Abstract:
An air swirling device adapted to be used in the air flow system of an internal combustion engine which comprises a swirling device body having a external dimension adapted for incorporation into said air flow system, a plurality of wing members having upper and lower side surfaces, said wing members extending radially and slantingly from the periphery of the swirling device body toward the center therof, and wherein at least one of the upper and lower side surfaces has a non-linear configuration.

Description:
This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No. 2001-32339 filed in Korea on Oct. 23, 2001, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a wing structure of an air swirling device for use in an internal combustion engine, and more particularly, to the wing structure of an air swirling device used in an air cleaner or an air duct of an internal combustion engine, which induces a swirl action of the air which is filtered through the air cleaner of a spark ignition internal combustion engine of the carburetor or fuel injection type or diesel engine type. The wing structure of the swirling device introduces air flow into the combustion chamber of the engine, which is effective in reducing resistance due to negative pressure (or minus pressure), thereby reducing wing deformation and improving the air flow level. 
   2. Background of the Related Art 
   It is known that swirling devices of internal combustion engines can provide a large amount of high density air flow to the combustion chamber of an engine by adding revolution force to the air flow provided to the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine and increasing the flow speed per unit of time. The combustion action of the engine is thus improved and engine power is increased. The prior art has the disadvantage that the air resistance generated when the air flow is rotated cannot be completely prevented. 
   For example, Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 53-26247, 59-11722, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,969 disclose a simple turbulence device, which includes an intake valve having a large intake resistance so that the swirling device does not create a uniform air flow but rather creates only a turbulent flow. Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 60-17922 and 61-10645, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,424,777, 4,432,312 and 4,539,954 disclose a swirling device having wings which are disposed in the vicinity of the intake valve for producing a swirling air flow. However, such a device exhibits a high amount of friction resulting in a reduced amount of inlet air and thus is used only for a gasoline engine of the carburetor type. 
   To solve the above problems, U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,642 discloses an air swirling device having a plurality of wings positioned within an air cleaner of an internal combustion engine for swirling the air flow into the combustion chamber so that the combustion performance and engine power can be improved. However, such a device has various disadvantages, such as for example, reduced output of the engine due to a reduced quantity of inlet air and a loss of fuel because of the eddies generated at the rear surface (negative pressure zone) of the wings when the air flow is swirled. 
   To solve the above problems, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 67786 discloses a swirling device for an internal combustion engine having a swirling device body  10  and provided with a plurality of wings  11  having one or more small and long slits  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The swirling device body  10  is fixed and mounted in the vicinity of the center of an air cleaner  13  with bolts and nuts for swirling the intake air, so that eddies generated at the negative pressure zone formed on the rear surface of the wings  11  when the air enters, is prevented. As the result, air resistance is reduced and the amount of air is increased, so that a complete combustion is achieved, which improves energy efficiency and engine power. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the swirling device having the slits  12  in the wings  11  adds a revolution force to the air flow introduced into the combustion chamber  14 , so that the air flow speed per unit time is increased, thereby improving the high density combustion action. During the intake operation of the internal combustion engine caused by the slits  12  formed in the wings  11 , the air filtered in the air cleaner  13  passes and rotates through the slits  12  formed in the wings  11  of the swirling device  10  mounted in the air cleaner  13 . The rotated air flow is swirled again by another swirling device  16  mounted near the inlet of the intake manifold  15  and introduced into the combustion chamber  14  at high speed. The combusted exhaust gas is rapidly discharged by another swirling device  18  mounted near the inlet of the exhaust manifold  17 . 
   Because the swirling device of the internal combustion engine has at least one or more of slits  12  in the plurality of wings  11 , eddy generation at the negative pressure zone of the rear surfaces of the wings is reduced. When the swirling device is placed in the air cleaner  13 , the carbon monoxide (CO) gas level can be reduced up to 17% at engine idle speed; the engine power can be increased up to 11%; fuel economy can be improved up to 6%; and knocking of the engine can be reduced up to 5%. 
   Therefore, the swirling device of the internal combustion engine having the slits  12  in the wings  11  adds a revolution force to the air flow introduced into the combustion chamber, so that the air flow speed per unit of time is increased and the combustion action, due to increased density, is improved. Furthermore, in the swirling device of the internal combustion engine, eddy generation at the negative pressure zone by the slits  12  formed in the wings  11  is prevented, and thereby, the air flow resistance is reduced and the amount of the air flow is increased, so that an effective amount of accelerated air is introduced into the engine to increase its combustion efficiency and engine power. 
   However, the slits  12  formed in the wings  11  of the conventional swirling device of the internal combustion engine are not completely ideal in reducing eddy because of being formed by cutting portions of the flat sheet type wings  11  both small and long. According to such circumstances, the conventional swirling device of an internal combustion engine containing slits  12  formed in the wings  11  cannot cope with a more controlled air flow. 
   For example, the conventional swirling device of the internal combustion engine having the slits  12  formed in the wings  11  increases air flow speed per unit time and raises the density of the air by adding revolution force to the air flow introduced into the combustion chamber so that the combustion action and the engine power are improved. However, only a single swirling device cannot control the air flow conditions because a supercharging of the air by the swirling device may occur. 
   Moreover, in the conventional swirling device, the small and long rectangular slits  12  are not uniformly provided in the wings  11 , and thus the wings  11  have a higher deformation rate than perforated type wings. The deformation of the wings reduces the amount of air flow. 
   Additionally, because the shape of the wings for preventing eddy generation at the negative pressure zone by forming the slits  12  in the wings  11 , produces a linear type of air flow due to the flat upper and lower side, it is difficult to maintain a stable and uniformly mixed level of air and fuel particles and to secure a sufficient amount of air flow. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a wing structure of an air swirling device for an internal combustion engine that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
   Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a wing structure of air swirling device for an internal combustion engine, which can increase the air flow speed per unit of time and increase the density of the air by adding a revolution force to the air flow introduced into the combustion chamber so that the combustion action and the engine power are improved. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide the wing structure of an air swirling device for an internal combustion engine, which can reduce the deformation of the wings of the swirling device and improve processability for the purpose of improving the combustion action and the engine power by increasing the air flow speed per unit of time and increasing the density of the air by adding revolution force to the air flow introduced into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a wing structure for an air swirling device utilized in an combustion engine which can increase the uniformly mixed level of air and fuel particles and the amount of air flow by changing the air flow accelerated through the wings of the swirling device into a non-linear air flow. 
   Additional advantages, objects, and features of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from the practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
   To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a wing structure of an air swirling device for an internal combustion engine, which has a swirling device body mounted in an air cleaner and a plurality of slantingly and radially disposed wings mounted on the swirling device body for accelerating or increasing the air flow revolution, includes non-linear type wave surfaces formed along the upper or lower side of the wing to increase the surface area in contact with the air flow. 
   Each of the wings has at least one or more air flow holes formed at prescribed positions for reducing air flow resistance due to eddy generation at the negative pressure zone of the wing. 
   The wave surfaces formed on the wings of the swirling device of the present invention increases the surface area of the wing, and thus, more air is introduced into the combustion chamber. Also, the approach angle can be rapidly changed, the straight level can be raised, the deformation of the wings can be reduced, and the processability can be improved. 
   Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a conventional swirling device of an internal combustion engine; 
       FIG. 2  is a view of the shape of a wing of a conventional swirling device; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the wings of a swirling device according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of the swirling device embodying the wings of the present invention; 
     FIGS.  5 (A)- 5 (D) are views of examples showing various arrangements of the air flow holes according to the present invention; 
     FIG.  6 (A) is a view of a streamlined type wave surface formed on the sides of the wings according to the present invention; 
     FIG.  6 (B) is a view of a saw-tooth type wave surface formed on the sides of the wings according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a reference view showing an operation of a part of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic view of the swirling device of the present invention utilized in an internal combustion engine. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompany drawings. 
     FIGS. 3-7  show various examples of wings of the swirling device of an internal combustion engine according to the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a partially exploded perspective view of wings  20  coupled to a swirling device body  30 ;  FIG. 4  is a plan view of the wings  20  assembled together with the swirling device body  30 ; FIGS.  5 (A)- 5 (D) show various examples of shapes and arrangements of air flow holes  40  of the wings  20  of the present invention, wherein FIG.  5 (A) is an example of a regular arrangement, FIG.  5 (B) is an example of an independent arrangement, FIG.  5 (C) is an example of a cross arrangement, and FIG.  5 (D) is an example of a multiple arrangement. 
   A plurality of the wings  20  of the swirling device of the internal combustion engine according toe the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 3 , are mounted slantingly and radially on the swirling device body  30 , so as to accelerate and increase air revolution. Each of the wings  20  has at least one or more of air flow holes  40  formed at prescribed positions for preventing eddy generation at a negative pressure zone in the rear surface thereof. 
   Furthermore, the wing  20  has wave surfaces  25  on the upper and lower peripheral sides thereof for creating non-linear type air flow, so that mixing of the air and fuel particles is accelerated. 
   In  FIGS. 3 and 4 , reference element  21  identifies protrusions  21  formed on the wings, and element  31  indicates through holes formed in the swirling device body for receiving and coupling with the protrusions of the wing. 
   A plurality of air flow holes  40  are formed in the wings  20  for reducing air flow resistance due to eddies generated at the negative pressure zone of the wing  20 , and their arrangement may be exemplified by one of FIGS.  5 (A)- 5 (D). 
   FIG.  5 (A) shows a regular arrangement of the air flow holes  40 , wherein at least one or more of the air flow holes  40  are arranged regularly and uniformly along a surface  22  of the wings  20 , in a line. 
   FIG.  5 (B) shows an independent arrangement of the air flow holes  40 , wherein the air flow holes  40  having an enlarged air flow area are arranged at the centers of the wings  20  along the surfaces  22  of the wings  20 . 
   FIG.  5 (C) shows a concentrated cross arrangement of the air flow holes  40 , wherein the air flow holes  40  are divided into an upper part and a lower part and arranged along the surfaces  22  of the wings  20  in tow or more lines. 
   FIG.  5 (D) shows a multiple arrangement of the air flow holes  40 , wherein the air flow holes  40  are arranged along the surfaces of the wings  40  so as to substantially cover the surface area of the wings without regard to their own positions. 
   Furthermore, the wave surfaces  25  for inducing non-linear type air flow at the upper and lower side  23  and  24  can be selectively formed on the upper side  23  or the lower side  24 . As shown in the drawings, the wave surfaces may be streamline-type wave surfaces (a) or saw-tooth type wave surfaces (b), or it will be appreciated that other type wave surfaces may be formed in consideration of characteristics of the air flow. The number of the wave surfaces  25  formed on the sides of the wing  20  may be formed at need. 
   The wings  20  of the swirling device of the internal combustion engine having the air flow holes  40  and the wave surfaces  25  can enhance the characteristics obtained by the wings of a conventional swirling device. That is, the wings of the swirling device according to the present invention can increase air flow speed per unit time and raise the air density by increasing the revolution force in the air flow introduced into the combustion chamber of the internal engine, so that the combustion action of the engine and engine power are improved. 
   As shown in FIGS.  5 (A)- 5 (D), the plurality of the air flow holes  40  have various sizes, but the complete combustion and output performance cannot be obtained only by selecting the arrangement and shape of the holes. The complete combustion and output performance depend on the conditions of the engine. Both the slits  12  of the prior art and the air flow holes  40  of the present invention, cannot achieve the complete combustion and output performance by only a difference in their shapes. 
   When the air flow holes  40  are formed in the surfaces  22  of the wings  20  for preventing eddies generated at the negative pressure zone, a more systematic design can be utilized. That is, the swirling device can be designed for the engine by the arrangement and size of the air flow holes  40  according to the engine condition. Therefore, the present invention can provide a swirling device which can be suited to the engine condition. 
   Additionally, the air flow holes  40  can be press-finished in various arrangements and sizes in a relatively narrow area of the wing  20 . 
   In consideration of the fact that eddy formation is severe at the outer wall, and is reduced at the center, because the revolution force of the wings  20  is increased at the outer wall, and is reduced at the center, it is preferable that the sizes of the air flow holes  40  are gradually reduced toward the center. 
   If circular air flow holes  40  and not slits are formed in the surfaces of the sheet type wings  20 , self internal power is generated because there is no distortion and the circular air flow holes  40  are smaller in deformation after the press finishing than rectangular holes. 
   Also, the wave surfaces  25  formed in the longitudinal direction along the sides not in contact with the swirling device body  30  when the wings  20  are mounted on the swirling device body  30 , i.e., the upper side  23  and the lower side  24 , can change the air flow which collides along the outermost walls of the wings  20  when the wings  20  are rotated, into non-linear type wave forms (W 1 , W 2 ) as shown in  FIG. 7 , and maintain the air flow uniformly. 
   The non-linear type air flow provides an indirect stirring effect when the air is mixed with the fuel particles, so that the mixing level of the air and the fuel particles is good. 
   Furthermore, the present invention provides an increased surface area which is in contact with the air flow, so that an increased air inflow and a rapid change of approach angle are achieved and the air flow resistance is reduced because of the increased straight level. 
   Moreover, when the air is introduced into the combustion chamber, the revolution force applied to the air reduces the impact due to the air of the wings and reduces the air flow resistance, so that the air flow rate into the cylinder is increased and the wings are prevented from becoming broken and have a longer life. 
   The wings of the swirling device according to the present invention can be used for a carburetor type or a throttle body injector type internal combustion engine.  FIG. 8  schematically shows how the swirling device of the present invention can be incorporated into the operational system of a typical internal combustion engine. In  FIG. 8 , element  134  represents the air filter of a carburetor; element  135  represents the intake duct to the carburetor; element  136  is a throttle valve; elements  138  and  139  represent the intake manifold for the engine  142 ; element  137  represents the exhaust manifold; element  140  is a catalytic converter and element  141  represents the exhaust pipe. Advantageously, the swirling device of the present invention is a flexible device which can be positioned in one of the locations designated as  130 ,  131 , or  132 . Also, the swirling device can be made of a variety of materials, e.g., steel, aluminum, plastic, etc. 
   As described above, because the structure and shape of the wings of the swirling device of the internal combustion engine according to the present invention can be changed without using separate components, the present invention can provide the swirling device suitable for various engine conditions. Furthermore, the present invention can prevent deterioration in processability and a deformation of the eddy preventing means formed on the surfaces of the wings. Additionally, the present invention can change the air flow by changing the shape of the sides of the wings, so that the combustion action and engine power are improved and the life and performance of the swirling device are increased. 
   The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.