Internal-combustion engines – Intake manifold – Manifold tuning – balancing or pressure regulating means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-04
2001-10-09
McMahon, Marguerite (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Intake manifold
Manifold tuning, balancing or pressure regulating means
C277S377000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298816
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This in invention relates to a simple and secure way for mounting a resonator into an air intake system for a vehicle, and in particular to a connection system utilizing a vacuum seal with a vibration isolator.
Vehicle engines are typically provided with an air intake system for providing clean air to the engine cylinders. A throttle valve controls the amount of air flow to the cylinder. Recently, so called electronic controls (ETC) systems have been developed wherein the throttle is controlled by an electronic control. The ETC systems are typically mounted into a housing which includes the fluid path, the throttle and an associated control. The ETC is placed between a supply of air, and the engine. There is typically a connection in the ETC body for connection to an air resonator assembly which supplies the clean air. The air resonator assembly is designed to limit noise traveling from the engine outwardly along the air flow line. Typically the air resonator is designed to provide a volume to deaden or eliminate noise from the engine. While the application specifically discloses an electronic throttle control, mechanically actuated throttle bodies will also benefit from this invention.
Typically, known air resonator systems have had a female hose which extends over a bore on the throttle body. A clamp is then tightened onto the hose, squeezing it onto the body. This connection is somewhat time consuming, and not always reliable. Hose connections do not always withstand the inherent vibration that is associated with an engine component.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a disclosed embodiment of this invention, a connection between a air supply line component and an air resonator utilizes an internal vacuum seal sealing an interface between the two components. Most preferably, the air resonator is connected onto a boss on an ETC body. The vacuum seal is preferably mounted within a groove in an outer periphery of the boss associated with the ETC body. The vacuum seal preferably has a cylindrical lip extending in a direction away from the resonator and at an angle. Moreover, forward of the seal cylindrical lip are a pair of integrally molded bumpers or vibration isolators. The vibration isolators deaden any effect of vibration between the two components such that the connection between the two remains strong. The present invention thus allows the connection of the air resonator directly to the ETC without the requirement of any hose clamps, etc. Moreover, the connection is more reliable than the prior art given the friction connection between the two components through the use of the vacuum seal.
Again, while the invention is specifically disclosed with an ETC, mechanically actuated throttle bodies will also benefit from this invention.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4343480 (1982-08-01), Vassallo
patent: 5158045 (1992-10-01), Arthur et al.
patent: 5188078 (1993-02-01), Tamaki
patent: 5474039 (1995-12-01), Doragrip
patent: 5655795 (1997-08-01), Strnad et al.
patent: 395 465 B (1993-01-01), None
patent: 0 280 122 A (1988-08-01), None
patent: 59 103953 A (1984-06-01), None
patent: 10 259768 A (1998-09-01), None
patent: 11 107869 A (1998-12-01), None
PCT International Search Report completed Dec. 19, 2000.
McMahon Marguerite
Siemens Canada Limited
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