Vehicle Air Intake Gutter for Moisture Diversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional front air intakes in vehicles face challenges in managing moisture ingestion, such as water, rain, and snow, which degrades engine performance and drivability due to their hidden location within the engine bay.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-forward air intake assembly featuring a moisture-diverting gutter and airflow diverter opening, along with an air intake inlet shield, positions the air intake forward to reduce moisture ingestion by diverting airflow and using gravity to trap moisture, ensuring a moisture-free air supply to the engine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the air intake is positioned forward on the vehicle, then fresh air intake efficiency is improved, but moisture ingestion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a moisture diverter as an intermediary component between the forward air intake and the engine. This moisture diverter selectively blocks moisture (water, rain, snow) while allowing fresh air to pass through to the engine, resolving the contradiction by mediating between the beneficial forward air intake position and the harmful moisture ingestion
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the air intake is hidden within the engine bay, then moisture ingestion is reduced, but fresh air intake efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the air intake from the traditional hidden position within the engine bay to a forward position on the vehicle's exterior. This dimensional change in positioning allows the air intake to access fresher air while the moisture diverter component compensates for the increased moisture exposure risk
3Ease of operation
If the vehicle operates in wet conditions, then engine performance degrades due to moisture intake, but forward air intake design exacerbates the problem
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful forward position (which increases moisture intake in wet conditions) into a beneficial design by incorporating the moisture diverter. The moisture diverter uses the forward position's advantage of accessing fresh air while converting the disadvantage of moisture exposure into a controlled scenario where moisture is diverted away from the engine
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 effectively minimizes moisture intake, enhancing engine performance and drivability by providing a consistent supply of fresh air, particularly beneficial for high-performance engines with increased suction power, while reducing Rise Over Ambient values.
Implementation Method 1
using gravity to trap moisture
Implementation Method 2
airflow diverter opening... diverting airflow
Data Source
AI summary
An air intake assembly for a vehicle includes a vehicle-forward air intake inlet, an airflow diverter opening, and a moisture-diverting gutter surrounding a portion of the vehicle-forward air intake inlet. The moisture-diverting gutter may surround at least a top and opposed sides of the vehicle-forward air intake inlet. The assembly further includes an air intake inlet shield which may define a slope. The airflow diverter opening may be positioned below the vehicle-forward air intake inlet.