Engine intake with sump having a heat source

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9316186-B2
Application number	US-201414248953-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2014
Priority date	Apr 9, 2014
Publication date	Apr 19, 2016
Grant date	Apr 19, 2016

Abstract

A number of variations may include a product including an intake system to provide air to an engine, the intake system including an inlet manifold to provide an air flow pathway to an inlet port; wherein the inlet manifold includes a false floor at least partially defining a plenum, the plenum at least partially separated from a sump, the sump at least partially defined in a lower portion of the inlet manifold; and wherein the sump includes a heat source.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A product comprising:
an intake system to provide air to an engine, the intake system including an inlet manifold to provide an air flow pathway to an inlet port;
wherein the inlet manifold includes a false floor at least partially defining a plenum, the plenum at least partially separated from a sump, the sump at least partially defined in a lower portion of the inlet manifold; and
wherein the sump includes a heat source, and wherein the false floor includes a surface for condensate to drain toward an opening to the sump.

2. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the false floor is defined at least in part by a section of material extending from an interior surface of the inlet manifold into an interior portion of the inlet manifold.

3. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the false floor is located generally below a primary air flow passage and generally above the sump.

4. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the heat source is shielded from air flow through the intake system.

5. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the intake system includes an intercooler located upstream from the inlet ports to provide cooling of air prior to entry into the combustion chambers.

6. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the heat source is a heating element.

7. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the heat source is an engine coolant tube.

8. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sump includes a roof to channel steam toward the plenum.

9. A method comprising providing an intake system to provide air to an engine, the intake system including an inlet manifold to provide an air flow pathway to an inlet port;
wherein the inlet manifold includes a false floor at least partially defining a plenum, the plenum at least partially separated from a sump, the sump at least partially defined in a lower portion of the inlet manifold; and
wherein the sump includes a heat source, and wherein the false floor includes a surface for condensate to drain toward an opening to the sump.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the false floor is defined at least in part by a section of material extending from an interior surface of the inlet manifold into an interior portion of the inlet manifold.

11. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the false floor is located generally below a primary air flow passage and generally above the sump.

12. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the heat source is shielded from air flow through the intake system.

13. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the intake system includes an intercooler located upstream from the inlet ports to provide cooling of air prior to entry into the combustion chambers.

14. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the heat source is a heating element.

15. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the heat source is an engine coolant tube.

16. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the sump includes a roof to channel steam toward the plenum.

17. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the heat source is constructed and arranged to vaporize condensate.

18. A product comprising:
an intake system to provide air to an engine, the intake system including an inlet manifold to provide an air flow pathway to an inlet port;
wherein the inlet manifold includes a false floor at least partially defining a plenum, the plenum at least partially separated from a sump, the sump at least partially defined in a lower portion of the inlet manifold;
wherein the sump includes a heat source,
further comprising an intercooler in the manifold positioned between the false floor and the inlet port.

19. A product as set forth in claim 18 , wherein the false floor includes a surface for condensate to drain toward an opening to the sump.

20. A product as set forth in claim 18 wherein the heat source is constructed and arranged to vaporize condensate in the sump.

21. A product as set forth in claim 18 wherein the heat source is in the sump and comprises at least one of an electric heating element or a hot engine coolant tube.

22. A product as set forth in claim 18 wherein the heat source is constructed and arranged to vaporize condensate.

23. A method comprising providing an intake system to provide air to an engine, the intake system including an inlet manifold to provide an air flow pathway to an inlet port;
wherein the inlet manifold includes a false floor at least partially defining a plenum, the plenum at least partially separated from a sump, the sump at least partially defined in a lower portion of the inlet manifold;
wherein the sump includes a heat source,
further comprising vaporizing condensate in the sump using the heat source.

24. A method as set forth in claim 23 further comprising an intercooler in the manifold positioned downstream of the sump.

25. A method as set forth in claim 23 wherein the heat source comprises an electric heating element.

26. A method as set forth in claim 23 wherein the heat source comprises or a hot engine coolant tube.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Jacques Robert Lionel

Classifications

• Y02T10/12

  Improving ICE efficiencies · CPC title

• F02M35/10288

  Air intakes combined with another engine part, e.g. cylinder head cover or being cast in one piece with the exhaust manifold, cylinder head or engine block · CPC title

• F02M35/02

  Air cleaners · CPC title

• F02M35/104

  Intake manifolds · CPC title

• F02M35/10026

  Plenum chambers · CPC title