Air intake apparatus and manufacturing method of air intake apparatus

An air intake apparatus includes an air intake apparatus body including a surge tank, a valve body rotatably attached to the surge tank and configured to rotate between an open position and a closed position to open and close a fluid passage formed at a partition wall dividing an inside of the surge tank into two parts, the valve body being out of contact with the partition wall at the open position and being in contact with the partition wall at the closed position, the air intake apparatus body being formed by a first member to which the valve body is attached and a second member joined to each other, and the first member including a jig-receiving portion arranged in a vicinity of the fluid passage and configured to receive a jig holding the first member when the first member and the second member are being joined to each other.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application 2014-054738, filed on Mar. 18, 2014, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to an air intake apparatus and a manufacturing method of the air intake apparatus.

BACKGROUND DISCUSSION

In general, an air intake control valve including a valve body to open and close a fluid passage is known. Such an air intake control valve is disclosed in, for example, JP2008-144768A, which will be hereinafter referred to as Patent reference 1.

According to a butterfly-valve-type control valve (an air intake control valve) disclosed in Patent reference 1, the air intake control valve includes a frame-shaped body (a frame) formed with an air intake passage (a fluid passage), and a valve (a valve body) supported by the frame-shaped body to rotate between an open position and a closed position to open and close the air intake passage provided at an inner side of the body.

In addition, according to a known configuration of a surge tank for an internal-combustion engine, an inside space portion of the surge tank is divided into two space portions by a partition wall, and the butterfly-valve-type control valve (the air intake control valve) described in Patent reference 1 is provided at an opening portion formed at the partition wall so that a resonance frequency of an air intake system is changed and thus an effective supercharging effect is obtained in a wide engine operation range. In this configuration, the frame-shaped body (the frame) in a state where the valve (the valve body) is attached thereto is fitted into the opening portion penetrating the partition wall of the surge tank-side. In a case where the valve supported by the body rotates to the open position, the two space portions in the surge tank are in fluid communication with each other through the air intake passage (the fluid passage) formed at the inner side of the body. Further, in a case where the valve rotates to the closed position, the air intake passage formed at the inner side of the body is blocked to separate the two space portions from each other.

In the aforementioned known configuration, however, the frame-shaped body is fitted in the opening portion formed at the partition wall and the air intake passage formed at the inner side of the frame-shaped body is opened and closed with the valve. According to this configuration, it is difficult to provide a sufficient cross-sectional area (an opening area) of the air intake passage opened and closed with the valve. In other words, the frame-shaped body is fitted into the opening portion of the partition wall, and accordingly the cross-sectional area of the air intake passage is smaller than an opening area of the opening portion of the partition wall. Therefore, in a case where the valve is opened and the two space portions are in fluid communication with each other, the cross-sectional area of the air intake passage decreases and therefore a pressure loss of the intake air circulating through the air intake passage increases. Consequently, there is such a problem that an amount of the intake air circulating through the air intake passage decreases, and as a result, a sufficient supercharging effect is not obtained.

Thus, a configuration can be considered, in which the valve (the valve body) is attached directly to the surge tank and the opening portion formed at the partition wall of the surge tank is opened and closed by the valve, and accordingly the opening area of the air intake passage when the valve is open is increased.

In the aforementioned configuration where the opening portion (the fluid passage) of the partition wall is opened and closed by the valve (the valve body) attached directly to the surge tank, the surge tank, that is, one surge tank, may be formed in a manner that, for example, plural members including a member to which the valve is mounted are joined to each other by vibration welding. However, the partition wall dividing the internal portion of the surge tank into the two space portions is susceptible to deformation in the process of joining the plural members with each other by the vibration welding. In a case where strain deformation including curvature and/or torsion is generated at a portion (a seal portion) of the partition wall around the valve due to a way of applying load during the vibration welding, the valve (the valve body) is not uniformly or evenly in contact with the seal portion (a seal surface) of the partition wall around the opening portion (the fluid passage) formed at the partition wall. As a result, sealability or a sealing performance decreases.

A need thus exists for an air intake apparatus and a manufacturing method of the air intake apparatus which are not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of this disclosure, an air intake apparatus includes an air intake apparatus body including a surge tank for an internal combustion engine, a valve body rotatably attached to the surge tank and configured to rotate between an open position and a closed position to open and close a fluid passage formed at a partition wall dividing an inside of the surge tank into two parts, the valve body being out of contact with the partition wall at the open position and being in contact with the partition wall at the closed position, the air intake apparatus body being formed by a first member to which the valve body is attached and a second member joined to each other, and the first member including a jig-receiving portion arranged in a vicinity of the fluid passage and configured to receive a jig holding the first member when the first member and the second member are being joined to each other.

According to another aspect of this disclosure, a manufacturing method of an air intake apparatus, includes a step of attaching a valve body to a first member, the valve body rotating between an open position and a closed position to open and close a fluid passage formed at a partition wall dividing an inside of a surge tank for an internal combustion engine into two parts, the valve body being out of contact with the partition wall at the open position and being in contact with the partition wall at the closed position, a step of forming an air intake apparatus body including the surge tank for the internal combustion engine in a manner that the first member to which the valve body is attached and a second member are joined to each other by vibration welding, and the step of forming the air intake apparatus body including a step of joining the first member and the second member to each other by the vibration welding in a state where a jig-receiving portion arranged in a vicinity of the fluid passage of the first member is held by a jig.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the present disclosure is now described on the basis of the drawings.

First, the configuration of an air intake apparatus100according to the present embodiment is described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 16.

The air intake apparatus100according to the present embodiment is an air intake apparatus provided at a V-type 6-cylinder engine10for an automobile, as illustrated inFIG. 1. The air intake apparatus100includes an air intake apparatus body105including a surge tank1, an air intake control valve2provided inside the surge tank1, and three first air intake ports3aand three second air intake ports3bwhich are arranged at a downstream side of the surge tank1. Structurally, the air intake apparatus body105of the air intake apparatus100integrally includes the surge tank1and the first and second air intake ports3aand3b, as illustrated inFIG. 2. The air intake control valve2(refer toFIG. 1) is attached to an internal portion of the air intake apparatus body105. The V-type 6-cylinder engine10is an example of “an internal combustion engine” of the present disclosure.

Intake air flows into the surge tank1through an air cleaner and a throttle110. The surge tank1has a partition wall4dividing an internal portion of the surge tank1into two parts, that is, into a first surge tank region11and a second surge tank region12. The air intake control valve2includes a function of opening and closing a fluid passage41including an opening portion formed at a part of the partition wall4. The air intake control valve2is configured to open and close the fluid passage41by a drive force by an actuator120. The actuator120is configured to be driven on the basis of a signal transmitted from an engine control unit (ECU)130.

The three first air intake ports3arespectively connect the first surge tank region11arranged at an upper side (a Z1side) of the partition wall4and three cylinders110aprovided in a first bank10aof the V-type 6-cylinder engine10to each other. The three second air intake ports3brespectively connect the second surge tank region12arranged at a lower side (a Z2side) of the partition wall4and three cylinders110bprovided in a second bank10bof the V-type 6-cylinder engine10to each other. The three cylinders110aof the first bank10aare a cylinder group including No. 1, No. 3, and No. 5 whose ignition timings are not consecutive, and the three cylinders110bof the second bank10bare a cylinder group including No. 2, No. 4, and No. 6 whose ignition timings are not consecutive. Due to the aforementioned configuration, in the air intake apparatus100according to the present embodiment, the air intake control valve2appropriately opens and closes the fluid passage41in response to engine rotation, whereby a resonance frequency of an air intake system can be changed to obtain an effective supercharging effect in a wide engine operation range. The configuration of the air intake apparatus100is hereinafter described in more detail.

The air intake apparatus body105(the surge tank1) is constituted by an upper piece101, a lower piece102, and a middle piece103held between the upper piece101and the lower piece102, as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3. Each of the upper piece101, the lower piece102, and the middle piece103is made of resin. The upper piece101includes a joint portion101aand the lower piece102includes a joint portion102a. The middle piece103includes a joint portion103aformed at the Z1side and a joint portion103bformed at the Z2side. The joint portion101aof the upper piece101is formed along a flange-shaped edge portion (which includes a planar outer shape) of the upper piece101seamlessly and continuously to include an annular shape. A joint surface (a lower surface at the Z2side) of the joint portion101afaces the joint portion103aof the middle piece103at an upper side (the Z1side). The joint portion102aof the lower piece102is formed along a flange-shaped edge portion (which includes a planar outer shape) of the lower piece102seamlessly and continuously to include an annular shape. A joint surface (an upper surface at the Z1side) of the joint portion102afaces the joint portion103bof the middle piece103at a lower side (the Z2side). Each of the joint portions103aand103bof the middle piece103is formed along a flange-shaped edge portion (which includes a planar outer shape) of the middle piece103seamlessly and continuously to include an annular shape. The middle piece103serves as an example of “a first member” of the present disclosure. The upper piece101and the lower piece102serve as an example of “a second member” of the present disclosure.

The joint portions101ato103binclude a function to connect the upper piece101, the lower piece102and the middle piece103with one another, corresponding to an outer configuration of the entire air intake apparatus body105. Accordingly, corresponding to the configuration of each of the members, each of the joint portions101ato103bincludes the joint surface formed in the annular shape having planar and steric curve and/or elevation difference (undulation or unevenness). In addition, each of the joint surfaces is formed to include such a configuration that provides a reliable sealing effect to one another.

The upper piece101, the lower piece102and the middle piece103are joined (welded) to one another in a manufacturing process or step with the use of vibration welding as will be described later, while the joint portions101ato103bkeeping a facing or opposing relationship with one another (that is, in a direction Z). Accordingly, the air intake apparatus body105corresponding to one integral structure is obtained. The air intake apparatus body105, that is, the one integral structure, includes the surge tank1formed in the internal portion thereof, the first air intake ports3a, and the second air intake ports3bwhich are integrated into the one integral structure. Because the middle piece103including the partition wall4is interposed between the upper piece101and the lower piece102, the inside of the surge tank1is divided into two, that is, the first surge tank region11and the second surge tank region12. The first surge tank region11and the second surge tank region12are arranged to overlap with each other in an up/down direction (the direction Z). The first surge tank region11and the three first air intake ports3aare constituted or defined by the upper piece101and the middle piece103. The second surge tank region12and the three second air intake ports3bare constituted or defined by the lower piece102and the middle piece103.

The middle piece103includes a connection portion150and an actuator attach portion160each of which is formed to be integral with the middle piece103. The connection portion150is formed at an intake air inflow side (a Y1side) of the joint portion103a(the joint portion103b) to include a flange configuration. The actuator attach portion160is positioned in the vicinity of a Y2side of the fluid passage41in which the valve body21rotates. An air intake passage140(refer toFIG. 1) extended from the side of the throttle110(refer toFIG. 1) is connected to the connection portion150. According to the surge tank1, a valve body21(a rotation shaft23), which will be described below, of the air intake control valve2is supported by the actuator attach portion160and a shaft member fixing portion42to be rotatable about a rotation shaft line L1. Thicknesses (in the direction Z) of the actuator attach portion160and the shaft member fixing portion42are greater than thickness of other portion of the surge tank1, for example, the partition wall4.

As illustrated fromFIGS. 4 to 6, the actuator attach portion160includes a rotation shaft support hole131including a circular-shaped cross section and formed to extend in a direction Y. That is, the actuator attach portion160also functions as a rotation shaft support portion. The rotation shaft support hole131is configured to include a small-diameter portion131a, a medium-diameter portion131band a large-diameter portion131cfrom an inner side of the surge tank1(the Y1side) towards an outer side of the surge tank1(the Y2side) in the above-described order so that an inner diameter of the rotation shaft support hole131increases stepwisely in the above-described order.

As illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, the fluid passage41constituted by the opening portion formed at the partition wall4of the surge tank1is provided in the vicinity of an end portion of the surge tank1(at a Y2direction side) opposite to the intake air inflow side, and in the vicinity of an end portion of the surge tank1(at an X2direction side) opposite to the side formed with the first air intake ports3aand the second air intake ports3b. The fluid passage41has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to an outer configuration of the valve body21of the air intake control valve2. The fluid passage41is in the form of an elongate hole extended in the direction Y in a plan view, as illustrated inFIG. 4.

As illustrated inFIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 8, an edge portion411is formed at an X2side of the fluid passage41of the partition wall4to be positioned at the side of the first surge tank region11. An edge portion412(refer toFIGS. 4, 7 and 8) is formed at an X1side of the fluid passage41of the partition wall4to be positioned at the side of the second surge tank region12. Because the valve body21exists between the edge portions411and412, the edge portion412is arranged slightly at a lower side (the Z2direction) relative to the edge portion411correspondingly. As illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8, the edge portion412includes thickness greater than thickness of other portion of the partition wall4. A seal surface411aincluding an inclined surface inclined upwardly towards an inner side of the fluid passage41is formed at a bottom surface (the Z2side) of the edge portion411. A seal surface412aincluding an inclined surface inclined downwardly towards the inner side of the fluid passage41is formed at an upper surface (the Z1side) of the edge portion412. As illustrated inFIG. 4, the seal surface411aand the seal surface412aare provided along the edge portion411and the edge portion412of the fluid passage41, respectively.

As illustrated inFIGS. 3 to 5, the shaft member fixing portion42is integrally formed on the partition wall4. The shaft member fixing portion42is provided at an end portion of the fluid passage41at a Y1direction side. As illustrated inFIGS. 4, 5, and 9, the shaft member fixing portion42includes a shaft member support hole421including a circular cross-section and formed to extend in the direction Y. As illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 9, a bush member422made of metal (stainless steel, aluminum alloy, or the like, for example) is integrally provided at the shaft member support hole421. The bush member422is integrally formed (insert-molded) at the partition wall4when the middle piece103of the surge tank1is resin-molded. As illustrated inFIGS. 3 to 5 and 9, a concave escape portion43to insert a shaft member215(refer toFIG. 9), which will be described later, into the shaft member fixing portion42is provided in the vicinity of the shaft member fixing portion42of the partition wall4. The concave escape portion43is formed to be concave or recessed downward (towards a Z2direction side) and extend in the direction Y. As illustrated inFIG. 9, a bottom surface43aof the escape portion43is arranged at the same height position as a lower end of the shaft member support hole421.

As illustrated inFIGS. 3, 7, 8, and 10, according to the present embodiment, the air intake control valve2is rotatably attached to the surge tank1. The air intake control valve2includes the valve body21rotated about the rotation shaft line L1between an open position (the position of the valve body21illustrated inFIG. 7) at which the valve body21is out of contact with the partition wall4and a closed position (the position of the valve body illustrated inFIG. 8) at which the valve body21is in contact with the partition wall4, to open and close the fluid passage41of the partition wall4. The air intake control valve2includes a seal member22arranged at an outer periphery of the valve body21. In other words, in the air intake control valve2according to the present embodiment, the valve body21is rotatably attached directly to the surge tank1, and no frame (body) or the like to attach the valve body21to the surge tank1is provided. The valve body21is so configured that both a first end portion21aand a second end portion21bthereof in a direction (the direction Y) in which the rotation shaft line L1extends are rotatably supported by the surge tank1(the middle piece103).

As illustrated inFIG. 10, the valve body21has an outer shape symmetric with respect to both the rotation shaft line L1and a centerline C1in a direction orthogonal to the rotation shaft line L1in a state where both the first end portion21aand the second end portion21bare rotatably supported by the surge tank1. Furthermore, the valve body21has the outer shape corresponding to the fluid passage41(refer toFIG. 4) in a plan view. In the valve body21, tapered portions21cand21dtapered towards the tips of the first end portion21aand the second end portion21bare provided in vicinities of the first end portion21aand the second end portion21b, respectively.

The valve body21is made of resin. As illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6, the rotation shaft23made of metal (stainless steel, aluminum alloy, or the like, for example) rotating together with the valve body21is integrally provided at the first end portion21aof the valve body21. As illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 9, a first shaft bearing24made of metal (stainless steel, aluminum alloy, or the like, for example) rotating together with the valve body21is integrally provided at the second end portion21bof the valve body21. The rotation shaft23and the first shaft bearing24each made of metal are insert-molded to be integral with the valve body21when the valve body21is resin-molded.

Specifically, a rotation shaft holding portion211is formed at the first end portion21a(the Y2side) of the valve body21, and the rotation shaft23is held by the rotation shaft holding portion211. A shaft bearing holding portion212is formed at the second end portion21b(the Y1side) of the valve body21, and the first shaft bearing24is held by the shaft bearing holding portion212. As illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 11, the rotation shaft holding portion211is so configured that an end surface211aof the rotation shaft holding portion211at the Y2direction side is opposed to and is in contact with an end surface13bof the actuator attach portion160at the Y1direction side in a state where the valve body21is rotatably supported by the surge tank1. As illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 11, the shaft bearing holding portion212is so configured that an end surface212aof the shaft bearing holding portion212at the Y1direction side is opposed to and is in contact with an end surface42aof the shaft member fixing portion42at the Y2direction side.

As illustrated inFIG. 5, the rotation shaft23includes a thin shaft portion231, a thick shaft portion232having an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the thin shaft portion231, and a held portion233held by the rotation shaft holding portion211, in this order from a tip portion of the rotation shaft23projecting from the valve body21towards a base portion of the rotation shaft23. As illustrated inFIG. 6, the rotation shaft23is rotatably supported by a cylindrical second shaft bearing213fixed to the actuator attach portion160of the middle piece103. In a state where the rotation shaft23is inserted in the rotation shaft support hole131of the actuator attach portion160, the second shaft bearing213is press-fitted into a clearance between an outer peripheral surface232aof the thick shaft portion232of the rotation shaft23and an inner peripheral surface131dof the small diameter portion131aof the rotation shaft support hole131to be attached. Thus, the rotation shaft23is rotatably supported by the second shaft bearing213. The second shaft bearing213is made of metal (stainless steel, aluminum alloy, or the like, for example), and coating to reduce a sliding resistance with the outer peripheral surface232aof the thick shaft portion232of the rotation shaft23is applied to an inner peripheral surface213aof the second shaft bearing213.

In the medium diameter portion131bthat is at an outer side relative to the small diameter portion131aof the rotation shaft support hole131which is mounted with the second shaft bearing213, a rotation shaft sealing member214is attached to a clearance between an outer peripheral surface231aof the thin shaft portion231of the rotation shaft23and an inner peripheral surface131eof the medium diameter portion131bof the rotation shaft support hole131. The rotation shaft sealing member214includes an annular inward projecting portion214awhich projects inward and is annularly provided on an outer periphery of the thin shaft portion231of the rotation shaft23, and an outward projecting portion214bprojecting outward. The thin shaft portion231of the rotation shaft23is so configured that the outer peripheral surface231athereof comes into line contact with the annular inward projecting portion214a. The annular rotation shaft sealing member214includes a U-shaped cross-section and is provided in a state where the open side of the U-shape faces an outside of the surge tank1(the Y2side). The outward projecting portion214bis configured to annularly come into surface contact with the inner peripheral surface131eof the medium diameter portion131bof the rotation shaft support hole131. Due to the above-described configuration, outside air moving inward from the outside of the surge tank1can be effectively sealed or blocked.

As illustrated inFIG. 11, the rotation shaft23is provided to project outward from the actuator attach portion160in a state where the valve body21is rotatably attached to the surge tank1. A shaft attach portion120aof the actuator120rotating the rotation shaft23is mounted on a portion (a region in the vicinity of an end portion of the thin shaft portion231at the Y2side) of the rotation shaft23which projects outward from the actuator attach portion160. That is, at the outside of the surge tank1, the actuator120is fixed to the actuator attach portion160.

As illustrated inFIG. 9, the first shaft bearing24is configured to be rotatably supported by the shaft member215fixed to the shaft member fixing portion42of the partition wall4. The shaft member215is made of metal (stainless steel, aluminum alloy, or the like, for example) and includes a slide portion215asliding relative to the first shaft bearing24and a press-fitted portion215bincluding an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the slide portion215a. The press-fitted portion215bhaving the enlarged outer diameter is press-fitted into the bush member422made of metal and provided at the shaft member support hole421, whereby the shaft member215is fixed to the shaft member fixing portion42. Coating to reduce a sliding resistance with an outer peripheral surface215cof the slide portion215ais applied to an inner peripheral surface24aof the first shaft bearing24.

As illustrated inFIG. 10, at a front side and a rear side of the valve body21, plural transverse ribs216aeach extending in the direction orthogonal to the rotation shaft line L1and plural longitudinal ribs216bconnecting the plural transverse ribs216ato each other are integrally formed. The transverse ribs216ain the vicinity of a central portion of the valve body21in a lengthwise direction thereof (the direction Y) are formed to extend to the vicinities of both end portions of the valve body21in a direction (a direction X) that is orthogonal to the lengthwise direction. The farther away from the central portion in the lengthwise direction towards both end portions of the valve body21in the lengthwise direction, the shorter the lengths of the horizontal ribs216aare. Thus, the transverse ribs216ain the central portion of the valve body21in the lengthwise direction are formed to elongate in the direction X, whereby a mechanical strength of the central portion of the valve body21in the lengthwise direction is enhanced.

The seal member22is made of an elastic member (rubber, for example) and is configured to provide a seal between the partition wall4and the valve body21by coming into contact with the partition wall4of the surge tank1at the closed position of the valve body21. Specifically, as illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8, the seal member22is configured to come into contact with the sealing surfaces411aand412aprovided along the edge portions of the fluid passage41of the partition wall4. The seal member22includes a protruding portion221protruding towards the sealing surfaces411aand412a. As illustrated inFIG. 8, at the closed position of the valve body21, the seal member22provides seal between the partition wall4and the valve body21in a state where the protruding portion221is in contact with the sealing surfaces411aand412aand the protruding portion221is pressed and crushed between the partition wall4and the valve body21. As will be described later in detail, the middle piece103with the valve body21attached thereto is joined to the lower piece102and to the upper piece101by the appropriate manufacturing process, and therefore the seal member22arranged at the outer periphery of the valve body21comes in reliably contact with the sealing surface411aprovided along the edge portion411of the fluid passage41and with the sealing surface412aprovided along the edge portion412of the fluid passage41over an entire area of the seal surfaces411aand412a. Thus, the seal member22is so configured to reliably seal the fluid passage41.

As illustrated inFIGS. 3 to 5, the actuator120is attached to an end surface of the actuator attach portion160at the Y2side with screw members9, for example, two of the screw members9(refer toFIG. 3). When the actuator attach portion160is viewed from a lateral side as illustrated inFIG. 12, a jig-receiving portion161is provided at the actuator attach portion160, around the rotation shaft support hole131penetrating a central portion (the rotation shaft line L1) of the actuator attach portion160in the direction Y. The jig-receiving portion161includes plural (for example, five) jig-insertion holes161a,161b,161c,161dand161e. The jig-insertion holes161ato161eare separated from one another by an inner peripheral wall131fof the rotation shaft support hole131, by ribs132each including a predetermined thickness and extending from the inner peripheral wall131fradially outwardly, and by an outer peripheral wall131gforming an outer shape of the actuator attach portion160and including a predetermined thickness.

As illustrated inFIG. 5, the jig-insertion hole161dis extended from the end surface portion of the actuator attach portion160at the Y2side along a direction of the arrow Y1to a position corresponding to the position of the joint portion103a. Similarly, the jig-insertion hole161bis extended from the end surface portion of the actuator attach portion160at the Y2side along the direction of the arrow Y1to a position corresponding to the position of the joint portion103b. Each of the jig-insertion holes161ato161eis extended to the above-described depth position (towards the Y1side). The direction (the direction Y) in which the jig-insertion holes161ato161eare extended is a direction orthogonal to a joining direction (the direction Z) in which the upper piece101, the lower piece102and the middle piece103are joined to one another.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, when the lower piece102forming the second surge tank region12(the Z2side) is being joined to the middle piece103in the direction Z by the vibration welding in the manufacturing process, the jig-receiving portion161(assembly structure including the jig-insertion holes161ato161e) of the actuator attach portion160receives thereat a jig201(refer toFIG. 15) holding the middle piece103. In addition, when the upper piece101forming the first surge tank region11(the Z1side) is being joined to the middle piece103by the vibration welding in the manufacturing process, the jig-receiving portion161receives thereat a jig202(refer toFIG. 16) holding the middle piece103. Each of the jig201and the jig202serves as “the jig of the present disclosure.

From among the jig-insertion holes161ato161e, each of the jig-insertion hole161aand the jig-insertion hole161bis so configured that an insertion portion201a(refer toFIG. 15) of the jig201(refer toFIG. 15) used when joining the lower piece102to the middle piece103is inserted into each of the jig-insertion hole161aand the jig-insertion hole161b. Each of the jig-insertion hole101cto the jig-insertion hole101eis so configured that an insertion portion202a(refer toFIG. 16) of the jig202(refer toFIG. 16) used when joining the upper piece101to the middle piece103is inserted into each of the jig-insertion hole101cto the jig-insertion hole101e. At this time, the insertion portion201aof the jig201is inserted to bottom portions (the Y1side) of the jig-insertion holes161aand161beach extended to the position corresponding to the position where the joint portion103bis formed. In addition, the insertion portion202aof the jig202is inserted to bottom portions (the Y1side) of the jig-insertion holes161cto161eeach extended to the position corresponding to the position where the joint portion103ais formed. The jig-insertion hole161aand the jig-insertion hole161bserve as an example of “a second jig-insertion hole” of the present disclosure and the jig-insertion holes161c,161dand161eserve as an example of “a first jig-insertion hole” of the present disclosure.

According to the present embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 4, a jig-receiving surface4aincluding a flat surface is formed at the partition wall4of the middle piece103. The jig-receiving surface4ais formed at the Z1side (the front side of the paper surface on whichFIG. 4is drawn at which the first surge tank region11is arranged) of the partition wall4to surround the fluid passage41serving as the opening portion. The jig-receiving surface4afunctions as the jig-receiving portion directly receiving the jig201(refer toFIG. 15). In addition, the jig-receiving surface4ais arranged at an outer side relative to the seal surface412a(the seal surface411a) with which the seal member22of the valve body21which is arranged along the edge portion412(the edge portion411) of the fluid passage41is in contact. That is, a half of the jig-receiving surface4awith respect to the rotation shaft line L1is constituted by an upper surface (the Z1side) of the edge portion411which is formed by a flat surface. The latter half of the jig-receiving surface4ais constituted by an upper surface (the Z1side) of the edge portion412which is formed by a flat surface. Thus, it is so configured that the middle piece103and the lower piece102can be joined to each other in a state where the jig-receiving surface4aformed by the flat surfaces is directly supported from below by a support portion201b(refer toFIG. 15) of the jig201. In a plan view, the support portion201bof the jig201is formed in a shape corresponding to a shape of the jig-receiving surface4athat is formed in a shape of an elongated hole (a track-shape or an elliptic shape) except for vicinities of the rotation shaft line L1. That is, the support portion201bof the jig201is configured to be in surface contact with the jig-receiving surface4acircumferentially and continuously except for the vicinities of the rotation shaft line L1.

In the present embodiment, the jig-receiving portion161(the jig-insertion holes161ato161e) provided at the actuator attach portion160of the middle piece103is utilized as the receiving portion receiving the jigs201and202. Thus, the air intake apparatus body105can be manufactured by joining the lower piece102and the upper piece101to the middle piece103in a manner that after-forming design dimensions of the surge tank1, that is, design dimensions of the surge tank1after the surge tank1is formed, is obtained or satisfied. Further, when the middle piece103and the lower piece102are being joined to each other, the jig-receiving surface4aof the partition wall4is supported from below by the jig201, in addition to the jig-receiving portion161(the jig-insertion holes161aand161b). That is, even in a case where curvature or warp deformation (individual differences) which deviates from the design dimensions is generated at each of the upper piece101, the lower piece102and the middle piece103(in particular, at the joint portions101a,102a,103aand103b) when the upper piece101, the lower piece102and the middle piece103are resin-molded, the middle piece103is vibration-welded to the lower piece102in a state where a predetermined shape or configuration of the middle piece103is maintained (corrected) by the jig201(refer toFIG. 15) and the middle piece103is vibration-welded to the upper piece101in a state where the predetermined shape of the middle piece103is maintained (corrected) by the jig202(refer toFIG. 16).

Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is restricted that the lower piece102and the upper piece101are joined to the middle piece103to form the surge tank1in a state where strain deformation exceeding an allowable value is generated and remains thereat, such a strain deformation attributes to the curvature or warp deformation occurring at each of the members. In addition, because the partition wall4(the jig-receiving surface4a) around the fluid passage41is also supported from below by the support portion201b(refer toFIG. 15) of the jig201at the same time as the jig-insertion holes161aand161bof the actuator attach portion160receive thereat the insertion portion201a, it is effectively restricted that deflection deformation including curvature and/or torsion is generated at the region of the seal surfaces411aand412aof the partition wall4due to the way of load application during the vibration welding. Accordingly, in the surge tank1after the air intake apparatus body105is formed, the seal member22of the valve body21is reliably in contact with the seal surfaces411aand412aover the entire region of the seal surfaces411aand412a. Further, the rotation shaft line L1is not distorted or strained, and thus the air intake control valve2rotates smoothly.

Next, the manufacturing process of the air intake apparatus100will be explained with reference toFIGS. 3, 5, 6 and 11 to 16. First, a process or step of attaching the air intake control valve2to the middle piece103will be explained. Thereafter, a process or step of assembling the entire air intake apparatus body105in a state where the air intake control valve2is attached to or incorporated in the middle piece103will be explained.

As illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 13, in a state where the rotation shaft23and the first shaft bearing24are integrally provided at the first end portion21aand the second end portion21bof the valve body21, respectively and the seal member22is attached to the outer periphery of the valve body21, the thin shaft portion231of the rotation shaft23is inserted into the rotation shaft support hole131to which the second shaft bearing213has not been attached yet, while the valve body21is being inclined relative to the middle piece103. Because an outer diameter of the thin shaft portion231of the rotation shaft23is smaller than an outer diameter of the thick shaft portion232, a sufficient clearance is obtained between the thin shaft portion231and the inner peripheral surface131dof the small diameter portion131aof the rotation shaft support hole131at this time, and also a clearance corresponding to a plate thickness (approximately 1 mm, for example) of the second shaft bearing213is obtained between the thick shaft portion232of the rotation shaft23and the inner peripheral surface131dof the small diameter portion131aof the rotation shaft support hole131. Therefore, the rotation shaft23can be easily inserted into the rotation shaft support hole131of the middle piece103, while the valve body21is being inclined or tilted.

As illustrated inFIGS. 13 and 14, in a state where the rotation shaft23at the first end portion21aof the valve body21is inserted in the rotation shaft support hole131, the second end portion21bprovided with the first shaft bearing24is inserted into the fluid passage41while the valve body21is inclined. Thus, the rotation shaft holding portion211of the valve body21is opposed to and comes into contact with the actuator attach portion160of the middle piece103, and the shaft bearing holding portion212is opposed to and comes into contact with the shaft member fixing portion42of the partition wall4.

Thereafter, as illustrated inFIG. 14, the second shaft bearing213is press-fitted into the clearance between the outer peripheral surface232a(refer toFIG. 6) of the thick shaft portion232of the rotation shaft23and the inner peripheral surface131dof the small diameter portion131aof the rotation shaft support hole131at the side of the first end portion21aof the valve body21. Then, the annular rotation shaft sealing member214is fitted into the clearance between the outer peripheral surface231a(refer toFIG. 6) of the thin shaft portion231of the rotation shaft23and the inner peripheral surface131eof the medium diameter portion131bof the rotation shaft support hole131. Thereafter, at the side of the second end portion21bof the valve body21, the shaft member215is slid along the rotation shaft line L1of the valve body21(along the direction Y) while an internal space of the concave escape portion43of the partition wall4is being utilized for the insertion of the shaft member215, and the press-fitted portion215bis press-fitted into the bush member422integrally provided at the shaft member fixing portion42. At this time, the shaft member215is inserted from the side of the slide portion215a, and is pushed towards the Y2direction side until the slide portion215areaches a position corresponding to the first shaft bearing24of the valve body21. Thus, both the first end portion21aand the second end portion21bof the valve body21are supported to be rotatable relative to the middle piece103. Thereafter, as illustrated inFIG. 11, from the outside of the surge tank1, the shaft attach portion120aof the actuator120configured to rotate the rotation shaft23is attached to a portion of the rotation shaft23projecting outwardly from the actuator attach portion160. In this manner, the air intake control valve2is attached to the middle piece103.

Next, the lower piece102is joined to the middle piece103to which the air intake control valve2is attached. Specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 15, in a state where the lower piece102is inverted in the up/down direction so as to be arranged in an orientation opposite to the state illustrated inFIG. 12, the lower piece102is attached to the jig203(drawn with double-dotted lines). The jig203is fixed to the lower piece102to support an outer side (an outer peripheral portion) of the joint portion102a, which is formed in the annular shape, along the entire circumference of the joint portion102a. Then, in a state where the joint portion103bof the middle piece103faces the lower piece102, the middle piece103is attached to the jig201(drawn with double-dotted lines). At this time, the insertion portion201aof the jig201is inserted into the jig-insertion hole161aand the jig-insertion hole161bof the jig-receiving portion161of the actuator attach portion160. The insertion portion201ais inserted to the positions in the jig-insertion holes161aand161bwhich correspond to the position (refer toFIG. 5) where the joint portion103bis formed. The jig201is fixed to the middle piece103in a manner that the support portion201bdirectly supports the jig-receiving surface4afrom below (from the Z1side) and that the jig201supports an outer side (an outer peripheral portion) of the joint portion103b, which is formed in the annular shape, along the entire circumference of the joint portion103bfrom below (from the Z1side).

Then, the middle piece103is moved upward from below in a direction of the arrow Z2so that the joint portion103bof the middle piece103and the joint portion102aof the lower piece102face each other. In a state where the joint portion103bis in surface contact with the joint portion102a, the middle piece103(the Z1side) is pushed against the lower piece102(the Z2side) with a predetermined load (pressing force). In this state, the lower piece102is vibrated in a direction or directions in a horizontal plane for a predetermined time period (approximately 5 seconds, for example) while the middle piece103is kept static. Thus, the joint surfaces of the respective joint portion103band the joint portion102aare rubbed against each other, that is, are in friction with each other, thereby generating frictional heat by which the joint portion103band the joint portion102aare welded to each other. Accordingly, the middle piece103and the lower piece102are joined to each other. As a result, inFIG. 12, a structural body in which the middle piece103and the lower piece102are joined to each other is formed.

At this time, in a state where the predetermined shape of the middle piece103is maintained by the jig201and the predetermined shape of the lower piece102is maintained by the jig203, the joint portion103band the joint portion102aare welded to each other. In particular, at the portion of the partition wall4around the fluid passage41(the jig-receiving surface4aformed in the annular shape), flatness or evenness is maintained without including the deflection deformation. Thus, flatness or evenness (a degree of parallelization relative to the seal member22) is maintained at each of the seal surface411aof the edge portion411and the seal surface412aof the edge portion412of the fluid passage41of the partition wall4in a state where the valve body21is attached to the partition wall4. Further, a shape of a space portion of the second surge tank region12(at the Z2side inFIG. 12) is formed without deflection deforming occurring at the rotation shaft line L1rotating the valve body21. Thereafter, the jig201and the jig203are removed from the middle piece103and the lower piece102.

Next, the upper piece101is joined to the middle piece103to which the lower piece102has been joined in advance. Specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 16, the upper piece101is attached to the jig204(drawn with double-dotted lines). The jig204is fixed to the upper piece101to support an outer side (an outer peripheral portion) of the joint portion101a, which is formed in the annular shape, along the entire circumference of the joint portion101a. Then, in a state where the joint portion103aof the middle piece103faces the upper piece101, the middle piece103is attached to the jig202(drawn with double-dotted lines). At this time, the insertion-portion202aof the jig202is inserted into the jig-insertion holes161cto161eof the jig-receiving portion161of the actuator attach portion160. The insertion portion202ais inserted to the portions at the jig-insertion holes161cto161ewhich correspond to the position (refer toFIG. 5) where the joint portion103ais formed. The jig202is fixed to the middle piece103to support the outer side (an outer peripheral portion) of the joint portion103a, which is formed in the annular shape, along the entire circumference of the joint portion103a.

Then, the middle piece103is moved upward from below in a direction of the arrow Z1so that the joint portion103aof the middle piece103and the joint portion101aof the upper piece101face each other. In a state where the joint portion103ais in surface contact with the joint portion101a, the middle piece103(the Z2side) is pushed against the upper piece101(the Z1side) with a predetermined load (pressing force). In this state, the upper piece101is vibrated in a direction or directions in a horizontal plane for a predetermined time period (approximately 5 seconds, for example) while the middle piece103is being kept static. Thus, the joint surfaces of the respective joint portion103aand the joint portion101aare rubbed against each other, that is, are in friction with each other, thereby generating frictional heat by which the joint portion103aand the joint portion101aare welded to each other. As a result, the middle piece103and the upper piece101are joined to each other.

At this time, in a state where the predetermined shape of the middle piece103is maintained by the jig202and the predetermined shape of the upper piece101is maintained by the jig204, the joint portion103aand the joint portion101aare welded to each other. Also in this case, the flatness or evenness (a degree of parallelization relative to the seal member22) is maintained at each of the seal surface411aof the edge portion411and the seal surface412aof the edge portion412of the fluid passage41of the partition wall4in a state where the valve body21is attached to the partition wall4because the flatness or evenness at the portion of the jig-receiving surface4ais already obtained when the middle piece103is joined to the lower piece102. Further, a shape of a space portion of the first surge tank region11(at the Z1side inFIG. 12) is formed without the deflection deforming occurring at the rotation shaft line L1. Thereafter, the jig202and the jig204are removed from the middle piece103and the upper piece101.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, first, the lower piece102including a relatively higher rigidity than the upper piece101, and the middle piece103are joined to each other. Thereafter, the upper piece101including a relatively lower rigidity than the lower piece102, and the middle piece103, in a state where the lower piece102and the middle piece103are already joined to each other, are joined to each other. Finally, as illustrated inFIG. 3, the actuator120is attached to the actuator attach portion160with the two screw members9. As described above, the air intake apparatus body105is assembled and the air intake apparatus100is manufactured. In the present embodiment, the lower piece102serves as one of the upper piece101and the lower piece102, and the upper piece101serves as the other of the upper piece101and the lower piece102.

According to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, at the middle piece103to which the valve body21is attached, the jig-receiving portion161(the jig-insertion holes161aand161b) and the jig-receiving surface4aare provided at the actuator attach portion160and at the partition wall4, respectively. The jig-receiving portion161(the jig-insertion holes161aand161b) and the jig-receiving surface4aare provided in the vicinity of the fluid passage41and are for receiving the jig201(refer toFIG. 15) holding the middle piece103while the middle piece103and the lower piece102are being joined to each other. In addition, the jig-receiving portion161(the jig-insertion holes161cto161e) for receiving the jig202(refer toFIG. 16) holding the middle piece103while the middle piece103and the upper piece101are being joined to each other is provided at the actuator attach portion160. According to the manufacturing process of the air intake apparatus100of the present embodiment, the middle piece103and the lower piece102are joined to each other by the vibration welding in a state where the jig-receiving portion161(the jig-insertion holes161aand161b) and the jig-receiving surface4aare held by the jig201. The middle piece103and the upper piece101are joined to each other by the vibration welding in a state where the jig-receiving portion161(the jig-insertion holes161cto161e) is held by the jig202. Consequently, the air intake apparatus body105is formed.

Thus, when the upper piece101, the lower piece102and the middle piece103are joined to each other to manufacture the air intake apparatus body105, the middle piece103can be joined to the lower piece102in a state where the middle piece103is held by the jig201via the jig-receiving portion161(the jig-insertion holes161aand161b) and the jig-receiving surface4awhich are provided in the vicinity of the fluid passage41of the partition wall4. In addition, the middle piece103can be joined to the upper piece101in a state where the middle piece103is held by the jig202via the jig-receiving portion161(the jig-insertion holes161cto161e). That is, the middle piece103, and each of the lower piece102and the upper piece101are joined to each other to form the surge tank1while avoiding the deflection deformation such as warp and/or twist as much as possible at the portion of the partition wall4(the seal surfaces411aand412a) in the vicinity of the fluid passage41. Thus, after the air intake apparatus body105is manufactured, the flatness of the portion of the partition wall4(the seal surfaces411aand412a) at which the valve body21rotates is maintained around the fluid passage41, and therefore an appropriate sealing performance or sealability is ensured when the valve body21is at the closed position.

As described above, the present embodiment includes the air intake apparatus body105including the surge tank1, and the valve body21rotatably attached to the surge tank1and rotating between the open position where the valve body21is out of contact with the partition wall4and the closed position where the valve body21is in contact with the partition wall4to open and close the fluid passage41formed at the partition wall4dividing the inside of the surge tank1into the two parts. Accordingly, the fluid passage41formed at the partition wall4is directly blocked or closed with the valve body21in a case where the valve body21rotates to the closed position, and accordingly the opening portion formed at the partition wall4can be used as the fluid passage41as is, which is opened and closed with the valve body21. That is, according to the present embodiment, unlike a structure where a fluid passage formed at a frame-shaped body is opened and closed with the valve body, a cross-sectional area of the fluid passage41opened and closed by the valve body21is not narrower or smaller than a cross-sectional area of the opening portion formed at the partition wall4. Therefore, the cross-sectional area of the fluid passage41can be increased correspondingly. Consequently, in a case where the valve body21is positioned at the open position to make the fluid communication between the two space portions, pressure loss of the intake air circulating through the fluid passage41can be reduced by the increment of the cross-sectional area of the fluid passage41, thereby increasing an amount of intake air circulating through the fluid passage41, and therefore a supercharging effect is enhanced. In addition, the air intake apparatus body105does not include the frame-shaped body (the frame) and/or a gasket provided at an outer peripheral surface of the frame-shaped body, and hence the number of components can be reduced to simplify the structure and also simplify the assembling process of the valve body21.

According to the present embodiment, the middle piece103includes the actuator attach portion160for attaching the actuator120which rotates the valve body21, and the jig-receiving portion161is provided at the actuator attach portion160. In the manufacturing process of the air intake apparatus100, the middle piece103and the lower piece102are joined to each other in a state where the jig-receiving portion161of the actuator attach portion160is held by the jig201(refer toFIG. 15) and the middle piece103and the upper piece101are joined to each other in a state where the jig-receiving portion161of the actuator attach portion160is held by the jig202(refer toFIG. 16), whereby the air intake apparatus body105is formed. Because the jig-receiving portion161(the jig-insertion holes161ato161e) is provided at the actuator attach portion160that is relatively close to the fluid passage41, the jig-receiving portion161of the actuator attach portion160is held by the jig201(the jig202), and therefore the middle piece103and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) are joined to each other in a state where the portion of the partition wall4which is in the vicinity of the fluid passage41is easily held. Accordingly, when the middle piece103, and the lower piece102and the upper piece101are being joined to each other, it is easily restricted that the deflection deformation occurs at the seal surfaces411aand412awhich are in the vicinity of the fluid passage41and to which the valve body21is in contact. In addition, because the actuator attach portion160is held by the jig201(the jig202), it is reliably restricted that the rotation shaft support hole131, into which the rotation shaft23of the valve body21is inserted, is deflected and deformed (that is, crushed and thus deformed) when the middle piece103and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) are being joined to each other.

According to the present embodiment, the actuator attach portion160is so configured to include the jig-insertion holes161a,161b,161c,161d,161eserving as the jig-receiving portion161. Accordingly, by inserting the jig201or the jig202into the jig-insertion holes161a,161b,161c,161d,161ethat are provided at the actuator attach portion160, the jig-receiving portion161of the actuator attach portion160is held by the jig201or the jig202easily in a simple manner.

According to the present embodiment, the jig-receiving portion161is so configured to include the jig-insertion holes161cto161einto which the insertion portion202aof the jig202(refer toFIG. 16) is inserted while the middle piece103and the upper piece101are being joined to each other and which are arranged at a side closer to the upper piece101than to the lower piece102. In addition, the jig-receiving portion161is so configured to include the jig-insertion holes161aand161binto which the insertion portion201aof the jig201(refer toFIG. 15) is inserted when the middle piece103and the lower piece102are being joined to each other and which are arranged at a side closer to the lower piece102than to the upper piece101. Accordingly, when the upper piece101is being joined to the middle piece103including the partition wall4, the portion of the jig-receiving portion161(the middle piece103) which is in the vicinity of the joined portion with the upper piece101is reliably held via the jig-insertion holes161cto161eprovided at the middle piece103to be arranged closer relative to the upper piece101. In addition, when the lower piece102is being joined to the middle piece103, the portion of the jig-receiving portion161(the middle piece103) which is in the vicinity of the joined portion with the lower piece102is reliably held via the jig-insertion holes161aand161bprovided at the middle piece103to be arranged closer relative to the lower piece102.

According to the present embodiment, the middle piece103includes the partition wall4dividing the inside of the surge tank1into the two parts, and the partition wall4is provided with the jig-receiving surface4aconstituted by the flat surface surrounding the fluid passage41. The middle piece103and the lower piece102are joined to each other in a state where the jig-receiving surface4aconstituted by the flat surface is held by the support portion201bof the jig201(refer toFIG. 15). Accordingly, the jig-receiving surface4aconstituted by the flat surface is supported directly by the support portion201bof the jig201, and thus the middle piece103and the lower piece102can be joined to each other in a state where the vicinity of the seal surfaces411aand412asurrounding the fluid passage41of the partition wall4is reliably held. Consequently, the seal surfaces411aand412a, which are in the vicinity of the fluid passage41and with which the valve body21is in contact, are reliably restricted from being deflected or deformed when the middle piece103and the lower piece102are being joined to each other.

According to the present embodiment, the jig-receiving surface4ais arranged at the outer side relative to the seal surface412awith which the seal member22of the valve body21is configured to be in contact. The seal member22is provided along the edge portion412of the fluid passage41. Accordingly, the lower piece102can be joined to the middle piece103in a state where the jig-receiving surface4aat the outer side than the seal surface412aof the middle piece103is supported by the support portion201bof the jig201without causing the support portion201bof the jig201to be in contact with the seal surface412a. Consequently, after the air intake apparatus body105is formed, the seal surface412adoes not include, for example, a dent (trace or mark made by the application of load) caused by the support portion201bof the jig201and the flatness of the seal surface412ais maintained. As a result, the sealability at the fluid passage41by the valve body21is sufficiently ensured.

According to the present embodiment, each of the jig-insertion holes161ato161eis formed to extend in the direction Y that is orthogonal to the joining direction (the direction Z) in which the middle piece103and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) are joined to each other. Accordingly, in a case where the middle piece103and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) are made to face each other in the direction Z and then to be joined to each other in the direction Z, the jig-insertion portion201aof the jig201(the jig-insertion portion202aof the jig202) can be inserted into the respective jig-insertion holes161ato161efrom a lateral side (from the outer side) which is orthogonal to the joining direction. Consequently, the jig-receiving portion161(the actuator attach portion160) of the middle piece103is supported easily in a simple manner when the middle piece103and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) are being joined to each other.

According to the present embodiment, the middle piece103includes the joint portion103bconfigured to be joined to the lower piece102and the joint portion103aconfigured to be joined to the upper piece101. The jig-receiving portion161is provided at the middle piece103so that the jig201(the insertion portion201a) is received at the position corresponding to the joint portion103bof the middle piece103and that the jig202(the insertion portion202a) is received at the position corresponding to the joint portion103aof the middle piece103. Accordingly, the jig201is arranged at the position corresponding to the joint portion103bof the middle piece103at which the middle piece103is joined to the lower piece102, and the jig202is arranged at the position corresponding to the joint portion103aof the middle piece103at which the middle piece103is joined to the upper piece101. Consequently, the pressing force (a pressure-joining force) during the joining of the middle piece103and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) can be received at the side of the jig201(the jig202) appropriately via the jig-receiving portion161. As a result, the middle piece103and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) are reliably joined to each other in a state where the joint portion103b(the joint portion103a) of the middle piece103is stably held by the jig201(the jig202).

According to the manufacturing process of the air intake apparatus100of the present embodiment, the air intake apparatus body105is formed in the following manner. The lower piece102of which the rigidity is relatively high and the middle piece103which is in a state where the jig-receiving portion161is held by the jig201(refer toFIG. 15) are joined to each other by the vibration welding. Thereafter, the upper piece101of which the rigidity is relatively low and the middle piece103is further joined to each other in a state where the lower piece102of which the rigidity is relatively high and the middle piece103have been joined to each other and the jig-receiving portion161is held by the jig202(refer toFIG. 16). Accordingly, the lower piece102including the relatively high rigidity and an appropriate load-bearing performance during the vibration-welding, and the middle piece103including the partition wall4are joined to each other first so that the structural body including little or small distortion (that is, the structure including the accurate design dimension) is obtained. Thereafter, the upper piece101including the relatively low rigidity is joined to the above-described structural body including the little or small distortion (that is, the structural body including the accurate design dimension). Thus, the air intake apparatus body105is formed in the above-described manner. Consequently, even in a case where the upper piece101, the lower piece102and the middle piece103are joined to one another by the vibration welding, the flatness is ensured at the portion of the partition wall4(the seal surfaces411aand412a) where the valve body21is rotated. Further, the air intake apparatus body105including, after completion of the manufacture thereof, the accurate design dimension is easily obtained.

According to the manufacturing process of the air intake apparatus100of the present embodiment, in the process of forming the air intake apparatus body105, the middle piece103and the lower piece102are joined to each other by the vibration welding in a state where the jig-receiving surface4aof the middle piece103, the jig-receiving surface4abeing constituted by the flat surface, is supported by the support portion201bof the jig201and where the insertion portion201aof the jig201is inserted in the jig-insertion hole161aand the jig-insertion hole161bof the middle piece103(refer toFIG. 15). Thereafter, the middle piece103to which the lower piece102has been joined and the upper piece101are joined to each other by the vibration welding in a state where the insertion portion202aof the jig202is inserted in the jig-insertion holes161cto161eof the middle piece103(refer toFIG. 16). Because the middle piece103is joined in advance to the lower piece102including the relatively high rigidity and the appropriate load-bearing performance during the vibration-welding, the structural body including the little or small distortion (that is, the structural body including the accurate design dimension) is formed. While the middle piece103is being joined to the lower piece102, the middle piece103is in a state where the jig-receiving surface4ais supported by the support portion201bof the jig201at the same time as the insertion portion201aof the jig201is inserted into the jig-insertion holes161aand161bwhich are arranged at the middle piece103to be positioned at the side closer to the lower piece102, and thus the jig-receiving portion161in the vicinity of the joint portion with the lower piece102and the jig-receiving surface4aare reliably held or supported. Then, after the lower piece102is joined to the middle piece103, the middle piece103is joined to the upper piece101including the relatively low rigidity. While the middle piece103is being joined to the upper piece101, the middle piece103is in a state where the insertion portion202aof the jig202is inserted into the jig-insertion holes161cto161ewhich are arranged at the middle piece103to be positioned at the side closer to the upper piece101and thus the portion of the jig-receiving portion161which is in the vicinity of the joined portion with the upper piece101is reliably held. Thus, the occurrence of the distortion can be prevented or reduced. Consequently, even in a case where the upper piece101, the lower piece102and the middle piece103are joined to one another by the vibration welding, the flatness of the portion of the partition wall4(the seal surfaces411aand412a) where the valve body21rotates is ensured. Further, the air intake apparatus body105including, after completion of the manufacture thereof, the accurate design dimension is easily obtained.

The embodiment disclosed here is considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The range of the present disclosure is illustrated not by the above description of the embodiment but by the scope of claims, and all modifications within the meaning and range equivalent to the scope of the claims are included.

For example, while the example of applying “the air intake apparatus” according to the present disclosure to the V-type 6-cylinder engine for an automobile is illustrated in the aforementioned embodiment, the present disclosure is not restricted to this. The air intake apparatus according to the present disclosure may be applied to an internal-combustion engine other than an engine for an automobile, or the air intake apparatus according to the present disclosure may be applied to a V-type multi-cylinder engine other than the V-type 6-cylinder engine and/or to an inline or straight engine or the like.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the example is described where the first surge tank region11and the second surge tank region12which are separated from each other by the partition wall4are arranged to be parallel to each other (adjacent to each other) in the up/down direction (the vertical direction), however, the present disclosure is not restricted to this. According to the present disclosure, the first surge tank region11and the second surge tank region12may be arranged parallel to each other (adjacent to each other) in the horizontal direction, or the first surge tank region11and the second surge tank region12may be arranged parallel to each other (adjacent to each other) in a direction other than the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the example of integrally providing the rotation shaft23at the first end portion21a(the end portion in the Y2direction) of the valve body21and integrally providing the first shaft bearing24at the second end portion21b(the end portion in the Y1direction) of the valve body21is illustrated, however, the present disclosure is not restricted to this. According to the present disclosure, the first shaft bearing24may be integrally provided at the first end portion21aof the valve body21, and the rotation shaft23may be integrally provided at the second end portion21bof the valve body21. Alternatively, the rotation shaft23may be integrally provided at each of the first end portion21aof the valve body21and the second end portion21bof the valve body21.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the example where the valve body21is made of resin and each of the rotation shaft23, the first shaft bearing24, the second shaft bearing213, the shaft member215, and the bush member422is made of metal, however, the present disclosure is not restricted to this. According to the present disclosure, the valve body21may be made of a material other than resin, including metal, or each of the rotation shaft23, the first shaft bearing24, the second shaft bearing213, the shaft member215, and the bush member422may be made of a material other than metal, including resin, for example.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the example of the concave escape portion43formed to be concave downward (towards the Z2direction side) is illustrated, however, the present disclosure is not restricted to this. According to the present disclosure, a concave escape portion243may be formed to be concave upward (towards a Z1direction side) so that an inner surface243aof the concave escape portion243includes a convex shape on the upper side, as in a modification illustrated inFIG. 17. According to the above-described configuration, an extraneous material or foreign matters such as oil can be inhibited from accumulating in the concave escape portion243, and hence the valve body21can be inhibited from being unstably rotated in the opening and closing operation of the valve body21due to accumulation of the extraneous material such as oil. Furthermore, even in a case where the concave escape portion43is formed to be concave downward (towards the Z2direction side) as in the aforementioned embodiment, the extraneous material such as oil can be inhibited from accumulating in the concave escape portion43by reducing (shallowing) the depth of the concave escape portion.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the example where the jig-insertion holes161ato161eof the actuator attach portion160and the jig-receiving surface4aof the partition wall4serve as “the jig-receiving portion” of the present disclosure which are provided at the middle piece103. However, the present disclosure is not restricted thereto. For example, when the middle piece103and the lower piece102are being joined to each other, the vibration welding may be performed in a state where a portion of the jig201is in contact also with the concave escape portion43of the partition wall4. That is, the escape portion43may be used as “the jig-receiving portion” of the present disclosure.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the example of joining the lower piece102to the middle piece103, and then joining the upper piece101to the middle piece103in this order to form the air intake apparatus105, however, the present disclosure is not restricted thereto. That is, in a case where the upper piece101includes a relatively higher rigidity, the upper piece101may be joined to the middle piece103, and then the lower piece102may be joined to the middle piece103in this order to form the air intake apparatus105. In this case, the middle piece103may be so configured that “the jig-receiving surface” of the present disclosure is arranged at the side of the partition wall4, the side which faces the lower piece102.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the example where the jig-insertion holes161c,161dand161econstitute “the first jig-insertion hole” of the present disclosure, and the jig-insertion holes161aand161bconstitute “the second jig-insertion hole” of the present disclosure, however, the present disclosure is not restricted thereto. That is, the number of “the first jig-insertion hole” and “the second jig-insertion hole” of the present disclosure may be a number other than the numbers described above.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the example is illustrated where the actuator attach portion160of the middle piece103is held from the inner side of the surge tank1in a manner that the jig201(the jig-insertion portion201a) or the jig202(the jig insertion portion202a) is inserted in the jig-insertion holes161ato161ewhen the lower piece102is being joined to the middle piece103and then when the upper piece101is being joined to the middle piece103sequentially, however, the present disclosure is not restricted thereto. For example, in addition to that the jig (the jig-insertion portion) is inserted into the jig-insertion holes161ato161e, a holding portion configured to circumferentially hold the outer peripheral wall131gof the actuator attach portion160(refer toFIG. 12) may be provided at the jig201and/or the jig202. That is, the lower piece102and the upper piece101may be joined to the middle piece103sequentially in a state where the middle piece103is held with the use of the jig configured to hold the actuator attach portion160at both the inner side and the outer side of the surge tank1. Thus, the upper piece101, the lower piece102and the middle piece103can be joined to one another in a manner that the deformation is even more restricted from occurring at the portion of the partition wall4around the fluid passage41when the surge tank1is formed (vibration-welded). Accordingly, the flatness of the portion of the partition wall4where the valve body21is rotated (the seal surfaces411aand412a) can be maintained more effectively around the fluid passage41. In addition, the rotation shaft line L1is effectively prevented from being distorted.

According to the aforementioned embodiment, the air intake apparatus100includes the air intake apparatus body105including the surge tank1for the V-type 6-cylinder engine10, the valve body21rotatably attached to the surge tank1and configured to rotate between the open position and the closed position to open and close the fluid passage41formed at the partition wall4dividing the inside of the surge tank1into the two parts. The valve body21is out of contact with the partition wall4at the open position and is in contact with the partition wall4at the closed position. The air intake apparatus body105is formed by the middle piece103(the first member) to which the valve body21is attached and the upper piece101and the lower piece102(the second member) joined to each other, and the middle piece103includes the jig-receiving portions161and4aarranged in the vicinity of the fluid passage41and configured to receive the jigs201and202holding the middle piece103when the middle piece103and the upper piece101(the lower piece102) are being joined to each other.

According to the above-described configuration, the jig-receiving portions161and4aarranged in the vicinity of the fluid passage41for receiving the jigs201and202holding the middle piece103when the middle piece103and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) are being joined to each other is provided at the middle piece103to which the valve body21is attached. Accordingly, when the upper piece101(the lower piece102) and the middle piece103are being joined to each other to manufacture the air intake apparatus body105, the middle piece103can be joined to the lower piece102(the upper piece101) in a state where the middle piece103is held by the jig201(the jig202) via the jig-receiving portion161,4aprovided in the vicinity of the fluid passage41of the partition wall4. That is, the middle piece103and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) are joined to each other to form the surge tank1while avoiding, as much as possible, the deflection deformation such as the warp and/or twist at the portion of the partition wall4(the seal surfaces411aand412a) in the vicinity of the fluid passage41. Consequently, after the air intake apparatus body105is manufactured, the flatness of the portion of the partition wall4(the seal portion) where the valve body21is rotated is maintained around the fluid passage41, and therefore the appropriate sealing performance or sealability is ensured when the valve body21is at the closed position.

In addition, according to the above-described configuration, the air intake apparatus100includes the air intake apparatus body105including the surge tank1, the valve body21rotatably attached to the surge tank1and configured to rotate between the open position and the closed position to open and close the fluid passage41formed at the partition wall4dividing the inside of the surge tank1into the two parts. The valve body21is out of contact with the partition wall4at the open position and is in contact with the partition wall4at the closed position. Accordingly, by rotating the valve body21, the fluid passage41formed at the partition wall4is directly blocked or closed. That is, the opening portion formed at the partition wall4can be utilized, as is, as the fluid passage41opened and closed with the valve body21, whereby the cross-sectional area of the fluid passage41can be increased accordingly. Thus, in a case where the valve body21rotates to the open position to establish the fluid communication between the two space portions, the pressure loss of the intake air circulating or flowing through the fluid passage41is reduced and the amount of intake air flowing through the fluid passage41is increased, and therefore the supercharging effect is enhanced.

According to the air intake apparatus100of the present disclosure, as described above, in a case where the valve body21is at the open position, the amount of intake air that flows or circulates through the fluid passage41allowing the fluid communication between the two space portions within the surge tank1is increased, and therefore the supercharging effect is enhanced. Further, the appropriate sealing performance or sealability is ensured in a case where the valve body21is at the closed position.

According to the aforementioned embodiment, the first member103includes the actuator attach portion160to which the actuator120rotating the valve body21is configured to be attached, the jig-receiving portion161is provided at the actuator attach portion160, and the air intake apparatus body105is formed by the middle piece103, and the upper piece101and the lower piece102that are joined to each other in a state where the jig-receiving portion161of the actuator attach portion160is held by the jigs201and202.

According to the above-described configuration, the jig-receiving portion161is provided at the portion of the actuator attach portion160that is relatively close to the fluid passage41. Consequently, because the jig-receiving portion161of the actuator attach portion160is held by the jig201and202, the middle piece103and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) are joined to each other in a state where the portion in the vicinity of the fluid passage41is easily held. As a result, the seal portion (the seal surfaces411aand412a) with which the valve body21is configured to be in contact is easily restricted from being deflected or deformed while the middle piece103and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) are being joined to each other.

According to the aforementioned embodiment, the actuator attach portion160includes the jig-insertion holes161a,161b,161c,161d,161eserving as the jig-receiving portion161.

According to the above-described configuration, by inserting the jigs201and202into the corresponding jig-insertion holes161ato161ethat are provided at the actuator attach portion160, the jig-receiving portion161of the actuator attach portion160is easily held by the jigs201and202.

According to the aforementioned embodiment, the first member corresponds to the middle piece103including the partition wall4dividing the inside of the surge tank1into the two parts, the second member corresponds to the upper piece101arranged at the upper surface side of the partition wall4and the lower piece102arranged at the lower surface side of the partition wall4, the jig-insertion holes161a,161b,161c,161d,161einclude the first jig-insertion holes161c,161d,161einto which the jig202is inserted when the middle piece103and the upper piece101are being joined to each other, and the second jig-insertion holes161a,161binto which the jig201is inserted when the middle piece103and the lower piece102are being joined to each other. The first jig-insertion holes161c,161d,161eare arranged at the side which is closer to the upper piece101than to the lower piece102, and the second jig-insertion holes161a,161bare arranged at the side which is closer to the lower piece102than to the upper piece101.

According to the above-described configuration, when the upper piece101is being joined to the middle piece103including the partition wall4, the portion of the jig-receiving portion161(the middle piece103) which is in the vicinity of the joined portion with the upper piece101is reliably held via the first jig-insertion holes161cto161earranged in the middle piece103, at the side closer to the upper piece101. In addition, when the lower piece102is being joined to the middle piece103, the portion of the jig-receiving portion161(the middle piece103) which is in the vicinity of the joined portion with the lower piece102is reliably held via the second jig-insertion holes161aand161barranged in the middle piece103, at the side closer to the lower piece102.

According to the aforementioned embodiment, the middle piece103includes the partition wall4dividing the inside of the surge tank1into the two parts, the jig-receiving portion4aincludes the jig-receiving surface4aincluding the flat surface surrounding the fluid passage41formed at the partition wall4, and the middle piece103and the lower piece102are joined to each other in a state where the jig-receiving surface4aincluding the flat surface is supported by the jig201.

According to the above-described configuration, the jig-receiving surface4aconstituted by the flat surface is directly supported by the jig201. Accordingly, the middle piece103and the lower piece102can be joined to each other in a state where the portion (the vicinity of the seal portion) of the partition wall4which surrounds the fluid passage41is reliably held. Consequently, when the middle piece103and the lower piece102are being joined to each other, the seal portion (the seal surfaces411aand412a) which is in the vicinity of the fluid passage41and with which the valve body21is configured to be in contact is reliably restricted from being deflected.

According to the aforementioned embodiment, the jig-receiving surface4ais arranged at the outer side relative to the seal surface411a,412aconfigured to be in contact with the seal member22of the valve body21, the seal member22is arranged along the edge portion411,412of the fluid passage41.

According to the above-described configuration, the lower piece102can be joined to the middle piece103in a state where the jig-receiving surface4aat the outer side relative to the seal surfaces411aand412aof the middle piece103is supported by the jig201without causing the jig201to come into contact with the seal surfaces411aand412a. Consequently, after the air intake apparatus body105is formed, the seal surfaces411aand412ado not include, for example, the dent (the trace or mark of the application of load) caused by the jig201and the flatness of the seal surfaces411aand412ais maintained. As a result, the sealability of the fluid passage41by the valve body21is appropriately ensured.

According to the aforementioned embodiment, the manufacturing method of the air intake apparatus100, includes the step of attaching the valve body21to the middle piece103, the valve body21rotating between the open position and the closed position to open and close the fluid passage41formed at the partition wall4dividing the inside of the surge tank1for the V-type6-cylinder engine10into the two parts, the valve body21being out of contact with the partition wall4at the open position and being in contact with the partition wall4at the closed position, the step of forming the air intake apparatus body105including the surge tank1for the internal combustion engine10in a manner that the middle piece103to which the valve body21is attached and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) are joined to each other by the vibration welding, and the step of forming the air intake apparatus body105including the step of joining the middle piece103and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) to each other by the vibration welding in a state where the jig-receiving portions161and4aarranged in the vicinity of the fluid passage41of the middle piece103are held by the jigs201and202.

According to the above-described method, the air intake apparatus body105is formed in a manner that the middle piece103and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) are joined to each other by the vibration welding in a state where the jig-receiving portions161and4athat are arranged in the vicinity of the fluid passage41of the middle piece103are held by the jigs201and202. Accordingly, while the middle piece103and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) are being joined to each other by the vibration welding to manufacture the air intake apparatus body105, the middle piece103can be joined to the lower piece102(the upper piece101) in a state where the middle piece103is held by the jigs201and202via the jig-receiving portions161and4aprovided in the vicinity of the fluid passage41of the partition wall4. That is, the middle piece103and the lower piece102, and the upper piece101are joined to one another to form the surge tank1while avoiding the deflection deformation such as the warp and/or twist as much as possible at the portion (the seal portion) of the partition wall4in the vicinity of the fluid passage41. Consequently, after the air intake apparatus body105is manufactured, the flatness of the portion of the partition wall4(that is, the seal portion) where the valve body21rotates is maintained around the fluid passage41, and therefore the air intake apparatus100is obtained in which the appropriate sealing performance or sealability is ensured when the valve body21is at the closed position.

In addition, the above-described method includes the step of attaching the valve body21to the middle piece103. The valve body21is configured to rotate between the open position at which the valve body21is out of contact with the partition wall4and the closed position at which the valve body21is in contact with the partition wall4, to open and close the fluid passage41formed at the partition wall4dividing the inside of the surge tank1into the two parts. The above-described method includes the step of forming the air intake apparatus body105in a manner that the first member103in which the valve body21is incorporated and the lower piece102are joined to each other by the vibration welding. Accordingly, by rotating the valve body21, the fluid passage41formed at the partition wall4is directly blocked or closed. That is, the opening portion formed at the partition wall4can be utilized as is, as the fluid passage41opened and closed with the valve body21. Accordingly, the air intake apparatus body105can be obtained in which the cross-sectional area of the fluid passage41is ensured to be large. Because the cross-sectional area of the fluid passage41is increased, the pressure loss of the intake air circulating through the fluid passage41is reduced and thus the amount of intake air circulating through the fluid passage41is increased accordingly in a case where the valve body21rotates to the open position to establish the fluid communication between the two space portions. As a result, the air intake apparatus100in which the supercharging effect is enhanced can be obtained.

According to the aforementioned embodiment, the middle piece103includes the actuator attach portion160to which the actuator120rotating the valve body21is configured to be attached, and the jig-receiving portion161is provided at the actuator attach portion160. The step of forming the air intake apparatus body105includes the step of joining the middle piece103and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) to each other by the vibration welding in a state where the jig-receiving portion161of the actuator attach portion160is held by the jigs201and202.

According to the above-described method, the jig-receiving portion161is provided at the portion of the actuator attach portion160which is relatively close to the fluid passage41. As the jig-receiving portion161of the actuator attach portion160is held by the jigs201and202, the middle piece103and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) are joined to each other by the vibration welding in a state where the portion in the vicinity of the fluid passage41is easily held. Consequently, the seal portion (the seal surfaces411aand412a) which is in the vicinity of the fluid passage41and to which the valve body21is configured to be in contact is easily restricted from being deflected or deformed while the middle piece103and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) are being joined to each other.

According to the aforementioned embodiment, the first member corresponds to the middle piece103including the partition wall4dividing the inside of the surge tank1into the two parts, the second member corresponds to the upper piece101arranged at the upper surface side of the partition wall4and the lower piece102arranged at the lower surface side of the partition wall4. The step of forming the air intake apparatus body105includes the step of joining one of the upper piece101and the lower piece102, and the middle piece103to each other by the vibration welding in a state where the jig-receiving portion161,4ais held by the jig201, and thereafter further joining the other of the upper piece101and the lower piece102, and the middle piece103to each other by the vibration welding in a state where the middle piece103and the one of the upper piece101and the lower piece102is joined to each other and where the jig-receiving portion161is held by the jig202. The one of the upper piece101and the lower piece102includes the relatively higher rigidity than the other and the other of the upper piece101and the lower piece102includes the relatively lower rigidity than the one.

According to the above-described method, the air intake apparatus body105can be formed in the following manner. The lower piece102including the relatively high rigidity and an appropriate load-bearing performance during the vibration-welding and the middle piece103including the partition wall4are joined to each other first so that the structural body including the little or small distortion or deformation (that is, the structural body including the accurate design dimension) is formed. Thereafter, the upper piece101including the relatively low rigidity is joined to the above-described structural body including the little or small distortion or deformation (that is, the structural body including the accurate design dimension). Consequently, even in a case where the three pieces are joined to one another by the vibration welding, the flatness of the portion of the partition wall4(the seal portion, that is, the seal surfaces411aand412a) where the valve body21rotates is ensured, and the air intake apparatus body105, of which the design dimension after completion of the manufacture thereof is accurate, is easily obtained.

According to the aforementioned embodiment, the jig-receiving portions include the first jig-insertion holes161c,161d,161earranged at the side which is closer to the upper piece101than to the lower piece102. The jig202is inserted in the first jig-insertion holes161c,161d,161ewhen the middle piece103and the upper piece101are being joined to each other. The jig-receiving portions include the jig-receiving surface4aincluding the flat surface surrounding the fluid passage41formed at the partition wall4of the middle piece103. The jig-receiving portions include the second jig-insertion holes161a,161barranged at the side which is closer to the lower piece102than to the upper piece101. The jig201is inserted in the second jig-insertion holes161a,161bwhen the middle piece103and the lower piece102are being joined to each other. The step of forming the air intake apparatus body105includes the step of joining the middle piece103and the lower piece102to each other by the vibration welding in a state where the jig-receiving surface4aof the middle piece103is held by the jig201and where the jig201is inserted in the second jig-insertion holes161a,161bof the middle piece103, the jig-receiving surface4aincluding the flat surface. The step of forming the air intake apparatus body105includes the step of joining the middle piece103to which the lower piece102is joined and the upper piece101to each other by the vibration welding in a state where the jig202is inserted in the first jig-insertion holes161c,161d,161eof the middle piece103. The step of joining the middle piece103to which the lower piece102is joined and the upper piece101to each other is conducted after the step of joining the middle piece103and the lower piece102to each other by the vibration welding.

According to the above-described method, first, the middle piece103is joined to the lower piece102including the relatively high rigidity and the appropriate load-bearing performance during the vibration-welding. When the middle piece103is being joined to the lower piece102, the jig201is inserted in the second jig-insertion holes161aand161barranged at the middle piece103at the side closer to the lower piece102, and the jig-receiving surface4aof the middle piece103is supported by the jig201. Thus, the middle piece103is being joined to the lower piece102in the state where the portion of the jig-receiving portion161in the vicinity of the joint portion with the lower piece102is reliably held (supported). Accordingly, the structural body including the distortion that is small in extent (that is, the structural body including the accurate design dimension) can be formed. Then, the middle piece103to which the lower piece102has been joined is joined to the upper piece101including the relatively low rigidity. When the middle piece103is being joined to the upper piece101, the jig202is inserted into the first jig-insertion holes161cto161ewhich are arranged at the middle piece103to be positioned at the side closer to the upper piece101and thus the portion of the jig-receiving portion161in the vicinity of the joined portion with the upper piece101is reliably held. Thus, the occurrence of the distortion or deformation can be prevented or reduced. Consequently, even in a case where the three members, that is, the three pieces, are joined to one another by the vibration welding, the flatness of the portion of the partition wall4where the valve body21rotates is ensured, and the air intake apparatus body105, of which the design dimension after completion of the manufacture thereof is accurate, is easily obtained.

The air intake apparatus according to the present disclosure may include a configuration described below.

According to the air intake apparatus100described above, the jig-receiving portion161includes the jig-insertion holes161a,161b,161c,161dand161eserving as the jig-receiving portion. The jig-insertion holes161ato161eare extended in the direction which is orthogonal to the joining direction in which the middle piece103(the first member), the lower piece102(the second member) and the upper piece101(the second member) are joined to one another. According to the above-described configuration, when the middle piece103and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) are made to face each other and then to be joined to each other in this direction in which the middle piece103and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) face each other, the jig201(the jig202) can be inserted into the respective jig-insertion holes161ato161efrom the lateral side (from the outer side) that is orthogonal to the joining direction. Consequently, the jig-receiving portion161of the middle piece103is supported easily in a simple manner when the middle piece103and the lower piece102(the upper piece101) are being joined to each other.