FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to an air intake system for a vehicle.
BACKGROUND1 PRIOR ART
Vehicle air intake system typically consists of an air filter (I), air intake hose
(2), air outlet hose (3) and an intake snorkel (4). The intake snorkel is placed in
front of tlie vehicle just behind the front grille opening (5)of front bumper (6) for
fresh air (ram air) (A) entry. This is then connected to the air filter through an
intake hose. The air filter is then' in connection with an air outlet hose which is
connected to the intake manifoldlengine (7) as shown in fig. 1.
In general, the air intake snorkel is typically placed in the front of the vehicle
just behind the front grille opening so as to provide fresh atmospheric air (ram
air) to the engine. This prevents the hot air entry from the engine compartment.
Hot air in the intake system reduces the volumetric efficiency of the engine
thus reduces the overall vehicle performance. However, during flooded road
conditions, chances of water entry into the air intake snorkel are very high. If
significant amount of water enters the air intake, some of the water could
subsequently enter the engine cylinder. Entry of water into the engine cylinder
with water being incompressible, would likely result in damaging critical
componeilts within the engine beyond repair. In the existing design once the
water (W) enters into the air intake snorkel there is no provision to stop water
entry as shown in fig. 2. This is because the bottom surface of snorkel is flat
with no provision for discharging water (F) as indicated in fig. 3.
Thus, there is no provision to prevent water flow into the air .filter once water
has entered in the air intake snorkel. As air intake snorkel is directly attached
d to the air .intake hose without any provision to remove or divert the water, the
water enters into the air filter followed by into the engine.
According to a known art, an air intake system comprising an elongated a.is
flow conduit in flow communication with an air inlet arm. A plurality of louver
elements are located in said air inlet arm and defining a plurality of ail- fluw
spaces. A splash shield extending into said air inlet arm for deflecting water
from said air flow conduit; and a filter housing having a filter provided in fluid
communication with said air flow conduit. This does not serve the purpose, for
which the present invention has been designed.
In the current circumstances, an air intake system is required t.0 be devised so
as to restrict entry of water into the intake air filter and subsequently into the
engine during flooding condition without affecting other functionalities of said
system.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The principal object of the present invention is to provide an air intake'system
for a vehicle which overcomes drawbacks of the prior art(s).
Another object of the present invention is to provide an air intake system for a
vehicle which prevents entry of water through intake hose into engine.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an air intake system
for a vehicle which is cost effe.ctive as it is not complicated in design.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an air intake system
for a vehicle which disallows back flow of hot air into the engine without
affecting other functions of vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to this invention, there is provided an air intake system for a vehicle
comprising an air filter, which is connected to an air intake ~norlcel by mcans
of air intake hose and connected to engine/intake manifold through air outlet
hose, wherein the snorkel with sloping surface is provided with a water damper
and water barrier at the end thereof. - - -
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF. THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Further objects and advantages .of this invention will be more apparent from
the ensuing description when read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings of exemplary embodiments of invention and wherein:
Fig. 1 shows: Conventional air intake system.
Fig. 2 shows: Air intake hose with existing snorkel.
Fig. 3 shows; Air intake snorkel in prior art.
Fig. 4 shows: Air intake hose with newly devised snorkel of invention.
Fig. 5 shows: Air intake snorkel with water barrier and water damper
according to present invention.
Fig. 6a shows: Water damper of invention hinged to snorkel.
Fig. 6b shows: Water damper of invention hinged to air intake hose.
Fig. 7 shows: Flow behavior in air intake systern (sectional view).
Fig. 7a shows: Air intake system of invention.
Fig. 7b shows: Water damper in open position.
Fig. 8 shows: Water damper in closed position.
Fig. 9 shows: Air re-circulation inside engine room.
Fig. 10 shows: Water damper preventing hot air entry from engine room
side.
Fig. 11 shows: Water damper preventing water entry from engine room side.
Fig. 1 la shows: Engine room flooding.
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Fig. 1 1 b shows': Water entry from engine side.
Fig. 1 lc shows: Water exit towards engine side.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE
ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The instant invention makes a disclosure regarding an air intake system for a
vehicle to prevent inflow of water into the intake air filter and subsequently into
the engine in the course of flooding condition without disturbing other
functional requirements like fresh air entry and back pressure as during
flooding condition the water may enter into the intake snorkel.
The entry of water is prevented by specially devising the snorkel bottom surface
with the provision of a water barrier and water damper at the end thereof.
Now, it will be detailed out hereinbelow with reference to drawing.
Reference may be made to fig 4. The bottom surface (1') of the air intake
snorkel(S) is sloping for facilitating water passage. The bottom surface of said
snorkel is having. a slope(P) following clamping point (2') of the snorkel with
front bumper. The slope continues till the end of the snorkel.
The slope (P) of the bottom surface of snorkel with respect to bottom surface of
air intake hose (3') is sufficient enough for smooth water flow. Due to provision
of slope water flows down easily by gravity.
In addition to the above, there is provision of a ,water. barrier and water damper
at the junction of intake hose and snorkel. The barrier and damper are located
at the end of the snorkel and at the beginning of the intake hose.
For the water barrier, reference may be made to fig 5.. The water barrier forms a
tapered part (4') as shown, which is placed on the floor of intake hose'wherein
the barrier is tapered towards inside of the air intake hose (3'). It is tapered to
prevent. recirculation of fresh air behind the barrier thereby not affecting the
normal airflow.
Thus, the provision of the barrier causes no increase in pressuredrop of the air
intake system, hence no adverse effect on the performance of engine.
The water barrier can be integrated to the floor of hose or detachably connected
thereto.
The water barrier is provided in the connecting junction of bottom sloping
surface of intake snorkel and the air intake hose. This is employed to stop the
water entry to intake hose and divert the water towards the water damper. The
water barrier is suitably designed to match the air intake hose profile.
Further, a water damper (5')forming a non returnable valve as illustrated in
figure 5 and 6A, 6B is positioned below the water barrier (4'). The damper is
positioned at the.end of the sloping surface of intake snorkel. It is hinged to air
intake hose or snorkel by means of a hinge (H) as in fig. 6A and 6B.
The damper actually closes the. gap between the outer surface of intake hose
and inner surface of snorkel at the joint thereof. Therefore, its shape is
according to the gap. The water damper serves the following purposes:-
- To discharge water to,the engine room.
- To prevent hot air entry to intake from engine room.
- To prevent water entry from engine room in case the engine room
water level is high.
The hose and the water damper can be made of material such as rubber,
plastic without restricting scope of the invention to the same.Thus, other
materials readily apparent to a person skilled in the art are understood to be
within perview of the invention.
The bottom sloping surface in snorkel along with water barrier diverts the
water away from the air intake hose towards water damper. The water damper
opens once the water hits the damper face and allows the water to flow out
. . from the vehicle air intake system. The opening and closing of the damper is
' based on the water pressure. However during normal operating conditions the
damper remains in closed condition to prevent the hot air entry into the intake
! system from the engine room.
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I During flooding condition the water damper opens due to the pressure exerted
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by the water entered through the air intake snorkel. The opening area of the
passage, of the damper varies depending on the pressure generated by the
water already entered through the snorkel. However in normal conditions, the
water passage opening is prone to hot air entry from engine room side. As in
this condition the water damper is closed, the hot air entry from the engine
room is prevented, The water damper opens only unidirectionaly i.e open
towards the engine room only not towards the intake snorkel side, hence there
is no possibility of water entry inside the intake from engine room in severe
conditions like when the engine room water level is higher than the water
damper level.
Proposed invention of air intake system is designed to offer the following
advantageous features:
I. To discharge water to the engine room I
When the vehicle runs in flooding condition the water may enter into the intake. . .
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snorkel. This is prevented by providing an integrated water passage (P) at the . I
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bottom surface of the snorkel. The bottom surface is sloping downwards and
ends with a water barrier (4') and water damper (5'). Water (W) being denser
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than air travels down the slope while air (A) travels directly towards the air I
intake hose (fig 7a). The bottom sloping surface in snorkel along with water
barrier diverts the water away from the air intake hose towards water damper
(fig. 7b). The water damper opens once the water hits the damper face and
allows the water to flow out to the engine room. The opening and closing of the
damper is based on the water pressure.
If there is no water entry in the air intake snorkel (S), the damper remains in
closed position as shown in fig. 8. Since air pressure is not enough to open the
water damper thus all the air (A) goes to the air intake hose (3') without any
leakages.
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11. To prevent hot air entry to intake from engine room
When the vchicle is .nnning in normal conditions (no flooding), the damper
remains in closed position (fig. 10) thus preventing hot air recirculation int6 the
I 'air intake hose from engine room. The engine room air temperatures are always I
higher than the fresh ram air as it absorbs heat from the various engine room
components (fig 9), wherein fig. 9 and 10 indicate the following:-
Air filter -T
Engine room-E
Hot Air (At 55-60°C) -H
Air intake snorkel-S
I
Front bumper-F
i Ram Air (at atmospheric temperature-40°C)-A
Air intake hose-3'
Air intake snorkel-S
Hot Air (At 55-60°C)-H
Water barrier-4'
Air-A
Water damper-5'
Incase the water damper is not provided (i.e only using integrated sloping water
passage and water barrier) the engine room (re-circulating) hot air may enter
into the intake snorkel which reduces the volumetric efficiency of the engine
thus reduces the overall vehicle performance.
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111. . To prevent water entry from engine room in case the engine room water
level is high
In case the engine room water level i.s high as compared to the irprtake water
damper there, is a chance that the water might enter into the intake snorkel
from engine room (fig 1l.a) through the water passage. The water damper
opens 'only unidirectionaly i.e open towards the engine room.only not towards
the intake snorkel side (water passage) (fig 11 .c). Thus there is no possibility of
water entry inside the intake from engine room. (fig 1 1 .b), wherein the figures
indicate the following: -
Air filter -T
Air intake snorkel-S
Front bumper-F
Water-W
i Water barrier-4'
1 Water entry from engine side (water damper remains closed)-Z
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Water entry towards engine side-X
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I Opens towards engine room-Y
Water damper-5'
1 Advantageous Features
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! - Facilitates discharge of water from the vehicle air intake system.
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i - Prevention of hot air entry into intake from engine room.
I - Prevention of water entry from engine room incase the engine room water
level is high.
- Disallow back flow of hot air into the engine without affecting ot.her
functionalities of vehicle.
- Prevention of water entry through intake hose into engine.
It is to be noted 'that the present invention is susceptible to modifications,
adaptations and changes by those skilled in the art. Such variant embodiments
,employing the concepts and features'of this invention are intended to be within
the scope of the present invention, which is further set forth under. the
following claiins: -

We claim:
I 1. An air intake system for a vehicle comprising an air filter, which is
connected to an air intake snorkel by means .of air intake hose and
I connected to engine/intake manifold through air outlet hose, wherein the
I snorkel with sloping surface is provided with a wa.ter damper and water
barrier at the end thereof.
2. An air intake system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the air
intake snorkel, bottom surface of which constitutes a sloping surface to
direct water to flow out of the vehicle through said damper.
3. An air intake system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the
sloping surface is having slope with respect to the bottom surface of said
intake hose.
4. An air intake system for a vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding
claims wherein the water barrier and water damper are placed at the , .
junction of said intake hose and snorkel, in which the water barrier is
above the water damper.
5. An air intake system for a vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding
claims wherein the water barrier forms a tapered part, which is placed on
the floor of intake hose and tapered towards inside of the hose.
6. An air intake system for a vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding
claims wherein the barrier is integrated to the floor of hose or detachably
attached thereto, which stops the water entry into intake hose and
diverts the water towards the water damper.
7. An air intake system for a vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding
claims wherein the water barrier is devised to match said air intake hose
profile.
8. An air intake system for a vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding
claims wherein the damper constituting a nonreturnable valve is
positioned at the end of the sloping surface of intake snorkel and hinged
to air intake hose; snorkel.
9. An air intake system for a vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding
claims wherein the damper prevents hot air entry into air intake system
from engine room.
10. An air intake system for a vehicle as claimed in any of the
preceding claims wherein the damper prevents water entry into air intake
system from engine room in case the engine room water level is high.
11. An air intake system for a vehicle as claimed in any of the
preceding claims wherein the damper occupies the gap between the outer
surface of intake hose and inner surface of said snorkel at the joint
thereof.
-12. An air intake system for a vehicle as clairned in any or the
preceding claims is associated with the advantageous features such as
herein described.