Title of Invention

" AN INTAKE ASSEMBLY FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE "

Abstract An intake assembly operable to communicate intake air to an internal combustion engine is provided. The intake assembly includes an inlet adapter defining a flow conduit through which the intake air may pass and an intake manifold. The inlet adapter is removably mounted with respect to the intake manifold. At least one resonance chamber is defined by at least one of the inlet adapter and the intake manifold. A gasket member is operable to substantially seal the inlet adapter with respect to the intake manifold. The gasket member defines at least one tuner neck operable to provide communication between the at least one resonance chamber and the flow conduit to form at least one Helmholtz resonator.
Full Text P000024-PTE-JEK
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INTAKE ASSEMBLY HAVING HELMHOLTZ RESONATORS
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an intake assembly for an internal combustion
engine having a Helmholtz resonator incorporated therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Various methods may be employed to reduce the intake noise of an internal
combustion engine. One method is to use a Helmholtz resonator on an intake air pipe
configured to communicate intake air to the internal combustion engine. The intake air
pipe is typically disposed upstream from an intake manifold and is configured to
communicate intake air to the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine. A
Helmholtz resonator includes a resonance volume or chamber having a small opening,
typically referred to as a neck. The neck is operable to enable communication between
the resonance chamber and the intake air pipe. Sound waves generated by components
within the internal combustion engine travel along the intake air pipe where their
acoustic pressure impinges on the neck. This acoustic pressure excites a mass of air
within the neck. The acoustic pressure within the resonance chamber reacts against the
air mass within the neck and produces an out-of-phase acoustic pressure at the intake
air pipe to cause cancellation of intake noise at the resonant frequency. In this way,
some of the engine noise is eliminated as the out-of-phase acoustic pressures in the
intake air pipe cancel each other.
[0003] The frequency at which the attenuating acoustic pressures reach their
maximum amplitude is known as the resonant frequency. A number of parameters
determine the resonant frequency and bandwidth of a Helmholtz resonator, including
the volume of the resonance chamber and the length and cross sectional area of the
neck. Minor changes to the length and cross sectional area of the neck may alter the
resonance frequency and thereby reduce the effectiveness of the Helmholtz resonator.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An intake assembly operable to communicate intake air to an internal
combustion engine is provided. The intake assembly includes an inlet adapter defining
a flow conduit through which the intake air may pass and an intake manifold. The inlet
adapter is removably mounted with respect to the intake manifold. At least one
resonance chamber is defined by at least one of the inlet adapter and the intake
manifold. A gasket member is operable to substantially seal the inlet adapter with
respect to the intake manifold. The gasket member defines at least one tuner neck
operable to provide communication between the at least one resonance chamber and the
flow conduit to form at least one Helmholtz resonator. The intake assembly may
include a supercharger assembly operable to pressurize the intake air prior to
communication to the internal combustion engine. An internal combustion engine
incorporating the disclosed intake assembly is also provided.
[0005] The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the
present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best
modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of an internal
combustion engine illustrating an intake assembly consistent with the present invention;
and
[0007] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an inlet adapter and a gasket member of the
intake assembly of Figure 1 illustrating aspects of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0008] Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numbers correspond to like
or similar components throughout the several Figures there is shown in Figure 1 a portion
of an internal combustion engine, generally indicated at 10. The internal combustion

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engine 10 includes an intake assembly 12 operable to communicate intake air. indicated
by arrow 14, to cylinders, not shown, within the internal combustion engine 10 to effect
the combustion of fuel therein. The intake assembly 12 includes a first intake member,
such as an inlet adapter 16. and a second intake member, such as an intake manifold 18.
The inlet adapter 16 is removably mounted with respect to the intake manifold 18 through
a plurality of fasteners 20, one of which is shown in Figure 1. A throttle body 22 is
mounted with respect to the inlet adapter 16 via a plurality of fasteners 24. The throttle
body 22 includes a rotatable butterfly valve 25 which operates to selectively and variably
communicate intake air 14 to the inlet adapter 16 for subsequent introduction to the
intake manifold 18. The throttle body 22 of Figure 1 is an electronically actuated device.
That is, a controller, not shown, provides control signals to the throttle body 22 to effect
movement of the butterfly valve 25. Those skilled in the art will recognize other methods
of actuating the throttle body 22, such as a manually actuated cable, while remaining
within the scope of that which is claimed.
[0009] The intake manifold 18 of Figure 1 includes a supercharger assembly 26, such
as a roots-type or screw-type supercharger, operable to pressurize the inlet air 14 prior to
introduction to a plurality of intake runners 28. Each of the plurality of intake runners 28
operate to communicate the intake air 14 to a respective cylinder. In the preferred
embodiment, the intake manifold 18 is formed from cast aluminum, however those
skilled in the art will recognize other materials may be used to form the intake manifold
18, such as cast magnesium, etc. Additionally, the inlet adapter 16 of the present
invention is preferably formed from cast aluminum, however those skilled in the art will
recognize other materials may be used to form the inlet adapter 16. such as cast
magnesium, cast iron, etc. Furthermore, the inlet adapter 16 may be formed from plastics
or polymers while remaining within the scope of that which is claimed.
[0010] Referring now to Figure 2, and with continued reference to Figure 1, there is
shown a perspective view of the inlet adapter 16 as viewed from the intake manifold 18,
shown in Figure 1. A gasket member 30 is operable to seal the inlet adapter 16 with
respect to the intake manifold 18. The gasket member 30 is preferably a carrier or edge
molded type gasket; however, other types of gaskets known to those skilled in the art may

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be used while remaining within the scope of that which is claimed. The inlet adapter 16
defines a flow conduit 32 operable to communicate intake air 14 to the intake manifold
18. The flow conduit 32 may be further defined by the intake manifold 18.
[0011] The inlet adapter 16 defines resonance volumes or chambers 34, 36, 38, and
40 which are in communication with the flow conduit 32 through a respective neck 42,
44, 46, and 48. The resonance chambers 34, 36, 38, and 40 and necks 42, 44, 46, and 48
cooperate to form respective Helmholtz resonators 50, 52, 54, and 56. As illustrated in
Figure 2, the necks 42, 44, 46, and 48 are defined by the gasket member 30. therefore no
machining of the inlet adapter 16 is required to provide communication between the
resonance chambers 34, 36, 38, and 40 and the flow conduit 32. Advantageously, by
forming the necks 42, 44, 46, and 48 with the gasket member 30, the cost of producing
the inlet adapter 16 may be reduced, while the length and cross sectional area of the
necks 42, 44, 46, and 48 can be maintained within close tolerances. By maintaining the
length and cross sectional area of the necks 42, 44, 46, and 48 within close tolerances, the
tuning frequency of each of the Helmholtz resonators 50, 52, 54, and 56 is more precise.
Should changes to the dimensions of the necks 42, 44, 46, and 48 be required, the gasket
member 30 may be inexpensively altered at a reduction in cost compared to a machining
change or casting change required by prior art inlet adapters. The gasket member 30 may
be configured to form multiple necks for each resonance chambers 34, 36, 38, and 40.
and the resonance chambers 34, 36, 38, and 40 may at least partially be defined by the
intake manifold 18 while remaining within the scope of that which is claimed.
Preferably, the resonance chambers 34, 36, 38, and 40 are formed during the formation of
the inlet adapter 16 and/or the intake manifold 18. The gasket member 30 is also
operable to seal the resonance chambers 34, 36, 38, and 40 from each other.
[0012] A plurality of tuning frequencies may be provided by varying the dimensions
of the resonance chambers 34, 36, 38, and 40 and the respective necks 42, 44, 46, and 48.
By positioning the Helmholtz resonators 50, 52, 54, and 56 near the noise source, i.e. the
supercharger assembly 26, the pressure pulses acting on the structure of the intake
manifold 18 and inlet adapter 16 may be reduced resulting in less radiation of noise than
with noise attenuation devices mounted further upstream of the supercharger assembly

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26. Additionally, the flow of intake air 14 may improve by employing the Helmholtz
resonators 50, 52, 54, and 56 as a result of the cancellation of pressure pulses within the
inlet adapter 16 and intake manifold 18.
[0013] While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in
detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various
alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the
appended claims.

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CLAIMS
1. An intake assembly for an internal combustion engine comprising:
a first intake member defining a flow conduit through which intake
air may pass;
a second intake member;
wherein said first intake member is mounted with respect to said
second intake member;
at least one resonance chamber defined by at least one of said first
intake member and said second intake member;
a gasket member operable to substantially seal said first intake
member with respect to said second intake member; and
wherein said gasket member defines at least one tuner neck
operable to provide communication between said at least one resonance chamber and said
flow conduit to form at least one Helmholtz resonator.
2. The intake assembly of claim 1, wherein the intake assembly
includes a plurality of said resonance chambers and wherein said gasket member is
operable to seal each of said resonance chambers from each other.
3. The intake assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a throttle body operable to selectively and variably introduce said
intake air to said flow conduit; and
wherein said throttle body is mounted with respect to said first
intake member.
4. The intake assembly of claim 1. wherein said second intake
member is an intake manifold.

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5. The intake assembly of claim 4. wherein the intake assembly
includes a supercharger.
6. The intake assembly of claim 1. wherein at least one of said first
and second intake members is cast and wherein said at least one resonance chamber is
formed during casting of said at least one of said first and second intake members.
7. An intake assembly operable to communicate intake air to an
internal combustion engine, the intake assembly comprising:
an inlet adapter defining a flow conduit through which the intake
air may pass;
an intake manifold;
wherein said inlet adapter is removably mounted with respect to
said intake manifold;
at least one resonance chamber defined by at least one of said inlet
adapter and said intake manifold;
a gasket member operable to substantially seal said inlet adapter
with respect to said intake manifold; and
wherein said gasket member defines at least one tuner neck
operable to provide communication between said at least one resonance chamber and said
flow conduit to form at least one Helmholtz resonator.
8. The intake assembly of claim 7. wherein the intake assembly
includes a plurality of said resonance chambers and wherein said gasket member is
operable to seal each of said resonance chambers from each other.
9. The intake assembly of claim 7. further comprising:
a throttle body operable to selectively and variably introduce the
intake air to said flow conduit; and

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wherein said throttle body is mounted with respect to said inlet
adapter.
10. The intake assembly of claim 7. wherein the intake assembly
includes a supercharger.
11. An internal combustion engine comprising:
an intake assembly including:
a first intake member defining a flow conduit through
which intake air may pass;
a second intake member;
wherein said first intake member is mounted with respect to
said second intake member;
at least one resonance chamber defined by at least one of
said first intake member and said second intake member;
a gasket member operable to substantially seal said first
intake member with respect to said second intake member; and
wherein said gasket member defines at least one tuner neck
operable to provide communication between said at least one resonance chamber and said
flow conduit to form at least one Helmholtz resonator.
12. The internal combustion engine of claim 11, wherein said intake
assembly includes a plurality of said resonance chambers and wherein said gasket
member is operable to seal each of said resonance chambers from each other.
13. The internal combustion engine of claim 11. wherein said intake
assembly further includes:
a throttle body operable to selectively and variably introduce said
intake air to said flow conduit; and

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wherein said throttle body is mounted with respect to said first
intake member.
14. The internal combustion engine of claim 11, wherein said second
intake member is an intake manifold.
15. The internal combustion engine of claim 14. wherein said intake
assembly includes a supercharger.
16. The internal combustion engine of claim 11, wherein said first
intake member is an inlet adapter.

An intake assembly operable to communicate intake air to an internal
combustion engine is provided. The intake assembly includes an inlet adapter defining a
flow conduit through which the intake air may pass and an intake manifold. The inlet
adapter is removably mounted with respect to the intake manifold. At least one
resonance chamber is defined by at least one of the inlet adapter and the intake manifold.
A gasket member is operable to substantially seal the inlet adapter with respect to the
intake manifold. The gasket member defines at least one tuner neck operable to provide
communication between the at least one resonance chamber and the flow conduit to form
at least one Helmholtz resonator.

Documents:

01492-kol-2007-abstract.pdf

01492-kol-2007-claims.pdf

01492-kol-2007-correspondence 1.1.pdf

01492-kol-2007-correspondence others-1.2.pdf

01492-kol-2007-correspondence others.pdf

01492-kol-2007-description complete.pdf

01492-kol-2007-drawings.pdf

01492-kol-2007-form 1.pdf

01492-kol-2007-form 18.pdf

01492-kol-2007-form 2.pdf

01492-kol-2007-form 3.pdf

01492-kol-2007-form 5.pdf

01492-kol-2007-priority document.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-(15-02-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-(15-02-2012)-PA.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-(27-07-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-ABSTRACT 1.1.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-ABSTRACT-1.2.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-AMANDED CLAIMS-1.1.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-AMANDED CLAIMS.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-ASSIGNMENT.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-CORRESPONDENCE 1.2.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 1.3.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 1.4.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE) 1.1.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE)-1.2.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-DRAWINGS 1.1.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-DRAWINGS-1.2.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECIEVED.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-FORM 1-1.1.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-FORM 1-1.2.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-FORM 2-1.1.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-FORM 2-1.2.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-FORM 3-1.1.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-OTHERS 1.1.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-OTHERS-1.2.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-OTHERS.pdf

1492-KOL-2007-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf

abstract-01492-kol-2007.jpg


Patent Number 254717
Indian Patent Application Number 1492/KOL/2007
PG Journal Number 50/2012
Publication Date 14-Dec-2012
Grant Date 10-Dec-2012
Date of Filing 01-Nov-2007
Name of Patentee GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Applicant Address 300 GM RENAISSANCE CENTER, DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 GREGORY P. PRIOR 551 OAKLAND AVENUE, BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN 48009
PCT International Classification Number F02M35/104; F02B33/34; F02D9/10
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 11/609444 2006-12-12 U.S.A.