Intake manifold arrangement for an internal combustion engine

Details Intake manifold arrangement for an internal combustion engine Intake manifold arrangement for an internal combustion engine

2000-02-04

2001-09-18

Kamen, Noah P. (Department: 3747)

Internal-combustion engines

Intake manifold

Manifold tuning, balancing or pressure regulating means

C123S306000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06289864

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an intake manifold arrangement for an internal combustion engine, in particular for a direct injection diesel oil combustion engine, with at least one zone with an intake manifold having a flexible manifold wall, with the flexible manifold wall being formed by an inflatable element which is connected with a pressure supply line.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
From EP 0 521 921 B1 an intake arrangement for an internal combustion engine is known with gas intake manifolds which produce a tumble flow in the combustion chamber. The tumble flow is produced by an inflatable element provided at one wall of each of the respective intake manifolds. In the evacuated state of the element the intake flow of the element can pass freely. In the inflated state the intake flow is deflected in order to change the direction of the gas flow in the sense of the tumble flow. For this purpose it is necessary to guide the inflatable element relatively far into the flow, thus having a disadvantageous effect on the flow, however. An influence on the axial swirl is not intended.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,216,985 and 4,928,638 A each describe intake manifold arrangements for internal combustion engines in which the manifold cross section and thus the flow speed can be changed by an inflatable membrane. Fuel consumption can be improved by changing the flow speed.
From the Japanese published application no. 61-28 715 an intake manifold arrangement for an internal combustion engine is known in which a pipe ending in the zone of the valve seat is arranged in the centre in the intake manifold so as to control the swirl. An inflatable membrane is arranged in the inlet zone of the pipe around the same, thus enabling the control of the flow through the pipe and thus of the swirl.
From DE 40 16 728 A1 a device for controlling the swirl is known which is formed by a valve seat ring with an inflatable swirl insert.
These known elements for controlling the swirl have the disadvantage that they influence the flow to a relatively high extent even in the idle state and thus have an adverse effect on the flow rate.
Moreover, an internal combustion engine is known from DE 31 41 880 A1 in which the tongue length of the spiral manifold and thus the intake swirl can be changed by an inflatable hollow body. Since the tongue area in the spiral manifold is the location where the smallest changes of shape and position lead to the largest effects on the swirl, even minimal changes in regulating pressure have a strong effect on the swirl. Due to this sensitivity a stable engine state that can repeatedly be set can only be realized with difficulty. Apart from that, the system can only be produced with high expenditure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to avoid such disadvantages and to improve an intake manifold arrangement of the kind mentioned above in such a way that in particular the axial intake swirl can repeatedly be adjusted and controlled without any major negative effects on the flow rate.
This occurs in accordance with the invention in such a way that the inflatable element is arranged in a recess of the intake manifold wall. In this way the shape of the manifold can be changed dynamically without having a negative influence on the flow rate in engine operation. It can be provided that the flexible manifold wall is provided in at least one position with an arrangement extending steadily with the ambient rigid manifold wall. In order to avoid flow impairments such as separation phenomena it is particularly favorable if the element is substantially adapted to the shape of the intake manifold both in the inflated as well as the deflated state.
It is provided for in a preferable embodiment that the inflatable element can optionally be pressurized by way of a pressure supply line, which pressure is either equal to or higher or lower than the pressure in the intake manifold. The inflatable element can be provided both with an inflatable as well as evacuatable arrangement. A middle position of the element can correspond to the unimpaired originally cast shape of the manifold.
It is provided for in a particularly simple embodiment that the inflatable element is substantially arranged as a membrane. As an alternative it is possible to arrange the inflatable element as a cushion.
It is particularly preferable if the recess receiving the elastic element is arranged substantially annularly and is preferably arranged so as to encircle the elastic element. It is preferably provided that the elastic element comprises several chambers which can preferably be pressurized independently from one another.
In a particularly preferable embodiment of the invention it is provided that the intake manifold can be closed off at least partly by the inflatable element, with the inflatable element preferably forming a throttle for the intake manifold. This embodiment is particularly favorable when at least two intake manifolds are present per cylinder which can be arranged as spiral and/or tangential manifold. If a tangential manifold is present, a more or less complete closure of the tangential manifold can be achieved by one or several inflatable elements.
If a control of the axial swirl flow is especially desired, it is advisable to arrange the inflatable element in the zone of the opening into the cylinder.
Plastic such as Teflon can be used as a material for the inflatable element, with the plastic being reinforced with fibers having a directed structure so as to achieve a high tensile strength. In this way a microstructure such as longitudinal grooves on the surface can be realized.


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