Air Cleaner Outlet Pipe Flow Regulator for Stable Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air cleaners experience airflow separation and deflection at the inlet of the outlet pipe, leading to turbulent air flows and measurement variations in airflow meters, due to abrupt changes in airflow.
Innovation Solution
An air cleaner design featuring a flow-regulating member with a peaked shape and width-narrowing portion within the outlet pipe, which generates orderly longitudinal vortices and directs airflow along the inner surface, suppressing separation and deflection, and is integrally formed using a two-part split mold for cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flow-regulating member is provided at the inlet of the outlet pipe, then airflow separation and deflection are suppressed, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The flow-regulating member is segmented into distinct functional zones: a peaked edge portion for generating orderly vortices, a width-narrowing portion for flow convergence, and a rear end portion for flow direction control. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall structural integration with the outlet pipe.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow-regulating member employs curved and tapered surfaces rather than sharp angular transitions. The peaked edge has a rounded apex, and the width-narrowing portion uses gradual curvature to guide airflow smoothly. This reduces flow separation by eliminating abrupt geometric discontinuities that would cause turbulent eddies.
2Reliability
If the flow-regulating member has a peaked shape with width-narrowing portion, then orderly vortices are generated and airflow is stabilized, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow-regulating member is integrated directly into the outlet pipe structure as a unified component rather than being a separate attached part. This merging of functions allows the flow-regulating features to be formed during the same molding or fabrication process as the outlet pipe itself, eliminating additional assembly steps and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet pipe structure serves multiple functions: it conveys air from the filter element to the engine, and it incorporates the flow-regulating member that generates orderly vortices and stabilizes airflow. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed while achieving both flow control and structural support in a single element.
3Measurement precision
If airflow separation occurs at the outlet pipe inlet, then turbulent flow affects measurement accuracy, but adding flow control structures increases pressure loss
Solution Approach 1:
The flow-regulating member is positioned at the inlet portion of the outlet pipe, upstream of the airflow meter, to pre-condition the airflow before it reaches the measurement device. The peaked edge and width-narrowing portion generate orderly vortices in advance, converting chaotic separated flow into a more uniform flow pattern that improves measurement accuracy without requiring post-measurement correction.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of attempting to completely eliminate vortices and turbulence, the design converts harmful flow separation into beneficial orderly vortices. The peaked edge intentionally generates controlled rotational flow that attaches to the outlet pipe wall and promotes flow uniformity downstream. This transforms the harmful effect of flow separation into a useful flow-conditioning mechanism that improves measurement while minimizing pressure loss.
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
The solution stabilizes airflow into the airflow meter, reducing measurement errors and pressure loss, and increasing the effective air flow into the engine, thereby improving engine output and torque stability.
Implementation Method 1
the first aspect enables orderly longitudinal vortices to be generated downstream of the flow-regulating member in the direction of flow
Implementation Method 2
airflow separation and deflection occurring at the inlet of the outlet pipe is suppressed
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an air cleaner including: an outlet pipe through which air is discharged; an airflow meter that is inserted toward an interior of the outlet pipe through a wall of the outlet pipe; and a flow-regulating member that is formed projecting from an inner surface of the outlet pipe at a leading end side of the airflow meter, the flow-regulating member including an edge that is formed with a peaked shape with respect to the inner surface and that runs along a direction of flow of air, a rear end that is formed at a downstream end of the edge in the direction of flow, and that is shaped cut sharply toward the inner surface and a width-narrowing portion that decreases in width in a circumferential direction of the outlet pipe on progression downstream in the direction of flow.