US4932369A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Internal combustion engine inlet manifold
Assignee: Rover Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1989-07-26
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Granted: 1990-06-12
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Expires: 2009-07-26
Abstract
Abstract An internal combustion engine inlet manifold is disclosed which comprises of a housing defining a plenum, at least one inlet tract and at least one rotary valve member supported by the housing. The or each inlet tract has first and second lengths one of which extends away from the plenum for connection to an engine to which the inlet manifold is to be connected. The or each valve member is arranged to be rotatable from a first position in which the first and second lengths are connected in series between the plenum and the engine via the or each valve member and a second position in which connection is made between the plenum and the engine solely by means of the first length of the or each inlet tract via the or each valve member.
Inventors
- 👤 T. Graham Parr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 15:33
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B27/00; F02B27/02; F02B27/0226; F02B27/0268; F02B27/0284; F02B27/0205; F02B27/0215; F02B27/0247; F02B27/0263; F02B27/0278; F05; F05C; F05C2225/00; F05C2225/08; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
An internal combustion engine inlet manifold comprising: a housing defining a plenum, at least one valve chamber, inlet means to connect each of said valve chambers directly to the plenum and at least one inlet tract; the or each inlet tract having a first length extending from a respective one of said valve chambers for connection to an engine to which the inlet manifold is connected in use and a second length extending from the respective valve chamber to the plenum; a like number of plastic rotary valve members as there are inlet tracts, each valve member having a transverse duct defined therein and being rotatably supported by the housing within a respective valve chamber, the arrangement being such that the length of each inlet tract is changeable by rotation of the or each valve member from a first position in which the first and second lengths are connected in series between the plenum and the engine via the respective transverse duct of the valve member associated therewith to a second position in which each of the first lengths is connected via a respective inlet means to the plenum via the respective transverse duct of the valve member associated therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
An internal combustion engine inlet manifold comprising: a housing defining a plenum, at least one valve chamber, inlet means to connect each of said valve chambers directly to the plenum and at least one inlet tract; the or each inlet tract having a first length extending from a respective one of said valve chambers for connection to an engine to which the inlet manifold is connected in use and a second length extending from the respective valve chamber to the plenum; a like number of plastic rotary valve members as there are inlet tracts, each valve member having a transverse duct defined therein and being rotatably supported by the housing within a respective valve chamber, the arrangement being such that the length of each inlet tract is changeable by rotation of the or each valve member from a first position in which the first and second lengths are connected in series between the plenum and the engine via the respective transverse duct of the valve member associated therewith to a second position in which each of the first lengths is connected via a respective inlet means to the plenum via the respective transverse duct of the valve member associated therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An internal combustion engine inlet manifold as claimed in claim 1 in which the housing is formed in two halves secured together therebeing a first half and a second half.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An internal combustion engine inlet manifold as claimed in claim 1 in which there is one rotary valve member having the same number of transverse ducts formed in it as there are inlet tracts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
An internal combustion engine inlet manifold as claimed in claim 1 in which each inlet tract has an independent rotary valve member associated with it.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
An internal combustion engine inlet manifold as claimed in claim 1 in which the or each valve member is moveable from said second position to said first position by an actuator when the engine speed falls below a pre-determined speed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An internal combustion engine inlet manifold as claimed in claim 1 in which the or each valve member is moveable from said first position to said second position by an actuator when a pre-determined engine speed has been reached.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
An internal combustion engine inlet manifold as claimed in claim 6 in which the or each valve member is moveable from said second position to said first position by an actuator when the engine speed falls below a pre-determined speed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An internal combustion engine inlet manifold as claimed in claim 2 in which each valve chamber is defined by said second half.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
An internal combustion engine inlet manifold as claimed in claim 2 in which the second half is made of a plastics material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
An internal combustion engine inlet manifold as claimed in claim 2 in which at least part of the or each first length is formed by a passageway in the first half.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
An internal combustion engine inlet manifold as claimed in claim 2 in which at least part of the or each second length is formed by a passageway in the second half.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An internal combustion engine inlet manifold as claimed in claim 2 in which at least part of the or each second length is formed by a fabricated tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An internal combustion engine inlet manifold as claimed in claim 2 in which the first half is cast from an aluminium alloy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
An internal combustion engine inlet manifold as claimed in claim 9 in which the or each rotary valve member is made from the same plastics material as that used for the second half.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
An internal combustion engine inlet manifold as claimed in claim 8 in which each inlet means a bellmouth shaped inlet means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
An internal combustion engine inlet manifold as claimed in claim 8 in which each second length is connected to the plenum via a bellmouth entry portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
An internal combustion engine inlet manifold as claimed in claim 15 in which each second length is connected to the plenum via a bellmouth entry portion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-06-11 | 1993-12-11 | 1994-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-11 | 1997-12-11 | 1998-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-11 | 2001-12-11 | 2002-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |