Description:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 OF 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[Refer Section 10, Rule 13]

TITLE OF INVENTION
An Air Intake Assembly for an Internal Combustion Engine of a Vehicle

APPLICANT
TVS MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED, an Indian company, having its address at “Chaitanya”, No.12 Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600 006, Tamil Nadu, India.

PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed. 
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention generally relates to an air intake assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to an air intake assembly for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Generally, in all vehicles with an internal combustion engine, a dedicated air intake assembly is provided for supplying intake air to the internal combustion engine. The conventional intake assemblies generally have a single outlet tube which supplies intake air to the engine. Usage of a single tube outlet has a limiting effect on the performance of the internal combustion engine at various engine speeds. This is because in single tube outlet configuration, when the vehicle starts, because of the low generated power, the torque increases. However, as the vehicle picks up higher speed, torque gets reduced as the vehicle goes on high power. Thus, performance of engine gets hampered at various speeds in case of single tube outlet. The single tube outlet configuration generally falls short of providing the optimum intake air for at least one of low engine speed or high engine speed.
[003] To address this issue, in existing vehicles, especially vehicles with more than one cylinders, multiple outlet tubes are used. Each outlet tube provides the required air for each of the cylinder. Each outlet tube is connected to a dedicated cylinder head in which the outlet tube discharges air into that particular cylinder head. However, provision of such configurations can only be done in multi cylinder engines. In addition, provision of multiple cylinder heads results not only in requirement of more packaging space, but also in increased costs. Additional weight is required in such engines to counter rotational inertia and friction.
[004] In other existing configurations, there is a provision for two outlet tubes which can be opened simultaneously to allow intake air towards the engine. The issue in this configuration lies in the fact that if both tubes are open at a same time, then at lower engine RPM, torque drop will occur, and engine performance at low RPM will be affected. In this configuration, both outlet tubes are connected independently to the air cleaner case of the air filter and a rotary valve is placed in main tube to control air flow. Thus, the rotary valve is used only for opening or closing the main tube outlet flow and there is no control on air flow from the other outlet tube. In this configuration, outlet tube with smaller diameter is always kept in open condition and at high speeds, both outlet tubes are kept in open condition, which results in improvement of engine performance only at high engine speeds. In these systems, there also remains the risk of induction leak, which may further hamper the performance of the engine.
[005] Thus, there is a need in the art for an air intake assembly for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, which addresses at least the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[006] In one aspect, the present invention is directed towards an air intake assembly for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle. The air intake assembly has an air inlet snorkel that is configured for receiving intake air and an air cleaner box. An outlet tube is split into a first outlet tube and a second outlet tube. The first outlet tube and the second outlet tube are in fluid connection with an inlet end of a throttle body and are configured to direct the air from the air inlet snorkel towards the throttle body. A plate member is provided inside the outlet tube and is configured to be operable to selectively close the first outlet tube or the second outlet tube based on a speed of the internal combustion engine.
[007] In an embodiment of the invention, the first outlet tube has a first length and the second outlet tube has a second length wherein the second length of the second outlet tube is smaller than the first length of the first outlet tube.
[008] In another embodiment of the invention, the first outlet tube has a first diameter, and the second outlet tube has a second diameter wherein the second diameter of the second outlet tube is larger than the first diameter of the first outlet tube.
[009] In a further embodiment of the invention, the plate member is configured to close the second outlet tube and allow inlet air to flow through the first outlet tube to the throttle body, when the speed of the internal combustion engine is below a predetermined threshold engine speed.
[010] In another embodiment of the invention, the air intake assembly has a spring-loaded mechanism connected to the plate member. The spring-loaded mechanism is configured to keep the plate member in default position, wherein the plate member closes the second outlet tube in the default position.
[011] In a further embodiment of the invention, the plate member is configured to close the first outlet tube and allow inlet air to flow through the second outlet tube to the throttle body, when the speed of the engine is above the predetermined threshold engine speed.
[012] In a further embodiment of the invention, the air intake assembly has an electrically operated actuator for moving the plate member between the first outlet tube and the second outlet tube.
[013] In a further embodiment of the invention, the air intake assembly has a control unit for determining whether the speed of the internal combustion engine is above or below the predetermined threshold engine speed.
[014] In a further embodiment of the invention, the control unit is configured to control the electrically operated actuator to move the plate member between the first outlet tube and the second outlet tube.
[015] In a further embodiment of the invention, the first outlet tube has an inlet end and an outlet end and the second outlet tube has an inlet end and an outlet end. The outlet end of the first outlet tube is joined to the outlet end of the second outlet tube to form a single outlet for supplying inlet air to the throttle body.
[016] In a further embodiment of the invention, the plate member has a mounting fin for supporting the plate member inside the outlet tube and a flat member connected to the mounting fin. Herein, rotation of the mounting fin causes the flat member to selectively close the first outlet tube or the second outlet tube. The plate member further has one or more fasteners for attaching the flat member to the mounting fin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[017] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 illustrates a side view of an air intake assembly for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the air intake assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 illustrates a sectional view of the air intake assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4A and 4B illustrate sectional and perspective views of an outlet tube respectively, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 illustrates a sectional view of the outlet tube with the plate member closing a second outlet tube, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 illustrates a sectional view of the outlet tube with the plate member closing a first outlet tube, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7A-7D illustrate various view of a plate member, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 8 illustrates a curve for comparison of engine performance of the internal combustion engine of the present invention versus conventional engines with single outlet tubes, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[018] The present invention relates to an air intake assembly for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle. The internal combustion engine of the present invention is typically used for a two wheeled vehicle, or a three wheeled vehicle, or a four wheeled vehicle, or other multi-wheeled vehicles as required. However, it should be understood that the internal combustion engine as illustrated may find its application in any other device or arrangement using an internal combustion engine.
[019] Figure 1 illustrates an air intake assembly 100 for an internal combustion engine 12 of a vehicle. Preferably, the internal combustion engine 12 is a single cylinder internal combustion engine, thus having a single combustion chamber and a single cylinder head. A single cylinder internal combustion engine 12 provides the advantage of being lightweight and simple as compared to both inline and staggered construction multi cylinder internal combustion engines.
[020] As illustrated in Figure 1, and further illustrated in Figure 2, the air intake assembly 100 comprises an air inlet snorkel 110. The air inlet snorkel 110 is configured for receiving intake air to be supplied to the internal combustion engine 12. In an embodiment, the air inlet snorkel 110 extends in longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the pressure differential created due to operation of the engine 12 and the movement of the vehicle, forces the atmospheric air inside the air inlet snorkel 110.
[021] The air intake assembly 100 further has an air cleaner box 120. The air cleaner box 120 is connected to the air inlet snorkel 110 and is configured to receive intake air from the air inlet snorkel 110. The air cleaner box 120 cleans the intake air before the intake air is passed on to the cylinder of the internal combustion engine 12, thereby preventing dust, dirt, grit, and other debris from causing any damage to the internal combustion engine 12. To supply this cleaned intake air to the cylinder of the internal combustion engine 12, as illustrated in Figure 3, the air intake assembly 100 comprises an outlet tube 200.
[022] As illustrated in Figure 3, the outlet tube 200 is a single tube that is split into a first outlet tube 210 and a second outlet tube 220. The first outlet tube 210 and the second outlet tube 220 are in fluid connection with an inlet end 130A of a throttle body 130. The first outlet tube 210 and the second outlet tube 220 are configured to direct the air from the air inlet snorkel 110 towards the throttle body 130. Further, the air intake assembly 100 has a plate member 230 that is provided inside the outlet tube 200. The plate member 230 is configured to be operable between the first outlet tube 210 and the second outlet tube 220 so as to selectively close the first outlet tube 210 or the second outlet tube 220 based on a speed of the internal combustion engine 12. The plate member 230 either fully closes the first outlet tube 210 to allow flow of intake air through the second outlet tube 220, or fully closes the second outlet tube 220 to allow flow of intake air through the first outlet tube 210 based on the speed of the internal combustion engine 12.
[023] As referenced in Figure 5, to achieve the split of the outlet tube 200 into a first outlet tube 210 and the second outlet tube 220, the first outlet tube 210 has an inlet end 210A and an outlet end 210B, and the second outlet tube 220 has an inlet end 220A and an outlet end 220B. The outlet end 210B of the first outlet tube 210 is joined to the outlet end 220B of the second outlet tube 220 to form a single outlet for supplying inlet air to the throttle body 130.
[024] Reference is made to Figure 4A and Figure 4B, wherein as illustrated, the first outlet tube 210 has a first length (L1) and the second outlet tube 220 has a second length (L2). Herein, the second length (L2) of the second outlet tube 220 is smaller than the first length (L1) of the first outlet tube 210. Further, as illustrated, the first outlet tube 210 has a first diameter (D1), and the second outlet tube 220 has a second diameter (D2) wherein the second diameter (D2) of the second outlet tube 220 is larger than the first diameter (D1) of the first outlet tube 210. Thus, the single outlet tube 200 is split into the first outlet tube 210 of a larger length and a smaller diameter, and the second outlet tube 220 of a smaller length and a larger diameter.
[025] Reference is made to Figure 5, wherein as illustrated, the plate member 230 is configured to close the second outlet tube 220 and allow inlet air to flow through the first outlet tube 210 to the throttle body 130 (depicted by solid arrows), when the speed of the internal combustion engine 12 is below a predetermined threshold engine speed. This means that at lower engine speeds, the internal combustion engine 12 receives air through the first outlet tube 210 having the larger length and the smaller diameter. The larger length and the smaller diameter of the first outlet tube 210 ensures that engine performance is optimum at lower engine speeds. Since, the engine speeds are lower during the starting of the internal combustion engine 12, the default position of the plate member 230 is kept as the position in which the plate member 230 closes the second outlet tube 220.
[026] To maintain the plate member 230 in the default position in which the plate member 230 closes the second outlet tube 220, the air intake assembly 100 has a spring-loaded mechanism connected to the plate member 230. The spring-loaded mechanism is loaded and configured in a manner that the spring- loaded mechanism keeps the plate member 230 in the default position.
[027] As illustrated in Figure 6, the plate member 230 is configured to close the first outlet tube 210 and allow inlet air to flow through the second outlet tube 220 to the throttle body 130 (depicted by solid arrows), when the speed of the engine 12 is above the predetermined threshold engine speed. This means that at higher engine speeds, the internal combustion engine 12 receives air through the second outlet tube 220 having the smaller length and the larger diameter. The smaller length and the larger diameter of the second outlet tube 220 ensures that engine performance is optimum at higher engine speeds.
[028] In an embodiment of the invention, the air intake assembly 100 has an electrically operated actuator (not shown) for moving the plate member 230 from the default position, and between the first outlet tube 210 and the second outlet tube 220. Further, the air intake assembly 100 has a control unit (not shown) for determining whether the speed of the internal combustion engine 12 is above or below the predetermined threshold engine speed. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the control unit is configured to control the electrically operated actuator to move the plate member 230 between the first outlet tube 210 and the second outlet tube 220.
[029] As further illustrated in the embodiments depicted in Figures 7A-7D, the plate member 230 comprises a mounting fin 232 for supporting the plate member 230 inside the outlet tube 200. In an embodiment, the mounting fin 232 of plate member 230 is connected to the electrically operated actuator. The plate member 230 further has a flat member 234 that is connected to the mounting fin 232. Herein, rotation of the mounting fin 232 by means of the electrically operated actuator causes the flat member 234 to selectively close the first outlet tube 210 or the second outlet tube 220. The plate member 230 further has one or more fasteners 236 for attaching the flat member 234 to the mounting fin 232.
[030] Figure 8 illustrates a comparison of engine performance of the internal combustion engine 12 of the present invention versus conventional engines with single outlet tubes. The performance of the engine 12 of the present invention is depicted in grey dotted line, performance of a conventional engine with a single outlet tube of larger length is depicted in solid grey line, and performance of a conventional engine with a single outlet tube of smaller length is depicted in solid black line. As is clear, the engine 12 of the present invention has the advantages of an outlet tube of larger length and small diameter at lower speeds ensuring optimum performance at lower speeds, and the advantages of an outlet tube of smaller length and larger diameter at higher speeds ensuring optimum performance at higher speeds. Moreover, the transition in engine performance from low speed to high speed is smooth and jerk-less.
[031] Advantageously, the present invention provides an air intake assembly for an internal combustion engine wherein an outlet tube is split into two different outlet tubes of different length and diameter. The flow of air through different outlet tubes at different engine speeds ensures optimum engine performance at both low speeds and high speeds, and achieving a smooth transition between low speed engine performance and high speed engine performance.
[032] Further, the present invention eliminates the requirement of multiple cylinder heads for accommodating multiple outlet tubes for intake air, thus ensuring that the present invention be employed for single cylinder engines, require lower packaging space and are also low on cost and complexity.
[033] Furthermore, the splitting of a single outlet tube into two outlet tubes instead of provision of two separate outlet tubes also ensures that the assembly is compact, which is especially advantageous in saddle type vehicles since the available packaging space is limited. Moreover, fewer modifications required to accommodate the air intake assembly of the present invention.
[034] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

List of Reference Numerals
12: Internal Combustion Engine
100: Air Intake Assembly
110: Air Inlet Snorkel
120: Air Cleaner Box
130: Throttle Body
130A: Inlet End of Throttle Body
200: Outlet Tube
210: First Outlet Tube
210A: Inlet end of the First Outlet Tube
210B: Outlet end of the First Outlet Tube
220: Second Outlet Tube
220A: Inlet end of the Second Outlet Tube
220B: Outlet end of the Second Outlet Tube
230: Plate Member
232: Mounting Fin
234: Flat Member
236: Fasteners
L1: First Length of the First Outlet Tube
D1: First Diameter of the First Outlet Tube
L2: Second Length of the Second Outlet Tube
D2: Second Diameter of the Second Outlet Tube , Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. An air intake assembly (100) for an internal combustion engine (12) of a vehicle, the air intake assembly (100) comprising:
an air inlet snorkel (110), the air inlet snorkel (110) being configured for receiving intake air to be supplied to the internal combustion engine (12);
an air cleaner box (120), the air cleaner box (120) being configured to receive air from the air inlet snorkel (110);
an outlet tube (200), the outlet tube (200) being split into a first outlet tube (210) and a second outlet tube (220), the first outlet tube (210) and the second outlet tube (220) being in fluid connection with an inlet end (130A) of a throttle body (130) and being configured to direct the air from the air inlet snorkel (110) towards the throttle body (130); and
a plate member (230) provided inside the outlet tube (200), the plate member (230) being configured to be operable between the first outlet tube (210) and the second outlet tube (220) to selectively close the first outlet tube (210) or the second outlet tube (220) based on a speed of the internal combustion engine (12).

2. The air intake assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first outlet tube (210) has a first length (L1) and the second outlet tube (220) has a second length (L2) wherein the second length (L2) of the second outlet tube (220) is smaller than the first length (L1) of the first outlet tube (210).

3. The air intake assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first outlet tube (210) has a first diameter (D1), and the second outlet tube (220) has a second diameter (D2) wherein the second diameter (D2) of the second outlet tube (220) is larger than the first diameter (D1) of the first outlet tube (210).

4. The air intake assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate member (230) is configured to close the second outlet tube (220) and allow inlet air to flow through the first outlet tube (210) to the throttle body (130), when the speed of the internal combustion engine (12) is below a predetermined threshold engine speed.

5. The air intake assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a spring-loaded mechanism connected to the plate member (230), the spring-loaded mechanism being configured to keep the plate member (230) in default position, wherein the plate member (230) closes the second outlet tube (220) in the default position.

6. The air intake assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate member (230) is configured to close the first outlet tube (210) and allow inlet air to flow through the second outlet tube (220) to the throttle body (130), when the speed of the engine (12) is above the predetermined threshold engine speed.

7. The air intake assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising an electrically operated actuator for moving the plate member (230) between the first outlet tube (210) and the second outlet tube (220).

8. The air intake assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a control unit for determining whether the speed of the internal combustion engine (12) is above or below the predetermined threshold engine speed.

9. The air intake assembly (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control unit being configured to control the electrically operated actuator to move the plate member (230) between the first outlet tube (210) and the second outlet tube (220).

10. The air intake assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first outlet tube (210) has an inlet end (210A) and an outlet end (210B), the second outlet tube (220) has an inlet end (220A) and an outlet end (220B), and the outlet end (210B) of the first outlet tube (210) is joined to the outlet end (220B) of the second outlet tube (220) to form a single outlet for supplying inlet air to the throttle body (130).

11. The air intake assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate member (230) comprises a mounting fin (232) for supporting the plate member (230) inside the outlet tube (200); a flat member (234) connected to the mounting fin (232), wherein rotation of the mounting fin (232) causes the flat member (234) to selectively close the first outlet tube (210) or the second outlet tube (220); and one or more fasteners (236) for attaching the flat member (234) to the mounting fin (232).

Dated this 9th day of November 2022

TVS MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED
By their Agent & Attorney

(Nikhil Ranjan)
of Khaitan & Co
Reg No IN/PA-1471