None.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine having an air inlet system with one or more resonators for controlling noise emissions from the engine.
2. Related Art
The development process for modern automotive internal combustion engines typically includes a good deal of work directed to developing an appropriate sound output characteristic for an engine. The development process often includes use of one or more resonators in the engine's air inlet system to achieve noise emission characteristics appropriate for the engine and vehicle in question. Of course, resonators require package space in an underhood environment of a vehicle, and add weight and material cost.
It would be desirable to provide a resonator which combines functional attributes of more than one component, while being packaged in a convenient fashion with an engine, and at minimal weight.
According to an aspect of the present invention, an air inlet system for an internal combustion engine includes an inlet duct for drawing charge air into an engine, and a charge air processor for conditioning air flowing from the inlet duct. An intake manifold system receives charge air from the charge air processor. The intake manifold system provides charge air to the power cylinders of the engine. At least one resonator suppresses pressure pulses within the inlet duct. At least one resonator is mounted to the intake manifold system but has a tuning passage for connecting the resonator's tuning volume to the inlet duct. According to another aspect of the present invention, the resonator is fluidically isolated from the intake manifold system, but communicates fluidically with the inlet duct.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the charge air processor may include a turbocharger, or an intercooler, or both.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a resonator conducts crankcase gases from a gas/oil separator to an air inlet duct. The resonator suppresses pressure pulses within the inlet duct so as to modify the engine's sound emission signature, to achieve a desired tuning.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an internal combustion engine includes a cylinder block, a number of power cylinders located within the cylinder block, and a crankshaft mounted within the cylinder block. Pistons are mounted within the power cylinders upon connecting rods. An inlet duct draws charge air into the engine. A charge air processor including a turbocharger and an intercooler conditions charge air flowing from the inlet duct. An intake manifold system receives charge air from the charge air processor and provides charge air to the power cylinders of the engine. At least one resonator suppresses pressure pulses within the inlet duct, with the resonator being mounted to the intake manifold system and with the resonator communicating fluidically with the inlet duct, while being isolated fluidically from the intake manifold system. The cylinder block may be configured in a V configuration, and an additional resonator may be coupled to the intake manifold and the air inlet duct.
Is an advantage of an air inlet system according to the present invention that resonators may be provided in a compact fashion, with a V-block engine having an air inlet system nestled in the V defined by the cylinder banks of the engine.
It is another advantage of an air inlet system according to present invention that resonators may be fabricated from lighter weight material commonly used for an intake manifold system, as opposed to forming the resonators from heavier materials, such as metals, which are commonly used for more highly stressed portions of an air intake system.
It is another advantage of a resonator system according to present invention that attaching the resonators to an intake manifold system, while not providing any fluidic connection with the intake manifold system, allows easy attachment of the resonators to the engine assembly.
Other features, as well as advantages of the present invention, will become apparent to the reader of this specification.
As shown in
Each of resonators 28 and 40 (
The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards, thus the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly the scope of legal protection afforded this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.
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