Internal-combustion engines – Intake manifold
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-20
2001-04-03
Kamen, Noah P. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Intake manifold
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209501
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a suction system for an internal combustion engine. More particularly, it relates to a suction system for an internal combustion engine which provides fewer components, is lighter in weight, and effectively utilizes space in an engine room or compartment. In addition, the invention provides improved rigidity of a swirl valve assembly, improved mounting rigidity of an intake manifold, and improved reliability of a throttle body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In internal combustion engines disposed in vehicles, there is one type of engine including a device that is operated by negative suction pressure. In addition, there is such a device of the type including a negative pressure tank for storing the negative suction pressure. Such a tank protects against instances where the negative suction pressure sufficient to operate the internal combustion engine may be impossible to ensure, dependent upon different states in which the engine is run.
One example of such a device is a suction system that imparts swirl to intake air, which is aspirated into a combustion chamber, and thereby provides improved combustibility, with consequential respective reductions in a fuel consumption rate and harmful exhaust components. In some of the suction systems, branch pipes of an intake manifold are connected to a cylinder head of the engine through a swirl valve assembly, and further a swirl valve is disposed in the swirl valve assembly.
One example of such a swirl valve assembly of the suction system is shown in FIG.
18
. In
FIG. 18
, reference numeral
202
denotes a suction system for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine (not shown);
204
a swirl valve assembly;
206
a main body; and,
208
,
210
first and second intake passages. In the suction system
202
, the swirl valve assembly
204
has the first and second intake passages
208
,
210
provided in the main body
206
. The first and second intake passages
208
,
210
communicate with a single combustion chamber (not shown).
The swirl valve assembly
204
has swirl valves
212
disposed in one of the first and second intake passages
208
,
210
, i.e., the second intake passage
210
in FIG.
18
. The swirl valves
212
are opened and closed by a swirl valve actuator (not shown). The swirl valve actuator is a negative pressure-operated apparatus (not shown).
There is a negative pressure tank
214
separated from the main body
206
. The tank
214
includes a tank chamber
216
, in which negative suction pressure is stored. The negative suction pressure is introduced into the swirl valve actuator from the tank
214
. The main body
206
includes a negative pressure introduction passage
218
for introduction of the negative suction pressure from the other of the first and second intake passages
208
,
210
, i.e., the first intake passage
208
in FIG.
18
.
The negative pressure introduction passage
218
and the tank chamber
216
communicate with one another through a communication pipe
220
. A check valve
222
is disposed substantially midway along the communication pipe
220
for permitting the negative suction pressure to be introduced from the negative pressure introduction passage
218
into the tank chamber
216
.
In the suction system
202
, an actuator control valve (not shown) serves to control the negative suction pressure that is supplied to the swirl valve actuator form the negative pressure tank
214
. Then, the swirl valves are opened and closed to impart swirl to intake air that enters the combustion chamber, thereby providing improved combustibility.
Several examples of such a suction system are disclosed in published Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 64-11358, 8-30457, and 3-41056, as discussed below.
In the suction system as disclosed in Application No. 64-11358, there is provided a tank body having a space isolated by both an inner space of a collector on the upstream side of an intake manifold and a partition wall. A one-way valve is provided on the partition wall.
In the suction system as disclosed in Application No. 8-30457, a negative pressure tank is disposed on branch members that are serially arranged on the downstream side of an intake pipe. The negative pressure tank is common to cylinders. The negative pressure tank is connected to an intake passage through a communication passage. A control valve is provided in the communication passage.
In the suction system as disclosed in application No. 3-41056, a closed space between a surge tank, which surge tank forms an intake expansion chamber, and a member that forms an independent intake passage extending in a curved manner downwardly from the top of the surge tank. The intake expansion chamber and the closed space communicate with one another through a negative pressure passage. A check valve is disposed in the negative pressure passage.
In the suction system
202
of a conventional type as illustrated in
FIG. 18
, the swirl valves
212
are disposed in the swirl valve assembly
204
. In addition, the separate negative pressure tank
214
reserves the negative suction pressure that is supplied to the swirl valve actuator for opening and closing the swirl valves
212
. However, such a separate tank
214
brings about inconveniences of an increased number of components, heavier weight, and restrictions on layout.
As a consequence, there is a suction system of the type having the negative pressure tank integrally assembled on either the branch pipes of the intake manifold or the surge tank, as described in the above-cited references.
However, as is the case with the suction system
202
shown in
FIG. 18
, an inconvenience of complex layout arises when the branch pipes of the intake manifold are connected to a cylinder head through the swirl valve assembly
204
. This is because pipes must be laid from the negative pressure tank disposed on either the branch pipes or the surge tank to the swirl valve actuator that opens and closes the swirl valves
212
in the swirl valve assembly
204
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to obviate or minimize the above inconveniences, one aspect of the present invention relates to a suction system for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having branch pipes of an intake manifold disposed on and connected to a cylinder head through a swirl valve assembly. The suction system includes first and second intake passages provided in a main body of the swirl valve assembly and a swirl valve disposed in one of first and second intake passages, the first and second intake passages communicating with a single combustion chamber, a tank chamber provided in the main body and formed between first and second intake passage walls and a peripheral wall surrounding the first and second intake passage walls. The first and second intake passage walls form or define the first and second intake passages, and the tank chamber is defined and blocked by being connected to one of the branch pipes and the cylinder head. A negative pressure introduction passage-is provided in the main body for introducing negative suction pressure from the other of the first and second intake passages into the tank chamber.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a suction system for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine wherein the swirl valve assembly has the tank chamber formed into at least two parts (i.e., first and second tank chambers), the first tank chamber communicates-with the negative pressure introduction passage, the second tank chamber is isolated from the first tank chamber, and wherein the swirl valve assembly includes a communication pipe for enabling communication of the first and second tank chambers with one another. Further, a check valve is disposed in the communication pipe for permitting the negative suction pressure to be introduced into the second tank chamber from the first tank chamber.
A further aspect of the present invention relates to a suction system for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine wherein the swirl valve assembly has the communicati
Ali Hyder
Flynn ,Thiel, Boutell & Tanis, P.C.
Kamen Noah P.
Suzuki Motor Corporation
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