Internal-combustion engines – Intake manifold – Manifold tuning – balancing or pressure regulating means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-05
2001-11-13
Kamen, Noah P. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Intake manifold
Manifold tuning, balancing or pressure regulating means
C181S229000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314931
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the structure of a snorkel duct preferably for use in an all terrain vehicle, such as a four-wheel buggy vehicle.
2. Background Art
A snorkel duct in all terrain type vehicles needs to open at a position at which water, mud, snow, dust or the like is unlikely to invade the air intake system of the vehicle. Accordingly, it would appear obvious to increase the length of air intake pipe to a distance that would prevent ingestion of solid or liquid contaminates. However, air flow resistance is consequently increased as the length of the intake pipe is increased. An example of a vehicle having such a long snorkel duct is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2873938.
In the conventional intake system of described above, a plate-like flange is formed at a position deviating from an intermediate portion of the intake duct in order to effectively reduce the intake passage by as much as forty to seventy percent. This arrangement is utilized in order to maintain a proper air-fuel ratio independently of engine speed.
However, increasing the cross sectional area of the intake opening in this arrangement by widening the snorkel duct in order to reduce the air-flow resistance is liable to deteriorated any silencing effects of intake noise. This type of arrangement will also limit the potential layout of the intake system of any vehicle for which it is employed, thereby reducing frame design and the positioning of components. Further, when the length of the intake pipe is substantially increased as in the conventional art, undesirable noises are caused by pulsations of air flow through the snorkel duct and intake pipe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the shortcomings associated with the prior art and achieves other advantages not realized by the prior art.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a snorkel duct structure that can be utilized in a variety of vehicle designs and arrangements.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a snorkel duct structure that can be long enough to prevent ingestion of solid and liquid contaminants along with outside air while still reducing noise.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a snorkel duct structure that reduces maintenance procedures and requirements.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a rapid increase in the inlet cross sectional area of the snorkel duct structure while also reducing air-flow resistance, prevent pulsation sounds from being generated, and silencing intake noise.
Accordingly, these and other objects are accomplished by a snorkel duct for an all terrain vehicle comprising a main body portion extending from an air cleaner for the all terrain vehicle; a bent portion formed on a front end side of the snorkel duct and which opens as an inlet for introducing outside air to the air cleaner; an expansion chamber provided at a side face of the main body portion in a vicinity of the bent portion; and a main opening portion formed at the side face of the main body portion, wherein the expansion chamber and an inner portion of the main body portion are in communication with each other via the main opening portion.
These and other objects are further accomplished by a snorkel duct for preventing ingestion of water and contaminants into an air cleaner of an all-terrain vehicle, the snorkel duct comprising a main body portion having an upper end portion and a connecting portion; a bent portion formed on a front end side of the snorkel duct and which opens as an inlet for introducing outside air to the air cleaner; an expansion chamber attached at a lower side face of the main body portion between the bent portion and an upper end portion of the main body portion; a main opening portion formed at the lower side face of the main body portion, wherein the expansion chamber and an inner portion of the main body portion are in communication with each other via the main opening portion; and a drain hole formed at the lower side face of the main body portion between the connecting end and the main opening portion for draining water from the expansion tank to the air cleaner.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5424494 (1995-06-01), Houle et al.
patent: 4-132869 (1992-05-01), None
patent: 9-256922 (1997-09-01), None
patent: A2873938 (1999-01-01), None
Koyanagi Masasi
Tsuruta Yuichiro
Yasuda Kazuhiro
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Kamen Noah P.
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