Air induction systems for internal combustion engines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9822741-B2
Application number	US-201414765143-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 21, 2014
Priority date	Feb 28, 2013
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

Air induction systems are for an internal combustion engine. The air induction systems comprise an air intake plenum that conducts intake airflow to an air cleaner for cleaning prior to combustion in the internal combustion engine. The air intake plenum is movable with respect to the air cleaner between an open position separated from the air cleaner and a closed position connected to the air cleaner. A bellows connects the air intake plenum to the air cleaner when the air intake plenum is in the closed position. The bellows has an upstream first end that seals with the air intake plenum and a downstream second end that seals with the air cleaner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An air induction system for an internal combustion engine, the air induction system comprising:
an air intake plenum that conducts intake airflow to an air cleaner for cleaning prior to combustion in the internal combustion engine, wherein the air intake plenum is movable with respect to the air cleaner between an open position separated from the air cleaner and a closed position connected to the air cleaner;
a bellows that connects the air intake plenum to the air cleaner when the air intake plenum is in the closed position, the bellows having an upstream first end that seals with the air intake plenum and a downstream second end that seals with the air cleaner; and
a spring disposed in the bellows, wherein the spring applies a biasing pressure on the bellows that encourages sealing between the bellows and at least one of the air intake plenum and the air cleaner when the air intake plenum is in the closed position;
wherein when the air intake plenum is in the closed position, the bellows is compressed into a compressed state and when the air intake plenum is in the open position, the bellows is biased by the spring into an extended state; and
wherein in a first cross sectional area for intake airflow through the bellows is defined in the compressed state, and a smaller, second cross sectional area for intake airflow through the bellows is defined in the extended state.

2. The air induction system according to claim 1 , wherein the spring and the bellows are compressed when the air intake plenum is in the closed position and wherein the spring and the bellows are not compressed when the air intake plenum is in the open position.

3. The air induction system according to claim 1 , wherein the bellows has a top mating surface that receives and seals with the air intake plenum when the air intake plenum is in the closed position.

4. The air induction system according to claim 1 , wherein the bellows comprises a plurality of corrugations and wherein the spring comprises convolutions that are interdigitated amongst the plurality of corrugations.

5. The air induction system according to claim 1 , comprising a shield that blocks inflow of rain water to the bellows when the air intake plenum is in the open position.

6. The air induction system according to claim 1 , comprising a pressurized inflatable ring on an outer perimeter of the bellows, wherein inflation of the pressurized inflatable ring creates a perimeter seal between the bellows and the air cleaner.

7. The air induction system according to claim 6 , wherein the pressurized inflatable ring is disposed in a perimeteral groove on the outer perimeter of the bellows.

8. The air induction system according to claim 1 , comprising a magnet on an outer perimeter of the bellows and a metal ring disposed in the air cleaner, wherein the magnet is attracted to the metal ring and thereby creates a perimeteral seal between the bellows and the air cleaner.

9. The air induction system according to claim 1 , wherein the bellows and air cleaner are magnetically attracted to each other.

10. An air induction system for an internal combustion engine, the air induction system comprising:
an air intake plenum that conducts intake airflow to an air cleaner for cleaning prior to combustion in the internal combustion engine, wherein the air intake plenum is movable with respect to the air cleaner between an open position separated from the air cleaner and a closed position connected to the air cleaner;
a bellows that connects the air intake plenum to the air cleaner when the air intake plenum is in the closed position, the bellows having an upstream first end that seals with the air intake plenum and a downstream second end that seals with the air cleaner; and
a spring disposed in the bellows, wherein the spring applies a biasing pressure on the bellows that encourages sealing between the bellows and at least one of the air intake plenum and the air cleaner when the air intake plenum is in the closed position;
wherein the spring has opposite first and second ends and wherein at least one of the first and second ends is engaged in a groove on the bellows.

11. An air induction system for an internal combustion engine, the air induction system comprising:
an air intake plenum that conducts intake airflow to an air cleaner for cleaning prior to combustion in the internal combustion engine, wherein the air intake plenum is movable with respect to the air cleaner between an open position separated from the air cleaner and a closed position connected to the air cleaner;
a bellows that connects the air intake plenum to the air cleaner when the air intake plenum is in the closed position, the bellows having an upstream first end that seals with the air intake plenum and a downstream second end that seals with the air cleaner;
a spring disposed in the bellows, wherein the spring applies a biasing pressure on the bellows that encourages sealing between the bellows and at least one of the air intake plenum and the air cleaner when the air intake plenum is in the closed position; and
a shield that covers the first end of the bellows, wherein the shield covers the first end of the bellows to a greater degree when the air intake plenum is in the open position than when the air intake plenum is in the closed position.

12. An air induction system for an internal combustion engine, the air induction system comprising:
an air intake plenum that conducts intake airflow to an air cleaner for cleaning prior to combustion in the internal combustion engine, wherein the air intake plenum is movable with respect to the air cleaner between an open position separated from the air cleaner and a closed position connected to the air cleaner;
a bellows that connects the air intake plenum to the air cleaner when the air intake plenum is in the closed position, the bellows having an upstream first end that seals with the air intake plenum and a downstream second end that seals with the air cleaner;
a spring disposed in the bellows, wherein the spring applies a biasing pressure on the bellows that encourages sealing between the bellows and at least one of the air intake plenum and the air cleaner when the air intake plenum is in the closed position; and
a shield that blocks inflow of rain water to the bellows when the air intake plenum is in the open position;
wherein the shield also blocks inflow of rain water to the bellows when the air intake plenum is in the closed position, and wherein the shield blocks inflow of rain water to the bellows to a greater degree when the air intake plenum is in the open position than when the air intake plenum is in the closed position.

13. The air induction system according to claim 12 , wherein the bellows is forced into a compressed state when the air intake plenum is in the closed position and wherein the bellows is biased into an extended state when the air intake plenum is in the open position, and wherein the shield remains stationary as the air intake plenum moves between the open and closed positions.

14. The air induction system according to claim 13 , wherein the bellows is axially elongated and has an interior channel extending between a first opening at the first end and a second opening at the second end; and wherein shield comprises an axial support member that axially extends along the interior channel and a radial cover plate that radially extends from the axial support member.

15. The air induction system according to claim 14 , wherein the axial support member comprises a center post that has at least one throughhole that allows intake airflo

Assignees

• Cummins Filtration Ip Inc

Inventors

• Holzmann Mark V
• Tofsland Kenneth M
• Terres Mark A

Classifications

• F02M35/02

  Air cleaners · CPC title

• F02M35/10137 Primary

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

• F02M35/10013

  Means upstream of the air filter; Connection to the ambient air · CPC title

• F02M35/161

  Arrangement of the air intake system in the engine compartment, e.g. with respect to the bonnet or the vehicle front face · CPC title

• F02M35/048

  Arranging or mounting on or with respect to engines or vehicle bodies · CPC title