Engine Air Cleaner Turbulent Flow Tubes Debris Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Internal combustion engines face challenges in effectively removing debris, such as dirt particles and grass, from the air intake manifold, which can lead to engine inefficiencies and damage.

Innovation Solution

The engine air cleaner employs multiple turbulent flow tubes with a static or variable air vane to disrupt and separate air flows, using centrifugal force to expel debris while ensuring clean air is filtered and delivered to the engine, featuring a housing with dedicated outlets for debris and air filtration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single air filter is used in the intake manifold, then the structure is simple, but debris such as dirt particles and grass cannot be effectively removed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris removal effectivenessVSAvoidair cleaner structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air cleaner is divided into multiple functional components: a housing, multiple flow tubes (at least two), air vanes within each flow tube, and separate outlets. Each flow tube with its air vane acts as an independent debris separation unit, allowing the system to handle different types and amounts of debris more effectively than a single filter could.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Air vanes are introduced as intermediary elements within the flow tubes. These air vanes disrupt the airflow pattern and generate centrifugal forces that separate debris from the air stream before the air reaches the engine, acting as a mechanical mediator between the dirty air intake and the engine.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple flow tubes with air vanes are used to separate debris, then debris removal effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris separation efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flow tubes serve multiple functions simultaneously: they guide airflow, house the air vanes, create centrifugal separation, and direct cleaned air to the engine. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components that would otherwise be required to achieve the same debris removal effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The air vanes are nested within the flow tubes, which are themselves housed within the air cleaner housing. This nested arrangement allows multiple functional elements to be compactly integrated without requiring proportional increases in overall device size or complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If air flow is disrupted to separate debris using centrifugal force, then debris is effectively expelled, but air filtration time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris expulsion effectivenessVSAvoidair filtration duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The air vanes create periodic turbulence and eddies in the airflow as air passes through the flow tubes. This periodic disruption of laminar flow enhances centrifugal separation of debris while maintaining sufficient airflow velocity to prevent excessive pressure drop and filtration time delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The air vanes are positioned and angled to create curved airflow paths within the flow tubes. This curvature generates centrifugal force that pushes debris outward toward the walls of the flow tubes where it can be expelled, while the streamlined curvature minimizes flow resistance and maintains air velocity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 solution effectively removes debris from the air intake, preventing engine damage and ensuring efficient operation by utilizing centrifugal force to separate debris from air, thereby improving engine performance and longevity.

Implementation Method 1

The engine air cleaner employs multiple turbulent flow tubes with a static or variable air vane to disrupt and separate air flows, using centrifugal force to expel debris

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

The engine air cleaner employs multiple turbulent flow tubes with a static or variable air vane to disrupt and separate air flows

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentUS11536232B2Engine air cleaner

Publication Date: 2022.12.27 DISCOVERY ENERGY LLC

AI summary

An apparatus for removing debris from the intake of an engine includes an air cleaner housing with an inlet opening, an air entry cavity, one or more turbulent flow tubes, and at least one outlet opening. The inlet opening in the air cleaner housing is configured to receive an incoming flow of air from a blower. The air entry cavity is coupled with the inlet opening of the air cleaner housing. The one or more turbulent flow tubes configured to divide the flow of air from the air entry cavity and remove debris from the flow of air. The at least one outlet opening in the air cleaner housing is coupled to the one or more turbulent flow tubes and configured to expel the debris from the air cleaner housing. In addition, excess air from the air cleaner housing and/or combustion air is expelled from the air cleaner housing.