Intercooler Condensate Water Suck-out Pipe with Constriction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional intercooler devices for supercharged internal combustion engines face issues with inappropriate condensate water discharge, leading to engine malfunctions such as fluid compression and rough idle, due to inadequate suction control during idling and full throttle conditions.

Innovation Solution

An intercooler device with a water suck-out pipe that extends from the reservoir to the outlet pipe, featuring a constriction in the condensate water discharge passage to regulate the amount of condensate water suctioned, ensuring appropriate discharge during both idling and full throttle operations by utilizing pressure differences and optimized pipe geometry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the outer diameter of the water suck-out pipe outlet is increased to discharge more condensate water during full throttle, then condensate water discharge during full throttle is improved, but condensate water discharge during idling becomes excessive causing engine malfunction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecondensate water discharge amount during full throttleVSAvoidengine operation stability during idling
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The water suck-out pipe outlet is designed with a non-uniform outer diameter along its length, creating different local flow characteristics. The outlet portion has a smaller outer diameter to restrict condensate water discharge during idling, while the upstream portion has a larger outer diameter to allow adequate discharge during full throttle operations, thus resolving the contradiction between discharge efficiency and engine stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the outer diameter of the water suck-out pipe outlet is decreased to prevent excessive condensate water suction during idling, then engine operation stability during idling is improved, but condensate water discharge during full throttle becomes insufficient causing overflow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine operation stability during idlingVSAvoidcondensate water discharge amount during full throttle
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The water suck-out pipe outlet employs a non-uniform outer diameter design where the outlet portion has a smaller diameter to prevent excessive suction during idling, maintaining engine stability. The upstream portion progressively increases in diameter to ensure adequate condensate water discharge capacity during full throttle operations, preventing overflow while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If a constant outer diameter is used for the water suck-out pipe, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but appropriate condensate water discharge control during different engine operating conditions cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater suck-out pipe manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidcondensate water discharge adaptability to different operating conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The water suck-out pipe is designed with a non-uniform outer diameter that varies along its length, with the outlet portion having a smaller diameter and the upstream portion having a larger diameter. This local variation in geometry enables the pipe to adapt to different operating conditions (idling vs. full throttle) while remaining manufacturable using standard piping techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 regulates condensate water discharge, preventing excessive suction during full throttle and ensuring adequate discharge during idling, thus preventing engine malfunctions and maintaining efficient engine operation.

Implementation Method 1

The condensate water collected in the reservoir is sucked out through the water suck-out pipe into the outlet pipe and discharged into the outlet pipe by means of a differential pressure between the pressure inside the reservoir and the pressure at the outlet of the water suck-out pipe inside the outlet pipe.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

a constriction that inhibits an excessive amount of condensate water from being sucked out through the water suck-out pipe while a throttle valve of the internal combustion engine is fully open is defined in a condensate water discharge passage formed inside the water suck-out pipe

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow restriction through constriction: Venturi Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3187708B1Intercooler device for supercharged internal combustion engine
Publication Date: 2018.10.17 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3187708B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3187708B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3187708B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An intercooler device 10 of a supercharged internal combustion engine includes a low temperature-side tank 26 and an outlet pipe 28. A reservoir 30 that temporarily collects condensate water is provided in a lower part of the low temperature-side tank 26. A water suck-out pipe 32 that extends from a bottom of the reservoir 30 to a position at which the water suck-out pipe 32 opens inside the outlet pipe 28 is provided. The amount of condensate water 12 sucked out from inside the reservoir 30 through the water suck-out pipe 32 is set so as to be an appropriate amount during idling. A constriction 328 that inhibits an excessive amount of condensate water from being sucked out through the water suck-out pipe 32 while a throttle valve is fully open is defined in a condensate water discharge passage 322 of the water suck-out pipe. Thus, the condensate water does not flow at once into the internal combustion engine during idling as well as while the throttle valve is fully open.