Patent Application
20240337231
This application claims the priority benefit of Japan application serial no. 2023-061805, filed on Apr. 6, 2023 and Japan application serial no. 2023-190127, filed on Nov. 7, 2023. The entirety of each of the above-mentioned patent applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.
The invention relates to an intake manifold suitable for an intake system of an engine, such as an outboard motor, and particularly relates to an intake manifold in which a surge tank is die-molded and a sensor unit is assembled to an outer wall of the surge tank, as well as a outboard motor in which the intake manifold is mounted.
As a conventional intake manifold of an engine for an outboard motor, an intake manifold with a configuration as following is known: a left intake pipe and a left surge tank, disposed on a left outer side of a cylinder block of a V-type multi-cylinder engine and a right intake pipe and a right surge tank, disposed on a right outer side of the cylinder block, so as to surround the periphery of the cylinder block; and a throttle body, interposed between the left surge tank and the right surge tank (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Also, as another intake manifold of an engine for an outboard motor, an intake manifold with a configuration as follows is known: a left intake pipe and a left surge tank, disposed on an outer side of a left cylinder head of a V-type multi-cylinder engine and a right intake pipe and a right surge tank, disposed on an outer side of a right cylinder head, so as to surround cylinder heads on both sides of the V-type multi-cylinder engine; and a throttle body, linked to the left surge tank. The left surge tank and the right surge tank are in connection and communication with each other, and multiple fixing parts formed to protrude from outer edge parts of the left surge tank and the right surge tank are provided (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
Moreover, as another intake manifold of an engine for an outboard motor, an intake manifold with a configuration as follows is known: a left intake pipe and a left surge tank, disposed on a left outer side of a cylinder block of a V-type multi-cylinder engine and a right intake pipe and a right surge tank, disposed on a right outer side of the cylinder block, so as to surround the periphery of the cylinder block; and an elbow, linking the left surge tank and the right surge tank and defining an air passage; and a throttle body, linked to the elbow. A flange is provided at the elbow on a downstream side with respect of the throttle body, and an intake air temperature sensor is assembled to the flange part (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
As described above, in the conventional intake manifold, in the case where various functional components or a sensor unit is to be assembled to the outer wall of the surge tank, it is necessary to provide a dedicated boss part and flange part while securing mechanical strength.
Therefore, at the time of die-molding a boss part and a flange part together with a reinforcement rib for securing the mechanical strength on the outer wall of the surge tank, there is a concern that a sink mark (indentation, sink hole) may occur due to local shrinkage during cooling after molding, the dimension accuracy may deteriorate, and the functional reliability may be affected.
In addition, regarding the flange part to which the sensor unit is assembled, although there is no problem in the case of an asymmetric shape, an assembling error where the assembling orientation of the sensor unit is incorrect may occur in the case of rotational symmetry, such as two-fold symmetry (i.e., point symmetry) where it is possible to assemble the sensor unit even at an incorrect position rotated by 180 degrees from a normally assembled state.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-open No. 2005-23844
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Laid-open No. 2020-101096
[Patent Document 3] Japanese Laid-open No. 2003-247467
The invention provides an intake manifold and an outboard motor including the intake manifold which can prevent an assembling error from occurring at the time of assembling a sensor unit and can secure mechanical strength.
An intake manifold according to an aspect of the invention is an intake manifold suitable for an engine and includes: a surge tank, die-molded to temporarily store intake air; and branch pipes, in communication with the surge tank. The surge tank includes, on an outer wall of the surge tank, a flange part and a reinforcement rib. A sensor unit configured to detect a state quantity of the intake air is installed to the flange part. The flange part includes: a fitting hole, having a predetermined axis as a center so as to be fit with a detection part of the sensor unit; and multiple boss parts, provided on a periphery of the fitting hole, and the flange part is formed to be rotationally symmetric with the axis as a center. The reinforcement rib includes a limitation piece interfering with a portion of the sensor unit to limit assembling at a time when the sensor unit is assembled erroneously for being deviated from a normal orientation.
An intake manifold according to an aspect of the invention is an intake manifold suitable for an engine and includes: a surge tank, die-molded to temporarily store intake air; and branch pipes, in communication with the surge tank. The surge tank includes, on an outer wall of the surge tank, a flange part and a reinforcement rib. A sensor unit configured to detect a state quantity of the intake air is installed to the flange part. The flange part includes: a fitting hole, having a predetermined axis as a center so as to be fit with a detection part of the sensor unit; and multiple boss parts, provided on a periphery of the fitting hole, and the flange part is formed to be rotationally symmetric with the axis as a center. The reinforcement rib includes a limitation piece interfering with a portion of the sensor unit to limit assembling at a time when the sensor unit is assembled erroneously for being deviated from a normal orientation.
In the intake manifold, it may also be configured that the limitation piece is formed with a thickness same as a plate thickness of the reinforcement rib and is formed to protrude in parallel with the axis.
In the intake manifold, it may also be configured that the flange part has a bonding surface perpendicular to the axis, so as to be bonded to a bonding part of the sensor unit, and the limitation piece is formed to protrude with respect to the bonding surface in a direction of the axis.
In the intake manifold, it may also be configured that the limitation piece has a curved outer profile in a convex shape.
In the intake manifold, it may also be configured that the flange part has two boss parts arranged on a first line perpendicular to the axis and is formed to be point-symmetric with the axis as a center, and the reinforcement rib includes a parallel reinforcement rib extending in parallel with the first line in a vicinity of the flange part, and the limitation piece is formed on the parallel reinforcement rib.
In the intake manifold, it may also be configured that on the parallel reinforcement rib, the limitation piece is formed to be line-symmetric with respect to a second line perpendicular to the axis and the first line.
In the intake manifold, it may also be configured that at least a portion of the outer wall of the surge tank includes a plate-shaped outer wall formed in a plate shape, and the flange part is formed on the plate-shaped outer wall, the reinforcement rib includes a lattice-like reinforcement rib formed on the plate-shaped outer wall, and the limitation piece is formed on the lattice-like reinforcement rib.
In the intake manifold, it may also be configured that the surge tank includes nuts outserted to the boss parts.
In the intake manifold, it may also be configured that the branch pipes include a first branch pipe module and a second branch pipe module each defining at least one branch passage, and the surge tank is formed in a cylindrical shape defining a first opening part and a second opening part on both ends, and includes: a first flange part, connected with the first branch pipe module on a periphery of the first opening part; a second flange part, connected with the second branch pipe module on a periphery of the second opening part; a third flange part, connected with a throttle body on a periphery of the inlet.
In addition, an outboard motor according to another aspect of the invention includes: an engine, having an intake manifold; a body, to which the engine is fixed; a propeller, configured to be rotated by a driving force of the engine; a sensor unit, assembled to the intake manifold and detecting a state quantity of intake air; and an engine cover, covering the engine. As the intake manifold, the intake manifold formed with any of the above configurations is adopted.
In the outboard motor, it may also be configured that the sensor unit includes: a detection part, fit with the fitting hole of the intake manifold; a bonding part, integrally formed with the detection part and bonded to the flange part of the intake manifold; and a connector for electrical connection.
In the outboard motor, it may also be configured that the connector is formed to interfere with the limitation piece of the intake manifold at the time when the sensor unit is assembled erroneously for being deviated from the normal orientation
In the outboard motor, it may also be configured that the sensor unit includes: a pressure sensor, detecting a pressure of the intake air; and a temperature sensor, detecting a temperature of the intake air.
According to the intake manifold with such configuration, an assembling error can be prevented from occurring at the time of assembling a sensor unit, and mechanical strength can be secured. In addition, by providing the intake manifold with such configuration, a reliable outboard motor can be provided.
In the following, the embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
An intake manifold according to the invention is die-molded by using a resin material, and is disposed between a throttle body and a cylinder head of an engine body, the throttle body being located downstream of an intake duct in an intake system of the engine. Here, as an embodiment, the case where the intake manifold is suitable for an engine of an outboard motor is described.
The outboard motor is a motor mounted to the rear part of a ship body to generate a propulsion force. As shown in
The engine 2 is a V-type six-cylinder internal combustion engine, and includes an engine body, an intake system, and an exhaust system. The engine body includes a cylinder block, a cylinder head, an oil pump, etc., and the intake system and the exhaust system are installed to the engine body.
The intake system includes an outside air introduction duct D, a throttle body TH, an intake manifold M, a sensor unit U installed to the intake manifold M, and a functional component P. Where necessary, the intake system may also include a resonator, a silencer, etc.
As shown in
As shown in
The surge tank 100 is die-molded by using a resin material and formed in a cylindrical shape having an annular cross-section in a substantially rectangular shape to define a first opening part 100a and a second opening part 100b at two ends in the horizontal direction X and an internal space IS. In addition, the surge tank 100 includes an outer side wall 110, an inner side wall 120, a lower side wall 130, an upper low wall 140, a first flange part 150, a second flange part 160, an inlet 170, and a third flange part 180.
The outer side wall 110 forms a portion of the outer wall and is a plate-shaped outer wall formed in a plate shape to extend in the vertical direction Z in the starting state of the engine 2. As shown in
The boss part 111 is formed in a cylindrical shape protruding vertically from the wall surface of the outer side wall 110, and the nut N is outserted (fit) to the boss part 111.
Here, the functional component P is fastened and fixed to the boss parts 111a, 111b by using bolts b1. Also, other functional components, such as a bracket fixing the engine cover 3, a component for electronic control, and other components, are fastened and fixed to the boss parts 111c, 111d, 111e, 111f, 111g, 111h by using bolts (not shown).
The flange part 112 is a region where the sensor unit U is assembled. As shown in
In addition, as shown in
The fitting hole 112a is formed in a cylindrical shape with the axis S as the center, so as to fit a sleeve 12 as a detection part of the sensor unit U.
The two boss parts 112b, 112b are formed continuously with the fitting hole 112a on the periphery of the fitting hole 112a, and are arranged on a first line L1 perpendicular to the axis S and are formed to be separated by the same distance from the axis S.
The bonding surface 112c is a region bonded to the bonding part 13 of the sensor unit U, and is formed as a flat surface perpendicular to the axis S, so that the end surface of the fitting hole 112a and the end surfaces of the two boss parts 112b, 112b are flush with each other.
Therefore, the flange part 112 is formed to be rotationally symmetric with respect to the center of the axis S. Here, the flange part 112 is formed to be two-fold symmetric, i.e., point-symmetric, where the same shape is overlapped by rotating 180 degrees.
In addition, in the flange part 112, the respective nuts N are fixed to the boss holes of the two boss parts 112b, 112b, through outsertion. In addition, the lattice-like reinforcement rib 113 extending in a direction toward the vicinities of the centers of the respective boss parts 112b, 112b is connected to the outer circumferential surfaces of the two boss parts 112b, 112b, and also serves as a boss reinforcement rib.
In addition, the sensor unit U is fastened and fixed to the flange part 112 by using the bolts b2.
The lattice-like reinforcement rib 113 forms a plate shape protruding vertically from the wall surface of the outer side wall 110, and is arranged in a lattice shape. In addition, by increasing the bending stiffness and the torsional stiffness, the lattice-like reinforcement rib 113 increases the overall surface stiffness, and increases the mechanical strength of the outer side wall 110.
Here, as shown in
In addition, the parallel reinforcement rib 113a is formed integrally with a limitation piece 113a1 which interferes with a portion of the sensor unit U to limit assembling at the time when the sensor unit U is assembled erroneously for being deviated from the normal orientation.
As shown in
In addition, the limitation piece 113a1 has a curved outer profile in a shape convex outward in the direction of the axis S, and is line-symmetric with respect to a second line L2 perpendicular to the axis S and the first line L1. That is, in
In this way, since the limitation piece 113a1 is integrally formed, in the same thickness with the plate thickness T the reinforcement rib, with the reinforcement rib (the lattice-like reinforcement rib 113) being provided on the plate-like outer wall 110 that is the outer wall of the surge tank 100, mechanical strength can be secured, and erroneous assembling of the sensor unit U can be limited.
In addition, since the limitation piece 113a1 protrudes in the direction of the axis S with respect to the bonding surface 112c of the flange part 112 and is formed to be curved in a convex shape, compared with the case of being formed as a rectangular edge or like a pin, the damage of the limitation piece 113a1 can be prevented, and injuries of the operator, etc., can also be prevented. Moreover, since the limitation piece 113a1 is formed in the parallel reinforcement rib 113a provided in the vicinity of the flange part 112, compared with the case of being formed in a reinforcement rib connected with the boss parts 112b, 112b, the degree of freedom in terms of the forms and arrangements thereof is increased. Also, the operator can also easily recognize that the limitation piece 113a1 is a component that limits the assembling orientation at the time of assembling the sensor unit U.
The boss reinforcement ribs 114 mainly increase the stiffness of the boss parts 111 (111a, 111b, 111c, 111d, 111e, 111f, 111g, 111h), have the plate thickness T same as the lattice-like reinforcement rib 113, and, as shown in
Here, the plate thickness T of the boss reinforcement rib 114 is formed in a dimension equal to or less than the thickness of the boss part 111. In this way, by forming the plate thickness T of the boss reinforcement rib 114 to be equal to or less than the thickness of the boss part 111, at the time of cooling after die-molding, a sink mark (indentation, sink hole) where the inner wall surface of the boss hole is recessed can be particularly prevented from being generated.
The inner side wall 120 forms a portion of the outer wall, and is formed to extend in the vertical direction Z and project in the horizontal direction X in the starting state of the engine 2. As shown in
The boss parts 121a, 121b are located at positions offset toward the lower side wall 130 in the projection part of the inner side wall 120, and the nuts N are fit into the boss holes of the boss parts 121a and 121b.
The flange part 122 is formed at a projection part of the inner side wall 120, and includes four circular holes 122. Collars C are fixed to the circular holes 122a. In addition, the collars Care fixed through insertion or outsertion.
As shown in
As shown in
That is, the four boss reinforcement ribs 124 are respectively connected to the outer circumferential surface of the boss part 121a, 121b. Here, like the above, the four boss reinforcement ribs 124 extend in a direction toward the center of the boss part 121a, 121b to be connected, and are separated in the circumferential direction of the boss part 121a, 121b to be disposed radially.
It is noted that a functional component, such as a stay supporting the intake manifold M, or other functional components are fastened and fixed to the boss parts 121a, 121b by using bolts (not shown).
As shown in
The lower side wall 130 forms a portion of the outer wall, is disposed toward the lower side of the vertical direction Z in the starting state of the engine 2, is formed in a substantially plate shape expanding in the horizontal direction, and includes, in the central region thereof, a curved wall 131 curved to be convex toward the outer side. The curved wall 131 may be formed at a position opposite to the inlet 170 in the vertical direction Z.
The upper side wall 140 forms a portion of the outer wall, is disposed toward the upper side of the vertical direction Z in the starting state of the engine 2, and, defines, in the central region thereof, the inlet 170 and the third flange part 180 around the inlet 170.
As shown in
As shown in
The inlet 170 is a region where the intake air passing through the throttle body TH flows toward the internal space IS, and is formed as a circular opening toward the vertical direction Z in the starting state of the engine 2.
As shown in
The first branch pipe module 200 is formed by integrating two molded bodies die-molded by using a resin material. As shown in
The three branch pipes 211, 212, 213 are formed to each define branch passages 211a, 212a, 213a through which the intake air flows and in communication with three intake ports of a bank (cylinder row) on a side of the engine 2.
The collection duct part 220 has multiple reinforcement ribs 221 on the outer wall thereof, is formed upstream of the three branch pipes 211, 212, 213 to define an internal space, and is in communication with the internal space IS of the surge tank 100. That is, the collection duct 220 functions as a space for temporarily storing intake air, like the surge tank 100.
The flange part 230 serves to connect the three branch pipes 211, 212, 213 with each other and is bonded to the cylinder head of the engine 2, and includes a bonding surface 231 and four circular holes 232 through which fastening bolts (not shown) pass through.
The flange part 240 is bonded to the first flange part 150 of the surge bank 100, and includes a bonding surface including an annular seal groove to be fit with an annular seal member, and five circular holes 242 through which fastening bolts b3 pass through.
The second branch pipe module 300 is formed by integrating two molded bodies die-molded by using a resin material. As shown in
The three branch pipes 311, 312, 313 are formed to each define branch passages 311a, 312a, 313a through which the intake air flows and be in communication with three intake ports of a bank (cylinder row) on the other side of the engine 2.
The collection duct part 320 has multiple reinforcement ribs 321 on the outer wall thereof, is formed upstream of the three branch pipes 311, 312, 313 to define an internal space, and is in communication with the internal space IS of the surge tank 100. That is, the collection duct 320 functions as a space for temporarily storing intake air, like the surge tank 100.
The flange part 330 serves to connect the three branch pipes 311, 312, 313 with each other and is bonded to the cylinder head of the engine 2, and includes a bonding surface 331 and four circular holes 332 through which fastening bolts (not shown) pass through.
The flange part 340 is bonded to the second flange part 160 of the surge bank 100, and includes a bonding surface including an annular seal groove to be fit with an annular seal member and five circular holes 342 through which fastening bolts b4 pass through.
As shown in
The case 10 is molded by using a resin material, and includes a case body part 11, a sleeve 12 having a cylindrical shape and serving as a detection part, a bonding part 13, and a connector 14.
The sleeve 12 is formed in a cylindrical shape with an axis S1 coincident with the axis S of the fitting hole 112a as the center, so as to be fit to the fitting hole 112a of the flange part 112 and includes a passage 12a, a protrusion part 12b, and an annular groove 12c. The passage 12a reaches the pressure sensor 20 on the inner side of the sleeve 12. The protrusion part 12b surrounds the temperature sensor 30. The annular groove 12c is fit with an annular seal member Sr2 (see
The bonding part 13 includes two circular holes 13a, 13a for the bolts b2 to pass through on the periphery of the sleeve 12 and ring-shaped bonding surfaces 13b, 13b on the peripheries of the circular holes 13a, 13a. In addition, the bonding part 13 is provided with the circular holes 13a, 13a on two sides sandwiching the sleeve 12 along a line Ls1 perpendicular to the axis S1, and is formed to be rotationally symmetric (two-fold symmetric), i.e., point-symmetric, where the same shape is overlapped by rotating 180 degrees with the axis S1 as the center.
In other words, the two circular holes 13a, 13a correspond to the two boss parts 112b, 112b of the flange part 112. In addition, the bonding surfaces 13b, 13b are formed to be in close contact with and bonded to the bonding surface 112c of the flange part 112.
The connector 14 protrudes in a direction of a line Ls2 perpendicular to the axis S1 and the line Ls1 from the case body 11, and is formed to expose and surround the terminal 50 connected with the circuit substrate 40 and be connected to the outside.
In addition, the connector 14 functions as a portion of the sensor unit U that interferes with the limitation piece 113a provided in the vicinity of the flange part 112 at the time when the sensor unit U is assembled erroneously for being deviated from the normal orientation with respect to the flange part 12.
The pressure sensor 20 is a component that detects the pressure as a state quantity of intake air, and, as shown in
In addition, in the state in which the sensor unit U is assembled to the intake manifold M, the pressure sensor 20 is arranged to detect the pressure of the intake air inside the surge tank 100 on the downstream side with respect to the throttle body TH.
The pressure sensor 30 is a component that detects the temperature as a state quantity of intake air, and, as shown in
In addition, in the state in which the sensor unit U is assembled to the intake manifold M, the temperature sensor 30 is arranged to detect the temperature of the intake air inside the surge tank 100 on the downstream side with respect to the throttle body TH.
Then, a manufacturing and assembling process of the intake manifold M with the configuration is described.
Beforehand, the surge tank 100, the first branch pipe module 200, and the second branch pipe module 300 are respectively formed through die-molding by using a resin material.
At the time of assembling, the surge tank 100, the first branch pipe module 200, the second branch pipe module 300, the nuts N, the bolts b3, b4, and the annular seal member (not shown) are prepared.
Firstly, the nuts N are assembled to the boss parts 111 (111a to 111h) of the surge tank 100 and the fitting holes 152, 162, 182 through outsertion.
Specifically, the nuts N are pressed against and fit into the boss holes of the boss parts 111, 112b and the fitting holes 152, 162, 182 in a state of being heated to a predetermined temperature. At this time, the inner wall part that is fit melts partially to fit the profiles of the nuts N, and after being cooled down, the nuts N are fixed.
In the outsertion process, in particular, the boss parts 111, 112 are molded to predetermined dimensions without a sink mark, etc., so the nuts N can be firmly fixed to the boss parts 111, 112b.
In addition, the collars C are assembled to the circular hole 122a. The collars C are inserted together at the time of die-molding. Nevertheless, the collars C may also be outserted after die-molding.
Then, the first branch pipe module 200 and the second branch pipe module 300 are assembled to the surge tank 100.
Firstly, in the state in which the annular seal member is fit into the annular seal groove of the bonding surface 241, the flange part 240 of the first branch pipe module 200 is bonded to the bonding surface 151 of the first flange part 150 of the surge tank 100, and the bolts b3 are inserted into the circular holes 242 and screwed into and tightened with the nuts N fit into the fitting holes 152.
Then, in the state in which the annular seal member is fit into the annular seal groove of the bonding surface 341, the flange part 340 of the second branch pipe module 300 is bonded to the bonding surface 161 of the second flange part 160 of the surge tank 100, the bolts b4 are inserted into the circular holes 342 and screwed into and tightened with the nuts N fit into the fitting holes 162.
Accordingly, the assembling process of the intake manifold M is completed. It is noted that the order of assembling the first branch pipe module 200 and the second branch pipe module 300 merely serves as an example, and the components may also be assembled in a reversed order.
Then, an assembling process of assembling various components with respect to the intake manifold M so that the intake manifold M is configured as a portion of the intake system of the engine 2 is described.
At the time of assembling, the intake manifold M, the throttle body TH, the sensor unit U, the functional component P, the annular seal members Sr, Sr2, and the bolts b1, b2, b5 are prepared.
Initially, the throttle body TH is assembled to the third flange part 180 of the surge tank 100. That is, in the state in which the annular seal member Sr is fit into the annular seal groove 181a of the bonding surface 180 of the third flange part 180, the throttle body TH is bonded to the bonding surface 181, and the bolts b5 are screwed and tightened to the nuts N fit into the fitting holes 182.
Then, the functional component P is disposed to be opposite to the boss parts 111a, 111b formed on the outer side wall 110 of the surge tank 100, and the bolts b1 are screwed and tightened to the nuts N.
Then, the sensor unit U is assembled to the flange part 122 formed on the outer side wall 110 of the surge tank 100.
Specifically, as shown in
In the assembled state of the sensor unit U, as shown in
Here, it is assumed that, when the sensor unit U is assembled incorrectly, where the sensor unit U is assembled in a direction deviated from the normal orientation (the connector 14 faces downward in the vertical direction), as shown in
Accordingly, by noticing that the orientation of the sensor unit U is incorrect and visually recognizing the limitation piece 113a1, the operator may rotate 180 degrees so that the connector 14 faces upward, and the sensor unit U can be assembled in the correct orientation. Accordingly, the sensor unit U is prevented from being assembled erroneously.
Moreover, various functional components may be assembled to other boss parts 111 (111c, 111d, 111e, 111f, 111g, 111h, 121a, 121b) when necessary.
As described above, the intake manifold M according to an embodiment includes: the surge tank 100, die-molded to temporarily store the intake air; and the branch pipes 211, 212, 213, 311, 312, 313, in communication with the surge tank. The surge tank 100 includes, on the outer wall of the surge tank 100, the flange part 112 and the reinforcement rib (the parallel reinforcement rib 113a forming a portion of the lattice-like reinforcement rib 113). The sensor unit U configured to detect a state quantity of the intake air is installed to the flange part 112. The flange part 112 includes: the fitting hole 112a, having the predetermined axis S as the center so as to be fit with the detection part (sleeve 12) of the sensor unit U; and boss parts 112b, 112b, provided on the periphery of the fitting hole 112a. The flange part 112 is formed to be rotationally symmetric with the axis S as a center. The reinforcement rib (parallel reinforcement rib 113a) includes the limitation piece 113a1 interfering with a portion of the sensor unit U to limit assembling at the time when the sensor unit U is assembled erroneously for being deviated from the normal orientation. Therefore, an assembling error can be prevented from occurring at the time of assembling the sensor unit U, and mechanical strength can be secured.
In addition, the outboard motor formed with the configuration includes: the engine 2, having the intake manifold; the body 1, to which the engine 2 is fixed; the propeller 4, configured to be rotated by the driving force of the engine 2; the sensor unit U, assembled to the intake manifold M and detecting the state quantity of the intake air; and the engine cover 3, covering the engine 2. The outboard motor includes the intake manifold M with the configuration as the intake manifold. Therefore, the sensor unit U can be assembled in the normal orientation, and a reliable outboard motor can be obtained.
In the above embodiment, as the configuration in which the flange part, which is formed on the outer side wall 110 of the surge tank 100 and to which the sensor unit is assembled, and the bonding part of the sensor unit are rotationally symmetric, the flange part 112 and the bonding part 13 in two-fold symmetry where the same shape is overlapped by rotating 180 degrees, that is, in point symmetry, are shown herein. However, the invention is not limited thereto. A configuration of three-fold symmetry, where three boss parts are disposed at intervals of 120 degrees, or other configurations of n-fold symmetry (n being a natural number of 4 or more) may also be adopted.
In the above embodiment, as the limitation piece, the limitation piece 113a1 having the curved outer profile in a convex shape is shown. However, the invention is not limited thereto. Limitation pieces in other configurations may also be adopted as long as the limitation piece is integrally formed as a portion of the reinforcement rib disposed in the vicinity of the flange part. In the above embodiment, as the reinforcement rib where the limitation piece is formed, the case of the parallel reinforcement rib 113a forming a portion of the lattice-like reinforcement rib 113 is shown. However the invention is not limited thereto. A configuration in which the limitation piece is formed on the parallel reinforcement rib protruding in parallel in the vicinity of the flange part may also be adopted.
In the embodiment, as the sensor unit, the sensor unit U including the pressure sensor 20 and the temperature sensor 30 is shown. However, the invention is not limited thereto. A sensor unit including only the pressure sensor, a sensor unit including only the temperature sensor, or a sensor unit including other sensors may also be adopted.
In the above embodiment, the case where the connector 14 interfering with the limitation piece 113a and serving as a portion of the sensor unit U is adopted is shown. However, the invention is not limited thereto. Other portions may also be adopted as the portion of the sensor unit interfering with the limitation piece 113a1.
In the above embodiment, a configuration in which the nuts N are outserted to the boss parts 111, 112b and the fitting holes 152, 162, 182 is shown. However, the invention is not limited thereto. In the case where an aluminum material is used, in place of resin material, for die-molding, female screws may also be formed through post-processing on the boss holes of the boss parts and the fitting holes.
Although the above embodiment illustrates the case where the nuts N are fixed to the boss parts 111, 112b and the fitting holes 152, 162, 182 through outsertion, the invention is not limited thereto. The nuts N may also be fixed through insertion.
In the embodiment, as the intake manifold, the intake manifold M formed by the surge tank 100, the first branch pipe module 200, and the second branch pipe module 300 is shown. However, the invention is not limited thereto. Intake manifolds of other separate configurations, or, if die-molding is possible, an intake manifold that is integrally molded as a whole may also be adopted.
As described above, according to the intake manifold of the invention, at the time of assembling the sensor unit, erroneous assembling can be prevented, and mechanical strength can be secured. Therefore, in addition to being applicable to the engine of the outboard motor, the intake manifold according to the invention is also applicable as the intake manifold of other engines.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-061805 | Apr 2023 | JP | national |
| 2023-190127 | Nov 2023 | JP | national |
