Intake Manifold Support Structure to Reduce Rotational Moment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The intake manifold in conventional engines is supported in a cantilever manner, leading to increased load on the front side due to rotational moments caused by the weight of the throttle body, which complicates the support burden.
Innovation Solution
The intake manifold is supported by a fixing structure via a pair of coupling plates with an isosceles triangle shape, with the collector made of lightweight synthetic resin, and the throttle body attached to the opposite end, reducing rotational moments and vertical vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the intake manifold is supported in a cantilever manner on the cylinder head side, then the structure is simple, but the burden of support on the front side of the intake manifold increases due to rotational moment caused by vertical movement of the throttle body
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple independent support points: the cylinder head supports the front side while the fixing structure supports the rear side of the collector. This segmentation distributes the support burden and eliminates the cantilever configuration, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and support burden reduction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a throttle body having a relatively large weight is attached to the collector, then the throttle control function is improved, but the burden of support on the front side of the intake manifold increases due to rotational moment
Solution Approach 1:
The throttle body is repositioned from the rear side to the left or right end of the collector, changing its spatial arrangement. This dimensional change allows the heavy throttle body to be positioned away from the front support point, reducing the rotational moment about the front support while maintaining throttle control functionality.
3Force
If the collector is made of lightweight synthetic resin, then the rotational moment caused by vertical movement is reduced, but the structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The collector is constructed using composite materials, specifically synthetic resin reinforced with embedded metal plates (coupling plates). This composite structure provides both the weight reduction benefits of synthetic resin and the structural strength of metal, resolving the contradiction between reducing rotational moment and maintaining collector strength.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the collector is elastically supported by the fixing structure via coupling plates, then vertical vibration between the collector and throttle body is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling plates are designed with elastic properties, changing the mechanical parameter of the support from rigid to elastic. This elastic support absorbs and dampens vertical vibrations between the collector and throttle body while maintaining a relatively simple fixing structure through the use of standard elastic coupling components.
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 configuration reduces the burden of supporting the front side of the intake manifold by minimizing rotational moments and vertical vibrations, enhancing durability and reducing support loads.
Implementation Method 1
the collector is elastically supported by the fixing structure via a pair of coupling plates
Data Source
AI summary
A support structure for an intake manifold that reduces a burden of support on a front side of the intake manifold. The support structure includes a cylinder head and a fixing structure, and supports the intake manifold. An axial length direction of a crankshaft center is defined as a left-right direction, a horizontal direction orthogonal to the left-right direction is defined as a front-rear direction, and one side in the front-rear direction is defined as a front side. The intake manifold includes a collector and a plurality of branch pipes led out to the front side from the collector. An intake outlet at a front end of each of the branch pipes is supported by the cylinder head. The collector is elastically supported by the fixing structure. A throttle body is attached to a left or right end of the collector.