JP5273007B2 - Intake device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an intake device capable of reducing degree of dispersion when intake air flow rate at downstream side of each of a pair of air cleaners disperses due to clogging or the like. <P>SOLUTION: It is detected by first and second flowmeters 5, 6 if there is difference between flow rates of clean air W1 flowing in first and second intake pipes 15, 25. Cross section change devices 12, 22 are disposed at an upstream side of each of first and second air cleaners 1, 3. When difference between the flow rates exists, one of the cross section change devices 12, 22 is operated to limit flow rate, and difference between clean intake air flow rate flowing in the two system intake passages is kept in a tolerance range. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an intake device that is provided with a plurality of air cleaners in an intake passage of an internal combustion engine so that air filtered by each of the air cleaners is merged and guided to a throttle body.

  An intake passage of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is provided with an air cleaner in which a filter element for collecting the dust of the sucked outside air is incorporated. Since this element provides resistance to the passage of air, an internal combustion engine having a plurality of air cleaners is often used for efficient intake of a high-performance internal combustion engine or for use in a dusty area. .

  In the intake device disclosed in Patent Document 1, outside air is introduced into a pair of air cleaners from a single air cleaner inlet via a branch path. An air cleaner hose is disposed between the air cleaner and the throttle body. The ends on the throttle body side of the pair of air cleaner hoses are joined together. These branch paths, air cleaners and air cleaner hoses are arranged symmetrically.

  In the abnormality diagnosis device for an intake system of an internal combustion engine disclosed in Patent Document 2, an air cleaner and an AFM (air flow meter) are provided in each of two intake passages of the engine.

JP 2007-23863 A JP 200851015 A

  In the intake device of Patent Document 1, the pair of branch passages, the air cleaner, and the air cleaner hose that form two systems of intake passages are symmetrical to each other, so that the air flow rate introduced into the throttle body is stable and stable. ing. In the abnormality diagnosis device of Patent Document 2, each abnormality of the pair of air cleaners can be diagnosed with high accuracy by the control of the electronic control unit based on the detection result of the AFM provided in each of the two intake passages. Yes.

  However, in these apparatuses, there is no mention of correction of variation in air flow rate when one of a pair of air cleaners is clogged. Therefore, when variation occurs, there is a possibility that the combustion of the internal combustion engine may be adversely affected.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the degree of variation when the intake flow rates of a plurality of air cleaners appear due to clogging or the like. It is to provide a possible intake device.

In order to solve the above problem, the invention of the intake device according to claim 1 is configured so that the air filtered by each of the plurality of air cleaners provided in the intake passage of the internal combustion engine merges and is guided to the throttle body. In the intake device provided with an air flow meter for detecting the total flow rate of air at the downstream position of the merging portion, each air cleaner is provided with a flow rate detecting means for detecting the intake flow rate, and at least one of the air cleaners is provided. Comprises a passage cross-sectional area changing means capable of changing a cross-sectional area of the intake passage, and the flow rate detecting means detects that there is a difference exceeding an allowable value between the intake air flow rates passing through the air cleaners. When this is done, the passage cross-sectional area changing means is actuated . The “cross-sectional area” used here refers to an area projected on a plane orthogonal to the flow direction of the intake flow flowing in the intake passage .

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to detect whether or not there is a difference between the intake flow rates passing through the air cleaners by the flow rate detection means provided in the air cleaners. When the detected difference between the intake flow rates exceeds the allowable range, the cross-sectional area of the intake passage of at least one air cleaner can be changed by operating the passage cross-sectional area changing means. As a result, the difference between the intake air flow rates of the air cleaners can be reduced so as to be within an allowable range, or the difference between the intake air flow rates can be prevented from appearing.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the intake system according to claim 1, wherein the detection value of the intake flow rate of each air cleaner, be detected value of at least one position of the air cleaner is larger than the detection value of the other air cleaner When detected, the cross-sectional area of the intake passage is decreased by operating the passage cross-sectional area changing means of the at least one air cleaner.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the intake device according to the first aspect , in the detected value of the intake air flow rate of each air cleaner, the detected value of at least one air cleaner is smaller than the detected value of other air cleaners. When detected, the passage sectional area changing means of the at least one air cleaner is operated to increase the sectional area of the intake passage.

Invention according to claim 4, in the intake device according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area changing means, of the respective air cleaner, provided on at least two places, the air cleaner comprising the cross-sectional area changing means When it is detected that there is a difference exceeding the allowable value in the detected value of the intake flow rate, the cross-sectional area of the intake passage is decreased by operating the passage cross-sectional area changing means of the air cleaner having a large detected value , The passage cross-sectional area changing means of the air cleaner having a small detection value is operated to increase the cross-sectional area of the intake passage.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the difference between the intake flow rates of a plurality of air cleaners so that the difference is within an allowable range, or to prevent the difference in intake flow rate from appearing. It is possible to provide an intake device that can be combusted.

Schematic which shows the intake device of 1st Embodiment. AA arrow sectional drawing of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the state which the cross-sectional area change apparatus act | operated in 1st Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the control system of 1st Embodiment. Schematic which shows the intake device of 2nd Embodiment. BB arrow sectional drawing of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the state which the cross-sectional area change apparatus act | operated in 2nd Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the state which the cross-sectional area change apparatus act | operated in 3rd Embodiment. Schematic which shows the intake device of 4th Embodiment.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the intake device 10 of the present embodiment includes a first air cleaner 1 and a second air cleaner 3, and has two systems of intake passages arranged symmetrically in the drawing.

  Intake ducts 11 and 21 are provided on the upstream sides of the first and second air cleaners 1 and 3, respectively. The intake ducts 11 and 21 are provided with cross-sectional area changing devices 12 and 22 as passage cross-sectional area changing means in order to change the passage cross-sectional area.

  The cross-sectional area changing devices 12 and 22 include a changing plate 13 and a driving device 14 that supports the changing plate 13 so as to advance and retreat. The drive device 14 has a normal position where the end 13a of the change plate 13 and the inner surfaces of the intake ducts 11 and 21 are substantially flush with each other, and the end 13a is a part of the air passages 11a and 21a in the intake ducts 11 and 21. The forward / backward movement of the change plate 13 can be driven between the projecting position projecting so as to block the screen. Although not shown in the drawings, a drive device capable of linear motion by a linear motor or the like is used as the drive device 14 so that the change plate 13 can be protruded to an arbitrary position. However, since the change plate 13 may be driven so as to be movable back and forth between the normal position and the protruding position, an air cylinder may be employed as the drive device 14 in that case.

  The first and second intake pipes 15 and 25 that serve as passages for the clean air W1 filtered by the first and second filter elements 2 and 4 are respectively downstream of the first and second air cleaners 1 and 3. Is provided. The first and second intake pipes 15 and 25 are provided with first and second flow meters 5 and 6 as flow rate detecting means for detecting the flow rate of the clean air W1. As the first and second flow meters 5 and 6, various flow meters such as a hot wire type, a thermocouple type, and a flow sensor type are used.

  The first intake pipe 15 and the second intake pipe 25 merge at a junction, and are connected to an intake pipe 16 that supplies clean air W0 to an intake manifold of an engine (not shown). The intake pipe 16 is provided with a third flow meter 7 as an air flow meter, and a throttle body 20 is provided downstream of the third flow meter 7. The throttle body 20 includes a throttle valve 17, a driving device 18 that drives opening and closing of the throttle valve 17, and an opening degree sensor 19 that detects the opening degree of the throttle valve 17.

  Now, as shown in FIG. 1, when the first and second filter elements 2 and 4 are normally filtering the sucked outside air, the respective cleanliness detected by the first and second flow meters 5 and 6 are detected. Since there is no difference between the flow rates of the air W1, the cross-sectional area changing devices 12, 22 are not activated. On the other hand, for example, when the second filter element 4 is more clogged than the first filter element 2 due to dust or the like contained in the outside air, the flow rate of the clean air W3 detected by the second flow meter 6 as shown in FIG. Is smaller than the flow rate of clean air W1 (shown in FIG. 1) detected by the first flow meter 5. When the difference between the flow rates of the clean air W1 and W3 exceeds the allowable range, the flow rate of the clean air W1 is decreased and the difference between the detected values of the first and second flow meters 5 and 6 is within the allowable range. In order to make it inside, the cross-sectional area changing device 12 is operated.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the change plate 13 is pushed inward of the intake duct 11 by the driving device 14, and the end 13a of the change plate 13 protrudes from the position indicated by the solid line to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line, A part of the air passage 11a is blocked. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the flow rate of the air passing through the air passage 11a is reduced. Accordingly, after the operation of the cross-sectional area changing device 12, there is no difference between the flow rates of the clean air W3 detected by the first and second flowmeters 5 and 6, so that the intake pipe 16 joins without being disturbed. The flow rate of the clean air W0 flowing through can be normally detected by the third flow meter 7. If the intake air is continued in this way, the air flow rate in the air passage 21a is large, so that more dust is captured by the second filter element 4 compared to the first filter element 2, and the first filter element 2 The degree of clogging with the second filter element 4 is balanced. When this balanced state is detected by the first flow meters 5 and 6, the change plate 13 returns to the original passage opening position. The above operation is similarly executed when the first filter element 2 is clogged more than the second filter element 4.

  In order to make the flow rate of the clean air W1 in the first intake pipe 15 equal to the flow rate of the clean air W3 in the second intake pipe 25, the flow rate of the clean air W1 is decreased to obtain the clean air W3. The flow rate of the clean air W0 is smaller than the flow rate corresponding to the opening degree of the throttle valve 17. Therefore, if the opening degree of the throttle valve 17 corresponding to the depression amount of an accelerator pedal (not shown) is corrected and controlled to the opening side as appropriate, the driver can feel as usual without changing the depression amount of the accelerator pedal. It is preferable because it can be operated.

Next, the further action of this embodiment will be described together with the action of the control system.
As shown in FIG. 4, the detection values of the first and second flow meters 5 and 6 are transmitted to the intake control unit 35 of the electronic control unit 34, and the detection values of the first and second flow meters 5 and 6 are respectively detected. The intake control unit 35 determines whether or not the difference is within a preset allowable range. When it is determined that the difference exceeds the allowable range, a signal is issued to one of the drive devices 14. The detection values of the first and second flow meters 5 and 6 are fetched periodically at predetermined intervals.

  An operation signal is sent to the cross-sectional area changing devices 12 and 22, and simultaneously, a signal is sent from the intake control unit 35 to the throttle control unit 36, and the throttle control unit 36 corresponds to the accelerator signal 37 taken in. In order to obtain the intake air amount, an opening correction value obtained by correcting the opening of the throttle valve 17 is sent to the driving device 18.

  In addition, the intake air flow rate detected by the third flow meter 7 and the intake air flow rate planned by the opening degree of the throttle valve 17 detected by the opening degree sensor 19 are compared in the intake air control unit 35. When there is a difference exceeding the allowable value between the two intake flow rates, a signal is sent to the display unit 38 of the instrument panel (not shown), and either the first or second air cleaner 1, 3 has an abnormal flow rate. The occurrence is displayed on the instrument panel.

Therefore, according to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In the above embodiment, the inside of the first and second intake pipes 15 and 25 is caused by the first and second flow meters 5 and 6 provided on the downstream sides of the first and second air cleaners 1 and 3, respectively. It was made possible to detect whether there is a difference between the flow rates of the flowing clean airs W1. When the detected flow rate difference exceeds the allowable range, either the cross-sectional area changing device 12 or 22 on the side where the flow rate of the clean air W1 is relatively large is activated. I tried to make it. Therefore, the difference between the respective intake flow rates detected by the first and second flow meters 5 and 6 may be reduced so as to be within the allowable range, or the difference between the intake flow rates may not appear. it can. For this reason, the detection accuracy of the third flow meter 7 is maintained at a high level, and the internal combustion engine is suitably burned.

  (2) In the above embodiment, when the flow rate of the clean air W1 is reduced by the operation of the cross-sectional area changing device 12 or the cross-sectional area changing device 22, the opening of the throttle valve 17 is corrected to the side that is appropriately opened. The clean air W0 corresponding to the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal is obtained. Therefore, the driver can drive with a normal feeling without changing the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal.

  (3) In the above embodiment, when a flow rate abnormality occurs in at least one of the first and second air cleaners 1 and 3, this abnormality is displayed on the instrument panel. For this reason, even if the normal operation is continued by adjusting the opening of the throttle valve 17 or the like, the driver is clogged in at least one of the first and second filter elements 2 and 4. You can let them know that they are occurring and encourage them to exchange them.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment that embodies the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7 with a focus on differences from the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, in the normal state, the end 13a of the change plate 13 is different from the first embodiment in that the end 13a protrudes into the air passages 31a and 41a, and the other points are the same. The explanation will focus on the parts, and the explanation of the other parts will be omitted.

The position of the projecting end portion 13a is a position where air having an appropriate flow rate can be supplied to the first and second filter elements 2 and 4 that are not clogged.
As shown in FIG. 7, for example, when it is detected that the detection value of the second flow meter 6 is smaller than the detection value of the first flow meter 5, and it is determined that the second filter element 4 is clogged. Then, the driving device 14 of the cross-sectional area changing device 42 is operated. Then, the end portion 13a of the change plate 13 is retracted so that the end portion 13a and the inner surface of the intake duct 41 are substantially flush with each other. In this way, the cross-sectional area of the air passage 41a of the intake duct 41 is increased, so that the flow rate of the air flowing through the second intake pipe 25 is slightly smaller than the clean air W1 flowing through the first intake pipe 15. It can be set as clean air W2.

  When it is detected that the detection value of the first flow meter 5 is smaller than the detection value of the second flow meter 6, the air flowing through the first intake pipe 15 is similarly passed through the second intake pipe 25. It can be set as the clean air W2 which flow volume decreased slightly rather than the flowing clean air W1. Therefore, the difference between the flow rates of the clean air W1 and W2 can be set within the allowable range.

And in this 2nd Embodiment, the following effects can be acquired substantially the same as the effect in 1st Embodiment.
(4) In the above embodiment, when it is detected that one detection value of the first and second flow meters 5 and 6 is smaller than the other detection value, any one of the cross-sectional area changing devices 32 and 42 is operated. Thus, the cross-sectional area of any one of the air passages 31a and 41a provided in the intake passage on one side is increased. For this reason, the difference between each flow volume of clean air W1 and W2 can be made into a tolerance | permissible_range.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8 with a focus on differences from the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, unlike the second embodiment, the change plate 13 is arranged so as to be able to take at least three positions including a retracted position, an advanced position, and a normal position therebetween.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the change plate 13 of the present embodiment is disposed at the same position as in the second embodiment in the normal state, but the advance position further advanced from the normal position, and the retracted position retracted. These are supported by the drive device 33 so as to be arranged at at least three locations.

  As shown in FIG. 8, for example, when it is detected that the detection value of the second flow meter 6 is smaller than the detection value of the first flow meter 5, and it is determined that the second filter element 4 is clogged. Then, the drive devices 33 of the cross-sectional area changing devices 32 and 42 are operated. Then, the end portion 13 a of the change plate 13 of the cross-sectional area changing device 32 is advanced to reduce the cross-sectional area of the air passage 31 a of the intake duct 31. At the same time, the end portion 13a of the change plate 13 of the cross-sectional area changing device 42 is retracted so that the end portion 13a and the inner surface of the intake duct 41 are substantially flush with each other, thereby reducing the cross-sectional area of the air passage 41a of the intake duct 41. It is increasing. In this way, the intake flow rate to the first filter element 2 that is not clogged is limited, the outside air flow to the clogged second filter element 4 is facilitated, and the intake flow rate is increased. I have to.

  Further, when it is detected that the detection value of the first flow meter 5 is smaller than the detection value of the second flow meter 6 and it is determined that the first filter element 2 is clogged, The intake air flow rate to the second filter element 4 that is not clogged is limited so that the outside air can be easily sucked into the clogged first air cleaner 1. Accordingly, the air flowing through each of the first and second intake pipes 15 and 16 can be made into clean air W2 having substantially the same flow rate by the operation of the cross-sectional area changing devices 32 and 42.

And in this 3rd Embodiment, in addition to the effect in 1st and 2nd Embodiment, the following effects can be acquired.
(5) In the above embodiment, when it is detected that one of the detection values of the first and second flow meters 5 and 6 is smaller than the other detection value, the change plate 13 on one side The end portion 13a is retracted to make it easy to suck outside air, and the end portion 13a of the change plate 13 on the other side is advanced to make it difficult to suck outside air. For this reason, the air which flows through each of the 1st, 2nd intake pipes 15 and 16 by the action | operation of the cross-sectional area change apparatuses 32 and 42 can be made into the clean air W2 with a substantially equal flow volume.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 9 with a focus on differences from the first to third embodiments. In addition, although this embodiment makes most of the configuration the same as that of the first embodiment, it is characterized in that the positions of the first and second flow meters 5 and 6 are different from those of the first to third embodiments. .

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the intake device 50 of this embodiment, the first and second flow meters 5 and 6 are provided in the intake ducts 51 and 61, respectively. For this reason, the intake ducts 51 and 61 are somewhat longer for rectification.

  Since the first and second flow meters 5 and 6 detect the flow rate of the outside air including the sucked dust, the present embodiment uses a Pitot tube flow meter whose detection accuracy is hardly affected by the presence of dust. ing. On the other hand, the clean air W1 filtered by the first and second air cleaners 1 and 3 flows through the first and second intake pipes 52 and 62, respectively, and then merges into the clean air W0. A certain third flow meter 7 can detect the flow rate with high accuracy.

  In this embodiment, the cross-sectional area changing devices 12 and 22 having the same configuration as that of the first embodiment are provided, but the cross-sectional area changing devices 32 and 42 of the second and third embodiments are provided. You can also.

(Example of change)
In addition, the said embodiment can also be changed and actualized as follows.
-Although the change board 13 moved linearly as the cross-sectional area changing devices 12, 22, 32, 42 is used, a butterfly valve is used.
-In each said embodiment, although 1 pair of 1st air cleaners 1 and 3 was provided, it should provide in three or more places. And the cross-sectional area change apparatus of each air cleaner shall be operated similarly to each said embodiment.
In each of the above embodiments, the cross-sectional area changing device is provided on the upstream side of each air cleaner, but the cross-sectional area changing device is provided on the downstream side of each air cleaner.
In the third embodiment, the cross-sectional area changing devices 32 and 42 having the driving device 33 capable of arranging the changing plate 13 in at least three places are provided, but any one of the cross-sectional area changing devices 32 and 42 is provided. To provide. That is, a cross-sectional area changing device having the drive device 33 is provided in at least one air cleaner.

Further, technical ideas that can be grasped from the above-described embodiment are described below together with their effects.
(A) While reducing the cross-sectional area of the intake passage of the other air cleaner, in the control of the opening of the throttle valve of the throttle body, the set opening set for the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal is corrected, inspiratory device characterized in that so as to open wide the throttle valve than its set opening. When configured in this way, even if the flow rate of clean air decreases due to a reduction in the cross-sectional area of the intake passage, the throttle valve opening is controlled to be corrected to the opening side as appropriate to accommodate the amount of accelerator pedal depression. Clean air is obtained. Therefore, the driver can drive with a normal feeling without changing the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal.
(B) An allowable value is set between an intake air flow rate detected by an air flow meter provided in an intake pipe through which the filtered air flows and an intake air flow rate that is planned for the opening degree of the throttle valve of the throttle body. when it is detected that there is a difference exceeding the air intake device you characterized in that so as to display in the instrument panel that the flow rate abnormality occurs in at least one place of the air cleaner of the air cleaner.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... 1st air cleaner, 3 ... 2nd air cleaner, 5 ... 1st flow meter, 6 ... 2nd flow meter, 7 ... 3rd flow meter, 10 ... Intake apparatus, 12 ... Cross-sectional area change apparatus, 13 ... Change plate, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 ... 1st intake pipe, 16 ... Intake pipe, 17 ... Throttle valve, 20 ... Throttle body, 25 ... 2nd intake pipe, 50 ... Intake device.

Claims (4)

An air flow meter for detecting the total flow rate of air at a downstream position of the merging portion is configured so that the air filtered by each of the plurality of air cleaners provided in the intake passage of the internal combustion engine is merged and guided to the throttle body. In the provided intake device,
Each air cleaner includes a flow rate detecting means for detecting an intake flow rate, and at least one air cleaner includes a passage cross-sectional area changing means capable of changing a cross-sectional area of the intake passage ,
An intake system characterized in that when the flow rate detecting means detects that there is a difference exceeding an allowable value between intake air flow rates passing through the air cleaners, the passage cross-sectional area changing means is operated . When the detected value of the intake air flow rate of each air cleaner is detected that the detected value of at least one air cleaner is larger than the detected value of another air cleaner, the passage cross-sectional area changing means of the at least one air cleaner is changed. 2. The intake device according to claim 1 , wherein the intake device is actuated to reduce a cross-sectional area of the intake passage. When the detected value of the intake air flow rate of each air cleaner is detected that the detected value of at least one air cleaner is smaller than the detected value of another air cleaner, the passage cross-sectional area changing means of the at least one air cleaner is changed. The intake device according to claim 1 , wherein the intake device is actuated to increase a cross-sectional area of the intake passage. The passage cross-sectional area changing means is provided in at least two of the air cleaners,
When it is detected that there is a difference exceeding the allowable value in the detected value of the intake flow rate of the air cleaner including the passage cross-sectional area changing means, the passage cross-sectional area changing means of the air cleaner having a large detected value is operated, while decreasing the cross-sectional area of the intake passage, by operating the cross-sectional area changing means of the air cleaner detection value is small, the intake device according to claim 1, characterized in that to increase the cross-sectional area of the intake passage.

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