US 4,977,866 A · Flow control system for intake manifold

Abstract

A movable wall member is mounted in the intake runner of an internal combustion engine manifold and connected to an actuator plate in the manifold plenum which moves the wall member in a longitudinal direction to increase the effective runner length. A rigid link or end panel is pivotally connected to the other end of the wall member and to the associated runner wall so that longitudinal movement of the wall member results in simultaneous transverse movement thereby reducing the effective cross-sectional flow area of the runner passage. The movable wall members of multiple runner passages are connected to a common actuator plate in the manifold plenum which reduces the effective plenum volume upon displacement of the actuator plate. Movement of the actuator may be controlled as a function of variations in intake manifold vacuum pressure so as to simultaneously decrease the effective runner cross-sectional flow area and plenum volume and to increase the effective runner length upon increased manifold vacuum pressure.

Claims8

Dependent claims

In combination with a runner for an internal combustion engine intake manifold, said runner comprising a gas flow passage defined by fixed walls extending along the gas flow path, gas flow control apparatus comprising;

an elongated movable wall member extending in substantial face-to-face relation with one of said fixed walls,
means mounting said movable wall member for movement longitudinally in said passage to increase and decrease the effective length of the passage and simultaneously toward and away from said one fixed wall to increase and decrease the effective transverse cross-sectional flow area of said passage, and
actuator means for adjusting and maintaining said movable wall member in a given position of adjustment.

In an intake manifold for an internal combustion engine, said manifold including at least one intake runner having one end thereof connected to a source of combustion gas and the other end connected to the intake port of the engine and adapted to conduct combustion gas from said source to said intake port, said runner being defined by fixed walls extending along the path of gas flow, gas flow control apparatus comprising;

a two-part articulated movable wall including an elongated wall member and an end panel,
said movable wall member being mounted to extend along the length of one of said fixed walls in substantial face-to-face relation thereto,
said end panel being pivotally connected at one end to one end of said movable wall member and at the other end to the fixed wall adjacent the intake port, and
actuator means connected to the other end of said movable wall for moving said movable wall longitudinally in said runner in a direction toward and away from said intake port,
whereby pivoting of said end panel relative to said fixed wall serves to move said one end of said movable wall member in a transverse direction toward and away from said fixed wall to reduce the effective transverse cross-sectional flow area of said runner passage and
longitudinal movement of said movable wall serves to simultaneously increase and decrease the effective length of said runner passage.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Flow control system for intake manifold

Life of this patent

Flow control system for intake manifold

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8