Intake manifold with variable runner area
AssigneeLitens Automotive
InventorAndrew Boyes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tunable intake manifold extends between a plenum and an intake of an internal combustion engine. A manifold housing defines an interior and a runner wall extending through the interior. A slider extends through the interior and slidably engages the manifold housing. The slider defines a slider wall cooperative with the runner wall to form a runner for transporting air therethrough. The runner defines a cross section. A drive assembly is operatively coupled between the manifold housing and the slider to move the slider transversely along the manifold housing to change the defined cross section of the runner such that the volume of air passing therethrough changes with the movement of the slider.
Claims15
A tunable intake manifold for directing a flow of air between a plenum and an internal combustion engine, said tunable intake manifold comprising:
- a manifold housing defining an interior, said manifold housing having a runner wall extending through said interior between an opening and an opposite intake port;
- a slider having a slider wall extending through said interior of said manifold housing, said slider wall cooperates with said runner wall to define a runner having a defined cross sectional area for transporting the flow of air therethrough, said slider slidably engaged with said manifold housing for moving said slider wall relative to said runner wall to selectively change said defined cross sectional area of said runner, such that the volume of air passing therethrough changes with said movement of said slider;
- and
- a diffuser member pivotally coupled to said slider adjacent said intake port, said diffuser member including a cam surface in continuous contact with said manifold housing for pivoting said diffuser member in response to movement of said slider wall relative to said runner wall and a diffusing surface variably extending from said slider wall into said intake port in response to said pivotal movement of said diffuser member to smooth the flow of air from said runner through said intake port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.