Flame arrestor and method of manufacture
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsRobert J. Maxson, Aaron L. Smith, James C. Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flame arrestor is disclosed for use with an intake of an internal combustion engine, comprising a cylindrical housing defining an inlet and an outlet and a plurality of honeycombed passageways extending between the inlet and the outlet, wherein each of the plurality of honeycombed passageways has a predetermined length and a predetermined small cross-section substantially smaller than the predetermined length. The cylindrical housing is welded within a mounting bracket adapted for receipt in the intake of the internal combustion engine. The flame arrestor is particularly beneficial for use in a boosted engine in that cooling effectiveness and manufacturability are enhanced by the use of the honeycombed structure.
Claims22
A flame arrestor for use with an intake of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a cylindrical housing defining an inlet and an outlet;
- a plurality of honeycombed passageways extending between said inlet and said outlet, each of said plurality of honeycombed passageways having a predetermined length and a predetermined small cross-section substantially smaller than said predetermined length;
- and
- means for mounting said cylindrical housing to the intake of the internal combustion engine.
An intake system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a cylinder head including an intake passage and an exhaust passage in fluid communication with a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine;
- a first manifold adapted for distributing a pressurized intake fuel/air mixture to said intake passage;
- means for supplying said pressurized intake fuel/air mixture to said first manifold;
- and
- a flame arrestor disposed between said first manifold and said intake passage, said flame arrestor including a plurality of honeycombed passageways adapted for flowing said pressurized intake fuel/air mixture from said first manifold to said intake passage and for preventing flame propagation from said intake passage igniting said pressurized intake fuel/air mixture in said first manifold.
A method of manufacture of a flame arrestor for use with an intake of an internal combustion engine, the method of manufacture comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a honeycombed insert having a predetermined length and defining a plurality of honeycombed passageways each having a predetermined small cross-section substantially smaller than said predetermined length;
- attaching said honeycombed insert within a cylindrical housing to form a cylindrical metal monolith;
- and
- attaching said cylindrical metal monolith to a mounting bracket adapted for mounting to the intake of the internal combustion engine.
A method for arresting flames propagating from an intake of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a honeycombed insert having a predetermined length and defining a plurality of honeycombed passageways each having a predetermined small cross-section substantially smaller than said predetermined length;
- attaching said honeycombed insert within a cylindrical housing to form a cylindrical metal monolith;
- and
- mounting said cylindrical metal monolith to the intake of the internal combustion engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.