This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C Section 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-279993 filed on Oct. 30, 2000, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an intake device for internal combustion engines, in which a force from an actuator is transmitted to a valve element latched on a shaft body through the shaft body to rotate the valve element.
2. Description of the Related Art
In such an intake device for internal combustion engines, a shaft body is inserted through and supported on a valve element to be able to rotate together therewith and the valve element is rotated by rotating the shaft body to control an intake flowrate. The related art involves a problem that a large frictional force is generated between a hole in a length direction of a valve element and a shaft body at the time of assembly to hinder a smooth assembling work since the hole and the valve element are substantially the same in cross sectional area.
Various examinations have been made in order to solve such problem. In, for example, a flow passage control valve device including a rotating shaft having a substantially uniform, non-circular cross sectional shape and a valve element mounted to the rotating shaft to interlock with rotation of the rotating shaft to open and close a flow passage, a fitting part is provided on the valve element to have the rotating shaft inserted therethrough and fitted thereonto and the fitting part includes first and second flat surfaces extending in an axial direction and being parallel to each other. Projections include first and second projections protruding from the first flat surface and a third projection protruding from the second flat surface, the third projection being arranged between the first projection and the second projection in the axial direction (see JP-A-2006-70720, paragraphs 0006-0008, FIGS. 3 and 4) .
With the flow passage control valve device in JP-A-2006-70720, the valve element has the fitting part, however, the valve element is made thin in thickness to lead to a decrease in strength. Also, the fitting part and the rotating shaft fit together to make an air flow turbulent, so that there is a fear that an engine or the like is decreased in performance.
Also, in order to form the hole provided not with a fitting part but with the projections as disclosed in JP-A-2006-70720 on the valve element, it is general to form the hole from hole defining members inserted from both ends in the length direction of the valve element. However, any space cannot be formed between the first projection and the second projection in a direction, in which formation is accomplished by the hole defining members, and so it is not possible to solve the problem described above.
Thus, a need exists for an intake device for internal combustion engines, in which a frictional force is made small when a shaft body is inserted through a valve element and so the shaft body and the valve element can be firmly latched together, and which is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.
An aspect of the invention provides an intake device for internal combustion engines, including a casing formed with an intake passage, a shaft body supported on the casing to be able to rotate, a valve element latched on the shaft body and arranged in the intake passage, and an actuator that operatively turns the valve element through the shaft body, and wherein the shaft body includes a plurality of outer peripheral surfaces, the valve element is provided with a hole, through which the shaft body is inserted, the hole includes, on a wall surface thereof, a first support region, which covers the outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body to support a partial surface of the plurality of outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body, and a second support region, which covers the outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body to support a partial surface out of the plurality of outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body, which is not supported by the first support region, the first support region includes a plurality of first wall surfaces, at least one wall surface out of the plurality of first wall surfaces and the remaining wall surfaces out of the plurality of first wall surfaces being different in circumferential length from each other, and the second support region includes a plurality of second wall surfaces, at least one wall surface out of the plurality of second wall surfaces and the remaining wall surfaces out of the plurality of second wall surfaces being different in circumferential length from each other.
Another aspect of the invention provides an intake device for internal combustion engines, including a casing formed with an intake passage, a shaft body supported on the casing to be able to rotate, a valve element latched on the shaft body and arranged in the intake passage, and an actuator that operatively turns the valve element through the shaft body, and wherein the shaft body includes an outer peripheral surface in a circumferential direction of the shaft body, the valve element is provided with a hole, through which the shaft body is inserted, the hole includes, on a wall surface thereof, a first support region, which supports a part of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body, and a second support region, which supports a part of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body, which is not supported by the first support region, and the cross sectional shape of the first support region in a radial direction conforms with the cross sectional shape of the second support region in the radial direction when the second support region is rotated in the circumferential direction of the shaft body.
Still another aspect of the invention provides an intake device for internal combustion engines, including a casing formed with an intake passage, a shaft body supported on the casing to be able to rotate, a valve element latched on the shaft body and arranged in the intake passage, and an actuator that operatively turns the valve element through the shaft body, and wherein the shaft body includes an outer peripheral surface in a circumferential direction of the shaft body, the valve element is provided with a hole, through which the shaft body is inserted, the hole includes, on a wall surface thereof, a first support region, which supports a part of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body, and a second support region, which supports a part of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body, which is not supported by the first support region, and an outer peripheral line of the cross sectional shape of the first support region in a radial direction and an outer peripheral line of the cross sectional shape of the second support region in the radial direction include at least four intersection points as viewed in an axial direction of the hole.
Still another aspect of the invention provides an intake device for internal combustion engines, including a casing formed with an intake passage, a shaft body supported on the casing to be able to rotate, a valve element latched on the shaft body and arranged in the intake passage, and an actuator that operatively turns the valve element through the shaft body, and wherein the shaft body includes a first shaft portion on one side in an axial direction and a second shaft portion on the other side in the axial direction, the valve element is provided with a hole, through which the shaft body is inserted, the hole includes, on a plurality of wall surfaces thereof, a first support region, which covers the first shaft portion of the shaft body, and a second support region, which covers the second shaft portion of the shaft body, and an axis of the first support region and an axis of the second support region are eccentric relative to each other.
Embodiments of an intake device for internal combustion engines, according to the invention, will be described below with reference to the drawings.
Turning of the variable intake valves 10 is materialized by turning of a shaft body 2 inserted through the variable intake valves 10. The shaft body 2 is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the intake pipes 100 of the intake manifold to be inserted into and pivotally supported in a bearing hole formed in the vicinity of a flange part 101 of the intake manifold.
One end of the shaft body 2 projects from a side of the intake manifold. The projecting portion and an actuator rod 31 are connected to each other through a link member 4. Specifically, the link member 4 is provided with a first hole portion, through which the shaft body 2 can be inserted, and the projecting portion of the shaft body 2 is inserted through the first hole portion to be able to turn together. Also, a pivot shaft provided at a tip end of the actuator rod 31 is inserted through a second hole portion provided on the link member 4 whereby the actuator rod 31 and the link member 4 are pivotally connected to be able to turn relative to each other. Thereby, protruding/retreating movements of the actuator rod 31 are transmitted as turning movements to the shaft body 2 through the link member 4.
Further, another end of the actuator rod 31, at which the pivot shaft is not provided, is connected to an actuator 3. The actuator rod 31, can produce protruding/retreating movements as the actuator 3 acts.
The actuator 3 is supported on an outer periphery of the intake manifold through a bracket 6 including a first wall portion 61, to which the actuator 3 is mounted, and a second wall portion provided upright on the first wall portion 61.
For example, a diaphragm type actuator can be used for the actuator 3. However, this is not limitative but use of an actuator of a further type will do. The actuator 3 includes an actuator body 32 and the actuator rod 31 described above.
An interior of the actuator body 32 is compartmented into an atmospheric pressure chamber (not shown) and a negative pressure chamber (not shown) by a diaphragm (not shown), the diaphragm being biased toward the atmospheric pressure chamber.
One end of the actuator rod 31 is connected to the diaphragm. A negative pressure is applied in the negative pressure chamber whereby the actuator rod 31 actuates to retreat toward the actuator body 32. Also, application of a negative pressure in the negative pressure chamber is released whereby the actuator rod 31 actuates to protrude from the actuator body 32.
As described above, the shaft body 2 is inserted through the variable intake valves 10 and as the shaft body 2 turns, the variable intake valves 10 are turned. Therefore, as shown in
A first embodiment of an intake device for internal combustion engines, according to the invention, will be described below with reference to
According to the embodiment, the holes 11 are formed in this manner whereby two respective surfaces opposed to each other with an axis therebetween in the first support region 12 and in the second support region 13 support the outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body 2 when the shaft body 2 is inserted through the holes 11. Therefore, frictional forces between the wall surfaces of the holes 11 and the shaft body 2 decrease to enable smooth insertion of the shaft body 2. Also, the wall surfaces 12a and 12c in the first support region 12 and the wall surfaces 13b and 13d in the second support region 13 support different outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body 2. Therefore, as a whole, the holes 11 support all the outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body 2, so that it is possible to firmly latch the shaft body 2 and the variable intake valves 10 together.
A second embodiment of an intake device for internal combustion engines, according to the invention, will be described below with reference to
Also, as apparent from
In this manner, it is possible to provide for a construction, in which the number of those wall surfaces, which support the outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body 2, is different among the respective support regions. With such construction, the respective support regions include those wall surfaces, which are not in contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body 2 when the shaft body 2 is inserted through the holes 11. Therefore, smooth insertion of the shaft body 2 can be accomplished as compared with the related art. Also, those outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body 2, which are supported by the wall surfaces of the first support region 12, and those outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body 2, which are supported by the wall surfaces of the second support region 13, are different from each other. Accordingly, as a whole, the holes 11 support all the outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body 2, so that it is possible to firmly latch the shaft body 2 and the variable intake valves 10 together.
A third embodiment of an intake device for internal combustion engines, according to the invention, will be described below with reference to
According to the embodiment, as apparent from
Also, as apparent from
In this manner, according to the embodiment, the cross sectional shapes of the respective support regions in the radial direction are eccentric relative to each other whereby two wall surfaces being adjacent in a circumferential direction support two outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body 2 in the respective support regions. Thereby, it is possible to reduce a frictional force when the shaft body 2 is inserted. Also, there are provided the two first support regions, between which the second support region is arranged, thereby enabling preventing the shaft body 2 from jolting and enabling firmly latching the shaft body 2 and the variable intake valves 10 together.
A fourth embodiment of an intake device for internal combustion engines, according to the invention, will be described below with reference to
Also, out of the wall surfaces of the respective support regions, a wall surface opposed to that surface, which supports the outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body 2, with an axis therebetween, is provided with a movement inhibiting member, which inhibits the shaft body 2 from moving in a direction away from the wall surfaces, by which the shaft body 2 is supported. In
On the other hand, with the embodiment, in which the movement inhibiting members are provided, the wall surfaces of the respective support regions and the movement inhibiting members make it possible to inhibit the shaft body 2 from jolting and to firmly latch the shaft body 2 and the variable intake valves 10 together.
In addition, the movement inhibiting members (12f, etc.) can be appropriately changed in length taking account of a frictional force at the time of insertion, a force, with which the shaft body 2 and the variable intake valves 10 are latched on each other, or the like. Also, the movement inhibiting members (12f, etc.) can be appropriately changed positionally. When the movement inhibiting members are arranged in positions in contact with surfaces adjacent to the first support region 12 and the second support region 13 as shown in
In addition, according to the embodiment, the movement inhibiting members are provided on all the wall surfaces opposed to those wall surfaces, which support the outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body 2, but a configuration, in which the movement inhibiting members are provided only on a part of the wall surfaces, will do. Also, the movement inhibiting members are provided in all the support regions, but a configuration, in which they are provided only in a part of the support regions, will do. In this manner, the movement inhibiting members can be appropriately changed in arrangement as far as they are provided on the wall surfaces opposed to those wall surfaces, which support the outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body 2, to attain an object of the invention.
A fifth embodiment of an intake device for internal combustion engines, according to the invention, will be described below with reference to
According to the embodiment, the holes 11 are formed in this manner whereby two respective surfaces opposed to each other with an axis of the holes 11 therebetween in the first support region 12 and in the second support region 13 support the outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body 2 when the shaft body 2 is inserted through the holes 11. Therefore, frictional forces between the wall surfaces of the holes 11 and the shaft body 2 decrease to enable smooth insertion of the shaft body 2. Also, the wall surfaces 12a and 12c in the first support region 12 and the wall surfaces 13b and 13d in the second support region 13 support different outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body 2. Therefore, as a whole, the holes 11 support all the outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body 2, so that it is possible to firmly latch the shaft body 2 and the variable intake valves 10 together. Further, a configuration, in which an outer peripheral line of a cross sectional shape of the shaft body 2 in a radial direction is increased in curvature and an area, in which the shaft body 2 and the wall surfaces of the support regions contact with each other, is decreased, is preferable since a frictional force at the time of insertion is further decreased.
A sixth embodiment of an intake device for internal combustion engines, according to the invention, will be described below with reference to
In this manner, even when the cross sectional shape of the first support region 12 in a radial direction and the cross sectional shape of the second support region 13 in the radial direction are made different from each other, the holes 11 are formed so that both the cross sectional shapes include four intersection points P1 to P4 as viewed in the axial direction, whereby two respective surfaces opposed to each other with an axis of the holes 11 therebetween in the first support region 12 and in the second support region 13 support the outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body 2 when the shaft body 2 is inserted through the holes 11. Therefore, frictional forces between the wall surfaces of the holes 11 and the shaft body 2 decrease to enable smooth insertion of the shaft body 2. Also, the wall surfaces 12a and 12c in the first support region 12 and the wall surfaces 13b and 13d in the second support region 13 support different outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body 2. Therefore, as a whole, the holes 11 support all the outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body 2, so that it is possible to firmly latch the shaft body 2 and the variable intake valves 10 together.
In addition, intersection points of an outer peripheral line of the cross sectional shape of the first support region 12 in the radial direction and an outer peripheral line of the cross sectional shape of the second support region 13 in the radial direction are not limited to four in number as viewed in the axial direction. For example, as shown in
Subsequently, an explanation will be given to a method of forming a support region of a variable intake valve 10 in an intake device for internal combustion engines, according to the invention. In addition, a method of forming the first support region 12 and the second support region 13 in the fourth embodiment will be described herein.
Ordinarily, the variable intake valve 10 can be produced by pouring a resin material into a mold. At this time, support-region forming members 70 being the same in shape as the respective support regions are inserted from both ends of holes 11 in an axial direction (
According to one embodiment of the invention, the hole provided on the valve element includes a first support region, which supports a partial surface out of the plurality of outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body, and a second support region, which supports a partial surface out of the plurality of outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft body, which is not supported by the first support region. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body is not supported as a whole in either of the support regions, and when the shaft body is inserted through the hole of the valve element, a frictional force between the wall surface of the hole and the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body is decreased to enable smooth insertion of the shaft body. Also, the first support region includes the plurality of first wall surfaces, at least one wall surface out of the plurality of first wall surfaces and the remaining wall surfaces out of the plurality of first wall surfaces being different in circumferential length from each other, and the second support region includes the plurality of second wall surfaces, at least one wall surface out of the plurality of second wall surfaces and the remaining wall surfaces out of the plurality of second wall surfaces being different in circumferential length from each other, so that it is possible to readily form the first support region and the second support region.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the hole provided on the valve element includes a first support region, which supports a part of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body, and a second support region, which supports a part of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body, which is not supported by the first support region. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body is not supported as a whole in either of the support regions, and when the shaft body is inserted through the hole of the valve element, a frictional force between the wall surface of the hole and the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body is decreased to enable smooth insertion of the shaft body. Also, since the cross sectional shape of the first support region in a radial direction conforms with the cross sectional shape of the second support region in the radial direction when the second support region is rotated in the circumferential direction of the shaft body, it is possible to readily form the first support region and the second support region.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the hole provided on the valve element includes a first support region, which supports a part of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body, and a second support region, which supports a part of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body, which is not supported by the first support region. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body is not supported as a whole in either of the support regions, and when the shaft body is inserted through the hole of the valve element, a frictional force between the wall surface of the hole and the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body is decreased to enable smooth insertion of the shaft body. Also, since an outer peripheral line of the cross sectional shape of the first support region in a radial direction and an outer peripheral line of the cross sectional shape of the second support region in the radial direction include at least four intersection points as viewed in an axial direction of the hole, it is possible to readily form the first support region and the second support region.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the shaft body includes a first shaft portion on one side in an axial direction and a second shaft portion on the other side in the axial direction, the hole provided on the valve element includes a first support region, which covers the first shaft portion of the shaft body, and a second support region, which covers the second shaft portion of the shaft body, and an axis of the first support region and an axis of the second support region are eccentric relative to each other. Therefore, a partial surface out of an outer peripheral surface of a shaft is supported in the first support region and a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft, which is not supported in the first support region, is supported in the second support region. Thereby, the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body is not supported as a whole in either of the support regions, and when the shaft body is inserted through the hole of the valve element, a frictional force between the wall surface of the hole and the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body is decreased to enable smooth insertion of the shaft body.
According to one embodiment of the invention, two of the first supporting portions are provided, thereby enabling preventing the shaft body from jolting and enabling firmly latching the shaft body and the valve element together.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the shaft body can be prevented from jolting and the shaft body and the valve element can be firmly latched together.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2008-279993 | Oct 2008 | JP | national |