WO2008122868A2

WO2008122868A2 - Filtering device for the air taken in by the engine of a vehicle provided with a partialization element

Info

Publication number: WO2008122868A2
Application number: PCT/IB2008/000821
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gaetano Bergami
Original assignee: Bmc S.R.L.
Priority date: 2007-04-06
Filing date: 2008-04-04
Publication date: 2008-10-16
Also published as: ITBO20070257A1; EP2145096A2; WO2008122868A3

Abstract

A filtering device (1) for the air taken in by the engine of a vehicle; the filtering device (1) is provided with: a tubular casing (2) having at least one inlet opening (4) for the atmospheric intake air and at least one outlet opening (5) towards the engine; a filtering element (6), which is set inside the tubular casing (2) between the inlet opening (4) and the outlet opening (5); and a partialization element, which is designed to partialize the section of passage of the air of the inlet opening (4).

Description

"FILTERING DEVICE FOR THE AIR TAKEN IN BY THE ENGINE OF A VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH A PARTIALIZATION ELEMENT"

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The present invention relates to a filtering device for the air taken in by the engine of a vehicle .

The present invention finds advantageous application to a filtering device for the air taken in by the internal- combustion engine of a motor vehicle, to which the ensuing treatment will make explicit reference without, however, this implying any loss of generality.

PRIOR ART

Normally, the standard equipment of a motor vehicle envisages the use of a filtering device comprising a box of a substantially parallelepipedal shape (referred to as "air box")_/ which houses a plane filtering element and has an inlet opening for the atmospheric intake air and an outlet opening towards the engine .

In order to improve the performance of the engine, available on the market are special filtering devices (or "after-market" devices) that can be installed instead of the standard filtering device. In particular, for some years a special filtering device has been proposed, comprising a cylindrical tubular casing, which houses inside it a filtering element of a cylindrical shape or shaped like a truncated cone and has an inlet opening for the atmospheric intake air and an outlet opening towards the engine. The inlet and outlet openings of the tubular casing have a large cross section so as to enable the engine to take in, without significant head losses, the flow of air necessary for operation at maximum rpm. An example of a special filtering device of the same type as the one described above is illustrated in the patent application No. EP1649919A1. Numerous bench tests have highlighted that special filtering devices of the type described above effectively enable increase in the performance of an internal-combustion engine, determining a non-negligible increase in the maximum power and maximum torque. However, it has been noted that in some cases to said increase in the engine performance at high rpm there may correspond a slight penalization of the engine performance at medium-to-low rpm.

In addition, to obtain the maximum increase in the performance of an internal-combustion engine, it is necessary to size the special filtering device according to the characteristics of the engine itself. However, said need is in clear contrast with the need to contain the costs of production and distribution of the special filtering devices through a standardization of the special filtering devices themselves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide a filtering device for the air taken in by the engine of a vehicle that will be free from the drawbacks described above and will be at the same time easy and inexpensive to produce.

According to the present invention, a filtering device for the air taken in by the engine of a vehicle is provided according to what is claimed by the annexed claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the annexed drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting examples of embodiment thereof, wherein:

• Figure 1 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of a filtering device provided in accordance with the present invention;

• Figure 2 illustrates the filtering device of Figure 1 in a different configuration of a partialization valve;

• Figure 3 is a side view of a different embodiment of a filtering device provided in accordance with the present invention;

• Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views in longitudinal section of the filtering device of Figure 3 in three different configurations of a partialization valve;

• Figure 7 is a front view of the filtering device of Figure 3 ;

• Figure 8 is a front view of a variant of the filtering device of Figure 3 ;

• Figure 9 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of a further embodiment of a filtering device provided according to the present invention; and

• Figure 10 illustrates a series of partialization elements, which can be coupled to the filtering device of Figure 9.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In Figure 1, the reference number 1 designates as a whole a filtering device for the air taken in by the internal- combustion engine of a motor vehicle (not illustrated) .

According to what is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the filtering device 1 comprises a tubular casing 2 having a central axis 3 of symmetry. The tubular casing 2 has an inlet opening 4 of a circular shape for the atmospheric intake air and an outlet opening 5 of a circular shape towards the engine. In addition, set inside the tubular casing 2 is a filtering element S set between the inlet opening 4 and the outlet opening 5.

In the embodiments of Figures 1, 2 and 9, the tubular casing 2 has a cylindrical tubular shape with circular cross section; according to the embodiments illustrated in Figures 3-8, the tubular casing 2 has a cylindrical tubular shape with elliptical cross section.

In the embodiments of Figures 1, 2 and 9, the tubular casing 2 has a single inlet opening 4; according to the embodiments illustrated in Figures 3-8, the tubular casing 2 has two inlet openings 4a and 4b set alongside one another.

The filtering device 1 comprises two closing elements 7 and 8, which are coupled to the opposite ends of the tubular casing 2 for closing the ends of the tubular casing 2 itself and are perforated at the centre to define, respectively, the inlet opening 4 and the outlet opening 5. According to the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 9, the closing elements 7 and 8 are fixed to the tubular casing 2 by means of the screws that traverse the tubular casing 2 and are screwed in threaded holes 9 and 10 made through the closing elements 7 and 8 themselves. According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3-7, the closing elements 7 and 8 comprise respective also annular grooves 11 and 12, which receive inside them the outer edge of the tubular casing 2; also in this case screws are used, which traverse the tubular casing 2 and are screwed in threaded holes made through the closing elements 7 and 8.

Rising from the closing element 7 is a cylindrical collar 13, which constitutes a fixing support for an air- intake duct that is fitted around the collar 13 and then fixed around the collar 13 itself by means of a hose clamp. Generally an inlet mouth of the air- intake duct is set in a front portion of the vehicle (for example, in the proximity of the front radiator) for receiving the outer air with an overpressure determined by the speed of advance of the vehicle (dynamic intake of the air) . Alternatively, the air-intake duct might not be present, and hence the closing element 7 would be without the collar 13. In this case, the air present inside the engine compartment of the vehicle in which the filtering device 1 is installed flows through the inlet opening 4 (static intake of the air) .

Rising from the closing element 8 is a cylindrical collar 14, which constitutes a fixing support for a tubular intake duct (not illustrated) of the engine, which is fitted around the collar 14 and then fixed around to the collar 14 itself by means of a hose clamp.

In general, the filtering element 6 can have a cylindrical tubular shape or else a tubular shape of a truncated cone. In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 9, the filtering element 6 has a cylindrical tubular shape and has a base 15 fixed to the closing element 7 and a base 16 set inside the tubular casing 2. In particular, the closing element 7 has an annular groove 17, inserted in which is the base 15 of the filtering element 6. Preferably, the base 15 of the filtering element 6 is fixed inside the groove 15 via glue, resin, or the like. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3-7, the filtering element 6 has a tubular shape of a truncated cone and has a major base 15 fixed to the closing element 7 and a minor base 16 set inside the tubular casing 2. According to a different embodiment (not illustrated) , the base 15 of the filtering element 6, instead of being fixed to the closing element 7 in a position corresponding to the inlet opening 4, is fixed to the closing element 8 in a position corresponding to the outlet opening 5.

The filtering element 6 is preferably provided with a central deflector 18 fixed to the base 16 of the filtering element 6 itself. Preferably, a base 19 of the deflector 18 has an annular groove 20 inserted in which is the base 18 of the filtering element 6. Preferably, the base 18 of the filtering element 6 is fixed inside the groove 20 via glue, resin, or the like.

The deflector 18 has a substantially conical shape and has a concave parabolic lateral surface 21 with the concavity facing towards the central axis 3 of symmetry. A rounded tip 22 of the deflector 18 is set immediately downstream of the inlet opening 4.

By way of example, the filtering element 6 could be made of fabric or non-woven fabric made of cotton or other fibres enclosed between two layers of wire gauze designed to bestow the shape and strength on the filtering element 5 itself.

According to a different embodiment (not illustrated) , the base 17 of the deflector 16 could be provided with centring and anchorage arms, each of which connects the base 17 of the deflector 16 to the tubular casing 2.

The filtering device 1 comprises at least one partialization element 23, which is designed to partialize the section of passage of the air of the inlet opening 4. According to a different embodiment (not illustrated) , the partialization element is coupled to the outlet opening 5, instead of to the inlet opening 4.

According to the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1-7, the partialization element is constituted by a partialization valve 23, which comprises a mobile open/close element 24, which is constituted by a butterfly plate fixed to a central shaft 25, rotatably mounted about an axis 26 of rotation.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the partialization valve 23 comprises an actuator device 27 (in particular, an electric motor) coupled to the mobile open/close element 24 so as to vary the position of the mobile open/close element 24 itself.

The partialization valve 23 could comprise a control unit 28, which can be used by a user for manual control of the actuator device 27 and can preferably be installed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Normally, the control unit 28 comprises a discrete switch 29 with a number of positions, defined, for example, by a pushbutton pad; corresponding to each position of the discrete switch 29 is a given position of the mobile open/close element 24. In this case, the driver, by using the switch 29 of the control unit 28, decides the desired position of the mobile open/close element 24.

As an alternative to the control unit 28, the partialization valve 23 could comprise a control unit 30, which controls the actuator device 27 automatically and autonomously. For example, the control unit 30 could be connectable to a pressure sensor of the engine that detects the pressure of the air taken in downstream of the filtering device 1 in such a way as to control the position of the mobile open/close element 24 as a function of the pressure of the air taken in. Alternatively, the control unit 30 could be provided with a pressure sensor, which detects the pressure of the air taken into the filtering device 1 in such a way as to control the position of the mobile open/close element 24 as a function of the pressure of the air taken in. Yet again, the control unit 30 could be connectable to a sensor for detecting the engine rpm in such a way as to control the position of the mobile open/close element 24 as a function of the engine rpm. As an alternative, the control unit 30 could be provided with an acoustic sensor, which detects the engine rpm in such a way as to control the position of the mobile open/close element 24 as a function of the engine rpm.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3-7, the partialization valve 23 comprises a system 31 for blocking the mobile open/close element 24, which is designed to maintain the mobile open/close element 24 itself in a pre-set position and can be actuated manually by a user. In particular, the blocking system 31 is of a mechanical type and envisages a series of different pre-set positions in which the mobile open/close element 24 can be blocked. In this case, the user must gain access to the filtering device 1 for modifying the position of the mobile open/close element 24 by acting on the blocking system 31.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3-7, one inlet opening 4a is free and cannot be partialized, and the other inlet opening 4b can be partialized by the partialization element. As is more clearly illustrated in Figure 7, both of the inlet openings 4 have a circular cross section and have a different diameter (the inlet opening 4a has a larger diameter than the inlet opening 4b) . According to the different embodiment illustrated in Figure 8, the two inlet openings 4 are identical to one another, are set alongside one another, are divided from one another by at least one plane partition wall 34 and have a semicircular cross section.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, the partialization element is constituted by at least one plug 32, which is fixed to the mouth of the inlet opening 4 and has a central hole 33. In particular, a series of plugs 32 is provided, each of which has a respective central hole 33 having a diameter different from the other central holes 33.

In the embodiments illustrated in the attached figures, the partialization element is carried by the filtering device 1 or, more precisely, by the closing element 7 of the tubular casing 2. According to a different embodiment (not illustrated) , the partialization element is set along the air- intake duct fixed to the collar 13 of the closing element 7. According to a further embodiment (not illustrated) , the partialization element is set inside the tubular casing 2 between the two closing elements 7 and 8. The filtering device 1 described above presents numerous advantages. In particular, the filtering device 1 described above is easy and inexpensive to produce and above all enables adaptation of its functional characteristics to the characteristics of the engine and to the engine rpm In other words, by varying the configuration of the partialization element it is possible to vary the cross section of the inlet opening 4 and it is consequently possible to vary the characteristics of the intake of the air through the filtering device 1 to adapt to the characteristics of the intake of the air through the filtering device 1 to the characteristics of the engine and to the engine rpm.

In particular, an engine with smaller displacement normally has an optimal cross section of the inlet opening 4 smaller than an engine with larger displacement. Furthermore, optimal operation of an engine requires at low rpm a cross section of the inlet opening 4 smaller than that at high rpm.

In particular, in order to vary the configuration of the partialization element, the embodiments illustrated in Figures 3-10 require a direct intervention of the user who must gain access to the engine compartment of the vehicle to act upon the partialization element itself. In this case, it is not normally possible to adapt the configuration of the partialization element to the engine rpm. , but only to the characteristics of the engine.

Instead, in order to vary the configuration of the partialization element, the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-2 does not require an intervention by the user or else requires the user to act upon the switch 29 set in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. In this case, it is possible to adapt the configuration of the partialization element both to the characteristics of the engine and to the engine rpm. In brief, the filtering device 1 described above enables an increase in the performance of the engine to be obtained at all levels of rpm (low, medium, and high) . Furthermore, one and the same filtering device 1 described above can be readily optimized for different internal-combustion engines, thus enabling combination of personalization of the characteristics with the standardization of production.

Claims

1) A filtering device (1) for the air taken in by the engine of a vehicle; the filtering device (1) comprising: a tubular casing (2) having at least one inlet opening (4) for the atmospheric intake air and at least one outlet opening (5) towards the engine; and a filtering element (6) , which is set inside the tubular casing (2) between the inlet opening (4) and the outlet opening (5) ; the filtering device (1) being characterized in that it comprises at least one partialization element, which is designed to partialize the section of passage of the air.

2) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the partialization element is designed to partialize the section of passage of the air of the inlet opening (4) and/or of the outlet opening (5) .

3) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the partialization element is constituted by a partialization valve (23), which comprises a mobile open/close element (24) .

4) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 3, wherein the mobile open/close element (24) is constituted by a butterfly plate fixed to a central shaft (25) rotatably mounted about an axis (26) of rotation.

5) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the partialization valve (23) comprises an actuator device (27) , coupled to the mobile open/close element (24) so as to vary the position of the mobile open/close element (24) itself.

6) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 5, wherein the partialization valve (23) comprises a control unit (28) , which can be used by a user for manual control of the actuator device (27) .

7) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 6, wherein the control unit (28) can be installed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

8) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the control unit (28) comprises a discrete switch (29) with a number of positions, corresponding to each of which is a given position of the mobile open/close element (24) .

9) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 8, wherein the discrete switch (29) is defined by a pushbutton pad.

10) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 5, wherein the partialization valve (23) comprises a control unit (30) , which controls the actuator device (27) automatically and autonomousIy.

11) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 10, wherein the control unit (30) can be connected to a pressure sensor of the engine, which detects the pressure of the air taken in downstream of the filtering device (1) in such a way as to control the position of the mobile open/close element (24) as a function of the pressure of the air taken in.

12) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 10, wherein the control unit (30) can be connected to a sensor for detecting the engine rpm in such a way as to control the position of the mobile open/close element (24) as a function of the engine rpm.

13) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 10, wherein the control unit (30) is provided with a pressure sensor, which detects the pressure of the air taken into the filtering device (1) in such a way as to control the position of the mobile open/close element (24) as a function of the pressure of the air taken in.

14) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 10, wherein the control unit (30) is provided with a sensor that detects the engine rpm in such a way as to control the position of the mobile open/close element (24) as a function of the engine rpm.

15) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the partialization valve (23) comprises a system (31) for blocking the mobile open/close element (24) designed to maintain the mobile open/close element (24) itself in a preset position.

16) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 15, wherein the blocking system (31) can be actuated manually by a user.

17) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 15 or Claim 16, wherein the blocking system (31) envisages a series of different pre-set positions in which the mobile open/close element (24) can be blocked.

18) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 2, wherein the partialization element is constituted by at least one plug

(32) , which is fixed to the mouth of the corresponding opening .

19) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 18, wherein the plug (32) has a central hole (33) .

20) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 19, wherein a series of plugs (32) is provided, each of which has a respective central hole (33) having a cross section different from the other central holes (33) .

21) The filtering device (1) according to one of Claims 2 to 20, wherein the partialization element is coupled to the inlet opening (4) .

22) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 21, wherein at least two inlet openings (4) are provided; a first inlet opening (4a) is free and cannot be partialized, and a second inlet opening (4b) can be partialized by the partialization element.

23) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 22, wherein the first inlet opening (4a) has a section of passage of the air larger than that the second inlet opening (4b) .

24) The filtering device (1) according to Claim 22 or Claim

23, wherein the two inlet openings (4) are set alongside one another and are divided from one another by at least one plane partition wall (34) .

25) The filtering device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to

24, wherein the filtering element (6) has a cylindrical shape or is shaped like a truncated cone and is provided with a central deflector (18) , which has a conical shape having a tip (22) facing the inlet opening (4) .

26) The filtering device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to

25, wherein the partialization element is carried by the filtering device (1) .

27) The filtering device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 25, wherein the air taken in is conveyed through the inlet opening (4) by means of an air- intake duct; the partialization element being set along the air-intake duct.