Claims:We claim:
1. A snorkel 100 comprising an enclosed structure 102 for creating an air flow path within, with a first end 104 of the enclosed structure 102 connectable to an air inlet for drawing unfiltered air and a second end 106 of the enclosed structure 102 connectable, via an air outlet 108, to an air filter,
characterized in that the enclosed structure 102 of the snorkel 100 further includes:
a path deflector guide 110 near the second end 106 of the enclosed structure 102 wherein the path deflector guide 110 is co-axial to the air flow path and operable to separate water droplets from unfiltered air; and
a dual water outlet port 116, beneath the path deflector guide 110, connected to the second end 106 with each of the dual water outlet ports 116 spaced apart from each other forming a centrally spaced passage 118 therethrough for water-separated air to pass into the air outlet 108.

2. The snorkel 100 of claim 1 wherein the path deflector guide 110 is deflected at a first predetermined angle to the coaxial air flow path.

3. The snorkel 100 of claim 1 , wherein the path deflector guide 110 is designed in form of an upper member 112 and a lower member 114.

4. The snorkel 100 of claim 3 wherein each of the upper 112 and lower member 114 of the path deflector guide 110 is deflected at a first predetermined angle and a second predetermined angle respectively, from the co-axial air flow path.

5. The snorkel 100 of claim 3 wherein the first predetermined angle pertaining to the upper member 112 of the path deflector guide 110 is in the range of 60-100 degrees.

6. The snorkel 100 of claim 3 wherein the second predetermined angle pertaining to the lower member 114 of the path deflector guide 110 is in the range of 80-140 degrees.

7. The snorkel 100 of claim 3, wherein the upper member 112 and the lower member 114 of the path deflector guide 110 are contiguously joined.

8. The snorkel 100 of claim 3, wherein the upper member 112 and the lower member 114 of the path deflector guide 110 are disjoint.

9. An air intake system for automobiles wherein the air intake system comprises the snorkel 100 as claimed in claim 1.
, Description:SNORKEL WITH PATH DEFLECTOR

Technical Field
[001] The present invention relates generally to an intake system for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle and specifically to improved air intake systems with inline water separator.
Background
[002] Air intake systems have been used to supply clean air to the internal combustion engines of a motor vehicles. Further, snorkels have been used in air intake systems to provide a path for air into the air filter. The air sucked in through the snorkels may contain water droplets/moisture which needs to be removed. While several designs have been proposed and are being used in the industry in this regard, a persistent challenge lies in separating moisture from the air through the intake systems. The problem of moisture being sucked into air intake systems intensifies when the automobiles work in wet weather conditions. Presence of moisture in the air through the intake systems produces several undesirable effects such as corrosion of inner parts of the intake system, damage/ inefficient operation of filter media and poor performance of the engine. It is highly desirable to remove moisture from the air sucked in through the air intake systems prior to entering the air filter connected to the intake system.
[003] Conventionally, air intake systems include a water separator in order to remove moisture form the sucked air through the air intake system. In many cases, a separate inline pre-cleaner downstream of snorkel is used to remove water from the air entering the air filter.
[004] However, use of a separate in-line pre-cleaner adds to manufacturing cost of the air intake systems. Further, this additional part adds to the complexity of the air intake system and in turn increases the restriction of the air intake system.
[005] In light of the above shortcomings and drawbacks of the existing systems, it is desirable to have an air intake system comprising a snorkel with in-built water removal function and without the need of any additional part attached to the air-intake system for achieving the said function.
Summary of Invention
[006] Embodiments of the present disclosure present technological improvements as solutions to one or more of the above-mentioned technical problems recognized by the inventor(s) in conventional systems.
[007] The present invention relates to an air intake system design comprising a snorkel with inbuilt guides to design the air flow path internally such that water droplets are separated as they travel from snorkel inlet to outlet connected to an air filter. The internal passage of the snorkel is designed in a manner to remove the water droplets by separating them from the air. The separated water droplets are then admitted into separate ports from where they are drained out.
[008] Beneficially, the present invention provides for a snorkel comprising an enclosed structure for creating an air flow path within, with a first end of the enclosed structure connectable to an air inlet for drawing unfiltered air and a second end of the enclosed structure connectable, via an air outlet, to an air filter, characterized in that the enclosed structure of the snorkel further includes:
a path deflector guide, designed in form of an upper member and a lower member, near the second end of the enclosed structure wherein the path deflector guide is co-axial to the air flow path and operable to separate water droplets from unfiltered air; and
a dual water outlet port, beneath the path deflector guide, connected to the second end with each of the dual water outlet ports spaced apart from each other forming a centrally spaced passage therethrough for water-separated air to pass into the air outlet.
[009] Additional aspects, advantages, features and objects of the present disclosure would be made apparent from the drawings and the detailed description of the illustrative embodiments construed in conjunction with the appended claims that follow.
[010] It will be appreciated that features of the present disclosure are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the below-mentioned detailed description and drawings.
Object of Invention
[011] An object of the present invention is to provide an air intake system capable of removing water droplets/moisture from the sucked in air prior to entering the air filter.
[012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a snorkel design with inbuilt guides for water-air separation from the sucked in air through the snorkel.
[013] Another object of the present invention is to eliminate the need of any additional static or moving part for separating water from the sucked in air through the air intake system.
[014] Another object of the present invention is to reduce cost of designing efficient air intake system design with air-water separation function.
[015] A further object of the present invention is to reduce the air restrictions within the snorkel while separating water droplets/moisture from the sucked in air.

Brief Description of Drawings
[016] The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments are better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, exemplary constructions of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers.
[017] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:
[018] Fig. 1 shows the perspective view of the snorkel according to the present invention.
[019] Fig. 2 depicts the zoom in cross section view of the path deflector guide of the snorkel, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[020] Fig. 3 depicts the zoom in view of the path deflector guide of the snorkel, as one of the embodiments of the present invention.
[021] Fig. 4 depicts the zoom in view of the path deflector guide of the snorkel, as one of the embodiments of the present invention.
[022] In the accompanying drawings, an underlined number is employed to represent an item over which the underlined number is positioned or an item to which the underlined number is adjacent. A nonunderlined number relates to an item identified by a line linking the nonunderlined number to the item. When a number is non-underlined and accompanied by an associated arrow, the non-underlined number is used to identify a general item at which the arrow is pointing.
[023] It will be appreciated that the drawings illustrated herein are for representative purposes only and do not intend to limit the scope of the present disclosure, and actual implementation of the present disclosure may be viewed substantially differently.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[024] The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the present disclosure and ways in which they can be implemented. Although some modes of carrying out the present disclosure have been disclosed, those skilled in the art would recognize that other embodiments for carrying out or practicing the present disclosure are also possible.
[025] The present invention relates to a snorkel design for air intake systems for automobiles wherein the snorkel comprises inbuilt path deflector guides to separate water droplets from the incoming unfiltered air through the snorkel, thereby preventing water from entering the air filter and subsequently the engine of the automobile.
[026] The snorkel 100, as shown in Fig.1, comprises an enclosed structure 102 having two ends, referred throughout this disclosure as a first end 104 and a second end 106 of the enclosed structure 102. The first end 104 of the enclosed structure 102 is connected to an air inlet and the second end 106 of the enclosed structure 102 is connected to an air filter (not shown) of an automobile through an air outlet 108.
[027] The air inlet as shown by arrow draws unfiltered air into the enclosed structure 102 of the snorkel 100. The unfiltered air drawn through the air inlet contains water droplets, often in form of moisture. The air inlet creates a suction for drawing air into the enclosed structure 102 of the snorkel 100. The air outlet 108 provided at the second end 106 of the enclosed structure 102 is connected to an air filter (not shown) which is further connected to an engine of the automobile and allows water-separated air to enter the air filter. The enclosed structure 102 with two closed ends i.e. the first end 104 and the second end 106 creates an air flow path for the unfiltered air flowing from the first end 104 to the second end 106.
[028] The enclosed structure 102 of the snorkel 100 is designed in a manner to include a path deflector guide 110 near the second end 106 of the enclosed structure 102. Fig. 2 depicts the enclosed structure 102 of the snorkel 100 with the path deflector guide 110. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the path deflector guide 110 is made up of an upper member 112 and a lower member 114 with both the upper and the lower member contiguously joined together and placed co-axially to the air flow path of the unfiltered air entering the enclosed structure 102 of the snorkel 100 through the air inlet. It would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the upper member 112 and the lower member 114 of the path deflector guide 110 may be left disjoint and may still perform the same deflection and would be covered in essence by this application. The path deflector guide 110 is operable to separate water droplets/moisture from the unfiltered air. The upper member 112 and the lower member 114 of the path deflector guide 110 are deflected, on the sides, at a first predetermined angle and a second predetermined angle respectively, from the co-axial air flow path, thereby resulting in a curvilinear shape. Preferably, the first predetermined angle pertaining to the upper member 112 of the path deflector guide 110 lies in the range of 60-100 degrees and the second predetermined angle pertaining to the lower member 114 lies in the range of 80-140 degrees. It shall be appreciated by person skilled in the art that any of the angle within the claimed angle range shall result in optimal performance of the water separation capability of the path deflector guide 110. In an embodiment, both sides i.e. the right side and the left side, of each of the upper 112 and lower member 114 of the path deflector 110 guide may be deflected equally by an angle within the prescribed angle range. Alternatively, optionally, the left side and the right side of the lower 114 and the upper member 112 may have unequal angle of deflection.
[029] The path deflector guide 110, as disclosed herein, is operable to obstruct the air flow path of the unfiltered air entering the enclosed structure 102 from the air inlet. The unfiltered air drawn into the air inlet gushes into the enclosed structure 102 of the snorkel 100 at high speed creating an air flow path in the enclosed structure 102. On countering the obstruction in form of upper member 112 of the path deflector guide 110, the air flow path breaks down into two individual streams and guided down by the curvilinear sides of the upper member 112 of the path deflector guide 110. The breaking of air flow path into two individual streams results in a sudden loss of velocity of the unfiltered air. This decrease in velocity of the unfiltered air results in heavier particles, in form of water droplets, to continue the deflected path, along both sides, straight downwards towards each of dual water outlet ports 116 which is explained later in the description. The lighter unfiltered air, separated of water droplets, from both the individual streams glides along the curvilinear sides of the lower member 114 of the path deflector guide 110 into the passage created between the spaced dual water outlet ports 116. This is achieved on account of low-pressure zone in the passage and the lighter unfiltered air, separated of water droplets, is sucked into the air outlet.
[030] The enclosed structure 102 further comprises a dual water outlet ports 116 beneath the path deflector guide 110 for draining out the water droplets separated from the unfiltered air. Water droplets from each of the individual streams of the unfiltered air gliding down the sides of the upper member 112 of the path deflector guide 110 is drained out from respective water outlet ports 116.
[031] In operation, air required for combustion in the engine is drawn by the air inlet attached to the first end 104 of the snorkel 100. This air is unfiltered air and contains water droplets/moisture along with other contaminants. The air drawn into the enclosed structure 102 of the snorkel 100 through the air inlet moves at a high velocity within the enclosed structure 102 and gets divided into two individual streams on account of obstruction caused by the upper member 112 of the path deflector guide 110. The two broken streams of unfiltered air glides through the curvilinear sides of the upper member 112 and moves downwards. The water particles being heavier trickle down and the lighter air, separated from water droplets, glides along the curvilinear sides of the lower member 114. The water particles then enter into the passage created by the dual water outlet ports 116 and the lighter air is finally drawn into the air outlet 108 connected to the air filter (not shown). The heavier water particles in both the streams of unfiltered air is drained out through the respective water outlet ports 116. This results in water-separated air entering the air-filter and thereby achieving the objects of the invention without the need of an addition inline pre-cleaner.
[032] In another embodiment of the present invention as shown in Fig. 3, the path deflector guide 110 comprises of a single member 118 deflected on each side at a first predetermined angle.
[033] In an alternate embodiment of the present invention as shown in Fig. 4, the path deflector guide 110 comprises of a single member with a top edge 122 and a bottom edge 124 deflected on each side at the first predetermined angle and the second predetermined angle, respectively. It shall be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the top edge 122 and the bottom edge 124 can have different thickness in order to accommodate the predetermined angle ranges.
[034] In another embodiment of the present invention, an air intake system for an automobile is disclosed wherein the air intake system comprises the snorkel as claimed in the foregoing paragraphs.
[035] Any examples or illustrations given herein are not to be regarded in any way as restrictions on, limits to, or express definitions of, any term or terms with which they are utilized. Instead, these examples or illustrations are to be regarded as illustrative only. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any term or terms with which these examples or illustrations are utilized will encompass other embodiments which may or may not be given therewith or elsewhere in the specification and all such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of that term or terms.
[036] The description, embodiments and figures are not to be taken as limiting the scope of the claims. It will be appreciated that features of the present disclosure are susceptible to being combined in various combinations and additional features may be introduced without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
[037] Modifications to embodiments of the present disclosure described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as “including”, “comprising”, “incorporating”, “have”, “is” used to describe and claim the present disclosure are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural.