Hose connection structure

Abstract

This invention provides a hose connection structure that can suppress the movement of the hose. [Solution] The hose connection structure comprises a head cover 14 that constitutes the engine 10, and a flexible PCV hose 22 whose end 24a is connected to the head cover 14. The PCV hose 22 is connected to the head cover 14 with its end 24a twisted in the circumferential direction. This allows torsional stress to be generated in the PCV hose 22, and even when the PCV hose 22 is subjected to force due to its own weight and force due to vibration of the engine 10, the movement of the PCV hose 22 can be suppressed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hose connection structure.

Background Art

[0002] A configuration in which hoses are connected between a plurality of components constituting an engine is known. For example, a configuration in which a PCV hose is connected between a head cover provided to close the upper side of a cylinder head and an intake manifold is known (for example, Patent Document 1). A configuration in which a bypass hose is connected between an air cleaner and a supercharging duct connected to an internal combustion engine is also known (for example, Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When a hose connected to a component constituting an engine has flexibility, the hose may move after being connected to the component, and its posture and position may change due to its own weight and / or vibrations of the engine. When the posture and position of the hose change, the hose may come into contact with unintended components, etc., and unintended problems may occur.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to suppress the movement of the hose.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention is a hose connection structure comprising an engine component and a flexible hose with its end connected to the component, wherein the end of the hose is twisted circumferentially and connected to the component. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the movement of the hose can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows the configuration of an engine to which the hose connection structure in the embodiment is applied. [Figure 2] Figure 2(a) shows the connection structure of the end of the PCV hose in the comparative example, and Figure 2(b) shows the positional relationship between the PCV hose and the intake duct in the comparative example. [Figure 3] Figure 3(a) shows the connection structure of the end of the PCV hose in the embodiment, and Figure 3(b) shows the positional relationship between the PCV hose and the intake duct in the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [Examples]

[0010] Figure 1 shows the configuration of an engine 10 to which the hose connection structure in the embodiment is applied. As shown in Figure 1, the engine 10 includes an engine body 12 and a head cover 14. The engine body 12 includes a cylinder block having a cylinder in which pistons are arranged, and a cylinder head assembled on top of the cylinder block. The head cover 14 is provided to cover the cylinder head from above.

[0011] The space from the top of the piston to the bottom of the cylinder head is the combustion chamber where fuel is burned. The engine 10 includes an intake duct 16 connected to the combustion chamber and through which intake air is introduced into the combustion chamber. The engine 10 also includes an exhaust duct connected to the combustion chamber and through which exhaust gases burned in the combustion chamber are discharged, but this is omitted from the diagram for clarity.

[0012] The engine 10 also includes a turbocharger 18, which is a supercharger. The turbocharger 18 includes a turbine installed in the exhaust duct and a compressor installed in the intake duct 16 that is rotatable together with the turbine. The turbocharger 18 is configured to compress the intake air and provide supercharging by causing the compressor to rotate together with the turbine as the turbine rotates in response to the exhaust pressure.

[0013] The engine 10 is installed in the intake duct 16 upstream of the turbocharger 18 and includes an air cleaner 20 that filters the intake air. The engine 10 is also located downstream of the turbocharger 18 in the intake duct 16 and includes an intercooler that cools the intake air that has become hot due to compression, and a throttle valve that adjusts the flow rate of the intake air introduced into the combustion chamber, but these are omitted from the illustration for clarity.

[0014] A PCV hose 22 is connected between the portion of the intake duct 16 between the air cleaner 20 and the turbocharger 18 and the head cover 14. In other words, the portion of the intake duct 16 between the air cleaner 20 and the turbocharger 18 and the head cover 14 are in communication via the PCV hose 22. The PCV hose 22 creates a path for taking in air (intake) from the intake duct 16 through the head cover 14 to the engine body 12 (for example, the crankcase between the oil pan that covers the cylinder block from below and the cylinder block). By taking in air into the crankcase, it becomes possible to ventilate the blow-by gas containing unburned fuel and / or oil mist that has leaked from the combustion chamber into the crankcase.

[0015] One end 24a of the PCV hose 22 is connected to a cylindrical, protruding inlet 26a provided on the head cover 14. The other end 24b of the PCV hose 22 is connected to a cylindrical, protruding inlet 26b provided on the intake duct 16. As a result, the intake duct 16 and the head cover 14 are connected by the PCV hose 22.

[0016] The PCV hose 22 is made of an elastic material, such as a rubber hose. That is, the PCV hose 22 is flexible and can bend and bend. The PCV hose 22 may also have a heat shielding material wrapped around at least a portion of the rubber hose to protect against heat damage. The intake duct 16 is made of a material that is more rigid than the PCV hose 22, such as plastic or carbon. Therefore, the intake duct 16 has less deflection than the PCV hose 22. The head cover 14 is made of a highly rigid material, such as an aluminum alloy. The inlet ports 26a and 26b are also made of highly rigid materials, similar to the head cover 14 and the intake duct 16.

[0017] [PCV hose connection] During repairs and / or inspections of the engine 10, the PCV hose 22 may be detached from the head cover 14 and / or the intake duct 16. In other words, at least one of the ends 24a and 24b of the PCV hose 22 can be inserted into and removed from the inlet 26a and 26b.

[0018] Figure 2(a) shows the connection structure of the end 24a of the PCV hose 22 in the comparative example, and Figure 2(b) shows the positional relationship between the PCV hose 22 and the intake duct 16 in the comparative example. As shown in Figure 2(a), in the comparative example, the end 24a of the PCV hose 22 is connected to the inlet 26a in a natural position without any twisting in the circumferential direction. Marks 30 are shown at arbitrary positions on the end 24a to facilitate comparison with Figure 3(a), which will be described later.

[0019] Since the PCV hose 22 is a flexible rubber hose, when the end 24a of the PCV hose 22 is connected to the insertion port 26a in a natural posture state, the PCV hose 22 may move due to its own weight and / or external forces, and its posture and position may change. That is, the PCV hose 22 may change its posture and position from the state when the end 24a is connected to the insertion port 26a. When the posture and position of the PCV hose 22 change, as shown in FIG. 2(b), the PCV hose 22 may contact the intake duct 16 at a location A, for example. When the PCV hose 22 contacts the intake duct 16, the PCV hose 22 may be damaged.

[0020] FIG. 3(a) is a diagram showing the connection structure of the end 24a of the PCV hose 22 in the embodiment, and FIG. 3(b) is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the PCV hose 22 and the intake duct 16 in the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3(a), in the embodiment, the end 24a of the PCV hose 22 is connected to the insertion port 26a in a state twisted in the circumferential direction from the natural posture state. Therefore, it is located at a position where the mark 30 shown in FIG. 2(a) has rotated counterclockwise. For example, the end 24a of the PCV hose 22 is connected to the insertion port 26a with a twist of 10° or more counterclockwise compared to the case where the end 24a of the PCV hose 22 is connected to the insertion port 26a in a natural posture state. Thus, by connecting the end 24a to the insertion port 26a in a state twisted in the circumferential direction, torsional stress is generated in the PCV hose 22.

[0021] When torsional stress is generated in the PCV hose 22, the PCV hose 22 becomes more rigid, so its movement is suppressed even when its own weight and / or external forces are applied. That is, even when forces due to the weight of the PCV hose 22 and the vibration of the engine 10, etc. are applied, the PCV hose 22 is suppressed from moving from the state when the end 24a is connected to the insertion port 26a, and its posture and position are suppressed from changing. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the PCV hose 22 is suppressed from contacting the intake duct 16, for example, and damage to the PCV hose 22 is suppressed.

[0022] The amount of circumferential twist at the end 24a of the PCV hose 22 can be determined as appropriate, but if the amount of twist at the end 24a is small, the effect of increased rigidity due to torsional stress on the PCV hose 22 will be weaker. Therefore, it is preferable that the end 24a is connected with a twist of 20° or more in the circumferential direction compared to when it is connected to the insertion port 26a in a natural position, more preferably with a twist of 30° or more, and even more preferably with a twist of 40° or more. Since the amount of movement of the PCV hose 22 varies depending on the material and shape of the PCV hose 22, the amount of circumferential twist at the end 24a of the PCV hose 22 should be determined as appropriate, taking into consideration the amount of movement of the PCV hose 22 and the distance from other members.

[0023] The other end 24b of the PCV hose 22 may be twisted circumferentially from its natural position and connected to the inlet 26b, or it may be connected to the inlet 26b in its natural position without being twisted circumferentially. At least one of the ends 24a and 24b of the PCV hose 22 should be twisted circumferentially and connected to the inlet 26a and 26b. This can generate torsional stress in the PCV hose 22 and increase its rigidity.

[0024] In one embodiment, one end 24a of a flexible PCV hose 22 is connected to a head cover 14, which is a component of the engine 10. The PCV hose 22 is connected to the head cover 14 with its end 24a twisted in the circumferential direction. As a result, torsional stress is generated in the PCV hose 22, increasing its rigidity. Therefore, even when forces are applied due to its own weight and vibrations of the engine 10, it is prevented from moving from the state in which it was connected to the head cover 14. Thus, contact between the PCV hose 22 and unintended components such as the intake duct 16 is prevented, and damage to the PCV hose 22 can be prevented.

[0025] In the embodiment, the PCV hose 22 connected between the head cover 14 and the intake duct 16 was shown as an example of a hose connected to a component of the engine 10, but the invention is not limited to this case. The present invention can be applied to hoses connected to various components of the engine 10. For example, the present invention can also be applied to a hose connecting an air cleaner and a supercharging duct, as described in Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-281229).

[0026] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention as described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 10...Engine, 12...Engine block, 14...Cylinder head cover, 16...Intake duct, 18...Turbocharger, 20...Air cleaner, 22...PCV hose, 24a, 24b...Ends, 26a, 26b...Inlet, 30...Mark

Claims

[Claim 1] The components that make up the engine, The component comprises a flexible hose with its end connected to the aforementioned part, The hose connection structure is such that the end of the hose is twisted in the circumferential direction and connected to the component.

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