Claims
- 1. An air induction apparatus for use on a V-twin motorcycle engine having a first cylinder head and a second cylinder head, the induction apparatus comprising:a) a first intake air passage, the first intake passage including: i) a first intake runner; and ii) a first main intake portion, the first main intake portion sized to fit between the first and the second cylinder head of the V-twin engine, the first main intake portion having an integral flange located at an end, the integral flange being configured to mount to the first cylinder head of the V-twin engine; and b) a second intake air passage, the second intake passage including: i) a second intake runner; and ii) a second main intake portion, the second main intake portion sized to fit between the first and second cylinder heads of the V-twin engine, the second main intake portion having an integral flange located at an end, the integral flange being configured to mount to the second cylinder head of the V-twin engine.
- 2. The air induction apparatus of claim 1, further including fuel injectors located adjacent the integral flanges that spray fuel into the airflow within the air intake passages to provide a combustible fuel-air charge.
- 3. The air induction apparatus of claim 1, wherein each main intake portion includes a flange region at which the integral flange is located, the flange region having a continuous curved radius extending from the main intake portion and along the flange region, the continuous curved radius permitting clear airflow.
- 4. The air induction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air induction system further includes a throttle body have a first bore and a second bore, the first bore being in fluid communication with the first air intake passage, the second bore being in fluid communication with the second air intake passage.
- 5. The air induction apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second intake air passages further includes:a) a ram-air portion located at an open end of the intake runners; b) a first transition portion curving from the ram-air portion toward the main intake portion, the first transition portion configured to provide a first substantially perpendicular directional transition of the airflow through the air passages from the ram-air portion toward the main intake portion; and c) a second transition portion curving obliquely downward from the main intake portion toward the cylinder head, the second transition portion configured to provide a second substantially perpendicular directional transition of the airflow through the air passages from the main intake portion to the cylinder head.
- 6. The air induction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first main intake portion and the second main intake portion are defined by separate first and second bodies, the first body being in fluid communication with the first intake runner, the second body being in fluid communication with the second intake runner.
- 7. An air intake system for use on a V-twin motorcycle engine having a front cylinder head and a rear cylinder head, the intake system comprising:a) a front manifold body defining a first air intake passage, the front manifold body including an end adapted to couple to the front cylinder head; b) a rear manifold body defining a second air intake passage, the rear manifold body including an end adapted to couple to the rear cylinder head; c) an air intake structure; d) a throttle body positioned between the front and rear manifold bodies and the air intake structure, the throttle body providing fluid communication between the air intake structure and the first and second air intake passages of the front and rear manifold bodies; and e) a fuel mechanism that delivers fuel to the first and second air intake passages.
- 8. The air intake system of claim 7, wherein the front manifold body and the rear manifold body each include integral flanges adjacent the ends of the front and rear manifold bodies, the flanges being adapted to couple each of the front and rear manifold bodies to the respective front and rear cylinder heads.
- 9. The air intake system of claim 8, wherein each of the front and rear manifolds includes an internal bend adjacent the ends, the internal bend having a continuous radius extending along the integral flange for providing increased airflow.
- 10. The air intake system of claim 8, wherein the fuel mechanism includes fuel injectors located adjacent the integral flanges.
- 11. The air intake system of claim 7, wherein the air intake structure includes a front intake runner and a rear intake runner, the front intake runner being in fluid communication with the front manifold body, the rear intake runner being in fluid communication with the rear manifold body.
- 12. The air intake system of claim 11, wherein each of the front and rear intake runners includes a ram-air portion having an opening at an open end, the open end of the ram-air portion extending forward in a first direction.
- 13. The air intake system of claim 12, wherein each of the front and rear intake runners further includes a transition portion, the transition portion of the front intake runner curving downward and inward toward a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the transition portion of the rear intake runner curving upward and inward toward the second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
- 14. A motorcycle, comprising:a) a frame assembly, and a front wheel and a rear wheel connected to the frame assembly; b) an internal combustion engine having a first cylinder head and a second cylinder head, the first and second cylinder heads arranged in a V-shape configuration; and c) an air intake system adapted to couple within a space provided between the first and second cylinder heads, the air intake system including: i) a first air intake passage, the first air intake passage having: 1) a first air intake column; and 2) a first manifold in fluid communication with the first air column, the first manifold having an elongated body and an integral flange adapted to couple to the first cylinder head; ii) a second air intake passage, the second air intake passage having: 1) a second air intake column; and 2) a second manifold in fluid communication with the second air column, the second manifold having an elongated body and an integral flange adapted to couple to the second cylinder head.
- 15. The motorcycle of claim 14, wherein the integral flange is oriented at an angular offset from a longitudinal axis of the manifold body, the flange including a curved radius that continues from a curved end of the elongated body.
- 16. The motorcycle of claim 15, wherein the curved radius of the flange is continuous with the curved end of the elongated body to provide a directional transition surface within the manifold that maximizes airflow velocity.
- 17. The motorcycle of claim 15, further including fuel injectors located adjacent the integral flanges that spray fuel into the airflow exiting the first and second air intake passages.
- 18. The motorcycle of claim 14, wherein the air intake system further includes a throttle body have a first bore and a second bore, the first bore being in fluid communication with the first air intake column and the first manifold, the second bore being in fluid communication with the second air intake column and the second manifold.
- 19. The motorcycle of claim 14, wherein each of the first and second air intake passages includes:a) a ram-air portion located at an open end of the intake columns; b) a first transition portion curving from the ram-air portion toward the manifold, the first transition portion configured to provide a first substantially perpendicular directional transition of the airflow through the air passages from the ram-air portion toward the manifold; and c) a second transition portion curving obliquely downward from the manifold toward the cylinder head, the second transition portion configured to provide a second substantially perpendicular directional transition of the airflow through the air passages from the manifold to the cylinder head.
- 20. The motorcycle of claim 14, wherein the V-shape configuration of the first and second cylinder heads includes the first cylinder being arrange at approximately 45-degrees relative to the second cylinder head.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation in part of U.S. design application Ser. No. 29/155082, filed on Jan. 31, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (12)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
29/155082 |
Jan 2002 |
US |
Child |
10/174200 |
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US |