, characterised in that the or each first portion of conduit (7) comprises a proximal part of the second portion of conduit (8) which is coupled to the mixing/distribution chamber (3) with which it shares a common wall part (3").
3. Intake manifold according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the inlet opening (7') of the or each portion of the recovery conduit (7) is located substantially in the connecting plane of the pipes (5) to the cylinder heads, at the level of the securing or connecting plate or flange (6).
4. Intake manifold according to any one of claims 1 and 3, characterised in that the portion of evacuation conduit (8) comprises an outlet opening (8') which is adjacent to one of or to the supply opening (s) (4) of the mixing/distribution chamber (3) and is located substantially in the connecting plane of this supply opening (4).
5. Intake manifold according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the integrated circuit (7, 8) for the recovery and evacuation of unburned gases coming from the sump comprises at least two portions of recovery conduits (7) connected to two different pipes (5).
6. Intake manifold according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the portions of recovery pipes (7) and evacuation pipes (8) are formed by tubular parts formed on the pipes (5) and the mixing/distribution chamber (3), formed partially in one piece and partially by cooperation of the constituent parts (2, 2', 2") forming the said manifold (1), said tubular parts or pieces of tubular parts being in one piece with said constituent parts (2, 2', 2").
7. Intake manifold according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that it consists of an assembly of three constituent parts (2, 2', 2") in the form of separate pieces all in one piece made by moulding, namely a first part (2) comprising the pipes (5), a lower portion of the wall of the mixing/distribution chamber (3) and the tubular ends of portions of recovery conduits (7) defining the inlet openings (7'), a second part (2') comprising the upper complementary portion of the wall of the mixing/distribution chamber (3), the complemtary part of the portions of recovery conduits (7), a longitudinal part lower than the portion of evacuation conduit (8) and the coupling interface of the supply opening (4) and a third part (2") forming the upper complemtary longitudinal part of the evacuation portion (8).
8. Intake manifold according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that it consists of an assembly of two constituent parts (2 and 2') in the form of separate parts all in one piece made by moulding, namely on the one hand a first part (2) comprising pipes (5), the mounting plate (6) of the pipes (5), a lower portion of the wall of the mixing/distribution chamber (3), lower parts of portions of recovery conduits (7) and their tubular ends defining the inlet openings (7'), and on the other hand a second part (2') comprising the upper portion complementary to the wall of the mixing/distribution chamber (3), the supply opening (4) of the latter and its mounting plate (4'), the portion of evacuation conduit (8), the upper complemtary parts of portions of recovery conduits (7).
9. Motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine, characterised in that its system for supplying a mixture of air/fuel comprises an intake manifold according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the internal combustion engine comprising at least one evacuation opening for gases present in the sump, located close to at least one opening for injecting the mixture of air/fuel from a cylinder head.

Images