Air intake duct ice ingestion features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9316183-B2
Application number	US-201313968306-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 15, 2013
Priority date	Aug 15, 2013
Publication date	Apr 19, 2016
Grant date	Apr 19, 2016

Abstract

An engine system including an air intake duct positioned upstream of an engine cylinder may include an ice ingestion feature for retaining condensation. An ice ingestion feature may include indents formed in the bottom of an air intake duct wall. As such, the ice ingestion feature may include compartments and/or grooves of varying depths, widths, and/or angles such that the ice retention rate may be based on the surface area of the compartment or grooves.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An engine air intake duct, comprising:
an air intake duct wall including an ice ingestion feature positioned at a bottom of the engine air intake duct wall, wherein the ice ingestion feature is formed by a plurality of indents, at least two of which contain a different volume; and
a positive crankcase ventilation outlet coupled to the air intake duct wall upstream from the ice ingestion feature.

2. The engine air intake duct of claim 1 , wherein the air intake duct wall includes an inner surface, and wherein the plurality of indents extend away from the inner surface vertically downward, a top of the indents flush with the inner surface.

3. The engine air intake duct of claim 1 , wherein the ice ingestion feature is positioned vertically below a PCV port.

4. The engine air intake duct of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of indents are formed by a plurality of compartments, some of which are angled against a flow direction and some of which are angled with a flow direction of an engine air path.

5. The engine air intake duct of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of indents include an aperture positioned in the intake duct wall.

6. The engine air intake duct of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of indents each include an aperture positioned in the intake duct wall, with at least one aperture having a larger area than at least one other aperture.

7. The engine air intake duct of claim 4 , wherein at least some compartments narrow as they extend vertically downward, and wherein the compartments each have closed ends such that the air intake duct is not open to atmosphere via any of the compartments.

8. The engine air intake duct of claim 2 wherein the plurality of indents include one or more grooves along an inner surface of the engine air intake duct wall substantially aligned with a flow direction through the duct.

9. The engine air intake duct of claim 8 , wherein at least some of the grooves are irregularly formed with respect to other grooves.

10. The engine air intake duct of claim 8 , wherein at least one groove has a larger area than at least one other groove.

11. The engine air intake duct of claim 8 , wherein at least some grooves narrow as they extend vertically downward.

12. The engine air intake duct of claim 8 , wherein at least some grooves widen as they extend vertically downward.

13. A system, comprising:
an engine intake air duct with a bottom including a plurality of compartments formed with an ice-tray structure, at least some compartments irregularly formed with respect to other compartments.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the ice-tray structure is formed by the plurality of compartments extending away from the bottom vertically downward, wherein the irregularly formed compartments allow condensation to melt in relatively small pieces as compared to a size of the compartment in which it forms such that the condensation is ingested by an engine based on an ice retention rate over time, and not all at once.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein at least two of the compartments contain a different volume.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein at least some of the compartments narrow as they extend vertically downward.

17. A method for retaining ice in an air intake duct, comprising:
flowing crankcase gas from a PCV port to an air intake duct upstream of an engine cylinder; and
collecting condensate in a plurality of indents positioned in a bottom wall of the air intake duct, wherein at least two of the plurality of indents contain a different volume.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising flowing intake air through the air intake duct, and flowing intake air and crankcase gas from the air intake duct to a compressor, wherein the intake air intake duct is positioned upstream of a throttle and the compressor.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising collecting condensate in the plurality of indents, thawing them during engine operation at different rates and ingesting water from the plurality of indents at different engine cycles.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Rollins Scott M
• Bishop Christopher B

Classifications

• F02M35/0216

  arranged in series, e.g. pre- and main filter in series · CPC title

• F02M35/088

  Water, snow or ice proofing; Separation or drainage of water, snow or ice · CPC title

• F02M35/10118

  with variable cross-sections of intake ducts along their length; Venturis; Diffusers · CPC title

• F02B39/16

  Other safety measures for, or other control of, pumps · CPC title

• F02B37/00

  Engines characterised by provision of pumps driven at least for part of the time by exhaust · CPC title