Intake Manifold Flap Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing intake manifold systems with pivoting flaps in internal combustion engines face issues with high-frequency vibrations, which impair airflow and torque due to eccentric mounting, while centric mounting minimizes vibrations but negatively affects airflow.

Innovation Solution

The intake manifold device incorporates a vibration-reducing element, such as a damping element or additional mass element, to prevent or reduce the swinging open of the switching flap, thereby minimizing airflow impairment, using damping elements like viscous dampers or additional mass elements like flywheels to counteract high-frequency vibrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If eccentric mounting is used for the control shaft, then the flow through the pivoting flap is only slightly affected when open, but relatively high-frequency vibrations occur in the flaps that unfavorably affect the flow and torque

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow through intake manifoldVSAvoidhigh-frequency vibrations
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by introducing a damping element that counteracts vibrations before they can significantly affect the flow and torque. The damping element is pre-positioned to absorb and dissipate vibrational energy, preventing the harmful high-frequency vibrations from propagating through the system while maintaining the beneficial eccentric mounting configuration for optimal flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If centric mounting is used for the control shaft, then the risk of pivoting flaps vibrating is significantly reduced, but the flaps are in the flow and influence it in a negative way

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibrations of pivoting flapsVSAvoidflow through intake manifold
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the mounting approach: eccentric mounting is used at the control shaft level to optimize overall flow, while local damping elements are added at the flap level to specifically address vibration issues. This localized application of damping allows the system to maintain the flow benefits of eccentric mounting while eliminating the harmful vibrations that would otherwise occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-generated harmful factors

If a vibration-reducing element is added to the switching flap, then high-frequency vibrations are reduced and airflow disruption is prevented, but the actuating movement requires adjusted forces or slower movements due to increased inertia

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow disruptionVSAvoidactuating force
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of increased inertia into a beneficial one. The additional mass of the vibration-reducing element, while requiring adjusted actuating forces, simultaneously provides vibration damping that prevents airflow disruption. The system accepts the trade-off of modified actuation characteristics in exchange for eliminating the more harmful airflow disruptions caused by vibrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

The solution effectively reduces high-frequency vibrations, preventing airflow disruption and maintaining optimal flow through the intake manifolds, while compensating for increased inertia with adjusted actuating forces or slower movements.

Implementation Method 1

the damping element is advantageously designed in such a way that damping is only effective in the case of relatively high-frequency vibrations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

Viscous vibration dampers, in particular, come into consideration here, which counteract any swinging movement of the switching flap

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscous damping: Viscous Damping

Implementation Method 3

or friction dampers or the like

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 4

The additional mass element increases the mass moment of inertia of the switching flap or the switching flap actuating shaft system, with the increased mass moment of inertia preventing vibration excitation in the high-frequency vibration range

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMoment of inertia: Moment of Inertia

Data Source

PatentEP2194253B1Suction tube device
Publication Date: 2013.11.20 MANN HUMMEL GMBH
  • EP2194253B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP2194253B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The suction tube device has multiple suction tubes which are assigned with controlled switching flap (5) for influencing a flow through the suction tubes. A vibration reduction element is arranged at switching flap or at a component that is connected with the switching flap, where the vibration reduction element counteracts the vibration of the switching flap.