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US4805573A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Engine with variable area intake passages

Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
•
Filing: 1988-02-22
•
Granted: 1989-02-21
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Expires: 2008-02-22
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Abstract

Abstract An internal combustion engine or the like is provided with an induction system having intake runners of conical or equivalent configuration in which flow control cones or elements are axially moved to vary the effective cross-sectional area of the runner passages and thereby control the flow velocity and inertia of the incoming charge to improve various operating parameters such as combustion and charging efficiency.

Inventors

  • 👤 Glen R. Macfarlane
  • 👤 Jordan R. Lee
  • 👤 Ross R. Smith

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 01:06
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B27/00; F02B27/02; F02B27/0205; F02B27/0226; F02B27/0268; F02D; F02D9/00; F02D9/08; F02D9/12; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 85 words
An internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, a cylinder intake port, means defining an intake passage having wall portions with consistently converging inner surfaces connecting with the intake port, and a flow control element in the passage and having outer surface portions generally parallel with and opposing the converging inner surfaces, the element being movable along the direction of fluid flow toward and away from the port to vary the flow area and thereby the velocity and inertia of fluid flow into the intake port.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 85 words
An internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, a cylinder intake port, means defining an intake passage having wall portions with consistently converging inner surfaces connecting with the intake port, and a flow control element in the passage and having outer surface portions generally parallel with and opposing the converging inner surfaces, the element being movable along the direction of fluid flow toward and away from the port to vary the flow area and thereby the velocity and inertia of fluid flow into the intake port.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 101 words
An internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, a cylinder intake port having an opening controlled by a poppet valve, means defining an intake passage having wall portions with consistently converging inner surfaces connecting with the intake port upstream of the valve, and a flow control element in the passage and having outer surface portions generally parallel with and opposing the converging inner surfaces, the element being movable along the direction of fluid flow to and away from a point near the poppet valve to vary the flow area and thereby the velocity and inertia of fluid flow into the intake port.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 101 words
An internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, a cylinder intake port having an opening controlled by a poppet valve, means defining an intake passage having wall portions with consistently converging inner surfaces connecting with the intake port upstream of the valve, and a flow control element in the passage and having outer surface portions generally parallel with and opposing the converging inner surfaces, the element being movable along the direction of fluid flow to and away from a point near the poppet valve to vary the flow area and thereby the velocity and inertia of fluid flow into the intake port.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
An engine as in claim 2 wherein the opposing surfaces of the passage and the control element have circular lateral cross sections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
An engine as in claim 3 wherein the opposing surfaces of the passage and the control element are frusto-conical.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
An engine as in claim 2 wherein the opposing surfaces of the passage and the control element have oval lateral cross sections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
An engine as in claim 2 wherein the opposing surfaces of the passage and the control element have rectangular lateral cross sections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 22 words
An engine as in claim 6 wherein the opposing surfaces of the passage and the control element define frustums of a pyramid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 20 words
An engine as in claim 6 wherein the opposing surfaces of the passage and the control element are wedge shaped.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 96 words
An internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, a cylinder intake port, means defining an intake passage having wall portions with consistently converging inner surfaces connecting with the intake port, a flow control element in the passage and having outer surface portions generally parallel with and opposing the converging inner surfaces, the element being movable along the direction of fluid flow toward and away from the port to vary the flow area and thereby the velocity and inertia of fluid flow into the intake port, and means for moving the control element to control the fluid flow.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 96 words
An internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, a cylinder intake port, means defining an intake passage having wall portions with consistently converging inner surfaces connecting with the intake port, a flow control element in the passage and having outer surface portions generally parallel with and opposing the converging inner surfaces, the element being movable along the direction of fluid flow toward and away from the port to vary the flow area and thereby the velocity and inertia of fluid flow into the intake port, and means for moving the control element to control the fluid flow.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 91 words
An internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, a plurality of cylinder intake ports, means defining intake passages having wall portions with consistently converging inner surfaces each connecting with at least one of the intake ports, and a flow control element in each passage and having outer surface portions generally parallel with and opposing the converging inner surfaces, each element being movable along the direction of fluid flow toward and away from its port to vary the flow area and thereby the velocity and inertia of fluid flow into the intake ports.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 91 words
An internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, a plurality of cylinder intake ports, means defining intake passages having wall portions with consistently converging inner surfaces each connecting with at least one of the intake ports, and a flow control element in each passage and having outer surface portions generally parallel with and opposing the converging inner surfaces, each element being movable along the direction of fluid flow toward and away from its port to vary the flow area and thereby the velocity and inertia of fluid flow into the intake ports.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 15 words
An engine as in claim 10 wherein the passage defining means includes an intake manifold.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 33 words
An engine as in claim 11 wherein the intake manifold carries the flow control elements and further includes means for moving the control elements in unison to similarly control flow in the passages.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3557762A Cited
US3937186A Cited
US3875918A Cited
US4210107A Cited
US4228772A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-02-21 1992-08-22 1993-02-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-02-21 1996-08-22 1997-02-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-02-21 2000-08-22 2001-02-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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