Internal-combustion engines – Accessories – Covers – trays – vibrators – corrosion inhibitors – air filters
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-26
2003-05-20
Kamen, Noah P. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Accessories
Covers, trays, vibrators, corrosion inhibitors, air filters
C055S385300, C180S068300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06564768
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an intake system for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle.
German patent no. DE 196 13 860 discloses an air intake filter unit for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle with a tubular space that is connected to a main intake and a secondary intake via intake lines. A sealing device that can alternately close one intake line and open the other intake line is provided in addition. This sealing device is moved by means of an actuating element in such a way that the sealing device closes the main intake and opens the secondary intake when the motor vehicle is immersed in water. This actuating element is operatively linked with a slide valve. The slide valve is arranged in a tube, which is open along its lower end, and is sealed relative to said tube. The slide valve is operatively linked with a permanent magnet. The sealing device is operatively linked with an additional permanent magnet. This permanent magnet of the sealing device is rotatable relative to the permanent magnet of the actuating element.
The disadvantage of this embodiment is that the tube, which is arranged in the engine compartment, requires a considerable amount of space. The tube may not be made too small since the switching point of the arrangement can otherwise not be precisely defined. This mechanical switching arrangement furthermore responds only if the vehicle is immersed into standing water. In case of road spray, the pressure that builds up is insufficient for switching, so that water reaches the intake tract and impairs the functioning of the engine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an air intake system that can be integrated into a small space.
Another object of the invention is to provide an air intake system that prevents snow, road spray or gushes of water from entering the air intake.
These and other objects are achieved by the invention as described and claimed hereinafter.
The intake system for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle according to the invention has a first air intake and a second air intake for raw (i.e., unfiltered) air. These two air intakes are combined into a common line, which line communicates with the internal combustion engine. The two air intakes may also be combined directly in front of the internal combustion engine, in which case each air intake has its own components, e.g., its own filter element. Each air intake comprises an opening through which air can flow into the intake system and a line segment, which connects this opening with the line or with other components arranged between the line and the air intake. The air intakes can be closed off with a closure element or valve member, so that air reaches the line communicating with the internal combustion engine through either the first air intake or the second air intake. The valve member completely blocks the respective air intake, so that air can flow into the line only through the unblocked air intake. The valve member can be formed, for instance, by a rotary body with corresponding openings. This rotary body opens the first air intake in one end position and closes the first air intake in a second end position.
The incoming air is either directly or indirectly guided to the internal combustion engine through the line communicating with the internal combustion engine. If the air is indirectly guided to the internal combustion engine, it can be pretreated, e.g., dried or cooled. If the air is directly guided to the internal combustion engine, no further component is arranged in the line.
The first air intake is disposed at a point in the motor vehicle that is advantageous for air intake. The front area is a preferred location since impact pressure is created as a function of the vehicle speed and the air is pressed into the air intake, which improves the filling ratio of the cylinders. Furthermore, the air that is sucked in from the front area is cooler than the air present in the engine compartment. In the front area, however, snow, ice, road spray or splashes of water may also reach the first air intake. Road spray is defined as air mixed with water droplets of any size. Road spray can for example be splashed up from the road by a vehicle traveling ahead or can be produced by rain. The term gushes of water describes a larger amount of water, which may occur in the form of larger splashes or a surge of water, for instance as may be encountered in fording a river. The second air intake is arranged at a point in the vehicle that is less favorable for air intake but is protected against road spray and splashes of water. Preferred locations to arrange this second air intake can for instance be the engine compartment or the ventilation system.
To actuate the valve member, a drive unit connected to a control element is provided. This drive unit can be embodied, for instance, as an electric motor or a vacuum unit and can be actuated by means of the control element. This causes the drive unit to execute a rotary or linear movement that moves the valve member from a first end position to a second end position and thereby seals either the first or the second air intake. The control element is embodied as a moisture sensor with a signal output to control the drive unit. This moisture sensor can of course also be used for feedback control.
The moisture sensor may be adjusted in such a way that it sends a signal to the drive unit even if there is road spray, which already impairs the functioning of the internal combustion engine. This signal causes the first air intake to be closed. At another setting of the moisture sensor, the signal for closing the first air intake is emitted only if the moisture sensor is surrounded by water. The signal of the moisture sensor can be sent to the drive unit either directly or via an electronic element, e.g., the motor control. As soon as the first air intake is closed by the valve member, the second air intake is opened, whereby the internal combustion engine receives combustion air sucked in through the second air intake.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the valve member is a pivotable valve. This pivotable valve can for instance be circular, oval or rectangular, so that it closes the second air intake in a first position and the first air intake in a second position. The pivotable valve can be arranged centrally on a valve shaft and can be moved by a rotary movement of the valve shaft. In other embodiments, the valve shaft is arranged along an edge area so as to provide an air intake that is free from interfering contours. To prevent penetration of water into the first air intake, particularly in case of immersion into a body of water, the pivotable valve may be provided with a circumferential seal. Other embodiments are feasible, in which a first pivotable valve is arranged in the first air intake and a second pivotable valve in the second air intake. The two pivotable valves are connected so that they communicate with one another. As soon as the first pivotable valve changes its position, the second pivotable valve also moves, so that one air intake is always open while the other one is closed. This communicating connection of the pivotable valves can be mechanical, e.g., using a strut, or electronic, using a signal that is emitted particularly by the moisture sensor.
In one specific embodiment, the pivotable valve has two pivotable valve parts that are correspondingly connected with one another. These pivotable valve parts can be arranged at a defined angle relative to one another. They can either contact one another directly or be rigidly connected by means of connecting elements. The parallel arrangement of the pivotable valve parts relative to one another represents a special embodiment. The pivotable valve parts can also be locally separated, however, and correspond with one another only via the drive unit. The pivotable valve parts can for instance have a circular, oval or rectangular cross section with one pivotable valve part sealing one air int
Bauer Sascha
Haubold Thomas
Kolmeder Michael
Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
Kamen Noah P.
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