Patent ID: 8074616
Filing Date: 2011-12-13
Classification: F02M

Abstract:
1. 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.