Throttle body spacer for use with internal combustion engines

A throttle body spacer for improving engine performance is provided. It comprises a spacer block with a smooth bore hole, a plurality of air fins, each air fin being connected at one end to the spacer block and the distal end extending to about the center of the bore hole, and a means for mounting the throttle spacer body to hold it in place. In one embodiment the spacer block forming the throttle spacer body is square with a single bore hole in the center. There are four air fins, one mounted from about the middle of each side of the spacer body, that extend to about the center of the hole. The air fins can be made from aluminum and are bent at a forty-five degree angle. In order to accomplish the goal of absorbing less heat, the spacer block forming the throttle body spacer is comprised of thermoset resin. The throttle body spacer has holes located near each corner where fastening elements can be inserted to hold the apparatus in place.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of apparatus that may increase horsepower, torque, or fuel efficiency in internal combustion engines.

II. Background and Prior Art

There are many different devices available to consumers that are designed to increase power and torque and to improve fuel efficiency in the internal combustion engines of automobiles. One such product is known as a throttle body spacer. Such devices are available from several manufacturers including Airaid®, Jet Performance Products™, and AEM™. They are especially useful with sport utility vehicles, such as Jeep® vehicles, and with any engine having 4.0 L displacement throughout the whole RMP range. The prior art products are machined from aluminum and are square with a hole in the center. Throttle body spacers are typically designed to be installed between the engine's throttle body and intake manifold.

However, the prior art devices leave unburned fuel in the manifold so the devices fail to increase performance and have little if any effect on fuel efficiency. Another drawback is that the devices of the prior unit give a jerky response below fifty-five miles per hour and fail to provide the desired results at speeds above fifty-five miles per hour, as well as at higher revolutions per minute (RPM). These prior designs use aluminum material, which absorbs tremendous heat, reducing efficiency. They also have a rigid surface that can be described as a screw-like texture with grooved, circular indentations on the walls of the center bore hole. These indentations restrict and slow down the air flow, especially at speeds above fifty-five miles per hour, resulting in minimal performance gains. The rigid surface also facilitates the accumulation of carbon deposits, which further slows air transition and reduces effectiveness. The available products in the industry fail to overcome these deficiencies; they do not increase fuel efficiency and are only remotely useful at very slow speeds.

Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a throttle body spacer that effectively increases horsepower, torque, and fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a throttle body spacer that improves air flow transitions as well as air fuel mixture atomization.

It is another object of the invention is to provide a throttle body spacer with reduced heat absorption and cooler air transfer.

It is also an object of the present invention is to provide a throttle body spacer that reduces carbon deposit buildup.

SUMMARY

Accordingly a throttle body spacer for effectively increasing horsepower, torque, and fuel efficiency in internal combustion engines is provided. It comprises a spacer block with a smooth bore hole, a plurality of air fins, each air fin being connected at one end to the spacer block and the distal end extending to about the center of the bore hole, and a means for mounting the throttle spacer body to hold it in place. The new throttle body spacer is formed of a thermoset resin which absorbs significantly less heat compared to the aluminum designs of the prior art. By keeping the inner air temperatures lower, cooler dense air is atomized with greater efficiency, which equates with increased horsepower and improved fuel economy. The bore hole(s) of the new apparatus are polished to a smooth, slick finish; so airflow passes through smoothly with no restrictions. The thickness, also referred to as the height, of the throttle body spacer is such that it increases the velocity and force of the air as it passes through the throttle body spacer and into the manifold.

To add to this equation, the air fins, which are narrow enough to let air pass through yet wide enough to still have sufficient structural strength, are bent at an angle such that they direct the air in a spiral motion, creating a spinning turbulence in the incoming air so that is has a much greater velocity as it enters the air intake manifold. The air fuel mixture is atomized with the motion of the air fins making it more efficient as it enters the engine. Putting the air fuel mixture to greater use, as it enters the engine, produces more horsepower, torque, and better fuel economy as less unburned fuel is left in the manifold. The air fin design and the smooth bore produce a smoother, quicker throttle response with increased horsepower at all engine speeds, whereas other designs only respond at lower speeds. Furthermore, the smooth design of the center hole further optimizes performance by reducing carbon deposit buildup.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 1, a square throttle body spacer block5is shown. The spacer block5is preferably made of thermoset resin which absorbs significantly less heat than aluminum. It is preferable to use virgin Teflon® which has a high maximum service temperature of 554° F. The spacer block5can range in thickness and height from about ⅜ inches to 2 inches and is preferably one inch thick. The width and length of the preferred embodiment are 3⅛ inches×3⅛ inches. In another embodiment, the block5may be a rectangular block, ranging in rectangular profile size from about 3 inches×5 inches to about 5 inches×7 inches. In the preferred embodiment, the one inch thickness of the throttle body spacer block5increases the velocity and air force as it passes through the spacers. A meter saw or a table saw (not shown) may be used to ensure that all sides14are smooth cut. The edges6and corners7may be smoothed with a hand file or with 120 grit sandpaper to ensure that they are not sharp.

InFIG. 2the spacer block5is shown with four holes27formed then through at the corners, which holes27can be used with fastening elements, for mounting spacer block5between throttle body35and intake manifold30. The holes can be drilled for example by using a ⅜ inch drill bit in a drill press (not shown). Preferably there is a distance of 5/16″ from the edge6of the block5to the center of the hole8.

FIG. 3depicts the spacer block5with a smooth center bore20. The bore20can for example be drilled using a 57 mm bore bit with a drill press in the center of block5. The bore hole20may range in diameter from about 55 mm to 75 mm but preferably is 60 mm in diameter. This can be achieved by sanding bore20with 80 grit and then 120 grit sandpaper (not shown) after drilling. To ensure a smooth surface9of the bore hole20, a fine polishing brush sanding disc (not shown) can be used. The smooth surface9of bore hole20results in a smoother air transition. In embodiments where spacer block5is rectangular in shape, there may be more than one bore hole20.

FIG. 4shows the spacer block5with slots22formed therein where air fins25are to be inserted. The center of slot22is midway between the edges7of the spacer block5. To create the slots22, a 3/32″ drill bit can be used. First three to four holes can be made, then the drill may be moved in a rocking motion to provide a slot22. This is repeated for all four sides of the square spacer block5. The dimensions of the air fin slots22are preferably 3/32 inches×½ inches.

FIG. 5shows insertion of the air fins25into the slots22. The air fins25are preferably made of aluminum and should be thin enough to let air pass yet wide enough for structural strength. The air fins25should preferably be a length that allows them to extend to about the center of the hole. In the preferred embodiment, there are four air fins that are 1/16″ thick, ½″ wide, and 1⅞″ long. They are preferably smoothed to eliminate sharp edges and slightly rounded with a file. The air fins25are inserted into the air fin slots22. Preferably, about ⅜″ of air fins25are left exposed23on the outer sides of block spacer5.

FIG. 6shows one of the outer ends10of an air fin25. For fastening, an outer end10can be bent until it is flat against spacer block5. Then a hole, preferably ⅛″ is drilled and a screw11is inserted as shown. The same process is repeated for all four sides14.FIG. 7shows the air fins25after they have been inserted and fastened. The air fins25are bent to form an angle ranging from about 1 degree to 90 degrees. In the preferred embodiment, the air fins25are bent to a 45 degree angle. This can be achieved by using pliers to grab and twist the end28of the air fin25. The 45 degree angled air fins25create air turbulence that has greater force upon entering the manifold35(FIG. 10).FIG. 8shows dimensions of the preferred embodiment. The finished throttle body spacer28is shown inFIG. 9. Preferably the air fins25are of a length that allows them to extend from the inner surface9of the bore20to about the center21of the bore.

FIG. 10gives a profile view of an inserted throttle body spacer28. It is placed between the throttle body35and the intake manifold30. The direction of the airflow29is such that it goes through the throttle body35before reaching the new throttle body spacer28and then into the intake manifold30.

As can be seen for the foregoing description of the preferred and alternate embodiments, the present invention is intended to increase horsepower, torque, and fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines. Although the primary market for the product is the automotive industry, other models can be developed for use with any internal combustion engine. Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, many changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.