Air Cleaner Intake Duct Double Pipe Flow Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air cleaners for internal combustion engines face challenges in achieving flow alignment effectively in small spaces, requiring extra space and complicating the structure due to extended intake paths.
Innovation Solution
The air cleaner design incorporates a double pipe part at the upstream end of the intake duct, which is partially integrated with the cleaner container, allowing for flow alignment without extending the intake duct, and utilizing the container wall as the intake duct's pipe wall to reduce components and increase space efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the intake path is extended to achieve flow alignment, then flow alignment is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the double pipe structure inside the cleaner container. The inner pipe is nested within the outer pipe, and the entire double pipe assembly is integrated into the cleaner container wall structure. This nested arrangement achieves flow alignment functionality without extending the overall intake path length or increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the double pipe structure with the cleaner container by making the outer pipe wall continuous with the cleaner container wall. This integration combines multiple functions (flow alignment, structural support, and container integrity) into a unified structure, eliminating the need for separate extended intake paths and reducing device complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If the intake duct is extended to improve flow alignment, then flow alignment is improved, but the volume of the air cleaner increases
Solution Approach 1:
The double pipe structure is nested within the cleaner container volume. The inner pipe carrying the intake duct is positioned inside the outer pipe, and both are integrated into the cleaner container wall. This nesting allows flow alignment to be achieved within the existing air cleaner volume without requiring additional external space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the wall thickness dimension of the cleaner container to accommodate the double pipe structure. By arranging the pipes within the wall structure rather than extending externally, the solution achieves flow alignment while maintaining compact overall dimensions and not increasing the air cleaner volume.
3Manufacturing precision
If a separate extended intake path is added to achieve flow alignment, then flow alignment is improved, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the double pipe structure with the cleaner container by making the outer pipe wall continuous with the cleaner container wall. This integration eliminates the need for separate extended intake ducts and reduces the number of components. The cleaner container wall simultaneously serves as structural support and as part of the flow alignment structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The double pipe structure serves multiple functions: it provides flow alignment, acts as part of the cleaner container structure, and defines the intake path. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby reducing the overall number of components and device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
An air cleaner (39) includes a cleaner container (45) that forms a dirty chamber (51a) communicating with outside air and a clean chamber (51b) communicating with a supply destination for cleaned air, a cleaner element (46) that is disposed within the cleaner container (45) between the dirty chamber (51a) and the clean chamber (51b), and an intake duct (46) that is fixed to the cleaner container (45) and provides communication between a space outside the cleaner container (45) and the dirty chamber (51a). Provided at an upstream end of the intake duct (46) is a double pipe part (52) that is provided along an outer periphery of the intake duct (46) and is at least partially integrated with the cleaner container (45). Accordingly, an air cleaner can be provided that realizes flow alignment effectively in a small space.