Vehicle air intake assembly

A vehicle air intake assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a base member having an aperture configured to allow air to flow through the base member and into an engine and an outer member spaced from the base member to position an air filter between the outer member and the base member.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles, such as motorcycles, may have an internal combustion engine as a powerplant, which draws air to mix with fuel for combustion. The intake air is filtered in order to prevent debris and other objects from entering the engine or a specific engine component, such as a carburetor or intake manifold, and causing damage therein. Conventional engine assemblies may include an air filter contained within an air filter housing, but such air filters may not be visible to allow a user readily to determine the condition of an air filter or other air intake system component, such as during troubleshooting or maintenance. Additionally, conventional air filter housings may include substantial structures and/or parts that are positioned in or along an air intake path, thereby impeding the flow of air and reducing the overall efficiency of the intake system and the engine. Further, conventional air filter housings may include parts in or near the air filter housing that are capable of detaching from the air filter housing or other assembly and being ingested into the engine or engine component to cause damage, blockage, or another undesirable event in the engine or engine component.

Therefore, there exists a need for a vehicle air intake assembly that allows a user to view an air filter or other air intake assembly component located within the air intake assembly. There also exists a need for a vehicle air intake assembly that improves the flow of air to the engine and reduces the likelihood of damage to an engine component caused by ingestion of an object into the engine component.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle air intake assembly includes a base member having at least one aperture configured to permit flow of air therethrough, an outer member, and a plurality of arms rotatably coupled to the base member and configured to couple the base member to the outer member.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle air intake assembly including a base member having an aperture configured to allow air to flow therethrough and into an engine, an outer member spaced from the base member to position an air filter between the outer member and the base member, at least one fastener coupling the base member to the outer member, wherein the at least one fastener is configured to couple the base member to the outer member such that the air filter is disposed between the at least one fastener and the aperture, and an orifice member coupled to the base member by a means of coupling the orifice member to the base member.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle intake assembly includes a base member having an aperture configured to allow air to flow therethrough, an air filter configured to filter air flowing through the aperture, an end member disposed at an outer end of the air filter and configured to direct airflow through the air filter and at least partially transmit light such that the aperture is visible through the end member, and an orifice member coupled to the base member at the aperture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of embodiments of the present disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation, such specific embodiments. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Referring now toFIG. 1, a vehicle air intake assembly10is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The assembly10is coupled to an engine12in the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1. The engine12forms the powerplant of a motorcycle in the illustrated embodiment, but forms the powerplant of another vehicle in one or more additional embodiments.

FIGS. 2 and 3are exploded views of the assembly10according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The assembly10includes a base member14having an aperture16configured to permit a flow of air therethrough and into the engine12. The assembly10further includes an outer member18and a plurality of arms20configured to couple the base member14to the outer member18. In an embodiment, the assembly10further includes an air filter22disposed between the base member14and the outer member18.

The assembly10further includes an end member26, in an embodiment, configured to direct airflow between the base member14and the outer member18. In an embodiment, the end member26is configured to restrict airflow at the outer member18. The end member26in an embodiment is at least partially transparent. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 9, the aperture16is visible through the end member26.

One or more of the arms20is rotatably coupled to the base member14and/or the outer member18in one or more embodiments, and nonrotatably coupled to the base member14and/or the outer member18in one or more embodiments. In the illustrated embodiment, the arms20are rotatably coupled to the base member14and nonrotatably coupled to the outer member18. With reference toFIGS. 2 and 3, the assembly10of an embodiment includes one or more outer member fastener(s)40configured to couple the outer member18to one or more of the plurality of arms20. Additionally, one or more pin(s)42rotatably couple one or more of the arm(s)20to the base member14in the illustrated embodiment with one or more pin channel(s)44disposed around a perimeter46of the base member14.

Referring now toFIG. 4, the assembly10of an embodiment further includes an orifice member24coupled to the base member14. The orifice member24of one or more embodiments may include a first orifice member, a second orifice member, or another orifice member sized such that the first orifice member has a larger diameter orifice than the second orifice member. The orifice member24may include one or more orifices of any size diameter orifice, and such orifice(s) may be coupled to the base member14at the aperture16. In one or more embodiments, the orifice member24is not round and assumes another shape. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the assembly10and the base member14are configured to accept orifice members24of varying sizes and geometries such that the orifice member24is interchangeable with another orifice member.

In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 9, the orifice member24is visible through the end member26. Further,FIG. 8illustrates one or more base member fastener(s)60configured to couple the base member14to the engine12. Referring again toFIGS. 2 and 3, the assembly10further includes a base member sealing member50, such as an o-ring in a non-limiting example or a gasket in another non-limiting example, configured to seal the base member14and/or the assembly10against the engine12.

The orifice member24, in one or more embodiments, cooperates with the base member14by a means of coupling the orifice member24to the base member14. Such means may include one or more magnetic elements or magnetic portions, one or more threaded or slotted connection structures at an interface between the orifice member24and the base member14, the base member14and/or the orifice member24being sized and/or configured such that an interference fit is formed between the base member14and the orifice member24, and/or any other structure or elements recognized by one having ordinary skill in the art that is/are capable of coupling the base member14to the orifice member24without a fastener or other separate element capable of being ingested through the aperture16and/or the orifice member24. In an embodiment, the base member14, the outer member18, the air filter22, and/or the orifice member24are configured to prevent objects from flowing into the engine12through the aperture16. As best illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, one or more magnets48are secured on or within the base member14and/or the orifice member24with an adhesive, through an interference fit, and/or another secure attachment means.

As illustrated inFIG. 5, the base member14includes at least one base member passage34fluidically connected to the aperture16. Two passages34are illustrated inFIG. 5. Although its end point may be visible, the base member passage(s)34is/are invisible through the end member26, as will be apparent fromFIG. 9, discussed below.

Referring now toFIG. 6with ongoing reference toFIGS. 2 and 3, the assembly10of an embodiment includes at least one fastener28configured to couple the base member14to the engine12. Two fasteners28are included in the embodiments illustrated in at leastFIGS. 2and3, but any number of fasteners28may be utilized in additional embodiments. One or more fasteners28in an embodiment do not fasten but are rather merely breathers for the assembly10. The fastener28includes one or more fastener passage(s)30disposed at least partially through the fastener28such that at least a portion of air flowing through the aperture16further flows through the fastener passage(s)30. The fastener passage(s)30fluidically connects the engine12to the base member passage(s)34in one or more embodiments.

Referring now toFIG. 7and as best illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, the assembly10of one or more embodiments includes one or more fastener sealing member(s)52and/or fastener spacer(s)54disposed at and/or around the fastener(s)28. The fastener sealing member(s)52, such as one or more o-ring(s) in a non-limiting example, are configured to seal the fastener(s)28, base member14, and/or the fastener spacer(s)54. One or more plug(s)56, such as one or more set screw(s) in a non-limiting example, are configured to restrict airflow through a terminal end58of the base member passage(s)34such that air flows through the fastener passage(s)30. In an embodiment, the fastener passage(s)30is fluidically connected to a crankcase ventilation system of the engine12such that crankcase gases may flow from the engine12to the aperture16as is understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art.

In an embodiment, the base member14is magnetically coupled to the orifice member24and/or another orifice member having a different size and/or geometry. As illustrated inFIG. 4, the orifice member24includes an orifice passage32in an embodiment such that at least a portion of the air flowing through the aperture16and the fastener passage28further flows through the orifice passage32.

It will be appreciated that the assembly10of one or more embodiments disclosed herein allows intake air to be filtered prior to suction into the engine12while minimizing or eliminating the ability for any part or portion of the assembly10to be ingested into the engine12. Additionally, the assembly10of one or more embodiments permits the inclusion of different sized and/or configured orifice members24based on desired intake air characteristics. The assembly10further provides the ability for a user to view one or more internal portions, parts, or spaces in the assembly10in order to inspect the assembly10, an engine intake portion, or another space in an aesthetically pleasing manner. The arms20and/or their connection to the base member14and/or the outer member18allow(s) quick and convenient disassembly of the assembly10, removal of one or more portion of the assembly10, and/or replacement or cleaning of the air filter22, while not impeding the flow of air into and through the air filter22.

While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only certain embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected.