Bracket assembly for an intake manifold, the intake manifold and method of operating the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016265446-A1
Application number	US-201514656788-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 13, 2015
Priority date	Mar 13, 2015
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In one or more embodiments, a bracket assembly for an intake manifold having a shaft is provided to include a bracket to be positioned at least partially external to the intake manifold and defining a shaft aperture to partially receive the shaft, and an elastic retainer to be positioned at least partially between the shaft and a wall of the shaft aperture. The elastic retainer may be positioned to contact the shaft or may be positioned to contact an external surface of the intake manifold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A bracket assembly for an intake manifold having a shaft, comprising:
a bracket to be positioned at least partially external to the intake manifold and defining a shaft aperture to partially receive the shaft; and an elastic retainer to be positioned at least partially between the shaft and a wall of the shaft aperture.

2 . The bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the elastic retainer is positioned to contact the shaft.

3 . The bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the elastic retainer is positioned to contact an external surface of the intake manifold.

4 . The bracket assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an actuating arm positioned to contact the shaft.

5 . The bracket assembly of claim 4 , wherein the actuating arm contacts the elastic retainer.

6 . The bracket assembly of claim 4 , wherein the actuating arm includes a main arm and an arm pin, the arm pin being positioned to contact the shaft, the main arm extending from the arm pin at an angle.

7 . The bracket assembly of claim 4 , wherein the actuating arm includes a main arm and an arm pin, the arm pin to be positioned between the intake manifold and the main arm.

8 . The bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bracket defines first and second fastener apertures to receive first and second fasteners, respectively, the elastic retainer being positioned between the first and second fastener apertures.

9 . The bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the elastic retainer is positioned to be partially between the bracket and an external surface of the intake manifold.

10 . The bracket of claim 1 , further comprising an actuating arm, the elastic retainer is positioned to contact both the actuating arm and an external surface of the intake manifold.

11 . An intake manifold comprising:
a housing; a shaft supported on the housing; a bracket positioned at least partially external to the housing and defining a shaft aperture to receive the shaft; and an elastic retainer positioned at least partially between the shaft and a wall of the shaft aperture.

12 . The intake manifold of claim 11 , wherein the elastic retainer contacts an external surface of the housing.

13 . The intake manifold of claim 11 , wherein the elastic retainer contacts at least one of the shaft and the wall of the shaft aperture.

14 . The intake manifold of claim 11 , further comprising an actuating arm including an arm pin and a main arm extending from the arm pin.

15 . The intake manifold of claim 14 , wherein the elastic retainer contacts the arm pin.

16 . A method of operating an intake manifold, the intake manifold including a housing, a shaft supported on the housing, and a bracket positioned at least partially external to the housing and defining a shaft aperture to receive a portion of the shaft, the method comprising:
providing an elastic retainer to receive there-through a portion of the shaft.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising contacting the shaft with the elastic retainer.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising contacting an external surface of the housing with the elastic retainer.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising positioning the elastic retainer between the bracket and an external surface of the housing.

20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising removing the elastic retainer and providing a second elastic retainer to receive there-through the shaft.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Newman Christopher William
• Hamzeh Mike
• Randall Katherine Jane

Classifications

• F02M35/104 Primary

  Intake manifolds · CPC title

• F02D2009/0206

  specially positioned with relation to engine or engine housing · CPC title

• F02D9/02 Primary

  concerning induction conduits (throttle valves, or arrangements thereof in conduits F02D9/08) · CPC title

• F02M35/10255

  Arrangements of valves; Multi-way valves (F02M35/10032 takes precedence; valves in the plenum chamber F02M35/10065; check valves F02M35/10275) · CPC title

• F02M35/1165

  Boxer or pancake engines · CPC title