Air Intake Anti-Recirculation Channel With Water Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-air recirculation devices on vehicles create airflow resistance and require bulky designs to prevent water accumulation near the air intake, which can lead to water being sucked into the engine.
Innovation Solution
An anti-air recirculation device with a channel defined by a bottom, side, and top wall, featuring an overpressure wall perpendicular to the channel's direction, which allows water to flow away from the air intake while reducing air escape through a water extraction passage, and a blocking wall to further control airflow, resulting in a compact and efficient design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If baffles are installed in the channel to block water droplets, then water prevention is improved, but airflow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water blocking function from traditional baffles and relocates it to a dedicated water extraction passage at the bottom of the channel. This allows the main channel to remain open for air flow while water is separately channeled out through the bottom passage, eliminating the need for obstructive baffles in the air path.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel is segmented into two functional pathways: the main channel for air flow and a separate water extraction passage at the bottom for water removal. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each function - air flow remains unobstructed while water is actively extracted through the dedicated passage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a bulky anti-recycling device is created to avoid water accumulation, then water prevention is improved, but device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of expanding the device horizontally with bulky baffles, the patent utilizes the vertical dimension by positioning the water extraction passage at the bottom of the channel. This allows water to be drained downward in a different spatial dimension, preventing accumulation without increasing the overall device footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom wall of the channel serves as an intermediary structure that facilitates water extraction. By positioning the extraction passage at the bottom, gravity-assisted water drainage is enabled, and the low position of the passage acts as a natural water collection point without requiring additional bulky components.
3Productivity
If the air discharge opening is positioned to evacuate air efficiently, then air supply is improved, but water may flow towards the air intake
Solution Approach 1:
The water extraction function is extracted and separated from the air discharge function. The water extraction passage is positioned at the bottom of the channel, away from the air discharge opening, allowing independent optimization of both functions without interference between them.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom wall and water extraction passage are positioned at the lowest potential point in the channel, creating a gravity-driven water collection system. This ensures water naturally accumulates and drains at the bottom regardless of vehicle orientation, preventing it from reaching higher-positioned air intake openings.
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 prevents water accumulation and reduces airflow resistance, ensuring efficient air supply to the engine while maintaining a low volume and easy production, even when the vehicle is not on a horizontal plane or during acceleration.
Implementation Method 1
the overpressure wall generates an overpressure in the channel on the side of the air discharge opening
Implementation Method 2
when a vehicle comprising such a device is driving, a situation in which the air is forced to enter the channel through the air inlet opening due to the aerodynamic pressure
Implementation Method 3
the water flowing over the bottom wall, originating from the air passing through the channel, can flow to the discharge passage
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
Disclosed is an air anti-recirculation device (10), comprising a channel (11) defined by a bottom wall (110), two side walls (111, 112) and an upper wall, the device further comprising an air inlet opening (12), an air exhaust opening (13) on one of the side walls (112), and an extraction passage (14) for discharging water flowing over the bottom wall (110), characterised in that the device (10) comprises an overpressure wall (15) disposed approximately perpendicular to the direction of extension of the channel (11), distanced from the bottom wall (110) so as to allow water to flow over the bottom wall (110), between the bottom wall (110) and the overpressure wall (15), the overpressure wall being disposed between the air exhaust opening (13) and the water extraction passage (14).