Claims:1. An air duct (100) for connecting an air filter (105) and a throttle body (107) for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, the air duct (100) comprising:
a first passageway (101), defined with an inlet port (103) at one end, the inlet port (103) is connectable to an outlet (106) of the air filter (105), wherein an internal volume of the first passageway (101) is configured to extend volume of the outlet (106) of the air filter (105); and
a second passageway (102),extending perpendicularly from a portion of the first passageway (101), the second passageway (102) is defined with an outlet port (104) at free end (111), and is connectable to an inlet (108) of the throttle body (107);
wherein, extending the volume of the air filter (105) by the first passageway (101), reduces an air column length between the air filter (105) and the throttle body (107).

2. The air duct (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first passageway (101) is configured to extend in a same axis of the outlet (106) of the air filter (105).

3. The air duct (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first passageway (101) and the second passageway (102) forms a substantially L-shaped component.

4. The air duct (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a free end (111) of the first passageway (101) is closed to define a spherical geometry at the free end (111) of the first passageway (101).

5. The air duct (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion of the first passageway (101) at the inlet port (103) is defined with a stepped portion (110) for connecting the inlet port (103) with the outlet (106) of the air filter (105).

6. The air duct (100) as claimed in claim 1 comprises a plurality of reinforcing protrusions (109) extending on an outer surface of the first passageway (101).

7. The air duct (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first passageway (101) and the second passageway (102) are defined with one of a cylindrical cross-section and an elliptical cross-section.

8. The air duct (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air duct (100) is an unitary structure.

9. The air duct (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein diameter of the outlet port (104) of the second passageway (102) is configured to be smaller than the diameter of the inlet port (103) of the first passageway (101).

10. The air duct (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air duct (100) is made of a polymeric material.

11. An intake assembly of an internal combustion engine, comprising an air duct (100) as claimed in claim 1.
, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD

Present disclosure generally relates to a field of automobiles. Particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to an intake system of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle. Further embodiments of the present disclosure, discloses an air duct for connecting an air filter and a throttle body in the intake system of the internal combustion engine.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Intake system of an internal combustion (IC) engine broadly comprises an air filter, an intake manifold, and ducts for drawing air from atmosphere into the IC engine. Usually, air from the atmosphere is initially drawn into the air filter. The air filter may facilitate in filtering the air to eliminate foreign particles, before passing through the intake manifold of the IC engine. Further, the air from the throttle body, passes into cylinders of the internal combustion engine through the intake manifold for initiating combustion process.

In some of the conventional automobiles such as passenger vehicles, the air filter may be generally located above the engine to effectively reduce distance between the air filter and the throttle body i.e. a secondary runner length. A primary runner is usually a distance between a plenum and a cylinder head, downstream to the throttle body. Reducing the secondary runner length, mitigates the effect of destructive interference between incidental wave from a combustion chamber of the engine, due to intake valve events and reflected wave from the air filter. This feature, facilitates in optimum air flow into the engine at characteristic rpms, which results in increasing volumetric efficiency of the engine and thus, assists in smooth performance delivery at all engine rpms. However, placing the air filter above the engine, may pose some challenges, due to lesser physical clearances available between hood and the air filter. One such challenge may be, in the event of pedestrian collision, impact of the pedestrian on to a hood of the vehicle, may prevent impact energy absorption due to presence of the air filter in a crumple zone. This causes fatal injuries to the pedestrians, and thus violating the pedestrian safety regulations. Also, locating the air filter above the engine may amplify engine noise due to presence of air column in the air filter. Further, air filter panels generate noise due to forced excitation from engine vibrations, which is an undesired phenomenon in a vehicle.

With on-going efforts to meet pedestrian safety regulations and reduce noise, vibration and harness (NVH), in some conventional vehicle the air filter is located at remote locations from the engine on the vehicle body. Also, such change in placement of the air filter from the conventional location, avoids space limitations in a vertical direction inside the hood. This space i.e. crumple zone may be used to position deformable members, which may undergo easy deformation or breakage, under the effect of an external stresses or in case of pedestrians crashing on to the hood of the vehicle or the crumple zone may be kept empty to undergo deformation under effect of external forces. This facilitates in meeting pedestrian protection regulations and, also meeting noise, vibration and harness (NVH) requirements.

Though, locating the air filters at remote locations from the engine contributes in meeting pedestrian safety regulations and NVH requirements, the distance between the air filter and the throttle body i.e. the secondary runner length increases, substantially. Increase in the secondary runner length may lead to generation of destructive interference between incidental wave from the combustion chamber due to intake valve events and reflected wave from air filter. This destructive interference may result in uneven or interrupted air flow into the engine, leading to decrease in the volumetric efficiency of the engine. This affects the performance of the engine and, thus the output of the engine at characteristic rpms.

The present disclosure is directed to overcome the one or more problems stated above or any other limitations associated with the conventional arts.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One or more shortcomings of conventional assemblies are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the assembly as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.

In one non limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, an air duct for connecting an air filter and a throttle body for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is disclosed. The air duct comprises a first passageway, which is defined with an inlet port at one end. The inlet port is connectable to an outlet of the air filter, wherein volume of the first passageway is configured to extend volume of the air filter. Further, the air duct comprises a second passageway, which extends perpendicularly from a portion of the first elongated passageway. Further, the second passageway is defined with an outlet port at one end, and the outlet port is connectable to an inlet of the throttle body. Extending the volume of the air filter by the first passageway, facilitates in decreasing air column length between the air filter and the throttle body.
In an embodiment, the first passageway extends in a same axis of the outlet of the air filter.
In an embodiment, the first passageway and the second passageway forms a substantially L-shaped component.
In an embodiment, a free end of the first passageway is closed to define a spherical geometry at the free end of the first passageway.
In an embodiment, a portion of the first passageway at the inlet port is defined with a stepped portion for connecting the inlet port with the outlet of the air filter.
In an embodiment, the air duct comprises a plurality of reinforcing protrusions extending on an outer surface of the first passageway.
In an embodiment, the first passageway and the second passageway are defined with a substantially cylindrical cross-section.
In an embodiment, the air duct is an unitary structure.
In an embodiment, a diameter of the outlet port of the second passageway is configured to be smaller than the diameter of the inlet port of the first passageway.
In an embodiment, the air duct is made of one of an elastic material and polymeric material.
It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

Figures.1a and 1b illustrates a perspective view and a side view of an air duct, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure.2 illustrates a perspective view of the air duct of Figure. 1a, connecting an air filter and a throttle body of an intake system for an internal combustion engine of the vehicle.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the embodiments in the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.

It is to be noted that a person skilled in the art would be motivated from the present disclosure and would modify various constructions of the air duct, which may vary from one vehicle to vehicle, based on an intake assembly of an engine. However, such modifications should be considered to be within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings show only those specific details that are pertinent to understand the embodiments of the present disclosure, so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

The air duct of the present disclosure may be employed to connect an air filter with a throttle body of the intake system for the engine, irrespective of distance of the air filter from the throttle body.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a device, system, assembly that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such system, or assembly, or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system or device proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or device.

Embodiments of the present disclosure, disclose an air duct for connecting an air filter and a throttle body for an internal combustion engine (alternatively referred as engine) of a vehicle. Generally, with increase in distance between the air filter and the throttle body i.e. a secondary runner length, there exists destructive interference between incidental wave from the combustion chamber due to intake valve events and reflected wave from air filter at certain characteristic engine rpms. The destructive interference in the air wave form, may result in interrupted air flow from the air filter into the throttle body. This affects volumetric efficiency and thus, the performance of the engine. The air duct of present disclosure aims at reducing air column length between the air filter and the throttle body i.e. the secondary runner length, irrespective of the location of the air filter from the throttle body.

The air duct of the present disclosure may broadly comprise a first passageway and a second passageway. The first passageway may be defined with an inlet port at one end. The inlet port may be connectable to an outlet of the air filter, to connect the first passageway to the outlet of the air filter. The secondary passageway may extend perpendicularly from a portion of the first passageway. The second passageway may be defined with an outlet port at a free end. The outlet port facilitates in connecting the secondary passageway to an inlet of the throttle body. This configuration of the air duct facilitates in connecting the air filter and the throttle body, and thus defining an air flow path between the air filter and the throttle body. In an embodiment, internal volume of the first passageway is configured such that, upon connecting the inlet port of the first passageway to the outlet of the air filter, facilitates in extending volume of the outlet of the air filter. Extending the volume of the outlet of the air filter facilitates in reducing air column length between the air filter and the throttle body i.e. the secondary length, without compromising on changing the location of the air filter or by using longer runner ducts.

In an embodiment, diameter of the second passageway is configured to be smaller than diameter of the first passageway. Further, diameter of the first passageway is configured to be greater than the air duct length between the air filter and the throttle body, to aid in reducing the air column length (thus, the secondary runner length).

The following paragraphs describe the present disclosure with reference to Figures. 1a, 1b and 2. In the figures, the same element or elements which have similar functions are indicated by the same reference signs. In the figures, the vehicle and the suspension system are not illustrated for the purpose of simplicity.

Figure.1a illustrates a perspective view of an air duct (100) for an intake system of an internal combustion engine (not shown in figures) of a vehicle. The air duct (100) of the present disclosure may be configured to connect an air filter (105) and a throttle body (107) of an intake system for the internal combustion engine [shown in Figure. 2]. The air duct (100) defines an air flow path between the air filter (105) and the throttle body (107). The configuration of the air duct (100) may facilitate in reducing air column length between the air filter (105) and the throttle body (107) i.e. a secondary runner length.

The air duct (100) as shown in Figure.1a, may generally comprises of a first passageway (101) and a second passageway (102). The first passageway (101) may be defined with an inlet port (103) at one end. The inlet port (103) of the first passageway (101) may be configured to be connectable to an outlet (106) of the air filter (105). A free end (111) (as seen in Figure. 1b) of the first passageway (101) may be configured to be closed to define a spherical geometry at the free end (111) of the first passageway (101). In an embodiment, internal volume of the first passageway (101) may be configured to be in conformity with volume of outlet (106) of the air filter (105). This configuration of the first passageway (101) facilitates in extending volume of the outlet (106) of the air filter (105) (as seen in Figure. 2), upon connection of the first passageway (101) with the outlet (106) of the air filter (105). As evident from the Figure. 2, the first passageway (101) may extend substantially in the same axis of the outlet (106) of the air filter (105), without change in the direction of airflow. This feature may facilitate in reducing air column length between the air filter (105) and the throttle body (107), which results in optimum air flow into the engine at characteristic rpms.

Further referring to Figure. 1b, the second passageway (102) may extend perpendicularly from a portion of the first passageway (101). As an example, the second passageway (102) may extend integrally from a portion, along a length of the first passageway (101). Further, the second passageway (102) may be defined with an outlet port (104). The outlet port (104) may be configured to be connectable with an inlet (108) of the throttle body (107). This configuration of the air duct (100) may facilitate in connecting the air filter (105) and the throttle body (107).

In an embodiment, the second passageway (102) extending perpendicular to the first passageway (101) is an exemplary embodiment, and the same may not be construed as a limitation, since the second passageway (102) may extended at any angle from the first passageway (101) based on the requirement, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.

In an embodiment, the first passageway (101) and the second passageway (102) of the air duct (100) may form an unitary structure i.e. the air duct (100) is a single structure without an joints. As an example, the air duct (100) may resemble a L-shape in geometry. In an embodiment, geometrical shape of the air duct (100) may change based on the angle at which the second passageway (102), extends from the first passageway (101), and thus L-shaped geometry may not be construed as a limitation. Further, the air duct (100) may be formed by a manufacturing process, not limiting to a moulding process, forming process and the like. The air duct (100) [thus, the first passageway (101) and the second passageway (102)] may be made of, but not limiting to elastic material or polymeric material. In an embodiment, the elastic material may facilitate firm connection of the air duct (100) between rocking motion of the engine and the air filter (105).

In an embodiment, the air duct (100) comprises a plurality of reinforcing protrusions (109), which extend from an outer surface of the first passageway (101) and the second passageway (102). The reinforcing protrusion (109) may facilitate in imparting necessary stiffness and rigidity to the air duct (100).

Referring back to Figure. 1a, the first passageway (101) and the second passageway (102) may be defined with one of a cylindrical cross-section and an elliptical cross-section. In an embodiment, a portion of the inlet port (103) of the first passageway (101) and the outlet port (104) of the second passageway (102) may be defined with a stepped portions (110), to facilitate easy and firm connection with the outlet (106) of the air filter (105) and the inlet (108) of the throttle body (107), respectively. In another embodiment, diameter of the outlet port (104) of the second passageway (102) may be configured to be smaller than the diameter of the inlet port (103) of the first passageway (101). Further, diameter of the first passageway (101), may be configured to be larger than air flow length between the air filter (105) and the throttle body (107). In addition, diameter of the first passageway (101), may be configured to be larger than diameter of an inlet (108) of the throttle body (107). This configuration of the air duct (100) may facilitate in reducing air column length between the air filter (105) and the throttle body (107) (thus, the secondary runner length).

Now referring to Figure. 2, which illustrates a perspective view of the air duct (100), connecting the air filter (105) and the throttle body (107). In an illustrated embodiment, the air filter (105) is located to right hand side of the internal combustion engine (when viewed from the vehicle cabin side), and the same cannot be construed as a limitation. The air filter (105) may be positioned at any location with respect to the engine, based on requirement of the manufacturer. As apparent from Figure. 2, the inlet port (103) of the first passageway (101) may be connected to the outlet (106) of the air filter (105), and the outlet port (104) of the second passageway (102) may be connected to the inlet (108) of the throttle body (107). In an embodiment, the inlet port (103) of the first passageway (101)is connected to an outlet (106) of air filter (105), which may facilitate in extending volume of the outlet (106) of the air filter (105), towards the throttle body (107). In an embodiment, extending the volume of the outlet (106) of the air filter (105), may facilitate in reducing the air column length between the air filter (105) and the throttle body (107) (i.e. a secondary runner length). In an embodiment, reducing the air column length between the air filter (105) and the throttle body (107) facilitates in smooth flow of air into the engine at higher rpms, which results in increasing volumetric efficiency and thus, improving the engine performance.

In an embodiment, the air duct (100) of the present disclosure may facilitate in connecting the air filter (105) to the throttle body (107), by reducing air column length between the air filter (105) and the throttle body (107), irrespective of distance of the air filter (105) from the throttle body (107).

In an embodiment, the mouth or brim regions of the outlet port (104) and the inlet port (103) of the air duct (100) may be fastened to the throttle body (107) and the air filter (105), respectively by using suitable fasteners.

In an embodiment, the air duct (100) of the present disclosure may be adapted to connect the throttle body, which is mounted on the remotely located air filter, to the intake manifold plenum, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.

It is to be understood that a person of ordinary skill in the art may develop an air duct (100) of similar configuration without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. Such modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure covers such modifications and variations provided they come within the ambit of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Equivalents:

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.” While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

REFERRAL NUMERALS

Referral numerals Particulars
100 Air duct
101 First passageway
102 Second passageway
103 Inlet port
104 Outlet port
105 Air filter
106 Outlet of the air filter
107 Throttle body
108 Inlet of the throttle body
109 Reinforcing protrusions
110 Stepped portion
111 Free end of the first passageway