Low-thermal-inertia intake ports for port-injected, spark ignition engines and an associated manufacturing method
US7360512B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 2006 |
| Grant date | Apr 22, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF02F1/40
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides an intake port design that provides a low thermal inertia characteristic, thereby decoupling the surface temperature of the intake port walls from that of the coolant through use of an air gap formed between the intake port and the cylinder head. At idle and part-throttle, the intake port is at a higher surface temperature yielding better cold-start emissions, better mixture preparation, and less dense intake charge (“thermal throttling”) for better fuel economy. At wide-open-throttle, the intake port is at a lower surface temperature yielding better volumetric efficiency for improved torque and reduction in knocking tendency enabling higher compression ratio for improved fuel economy and performance. The intake port design of the present invention can be manufactured with a hydroform manufacturing process resulting in improved dimensional consistency and smooth surface finish. Additionally, the process eliminates some cylinder head machining processes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.