Engine air intake manifold having a shell
AssigneeMark IV Systemes Moteurs USA, Inc.
InventorsFrancis V. Rolland, Thomas E. Rossman, Allen G. Crowley, Raffik Said
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus includes a motor-vehicle, internal-combustion-engine air intake manifold having an intake-manifold first shell attachable or monolithically joined to an intake-manifold second shell to surround an internal manifold volume. The first shell has a wall with at least a portion having undulating concave and convex regions as defined exterior to the internal manifold volume of the attached or monolithically-joined first shell and second shell.
Claims16
An apparatus comprising:
- a motor-vehicle, internal-combustion-engine air intake manifold including an intake-manifold first shell attachable or monolithically joined to an intake-manifold second shell to surround an internal manifold volume, wherein the first shell has a wall with at least a portion having undulating concave and convex regions as defined exterior to the internal manifold volume of the attached or monolithically-joined first shell and second shell;
- wherein the first shell has a longitudinal axis, and wherein a first cross-sectional view of the first shell taken by a first cutting plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis shows at least one convex region surrounded by two adjoining concave regions;
- wherein a second cross-sectional view of the first shell taken by a second cutting plane containing the longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the first cutting plane shows at least one convex region surrounded by two adjoining concave regions;
- wherein the convex regions each have a center, and wherein the centers of the convex regions lie substantially in a first plane;
- wherein the concave regions each have a center, and wherein the centers of the concave regions lie substantially in a second plane parallel to, and spaced apart from, the first plane;
- wherein the first shell has a plurality of substantially-circular ribs each surrounding and concentric with the center of a corresponding concave region.
An apparatus comprising a motor-vehicle, internal-combustion-engine air intake manifold including an intake-manifold first shell attachable or monolithically joined to an intake-manifold second shell to surround an internal manifold volume, wherein the first shell has a wall with at least a portion having undulating concave and convex regions as defined exterior to the internal manifold volume of the attached or monolithically-joined first shell and second shell, wherein the first shell has a plurality of substantially-circular ribs each surrounding and concentric with a center of a corresponding concave region, and wherein the first shell has an elongated rib extending from each substantially-circular rib to a neighboring substantially-circular rib.
An apparatus comprising a motor-vehicle, internal-combustion-engine air intake manifold including an intake-manifold first shell attachable to an intake-manifold second shell to surround an internal manifold volume, wherein the first shell has a wall with at least a portion having undulating concave and convex regions as defined exterior to the internal manifold volume of the attached first shell and second shell, wherein the first shell has a plurality of fixing locations, wherein the first shell is attachable at the fixing locations to the second shell, and wherein the fixing locations are centered on the centers of the concave regions.
An apparatus comprising:
- a motor-vehicle, internal-combustion-engine air intake manifold including an intake-manifold first shell attachable or monolithically joined to an intake-manifold second shell to surround an internal manifold volume, wherein the first shell has a wall with at least a portion having undulating concave and convex regions as defined exterior to the internal manifold volume of the attached or monolithically-joined first shell and second shell, a longitudinal axis, and a perimeter rim;
- wherein a first cross-sectional view of the first shell taken by a first cutting plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis shows at least one convex region surrounded by two adjoining concave regions, and a second cross-sectional view of the first shell taken by a second cutting plane containing the longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the first cutting plane shows at least one convex region surrounded by two adjoining concave regions;
- wherein the convex regions each have a center, which all lie substantially in a first plane;
- wherein the concave regions each have a center, which all lie substantially in a second plane parallel to, and spaced apart from, the first plane;
- wherein the first shell includes a perimeter rim that lies substantially in a third plane parallel to, and spaced apart from, the first and second planes, wherein the second plane is disposed between the first and third planes;
- wherein the first plane is spaced apart a distance D1 from the third plane, wherein the second plane is spaced apart a distance D2 from the third plane, and wherein D2/D1 is between and including 0.50 and 0.75;
- and
- wherein the first shell has a plurality of substantially-circular ribs each surrounding and concentric with the center of a corresponding concave region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.