Cylinder Head Air Plenum for Combustion Engine Intake
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing internal combustion engines face challenges with flow losses and reduced cylinder filling due to the length and complexity of intake manifolds, particularly in supercharged engines, which leads to poor engine performance and increased space requirements.
Innovation Solution
An internal combustion engine design featuring an air plenum directly integrated onto the cylinder head, eliminating individual air lines and utilizing the space between them, with a pressure generating device and a single circumferential seal for optimized airflow and reduced parts, enhancing airflow efficiency and space utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If individual air lines are used to supply air to intake ports, then air distribution can be controlled, but flow losses increase and cylinder filling decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the individual air lines into a single common air line that supplies all intake ports. This eliminates multiple separate connections and reduces flow losses while maintaining adequate air distribution to all cylinders through the common supply path.
Solution Approach 2:
The air plenum is positioned in the radial direction between the air collector and the intake ports, creating a new spatial dimension for air distribution. This radial arrangement shortens the flow path and reduces the number of bends, thereby minimizing flow losses while still enabling controlled air distribution.
2Ease of operation
If a large intake manifold volume is used to equalize pressure fluctuations, then air distribution improves, but installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air plenum is arranged radially between the air collector and intake ports, utilizing the radial space that would otherwise be unused. This dimensional repositioning provides sufficient volume for pressure equalization without increasing the overall footprint of the intake system in the axial direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The air plenum is nested within the existing intake manifold structure, specifically positioned in the radial direction between the air collector and intake ports. This nested arrangement utilizes available space efficiently, providing the necessary volume for air distribution without adding external bulk to the system.
3Reliability
If multiple individual lines with seals are used, then air supply to each cylinder is ensured, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual air line connections into a single common air line with one air plenum. This merging reduces the number of seals and connections from multiple individual line-seal interfaces to a single integrated connection point, thereby simplifying the device while maintaining reliable air supply to all cylinders.
Solution Approach 2:
The air distribution function is segmented between the common air line for bulk supply and the individual intake ports for final distribution. This segmentation allows a single simplified connection to serve multiple cylinders, reducing assembly complexity while ensuring each cylinder receives adequate air through its dedicated intake port.
4Quantity of substance
If the main pipe protrudes far from the engine block, then air intake capacity increases, but package space is compromised and flow losses occur
Solution Approach 1:
The air plenum is positioned radially between the air collector and intake ports rather than extending axially from the engine block. This radial arrangement in a different dimension maintains adequate air intake capacity while avoiding package space conflicts with steering components and other radial-clearance-critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The air plenum is nested within the radial space between the air collector and intake ports, utilizing the existing spatial envelope rather than protruding externally. This nested configuration preserves air intake capacity while avoiding interference with surrounding package components.
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 design minimizes flow resistance, reduces space requirements, and improves cylinder filling, leading to enhanced engine performance while simplifying assembly and reducing parts and weight.
Implementation Method 1
The outlet of the plenum is located at the inlet openings of the inlet channels, through which air from the outlet of the plenum can flow directly
Implementation Method 2
The internal combustion engine can be provided in its intake tract in the flow direction of the air in front of the air collector, a pressure generating device
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The internal combustion engine (10) has an engine block (12) with a cylinder head (11) that is provided in the intake channels (15). The air from the inlet openings (15a) is conducted to outlet openings (15b) of the cylinder head. The air is flown in a flow direction from the inlet openings through the inlet channel to the outlet openings. An air collector (20) is provided with an inlet and an outlet, and is arranged directly on the cylinder head. The outlet is configured to enclose several inlet openings.