DESC:FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a three-wheeled vehicle and more particularly to an induction system of the three-wheeled vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] For an internal combustion engine to generate desired power and torque, air intake system plays a significant role. The intake system consists of an air cleaner, a carburetor and a pipe intake. The function of air cleaner is to supply clean air to engine at all operating conditions. The air cleaner is further divided into a pre-filter and post filter area with help of a suitable filtering media.
[0003] In a three-wheeled vehicle where engine is disposed in rear portion, a cabin space is formed between rear seat and rear portion. The air cleaner is generally placed inside this cabin space. The air inlet to the air cleaner is provided with a grill in order to get rid of bigger dust particles and water.
[0004] In such a vehicle, since the air cleaner is directly connected to a grill on wall of the cabin space, the suction at the grill is very high, and it is highly likely that water along with dust particles enters into the air cleaner assembly leading to reduced life of filter media. In such vehicles, used as commercial vehicles, reduced frequency of maintenance is always desirable. In order to have better life of the filter media the air filter media is ought to be protected and it is required to have a suitable mechanism within the induction system to reduce the simultaneous suction of water and dust particulates inside the air cleaner (40).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Hence, to obviate the problems associated with the existing air filter system for a three-wheeled vehicle wherein the air cleaner inlet is directly connected to grill on wall of the cabin space that is exposed to the outer atmosphere, the current invention proposes an inlet chamber (buffer volume) provided between air inlet grill and the air cleaner filter media. Furthermore, to have an increased life of filter media, cyclonic water collector is also added in the layout, where air flows from atmosphere into inlet chamber and then to water collector, after which the induced air is then sucked into the air cleaner. According to a first embodiment of the current invention, to reduce / eliminate the dust and water entry into the air cleaner, an inlet chamber (buffer volume) is provided between air inlet and the air cleaner; the inlet chamber is fitted to the cabin wall. In yet another second embodiment of the current invention, the inlet chamber is placed on a sub – chamber.
[0006] In existing layout air cleaner is directly connected to the grill on cabin sub-chamber, the suction at the grill is very high so that the water enters into the air cleaner assembly leading to reduced life of filter media. In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an inlet chamber is provided on the cabin wall. Also, the tube from grill is connected to the chamber. Air cleaner assembly’s inlet is connected to this cabin sub- space chamber. This chamber acts as a buffer volume leading to reduced suction from air cleaner. So the water and dust particles gets drained in the chamber and only dust free air is sucked into the air cleaner.
[0007] In order to increase the life of filter media a cyclonic water collector is placed between the inlet chamber and the air cleaner. This water collector helps in draining out the dust particles furthermore and resulting to a better life of filter media.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] Figure 1 Shows typical three-wheeled vehicle.
[0009] Figure 2 Illustrates rear portion of three wheeler with cabin wall.
[00010] Figure 3 Illustrates induction system of three wheeled vehicle.
[00011] Figure 4 Illustrates perspective view of the induction system according to the first embodiment of the current invention.
[00012] Figure 5 Illustrates induction system according to the first embodiment of current invention.
[00013] Figure 6 Illustrates rear view of induction system of three wheeled vehicle as per second embodiment of the current invention.
[00014] Figure 7 Illustrates perspective view of the induction system of three wheeled vehicle as per second embodiment of the current invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[00015] The current invention discloses an air cleaner inlet, which directly connects to a grill (an air inlet passage) on wall of the cabin space of a vehicle. The air inlet passage on the cabin space wall is exposed to the outer atmosphere. The current invention proposes an inlet chamber (buffer volume) provided between air inlet grill and the air cleaner filter media. Furthermore, to have an increased life of filter media, cyclonic water collector is also added in the layout, where air flows from atmosphere into inlet chamber and then to water collector, after which the induced air is then sucked into the air cleaner. According to a first embodiment of the current invention, to reduce / eliminate the dust and water entry into the air cleaner, an inlet chamber (buffer volume) is provided between air inlet and the air cleaner; the inlet chamber is fitted to the cabin wall. In yet another second embodiment of the current invention, the inlet chamber is placed on a sub – chamber.
[00016] In existing layout air cleaner is directly connected to the grill on cabin sub-chamber, the suction at the grill is very high so that the water enters into the air cleaner assembly leading to reduced life of filter media. In order to solve this above-mentioned issue, an inlet passage is provided on the cabin wall. The air inlet passage is connected to a sub chamber through a tube. This sub chamber acts as a buffer volume leading to reduced suction from air cleaner. Therefore, the water and dust particles are drained in the chamber by a cyclone water collector and only moisture and dust free air sucked into the air cleaner. In order to increase the life of filter media the cyclonic water collector is placed between the inlet chamber and the air cleaner. This cyclone water collector helps in draining out the moisture and dust particles resulting into a better life of filter media.
[00017] Figure 1 illustrates a typical three-wheeled vehicle. Figure 1 shows front wheel 1, rear wheel 2, driver seat 3, chassis 4, wheel arch 5, cabin space 6, cabin space left 6L, cabin space right 6R, cover cabin space 7, passenger seat 8, engine 9, three wheeler 10, pillar 11, air inlet grill 12 and windshield 13. A top cover generally covers from the windshield 13 through the rear side portion of the passenger seat 8 until the rear cabin space 6. A passenger cabin door is normally hinged to the pillar 11to keep the passengers’ safe during the vehicle running on the road. The rear cabin space 6 generally accommodates an engine 9, which powers the three-wheeler.
[00018] Figure 2 Illustrates rear portion of three wheeler with cabin wall. Figure 2 shows air inlet grill 12 and cabin sub-chamber 21. The portion of the three-wheeled vehicle, which covers the rear portion and the cabin space 6 sideways, is termed as a cabin wall 39, which houses the air inlet grill. The air inlet grill provides a passage for fresh atmospheric air to enter the induction system. The grill/mesh at the inlet prevents dust, stone particles and water entry inside the induction chamber.
[00019] Figure 3 Illustrates induction system of three wheeled vehicle. Figure 3 shows passenger seat 8, air inlet 12, inlet conduit 31, intake chamber 32, cyclone water collector 33, air filter tube outlet 34, air filter intake body 35,filter media 36,carburetor 37, intake manifold 38 and cabin wall 39. Figure 3 shows the air induction system for a three-wheeled vehicle according to the first embodiment of the current invention. The fresh atmospheric air enters the air inlet 12 and passes through an inlet conduit 31 to enter an intake chamber 32. From the intake chamber 32, the air further passes through a cyclone water collector 33 where it further loses out any moisture or dirt content. The air cleaner further induces the filtered air wherein it passes through the air filter intake body 35 and then to filter media and the filtered air exits the air filter through an air filter tube outlet 34. The filtered air through the air filter tube outlet 34 is further fed to a carburetor 37 from where through an intake manifold; it is fed to the intake port of the engine 9. The cyclone water collector 33 is provided with a manual flush switch that once operated flushes the trapped moisture out of the cyclone water collector 33. The addition a sub chamber (32) in-between said air inlet passage (12) and the filter media (36) provides a buffer volume between air inlet passage (12) and the filter media (36).
[00020] Figure 4 Illustrates perspective view of the induction system according to the first embodiment of the current invention. Figure 4 shows passenger seat 8, inlet conduit 31, intake chamber 32, cyclone water collector 33, air filter tube outlet 34, air filter intake body 35 and filter media 36. As described above, the fresh atmospheric air enters the air inlet 12 and passes through an inlet conduit 31 to enter an intake chamber 32. From the intake chamber 32, the air further passes through a cyclone water collector 33 where it further loses out any moisture or dirt content. The air cleaner further induces the filtered air wherein it passes through the air filter intake body 35 and then to filter media and the filtered air comes out of the air filter through an air filter tube outlet 34. The filtered air through the air filter tube outlet 34 is further fed to a carburetor 37 from where through an intake manifold; it is fed to the intake port of the engine 9. The intake chamber 32 is fastened to the rear side of the passenger seat 8. The inlet grill 12 is accommodated on cabin wall 39 shown in Figure (2, 3).
[00021] Figure 5 Illustrates induction system according to the first embodiment of current invention. Figure 5 shows inlet conduit 31, intake chamber 32, cyclone water collector 33, air filter intake body 35, filter media 36, carburetor 37 and intake manifold 38. The air filter intake body 35 receives the air coming through the cyclone water collector 33 and filter media 36 filters the air and through the air filter tube outlet 34, it is fed to the carburetor of the engine 9.
[00022] Figure 6 Illustrates rear view of induction system of three wheeled vehicle as per second embodiment of the current invention. Figure 6 shows passenger seat 8, inlet conduit 31, intake chamber 32, cyclone water collector 33, air filter tube outlet 34, air filter intake body 35, filter media 36,carburetor 37 and intake manifold 38. The second embodiment as per the current invention, instead of using the air inlet grill, directly utilizes the intake chamber 32 disposed on the cabin wall 39. In this second embodiment, the atmospheric air enters the intake chamber 32 directly and from there passes to the cyclone water collector 33 through the inlet conduit 31. The outlet of the cyclone water collector 33 is further fed to the air filter intake body 35.
[00023] Figure 7 Illustrates perspective view of the induction system of three wheeled vehicle as per second embodiment of the current invention. Figure 7 shows inlet conduit 31, intake chamber 32, cyclone water collector 33, air filter tube outlet 34, air filter intake body 35, filter media 36, carburetor 37 and intake manifold 38. Here again as described above, the atmospheric air enters the intake chamber 32 directly and from there passes to the cyclone water collector 33 through the inlet conduit 31. The outlet of the cyclone water collector 33 is further fed to the air filter intake body 35.
[00024] The above-described embodiments of the current invention help to reduce / eliminate water and dust entry into the air cleaner. Furthermore, to have an increased life of filter media, cyclonic water collector is added in the layout, where air flows from atmosphere into the sub chamber and then to water collector and then is induced inside the air cleaner.
,CLAIMS:We Claim:
1. An induction system (30) for a three wheeled vehicle (10), said induction system (30) comprising:
atleast one air inlet passage (12) to receive fresh atmospheric air inside the induction system (30);
a cyclone water collector (33) which helps to remove moisture content from the fresh air received inside through said air inlet passage (12);
an air filter (40) with a filter media (36) capable of filtering small size particulates from the air received through said cyclone water collector(33);
characterized in that:
an intermediate portion in-between said air inlet passage (12) and said cyclone water collector (33) of induction system (30) is provided with a sub chamber (32) substantially preceding said filter media (36).
2. The induction system (30) for the three-wheeled vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said sub chamber (32) is detachably attached on the cabin wall (39).
3. The induction system (30) for a three-wheeled vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the sub chamber (32) is detachably attached to the rear side of a passenger seat (8).
4. The induction system (30) for a three-wheeled vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 wherein air flow path is in order of air inlet passage (12), sub chamber (32), cyclone water collector (33), filter media (36) and air filter (40).
5. The induction system (30) for a three-wheeled vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the cyclone water collector (33) works on principle of gravitation.
6. The induction system (30) for a three-wheeled vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the cyclone water collector (33) is equipped with an additional filter media to remove dirt and moisture.
7. The induction system (30) for a three-wheeled vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the cyclone water collector (33) is equipped with a manual flush switch.
8. The induction system (30) for a three-wheeled vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the air inlet passage (12) is integrated within the sub chamber (32).
9. The induction system (30) for a three-wheeled vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the air inlet passage (12) is formed on atleast one of the sides of the vehicle (10).