Vehicle air intake and method

In an over the highway conventional truck or tractor an improved air intake system comprising:

• a) a pivotally mounted engine hood having a top and two side portions, the hood portions defining an inverted squared "u" configuration in transverse cross section, the hood being pivotal between closed and engine access positions;
• b) one of the side portions including a smooth outer surface having a through air intake opening, the opening being defined by a perimetral hood flange extending inwardly from the outer surface;
• c) a self securing grating secured in the opening and including flange and skirt recess portions defining a perimetral gasket recess;
• d) a gasket in the recess and in engagement with the hood flange, the gasket providing an endless water seal around the opening;
• e) the grating having outermost surfaces disposed essentially in an imaginary extension of a contour generated by said side portion outer surface;
• f) the grating having baffle portions each having spaced ends connected to one of the recess portions, the baffle portions delineating air intake passages therebetween;
• and,
• g) structure delineating an air flow and water separation passage extending from the intake passages to an engine, the structure including:
• i) a flow diverting wall spaced from and generally paralleling said one side portion when the hood is in a closed position;
• ii) the wall and the side portion defining an initial portion of the separation passage, the initial portion being in fluid communication with the intake passages;
• iii) the wall being spaced from the hood top portion to define a choke in said air flow passage above and as an exit from the initial portion whereby to induce water separation from air as the air exits the initial portion;
• and,
• iv) separable parts defining a section of the air flow passage between the choke and the engine when the hood is in the closed position and being separable to enable movement of the hood from the closed to an engine access position.

In a conventional over the highway truck or tractor vehicle having a forwardly located engine and hood, an improved engine air intake system comprising:

• a) the hood having a generally vertical side portion defining an air inlet;
• b) an apertured grating secured to the hood and positioned in the inlet;
• c) a flow diverting wall mounted within the hood and positioned in a generally vertical orientation when the vehicle is in use;
• d) the wall being spaced from and generally parallel to the inlet to define a part of a relatively large initial portion of an air flow path from the inlet to the engine and to divert upwardly air flowing inwardly from the inlet;
• e) structure providing a conduit delineating a portion of the path, the conduit communicating the initial portion with the engine;
• and,
• f) other structure delineating a water collection and disposal trough beneath the initial portion of the path.

In an over the highway conventional truck or tractor an improved air intake system comprising:

• a) a pivotally mounted engine hood having a top and two side portions, the hood portions defining an inverted squared "u" configuration in transverse cross section, the hood being pivotal between closed and engine access positions;
• b) one of the side portions including a smooth outer surface having a through air intake opening, the opening being defined by a perimetral hood flange extending inwardly from the outer surface;
• c) a self securing grating secured in the opening and including flange and skirt recess portions defining a perimetral gasket recess;
• d) a gasket in the recess and in engagement with the hood flange, the gasket providing an endless water seal around the opening;
• e) the grating having outermost surfaces disposed essentially in an imaginary extension of a contour generated by said side portion outer surface;
• f) the grating having baffle portions each having spaced ends connected to one of the recess portions, the baffle portions delineating air intake passages therebetween;
• g) structure delineating an air flow and water separation passage extending from the intake passages to an engine;
• h) the grating flange portion being a perimetral flange extending inwardly from the outermost surfaces, the grating and hood flanges being spaced to delineate a water entrapment space circumscribing said water seal;
• and,
• i) the grating flange having a base and a forward section extending upwardly and rearwardly from the base.

In an over the highway conventional truck or tractor an improved air intake system comprising:

• a) a pivotally mounted engine hood having a top and two side portions, the hood portions defining an inverted squared "u" configuration in transverse cross section, the hood being pivotal between closed and engine access positions;
• b) one of the side portions including a smooth outer surface having a through air intake opening, the opening being defined by a perimetral hood flange extending inwardly from the outer surface;
• c) a self securing grating secured in the opening and including flange and skirt recess portions defining a perimetral gasket recess;
• d) a gasket in the recess and in engagement with the hood flange, the gasket providing an endless water seal around the opening;
• e) the grating having outermost surfaces disposed essentially in an imaginary extension of a contour generated by said side portion outer surface;
• f) the grating having baffle portions each having spaced ends connected to one of the recess portions, the baffle portions delineating air intake passages therebetween;
• and,
• g) structure delineating an air flow and water separation passage extending from the intake passages to an engine;
• and,
• h) each of the grating baffles sloping downwardly and rearwardly from a forward one of said ends.

In an over the highway conventional truck or tractor an improved air intake system comprising:

• a) a pivotally mounted engine hood having a top and two side portions, the hood portions defining an inverted squared "u" configuration in transverse cross section, the hood being pivotal between closed and engine access positions;
• b) one of the side portions including a smooth outer surface having a through air intake opening, the opening being defined by a perimetral hood flange extending inwardly from the outer surface;
• c) a self securing grating secured in the opening and including flange and skirt recess portions defining a perimetral gasket recess;
• d) a gasket in the recess and in engagement with the hood flange, the gasket providing an endless water seal around the opening;
• e) the grating having outermost surfaces disposed essentially in an imaginary extension of a contour generated by said side portion outer surface;
• f) the grating having baffle portions each having spaced ends connected to one of the recess portions, the baffle portions delineating air intake passages therebetween;
• and,
• g) structure delineating an air flow and water separation passage extending from the intake passages to an engine;
• h) the separable parts including a flexible tubular boot of corrugated configuration;
• and,
• i) a cage mounted in an outlet opening of the boot.