JP2005351166A - Intake manifold - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an intake manifold having high rigidity and improving pressure-proof strength. <P>SOLUTION: This intake manifold 100 has a lower 3, a resonator plate 4 contacting with the lower 3, and a middle 2 contacting with the resonator plate 4, and constitutes an intake passage, a surge tank space 20 and a resonator space 42. The lower 3 and the resonator plate 4 constitutes the surge tank space 20. The resonator plate 4 constitutes a part of a manifold outer peripheral surface 112. The resonator plate 4 and the lower 3 are joined in the manifold outer peripheral surface 112, and the resonator plate 4 and the middle 2 are joined. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an intake manifold, and more particularly to an intake manifold for an internal combustion engine made of synthetic resin and mounted on a vehicle.

Conventionally, intake manifolds are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-339224 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent No. 3032142 (Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-339224 Japanese Patent No. 3032142

  In Patent Document 1, when pressure is applied to the inside of the manifold, the outer peripheral area of the manifold constituent members is large, so that the pressure resistance is insufficient. In addition, since the member that separates the surge tank space and the resonator space is configured to be sandwiched between the manifold constituent members and not joined thereto, there is a problem that the pressure strength is low without contributing to the pressure strength.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an intake manifold having improved rigidity and high pressure resistance.

  An intake manifold according to one aspect of the present invention includes a first outer body, an intermediate body that contacts the first outer body, and a second outer body that contacts the intermediate body, an intake passage, a surge tank space, And a resonator space. The first outer body and the intermediate body constitute a surge tank space, the intermediate body constitutes a part of the outer peripheral surface of the intake manifold, the intermediate body and the first outer body are joined on the outer peripheral surface of the intake manifold, and the intermediate body The body and the second outer body are joined.

  In the intake manifold configured as described above, the outer peripheral surface of the intake manifold constituting the surge tank space is constituted by a plurality of members of the first outer body and the intermediate body, so that the first outer body occupies the surge tank constituting surface. The ratio becomes smaller. As a result, the rigidity of the surge tank space is improved. Furthermore, since a part of the outer peripheral surface of the intake manifold is constituted by the intermediate body, it is not necessary to provide a separate member. In addition, since the intermediate body and the first outer peripheral body are joined and the intermediate body and the second outer peripheral body are joined on the outer peripheral surface of the intake manifold, each of the intermediate body, the first outer body, and the second outer body is joined. The Thereby, the strength of the intake manifold is improved and the pressure resistance is increased.

  An intake manifold according to another aspect of the present invention includes a first outer body, an intermediate body in contact with the first outer body, and a second outer body in contact with the intermediate body, an intake passage, a surge tank space, And a resonator space. The intermediate body is configured with continuity between the first outer body and the second outer body, and an end of the intermediate body is joined to the first outer body and the second outer body.

  In the intake manifold configured as described above, the intermediate body is configured to have continuity between the first outer body and the second outer body, and its end is joined to the first outer body and the second outer body. Therefore, the intermediate body acts as a strength member. Thereby, the rigidity of the surge tank space and the rigidity of the intake manifold itself are improved.

  More preferably, the intermediate body is configured such that the cross section of the surge tank space has a substantially circular shape, and the intermediate body and the second outer body are joined inside the intake manifold. In this case, since the surge tank space section is substantially circular, the rigidity of the surge tank space is improved. Further, since the second outer body and the intermediate body are joined inside the intake manifold, the rigidity of the intake manifold is further improved.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an intake manifold having improved rigidity and high pressure resistance.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of an intake manifold according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the intake manifold as viewed from the direction indicated by II in FIG. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, intake manifold 100 is a member that distributes air supplied from an air cleaner and supplies it to the engine. Upper manifold 1, middle 2 connected to upper 1, middle 2, It has a resonator plate 4 to be connected and a lower 3 joined to the resonator plate 4.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the intake manifold 100 is provided with an intake port 9, and air filtered by an air cleaner is introduced into the intake port 9. The intake port 9 receives air, distributes the air into a plurality of paths (four paths in FIGS. 1 and 2), and discharges the air from the air discharge hole 10 in FIG. There are four air discharge holes 10 in FIG. 2, and the air discharged from each air discharge hole 10 is sent to the combustion chamber.

  A purge port 7 is provided in the vicinity of the intake port 9. The purge port 7 is a hole for introducing a fuel component that evaporates from a fuel tank in an internal combustion engine using gasoline as fuel, and fuel vapor is sent from the purge port 7 to the intake manifold 100. The fuel vapor introduced into the intake manifold 100 is discharged from the air discharge hole 10 in the same manner as air and travels toward the combustion chamber.

  Intake manifold 100 is provided with a PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) port 8. Unburned gas is sent from the crankcase to the PCV port 8 through the PCV valve, and unburned gas introduced into the intake manifold 100 from the PCV port 8 is also discharged from the air discharge hole 10 together with the air and fuel vapor. Is done.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the intake manifold 100 is provided in the vicinity of the oil level gauge 5. The intake manifold 100 shown in this embodiment is mounted on a so-called FF vehicle in which the front wheels are drive wheels and steering wheels and the engine is disposed on the front wheel side, and the intake manifold 100 is provided in the vicinity of the engine. . The air discharge hole 10 in FIG. 2 opens toward the rear of the vehicle.

  The constituent members of the upper 1, the middle 2, the lower 3, and the resonator plate 4 constituting the intake manifold 100 are made of synthetic resin, and are integrated by vibration welding. By configuring the intake manifold 100 with resin, the intake air temperature can be reduced, the degree of freedom in molding can be increased, and a significant reduction in weight and size can be achieved.

  3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. Referring to FIG. 3, intake manifold 100 mainly includes upper 1 that constitutes an intake passage, middle 2 that is joined to upper 1 and has air discharge hole 10, resonator plate 4 that is joined to middle 2, and resonator. It has a lower 4 joined to the plate 4 and the middle 2. The middle 2 is formed so as to extend from the upper part to the lower part of the intake manifold 100, and has a middle inner surface 201 and a middle outer surface 202. The middle inner surface 201 forms a manifold inner peripheral surface 111 as an intake passage, and forms an air passage. By adjusting the surface roughness of the manifold inner peripheral surface 111, it is possible to appropriately change the inflow resistance of air. The middle outer surface 202 constitutes the manifold outer peripheral surface 112, and atmospheric pressure is applied. Note that the intake passage formed by the manifold inner peripheral surface 111 has a negative pressure when the engine is driven, and air flows toward the engine side.

  The middle 2 has an annular joined body 211 for joining the middle 2 to the resonator plate 4. The annular joined body 211 extends from the middle 2 toward the resonator plate 4 and has a role as a stay that supports the resonator plate 4. The middle 2 is joined to other members (vibration welding) by the second joint 12, the third joint 13, the fourth joint 14, the fifth joint 15, the sixth joint 16, and the seventh joint 17. Has been. The second joint portion 12 is provided in the recess of the intake manifold 100 and connects the annular joint body 211 of the middle 2 and the resonator intermediate surface 411 of the resonator plate 4. The third joint portion 13 is provided at the lower end portion of the intake manifold 100 and joins the middle 2 and the resonator plate 4. The fourth joint portion 14 is provided between the second joint portion 12 and the third joint portion 13 and in the resonator space 42, and joins the middle 2 and the resonator plate 4. The 2nd junction part 12, the 3rd junction part 13, and the 4th junction part 14 are arrange | positioned on the substantially straight line in the cross section of FIG. The fourth joint portion 14 is provided in the resonator space 42, that is, in a closed space, and is disposed inside the intake manifold 100.

  The fifth joint 15 is provided adjacent to the third joint 13 and joins the upper 1 and the middle 2 as a cover. The sixth joint portion 16 is provided in the vicinity of the air discharge hole 10 and joins the upper 1 and the middle 2. The seventh joint 17 joins the upper 1 and the middle 2 and faces the resonator space 42.

  The upper 1 has an upper inner surface 101 and an upper outer surface 102, covers a part of the middle 2, and is arranged so as to constitute a manifold inner peripheral surface 111 as an intake passage. FIG. 3 shows a structure in which the two inner peripheral surfaces 111 of the manifold are divided by the seventh joint portion 17, but this is because the intake passage of the second port and the intake passage of the third port as shown in FIG. 1. Appears on the same cross section.

  The lower 3 is a member constituting the surge tank space 20. The surge tank space is a volume portion provided in an intermediate portion of the intake system, and has a function of smoothing pressure fluctuations. In this embodiment, a plurality of intake passages are coupled to a single surge tank space 20. The surge tank space 20 is configured to be divided by the lower 3 and the resonator plate 4. That is, the surface of the surge tank space 20 includes a lower inner surface 301 that is the surface of the lower 3 and a resonator plate inner surface 401 that is the inner surface of the resonator plate 4. The lower 3 has a lower inner surface 301 and a lower outer surface 302.

  The first joint 11 is provided adjacent to the surge tank space 20, and the first joint 11 joins the resonator plate 4 and the lower 3. The 1st junction part 11, the 2nd junction part 12, and the cyclic | annular joining body 211 are arrange | positioned so that it may align with a substantially straight line. In the resonator plate 4, the surface facing the surge tank space 20 is a resonator plate inner surface 401, and the surface facing the resonator space 42 is a resonator plate outer surface 402. The resonator plate 4 defines a communication pipe 41, and the communication pipe 41 plays a role of connecting the surge tank space 20 and the resonator space 42.

  The resonator space 42 is a space provided in order to suppress the intake sound, and is defined as a region surrounded by the resonator plate 4 and the middle 2. The resonator space 42 is a volume chamber and is disposed so as to surround the communication pipe 41. The resonator space 42 is a closed space and is opened toward the surge tank space 20 by the communication pipe 41.

  4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion surrounded by IV in FIG. Referring to FIG. 4, at the first joint portion 11, the lower 3 and the resonator plate 4 are welded to each other and fixed. An example of such a welding method is vibration welding, but other welding methods may be employed. By welding, the lower 3 and the resonator plate 4 are integrated, and the strength of the intake manifold 100 as a whole is improved. In the other second to seventh joints 12 to 17, the two members are welded and integrated with each other.

  FIG. 5 is a front view of the upper as seen from the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. Referring to FIG. 5, the upper 1 has an upper inner surface 101 and is configured such that a plurality of grooves extend in substantially the same direction while meandering. The upper inner surface 101 has a concave shape and forms an intake passage. The intake passage is disposed so as to extend from the fifth joint 15 to the sixth joint 16. A seventh joint 17 is disposed between adjacent intake ports. The fifth joint portion 15 to the seventh joint portion 17 are provided with a concavo-convex shape so as to increase the contact area with the mating member, and this concavo-convex shape fits with the concavo-convex shape of the mating member.

  FIG. 6 is a front view of the upper as seen from the direction indicated by the arrow Y in FIG. Referring to FIG. 6, the upper outer surface 102 extends to meander at a distance from one another, as shown in FIG.

  7 is a rear view of the middle viewed from the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. Referring to FIG. 7, the middle 2 has four air discharge holes 10. The number of air discharge holes 10 is not limited to that shown in this figure, and it is possible to provide the air discharge holes 10 by the number of cylinders of the engine. For example, an air exhaust hole 10 corresponding to the number of cylinders is provided in an inline engine, whereas an air exhaust hole 10 corresponding to half the number of cylinders is provided in a V type engine.

  On the opposite side of the air discharge hole 10, air introduction holes 212 for introducing air are provided at a certain distance from each other, and the air introduced into the middle 2 from the air introduction hole 212 is air discharge holes. 10 is discharged. In the vicinity of the air introduction hole 212, an annular joined body 211 is disposed so as to surround a predetermined region. The annular joined body 211 is a member for joining the middle 2 to other members (specifically, the resonator plate 4). By increasing the joining area with the resonator plate 4, the joining is strengthened and the intake manifold 100 is joined. It works to improve the strength. The annular joined body 211 has a frame shape, and the resonator plate 4 is joined in the outer peripheral region thereof. The outer periphery of the air introduction hole 212 becomes the third joint portion 13 and the fourth joint portion 14, and the resonator plate 4 is in close contact with the middle 2 at the third joint portion 13 and the fourth joint portion 14 so as to be integrated with each other. Be joined. Since the resonator plate 4 is joined to the second joint 12, the third joint 13, and the fourth joint 14, the resonator plate 4 is joined to the middle 2 on a wide surface. As a result, not only the strength can be improved, but also the leakage of air between the middle 2 can be prevented.

  FIG. 8 is a front view of the middle viewed from the direction indicated by the arrow Y in FIG. Referring to FIG. 8, in the middle 2, the middle inner surface 201 extends meandering so as to form an intake passage, and the middle inner surface as the intake passage from the fifth joint 15 to the sixth joint 16. 201 extends. The middle inner surface 201 has a concave shape, that is, a groove shape, and serves as a passage for air. The middle inner surface 201 is configured to extend from the air introduction hole 212 to the air discharge hole 10 and has a shape in which four intake passages are separated from each other.

  FIG. 9 is a rear view of the lower viewed from the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. Referring to FIG. 9, the lower 3 has a lower outer surface 302, and a plurality of ribs 311 are arranged on the lower outer surface 302. The ribs 311 are members for increasing the strength of the lower 3 and are provided on the lower outer surface 302 in a lattice shape.

  FIG. 10 is a front view of the lower viewed from the direction indicated by Y in FIG. Referring to FIG. 10, lower 3 has a lower inner surface 301 that defines surge tank space 20, and lower inner surface 301 is divided so as to guide air in surge tank space (distribution space) 20 to each intake path. It has a different shape. That is, the manifold inner peripheral surface 111 as an intake passage is provided so as to continue to the surge tank space 20, and the air in the surge tank space 20 is distributed to the respective manifold inner peripheral surfaces 111. The lower 3 is provided so as to extend from the first joint 11 to the third joint 13. In the 1st junction part 11 and the 3rd junction part 13, in order to increase a contact area with the other party material, it is made uneven shape, and an uneven surface contacts with the other party material.

  FIG. 11 is a rear view of the resonator plate viewed from the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. Referring to FIG. 11, the resonator plate 4 has a resonator plate inner surface 401 constituting the surge tank space 20. On the inner surface 401 of the resonator plate, a communication pipe 41 for connecting the surge tank space 20 and the resonator space 42 to reduce the intake air temperature is provided. The communication pipe 41 extends in the longitudinal direction of the resonator plate 4. The outer peripheral portion of the resonator plate 4 becomes the first joint portion 11 and the third joint portion 13, and the first joint portion 11 and the third joint portion 13 are connected to the lower 3.

  FIG. 12 is a front view of the resonator plate viewed from the direction indicated by the arrow Y in FIG. Referring to FIG. 12, the resonator plate 4 has a resonator plate outer surface 402 that constitutes the resonator space 42, and the resonator plate outer surface 402 surrounds the resonator space 42. A communication pipe 41 is provided on the outer surface 402 of the resonator plate. One end of the communication pipe 41 opens into the resonator space 42 and the other end opens into the surge tank space 20 shown in FIG. The resonator plate 40 constitutes the second joint portion 12, the third joint portion 13 and the fourth joint portion 14, and the second joint portion 12, the third joint portion 13 and the fourth joint portion 14 are respectively mating materials. It is fixed with middle 2 as.

  The effect of the intake manifold 100 configured as described above will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3, there are two welded portions of the resonator plate 4, a first joint portion 11 and a second joint portion 12. A resonator intermediate surface 411 is provided between the first joint 11 and the second joint 12. The resonator intermediate surface 411 constitutes the manifold outer peripheral surface 112. Thereby, the depth of the lower 3 shown by B in FIG. 3 can be made small. Specifically, when the resonator intermediate surface 411 does not exist, the lower 3 extends to the second joint portion 12. As a result, when the pressure in the surge tank space 20 rises, most of this pressure is applied to the lower 3 and the lower 3 may be damaged. However, in the present invention, since the resonator intermediate surface 411 is provided and the depth B of the lower 3 can be reduced, the rigidity of the lower 3 is improved.

  Next, the resonator plate 4 has a three-dimensional thickness. Specifically, the length of the resonator intermediate surface 411 is A. In the conventional technique, the resonator plate is not welded to other members. However, in the present invention, the resonator plate 4 is welded to other members at the first joint portion 11, the second joint portion 12, and the fourth joint portion 14. The Thereby, the middle 2 and the lower 3 are coupled to each other via the resonator plate 4 having a high rigidity, and the rigidity of the intake manifold 100 as a whole is improved.

  Next, the resonator plate 4 is integrated with a part of the port, and is also welded at the third joint portion 13 (outer peripheral weld portion). As a result, the resonator plate 4 is joined to the mating member at the first joint 11, the second joint 12, the third joint 13, and the fourth joint 14. As a result, the resonator plate 4 has a shape like one column in the direction indicated by the arrow 501 in FIG. 3, and the deformation of the lower 3 and the deformation of the middle 2 can be suppressed.

  Further, in the conventional structure, the resonator plate and the inner member are separate members, and in the technique described in Japanese Patent No. 3032142, the inner member is snap-fit. In the present invention, the resonator plate 4 is welded to the lower 3 at the welded portion 18. Thereby, the coupling | bonding of the lower 3 and the resonator plate 4 is strengthened, and a proof pressure improves. At the same time, the snap fit can be eliminated.

  Furthermore, by making the shape of the resonator plate 4 three-dimensional, the surge tank space 20 can be made into an elliptical shape, that is, a substantially circular shape with no corners, and the portion where the air does not easily flow can be eliminated. It becomes possible.

  An intake manifold 100 according to the present invention includes a lower 3 as a first outer body, a resonator plate 4 in contact with the lower 3, and a middle 2 as a second outer body in contact with the resonator plate 4. The manifold inner peripheral surface 111, the surge tank space 20, and the resonator space 42 are configured. The lower 3 and the resonator plate 4 constitute a surge tank space 20, and the resonator plate 4 constitutes a manifold outer peripheral surface 112. On the manifold outer peripheral surface 112, the resonator plate 4 and the lower 3 are joined by the first joint 11, and the resonator plate 4 and the middle 2 are joined by the second joint 12, the third joint 13, and the fourth joint 14. Are joined together.

  The resonator plate 4 is configured with continuity between the lower 3 and the middle 2, and the end of the resonator plate 4 is joined to the lower 3 at the first joint 11, and the second joint 12 and the second 3 is joined to the middle 2 at the joint 13.

  The resonator plate 4 is configured such that the cross section of the surge tank space 20 has a substantially circular shape, and the resonator plate 4 and the middle 2 are joined at the fourth joint 14 inside the intake manifold 100.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the embodiment shown here can be variously modified. First, the engine as an internal combustion engine to which the present invention is applied is not limited to a gasoline engine, and the present invention may be applied to a diesel engine. In addition, as the shape of the engine to be applied, the present invention can be applied to engines having various shapes such as a series type, a V type, a W type, and a horizontally opposed type. Furthermore, the intake manifold 100 may be disposed at any position on the front side, the center side, and the rear side of the vehicle.

  Furthermore, you may apply this invention not only to the engine for vehicles but to the engine for electric power generation.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  The present invention can be used, for example, as an intake manifold for an engine mounted on a vehicle.

It is a front view of the intake manifold according to embodiment of this invention. It is the side view of an intake manifold seen from the direction shown by II in FIG. It is sectional drawing along the III-III line in FIG. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the part enclosed by IV in FIG. It is a rear view of the upper seen from the direction shown by the arrow X in FIG. It is a front view of the upper seen from the direction shown by the arrow Y in FIG. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the middle viewed from the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. 3. It is the front view of the middle seen from the direction shown by arrow Y in FIG. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the lower viewed from a direction indicated by an arrow X in FIG. 3. It is the front view of the lower seen from the direction shown by the arrow Y in FIG. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the resonator plate viewed from a direction indicated by an arrow X in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a front view of a resonator plate viewed from a direction indicated by an arrow Y in FIG. 3.

Explanation of symbols

  1 Upper, 2 Middle, 3 Lower, 4 Resonator plate, 5 Oil level gauge, 7 Purge port, 8 PCV port, 9 Intake port, 10 Air exhaust hole, 11 First joint, 12 Second joint, 13 Third Joint, 14 4th joint, 15 5th joint, 16 6th joint, 17 7th joint, 18 weld, 20 Surge tank space, 41 communication pipe, 42 Resonator space, 100 Intake manifold, 101 Upper Inner surface, 102 Upper outer surface, 111 Manifold inner peripheral surface, 112 Manifold outer peripheral surface, 201 Middle inner surface, 202 Middle outer surface, 211 annular joint, 212 Air inflow hole, 301 Lower inner surface, 302 Lower outer surface, 311 Rib, 401 Resonator inner surface, 402 Resonator outer surface, 411 Resonator Intermediate plane.

Claims (3)

A first outer body;
An intermediate in contact with the first outer body;
An intake manifold comprising a second outer body in contact with the intermediate body and constituting an intake passage, a surge tank space, and a resonator space;
The first outer body and the intermediate body constitute a surge tank space,
The intermediate body constitutes a part of the outer peripheral surface of the intake manifold;
An intake manifold in which the intermediate body and the first outer body are joined to each other on the outer peripheral surface of the intake manifold, and the intermediate body and the second outer body are joined. A first outer body;
An intermediate in contact with the first outer body;
An intake manifold comprising a second outer body in contact with the intermediate body and constituting an intake passage, a surge tank space, and a resonator space;
The intermediate body is configured with continuity between the first outer body and the second outer body, and an end portion of the intermediate body is joined to the first outer body and the second outer body. . The intermediate body is configured such that the cross section of the surge tank space is substantially circular,
The intake manifold according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the intermediate body and the second outer body are joined inside the intake manifold.

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