Vehicle Air Cleaner Elbow Guide Ribs and Acoustic Resonator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle intake systems face challenges in reducing air intake noise and turbulence, which can affect airflow measurement accuracy and engine calibration, due to the amplification of noise and vibration through flow passages and the generation of turbulence at the acoustic resonator opening area.
Innovation Solution
The air cleaner design incorporates an elbow-shaped section with guide ribs to redirect airflow, an acoustic resonator to reduce noise, and additional guide ribs to minimize turbulence at the resonator opening area, along with airflow stabilizing ribs in the air outlet pipe to ensure accurate airflow measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an acoustic resonator is added to reduce noise, then air intake noise is reduced, but air turbulence increases at the resonator opening area
Solution Approach 1:
Guide ribs are introduced as intermediary elements between the acoustic resonator opening and the airflow path. These guide ribs act as mediators that redirect and smooth the airflow, reducing turbulence generated at the resonator opening while preserving the noise reduction function of the acoustic resonator.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide ribs are strategically positioned only at specific locations where turbulence is generated (at the resonator opening area), rather than throughout the entire flow passage. This localized approach addresses the turbulence problem at its source while minimizing interference with other functions of the air cleaner.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the flow passage is extended to include acoustic resonator, then noise reduction is improved, but airflow measurement accuracy deteriorates due to turbulence
Solution Approach 1:
Guide ribs are positioned upstream of the airflow meter to act as intermediaries that condition the airflow before it reaches the measurement device. These ribs smooth out turbulence and redirect airflow in a controlled manner, ensuring that the airflow meter receives stable, laminar flow for accurate measurement while the acoustic resonator continues to reduce noise elsewhere in the system.
3Stability of the object's composition
If guide ribs are added to the elbow-shaped section, then airflow stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide ribs are divided into multiple discrete segments positioned at different locations within the elbow-shaped section and at the resonator opening. This segmentation allows each rib to independently manage specific airflow characteristics, improving overall airflow stability while keeping individual components simple and easy to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide ribs are designed with curved surfaces that match the elbow-shaped geometry of the flow passage, rather than using straight, angular structures. This curved design smoothly redirects airflow around the elbow section, reducing turbulence and improving airflow stability while integrating seamlessly with the existing rounded geometry of the air cleaner housing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances airflow stability and reduces noise, improving airflow measurement accuracy and engine calibration by minimizing turbulence and maintaining acoustic performance, while reducing the footprint of the air cleaner in the engine compartment.
Implementation Method 1
The flow passage upstream of the air outlet pipe defines a branching section formed as an acoustic resonator for reducing air intake noise
Data Source
AI summary
An air cleaner for a vehicle includes a case having an air inlet pipe and an air outlet pipe. A cover is removably attached to the case for covering an open top portion of the case. With the cover attached to the case an interior of the air cleaner defines a flow passage directed through the air cleaner from the air inlet pipe to the air outlet pipe. A filter element is received in the interior and is arranged over the flow passage. The flow passage immediately downstream of the filter element includes an elbow-shaped section for redirecting airflow from the filter element toward the air outlet pipe. The elbow-shaped section is provided with at least one first guide rib shaped correspondingly to the elbow-shaped section. The flow passage upstream of the air outlet pipe defines a branching section formed as an acoustic resonator for reducing air intake noise.