Internal-combustion engines – Accessories – Covers – trays – vibrators – corrosion inhibitors – air filters
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-26
2003-01-28
Kamen, Noah P. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Accessories
Covers, trays, vibrators, corrosion inhibitors, air filters
C180S068300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06510832
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a controllable air intake system for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle and to a process for controlling such an air intake system.
Published Japanese patent application no. JP 57-135 256 discloses an intake system, which has a main air inlet, an auxiliary air inlet and a water sensor. The water sensor is disposed in a container, in which water can collect. As soon as the container is filled with water and water penetrates into the main air inlet, the water sensor detects this and sends a signal to close the main air inlet by means of a valve disposed in the main air inlet. The valve is designed in such a manner that it opens the auxiliary air inlet when the main air inlet closes.
The drawback with this design is that water has to collect in the container so that the water sensor switches. In doing so, condensate from the components adjacent to the intake system can collect, for example, in the container and fill the container with the result that the water sensor sends a signal without there being any possibility of water intake. Furthermore, the filling of the container with water can take too long, for example in the case of splash water, so that the valve closes the main air inlet too late. Water that has collected once in the container causes the valve to close, even when there is no more water present in the vicinity. Thus, this control of the valve is inaccurate and unreliable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an intake system that exhibits reliable and accurate control in order to avoid water intake. This and other objects are achieved by the invention as described and claimed hereinafter.
The intake system of the invention is appropriate in an advantageous manner to take in air for an internal combustion engine and to prevent the intake of water which is detrimental to the internal combustion engine. This intake system is suitable for all types of internal combustion engines with the most diverse applications, in particular for internal combustion engines in motor vehicles.
The intake system exhibits a main air inlet for raw or unfiltered air, which, on the one hand, has an opening, and, on the other hand, is connected so as to communicate with an air filter. A clean air line, which is connected so as to communicate with the internal combustion engine, is connected on the downstream side to the air filter. Between the opening and the air filter there can be various components, which improve, for example, the acoustics of the intake system or fulfill other functions. The opening, through which air is drawn in from the environment, is arranged at an advantageous location for air intake. Preferably cool, oxygen-containing air, which has a beneficial effect on the combustion in the internal combustion engine, can be drawn in at this advantageous location for air intake. In a motor vehicle this advantageous location for air intake can be arranged, for example, in the front area, in particular behind the cooler.
A moisture sensor, which detects moisture, in particular water, entering the main air inlet, is arranged in the main air inlet. In this respect, the moisture sensor can be designed in such a manner that as soon as there is a spray of water, for example, produced by a passing vehicle, or not until water impact, produced by fording (i. e., driving through) a stream of water, does it send the signal “water in the main air inlet” to the evaluating unit. In such case, the moisture sensor is dimensioned as a function of the required sensitivity. The moisture sensor has a signal output, which is connected so as to communicate with an evaluating unit. In this respect, the connection between the signal output and the evaluating unit can be effected directly, for example, by a cable, an infrared interface, radio or indirectly by interconnected components such as control electronics or signal amplifiers. The connection transfers the signal of the moisture sensor to the evaluating unit, with the fastest possible signal transmission being advantageous. At startup of the internal combustion engine the functionality of the moisture sensor can be tested and a control signal can be emitted.
The evaluating unit is connected so as to communicate with at least one other sensor, which is arranged outside the intake system and is provided to detect other functions, not directly related to the intake system. Switching logic can be produced in the evaluating unit by means of the signal of the moisture sensor in connection with the signal of the other sensor, which is disposed outside the intake system. The signal of the moisture sensor can, for example, be confirmed or negated by the signal of the external sensor when this other sensor can also detect water. Other sensors, which detect environmental conditions other than the presence or absence of moisture, can accelerate or decelerate, for example, the closing of the main air inlet. As a function of the switching logic, defined in the evaluating unit, a control signal is emitted. The functionality of the sensor, arranged outside the intake system, can be tested, for example, at startup of the internal combustion engine, and a corresponding control signal can be emitted.
A valve, which can completely close the main air inlet when moisture or water enters, is moveably arranged in the main air inlet. This valve is connected so as to communicate with the evaluating unit. The connection between the valve and the evaluator can be effected directly, for example, by means of a cable, an infrared interface, or radio or indirectly by means of interconnected components, such as control electronics or signal amplifiers. The control signal emitted by the evaluating electronics, induces, for example, fast, slow or partial closing of the main air inlet by means of the valve, which can be constructed, for example, as a rotary disk valve, or as a one-part part or multi-part flap. To move the valve, various types of drives, such as pneumatic, hydraulic, electromagnetic or electric drives, can be used.
In addition to the main air inlet, the intake system also has auxiliary air inlet, which, on the one hand, has an inlet opening, and, on the other hand, is connected so as to communicate with the clean air line adjoining the air filter. The inlet opening is disposed at a moisture protected location. Furthermore, in particular designs the inlet opening can be arranged downstream of a water separator. In addition, the inlet opening of the auxiliary air inlet can be arranged at a higher position relative to the inlet opening of the main air inlet. Examples of suitable moisture protected places in a motor vehicle include, for example, the engine compartment or the ventilation system for the passenger compartment. As soon as the main air inlet is closed, air can flow into the intake system through this auxiliary air inlet. The cross section of the auxiliary air inlet can be greater than, equal to or smaller than that of the main air inlet. If the cross section of the auxiliary air inlet is smaller than that of the main air inlet, then due to the larger air resistance of the auxiliary air inlet, it can always remain unblocked or open, since when the main air inlet is open, the air will always flow into the intake system through the main air inlet with its larger cross section and smaller air resistance. In one advantageous design, the auxiliary air inlet is designed to be at least partially closeable, in which case the valve which is arranged in the main air inlet, can also serve to close the auxiliary air inlet. In other designs a separate blocking element to close the auxiliary air inlet can also be provided.
In accordance with one advantageous design, the other sensor, which is arranged outside the intake system, is a rain sensor, which is mounted, for example, on a windshield of a motor vehicle and detects striking rain drops or wet or moist snow. The sensor can also be connected to a windshield wiper of a motor vehicle and detect the actuat
Maurer Hermann
Novotny Georg
Sadlauer Alfred
Waltenberg Klaus
Crowell & Moring LLP
Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
Kamen Noah P.
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