Internal-combustion engines – Intake manifold – For use with carburetor upstream of manifold
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-17
2001-07-24
Kamen, Noah P. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Intake manifold
For use with carburetor upstream of manifold
C123S184380, C123S184390, C440S08800J, C440S111000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263851
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an engine of the type used to power a watercraft. More particularly, the invention is an air inlet device for such an engine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Internal combustion engines are commonly used to power small watercraft such as personal watercraft. These watercraft include a hull which defines an engine compartment. The engine is positioned in the engine compartment. The output shaft of the engine is coupled to a water propulsion device of the watercraft, such as an impeller.
Air must be supplied to the engine from outside the hull for use in the combustion process. Typically, air flows through one or more ducts in the hull into the engine compartment, and then through an intake system of the engine to the combustion chamber(s) thereof.
The intake system commonly includes an air box defining an air chamber into which air from within the engine compartment is drawn. This air then flows through an intake pipe to the combustion chamber(s) of the engine. Generally, the air box is very large so that water separates from the air within the box. The box has a large flat bottom surface onto which the water is deposited and from which the water drains.
A problem is that the engine compartment of the watercraft is very small. As such, the air box can either not be as large as is necessary to properly permit separation of the water from the air, or is so large that it requires the watercraft to be larger or occupies much needed space for other components.
Another problem is that the water drains very slowly from the flat bottom of the air box. If the rate at which the water drains is too slow, the water level may rise to a high level, or the standing water may be redrawn into the air. In either case, water may enter the intake system and be drawn into the engine. This may result in corrosion of various engine parts and contribute to poor engine operating performance.
An improved air inlet device for an engine powering a watercraft is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention there is provided an air inlet device for an engine. Preferably, the engine is of the type used to power a watercraft. The watercraft has a water propulsion device and a hull defining an engine compartment in which the engine is positioned.
The engine has a body defining at least one combustion chamber and has an output shaft arranged to drive the water propulsion device. Air is supplied to the combustion chamber of the engine through the air inlet device.
The air inlet device includes an intake pipe extending outwardly from the engine and an air box connected to a distal end of the intake pipe. The air box has a cover having a top and a bottom and defining an interior air chamber, an air inlet provided near the top of the air box and a drain provided through the bottom of the air box. The intake pipe has a passage therethrough leading from the interior air chamber of the air box to said engine.
As one aspect of the invention, the air box has a width at the top which is greater than a width at the bottom.
As another aspect of the invention, the distal end of the intake pipe has a top portion and a bottom portion. The bottom portion of the intake pipe is positioned closer to an adjacent side wall of the hull of the watercraft than the top portion.
Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention over the prior art will become apparent from the detailed description of the drawings which follows, when considered with the attached figures.
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patent: 5908337 (1999-06-01), Mashiko
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patent: 8-74687 (1996-03-01), None
Kamen Noah P.
Knobbe Martens Olsen & Bear LLP
Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
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