The invention at hand relates to an intake module of a fresh air system for an internal combustion engine, in particular in a motor vehicle.
Such an intake module typically has a housing, which is equipped with an inlet opening for fresh air and with a flange section for fastening or connecting, respectively, the housing to the internal combustion engine. Provision is made in the flange section for a plurality of outlet openings for the fresh air. A distribution chamber, from which the fresh air supplied to the internal combustion engine via the inlet opening during operation, is distributed to the outlet openings, is typically embodied in the housing. Provision is thereby made for at least one such outlet opening for each combustion chamber. Such an intake module can be used in the case of a charged internal combustion engine as well as in the case of a non-charged internal combustion engine.
It is further common to equip such intake modules with a control device for controlling a cross section of at least one of the outlet openings, through which flow can pass. Typically, at least one such controllable outlet opening is thereby assigned to each combustion chamber. Provision can further be made for each combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine to be assigned two outlet openings, the one of which is in each case controlled, which can thus be changed with respect to its cross section, through which flow can pass, while the respective other outlet opening is not controlled, is thus permanently completely open. The fresh air supply can be optimized with the help of such a control device as a function of the current operating state of the internal combustion engine. Such a control device can be equipped with a control shaft, which has at least one control valve arranged in a rotationally-fixed manner on the control shaft for the respective outlet opening. The respective outlet opening can thus be controlled with respect to its cross section, through which flow can pass, with the help of the respective control valve. The respective outlet opening can in particular be opened or closed with the help of the corresponding control valve. On principle, any intermediate positions are likewise possible. Depending on the function of the control valve, the latter can also be identified as tumble valve or throttle valve.
Due to the fact that such an intake module is to be produced in large quantities and as cost-efficiently as possible, additional problems result when mounting the control shaft on the housing. The housing, which is typically injection molded of plastic, can warp as a result of the production process, which may impair a mounting of the control shaft with as little friction as possible. However, this creates the risk of an impairment of the functional reliability of the control shaft. The effort for realizing a functionally reliable mounting of the control shaft on the housing is thus comparatively high. Additional problems may result, e.g. in response to the subsequent installation of the control shaft into the housing, when the installation is to take place for example on a connection side of the flange section, which is provided for connecting the housing to the internal combustion engine. Warping of the housing results in relatively large production tolerances, which make a functionally reliable assembly of the control shaft more difficult.
Such problems do not only appear in the case of intake modules comprising controllable outlet openings, but in the case of all intake modules, in or on the housing of which controllable openings are provided. The invention at hand is thus not limited to intake modules comprising controllable outlet openings, but relates to all intake modules, which have or include controllable openings. This thus also relates to intake modules, which have bypass openings in their interior, which can be opened and closed for switching intake pipe lengths. Such a control device for controlling the cross sections of these bypass openings, through which flow can pass, can also be used for this purpose.
An intake module, which is equipped with a housing, which has an inlet opening for fresh air and a flange section comprising a plurality of outlet openings for fresh air is known from DE 44 99 626 T1. The known intake module has switchable intake pipe lengths, the effective length of which is switched by opening and closing bypass openings. For this purpose, the intake module is furthermore equipped with a control device for controlling a cross section of these bypass openings, through which flow can pass. The control device has a control shaft and a plurality of control valves, which are arranged in a rotationally-fixed manner on the control shaft, for the bypass openings. The control shaft is thereby mounted on the housing by means of at least one bearing bracket such that it can rotate about a rotational axis. The housing has at least one bearing receiving portion for receiving the respective bearing bracket, which has an insertion opening. The respective bearing bracket is thereby inserted in an insertion direction, which is oriented perpendicular to the rotational axis through the respective insertion opening into the respective bearing receiving portion. On its outside, the respective bearing bracket has two outer surfaces, which face away from one another with respect to a transverse direction, which runs perpendicular to the rotational axis and perpendicular to the insertion direction.
In the case of the known intake module, the outer surfaces of the respective bearing bracket in each case have a longitudinal groove, which runs parallel to the insertion direction. Provision is furthermore made on a front end of the bearing bracket, which leads in the insertion direction, for a projecting curved web, which extends in the circumferential direction. Complementary to the longitudinal grooves and to the curved web, provision is made on corresponding boundary walls of the corresponding bearing bracket for two straight webs, which project inwards, and for a curved groove, which extends in the circumferential direction. When the bearing bracket is inserted into the bearing receiving portion, the straight webs engage with the longitudinal grooves on the one hand and the curved web engages with the curved groove on the other hand, in each case in the manner of a nut-groove guide, in order to attain a positioning of the bearing bracket in the bearing receiving portion parallel to the rotational axis of the shaft. The positioning of the bearing bracket at right angles to the rotational axis takes place via the flat contact between the outer surfaces of the bearing bracket and corresponding inner surfaces of the bearing receiving portion, which need to be produced accurately for this purpose.
A generic intake module comprising the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known from JP 2014-101800 A. On each of the two outer surfaces, two positioning blocks, which are spaced apart from one another, are embodied therein. All positioning blocks are further arranged at and end of the bearing bracket, which is spaced apart from the control shaft.
A further intake module of this type is known from JP H07-158458 A, in the case of which only one positioning block is in each case provided on each of the two outer surfaces. The bearing bracket is further divided, so that it has two bearing parts, which are mounted against one another via an integral hinge such that they can move.
Further intake modules comprising bearing brackets are known from JP 2010-168995 A, from JP 2014-1719 A and from DE 10 2011 087 234 A1.
The invention at hand deals with the problem of specifying an improved embodiment for an intake module of the above-mentioned type, which is in particular characterized by a reduced production effort. An improved mounting of the control shaft and/or an increased functional reliability of the control device are further desired.
The invention at hand relates to two basic aspects, which are independent from one another, which can thus be used alternatively, but which can preferably also be combined with one another. In particular, the one aspect including the embodiments thereof can be combined in any manner with the other aspect and the embodiments thereof.
The problem, on which the invention is based, is solved by said aspects, the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments follow from the dependent claims.
The invention at hand is based on the general idea of providing at least one control bracket, which represents a separate component with respect to the housing and with respect to the control shaft, and in that the control shaft is mounted such that it can rotate about a rotational axis, which runs concentrically to the control shaft, for mounting the control shaft.
The housing has a bearing receiving portion for the respective bearing bracket for receiving the bearing bracket. The bearing receiving portion is thereby open on the connection side of the flange section, so that the bearing bracket can be inserted into the respective bearing receiving portion through an insertion opening provided on the connection side. The respective bearing bracket is thereby inserted in an insertion direction through the respective insertion opening into the associated bearing receiving portion, wherein this insertion direction is aligned substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis. By using such a separate bearing bracket, the mounting function is separated from the housing. Such bearing brackets can in particular be produced with significantly narrower production tolerances than the comparatively large housing. The mounting of the control shaft can thus be improved with the help of such separate bearing brackets.
Preferably, a plurality of bearing brackets are used, thus two or more bearing brackets, which are in each case inserted into their own bearing receiving portion. The control shaft can thereby have a continuous, one-piece shaft body, which is formed, e.g. by means of a metallic bar, onto which the control valves made of plastic can be injected. Likewise, it is conceivable to provide a multi-piece shaft body for the control shaft, which is assembled from a plurality of bar-shaped sections. The individual shaft body sections can be fastened to one another, e.g. by means of injected control valves.
To solve the mentioned problem, provision can be made according to a first aspect according to the invention for the respective bearing bracket to be equipped with at least two positioning blocks, which interact with guide contours, which are complementary thereto and which are embodied in the corresponding bearing receiving portion, for the purpose of aligning the bearing bracket, when the bearing bracket is inserted into the bearing receiving portion. An optimal alignment of the mounting to the control shaft can thus be realized. A particularly low-friction mounting for the control shaft and thus a comparatively high functional reliability for the control shaft can in particular be realized.
In detail, it is proposed according to the first aspect according to the invention to equip the outside of the respective bearing bracket with two outer surfaces, which face away from one another with respect to a transverse direction, which runs substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis and substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction, and which in each case have at least one positioning block projecting therefrom. On its inside, the respective bearing receiving portion then has a guide contour, which is complementary thereto, for the respective positioning block for aligning the bearing bracket in a longitudinal direction, which runs parallel to the rotational axis, and in the transverse direction.
Advantageously, the respective positioning block is thereby integrally molded to the bearing bracket, is thus made from the same material.
An embodiment, in the case of which the respective bearing bracket, on its outer surfaces, is in contact with the housing only via these positioning blocks, is particularly advantageous. In addition or in the alternative, provision can be made for the respective bearing bracket, in particular in the longitudinal direction and/or in the transverse direction and/or in the insertion direction, to be in contact with the housing only via these positioning blocks. It is attained through this that the positioning of the bearing bracket relative to the housing in the longitudinal direction and/or in the transverse direction takes place only via these positioning blocks. Due to the fact that the positioning blocks can be dimensioned so as to be relatively small as compared to the entire bearing bracket, relatively narrow tolerances can also be adhered to in response to the injection molding in the area of the positioning blocks, because relatively little warping occurs at that location. A high-quality positioning can thus be attained, even if the bearing bracket is made inexpensively of plastic by means of injection molding. If the contact in the area of the outer surfaces is only made indirectly via the positioning blocks, a space or gap is embodied outside of the positioning blocks in the transverse direction and/or in the longitudinal direction between the outer surfaces of the respective bearing bracket and the inside of the corresponding bearing receiving portion.
Provision can generally be made for the respective bearing bracket in the longitudinal direction and/or in the transverse direction and/or in the insertion direction to be in direct contact with the housing only on the positioning blocks. A space between the outside of the bearing bracket and the inside of the bearing receiving portion is then preferably embodied outside of the positioning blocks.
Provision can advantageously be made for the respective positioning block to have a length, which is measured parallel to the longitudinal direction and which is smaller than a length of the bearing bracket, which is measured parallel to the longitudinal direction. In particular, the positioning block is maximally half as long as the bearing bracket. In addition or in the alternative, the respective positioning block can have a height, which is measured parallel to the insertion direction and which is smaller than a height of the bearing bracket, which is measured parallel to the longitudinal direction. In particular, the positioning block is maximally half as height as the bearing bracket.
Provision can further optionally be made for the respective positioning block to be in each case spaced apart from two longitudinal ends of the bearing bracket, which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction. In addition or in the alternative, provision can be made for the respective positioning block to be in each case spaced apart from two ends of the bearing bracket, which are spaced apart from one another in the insertion direction. When inserting the bearing bracket into the bearing receiving portion, one of these ends leads in the insertion direction and forms a front end of the bearing bracket, while the other end trails in the insertion direction and forms a rear end of the bearing bracket. By spacing apart the respective positioning blocks from the respective ends of the bearing bracket, a significantly smaller dimensioning results for the positioning block, which makes it possible to adhere to narrow tolerances at that location.
The respective positioning block is advantageously designed in the shape of a cuboid, so that it has at least four exterior preferably flat guide surfaces, namely one guide surface, which runs at right angles to the transverse direction and which faces away from the bearing bracket, at least one guide surface, which runs at right angles to the insertion direction and which leads in the insertion direction, and two guide surfaces, which run at right angles to the longitudinal direction and which face away from one another.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the respective positioning block can have two flat longitudinal positioning surfaces, which face away from one another with respect to the longitudinal direction and which extend parallel to one another and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. On its inside, the corresponding bearing receiving portion advantageously has two flat longitudinal guide surfaces, which face one another with respect to the longitudinal direction and which extend parallel to one another and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and against which one of the longitudinal positioning surfaces of the respective positioning block abuts in a flat manner in each case. This measure results in a particularly efficient and reliable alignment of the respective bearing bracket in the longitudinal direction. In other words, the rotational axis defined in the respective bearing bracket is aligned parallel to the longitudinal direction with the help of the longitudinal positioning surfaces and the longitudinal guide surfaces.
In the case of another advantageous embodiment, the respective positioning block can have a flat transverse positioning surface, which extends perpendicular to the transverse direction. On its inside, the corresponding bearing receiving portion can then advantageously have a flat transverse guide surface for the respective positioning block, which extends perpendicular to the transverse direction and against which the transverse positioning surface of the respective positioning block abuts in a flat manner. This measure results in an optimized alignment of the respective bearing bracket with respect to the transverse direction. In other words, the rotational axis defined by the respective bearing bracket is centered by means of the transverse positioning surfaces, which interact with the transverse guide surfaces.
According to the invention, the respective bearing bracket can have, on each of its two outer surfaces, at least two such positioning blocks, which are spaced apart from one another in the insertion direction. This results in a particularly efficient alignment of the bearing bracket inside the respective bearing receiving portion.
A further improvement results according to a further development, in the case of which, on the respective outer surface, at least two such positioning blocks are arranged so as to be aligned relative to one another in the insertion direction. The design of the corresponding guide contour inside the bearing receiving portion is thus simplified.
Provision can furthermore advantageously be made for the positioning block, which leads in the insertion direction, to be dimensioned so as to be smaller than the positioning block, which trails in the insertion direction. The positioning blocks thus interact separately with the corresponding guide contours, which improves a reliable alignment of the bearing bracket.
In the case of the leading or preceding positioning block, respectively, which is dimensioned so as to be smaller, provision can in particular be made for a distance of the longitudinal positioning surfaces measured parallel to the longitudinal direction, to be smaller than in the case of the trailing positioning block, which is dimensioned so as to be larger. Provision can furthermore be made for a distance of the transverse positioning surface measured parallel to the transverse direction from the respective outside of the bearing bracket in the case of the leading positioning block, which is dimensioned so as to be smaller, to be smaller than in the case of the trailing positioning block, which is dimensioned so as to be larger.
According to another advantageous embodiment, the one positioning block can be arranged in the insertion direction between the control shaft and the other positioning block. With the help of the respective bearing bracket, the control shaft can thus be inserted comparatively deeply into the flange section. In particular larger control valves can thus be used as well.
In the alternative, provision can be made in the case of another embodiment to arrange the control shaft between the two positioning blocks with respect to the insertion direction, whereby a particularly reliable alignment of the control shaft is possible.
In the case of another embodiment, the respective bearing bracket on both outer surfaces can in each case have at least two positioning blocks, which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction. While the bearing bracket as a whole can be constructed to be comparatively small or compact, respectively, in the longitudinal direction in the case of only one positioning block, the provision of at least two positioning blocks, which are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, provides for a bearing bracket, which is constructed so as to be comparatively wide or large, respectively, based on the longitudinal direction. The larger the construction of the bearing bracket in the longitudinal direction, the more efficient the alignment of the bearing shaft. Larger mounting forces can further be supported in a wide bearing bracket. Advantageously, the two positioning blocks on the respective outer surface can be arranged so as to aligned with one another in the longitudinal direction.
In the case of another embodiment, at least one such positioning block can have, at each outer surface, a flat stop surface, which leads in the insertion direction and which extends perpendicular to the insertion direction and which abuts flat against a flat counter stop surface, which is embodied on the inner contour of the respective bearing bracket. The insertion depth of the bearing bracket is defined or is limited to a predetermined insertion depth, respectively, by means of the interaction of the respective stop surface with the corresponding counter stop surface. The bearing bracket is thus aligned with respect to the insertion direction. In other words, the rotational axis, which is defined with the help of the bearing bracket, is centered with respect to the insertion direction by the interaction of stop surface and counter stop surface.
According to a second aspect, which is not in accordance with the invention, provision can optionally be made for at least one such bearing bracket to be divided into at least two bearing part. The respective bearing bracket thus has a first bearing part and a second bearing part. The bearing bracket preferably only has two bearing parts, so that it is designed in two pieces. The at least two bearing parts of the divided bearing bracket can thereby form separate components. However, they can also be connected to one another in a movable manner, for example via an integral hinge. The bearing parts of the divided bearing bracket can in particular be made in one piece in a common injection molding tool, thus so as to be connected from the same material. It is important that the first bearing part can be moved relative to the second bearing part at least for the assembly of the bearing bracket relative to one another.
This second aspect, is based on the general idea of supporting the two bearing parts flat against one another at flat positioning surfaces, whereby a predetermined alignment of the two bearing parts relative to one another can be realized in a comparatively exact manner. The control shaft inside the bearing bracket can thus be mounted such that it can rotate in a reliable manner. An inadmissibly high radial compression of the control shaft in the bearing bracket can in particular be avoided, which can happen easily in the case of bearing parts, which are not aligned optimally. In this respect, the second aspect also leads to a simplified setup and in particular to an improved shaft bearing with a higher functional reliability.
In detail, the second aspect proposes to equip the first bearing part with a first bearing section, which defines a first circumferential section, against which the control shaft abuts in a flat manner, while the second bearing part has a second bearing section, which is located opposite the first bearing section and which defines a second circumferential section, which is located opposite the first circumferential section and against which the control shaft abuts in a flat manner. The two bearing parts further each have an inner surface, which face one another with respect to the transverse direction, which has already been mentioned above with regard to the first aspect and which runs substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis and substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction, and which in each case have at least one flat positioning surface, which extend substantially perpendicular to the transverse direction. As mentioned, at least one such positioning surface of the first bearing part abuts flat against at least one such positioning surface of the second bearing part.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the respective positioning surface can be raised with respect to the respective inner surface, can thus be spaced apart therefrom in the transverse direction. It can thus be attained that in the area of the inner surfaces, which face one another, the two bearing parts contact one another only on the positioning surfaces. It is not ruled out thereby that the two bearing parts are connected to one another for example via an integral hinge and/or can on principle also adjoin one another in the area of the bearing sections.
According to another advantageous embodiment, provision can be made for at least two such positioning surfaces to be embodied in each case on both bearing parts on the respective inner surface, which improves an optimal alignment of the two bearing parts relative to one another. Advantageously, the two positioning surfaces of the respective bearing part can be spaced apart from one another in the insertion direction. It is likewise conceivable to provide the two positioning surfaces to be spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction on the respective inner surface. It is likewise conceivable for more than two, for example three or four or more such positioning surfaces to be provided on the respective inner surface, wherein provision can in particular be made for at least two such positioning surfaces to be spaced apart from one another in the insertion direction and for two such positioning surfaces to be spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction. A spacing apart in the longitudinal direction is provided, when the respective bearing bracket is to be constructed to be comparatively large or wide in the longitudinal direction.
In the case of another embodiment, the first bearing part can have, on its inner surface, at least one guide pin, which projects in the transverse direction while the second bearing part has, on its inner surface, at least one guide opening, which is oriented in the transverse direction and which is complementary to the corresponding guide pin, and into which the corresponding guide pin is inserted in the transverse direction. A predetermined alignment of the two bearing parts relative to one another is also attained by means of the guide pin, which interacts with the respective guide opening. Guide pin and guide opening can furthermore again a sufficient fixation of the two bearing parts against one another in the case of a corresponding fit, which is preferably a press fit. Such a guide pin can preferably be formed integrally on the respective bearing part, can thus made from the same material.
According to an advantageous further development, the respective guide pin can be surrounded by the respective positioning surface, so that the respective guide pin projects from the respective bearing part inside the positioning surface. The respective guide opening can likewise be surrounded by the respective positioning surface. In this case, the guide opening inside the positioning surface is introduced into the respective bearing part. This results in a particularly compact construction for the bearing bracket.
In the case of another advantageous embodiment, the first bearing part can have at least two such guide pins, which are spaced apart from one another in the insertion direction and/or in the longitudinal direction. Complementary to the guide pins, the second bearing part then has at least two such guide openings, which are also spaced apart from one another in the insertion direction and/or in the longitudinal direction. This measure also leads to an improvement of the alignment of the two bearing parts relative to one another. A bearing bracket of large construction can thus likewise also be realized in the longitudinal direction.
Provision can further be made for the second bearing part to also have at least one guide pin, which is inserted into a guide opening embodied on the first bearing part. The guide pins, however, are preferably embodied only on the first bearing part, while the guide openings are only embodied on the second bearing part.
According to another advantageous embodiment, the first circumferential section or the second circumferential section can be larger than 180°, so that the bearing shaft inserted into the corresponding bearing section is clamped therein.
Advantageously, the first bearing section embodied on the first bearing part is formed in such a way that the first circumferential section is larger than 180°. The larger circumferential section extends for example across maximally 240° and can for example be approximately 200°.
A further embodiment follows when a gap is in each case provided in the circumferential direction between the first bearing section and the second bearing section. An alignment of the two bearing sections relative to one another can thus be realized by means of the contacting of the positioning surfaces against one another.
An embodiment, in the case of which the bearing parts do not contact one another in the area of the bearing sections, is particularly advantageous. An optimal alignment of the bearing sections relative to one another is thus possible by means of the interaction of the adjoining positioning surfaces. A functional separation inside the bearing bracket is also attained through this, because the positioning surface aligns the bearing sections relative to one another, while the bearing sections effect the mounting of the control shaft.
Another embodiment provides for the two bearing sections not to be of equal size, thus define circumferential sections of different sizes. Laterally on its inner surface, the bearing part comprising the larger bearing section has a projection, which enlarges the bearing section in the circumferential direction. Laterally on its inner surface, the bearing part comprising the smaller bearing section has a recess, which reduces the bearing section in the circumferential direction and with which the projection engages. This results in a particularly compact construction.
According to an advantageous further development, provision can be made for the two bearing parts not to contact one another in the area of the projection and of the recess. This measure also simplifies an alignment of the two bearing sections relative to one another, when the positioning surfaces come to rest against one another.
An embodiment, in the case of which the positioning surfaces adjoin one another in a positioning plane, in which the rotational axis is located as well, is particularly advantageous. The rotational axis can thus be centered with the help of the adjoining positioning surface.
A further advantageous embodiment with corresponding further development will also be described in more detail below, which can be combined in any manner with the features of the first aspect described further above and the embodiments thereof a well as in any manner with the features of the above-described second aspect and the embodiments thereof.
Said further embodiment assumes that, on its connection side, the flange section is equipped with at least one sealing groove for receiving a seal, wherein the seal abuts against the internal combustion engine so as to form a seal when the housing is connected to the internal combustion engine. According to said embodiment, it is now proposed to arrange at least one such bearing receiving portion in a section of the sealing groove in such a manner that the sealing groove has a groove break in the area of this sealing receiving portion. It is further proposed for at least one such bearing bracket to have, in the area of the sealing groove, a groove section, which completes the sealing groove in the area of the above-mentioned groove break. The groove section, which is embodied on the respective bearing bracket, can supplement the adjoining sealing groove quasi in an interruption-free and preferably flush manner in this way, so that the seal inserted therein can be guided in an interruption-free manner in the assembled state. This measure has the advantage that a distance in the longitudinal direction can be chosen to be particularly small, in particular between adjacent outlet openings. The control shaft can in particular also be inserted in the area of the seal by means of such a bearing receiving portion. A further advantage of this embodiment is seen that the bearing bracket, which is inserted into the bearing receiving portion, is captively held on the flange section with the help of the seal, namely by means of the sealing section, which is guided through the groove section. The intake module can thus be prepared largely completely as assembly, which simplifies the assembly thereof to the internal combustion engine. In the installed state, the compression of the seal generates a prestressing force, which drives the bearing bracket in the insertion direction into the bearing receiving portion, which also supports a reliable positioning of the bearing bracket relative to the housing.
According to an advantageous further development, at least one such positioning block can have a holding surface, which faces away from the control shaft and which adjoins a groove base of the groove section in a flush manner. With its holding surface, the respective positioning block also forms a section of the groove base of the sealing groove in this way, which also provides for a simplified assembly or an improved positioning, respectively, of the bearing bracket in the flange section.
In a preferred embodiment, the bearing bracket is formed as plastic injection molded part. The common draft angles for removing the finished plastic part from the injection molding tool are arranged on the outer surfaces, which are not provided for the positioning, as is common. Provision is not made on the positioning surfaces or guide pins, respectively, which are required for positioning of bearing bracket in the intake module or on the two bearing parts, respectively, for draft angles. These surfaces can thus be produced in a highly accurate manner and can thus also provide for a highly accurate mounting. The percentage of the positioning surfaces is less than 20%, in particular less than 10%, of the entire component surface. Due to the small percentage of the total surface, a removal of the injected bearing brackets from the tool is nonetheless possible without any problems.
According to an advantageous embodiment, provision can be made for both above-described aspects for the housing to have at least one inlet opening for fresh air and a flange section, which has the controllable openings, which form outlet openings for fresh air at that location. In addition or in the alternative, provision can be made for the bearing receiving portions to be embodied on a connection side of the flange section, which is provided for a connection of the housing to the internal combustion engine.
Further important features and advantages of the invention follow from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the corresponding figure description by means of the drawings.
It goes without saying that the above-mentioned features and the features, which will be explained below, cannot only be used in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations, or alone, without leaving the scope of the invention at hand.
Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be discussed in more detail in the description below, whereby the same reference numerals refer to the same or to similar or to functionally identical components.
In each case schematically
According to
In the shown example of
According to
The housing 14 has a flange section 19, with which the housing 14 or the intake module 7, respectively, can be fastened to the engine block 2 or can be connected to the internal combustion engine 1, respectively. Advantageously, the flange section 19 is integrally molded on the housing 14, is thus made from the same material therewith.
According to
In the example of
The control shaft 21 is mounted on the housing 14 such that it can rotate about a rotational axis 24. Advantageously, the control shaft 21 is embodied so as to be straight, so that the rotational axis 24 extends concentrically to the control shaft 21.
According to
On the inside 32, the bearing receiving portion 25 or the respective guide contour 33, respectively, has two flat longitudinal guide surfaces 36 for the respective positioning block 31, which can only be seen in
The respective positioning block 31 is here further equipped with a flat transverse positioning surface 37, which extends perpendicular to the transverse direction 30 and which thereby faces away from the remaining bearing bracket 23 with respect to the transverse direction 30. Complementary to these transverse positioning surfaces 37, the bearing receiving portion 25 has, on its inside 32 or on its guide contour 33, respectively, for the respective positioning block 31, a flat transverse guide surface 38, which extends perpendicular to the transverse direction 30 and which abuts against the respective transverse positioning surface 38 of the respective positioning block 31 in a flat manner. While the above-mentioned longitudinal poisoning surfaces 35 effect an alignment of the bearing bracket 23 with respect to the longitudinal direction 34 with the longitudinal guide surfaces 36, the transverse positioning surfaces 37, in connection with the transverse guide surfaces 38, effect an alignment of the bearing bracket 23 with respect to the transverse direction 30.
In the examples shown herein, the respective bearing bracket 23 has, on each of its two outer surfaces 29, at least two such positioning blocks 31, which are spaced apart from one another in the insertion direction 28. To differentiate the two positioning blocks 31, the positioning block 31, which leads in response to the insertion of the bearing bracket 23 into the bearing receiving portion 25, can hereinafter be identified as leading or as preceding positioning block 31a, while the positioning block 31, which trails in response to the insertion, can hereinafter also be identified as trailing positioning block 31b. Advantageously, the two positioning blocks 31a, 31b are arranged so as to be aligned with one another on the respective outer surface 29 in the insertion direction 28. The leading positioning block 31a is thereby dimensioned so as to be smaller than the trailing positioning block 31b. Advantageously, the smaller leading positioning block 31a is dimensioned so as to be smaller than the larger, trailing positioning block 31b, both in the longitudinal direction 34 and in the transverse direction 30. According to
In the case of the embodiments shown herein, the leading positioning block 31a is arranged between the control shaft 21 and the trailing positioning block 31b with respect to the insertion direction 28, whereby the control shaft 21 can reach a particularly large distance from the connection side 26, which corresponds to a large penetration depth. This is advantageous for realizing comparatively large control valves 22.
While the embodiment of the bearing bracket 23 shown in
In the case of the bearing brackets 23 introduced here, provision is furthermore made that at least in the case of one of the positioning blocks 31, namely in each case in the case of the leading positioning block 31a, a flat stop surface 41, which leads in the insertion direction 28 and which extends perpendicularly to the insertion direction 28, is embodied. Complementary thereto, the bearing receiving portion 25, on its inside 32 for the respective positioning block 31, here for the respective leading positioning block 31a, has a flat counter stop surface 42, against which the stop surface 41 abuts in a flat manner, as soon as the bearing bracket 23 has reached a predetermined insertion depth in the bearing receiving portion 25.
It can also be gathered from
In the case of the examples of
Provision is further also made here for the respective positioning block 31 to be in each case spaced apart from two longitudinal ends of the bearing bracket 23, which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction 23. Provision is additionally made here for the respective positioning block 31 to be in each case spaced apart from two ends of the bearing bracket 23, which are spaced apart from one another in the insertion direction 28. When inserting the bearing bracket 23 into the bearing receiving portion 25, one of these ends leads in the insertion direction 28 and forms a front end of the bearing bracket 23, while the other end trails in the insertion direction 28 and forms a rear end of the bearing bracket 23. By spacing apart the respective positioning block 31 from the respective ends of the bearing bracket 23, a significantly smaller dimensioning results for the positioning block 31, which makes it possible to adhere to narrow tolerances at that location.
The respective positioning block 31 is advantageously designed in the shape of a cuboid, so that it has at least four exterior preferably flat guide surfaces, namely one guide surface 37, which runs at right angles to the transverse direction 30 and which faces away from the bearing bracket 23, a guide surface 41, which runs at right angles to the insertion direction 28 and which leads in the insertion direction 28, and two guide surfaces 35, which run at right angles to the longitudinal direction 34 and which face away from one another.
In addition or in alternative to the above-described features, the respective bearing bracket 23 has two bearing parts, namely a first bearing part 43 and a second bearing part 44. The first bearing part 43 has a first bearing section 45, against which the control shaft 27 abuts with a first circumferential section 46. The second bearing part 44 has a second bearing section 47, which is located opposite the first bearing section 45 and against which the control shaft 21 abuts with a second circumferential section 48, which, in turn, is located opposite the first circumferential section 46. Laterally adjoining the respective bearing section 45, 47, both bearing parts 43, 44 in each case have an inner surface 49, which face one another with respect to the transverse direction 30. On the respective inner surface 49, at least one flat positioning surface 50 is in each case embodied, which in each case extends perpendicular to the transverse direction 30. In the collapsed state of
The positioning surfaces 50 of the two bearing parts 43, 44 adjoin one another in a positioning plane 58. Advantageously, the positioning surfaces 50 are thereby arranged on the bearing parts 43, 44 in such a way that the rotational axis 24 defined by the bearing bracket 43 is located in the positioning plane 58.
According to
Advantageously, the guide pins 51 are positioned systematically on the respective inner surface 49 in such a way that the respective guide pin 51 is surrounded by the respective positioning surface 50 and is in particular centered thereto. The positioning openings 52 on the second bearing part 44 are correspondingly also surrounded by the respective positioning surface 50 and are in particular centered thereto. As can be gathered from
In the case of the embodiments shown here, at least two such positioning surfaces 50, which can be arranged spaced apart from one another in the insertion direction 28 and/or in the longitudinal direction 34, are in each case embodied on both bearing parts 43, 44 on the respective inner surface 49.
As can also be gathered particularly clearly from
According to
As can be gathered from
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2015 204 604.4 | Mar 2015 | DE | national |
This application claims priority to International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2016/054780, filed on Mar. 7, 2016, and German Patent Application No. DE 10 2015 204 604.4, filed on Mar. 13, 2015, the contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2016/054780 | 3/7/2016 | WO | 00 |