ENGINE INTAKE DEVICE

Abstract

An engine intake device comprising an intake manifold (20) which introduces air into an engine (1), wherein the intake manifold (20) contains: a surge tank (21) extending in the direction of a cylinder row; an inlet pipe part (27) extending upward from an end portion of the expansion tank (21) in the direction of the cylinder bank; a throttle body retaining flange (27A) arranged at an upstream end of the inlet pipe part (27), wherein a throttle body (19) is attached to the throttle body retaining flange (27A); and a plurality of intake pipes (23, 24, 25) branching from a lower part of the expansion tank (21) and curved to pass above the expansion tank (21), downstream ends of the plurality of intake pipes being connected to a cylinder head (2) by a head-side flange (26), characterized in that an additional gas supply pipe (20) which individually supplies an additional gas to the plurality of inlet pipes (23, 24, 25) is integrally formed on an upper part of the intake manifold (20), the additional gas supply pipe (30) contains: an inlet-side attachment part (38A) in which an additional gas inlet opening (38) is formed, which receives the additional gas; and a branch pipe part (30A) connected to the inlet-side extension part (38A) and the plurality of inlet pipes (23, 24, 25), the plurality of intake pipes (23, 24, 25) include an end intake pipe (23) arranged at a location adjacent to the throttle body holding flange (27A) in the direction of the cylinder bank, the intake-side extension part (38A) is arranged above the end intake pipe (23) at a position near the throttle body holding flange (27A) in a direction crossing the direction of the cylinder bank, characterized in that the throttle body retaining flange (27A) or the inlet pipe part (27) is connected to the end inlet pipe (23) via a reinforcing rib (28), and the branch pipe part (30A) contains: a first pipe part (31) extending in a straight line from the intake-side extension part (38A) in the direction of the cylinder bank on a side opposite the throttle body holding flange (27A); a second pipe part (32) extending from a downstream end of the first pipe part (31) toward the head-side flange (26); and a first branch pipe part (34) and a second branch pipe part (35) extending on opposite sides in the direction of the cylinder row from a downstream end of the second pipe part (32), wherein the first branch pipe part (34) extends in the direction of the cylinder row from the downstream end of the second pipe part (32) towards one side of the end inlet pipe (23), and the reinforcing rib (28) is arranged in a zone between the first pipe part (31) and the first branch pipe part (34) in the crossing direction.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an engine intake device according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a device is known from JP 2011-80394 A. [Technical background]

[0002] An engine intake device known from JP 2008 - 297 960 A includes a head-side flange at a downstream end of an intake port and a throttle body retaining flange at an upstream end of the intake port, and is configured to connect the intake port near the throttle body retaining flange to the head-side flange to thereby increase the rigidity of an intake manifold and suppress vibrations of the intake manifold.

[0003] From JP 2014 - 163 298 A an engine inlet device is known in which connecting ribs are used, for example in mounting flanges and a mounting flange and a pipe wall. [Disclosure of the invention][Technical problem]

[0004] Although the conventional engine intake device can suppress vibrations of the throttle body support flange, it poses a problem in that one degree of freedom for the intake port layout is limited. Another problem is that the long intake port leads to an increase in engine weight.

[0005] The present invention has been implemented in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the invention to provide an engine intake device that can improve the rigidity around the throttle body support flange of the intake manifold without increasing the engine weight. [Solution to the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides an engine intake device having the features of claim 1. [Advantageous mode of operation of the invention]

[0007] Thus, according to the invention, it is possible to obtain an engine intake device that can increase the rigidity in the area of ​​the throttle body retaining flange of the intake manifold without increasing the engine weight. [Brief description of the drawings] [ Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a rear view of an engine equipped with an engine intake device according to an embodiment of the invention. [ Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a rear view of an intake manifold and an auxiliary gas supply pipe of the intake device according to the embodiment of the invention. [ Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a front view of the intake manifold and the auxiliary gas supply pipe of the intake device according to the embodiment of the invention. [ Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a left side view of the intake manifold and the auxiliary gas supply pipe of the intake device according to the embodiment of the invention. [ Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a plan view of the intake manifold, the auxiliary gas supply pipe and the throttle body of the intake device according to the embodiment of the invention. [ Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a plan view of the intake manifold and the auxiliary gas supply pipe of the intake device according to the embodiment of the invention. [ Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the intake manifold, the auxiliary gas supply pipe, and the throttle body of the intake device according to the embodiment of the invention. [Description of the embodiment]

[0008] An engine intake device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an intake manifold that introduces air into an engine, the intake manifold including: a surge tank extending in the direction of a cylinder bank; an intake pipe portion extending upward from an end portion of the surge tank in the direction of the cylinder bank; a throttle body retaining flange disposed at an upstream end of the intake pipe portion, a throttle body being fixed to the throttle body retaining flange;and a plurality of intake pipes branching from a lower part of the surge tank and curved to pass above the surge tank, downstream ends of the plurality of intake pipes being connected to a cylinder head through a head-side flange, characterized in that an auxiliary gas supply pipe that individually supplies an auxiliary gas to the plurality of intake pipes is integrally formed at an upper part of the intake manifold, the auxiliary gas supply pipe including: an intake-side boss part in which an auxiliary gas inlet port that receives the auxiliary gas is formed;and a branch pipe part connected to the intake-side extension part and the plurality of intake pipes, the plurality of intake pipes including an end intake pipe, arranged at a position adjacent to the throttle body support flange in the cylinder bank direction. The intake-side extension part is arranged above the end intake pipe at a position near the throttle body support flange in a direction crossing the cylinder bank direction, and the throttle body support flange or the intake pipe part is connected to the end intake pipe via a reinforcing rib. Thus, the engine intake device according to the embodiment of the invention can increase the rigidity in the throttle body support flange area of ​​the intake manifold without increasing the engine weight. [Embodiment]

[0009] Hereinafter, the engine intake device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] Fig. 1 to 7 are diagrams illustrating the engine intake device according to the embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 to 7, the up-down, front-back, and left-right directions are the up-down, front-back, and left-right directions of the engine when installed in a vehicle, and a direction orthogonal to the front-back direction is the left-right direction, while a height direction of the engine is the up-down direction.

[0011] First, a structure is described. In Fig. 1, an engine 1 is equipped with an engine block 1A.

[0012] The engine block 1A includes a cylinder block, a cylinder head 2 connected to an upper portion of the cylinder block 3, a head cover 4 above the cylinder head 2, and an oil pan 5 connected to a lower portion of the cylinder block 3. The engine block 1A is equipped with a chain cover 8 covering a timing chain (not shown), the chain cover 8 being connected to a right end portion of the cylinder head 2 and the cylinder block.

[0013] The cylinder block 3 houses a plurality of (three) cylinders (not shown), each of which houses a piston (not shown) movable in the up-down direction. Crankshafts (not shown) that convert the up-down motion of the pistons into rotational motion are housed in the cylinder block 3, with the crankshafts extending in the left-right direction. The plurality of cylinders are arranged side by side in the left-right direction (hereinafter also referred to as the "cylinder bank direction") in which the crankshafts extend.

[0014] A plurality of combustion chambers (not shown) are provided in a base portion of the cylinder head 2. The respective braking chamber is located at the top of each cylinder. In this embodiment, the cylinder head 2 has three combustion chambers arranged in a row in the left-right direction. An exhaust outlet (not shown in the drawings) is provided in front of the cylinder head 2 for exhausting exhaust gases.

[0015] After Fig. 1, the engine 1 is equipped with an intake manifold 20. The intake manifold 20 is attached to a side surface behind the cylinder head 2 to distribute air that has passed through an air cleaner (not shown) into a plurality (three in this embodiment) (not shown) of the cylinder 2. The engine 1 causes a spark plug (not shown) to ignite and combust the air-fuel mixture consisting of air and fuel coming from the intake ports to discharge the exhaust gas from the exhaust outlet after combustion.

[0016] After the Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the intake manifold 20 is provided with a surge tank 21 extending in the cylinder bank direction, an intake pipe portion 27 extending upward in the cylinder bank direction from an end portion of the surge tank 21, a throttle body retaining flange 27A at an upstream end of the intake pipe portion 27, to which a throttle body 19 is attached, and a manifold portion branching from a lower portion of the surge tank 21 and bending to pass above the surge tank 21, the downstream end of which is connected to the cylinder head 2 by a head-side flange 26. The manifold portion 22 is composed of a plurality of intake pipes 23, 24, and 25. These intake pipes 23, 24, and 25 extend parallel to each other in the cylinder bank direction. The head-side flange 26 extends in the cylinder bank direction.

[0017] The intake manifold 20 is equipped with an additional gas supply pipe 30 which supplies an exhaust gas as an additional gas into the intake manifold 23A, 24A and 25A (see Fig. 3) introduces air flowing into the intake pipes 23, 24, or 25, respectively. The auxiliary gas supply pipe 30 is provided on a top surface of the intake manifold 20 to distribute and supply the auxiliary gas introduced from an exhaust pipe (not shown) to each intake pipe 23, 24, or 25 of the intake manifold 20.

[0018] After Fig. 5, Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, the auxiliary gas supply pipe 30 is integrally formed on an upper part of the intake manifold 20. The auxiliary gas supply pipe 30 branches to supply the auxiliary gas individually to a plurality of intake pipes 23, 24, and 25.

[0019] The auxiliary gas supply pipe 30 includes an intake-side extension portion 38A in which an auxiliary gas inlet port 38 for receiving the auxiliary gas is formed, and a branch pipe portion 30A connected to the intake-side extension portion 38A and the plurality of intake pipes 23, 24, and 25. These intake pipes 23, 24, and 25 include the intake pipe 23 as an end intake pipe, located at a position adjacent to the throttle body support flange 27A in the cylinder bank direction.

[0020] The intake-side boss portion 38A is located above the intake pipe 23 at a position near the throttle body support flange 27A in a direction (front-rear direction; hereinafter also referred to as the vehicle longitudinal direction) crossing the direction of the cylinder bank to connect the throttle body support flange 27A or the intake pipe portion 27 and the intake pipe 23 via a reinforcing rib.

[0021] The branch pipe part 30A includes a first pipe part 31 extending in a straight line from the intake-side boss part 38A in the cylinder row direction on a side opposite the throttle body support flange 27A, a second pipe part 32 extending from a downstream end of the first pipe part 31 to the head-side flange 26, and a first branch pipe part 34 and a second branch pipe part 35 extending on opposite sides in the cylinder row direction from a downstream end of the second pipe part 32. The first branch pipe part 34 extends in the cylinder row direction from a downstream end of the second pipe part 32 on the intake pipe 23 side. The reinforcing rib 28 is located in a zone sandwiched between the first pipe part 31 and the first branch pipe part 34 in the transverse direction (vehicle longitudinal direction).In other words, the reinforcing rib 28 is located in a zone in front of the first pipe part 31 in the transverse direction and behind the first branch pipe part 34. The branch pipe part 30A includes a third pipe part 33 connected to a downstream end of the second branch pipe part 35, and a third branch pipe part 36 and a fourth branch pipe part 37 extending on opposite sides from a downstream end of the third pipe part 33.

[0022] After Fig. 7, the intake manifold 20 is provided with a plurality of projections 27B projecting from a peripheral portion of the intake pipe part 27 on opposite sides of the cylinder head 2, and further the intake manifold has a horizontal rib 29 connected to the intake pipe part 27 and the plurality of projections 27B and the intake pipe 23.

[0023] After Fig.2, the intake pipe 23, as the end intake pipe, includes a longitudinal wall portion 23B to which the horizontal rib 29 is connected. The longitudinal wall portion 23B is curved so that it protrudes toward the throttle body 19.

[0024] As described so far, in the present embodiment, the auxiliary gas supply pipe 30 which individually supplies the auxiliary gas to the plurality of intake pipes 23, 24 and 25 is integrally formed at an upper part of the intake manifold 20.

[0025] The auxiliary gas supply pipe 30 includes the intake-side extension part 38A in which the auxiliary gas inlet port 38 that receives the auxiliary gas is formed, and the branch pipe part 30A connected to the intake-side extension part 38A and the plurality of intake pipes 23, 24, and 25. The plurality of intake pipes 23, 24, and 25 include the end intake pipe 23 at a position adjacent to the throttle body support flange 27A in the cylinder bank direction. The plurality of intake pipes 23, 24, and 25 include the end intake pipe 23 at a position adjacent to the throttle body support flange 27A in the cylinder bank direction. The intake-side boss portion 38A is located above the end intake pipe 23 and at a position near the throttle body support flange 27A in a direction crossing the cylinder row direction to connect the throttle body support flange 27A or the intake pipe portion 27 and the end intake pipe 23 via the reinforcing rib 28.

[0026] Since the intake pipe 23 is provided as the end intake pipe and the intake-side extension part 38A with high strength is provided, rigidity is improved. Since the throttle body support flange 27A and the end intake pipe 23 are connected to each other via the reinforcing rib 28, it is possible to reinforce the throttle body support flange 27A and improve rigidity. Even if the intake-side extension part 38A is provided, there is no increase in weight, and thus it is possible to avoid an increase in weight of the engine 1.

[0027] As a result, the rigidity around the throttle body support flange 27A of the intake manifold 20 can be improved without increasing the weight of the engine 1.

[0028] In the present embodiment, the branch pipe part 30A includes the first pipe part 31 extending linearly from the intake-side boss part 38A toward the cylinder bank on the opposite side of the throttle body support flange 27A, the second pipe part 32 extending from the downstream end of the pipe part 31 to the head-side flange 26, and the first branch pipe part 34 and the second branch pipe part 35 extending on opposite sides toward the cylinder bank from the upstream end of the second pipe part 32. The first branch pipe part 34 extends toward the cylinder bank from the downstream end of the second pipe part 32 on the end intake pipe 23 side. The reinforcing rib 28 is located in the zone sandwiched between the first pipe part 31 and the first branch pipe part 34 in the transverse direction.

[0029] In this way, the reinforcing rib 28 is located in the zone sandwiched between the first pipe part 31 and the first branch pipe part 34, making it possible to increase the rigidity of the intake-side extension part 38A. This, in turn, makes it possible to increase the rigidity of the throttle body support flange 27A.

[0030] In this embodiment, the intake manifold is provided with the plurality of projections 27B projecting from the peripheral portion of the intake pipe part 27 on opposite sides of the cylinder head 2, and is provided with the horizontal rib 29 connected to the intake pipe part 27 and the plurality of projections 27B and the end intake pipe 23.

[0031] This makes it possible to connect the plurality of projections 27B in the peripheral region of the intake pipe part 27 to the intake pipe 23 as the end intake pipe via the reinforcing rib 29, thereby securely supporting the intake pipe part 27 through the intake pipe 23. This makes it possible to increase the rigidity of the throttle body support flange 27A on the intake pipe part 27.

[0032] In this embodiment, the end inlet pipe 23 includes the longitudinal wall portion 23B to which the horizontal rib 23 is connected, and the longitudinal wall portion 23B is curved so as to protrude toward the throttle body 19.

[0033] Therefore, since the longitudinal wall portion 23B of the intake pipe 23 is curved to protrude toward the throttle body 19, a distance between the longitudinal wall portion 23B and the throttle body 19 becomes shorter, thereby making it possible to shorten the horizontal rib 29 and thus increase the rigidity of the horizontal rib 29.

[0034] Although one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be added without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such modifications and equivalents are covered by the appended claims. [List of reference symbols]

[0035] 1 ... engine, 2 ... cylinder head, 19 ... throttle body, 20 ... intake manifold, 21 ... surge tank, 23 ... intake pipe (end intake pipe), 23B ... longitudinal wall part, 24, 25 ... intake pipe, 26 ... head side flange, 27 ... intake pipe part, 27A ... throttle body holding flange, 27B ... boss, 28 ... reinforcing rib, 29 ... horizontal rib, 30 ... auxiliary gas supply pipe, 30A ... branch pipe part, 31 ... first pipe part, 32 ... second pipe part, 34 first branch pipe part, 35 ... second branch pipe part, 38 ... auxiliary gas inlet port, 38A ... intake side boss part.

Claims

[1] An engine intake device comprising an intake manifold (20) which introduces air into an engine (1), wherein the intake manifold (20) contains: a surge tank (21) extending in the direction of a cylinder row; an inlet pipe part (27) extending upward from an end portion of the expansion tank (21) in the direction of the cylinder bank; a throttle body retaining flange (27A) arranged at an upstream end of the inlet pipe part (27), wherein a throttle body (19) is attached to the throttle body retaining flange (27A); and a plurality of intake pipes (23, 24, 25) branching from a lower part of the expansion tank (21) and curved to pass above the expansion tank (21), downstream ends of the plurality of intake pipes being connected to a cylinder head (2) by a head-side flange (26), characterized by , that an additional gas supply pipe (20) which individually supplies an additional gas to the plurality of inlet pipes (23, 24, 25) is integrally formed on an upper part of the intake manifold (20), the additional gas supply pipe (30) contains: an inlet-side attachment part (38A) in which an additional gas inlet opening (38) is formed, which receives the additional gas; and a branch pipe part (30A) connected to the inlet-side extension part (38A) and the plurality of inlet pipes (23, 24, 25), the plurality of intake pipes (23, 24, 25) include an end intake pipe (23) arranged at a location adjacent to the throttle body holding flange (27A) in the direction of the cylinder bank, the intake-side extension part (38A) is arranged above the end intake pipe (23) at a position near the throttle body holding flange (27A) in a direction crossing the direction of the cylinder bank, characterized by , that the throttle body retaining flange (27A) or the inlet pipe part (27) is connected to the end inlet pipe (23) via a reinforcing rib (28), and the branch pipe part (30A) contains: a first pipe part (31) extending in a straight line from the intake-side extension part (38A) in the direction of the cylinder bank on a side opposite the throttle body holding flange (27A); a second pipe part (32) extending from a downstream end of the first pipe part (31) toward the head-side flange (26); and a first branch pipe part (34) and a second branch pipe part (35) extending on opposite sides in the direction of the cylinder row from a downstream end of the second pipe part (32), wherein the first branch pipe part (34) extends in the direction of the cylinder row from the downstream end of the second pipe part (32) towards one side of the end inlet pipe (23), and the reinforcing rib (28) is arranged in a zone between the first pipe part (31) and the first branch pipe part (34) in the crossing direction. [2] An engine intake device according to claim 1, wherein the intake manifold (20) contains: a plurality of projections (27B) forming projections from a peripheral portion of the intake pipe portion (27) on opposite sides of the cylinder head (2); and a horizontal rib (29) connected to the inlet pipe part (27) and the plurality of extension parts (27B) and the end inlet pipe (23). [3] Engine intake device according to claim 2, wherein the end inlet pipe (23) includes a longitudinal wall part (23B) to which the horizontal rib (29) is connected, and the longitudinal wall part (23B) is curved such that it projects in the direction of the throttle body (19).

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