RU2673979C2 - Air intake duct with sliding cover - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: internal combustion engines.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to an air intake duct for a motor vehicle internal combustion engine. Air intake device (1) for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle comprises intake air duct (2) including air intake element (10) containing inlet elongated portion (12) extending perpendicular to the plane of the motor vehicle and directing the air from top to bottom towards separation element (20) located essentially parallel to the plane of the vehicle and configured to separate the snow and the supplied air, inlet element (30) located at the outlet of the separation element relative to the direction of air passage and configured to connect the inlet duct to the engine air circuit, wherein the inlet element comprises cover (31), configured for mounting on base (23) by means of quick locking.

EFFECT: technical result is the filtration and removal of snow falling into said device containing easily dismantled elements.

10 cl, 6 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an air inlet channel to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle.

In particular, the invention relates to a snow filtering device in such an air inlet.

The invention also relates to engines and vehicles equipped with such air inlet ducts.

State of the art

Motor vehicles equipped with an internal combustion engine require air supply for their normal operation. As you know, air comes from the front of the vehicle, then passes through the inlet into the air filter, then into the engine.

In cold countries, such as Russia, snowfalls often occur in the winter season, and the roads turn out to be snowy. Therefore, air can mix with particles of snow located around the vehicle during its movement. In this case, the air entering the specified channel may contain snow, which can significantly reduce the efficiency of the engine and can also interfere with starting these engines in a cold state. It may also affect the operation of the air conditioning system.

Indeed, in these countries, during snowy winters, snow is sucked together with air into the inlet channel, which leads to a decrease in the air flow into the engine and, consequently, to a significant decrease in the efficiency of the specified engine.

Another disadvantage of snow accumulation in the inlet channel is that, since this channel is close to the engine and therefore subject to the influence of the engine temperature, accumulated snow melts during engine operation and must be removed. If the liquid remains in the channel as a result of snow melting, then when the engine is off in cold time it freezes and clogs part of the passage section of the air channel, which negatively affects the vehicle’s cold starts.

FR 2985784 discloses an air intake system for powering an internal combustion engine, comprising a channel arranged horizontally and having an air inlet, an engine inlet and an outlet controlled by a valve moving between an open position and a closed position. The specified valve is made with the possibility of providing an open position under the action of pressure of the fluid entering the channel during the movement of the vehicle. Thus, during movement, air mixed with snow can penetrate through the outlet and interfere with engine operation.

Another disadvantage is the overall size of the engine compartment, which makes it difficult to place air-guiding devices, and also poses a problem of accessibility to vehicle devices, in particular to consumable elements, such as headlight lamps. Indeed, it is necessary to be able to easily replace blown headlight bulbs without dismantling all or part of the device.

Disclosure of invention

The objective of the invention is to remedy these disadvantages, and its object is an air intake device for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, configured to filter and remove snow falling into the specified device and containing easily removable elements. The specified device is also lightweight and inexpensive to manufacture.

In particular, an object of the invention is characterized in that the air intake device comprises an inlet channel comprising:

- a separation element designed to separate the snow and the supplied air,

- an inlet element located at the outlet of the separation element in the direction of air flow and designed to connect the inlet channel to the air circuit of the engine,

however, according to the invention, the inlet element includes a cover made with the possibility of fastening on the base by means of quick locking.

Preferably, each of the elements of the air inlet duct performs its own function during the air inlet into the air circuit of the vehicle, each function being optimized separately. Manufacturing is simple and inexpensive. The inlet element includes a cover that is mounted on a base fixed to the vehicle element using the mounting points made in the specified base.

Means for quick locking of the inlet element provide easy mounting and dismounting of the inlet element cover and allow freeing up a large space for quick and easy access to consumable elements of the vehicle, such as headlight lamps.

According to other features of the invention:

- the cover is made with the possibility of sliding sliding on the base before locking on the specified base or after unlocking on the specified base.

Preferably, sliding the cover on the base by sliding requires a small space and thus provides easy locking of said cover on the base, and after unlocking from said base, easy removal of the cover.

- the base and the lid are connected in such a way that they form an elongated storage chamber located essentially perpendicular to the plane of the vehicle.

Preferably, the shape of the storage chamber and its vertical position perpendicular to the plane of the vehicle contribute to the fact that the specified camera does not clog with possible snow. Indeed, snow or water falling on the walls of the storage chamber drains under the action of gravity into a separation chamber connected to the storage chamber and located below the storage chamber. At the same time, the volume of air contained in the chamber provides launches in cold weather and subsequently the snow melts in the inlet channel.

- the volume of the storage chamber exceeds 1.5 liters.

Preferably, the air volume provides engine starts in cold weather.

- the inlet channel contains an air intake element located at the inlet of the separating element and containing a part essentially perpendicular to the plane of the vehicle and designed to prepare the separation between the snow and the incoming air.

Preferably, a portion of the air intake element substantially perpendicular to the plane of the vehicle, formed by a longitudinal axis connecting the front and rear of the vehicle, and a transverse axis substantially parallel to the wheel axles of the vehicle, directs the air in a substantially vertical direction from top to bottom, which allows preparation of a compartment particles of snow from the air, because these particles are heavier than air.

- the separating element comprises an elongated portion surrounding the separating chamber and intended to be installed parallel to the plane of the vehicle.

Preferably, the separating element comprises an elongated portion substantially parallel to the plane of the vehicle after installation of the device in the engine compartment to provide a more efficient separation of snow and air. Indeed, the speed of the air flow with snow particles is relatively low, and the snow falls under its own weight and is separated from the supplied air.

- the base is made from the elongated part of the separating element perpendicular to the specified elongated part and to the plane of the vehicle.

Preferably, the base is part of the separation element and is fixed to the engine wall element, which allows the separation element to be mounted at several points on the engine wall element, and also provides a simple connection between the separation element and the intake element. Indeed, the inlet element cover is simply locked on the indicated base.

- the separating element contains a drain hatch designed to remove snow and made with the possibility of moving between the sealed closed position and the open position, which ensures the removal of liquid accumulated in the separation chamber, while opening / closing is controlled by an elastic means.

Preferably, the drain hatch allows removal of snow from the inlet. Indeed, snow can turn into water under the influence of heat emanating from the engine and flow out through the hatch to the outside of the channel.

Elastic means provides automatic closing after opening the hatch to remove snow. An elastic means holds the hatch in the closed position during normal operation so that the supplied air passes through the inlet channel.

- the elastic means is configured to open the drain hatch when the pressure threshold in the separating element is exceeded.

Preferably, the resilient means holds the hatch in the closed position during normal operation, which allows the passage of the supplied air from the air intake element to the inlet. Then, if the separating element of the inlet channel is essentially blocked by accumulated and melting snow and the water level as a result of this melting of snow is above the threshold corresponding to the actuation of the elastic means, the elastic means opens the hatch, which allows you to remove the snow in the separating element.

- air intake, separation and intake elements are hermetically connected to each other.

Preferably, all three elements can be manufactured separately, and therefore they are inexpensive.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other objectives and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following description, presented as an example of implementation with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

In FIG. 1 schematically shows an inlet air duct consisting of three elements;

in FIG. 2 shows an inlet air duct showing air circulation, sectional view;

in FIG. 3 schematically shows an intake element of an intake air duct;

in FIG. 4 schematically shows a separating element of an air intake duct;

in FIG. 5 schematically shows an inlet element of an inlet air passage;

in FIG. 6 schematically shows an inlet element with a camera.

The implementation of the invention

The following description is given with reference to the plane of the vehicle formed by a longitudinal axis connecting the front and rear of the vehicle and a transverse axis parallel to the wheel axles of the vehicle.

To facilitate understanding of the invention, the same elements in different figures have the same designations.

The claimed device 1 is intended for installation in the engine compartment of a vehicle, preferably near the engine.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and 2, the air intake device 1 comprises an air intake channel 2 comprising three elements: a first air intake element 10, a second separation element 20 and a third air intake element 30 of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 3, the intake element 10 is substantially tubular and preferably has a rectangular air passage in cross section. The air intake element comprises an opening 14 protected by a filtering means 11 and preferably directed towards the front side of the vehicle. Thus, while moving the vehicle in forward motion, air can enter the aperture 14 and be directed into the air circuit of the engine through the aperture 24. The filtering means can be, as shown in FIG. 3, a grill comprising jumpers to prevent substantially bulk objects from entering the inlet channel.

The air intake element 10 comprises an elongated or elongated part 12 located perpendicular to the plane of the vehicle, that is, vertically, after installing the device in the engine compartment of the vehicle. Thus, said elongated portion 12 directs fresh air from top to bottom, and depending on the density difference between snow and air, the difference in levels makes it possible to prepare separation of snow particles from the intake air. The level difference is about 10 cm. Preferably, the elongated portion 12 is extended by an end portion 13 substantially perpendicular to the axis of said elongated portion and adapted to be connected to the separating element 20.

As shown in FIG. 4, the separation member 20 comprises an elongated or elongated portion 21 surrounding the separation chamber 21c located substantially parallel to the plane of the vehicle when the device is installed in the engine compartment of said vehicle. The length of this elongated portion 21 is about 20 cm. Said elongated portion 21 comprises at its outlet end 28b opposite the end 28a connected to the air intake element 10 a drain hole or a drain hatch 22 controlled by a movable valve 28c to allow opening or closing of the hatch 22. Preferably, the valve is movable and rotatable around an axis transverse to the axis of the elongated portion, and is controlled by an elastic means 29 configured to hold the valve 28c in a closed position at normal cial work to avoid pressure losses in the flow and pressure of air supplied. Thus, during normal operation, the supplied air follows the path from the opening 14 of the intake element 10 to the opening 24 connected to the air circuit of the engine, while passing through the separation element 20 to remove snow particles. The elastic means 29 rotates said valve 28c, which leads to the establishment of communication between the separation chamber 21c and the outer space, starting from a certain pressure threshold. This pressure threshold takes into account, for example, the level of water obtained by melting snow, which is about 10 mm. Indeed, the snow that has got and accumulated in the separation chamber 21c, heated by the engine during operation, turns into water, and the indicated accumulated mass of water presses on the valve wall. Over the limit of the force of the order of 0.03 N, corresponding to a threshold level of accumulated water of the order of 10 mm, the elastic means 29 provides the rotation of the valve in the opening position to drain this accumulated water.

The separating element 20 comprises an end portion at the output end of the elongated part 21, which preferably extends perpendicularly to the axis of the elongated part 21 with a base 23, which is connected to the inlet element 30. The specified base 23 of the separating element contains a substantially flat wall that can be mounted on vehicle item. Indeed, this base contains mounting holes 27, intended for passage through them of mounting screws, which then go into the mounting holes in the vehicle element (not shown). The specified base 23 contains a hole 24 in communication with the intake air circuit of the engine (not shown). The specified base 23 is located perpendicular to the axis of the separating chamber 21 of the separating element, as well as to the plane of the vehicle, and preferably along the contour of the specified base is an hydraulic pad (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 5 and 6, the inlet 30 includes a cover 31 in the form of a substantially elongated or elongated casing. The contour 34 of this cover corresponds in shape to the contour of the base 23 of the separation element 20. In the operating position, that is, when the cover 31 rests on the base 23 with its corresponding shape, the air liner is flattened to avoid any air leaks. Moreover, the cover 31 and said base 23 surround the storage chamber 25, which provides, on the one hand, the regular addition of air for engine operation and, on the other hand, prevents any risk of clogging of the air passage section with accumulated snow or water or ice, which allows improve reliability of cold starts.

The lid 31 comprises means for quickly locking / unlocking the lid 31 in the support position on the base 23. These means are, for example, elastic hooks (not shown) fixed at one end on the lid 31 and holding the second end in engagement with the base contour 23.

These means may also be implemented as shown in FIG. 4-6, in the form of a sliding mounting system. The base 23 of the separating element 20 contains, in its contour, the first eyelets 25 with holes located essentially perpendicular to the plane of the base, and the second eyelets 26 also with holes made from a part of the base contour parallel to the plane of the base. The cover 31 of the inlet element 30 contains protrusions 32, 33 at the level of its contour 34, designed to pass through the holes of the first and second eyes 25, 26. To fasten the cover on this base, the cover is moved by sliding at a small distance along an axis transverse to the axis of the elongated cover. The first protrusions 32 pass through the openings of the first lugs 25, and then the second protrusions 33 go into the openings of the second lugs 26, locking the cover 31 on the base 23. To detach the cover from the base, press the second lugs 26 to release the second protrusions 33, then move by sliding the cover in the direction opposite to the direction of its fastening.

The volume of the accumulation chamber 35 is about 2 liters and preferably exceeds 1.5 liters to provide air to the engine for optimal operation of this engine, in particular during cold starts. The elongated shape of the lid surrounding the storage chamber and the location of the inlet element perpendicular to the plane of the vehicle after installation on the vehicle avoids the accumulation of snow or frozen water on the walls, which could adversely affect the operation of the engine. Water flows under the action of gravity into the separation chamber 21c and then is removed outside this chamber when the threshold water level is reached. The chamber volume is designed to provide at least cold starts without failures associated with snow accumulation. In addition, the specified volume is determined by calculation and testing to obtain optimal engine performance.

All three elements 10, 20, 30 are serially connected to each other tightly, for example, by means of hydraulic gaskets (not shown) located at the level of the connecting parts. The air intake element 10 is planted in the separation element 20. The separation element 20 is mounted on the vehicle element. Then, the cover 31 of the inlet element 30 is blocked on the basis of the 23 separating element 20.

The device 1 is located in the engine compartment near the engine, while preferably the intake grille 11 of the intake element 10 is facing in the front direction of the vehicle.

The air intake element 10, as well as the separating element 20, may consist of two complementary parts, and these parts, as well as the cover 31 of the inlet element 30, are preferably molded from plastic material.

During engine start-up, the air contained in the accumulation chamber 35 is sucked into the intake air circuit of the engine through the opening 24. This provides air requirements for starting in cold weather.

Then, while the vehicle is moving, snow mixed with air can enter the air intake element passing through an opening 14 protected by the grill 11 from substantially voluminous objects. The air-snow mixture enters the essentially vertical elongated portion 12 of the air intake element 10, then to the separation element 10. Changing the direction of flow between the air intake element 10 and the separation element 20 leads to forced separation between air and snow, which then settles on the wall element of the separation element . After that, the air cleared of snow rises into the accumulation chamber 35 and enters the intake air circuit of the engine. Water may appear on the walls of said storage chamber 35, which drains by gravity into the separation chamber 21. In the indicated separation chamber, the accumulated snow is converted into water by the heat generated by the engine. When exceeding the threshold water level corresponding to the response threshold of the elastic means 29 that controls the drain hatch, the specified elastic means opens the valve 28c to drain the accumulated water out.

During technical operations around the engine, for example, to replace the headlamp lamp, the cover 31 of the inlet element 30 can very easily be detached from the base 23 and removed to free up a large access space. The separating element 20 is also located lower than the headlight or body elements necessary for access. The air intake element can be offset relative to the axis of the separation element, and the hole 14 is not blocked by the body element. Thus, after removing the cover of the intake element, easy access to the headlight elements is obtained.

The technical result of the invention is achieved: the air intake device allows you to filter and remove snow mixed with air, in addition, the device contains elements with parts that are simple in shape and easy to manufacture.

Claims (13)

1. An inlet air device (1) for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising an inlet air channel (2), including: - an air intake element (10) containing an input elongated portion (12) extending perpendicular to the plane of the vehicle and directing air from top to bottom to a separating element (20) located essentially parallel to the plane of the vehicle and configured to separate the snow and the feed air - an inlet element (30) located at the outlet of the separation element relative to the direction of air passage and configured to connect the inlet channel to the air circuit of the engine, wherein the inlet element comprises a cover (31) made with the possibility of fastening on the base (23) using fast locking means. 2. The air intake device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover (31) is slideable on the base (23) before it is locked on the specified base or after it is unlocked on the specified base. 3. An air intake device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (23) and the cover (31) are connected to form an elongated storage chamber (35) located essentially perpendicular to the plane of the vehicle. 4. The inlet air device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the volume of the storage chamber (35) exceeds 1.5 liters. 5. The air intake device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the separating element (20) comprises an elongated portion (21) surrounding the separating chamber (21c) and configured to be installed parallel to the plane of the vehicle. 6. The air intake device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the base (23) is made from the elongated part (21) of the separating element (20) perpendicular to the elongated part and to the plane of the vehicle. 7. The inlet air device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the separating element (20) comprises a drain hatch (22), which is configured to remove snow or water, and the opening / closing of which is controlled by an elastic means (29). 8. The air intake device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the elastic means (29) is configured to open the drain hatch (22) when the pressure threshold in the separating element (20) is exceeded. 9. The inlet air device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the inlet channel (2) contains an air intake element (10) located at the inlet of the separation element (20) and containing a part (12) substantially perpendicular to the plane of the transport means and made with the possibility of preparing the separation of snow and incoming air. 10. The air intake device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the air intake (10), separation (20) and intake (30) elements are tightly connected to each other.

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