Intake duct for internal combustion engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11319868-B2
Application number	US-202016927268-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2020
Priority date	Jul 19, 2019
Publication date	May 3, 2022
Grant date	May 3, 2022

Abstract

An intake duct for an internal combustion engine includes a plurality of segments coupled together into a tubular shape. The segments include at least a first segment and a second segment. The first segment is formed from a material harder than the second segment. The first segment includes a groove that extends in the extending direction in a portion coupled to the second segment and projections that project from one of two inner surfaces of the groove. The second segment is formed from a material that allows for elastic deformation. The second segment includes a rib. The rib extends in the extending direction and has a projection width that is less than the opening width of the groove. The rib is fitted into the groove so that the projections locally compress the rib in the width direction of the groove.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An intake duct for an internal combustion engine, the intake duct comprising:
a plurality of segments that extend in an extending direction and are coupled together into a tubular shape, wherein
the plurality of segments include at least a first segment and a second segment,
the first segment is formed from a material harder than the second segment,
the first segment includes a groove that extends in the extending direction in a portion coupled to the second segment and projections that project from one of two inner surfaces of the groove so as to decrease a width of the groove, the projections being spaced apart from each other in the extending direction inside the groove,
the groove includes a bottom wall, an inner wall and an outer wall,
the inner wall and the outer wall extend upwardly from the bottom wall, and face each other,
a lower end of the outer wall contacts the bottom wall throughout an entire length of the outer wall in the extending direction,
each of the projections extends from the bottom wall to an upper opening end of the groove,
the second segment is formed from a material that allows for elastic deformation,
the second segment includes a rib at a portion where the second segment is joined with the first segment, the rib extending in the extending direction and having a projection width that is less than an opening width of the groove, and
the rib is fitted into the groove so that the projections locally compress the rib in a width direction of the groove.

2. The intake duct according to claim 1 , wherein the projections each include a portion proximate to an opening of the groove of which a projection amount from the inner surface increases as the opening of the groove becomes farther.

3. The intake duct according to claim 1 , wherein the projections are formed only on an outer one of the two inner surfaces.

4. The intake duct according to claim 1 , wherein the rib includes a distal end having an L-shaped cross section and bent toward the projections.

5. The intake duct according to claim 1 , wherein
the first segment is formed from a synthetic resin material, and
the second segment is formed from a fibrous material.

6. An intake duct for an internal combustion engine, the intake duct comprising:
a plurality of segments that extend in an extending direction and are coupled together into a tubular shape, wherein
the plurality of segments include at least a first segment and a second segment,
the first segment is formed from a material harder than the second segment,
the first segment includes a groove that extends in the extending direction in a portion coupled to the second segment and projections that project from one of two inner surfaces of the groove so as to decrease a width of the groove, the projections being spaced apart from each other in the extending direction inside the groove,
the second segment is formed from a material that allows for elastic deformation,
the second segment includes a rib at a portion where the second segment is joined with the first segment, the rib extending in the extending direction,
the rib is fitted into the groove so that the projections locally compress the rib in a width direction of the groove,
the rib includes a first rib portion and a second rib portion connected each other so as to have an L-shaped cross section, the second rib portion extending from the first rib portion toward the projections in the width direction of the groove, and
a length of the second rib portion from a proximal end connected to the first rib portion to a distal end of the second rib portion is less than an opening width of the groove.

7. An intake duct for an internal combustion engine, the intake duct comprising:
a plurality of segments that extend in an extending direction and are coupled together into a tubular shape, wherein
the plurality of segments include at least a first segment and a second segment,
the first segment is formed from a material harder than the second segment,
the first segment includes a groove that extends in the extending direction in a portion coupled to the second segment and projections that project from one of two inner surfaces of the groove so as to decrease a width of the groove, the projections being spaced apart from each other in the extending direction inside the groove,
the second segment is formed from a material that allows for elastic deformation,
the second segment includes a rib at a portion where the second segment is joined with the first segment, the rib extending in the extending direction and having a projection width that is less than an opening width of the groove, and
the rib is fitted into the groove so that the projections locally compress the rib in a width direction of the groove, wherein
the first segment includes a first duct portion and a flange portion that projects outward from an end of the first duct portion,
the flange portion includes an inner wall, which projects from the end of the first duct portion, and an outer wall,
the groove is formed by a portion between the inner wall and the outer wall,
the second segment includes a second duct portion and the rib,
an end of the second duct portion includes a step,
the step includes a proximal end and a distal end that is located outward from the proximal end,
the rib extends from the distal end of the step, and
the inner wall of the first segment is fitted to an inner side of the step.

Assignees

• Toyota Boshoku Kk

Inventors

• Kimura Ryusuke

Classifications

• F02M35/10321

  Plastics; Composites; Rubbers · CPC title

• F02M35/1036

  by welding, bonding or the like (welding plastic materials together in general B29C65/02) · CPC title

• F02M35/10137

  Flexible ducts, e.g. bellows or hoses · CPC title

• F02M35/10098 Primary

  Straight ducts · CPC title

• F02M35/10334

  Foams; Fabrics; Porous media; Laminates; Ceramics; Coatings · CPC title