Engine Intake Structure Radial ECU Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing engine intake structures face challenges in effectively utilizing the space around electrically controlled throttles due to the placement of electronic control units, leading to inefficiencies and increased component complexity.

Innovation Solution

The engine intake structure positions the electronic control unit away from the intake manifold in the radial direction of the engine rotation shaft, allowing for the effective use of space around the electrically controlled throttle, and integrates a common vibration system with the air cleaner and intake manifold to simplify the structure and reduce the need for vibration dampers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the electronic control unit is arranged facing the inside of the engine to prevent foreign matters from colliding with it, then the reliability of the electronic control unit is improved, but the space around the electrically controlled throttle cannot be effectively used and the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of electronic control unitVSAvoidspace utilization and component arrangement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic control unit is rotated 90 degrees so its circuit board faces the radial direction of the engine rotation shaft instead of facing the engine interior. This dimensional change allows the space around the electrically controlled throttle to be effectively utilized while maintaining protection through the intake manifold structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If the electrically controlled throttle is positioned away from the engine main body, then the space around the throttle can be effectively used, but vibration differences between components may increase requiring additional vibration dampers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidvibration difference

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The air cleaner, electrically controlled throttle, and intake manifold are integrated into a common vibration system where all components share the same vibration characteristics. This merging eliminates vibration differences between components, allowing the throttle to be positioned away from the engine main body without requiring additional vibration dampers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11313332B2Engine intake structure

Publication Date: 2022.04.26 KAWASAKI MOTORS LTD

AI summary

An intake structure of the present invention is applied to a multi-cylinder engine including an electrically controlled throttle integrally including a throttle valve configured to adjust an amount of air to be supplied to the engine and an electronic control unit configured to control the throttle valve. The engine intake structure includes: an air cleaner configured to purify the air; and an intake manifold configured to distribute the air purified by the air cleaner to an intake port of each cylinder of the multi-cylinder engine. The electrically controlled throttle is attached to the intake manifold such that the electronic control unit is separated outward in a radial direction of an engine rotation shaft.