Variable-Length Intake Duct Centering for Accurate Low-Noise Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air intake devices for internal combustion engines face challenges in achieving accurate alignment and low-noise operation due to the short effective length of centering devices, which are constrained by fluid mechanics and acoustics, leading to potential misalignment and noise issues during operation.
Innovation Solution
A variable-length air intake device with a separate first centering arrangement and a guidance arrangement that includes a pivot bearing, allowing for increased effective length of the centering device and improved guidance accuracy, along with a contact arrangement featuring a gasket and anchoring formations to ensure precise alignment and reduce noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the duct components themselves act as centering devices with short effective length, then the structural complexity is reduced, but the guidance accuracy deteriorates leading to misalignment and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centering function from the duct components by introducing a separate centering device. This segmentation allows the duct components to focus on their primary function of conducting air while the dedicated centering device handles alignment, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and guidance accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
A separate centering device acts as an intermediary between the extension duct component and base duct component. This intermediary element provides the necessary guidance accuracy during assembly without requiring the duct components themselves to be precisely manufactured for centering purposes.
2Reliability
If the centering sections are designed to conduct flowing air, then the fluid mechanics constraints are satisfied, but the design freedom is reduced and noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the centering function from the air-conducting function. The centering device provides pure mechanical alignment without needing to satisfy fluid mechanics constraints, while the duct components maintain their optimized air flow paths. This segmentation restores design freedom to the duct components.
Solution Approach 2:
The centering function is extracted from the duct components and implemented by a separate device. This extraction allows the duct components to be designed solely for optimal air flow without compromise, while the separate centering device handles alignment independently.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the duct components are guided highly accurately to ensure correct first operating position, then the noise is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A separate centering device serves as an intermediary that simplifies the guidance arrangement. Instead of requiring complex guidance mechanisms integrated into the duct components, the standalone centering device provides the necessary alignment function, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining low noise operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An air intake device with a variable-length intake duct, comprising: a base duct component with a base duct, configured for the passage of intake air through the base duct component, an extension duct component with an extension duct, configured for the passage of intake air through the extension duct component, a guidance arrangement which guides the extension duct component and the base duct component to relative movement between a first operating position and a second operating position, wherein in the first operating position the base duct and the extension duct form, in mutually prolonging abutment, a continuous duct section, and wherein in the second operating position the extension duct is arranged at a distance from the base duct, and a first centering arrangement which when the duct components approach the first operating position is configured to decrease a radial distance in relation to a virtual base duct path conceived as passing centrally through the base duct between an end section of the base duct facing towards the extension duct component and an end section of the extension duct facing towards the base duct component, wherein the first centering arrangement is configured as separate from the base duct and from the extension duct.