Intake Pipe Rib Design for Vibration Control and Injector Clearance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Internal combustion engines for saddle-type vehicles face challenges in vibration control and physical interference with fuel injection devices due to the presence of ribs on the intake pipe, which affects the installation and functionality of injectors.

Innovation Solution

The intake structure features upper, lower, left, and right ribs on the intake pipe to increase rigidity and mechanical strength, positioning the injector out of physical interference with the ribs, and varying rib heights to enhance vibration control, especially in curved intake pipes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If ribs are added to the intake pipe to increase rigidity and vibration control, then the vibration control capability is improved, but the injector installation becomes difficult due to physical interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration control capabilityVSAvoidinjector installation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by varying the rib heights at different locations on the intake pipe. The first rib has a different height than the second rib, allowing the structure to provide maximum vibration control where needed while maintaining clear spaces for injector installation in critical areas. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by making the rib structure non-uniform to accommodate both vibration control and injector placement requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the distance between cylinder head and throttle body is increased, then the space for injector installation is improved, but the intake pipe becomes more susceptible to vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinjector installation spaceVSAvoidintake pipe stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the rib height parameters along the intake pipe length. By increasing rib heights at specific locations where vibrations are most problematic, the structure compensates for the reduced structural support resulting from the increased distance between cylinder head and throttle body. This allows the intake pipe to maintain stability despite the longer span created by increased spacing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3546739B1Intake structure for internal combustion engines for use on saddle-type vehicles
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3546739B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3546739B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3546739B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An intake structure for an internal combustion engine 4 for use on a saddle-type vehicle, includes upper, lower, left, and right ribs 71, 72, 73, 74 erected respectively on upper, lower, left, and right surfaces of an intake pipe 7, in which an injector 81 is disposed between the upper rib 71 and one of the left rib 73 and the right rib 74. The upper rib, the lower rib, the left rib, and the right rib of the intake pipe increase the rigidity and mechanical strength of the intake pipe against vibrations produced by the vehicle and vibrations produced in the intake pipe, thereby increasing the vibration control capability of the intake pipe, and the injector can be placed out of physical interference with the ribs even with the upper rib 71 being disposed on the intake pipe.