Off-Road Vehicle Air Cleaner With Inclined Exhaust Port
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
During maintenance of air cleaners in off-road vehicles, dust attached to the air cleaner element can scatter and fall, potentially entering the clean side of the intake conduit, contaminating the system.
Innovation Solution
The air cleaner is designed with a cylinder that protrudes diagonally upward and has an exhaust port inclined relative to an imaginary radial plane, reducing the area of the exhaust port visible when viewed vertically, thus minimizing dust entry into the clean side.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the exhaust port is positioned vertically upward for easy access during maintenance, then ease of operation is improved, but dust can easily enter the clean side of the intake conduit when the air cleaner element is removed
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust port is positioned asymmetrically on the cylinder rather than at the top center. Specifically, the exhaust port is formed on the lower side of the cylinder, creating an asymmetric configuration that prevents dust from falling directly into the port while maintaining accessibility for maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust port is positioned in a different spatial dimension (lower side) rather than vertically upward. This dimensional change in port positioning creates a configuration where dust falling vertically under gravity cannot easily enter the port, while the port remains accessible for maintenance through the open lid.
2Productivity
If the exhaust port area is increased for better airflow, then productivity is improved, but the target area for dust entry is also increased
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust port is positioned at a specific location (lower side of the cylinder) where it can have sufficient area for airflow while being in a position that is naturally protected from dust entry. The local positioning quality creates a configuration where the port area is optimized for airflow without proportionally increasing dust exposure risk.
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 effectively prevents dust from entering the clean side of the intake conduit during maintenance, maintaining the cleanliness of the air intake system.
Implementation Method 1
The cylinder has a protrusion end portion that defines the exhaust port and that is inclined relative to an imaginary radial plane in an angle direction from the imaginary radial plane toward an imaginary vertical plane
Implementation Method 2
dust attached to the air cleaner element or the case inner surface scatters and falls under dust's own weight
Data Source
AI summary
An off-road vehicle includes an intake duct and an air cleaner. The intake duct defines a clean conduit. The air cleaner is connected to the intake duct, and includes an air cleaner case and an air cleaner element. The air cleaner case defines an internal space of the air cleaner. The air cleaner element divides the internal space into dirty and clean regions. The air cleaner case includes an intake port, an exhaust port, and a cylinder. The intake port faces the dirty region. The exhaust port faces the clean region and communicates with the clean conduit. The cylinder protrudes diagonally upward and toward the internal space. The cylinder has a protrusion end portion that is inclined relative to an imaginary radial plane in an angle direction from the plane toward an imaginary vertical plane. The imaginary radial plane is orthogonal to an axis of the cylinder.