Engine Air Intake Duct Integration with Side Cover

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Solution Overview

Problem

The layout of intake ducts in engine rooms is inefficient due to protrusion outside the cover member, leading to space constraints and longer intake passages, which complicates the arrangement and increases the weight of the intake device.

Innovation Solution

The intake duct is integrated with the side face cover portion, allowing it to be continuous with the side edge, thus reducing the space occupied and shortening the intake passage, and is coupled with the side face cover portion using a fastening member for enhanced stability and reduced component count.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the intake duct is disposed outside the cover member, then the layout of the intake duct is simplified, but the space occupied in the engine room increases and the intake passage becomes long

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelayout simplicityVSAvoidspace occupied in engine room

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The intake duct is merged with the side face cover portion by making it continuous to the side edge of the side face cover portion. This integration allows the intake duct to be disposed inside the cover member while maintaining layout simplicity, thereby reducing the space occupied in the engine room without complicating the layout

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If the intake duct is disposed outside the cover member, then the intake duct can be easily connected to the air cleaner, but the intake passage length increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection easeVSAvoidintake passage length

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The intake duct is integrated with the side face cover portion to be disposed inside the cover member, shortening the intake passage length while maintaining ease of connection to the air cleaner through the continuous structure that extends to the side edge

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the intake duct is disposed outside the cover member, then the air intake system can be independently arranged, but the overall device weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent arrangementVSAvoidintake device weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The intake duct is merged with the side face cover portion to form an integrated structure, reducing the overall device weight by eliminating separate components while maintaining the adaptability for air intake system arrangement through the continuous design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3832121B1Engine air intake device

Publication Date: 2023.12.20 MAZDA MOTOR CORP

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AI summary

A cover 21 covering an engine and an intake duct 11 for introducing fresh air outside an engine room into a combustion chamber of the engine are provided in the engine room. The cover 21 includes a top face cover portion 22 covering the engine from above, and a side face cover portion 24 covering the engine from the lateral side. The intake duct 11 is disposed so as to be continuous to a side edge of the side face cover portion 24 such that the intake duct 11 covers the engine from the lateral side together with the side face cover portion 24.