Internal-combustion engines – Engine speed regulator – Having plural throttle valve structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-01
2001-11-27
Kwon, John (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Engine speed regulator
Having plural throttle valve structure
C123S337000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321718
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF APPLICATION AND STATE OF THE ART
The invention relates to an intake module, especially for internal combustion engines, having an intake tract with at least two intake ducts and a closing means in each intake duct for affecting the duct cross section.
An intake module of this kind is disclosed in DE 195 03 771 A1 and has the advantage declared therein that, by means of a permanently open and a variably closing intake tube opening, the delivery of the combustion mixture to the internal combustion engine can be optimized for the amount of power required. At an appropriate speed of the motor a rotary valve is opened and the so-called power duct is opened, whereby among other things both the fuel consumption and the discharge of pollutants from the motor can be advantageously reduced.
In the known intake module, however, there is the disadvantage that the operation of the rotary valve controlling the intake duct openings is not without problems. In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 of DE 195 03 771 A1, four rotary valve are connected together excentrically by a single push rod and can thus be operated. However, due to manufacturing and component tolerances it is very difficult in the system described, and possible only at great cost, to keep all rotary valves each in precisely the same position.
Especially to be noted here are the CLOSED and the OPEN position, for here it is of especial importance that the intake tube opening is either fully closed or fully open. For example, it may be possible, due even to slight variations in the length of the push rod, that in the CLOSED position actually desired, one rotary valve may not completely close the intake tube opening. As a result a different combustion mixture is fed to one cylinder, resulting in poorer combustion and possibly undesired side-effects as well as power losses in the motor. For cost reasons, however, an intake module according to the invention is to be inexpensive and accordingly it has to be made without great complication.
The invention is addressed to the problem of creating an intake module with closing means in intake ducts of an intake tract, which will avoid the disadvantages of the state of the art, call for little complexity in manufacture, and provide reliable operation.
This problem is solved in that at least two closing means can be operated by common actuating means through coupling means which have at least one elastic portion for equalizing tolerances between actuating means and closing means. Elasticity and elastic portion are here to be understood to mean that they are deliberately provided and precisely dimensioned within a range that is advantageous to the application of the invention. Advantageously, they go beyond the elasticity inherent in any workpiece in the case of sufficiently (very) great stress. Accordingly, the force to be applied by the actuating means and producing the elasticity is within a range common for the purpose. On the other hand, the elasticity of the elastic area should not be too “soft,” so that at all times a position of the closing means that is established and controllable by the actuating means is assured.
In an embodiment of the invention an elastic link can be provided between actuating means, coupling means and/or closing means. This is possible, for example, through a combination of different materials having different properties as regards strength and stiffness. With special preference, however, an elastic portion is in a zone of weakened material, preferably a thinning, perforation or excavation of material. Thus the strength is reduced at this point and to a certain extent a joint or flexible portion or elasticity portion is created. Also possible is a material modification, as for example local heating or irradiation with UV light which can produce a change or a softening of the area in question.
It is possible to make the coupling means of a plurality of pieces, but preferably they are in one piece, so that the manufacturing and assembly work can be reduced. In case of a multipartite design of the coupling means, identical components can be used or combined advantageously.
In a preferred embodiment, the coupling means have at least one main rod, which especially has at least one elastic portion. Advantageously, therefore, a main rod can connect directly or indirectly together at least two closing means, and especially in the case of the transfer of force it can be made slender along its longitudinal axis and yet sufficiently stable. To reduce the manufacturing cost the coupling means can be journaled substantially to the closing means, since their mounting in the intake ducts is necessary anyway for reliable operation. By this kind of journaling of the coupling means any possible equalization of tolerances by elasticity between actuating means and closing means is improved.
The coupling means can have connecting elements by means of which they can be connected, especially by articulation, to the closing means, the connecting elements preferably extending approximately vertically from the coupling means. Thus the coupling means do not have to run directly to the closing means. The connecting elements can be in the form of branch rods. The vertically reaching connection results in an especially simple possibility for arranging an elastic portion which comprises the connecting elements, which will reach preferably from its beginning to its end. The elasticity in this case consists not in a compression of elongated coupling means in the longitudinal direction, but is created by a flexure only of the connecting elements. In this manner an inherent elasticity can be created, especially in the case of connecting elements connected stiffly to preferably integrally made coupling means. The latter can be more easily flexed in the transverse direction.
In an alternative embodiment it is possible for the connecting elements to be connected elastically or articulately to a main rod and/or to additional components of the coupling means, in which case they are made preferably of rigid shape and the elastic area is provided in the connection. Such a connection can be made, for example, in a connecting portion having a thin cross section or a cross section forming elasticity.
The closing means used are preferably valves, especially substantially round valves which can be rotated about an axis. Such valves are easy to manufacture and install and, due to their relatively small cross section, they block only a small part of the flow cross section of an intake duct. Preferably they can be operated through connecting levers and ball joints of the coupling means or connecting elements.
Designing the coupling means together with the connecting elements makes possible a construction in which a part of the coupling means is moved and thrust substantially in the longitudinal direction, while with connecting elements running out from it closing means at different distances from the coupling means can be pivoted.
Preferably, all closing means assume substantially the same position, two positions being especially provided, a CLOSED and an OPEN position, preferably achievable by means of the tolerance equalization, each of these positions being determined by abutments for the closing means. Thus individual closing means can be urged toward an end position and additionally urged by the coupling means in order to urge any closing means which are not yet entirely in the same position, likewise against their abutments. Then the force applied by the actuating means to the closing means or valves can be reduced or removed.
Rotatory actuating means and a substantially translational movement of the coupling means are possible, in which case a conversion of the rotary movement to longitudinal movement is accomplished through an excentric pin on the actuating means and a removal opening in the coupling means, especially substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the coupling means, the actuating means being able to be formed by a servomotor plus gearing.
In the case of
Dobusch Heinz
Jessberger Thomas
Kleinehakenkamp Norbert
Mangold Christof
Maurer Hermann
Crowell & Moring LLP
Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
Kwon John
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