A methanol engine with electrically heated intake manifold

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of mechanical structure technology for methanol engine intake systems, and discloses a methanol engine with electrically heated intake manifold, including a methanol engine body and an electrically heated intake manifold assembly disposed on its intake path. The electrically heated intake manifold assembly includes an intake manifold housing, an electrically heated core assembly, a guide assembly, a limiting and locking assembly, a pressure sealing cap, a seal, and an anti-liquid accumulation guide assembly. The intake manifold housing forms the main intake channel, and a lateral mounting seat with a lateral insertion port is provided on the side. The electrically heated core assembly can be removably inserted into the main intake channel through the lateral insertion port. The guide assembly defines the insertion path, the limiting and locking assembly restricts withdrawal and sway, the pressure sealing cap closes the lateral insertion port through the seal, and the anti-liquid accumulation guide assembly guides methanol droplets away from the lateral insertion port and the electrical connection area. This invention is applicable to auxiliary intake heating of methanol engines and maintenance of the electrically heated core assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of mechanical structure technology of methanol engine intake system, specifically to a methanol engine with electrically heated intake manifold. Background Technology

[0002] In methanol engines, methanol fuel exhibits relatively poor volatility under conditions of low-temperature start-up, low-temperature warm-up, and low-temperature idling. Methanol droplets entering the intake path are prone to condensation on the walls of the low-temperature intake manifold, intake bends, or the low-speed region downstream of the throttle valve. The condensed methanol film flows along the inner wall of the intake manifold at a low level, forming liquid accumulation in localized areas. This can easily lead to uneven air-fuel mixture concentration entering the cylinder and may also result in wet walls and residual liquid retention within the intake passage.

[0003] Existing intake heating structures for alcohol-fueled engines or cryogenic engines typically employ glow plugs, fixed heating elements, honeycomb PTC heaters, or integral intake heating pipe sections. In glow plug structures, the heating element typically extends into the intake channel in a point or columnar form, resulting in a concentrated heating area. Methanol droplets, under the influence of intake pulsation, can easily directly impact the heating element or the vicinity of electrical connections, leading to localized deposits, hot spots, and liquid contamination of electrical connections. While fixed heating elements or honeycomb PTC heaters can increase the heating area, they are usually fixed inside the intake pipe or intake manifold. Over time, they are exposed to methanol backflow, fuel vapors, and deposits, making removal and cleaning difficult and often requiring disassembly of the intake pipe or intake manifold for maintenance.

[0004] Furthermore, the engine experiences continuous vibration, intake pressure pulsation, and thermal cycling during operation. If the electric heating element is rigidly fixed to the intake manifold housing, the heating core frame, terminals, and seals are prone to loosening, wobbling, edge wear, weakening of sealing clamping force, or localized stress concentration at the terminals under the combined effects of vibration and thermal expansion and contraction. Existing integrated intake heating structures also suffer from insufficient lateral maintenance inlets, inadequate insertion guidance, insufficient insertion limit, and insufficient sealing reliability after repeated disassembly and reassembly.

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an intake manifold electric heating mechanical structure suitable for the intake path of a methanol engine, so that the electric heating core assembly can be pulled out from the side of the intake manifold housing for maintenance, and is guided, limited, locked and sealed after insertion, while reducing the possibility of methanol droplets and condensate flowing to the electrical connection terminals, side insertion ports and sealing areas. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a methanol engine with electrically heated intake manifold, which solves the problems mentioned in the background section.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0008] A methanol engine with electrically heated intake manifold includes a methanol engine body and an electrically heated intake manifold assembly disposed on its intake path. The electrically heated intake manifold assembly includes an intake manifold housing, an electrically heated core assembly, a guide assembly, a limiting and locking assembly, a pressure sealing cap, a seal, and an anti-liquid accumulation guide assembly. The intake manifold housing forms a main intake channel, and a lateral mounting seat with a lateral insertion port is provided on the side, which communicates with the main intake channel. The electrically heated core assembly includes a heating core frame and an electrically heated element, and is removably inserted into the main intake channel through the lateral insertion port. The guide assembly defines its insertion path, the limiting and locking assembly restricts its withdrawal and sway, the pressure sealing cap covers the lateral insertion port, and the seal is sandwiched between the pressure sealing cap and the lateral mounting seat. The anti-liquid accumulation guide assembly is disposed inside the main intake channel or inside the lateral insertion port to guide methanol droplets away from the lateral insertion port and the electrical connection area.

[0009] Furthermore, the intake pipe housing includes an upstream connection end located on the intake airflow inlet side and a downstream connection end located on the intake airflow outlet side. A lateral mounting seat is disposed on the side wall between the upstream connection end and the downstream connection end. The opening direction of the lateral insertion port intersects with the extension direction of the main intake channel, so that the electric heating core assembly can be inserted or withdrawn from the side of the intake pipe housing.

[0010] Furthermore, the intake pipe housing is provided with an inner end stop in the main intake channel, and the insertion end of the heating core frame is provided with an end positioning part. When the electric heating core assembly is inserted into place, the end positioning part abuts against the inner end stop to limit the insertion depth of the electric heating core assembly into the main intake channel.

[0011] Furthermore, the guide assembly includes a housing guide member disposed on the lateral mounting base or the intake pipe housing, and a core frame guide mating part disposed on the heating core frame, wherein the housing guide member and the core frame guide mating part are slidably engaged; the housing guide member and the core frame guide mating part are one of the following: a slide rail and a slide groove, a guide groove and a guide rib, or a guide pin and an elongated hole.

[0012] Furthermore, the limiting locking assembly includes a locking member and a positioning mating part. The locking member is disposed on the lateral mounting base or the pressing sealing cover, and the positioning mating part is disposed on the heating core frame or the pressing sealing cover. After the electric heating core assembly is inserted into place, the locking member engages with the positioning mating part to restrict the electric heating core assembly from moving in the extraction direction.

[0013] Furthermore, the lateral mounting base is provided with a sealing mounting portion surrounding the lateral insertion port, and the pressing sealing cover is provided with a pressing boss facing the sealing mounting portion. The sealing element is disposed between the sealing mounting portion and the pressing boss. The pressing sealing cover is detachably connected to the lateral mounting base through a cover fastener and applies a pressing force to the sealing element.

[0014] Furthermore, the electric heating core assembly includes an insulating support member, and the electric heating element is fixed inside the heating core frame by the insulating support member; the electric heating element is one of the following structures: sheet-like, grid-like, corrugated, honeycomb-like, or ceramic block-like, and together with the heating core frame, forms a flow gap for air intake.

[0015] Furthermore, the intake pipe electric heating assembly includes an insulating wiring assembly, which includes an insulating terminal block and a conductive terminal. The insulating terminal block is disposed on the outside of the pressure sealing cover or the intake pipe housing, and the conductive terminal is inserted into or fixed to the insulating terminal block. One end of the conductive terminal is connected to the electric heating element, and the other end is located on the outside of the main intake channel.

[0016] Furthermore, the anti-liquid accumulation guide assembly includes a liquid-blocking lip and a guide rib. The liquid-blocking lip is located on the windward side of the heating core frame or on the inner wall of the air intake pipe housing, and the guide rib is located on the inner wall of the main air intake channel and extends away from the conductive terminal and the lateral insertion port.

[0017] The anti-liquidation guide assembly further includes at least one of a low-position isolation groove and a liquid-blocking step. The low-position isolation groove is located at a low position on the inner wall of the main air intake channel and is offset from the lateral insertion port. The liquid-blocking step is located inside the lateral insertion port.

[0018] Furthermore, the intake manifold electric heating assembly includes an elastic vibration-damping support assembly, which includes an axial pre-tightening elastic element. The axial pre-tightening elastic element is disposed between the pressure sealing cover and the heating core frame, and applies a pre-tightening force to the heating core frame along the insertion direction of the electric heating core assembly.

[0019] The elastic vibration-damping support assembly includes at least one of a lateral buffer pad and an end buffer pad. The lateral buffer pad is disposed between the heating core frame and the guide assembly, and the end buffer pad is disposed between the end positioning part and the inner end stop part.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides a methanol engine with electrically heated intake manifold, which has the following beneficial effects:

[0021] 1. This invention, by providing a lateral mounting base and a lateral insertion port on the side of the intake pipe housing, allows the electric heating core assembly to be inserted or withdrawn through the lateral insertion port. The insertion path, positioning position, withdrawal direction, and lateral opening of the electric heating core assembly are constrained by a guide assembly, a limiting locking assembly, a pressing sealing cover, and a sealing element. This avoids disassembling the entire intake pipe housing or intake manifold during maintenance and ensures that the electric heating core assembly maintains a stable installation position and sealing state after reinstallation, thereby improving the maintenance convenience of the intake heating structure and the sealing reliability after repeated disassembly and reassembly.

[0022] 2. This invention, by providing an anti-liquidation guide assembly inside the main intake channel or inside the lateral insertion port, allows methanol droplets and condensate to avoid the conductive terminals, lateral insertion ports, and sealing areas under the action of the liquid-blocking lip, guide ribs, low-position isolation groove, and liquid-blocking step. Furthermore, by providing axial pre-tightening, lateral buffering, and end buffering for the electric heating core assembly through an elastic anti-vibration support assembly, it can reduce the risk of liquid intrusion into the electrical connection area and reduce the risks of loosening, swaying, wear, and localized stress concentration at the terminals caused by engine vibration, intake pulsation, and thermal cycling. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the intake manifold electric heating assembly of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the intake manifold electric heating assembly of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the electric heating core assembly of the present invention in the withdrawn state;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the electric heating core assembly structure of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 5 This is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of the guide component and the limiting and locking component of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 6 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the mating point between the sealing cap and the lateral mounting base of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure and liquid avoidance path of the anti-liquidation diversion component of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 8 This is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of the elastic vibration-damping support assembly of the present invention.

[0031] The components include: 1. Methanol engine body; 100. Intake pipe electric heating assembly; 10. Intake pipe housing; 11. Side mounting seat; 12. Side insertion port; 13. Main intake passage; 14. Upstream connection end; 15. Downstream connection end; 16. Inner end stop; 17. Sealing mounting part; 20. Electric heating core assembly; 21. Heating core frame; 22. Electric heating element; 23. End positioning part; 24. Insulating support part; 25. Outer pull-out part; 30. Guide assembly; 31. Housing guide part; 32. Core frame guide mating part; 40. Limit locking assembly. ; 41. Locking element; 42. Positioning mating part; 50. Pressing sealing cover; 52. Pressing boss; 53. Cover fastener; 54. Sealing element; 60. Insulated wiring assembly; 61. Insulated terminal block; 62. Conductive terminal; 63. Terminal insulating sleeve; 64. Wire harness connector; 65. Terminal protective cover; 70. Anti-liquid flow guiding assembly; 71. Liquid-blocking lip; 72. Flow guiding rib; 73. Low-position isolation groove; 74. Liquid-blocking step; 80. Elastic anti-vibration support assembly; 81. Axial pre-tightening elastic element; 82. Lateral buffer pad; 83. End buffer pad. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0033] This invention addresses the mechanical operating conditions of methanol engines during low-temperature start-up, warm-up, and low-temperature idling, where methanol droplets easily adhere to and condense on the intake wall, and the intake manifold electric heating structure is subject to long-term effects from engine vibration, intake pulsation, thermal cycling, and maintenance disassembly / reassembly. This invention primarily solves the problems of the electric heating core assembly 20 being difficult to remove independently for maintenance, unstable insertion position, unreliable lateral opening seal, potential methanol condensate flowing to the electrical connection terminals, and wear and tear of the heating core frame 21 during operation.

[0034] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, a methanol engine with electrically heated intake manifold includes a methanol engine body 1 and an intake manifold electrically heated assembly 100 disposed on the intake path of the methanol engine body 1. The intake manifold electrically heated assembly 100 includes an intake manifold housing 10, an electrically heated core assembly 20, a guide assembly 30, a limiting locking assembly 40, a pressing sealing cover 50, a sealing element 54, an insulating wiring assembly 60, an anti-liquid flow guiding assembly 70, and an elastic anti-vibration support assembly 80. The intake manifold housing 10 serves as the main supporting component of the intake manifold electrically heated assembly 100, supporting the electrically heated core assembly 20, the guide assembly 30, the limiting locking assembly 40, the pressing sealing cover 50, the sealing element 54, the insulating wiring assembly 60, the anti-liquid flow guiding assembly 70, and the elastic anti-vibration support assembly 80.

[0035] The intake manifold housing 10 forms a main intake passage 13. The main intake passage 13 supplies intake air or a methanol-air mixture. The intake manifold housing 10 can be a straight section, a curved section, an expanded section, or an independent section with a connecting end, as long as it can be installed on the intake path of the methanol engine body 1 and form a continuous main intake passage 13. The intake manifold housing 10 includes an upstream connecting end 14 located on the intake airflow inlet side and a downstream connecting end 15 located on the intake airflow outlet side. The upstream connecting end 14 and the downstream connecting end 15 can be pipe fittings, flanges, or other connecting end structures adapted to the engine's intake path.

[0036] A lateral mounting seat 11 is provided on the side of the intake pipe housing 10. The lateral mounting seat 11 can be integrally formed with the intake pipe housing 10, or it can be fixed to the side wall of the intake pipe housing 10 by welding, fastener connection, or flange connection. The lateral mounting seat 11 is located in the side wall area between the upstream connection end 14 and the downstream connection end 15 to provide maintenance space for the lateral insertion and removal of the electric heating core assembly 20. A lateral insertion port 12 is formed on the lateral mounting seat 11, which extends through the lateral mounting seat 11 and communicates with the main intake channel 13. The opening direction of the lateral insertion port 12 intersects the extension direction of the main intake channel 13, allowing the electric heating core assembly 20 to be inserted or removed from the side of the intake pipe housing 10.

[0037] The lateral mounting base 11 also includes a sealing mounting portion 17. The sealing mounting portion 17 is positioned around the lateral insertion port 12 and is used to accommodate or support the seal 54. The sealing mounting portion 17 can be a planar sealing step, an annular sealing groove, a stepped sealing surface, or a labyrinthine sealing mating surface. The sealing path of the sealing mounting portion 17 forms a closed structure around the lateral insertion port 12 so that the lateral insertion port 12 is sealed after the sealing cap 50 is installed.

[0038] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the electric heating core assembly 20 includes a heating core frame 21 and an electric heating element 22. The heating core frame 21 is a frame structure for supporting the electric heating element 22, and can be a plate frame, a cage frame, a bracket with flow holes, or other structures capable of supporting the electric heating element 22 and allowing air intake. The electric heating element 22 is fixed inside the heating core frame 21. The electric heating element 22 can be a sheet-like, grid-like, corrugated, honeycomb-like, or ceramic block structure. The electric heating element 22 and the heating core frame 21 together form a flow gap for air intake, so as to avoid the electric heating core assembly 20 completely blocking the main air intake channel 13.

[0039] The electric heating element assembly 20 is replaceably inserted into the main intake channel 13 via the lateral insertion port 12. The replaceable design means that the electric heating element assembly 20 can be withdrawn from the lateral insertion port 12 in the extraction direction after the limiting locking assembly 40 is released and the compression sealing cover 50 is removed or loosened, without disassembling the entire intake pipe housing 10. During installation, the electric heating element assembly 20 enters the lateral insertion port 12 from the outside of the intake pipe housing 10 in the insertion direction, and then enters the heating and heat exchange area within the main intake channel 13.

[0040] The insertion end of the heating core frame 21 is provided with an end positioning part 23. The intake pipe housing 10 is provided with an inner end stop part 16 in the main intake channel 13. When the electric heating core assembly 20 is inserted into place, the end positioning part 23 abuts against the inner end stop part 16. The inner end stop part 16 can be a boss, block, step, or limiting surface formed on the inner wall of the main intake channel 13. The end positioning part 23 can be an end face protrusion, positioning tongue, positioning block, or positioning step provided at the insertion end of the heating core frame 21. The abutment between the end positioning part 23 and the inner end stop part 16 is used to limit the insertion depth of the electric heating core assembly 20 and prevent the electric heating core assembly 20 from exceeding the predetermined position and contacting the inner wall of the opposite side of the main intake channel 13.

[0041] The electric heating element assembly 20 also includes an insulating support 24. The electric heating element 22 is fixed within the heating element frame 21 by the insulating support 24. The insulating support 24 can be a block-shaped, sleeve-shaped, clamping sheet-shaped, or insulating pad-shaped structure. The insulating support 24 is disposed between the electric heating element 22 and the heating element frame 21, thus insulating and isolating the electric heating element 22 from the heating element frame 21. The outer end of the heating element frame 21 may also be provided with an outer pull-out portion 25. The outer pull-out portion 25 can be a handle, lug, pull ring, or outer flange, for manually pulling out the electric heating element assembly 20 during maintenance.

[0042] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 5As shown, the guide assembly 30 is used to define the insertion path of the electric heating core assembly 20. The guide assembly 30 includes a housing guide 31 and a core frame guide mating part 32. The housing guide 31 is disposed on the lateral mounting base 11 or the air inlet housing 10, and the core frame guide mating part 32 is disposed on the heating core frame 21. The housing guide 31 and the core frame guide mating part 32 are slidably engaged, allowing the electric heating core assembly 20 to move along a predetermined path during insertion and withdrawal.

[0043] In one embodiment, the housing guide 31 is a slide rail located on both sides of the lateral insertion port 12, and the core frame guide mating part 32 is a slide groove located on both sides of the heating core frame 21. The slide rail and the slide groove cooperate to form a linear guide. In another embodiment, the housing guide 31 is a guide groove, and the core frame guide mating part 32 is a guide rib. The guide rib is embedded in the guide groove and slides along the guide groove. In yet another embodiment, the housing guide 31 is a guide pin, and the core frame guide mating part 32 is an elongated hole. The guide pin passes through the elongated hole and restricts the lateral sway of the electric heating core assembly 20. All of the above guiding forms are used to restrict the lateral offset and rotation of the electric heating core assembly 20 during the insertion process.

[0044] like Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, the limiting locking assembly 40 is used to restrict the withdrawal and swaying of the electric heating core assembly 20 after it has been inserted into place. The limiting locking assembly 40 includes a locking member 41 and a positioning mating part 42. The locking member 41 is disposed on the lateral mounting base 11 or the pressure sealing cover 50, and the positioning mating part 42 is disposed on the heating core frame 21 or the pressure sealing cover 50. After the electric heating core assembly 20 is inserted into place, the locking member 41 engages with the positioning mating part 42 to restrict the movement of the electric heating core assembly 20 in the withdrawal direction.

[0045] The locking element 41 can be a locking pin, a rotating pressure plate, a snap fastener, or a locking bolt. The positioning mating part 42 can be a hole, groove, bayonet, or pressure surface that mates with the locking element 41. When the locking element 41 is a locking pin, the positioning mating part 42 can be a positioning hole located at the outer end of the heating core frame 21; when the locking element 41 is a rotating pressure plate, the positioning mating part 42 can be a pressure surface at the outer end of the heating core frame 21; when the locking element 41 is a snap fastener, the positioning mating part 42 can be a bayonet; when the locking element 41 is a locking bolt, the positioning mating part 42 can be a threaded hole or a pressure plate. The limiting locking assembly 40 mates with the inner end stop part 16 to form a combined structure for limiting the insertion depth and the withdrawal direction.

[0046] like Figure 2 and Figure 6As shown, a clamping sealing cover 50 is disposed on the outside of the lateral mounting base 11 and covers the lateral insertion port 12. The clamping sealing cover 50 can be a plate-shaped, box-shaped, or cover structure with a socket housing. The clamping sealing cover 50 has a clamping boss 52 facing the sealing mounting portion 17. A sealing element 54 is disposed between the sealing mounting portion 17 and the clamping boss 52. The clamping sealing cover 50 is detachably connected to the lateral mounting base 11 by a cover fastener 53, and applies a clamping force to the sealing element 54.

[0047] The cover fastener 53 can be a bolt, pin, snap-fit, or a combination thereof. When the cover fastener 53 is a bolt, the bolts are distributed around the lateral insertion port 12 and located in the outer area of ​​the seal 54 to avoid disrupting the closed sealing path of the seal 54. When the cover fastener 53 is a snap-fit, an auxiliary anti-dislodgement structure can be provided to keep the compression sealing cover 50 in a compressed state under vibration conditions. The seal 54 can be a flat sealing gasket, an O-ring, or a combination seal, and is made of a medium-resistant sealing material suitable for contact with methanol environments. The compression sealing cover 50 is used not only to close the lateral insertion port 12, but also to apply a compression constraint to the outer end of the electric heating core assembly 20.

[0048] like Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 6 As shown, the intake manifold electric heating assembly 100 also includes an insulated wiring assembly 60. The insulated wiring assembly 60 includes an insulated terminal block 61 and conductive terminals 62. The insulated terminal block 61 is located outside the compression sealing cover 50 or the intake manifold housing 10. The conductive terminals 62 pass through or are fixed to the insulated terminal block 61. One end of the conductive terminal 62 is connected to the electric heating element 22, and the other end is located outside the main intake channel 13 for connection to an external wiring harness. The conductive terminal 62 can cooperate with the insulated terminal block 61 through a terminal insulating sleeve 63 to reduce the risk of conductivity between the conductive terminal 62 and the intake manifold housing 10 or the compression sealing cover 50. A wiring harness connector 64 and a terminal protective cover 65 may also be provided on the outside of the insulated terminal block 61.

[0049] The conductive terminal 62 is preferably arranged on the outer area of ​​the compression sealing cover 50 or the air intake pipe housing 10 so that it is not directly exposed in the droplet direct path of the main air intake channel 13. If the conductive terminal 62 needs to pass through the compression sealing cover 50 or the air intake pipe housing 10, a terminal insulating sleeve 63 or a sealing structure is provided at the protrusion position to insulate the conductive terminal 62 from the metal parts.

[0050] like Figure 2 and Figure 7As shown, the intake manifold electric heating assembly 100 also includes an anti-liquidation guide component 70. The anti-liquidation guide component 70 is disposed in the main intake passage 13 near the methanol droplet impact path and the area adjacent to the side insert 12, and is used to guide methanol droplets or condensate away from the areas where the conductive terminal 62, the side insert 12 and the seal 54 are located.

[0051] The anti-liquid accumulation and flow guiding assembly 70 includes a liquid-blocking lip 71 and a flow guiding rib 72. The liquid-blocking lip 71 can be located on the windward side of the heating core frame 21 or on the inner wall of the intake pipe housing 10. The liquid-blocking lip 71 can be formed into an arc shape, a folded edge shape, or a bevel shape to change the direct impact path of methanol droplets, causing the droplets to flow towards the heated wall surface or the inner wall of the housing. The flow guiding rib 72 is provided on the inner wall of the main intake channel 13 and can extend obliquely along the intake direction or relative to the intake direction, guiding the condensate away from the conductive terminal 62 and the lateral insertion port 12.

[0052] The anti-liquidation guide assembly 70 may further include at least one of a low-level isolation groove 73 and a liquid-blocking step 74. The low-level isolation groove 73 is located in the low-level region of the inner wall of the main air intake channel 13 and is staggered from the side insertion port 12. It is used to receive or guide condensate, preventing condensate from directly accumulating in the side sealing area. The liquid-blocking step 74 is located inside the side insertion port 12 and is used to prevent condensate from flowing towards the seal 54. The anti-liquidation guide assembly 70 must not physically intersect the insertion / removal path of the electric heating core assembly 20 to avoid affecting the replacement of the electric heating core assembly 20.

[0053] like Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 8 As shown, the intake manifold electric heating assembly 100 also includes an elastic anti-vibration support assembly 80. The elastic anti-vibration support assembly 80 includes an axial preload elastic element 81. The axial preload elastic element 81 is disposed between the pressure sealing cover 50 and the heating core frame 21. After the pressure sealing cover 50 is installed, the axial preload elastic element 81 applies a preload force to the heating core frame 21 along the insertion direction of the electric heating core assembly 20, so that the end positioning part 23 stably abuts against the inner end stop part 16. The axial preload elastic element 81 can be a disc spring, a wave spring, or an elastic pressure plate.

[0054] The elastic vibration-damping support assembly 80 may further include at least one of a lateral buffer pad 82 and an end buffer pad 83. The lateral buffer pad 82 is disposed between the heating core frame 21 and the guide assembly 30 to reduce lateral impacts and wear between the heating core frame 21 and the housing guide 31. The end buffer pad 83 is disposed between the end positioning portion 23 and the inner end stop portion 16 to reduce rigid impacts when the electric heating core assembly 20 is inserted into place. The elastic vibration-damping support assembly 80 allows for a small amount of elastic compensation within the preload range of the electric heating core assembly 20, but should not create free sway space.

[0055] The assembly process of this invention is as follows: First, the electric heating element 22 is fixed inside the heating core frame 21 by the insulating support 24 to form the electric heating core assembly 20. Then, the core frame guide fitting part 32 is aligned with the housing guide part 31, and the electric heating core assembly 20 is pushed into the main air intake channel 13 through the lateral insertion port 12 along the insertion direction. During the pushing process of the electric heating core assembly 20, the housing guide part 31 and the core frame guide fitting part 32 slide to limit the insertion path of the electric heating core assembly 20. When the end positioning part 23 abuts against the inner end stop part 16, the electric heating core assembly 20 reaches the insertion position. Subsequently, the locking part 41 engages with the positioning fitting part 42 to restrict the movement of the electric heating core assembly 20 along the withdrawal direction. Afterward, the sealing part 54 is placed at the sealing mounting part 17, and the pressure sealing cover 50 is fixed to the lateral mounting base 11 by the cover fastener 53, so that the pressure boss 52 presses the sealing part 54 and closes the lateral insertion port 12.

[0056] The working process of this invention is as follows: Before the methanol engine body 1 is started at low temperature or in the initial stage of start-up, the electric heating element 22 is energized to generate heat. When the intake air or methanol-air mixture flows through the main intake channel 13, it exchanges heat with the electric heating element 22 and the surrounding heated structure. Since the electric heating element 22 is fixed in the heating core frame 21 and forms a flow gap, the intake air can pass through the area where the electric heating core assembly 20 is located. When the engine is running, the electric heating core assembly 20 is subjected to the intake pulsating force, vibration force and its own gravity. The above forces are transmitted through the heating core frame 21 to the guide assembly 30, and then to the lateral mounting seat 11 and the intake pipe housing 10. The pressing sealing cover 50 and the sealing element 54 bear the sealing pressing force at the lateral insertion port 12, the limiting locking assembly 40 restricts the movement of the electric heating core assembly 20 in the extraction direction, the inner end stop 16 restricts the electric heating core assembly 20 from continuing to move inward, and the elastic anti-vibration support assembly 80 provides pre-tightening and buffering for the electric heating core assembly 20.

[0057] The maintenance process of this invention is as follows: The maintenance personnel release the engagement between the locking member 41 and the mating part 42, loosen or remove the cover fastener 53 and remove the pressure sealing cover 50. Then, the electric heating core assembly 20 is pulled out from the side insertion port 12 in the extraction direction through the outer pull part 25. The extracted electric heating core assembly 20 can be cleaned, inspected or replaced. After maintenance, it is reinserted, locked and sealed according to the above assembly process.

[0058] In this embodiment, the materials for each component can be selected based on the engine intake environment and methanol contact environment. The intake manifold housing 10 can be made of heat-resistant metal or heat-resistant material that meets the requirements of the engine intake system. The seal 54 should be made of a methanol-resistant, heat-resistant, and aging-resistant material. The insulating support 24, insulating terminal block 61, and terminal insulating sleeve 63 should be made of heat-resistant insulating material. The axial preload elastic element 81, lateral buffer pad 82, and end buffer pad 83 should meet the requirements for elastic recovery and aging resistance under engine vibration conditions. The above material selection is not limited to specific grades.

[0059] As an alternative implementation, the housing guide 31 and the core frame guide mating part 32 can be any combination of a slide rail and a slide groove, a guide groove and a guide rib, or a guide pin and an elongated hole. All of these alternative structures are used to limit the insertion and extraction path of the electric heating core assembly 20 and reduce lateral sway.

[0060] As an alternative implementation, the locking member 41 can be a locking pin, a rotating pressure plate, a snap-fit, or a locking bolt. All of these structures can form a releasable locking relationship with the positioning mating part 42, used to restrict the movement of the electric heating core assembly 20 in the extraction direction.

[0061] As an alternative implementation, the seal 54 may be a combination of a flat gasket, an O-ring, or a labyrinth seal and an elastic seal. All of these structures form a sealing path around the lateral insertion port 12 and apply pressure by pressing the sealing cap 50.

[0062] As an alternative implementation, the anti-liquidation guide assembly 70 can be a combination of a liquid-blocking lip 71 and a guide rib 72, or it can be further combined with at least one of a low-level isolation groove 73 and a liquid-blocking step 74. All of the above structures aim to guide methanol droplets and condensate away from the conductive terminal 62, the lateral insertion port 12, and the seal 54, without departing from the overall inventive concept of the present invention.

[0063] As an alternative implementation, the elastic vibration-damping support assembly 80 may employ an axially preloaded elastic element 81, or may further combine at least one of a lateral buffer pad 82 and an end buffer pad 83. All of the above structures are used to provide preload, buffering, or minor compensation to the electric heating core assembly 20 without altering the basic structure of the electric heating core assembly 20's lateral replacement and locking seal.

[0064] The installation location, connection end type, heating element shape, sealing element material, and elastic element type not specifically defined in this manual can be set according to the air intake path arrangement, air intake pipe specifications, and maintenance space of the methanol engine body 1, as long as they meet the above-mentioned structural relationships of lateral replacement, guide limit, compression sealing, anti-liquid flow and elastic vibration-resistant support.

[0065] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A methanol engine with electrically heated intake manifold, comprising a methanol engine body (1) and an electrically heated intake manifold assembly (100) disposed on its intake path, characterized in that: The intake manifold electric heating assembly (100) includes an intake manifold housing (10), an electric heating core assembly (20), a guide assembly (30), a limiting locking assembly (40), a pressing sealing cap (50), a sealing element (54), and an anti-liquid flow guiding assembly (70); the intake manifold housing (10) forms a main intake channel (13), and a side mounting seat (11) with a side insertion port (12) is provided on the side, the side insertion port (12) communicating with the main intake channel (13); the electric heating core assembly (20) includes a heating core frame (21) and an electric heating element ( 22), and can be inserted into the main intake channel (13) via the side insertion port (12); the guide assembly (30) limits its insertion path, the limiting locking assembly (40) restricts its withdrawal and sway, the compression sealing cover (50) covers the side insertion port (12), and the seal (54) is sandwiched between the compression sealing cover (50) and the side mounting base (11); the anti-liquid flow guiding assembly (70) is set inside the main intake channel (13) or inside the side insertion port (12) to guide methanol droplets away from the side insertion port (12) and the electrical connection area.

2. A methanol engine with electrically heated intake manifold according to claim 1, characterized in that: The intake pipe housing (10) includes an upstream connection end (14) located on the intake airflow inlet side and a downstream connection end (15) located on the intake airflow outlet side. A lateral mounting base (11) is disposed on the side wall between the upstream connection end (14) and the downstream connection end (15). The opening direction of the lateral insertion port (12) intersects with the extension direction of the main intake channel (13), so that the electric heating core assembly (20) can be inserted or withdrawn from the side of the intake pipe housing (10).

3. A methanol engine with electrically heated intake manifold according to claim 1, characterized in that: The intake pipe housing (10) has an inner end stop (16) in the main intake channel (13), and the insertion end of the heating core frame (21) has an end positioning part (23). When the electric heating core assembly (20) is inserted into place, the end positioning part (23) abuts against the inner end stop (16) to limit the insertion depth of the electric heating core assembly (20) into the main intake channel (13).

4. A methanol engine with electrically heated intake manifold according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guide assembly (30) includes a housing guide (31) provided on the side mounting base (11) or the air intake housing (10), and a core frame guide fitting part (32) provided on the heating core frame (21). The housing guide (31) and the core frame guide fitting part (32) are slidably engaged. The housing guide (31) and the core frame guide fitting part (32) are one of the following: a slide rail and a slide groove, a guide groove and a guide rib, or a guide pin and a long hole.

5. A methanol engine with electrically heated intake manifold according to claim 1, characterized in that: The limiting locking assembly (40) includes a locking member (41) and a positioning mating part (42). The locking member (41) is disposed on the lateral mounting base (11) or the pressing sealing cover (50), and the positioning mating part (42) is disposed on the heating core frame (21) or the pressing sealing cover (50). After the electric heating core assembly (20) is inserted into place, the locking member (41) and the positioning mating part (42) cooperate to restrict the electric heating core assembly (20) from moving in the extraction direction.

6. A methanol engine with electrically heated intake manifold according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lateral mounting base (11) is provided with a sealing mounting portion (17) surrounding the lateral insertion port (12), and the pressing sealing cover (50) is provided with a pressing boss (52) facing the sealing mounting portion (17). The sealing element (54) is disposed between the sealing mounting portion (17) and the pressing boss (52). The pressing sealing cover (50) is detachably connected to the lateral mounting base (11) through the cover fastener (53) and applies a pressing force to the sealing element (54).

7. A methanol engine with electrically heated intake manifold according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electric heating core assembly (20) includes an insulating support (24), and the electric heating element (22) is fixed inside the heating core frame (21) by the insulating support (24). The electric heating element (22) is one of the sheet-like, grid-like, corrugated, honeycomb-like or ceramic block structure, and together with the heating core frame (21) forms a flow gap for air intake.

8. A methanol engine with electrically heated intake manifold according to claim 1, characterized in that: The intake pipe electric heating assembly (100) includes an insulating wiring assembly (60), which includes an insulating terminal block (61) and a conductive terminal (62). The insulating terminal block (61) is located outside the pressure sealing cover (50) or the intake pipe housing (10). The conductive terminal (62) is inserted into or fixed to the insulating terminal block (61). One end of the conductive terminal (62) is connected to the electric heating element (22), and the other end is located outside the main intake channel (13).

9. A methanol engine with electrically heated intake manifold according to claim 1, characterized in that: The anti-liquidation guide assembly (70) includes a liquid-blocking lip (71) and a guide rib (72). The liquid-blocking lip (71) is located on the windward side of the heating core frame (21) or on the inner wall of the air intake pipe housing (10). The guide rib (72) is located on the inner wall of the main air intake channel (13) and extends away from the conductive terminal (62) and the lateral insertion port (12). The anti-liquidation guide assembly (70) further includes at least one of a low-position isolation groove (73) and a liquid-blocking step (74). The low-position isolation groove (73) is located at a low position on the inner wall of the main air intake channel (13) and is offset from the side insertion port (12). The liquid-blocking step (74) is located inside the side insertion port (12).

10. A methanol engine with electrically heated intake manifold according to claim 1, characterized in that: The intake manifold electric heating assembly (100) includes an elastic vibration-damping support assembly (80), which includes an axial preload elastic element (81). The axial preload elastic element (81) is disposed between the pressure sealing cover (50) and the heating core frame (21), and applies a preload force to the heating core frame (21) along the insertion direction of the electric heating core assembly (20). The elastic vibration-damping support assembly (80) includes at least one of a lateral buffer pad (82) and an end buffer pad (83). The lateral buffer pad (82) is disposed between the heating core frame (21) and the guide assembly (30), and the end buffer pad (83) is disposed between the end positioning part (23) and the inner end stop part (16).

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