Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to various apparatus for controllably restricting an air flow to a vacuum controlled actuator in a vehicle induction system for the purpose of controlling a response of the actuator. In one embodiment the apparatus is a hose component having a hose that forms a flow channel, and which has an air flow restrictor seated within the flow channel. The air flow restrictor has a main body portion and an end wall having a reduced diameter air flow aperture. The air flow restrictor restricts air flow through the hose by a predetermined degree to tailor a response of the actuator in flow communication with the hose.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to induction systems used on motor vehicle engines having a pair of cylinder banks, and more particularly to a pneumatic circuit that makes use of a flow restrictor for use with an air intake manifold, and where the flow restrictor equalizes the response time between the left and right cylinder banks of the engine without the need to use a pair of vacuum solenoids valves. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0003]    It is desirable to equalize the response time of the Charge Motion Control Valves (CMCV) between two cylinder banks of an internal combustion engine used with present day motor vehicles. One solution has been to use two separate vacuum actuator solenoid valves in the pneumatic circuit associated with the CMCV on the intake manifold of the engine. The use of two separate vacuum actuator solenoid valves, one for each cylinder bank, allows the response time of the CMCV for the two cylinder banks to be equalized. As should be apparent, however, this solution requires not only the use of two independent vacuum actuator solenoid valves in the engine&#39;s induction system, but also requires the use of an extra steel bracket for mounting the second solenoid valve, one or more added hoses, as well as the need for packaging space in or around the intake manifold to mount the second solenoid valve. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, a mechanism by which the response time between the CMCV for the two cylinder banks can be balanced, while potentially eliminating the need for a second vacuum actuator solenoid valve, would be highly advantageous. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a hose component for controllably restricting air flow in a vehicle induction system to an actuator associated with one cylinder bank of a vehicle engine. The hose component may comprise a hose forming a flow channel, and an air flow restrictor seated within the flow channel. The air flow restrictor may include a main body portion and an end wall having a reduced diameter air flow aperture. The air flow restrictor restricts air flow through the hose by a predetermined degree to tailor a response of the actuator in flow communication with the hose. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a T-fitting component for controllably restricting air flow in a vehicle induction system to at least one actuator associated with the CMCV for the one cylinder bank of a vehicle engine, The T-fitting component may comprises a first port in air flow communication with a vacuum source, and a second port in air flow communication with the first port and with a first actuator associated with a first cylinder bank of the vehicle engine. The T-fitting component may also include a third port in communication with the first and second ports. The third port may be in air flow communication with a second actuator associated with the CMCV for the second cylinder bank of the vehicle engine. At least one of the second and third ports may include an air flow restrictor therein for restricting airflow therethrough, to thus tailor a response of an associated one of the first or second actuators. 
         [0007]    In still another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a vacuum controlled actuator for use in a vehicle induction system and being operably associated with one of the CMCV for the first and second cylinder banks of a vehicle engine. The actuator may comprise a cover having an air flow inlet port formed therein, and an air flow restrictor. The air flow restrictor may be formed within the air flow port. The air flow restrictor may include an internal wall portion having a reduced diameter aperture for restricting air flow through the air flow inlet port. 
         [0008]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a high level diagram illustrating a plurality of locations that a flow restrictor of the present disclosure may be located at to achieve the needed response time balancing for the movement of actuators associated with the CMCV for the two cylinder banks of an internal combustion engine; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present disclosure in which a flow restrictor is integrally incorporated into an actuator cover of each of the two actuators shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a simplified side cross-sectional view of the actuator cover shown in  FIG. 2  showing the flow restrictor in greater detail; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure where a flow restrictor is incorporated in a hose leading to one of the actuators shown in  FIG. 1 , and with the understanding that a flow restrictor such as shown in  FIG. 4  is placed in each of the two hoses leading to the two actuators; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of the present invention in which flow restrictors are integrally formed in each branch of a T-fitting, and thus are able to restrict flow to separate hoses leading to the two actuators shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 1  there is shown a highly simplified schematic diagram  10  illustrating a portion of an induction system for a motor vehicle. In this example the vehicle engine has two cylinder banks  12   a  and  12   b . An intake manifold  14  is used to provide intake air to the combustion chambers of the two cylinder banks  12   a / 12   b , as well as to provide a vacuum source  14 , via a vacuum actuator solenoid valve  16 , which assists in controlling independent actuators  18   a  and  18   b . Actuators  18   a  and  18   b  are used for the control of the movement and modulating position of the CMCV for each bank of engine cylinders. Typically, the actuators may be vacuum or pressure actuated diaphragm and/or piston actuators. The vacuum source may advantageously be from the intake manifold of the engine. 
         [0017]    The flow restrictor of the present disclosure can be implemented in a plurality of different embodiments.  FIGS. 2 and 3  show one such embodiment in which an actuator  101  of the present disclosure includes an actuator cover  100  having an internal flow restrictor  102  (visible only in  FIG. 3 ) in communication with an inlet port  104 . The flow restrictor  102  includes an internal wall  106  having a reduced diameter aperture  106   a  that forms a restriction of a predetermined cross-sectional area. While the flow restrictor  102  is integrally formed within the actuator cover  100 , it is possible that the flow restrictor could form a separate component that is inserted into the inlet port  104  and mechanically secured (e.g., by adhesives or fasteners) therein. The cover  100  in one embodiment is manufactured form plastic as a single piece component with the restrictor  100  located within the air flow inlet port  104 . 
         [0018]    The airflow through the restrictor  102  thus affects how rapidly it&#39;s associated actuator  18   a  or  18   b  responds, and advantageously can have apertures configured to coordinate and synchronize movement and modulation of the CMCV for each bank of engine cylinders such the valves move and are positioned in unison. In this manner, the response of each actuator  18   a  and  18   b  can be controlled so that the two actuators are synchronized in operation to achieve coordinated movement of the CMCV. 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  shows a hose component  200  in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. The hose component  200  in this embodiment includes a hose  201  and an air flow restrictor  202  inserted into an interior flow channel  204  of the hose  201 . In this embodiment an outer diameter of the flow restrictor  202  should be sized just slightly larger than the diameter of the flow channel  204  so that insertion of the flow restrictor  202  can be accomplished within the flow channel  204 , but that the flow restrictor, once inserted, will remain stationary within the flow channel  204 . The hose component  200  may be any type of flexible hose typically used in vehicle induction systems, for example a rubber hose, an elastomeric hose, or a hose made from any other form of resilient material suitable for automotive engine applications. 
         [0020]    The flow restrictor  202  in  FIG. 4  includes a main body portion  206  having an end wall  206   a  at one end with a reduced diameter air flow aperture  208 . The main body portion  206  may be made from a suitable plastic, from steel, aluminum or any other suitably rigid material. It is anticipated, however, that a particularly desirable implementation of flow restrictor  202  will have the main body portion  206 , the end wall  206   a  and the reduced diameter aperture  208  molded as a single piece plastic component. 
         [0021]    The precise diameter of the reduced diameter aperture  208  is selected so that the flow restrictor  202  will reduce air flow through the hose  201  sufficiently to equalize the response of the two actuators  18   a  and  18   b . As such, the flow restrictor  202  will be located in separate hoses leading to the two actuators  18   a  and  18   b . As shown in simplified diagrammatic form in  FIG. 1 , two flow restrictors  202   a  and  202   b  are illustrated located within a pair of the hose components  200   a  and  200   b , respectively, to control the vacuum air flow being used to actuate the actuators  18   a  and  18   b.    
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a T-fitting component  300  in accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The T-fitting component  300  may be made from a suitably strong plastic, from metal, from aluminum or any other material suitable for use in an automotive vehicle engine environment. However, it is anticipated that the T-fitting component  300  will in most instances be molded as a single piece component part from high strength plastic. 
         [0023]    The T-fitting component  300  includes a first port  302 , a second port  304  and a third port  306 , all in flow communication with one another. A first flow restrictor  308   a  is formed in the second port  304  and a second flow restrictor  308   b  is formed in the third port  306 . In this example the flow restrictors  308   a  and  308   b  are shown formed close to an internal intersection of the three flow paths associated with the ports  302 / 304 / 306 , although they need not be formed close to the internal intersection. Instead, the flow restrictors  308   a  and  308   b  could be formed closer to distal ends  304   a  and  306   a  of the ports  304  and  306 , respectively. 
         [0024]    The flow restrictors  308   a  and  308   b  are shown molded as integral internal portions of the T-fitting component  300 . In this form the flow restrictors  308   a  and  308   b  include walls  309   a  and  309   b  each having reduced diameter apertures  310   a  and  310   b , respectively. The reduced diameter apertures  310   a  and  310   b  form flow restrictions that each have a precise cross-sectional flow area needed to balance the operation of the actuators  18   a  and  18   b.    
         [0025]    It is also possible that the flow restrictors  308   a  and  308   b  could be formed as a single, separate component, and then inserted into either of ports  304  or  306  to the point of intersection of the three ports  302 - 306 . It would be important that the flow restrictor in such an embodiment, which would be similar to the flow restrictor  202  shown in  FIG. 4 , is securable at the intersection of the three ports  302 - 306 , and this could be accomplished by a pin or other suitable means that extends through a portion of the T-fitting component  300  and engages the flow restrictor to hold it precisely in place. 
         [0026]    The various embodiments of the present disclosure all provide a means for balancing the response of a pair of actuators associated with a pair of CMCV for the cylinders of a motor vehicle engine, and which are both dependent on a single source for a vacuum airflow. The various embodiments described herein all enable a single solenoid valve to be used with the vehicle&#39;s intake manifold. This reduces cost, assembly complexity, weight, and further is expected to enhance overall reliably of a vehicle induction system. The various embodiments of the present disclosure free up space within the engine compartment and help to de-clutter the engine compartment. 
         [0027]    While various embodiments have been described, those skilled in the art will recognize modifications or variations which might be made without departing from the present disclosure. The examples illustrate the various embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Therefore, the description and claims should be interpreted liberally with only such limitation as is necessary in view of the pertinent prior art.