1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to Engine Intake Accessories and, more specifically, to a Vacuum Relief Assembly for I.C. Engine Intakes.
2. Description of Related Art
After-market accessories for improving the performance of stock internal combustion engines has become a enormous industry. One particular focus of the performance accessory industry is that of intake systems. A performance-enhancing modification is to relocate the stock air intake duct from its normal location deep within the engine compartment. It has been determined that when the vehicle is operated in warm climates, the air within the engine compartment becomes very hot; this means that the stock engine is taking hot air into its intake system. As the intake air becomes hotter, the engine performance declines. One solution to this is to add a “cold air intake” assembly to the engine assembly. The cold air intake essentially relocates the intake inlet to a position low-down in the engine compartment, typically behind the front bumper—putting the air intake down and forward of its stock location provides the engine with cooler intake air (at least cooler than that available in the engine compartment).
One problem with relocating the air intake so low is that it can become clogged by water or debris thrown up from the road surface. As the intake inlet becomes clogged, the engine is starved for air, and begins to lose power and efficiency.
As discussed above, if the intake air filter 38 is clogged (such as by dowsing or submerging in water), insufficient air will be provided through the intake tube 40, throttle body 38 and plenum 34 for supporting combustion in the engine 32; poor engine performance will be the result.
The Concialdi device is designed to be installed along the air intake tube (see
A further defect in the Concialdi device is related to its long-term durability and reliability. Because the spring element 18 is made from foam material (“ foam rubber”), it is expected to decay and deteriorate over time, due to the constant flow of air past it. As the spring element 18 deteriorates, it will provide less and less biasing force against the diaphragms 19, which ultimately results in the seals between the diaphragms and the apertures 14 to fail (allowing air to bypass the normal intake air filter).
What is needed, then, is a device that prevents an under-pressure condition in the intake tube of an internal combustion engine. Furthermore, this device must be easily installed in existing intake air tracts and must demonstrate superior durability and reliability.
In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices and methods, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Vacuum Relief Assembly for I.C. Engine Intakes. The device should permit outside air into the intake tract of an internal combustion engine in the event of an excessively high vacuum condition within the intake tract. Furthermore, the device should be constructed from durable materials to resist the excessive temperatures found in the engine compartment of a vehicle. Still further, the device should be made from two half-cylindrical sections that mate to one another around the intake tract to form a cylindrical attachment. The method of installation should enable the device to be installable onto the intake tract in situ, and without the need to cut out a section of the tract.
The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:
The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a Vacuum Relief Assembly for I.C. Engine Intakes.
The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of
The assembly 50 is made from two mating semi-circular half-sleeves, namely a first sleeve half 52A and a second sleeve half 52B. The halves 52 are cooperatively designed to mate to one another to form a full circular collar for attaching to the outer surface of an intake tube (see
In between each strut 60 is a section of screen 58 that provides structural rigidity to the assembly 50, while also allowing airflow therethrough to the inner bore 54 (when the soon-to-be-described flaps are open). Unlike the Concialdi device, the assembly 50 is not a solid ring at installation; breaking the assembly in two halves 52 enables the device to be installed on the intake tube without the need to cut a gap. Furthermore, there are no components made from foam rubber or other easily-deteriorating material; the two main materials are durable rubber and stainless steel screen materials. If we now turn to
The inner surface of the inner bore (see
The sleeve half 52A is defined by a pair of pegs 72A and 72B extending outwardly from one of the surfaces that mate with the second sleeve half 52B. On the opposite end of the sleeve half 52A, there are a corresponding pair of receivers 74A and 74B that are sized to accept pegs 52 extending from the second sleeve half 52B. The cooperation of the pegs 52 and receivers 74 act to assist in aligning the two sleeve halves 52 when the assembly 50 is being attached to an air intake tube.
The sleeve half 52A is also defined by a pair of slots 76A and 76B cut through the mating surfaces of the halves. Additionally, there may be a tab 78 extending from the outer surface of the center portion (i.e. between the two ring sections). The tab 78 is provided to engage the outer surface of the second sleeve half 52B, again, to assist in aligning the two halves when installing the assembly 50 on an air intake tube. We will now turn to
When the assembly is formed into a ring and attached to the outer surface of the air intake tube, it will react as shown when a pre-determined negative pressure is experienced in the inner bore 54. In particular, when the pressure on the outer surface of the flap segment 70 becomes sufficient to overcome the force that keeps the flap segment 70 arched outwardly (see
The slots 76 actually connect to one another to form an annular cavity 82 between the screens 78 and struts 60 and the outer surface of the flap segment 70. The slots 76 from the two attached halves 52 are located to match up when the first mating face 80A and the second mating face 80B are mated to the corresponding second and first mating faces, respectively, of the second sleeve half. The annular cavity 82 encircles the annular wall 66 and serves to distribute and equalize the pressure around the circumference of the assembly 50 (i.e. when the two halves 52 are assembled into an completed assembly 50).
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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1564076 | Lare | Dec 1925 | A |
2837112 | Foley | Jun 1958 | A |
6102017 | Bushell | Aug 2000 | A |
6394128 | Concialdi | May 2002 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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0 796 989 | Sep 1997 | EP |
1 069 354 | Jan 2001 | EP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20050092371 A1 | May 2005 | US |