Intake muffler

Abstract

A resonator is connected with an intake air pipe and forms a resonant chamber therein. The resonator includes a diaphragm, which is generally planar and is disposed between an air passage of the intake air pipe and the resonant chamber. The diaphragm forms multiple oscillation sections, which have different eigenfrequencies, respectively.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with additional objectives, features and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of an intake muffler according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken in a direction of an arrow II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing the intake muffler of the first embodiment installed to an intake air pipe of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of an intake muffler according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view taken in a direction of an arrow V in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of an intake muffler according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view taken in a direction of an arrow VII in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of an intake muffler according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of an intake muffler according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along line X-X in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of an intake muffler according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of an intake muffler according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of an intake muffler according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of an intake muffler according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view of a first modification of the ninth embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view of a second modification of the ninth embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view of a third modification of the ninth embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view of a fourth modification of the ninth embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view of an intake muffler according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view of an intake muffler according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view of an intake muffler according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a view taken in a direction of an arrow XXII in FIG. 21; and

FIG. 23 is a cross sectional view showing a prior art intake muffler.

Claims

1. An intake muffler comprising: an air conductive member that forms an air passage therein to conduct intake air; anda resonator that is connected with the air conductive member and forms a resonant chamber therein, wherein: the resonator includes at least one diaphragm, which is generally planar and is disposed between the air passage and the resonant chamber; andthe at least one diaphragm forms multiple oscillation sections, which have different eigenfrequencies, respectively.

2. The intake muffler according to claim 1, wherein the at least one diaphragm includes a single diaphragm.

3. The intake muffler according to claim 2, wherein the single diaphragm is tensioned in such a manner that a tensile force, which is exerted in the single diaphragm in one direction in a plane of the single diaphragm, differs from a tensile force, which is exerted in the single diaphragm in another direction in the plane of the single diaphragm.

4. The intake muffler according to claim 1, wherein the multiple oscillation sections have different elastic moduli, respectively.

5. The intake muffler according to claim 4, wherein the multiple oscillation sections have different thicknesses, respectively.

6. The intake muffler according to claim 4, wherein the multiple oscillation sections are made of different materials, respectively.

7. The intake muffler according to claim 4, wherein the multiple oscillation sections are arranged one after another in a propagating direction of sound in the air passage.

8. The intake muffler according to claim 1, wherein the at least one diaphragm includes multiple diaphragms, which are formed separately.

9. The intake muffler according to claim 8, wherein: the air conductive member forms a surge tank, which is placed between a throttle valve and an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine; andthe resonator is placed inside the surge tank.

10. The intake muffler according to claim 9, wherein: the resonator includes multiple partition walls, which form the resonant chamber; andone of the multiple partition walls is a wall of the surge tank.

11. The intake muffler according to claim 1, wherein nonflammable gas is filled in the resonant chamber.

12. The intake muffler according to claim 1, wherein each diaphragm is made of one of a rubber material and a resin material.

13. The intake muffler according to claim 1, wherein: each diaphragm includes a magnetic material; andthe intake muffler further comprises an adjuster that adjusts the eigenfrequency of each diaphragm by applying a magnetic force to the diaphragm.

14. The intake muffler according to claim 13, wherein the adjuster includes: an electromagnetic circuit, which applies the magnetic force to the diaphragm; anda controller that controls the electromagnetic circuit to adjust the magnetic force generated from the electromagnetic circuit.

15. The intake muffler according to claim 14, wherein the controller controls the electromagnetic circuit based on a rotational speed of an internal combustion engine that is connected to the air conductive member.

16. An intake muffler comprising: an air conductive member that forms an air passage therein to conduct intake air;a resonator that is connected with the air conductive member and forms a resonant chamber therein, wherein: the resonator includes a diaphragm, which is generally planar and is disposed between the air passage and the resonant chamber; andthe diaphragm includes a magnetic material; andan adjuster that adjusts an eigenfrequency of the diaphragm by applying a magnetic force to the diaphragm.

17. The intake muffler according to claim 16, wherein the adjuster includes: an electromagnetic circuit, which applies the magnetic force to the diaphragm; anda controller that controls the electromagnetic circuit to adjust the magnetic force generated from the electromagnetic circuit.

18. The intake muffler according to claim 17, wherein the controller controls the electromagnetic circuit based on a rotational speed of an internal combustion engine that is connected to the air conductive member.

19. The intake muffler according to claim 16, wherein the diaphragm is made of one of a rubber material and a resin material.