Vacuum seal for air intake system resonator

A simple and reliable connection between an air resonator and a throttle valve body is achieved with a resilient vacuum seal. The vacuum seal is positioned in an outer periphery of a boss on the valve body, and provides an interference fit with the resonator. The seal preferably has a seal lip extending away from the resonator such that a vacuum drawn within the resonator pulls the seal body more tightly against an inner periphery of the bore. Moreover, vibration isolator surfaces are positioned on the seal to dampen vibration between the air resonator and the valve body. The present invention thus provides a simple and secure method of connecting the air resonator to the valve body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 This in invention relates to a simple and secure way for mounting a
 resonator into an air intake system for a vehicle, and in particular to a
 connection system utilizing a vacuum seal with a vibration isolator.
 Vehicle engines are typically provided with an air intake system for
 providing clean air to the engine cylinders. A throttle valve controls the
 amount of air flow to the cylinder. Recently, so called electronic
 controls (ETC) systems have been developed wherein the throttle is
 controlled by an electronic control. The ETC systems are typically mounted
 into a housing which includes the fluid path, the throttle and an
 associated control. The ETC is placed between a supply of air, and the
 engine. There is typically a connection in the ETC body for connection to
 an air resonator assembly which supplies the clean air. The air resonator
 assembly is designed to limit noise traveling from the engine outwardly
 along the air flow line. Typically the air resonator is designed to
 provide a volume to deaden or eliminate noise from the engine. While the
 application specifically discloses an electronic throttle control,
 mechanically actuated throttle bodies will also benefit from this
 invention.
 Typically, known air resonator systems have had a female hose which extends
 over a bore on the throttle body. A clamp is then tightened onto the hose,
 squeezing it onto the body. This connection is somewhat time consuming,
 and not always reliable. Hose connections do not always withstand the
 inherent vibration that is associated with an engine component.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 In a disclosed embodiment of this invention, a connection between a air
 supply line component and an air resonator utilizes an internal vacuum
 seal sealing an interface between the two components. Most preferably, the
 air resonator is connected onto a boss on an ETC body. The vacuum seal is
 preferably mounted within a groove in an outer periphery of the boss
 associated with the ETC body. The vacuum seal preferably has a cylindrical
 lip extending in a direction away from the resonator and at an angle.
 Moreover, forward of the seal cylindrical lip are a pair of integrally
 molded bumpers or vibration isolators. The vibration isolators deaden any
 effect of vibration between the two components such that the connection
 between the two remains strong. The present invention thus allows the
 connection of the air resonator directly to the ETC without the
 requirement of any hose clamps, etc. Moreover, the connection is more
 reliable than the prior art given the friction connection between the two
 components through the use of the vacuum seal.
 Again, while the invention is specifically disclosed with an ETC,
 mechanically actuated throttle bodies will also benefit from this
 invention.
 These and other features of the present invention can be best understood
 from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a
 brief description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 An air resonator body 20 is connected to an air cleaner 24 for delivery of
 clean air to a vehicle engine 28. The air flows through an air supply
 line. An electronic throttle control (ETC) body 30 is mounted between
 resonator 20 and the engine 28. A control 32 and an associated throttle
 valve 34 are positioned within the internal flow line 35 in body 30.
 Upstream of the throttle 34 is a connection 36 for communicating the line
 35 to the air resonator body 20. As shown, the air resonator body has a
 path 38 communicating with the passage 36, and communicating with an
 internal volume in the air resonator body 20, as is known. The basic
 structure of the ETC 30 and the air resonator 20 are as known. It is the
 connection between the two which is inventive here.
 A boss 40 extends downwardly to define passage 36. A groove 42 is formed in
 the outer periphery of the boss 40. A vacuum seal 44 is positioned within
 the groove 42. The vacuum seal is preferably molded out of a suitable
 rubber or elastomer, in one preferred embodiment was formed of a silicon
 rubber.
 An integral seal lip 46 extends away from the air resonator at an angle
 from the remainder of the body of the seal 44. Bumpers or vibration
 isolator 48 are also positioned between the boss 40 and the inner
 periphery 50 of a neck portion 51 of the resonator body 20. As shown, when
 the air resonator 20 is forced onto the boss 40, the inner diameter 50 of
 the neck 51 squeezes the seal 40, its seal lip 46, and the vibration
 isolators 48 away from a free position. An interference fit between the
 seal 44 and the inner periphery 50 is sufficient to retain the air
 resonator 20 solidly on the boss 40. In one preferred embodiment, the
 interference fit between the lip 46 in its free position and the inner
 periphery 50 is on the order of 5 millimeter.
 As shown in FIG. 1B, before the resonator body 20 is attached, the seal 44
 is at its free position. As mentioned above, in the free position, the lip
 46 extends approximately 5 millimeters radially outwardly from the
 position shown in FIG. 1A.
 As shown in FIG. 2, lip 46 extends at an angle A from a rear body 52 of the
 seal 44. An end 54 of the seal lip 46 has an extreme portion which is
 spaced from a central axis X of the seal 44 by 5 millimeters more than the
 inner periphery 50 of the air resonator 20. In a preferred embodiment, the
 angle A is approximately 45.degree..
 As shown, the vibration isolator 48 is preferably formed of a pair of lips
 56 and 58. In a preferred embodiment the lip 56 extends slightly radially
 outwardly more than the lip 58. A central valley 60 is positioned between
 the two. The use of the two spaced lips 56 and 58 ensure adequate
 vibration isolation between the connection and the vacuum seal, 44.
 Moreover, the lip 46, by extending away from the air resonator 20, is
 pulled further into contact with the inner periphery 50 by a vacuum drawn
 within the passages 36 and 38. In this way, a more fluid tight seal is
 ensured. It is desirable to ensure a fluid tight seal, as dirty air which
 passes seal 44 moves into the passage 45 and potentially to the engine 28,
 which would be undesirable.
 In summary, the present invention discloses a unique connection between an
 air resonator and an ETC valve or other throttle body. The unique
 connection provides a simplified and more beneficial connection between
 the two. A worker in this art would recognize that various modifications
 would come within the scope of this invention, and for that reason the
 following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content
 of this invention.