Internal Combustion Engine Intake System Partition Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-cylinder internal combustion engines face reduced volumetric efficiency due to mutual disturbance of intake cycles, which are out of phase, and resonance phenomena affecting engine operation, especially in engines with wide speed ranges like motorcycles.
Innovation Solution
The intake system features an air conveyance duct with internal partition walls dividing it into separate channels, each connected to an intake trumpet, allowing independent adjustment of gap sizes between trumpets and channels to optimize volumetric efficiency by equalizing intake flows and controlling pressure exchanges, and includes fuel injection devices within these channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a common airbox is used to collect and convey intake air to multiple cylinders, then the structure is simple and compact, but the intake cycles of various cylinders mutually disturb each other reducing volumetric efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the common airbox into multiple separate intake channels, each serving a specific cylinder. This segmentation prevents mutual disturbance of intake cycles between cylinders while maintaining a compact structure. Each channel acts as an independent flow path, eliminating the negative interference that occurs in a completely common airbox system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the intake flow paths from a single common space and separates them into distinct channels. By taking out the individual flow requirements of each cylinder and providing dedicated pathways, the system eliminates the mutual disturbance effect while preserving structural compactness through shared airbox housing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the engine operates across a wide speed range, then the engine is versatile and adaptable, but resonance phenomena occur at certain speeds that worsen volumetric efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates variable geometry elements in the intake channels, such as adjustable channel cross-sections or movable components that can change the effective length and shape of intake paths. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to optimize intake flow characteristics at different engine speeds, preventing resonance phenomena from degrading volumetric efficiency across the wide speed range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes geometric parameters of the intake channels (such as length, cross-sectional area, or curvature) to different values depending on operating conditions. By varying these parameters, the system can tune the intake system to avoid resonant frequencies at different speeds while maintaining adaptability across the entire operating range.
3Ease of manufacture
If standard intake duct arrangements are used, then the system is simple to manufacture, but the specific operating characteristics of each cylinder are not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different geometric characteristics to different intake channels within the airbox system. Each channel can have customized length, cross-section, or curvature optimized for its specific cylinder's operating characteristics, while still being manufactured using standard processes. This local differentiation allows cylinder-specific optimization without requiring entirely custom manufacturing for each component.
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 enhances volumetric efficiency by isolating individual intake flows and optimizing their equalization through resonance phenomena, improving engine operation across varying speeds and cylinder architectures.
Implementation Method 1
The air conveyance duct (12) has internal partition walls (32) extending along the air conveyance duct (12) so as to divide it into a number, n, of channels (36) which are fluidly separated from each other
Implementation Method 2
the operating range, i.e. the speed range of internal combustion engines, may vary considerably, triggering at certain speeds resonance phenomena of the intake air masses that may improve or worsen the overall volumetric efficiency
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
An internal combustion engine (8) intake system comprising an air conveyance duct extending from an air inlet opening to an air outlet opening delimiting a conveying volume, 'n' inlet trumpets, separated from each other and facing said air outlet opening, with 'n' ≥2. Advantageously, the conveyance duct comprises at least one internal partition wall that divides it internally into 'n' ducts fluidly separated from each other along the stretch between the air inlet opening and air outlet openings, each of said 'n' ducts at the air outlet opening facing a corresponding intake trumpet.