FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to air intake assemblies that are associated with internal combustion engines. More particularly, the invention relates to air intake assemblies that need repairs because they are experiencing leaks. Most particularly, the invention relates to air intake assemblies that need repairs because they are experiencing leaks in a flexible tube that is part of the assembly and has been affixed to an air intake tube by a variety of plastic welding techniques, or an adhesive.
BACKGROUND
Many air intake assemblies, some of which are provided by original equipment manufactures and some of which are provided by aftermarket supplies, have an air intake tube with a boot that is glued on with an adhesive or sonic welded to the air intake tube. Over time, wear factors, such as heat changes and vibrations, cause fatigue in the glue or weld securing the boot and the boot begins to leak. Because it is important to engine power and economy to control the air intake, repairs become necessary. Most commonly, these repairs require the expense of purchasing a new air intake assembly.
SUMMARY
The present invention provides an alternative to the expensive repair option of a new assembly by providing a new air intake boot that is configured to fit on the existing air intake tube and be secure against leakage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 illustrates the repair component in the environment of an exemplary air intake assembly;
FIG. 2 illustrates the repair components assembled on an exemplary air intake assembly;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the free end of the repair boot on the air intake tube;
FIG. 4 is a section view along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3; and,
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the encircled area 5 in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary air intake module 10 having an intake tube 12 and a circumferential flange 14 at a free end of the intake tube 12. The repair boot, generally designed as 20, includes a clamp 22, and a body 24 that has an end 26 configured to fit over the flange 14 associated with an existing air management system, an intermediate portion 28, and a free end 30 with a clamping area 32 that is configured to connect with another component of an existing air management system that incorporates the air intake module 10. The immediate portion 28 is illustrated as a flexible corrugation or billows; however, intermediate portion 28 may have a fixed shape in some application. The clamp 22 has sides 22A and 22B that fit on either side of the end 26 and reliefs 22C that facilitate uniform closing of the clamp 22.
FIG. 2 illustrates the repair parts in FIG. 1 assembled on the flange 14 of FIG. 1 on tube 12. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the free end 30 showing that the intermediate portion 28 in FIG. 1 has an interior diameter that compatible with the diameter of the air intake tube 12 as shown in FIG. 2. This enables the repair part to imitate the original manufacturer equipment so engine performance is not altered or hindered.
FIG. 4, a section along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3, illustrates the attachment of the end 26 in FIG. 1 over the flange 14 and secured by the clamp 22, and FIG. 5 is an enlargement of that attachment. As shown in FIG. 5, the end 26 has an inverted right angle “U” shape that overlie the flange 14. The distance between the sides of the “U” are sized to receive the flange 14 and contact the intake tube 12. The clamp 22 is closed so that the end 26 is brought into contact with the free end of flange 14 and any expansion of the end 26 is confined within the sides 22A and 22B.
The intermediate portion 28, shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, is formed as a flexible corrugation or billows and is preferable made for material associated with air and fluid transport in an engine compartment that may have elevated temperatures.
In order to install the repair boot, the original boot is removed and any residual sealant or adhesive on the tube 12 or flange 14 is removed and the surface is cleaned with an appropriate solvent. The repair boot may be applied with or without an additional adhesive.
Patent Application
20240271737
