Abstract:
Various installation arrangements for internal combustion engines, for example, may require a variety of different connection arrangements for fluid flow apparatus such as intake/exhaust manifolds, coolant flow apparatus, and the like. Consequently, a range of fluid flow bodies and connectors may be required for each engine model, leading to high unit costs and large inventories. An adaptable fluid flow apparatus according to this invention includes a fluid flow body and an elbow connector. The elbow connector can be mounted to the body in at least three positions so that the flow axis of the elbow connector lies along one of three substantially orthogonal axes. Moreover, the elbow connector can be positioned so that its flow axis lies either substantially parallel to or transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fluid flow body. The adaptable fluid flow apparatus in accordance with this invention permits one set of parts to be adapted to various engine installations, thus reducing unit cost and lowering inventory requirements.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This invention relates to an adaptable fluid flow apparatus and, more particularly, to an adaptable fluid flow apparatus for an internal combustion engine, such as an air inlet manifold or the like.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    When internal combustion engines of a common basic type are adapted to suit different machines (for example, tractors, excavators, trucks, boats or generating sets), it is common for fluid-flow bodies such as air inlet manifolds, exhaust outlet manifolds and coolant flow bodies to be fitted with a fluid-flow connector at a front end or at a rear end, and for the connector to be positioned with a spout or pipe facing upwards, forwards or outwards, or in an intermediate direction, to suit the individual engine installation requirements.  
           [0003]    The connector is used to adapt the engine to an air intake system, exhaust system, or coolant system mounted on the machine to which the engine is fitted. The connector may be integral with the fluid-flow body, e.g. cast or molded as a unit with the body, or it may be a separate item secured to the body with threaded fasteners or by other conventional means.  
           [0004]    As a result of the need for different connector locations and angular attitudes on a fluid flow body, requirements frequently arise for a range of bodies and connectors differing in construction only in their provision for connector location and angular attitude. These variable requirements lead to relatively high unit cost and high inventory levels for the fluid flow bodies and their associated connectors.  
           [0005]    A known example of an adjustable pipe bend connector is described in PCT Publication WO 87/00601 published Jan. 29, 1987. The connector is angularly adjustable by means of an intersection between two half portions. Each half portion is provided with an annular flange defining mating surfaces. Each half portion can be rotated in relation to the other to give an included angle between the two half portions of 90° to 180°. The connector is made up of an assembly of several parts and is likely to be expensive to manufacture and bulky. The connector does not provide alternative connector locations with respect to a fluid flow body.  
           [0006]    This invention is directed at providing an adaptable fluid flow apparatus that provides a solution to one or more of the problems identified above.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    In one aspect of this invention, an adaptable fluid flow apparatus comprises a fluid flow body having a longitudinal axis and a mounting face oriented in a transverse plane definable by an angle, β, with reference to the longitudinal axis. A fluid flow connector is mountable on the mounting face and includes an elbow extending at an angle, α, to define an elbow flow axis. The mounting face and the fluid flow connector being co-operable to orient the elbow flow axis of the fluid flow connector along three substantially orthogonal axes.  
           [0008]    In another aspect of this invention, an adaptable fluid flow apparatus comprises a fluid flow body and an elbow connector connected with the fluid flow body. The elbow connector has a fluid passage opening at a first end to the fluid flow body and defining an elbow flow axis at a second end thereof. The fluid flow connector is selectively positionable relative to the fluid flow body in at least three rotary positions with the elbow flow axis lying along one of three substantially orthogonal axes in each of the three rotary positions.  
           [0009]    In yet another aspect of this invention, an adaptable fluid flow apparatus comprises a fluid flow body having a longitudinal axis and an elbow connector having a fluid passageway opening at a first end to the fluid flow body and defining an elbow flow axis at a second end thereof. The fluid flow connector is selectively positionable relative to the fluid flow body in at least a first position in which the elbow flow axis is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second position in which the elbow flow axis is transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of an adaptable fluid flow apparatus in accordance with this invention including a fluid-flow body in the form of an air inlet manifold fitted with a fluid flow connector.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the adaptable fluid flow apparatus of FIG. 1 showing three orthogonal axes along which the connector may be disposed.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the fluid flow connector.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line IV-IV of the fluid flow connector of FIG. 3.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an alternative fluid flow connector in the form of a two-part assembly.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the line VI-VI of the fluid flow connector of FIG. 5.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the fluid flow body is in the form of a two-part manifold fitted with a fluid-flow connector. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]    With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an adaptable fluid flow apparatus in accordance with this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral  1 . The fluid flow apparatus  1  includes a fluid flow connector  2  mounted on a fluid flow body  3 . The fluid flow connector  2  is shaped to define an elbow  4  and thus may be referred to as an elbow connector. The fluid flow body  3  is in the form of an elongate manifold  5 . The fluid flow connector  2  is co-operable with the elongate manifold  5  to provide a range of fluid flow connector  2  mounting positions and angular attitudes.  
         [0018]    The fluid flow connector  2  includes a triangular mounting flange  6  and a pipe-like connector body  7  upstanding therefrom having an inlet end  8  and an outlet end  9 . An arcuate pipe portion  10  is defined between the inlet end  8  and the outlet end  9  at the elbow  4 . The connector body  7  has a fluid flow passage  11  defined between the inlet end  8  and the outlet end  9  which extends between an inlet  12  having a circular cross-section at the inlet end  8  and an outlet  13  having a circular cross-section at the outlet end  9  of the connector body  7 . The inlet  12  facilitates fluid flow between the manifold  5  and the fluid flow connector  2 .  
         [0019]    Although the fluid-flow connector  2  is described herein as being pipe-like in construction, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the fluid-flow connector  2  can vary in construction and can be for example an aspirator, conduit, discharge, dispenser, filter, flue, hose, nozzle, outlet, port, tube or the like.  
         [0020]    With reference also to FIGS. 3 and 4, the pipe-like connector body  7  defines a central longitudinal axis  14 , which may also be referred to as an elbow flow axis  14 . The arcuate pipe portion  10  is curved at an angle, α, of about 55° at the elbow  4  defined between the inlet end  8  and the outlet end  9  with respect to the longitudinal axis  14 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that where the fluid flow connector body  7  is formed from a flexible material the angle a can have a tolerance which is accommodated by the inherent flexibility of the fluid flow connector body  7 .  
         [0021]    The arcuate pipe portion  10  is unitary or integral with the mounting flange  6  and includes a base portion  20  disposed adjacent the flange  6  and communicable with the inlet  12  and the contiguous arcuate pipe portion  10  to facilitate fluid flow through the fluid flow connector  2 . The arcuate pipe portion  10  terminates at the outlet  13 . The mounting flange  6  is substantially triangular in shape and has a first flange side wall  15 , a second flange side wall  16  and a third flange side wall  17 . The mounting flange  6  is further provided with three fastener holes  18 —one at each apex  19  of the triangular mounting flange  6 —to facilitate fastening of the fluid flow connector  2  to the manifold  5  as shall be explained more fully below.  
         [0022]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the elongate manifold  5  is shown as a cuboid but may be of any shape known in the art. The manifold  5  is provided with a mounting face  21  for receiving the mounting flange  6  of the fluid flow connector  2 . As explained more fully below, the mounting face  21  is oriented in a plane on the manifold  5  to co-operate with the angle, α, of the arcuate pipe portion  10  so that the longitudinal axis  14  of the connector body  7  may be disposed in any alternative one of three substantially orthogonal axes  23 ,  24 ,  25 . The elongate manifold  5  has a manifold longitudinal axis  22 , and as apparent from FIG. 2, the elbow flow axis  14  of the connector body  7  may be disposed either substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  22  or transverse to the longitudinal axis  22 . The connector mounting face  21  is disposed in a transverse plane  32  which intersects the axis  22  at an angle, β, of about 45° from the horizontal so that it faces generally outwards and upwards. Accordingly, when the longitudinal axis  22  is disposed in a horizontal disposition the transverse plane  32  is inclined at an angle, β, of about 45°. The angle of curvature, α, of 55° of the arcuate pipe portion  10  in combination with the inclination of the transverse plane  32  defined by the angle, β, facilitates the orientation of the longitudinal axis  14  of the connector body  7  along the three orthogonal axes  23 ,  24 ,  25  by rotating the triangular mounting flange  6  on the mounting face  21  through 120° intervals. Accordingly, rotation of the fluid flow connector body  7  through 120° segments on the mounting face  21 , as shown in FIG. 2, provides three alternative axial 90° interval orientations of the connector body  7  namely along the axes  23 ,  24 ,  25 . The fluid flow connector  2  is secured in any of said positions on the mounting face  21  at the fastener holes  18 . The fastener holes  18  correspond with three tappings  26  in the mounting face  21  of the manifold  5  so that the fluid flow connector  2  may be secured to the manifold  5  with threaded fasteners  27  in any one of the three alternative positions described above. The angle α of the elbow  4  in combination with the angle of inclination, β, of the transverse plane  32  facilitate orientation of the fluid flow connector body  7  along the three orthogonal axes  23 ,  24 ,  25 . An angle, α, of 54.736° has been found to be particularly efficacious in combination with an angle, β, of 45°.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 5 and 6 describe a modification of the fluid flow connector of FIGS.  1  to  4  where the fluid flow connector  2  is a two-part assembly in which the connector body  7  is rotatably mounted on the mounting flange  6 . Otherwise the adaptable fluid flow apparatus  1  is broadly similar to the fluid flow apparatus  1  of FIGS.  1  to  4  and accordingly, like numerals indicate like parts.  
         [0024]    The two-part fluid flow connector  2  is useful for situations where axial orientations of the fluid flow connector body  7  intermediate the three orthogonal axes  23 ,  24 ,  25  are required or where it is necessary to vary the axial orientation intermittently. The fluid flow connector body  7  and the mounting flange  6  are separate connectable components. The fluid flow connector body  7  is provided with an outwardly depending skirt  28  at the inlet  12 . The skirt  28  is received in a complementary recess  29  in the mounting flange  6 . The skirt  28  is rotatable in the recess  29  to facilitate the variation in the axial position of the connector body  7  with respect to the mounting face  21 .  
         [0025]    The connector body  7  can be clamped at any required rotational position in the mounting flange  6  when the mounting flange  6  is fastened to the manifold  5  without requiring removal of the connector body  7 . Orientation of the fluid flow connector body  2  along the orthogonal axes  23 ,  24 ,  25  can therefore be achieved, together with any desired intermediate positions.  
         [0026]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the mounting flange  6  can be of any desired shape. The mounting flange  6  must simply be capable of being mounted on the mounting face  21 . For example, in one alternative embodiment of the invention (not shown), the mounting flange  6  and, if desired, the mounting face  21  may be circular rather than triangular in shape and may thus be provided with a plurality of holes on a pitch circle to provide flexibility of rotational position of the fluid flow connector  2 . Consequently, the mounting flange  6  could be either integral with the connector body  7  or the fluid flow connector  2  can be in the form of a two-part assembly as described in FIGS. 5 and 6. In other embodiments of the invention (not shown), the mounting flange  6  could be bonded or welded to the mounting face  21  on the manifold  5 . Alternatively, a bayonet fitting (not shown) could be employed in place of the triangular or circular flange  6 . For example, a suitably configured three-lug bayonet could provide the three alternative 90° rotational positions of the fluid flow connector  2  that would otherwise be constructed as described herein. In still another alternative embodiment of the invention (not shown), the connector body  7  may be formed from contiguous sub-pipe portions that in combination define the angle α instead of a single fluid flow connector body  7 .  
         [0027]    As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the manifold  5  can be configured to be longitudinally reversible to locate the mounting face  21  at an alternative end of the manifold  5 . However, it should be noted that reversal of the manifold  5  results in reversal of one of the orientations of the three orthogonal axes  23 ,  24 ,  25 . Specifically, the previously upward facing pipe position would become a downward facing alternative position. This may be desirable or undesirable, depending upon particular engine installation requirements. Alternatively, each end of the manifold  5  can be of a mirrored construction so as to duplicate the available fluid flow connector  2  mounting faces  21 . Alternatively or additionally, one or more connector mounting faces  21  may be provided at any location along the manifold  5 . Any unused mounting face  21  may be blanked off by conventional means.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 describes a modification of the manifold  5  of FIGS. 1 and 2 where the manifold  5  is a two-part assembly. The manifold  5  of the present embodiment is broadly similar to the manifold previously described. Accordingly, like numerals indicate like parts. The manifold  5  is made up of a cuboid housing  42  and has a substantially square-shaped cross-section. Of course, a non-cuboid housing having some other cross-sectional shape could be used if desired. The housing  42  is provided with a bottom wall  33 , a front wall  34 , a side wall  35 , a top wall  36 , a first end wall  37  and a second end wall  38 . In the present embodiment, the elongate cuboid manifold housing  42  is made up of two parts—a manifold housing first or front part  30  and a manifold housing second or rear part  31 . The manifold housing  42  is split into two parts along a transverse plane  39  to sub-divide the end wall  38  into a front part triangular portion  40  and a rear part triangular portion  41 .  
         [0029]    The manifold housing front part  30  is made up of the top wall  36 , the front wall  34 , the mounting face  21  and the front part triangular portion  40 . The manifold housing rear part  31  is made up of the bottom wall  33 , the rear wall  35 , the rear part triangular portion  41 , and the end wall  37 . The manifold front part  30  bearing the single connector mounting face  21  is longitudinally reversible in relation to the rear part  31  to give identical 90°-interval pipe rotational angle options at each end. The manifold housing front part  30  mates with the manifold housing rear part  31  at a transverse mating flange  43  angled at 45° from top rear to bottom front. Thus, longitudinally reversing the manifold housing front part  30  moves the connector mounting face  21  from a first end to a second end yet still provides 90° interval, vertically up, horizontally forward or horizontally outward orthogonal positions  23 ,  24 ,  25  respectively of the connector body  7  in relation to the manifold  5 , plus any desired intermediate positions.  
         [0030]    The manifold housing front part  30  is attachable to the manifold housing rear part  31  to form the manifold housing  42 . The manifold housing front part  30  can be selected so that the housing front part  30  is configured in accordance with the requirements of the engine installation. Accordingly, the two-part manifold can be constructed by selecting a manifold housing front part  30  in accordance with an engine installation and attaching the manifold housing front part  30  to a manifold housing rear part  31  to form the manifold housing  42  in accordance with the required application for the manifold  5 . In the present embodiment the manifold housing rear part  31  may be incorporated in or integral with an adjacent substructure (e.g. a cylinder head). The two-part manifold  5  can, depending on the application, have a number of benefits, e.g. help facilitate casting or molding. The front and rear manifold housing  30 ,  31  parts may be joined by threaded fasteners, adhesive bonding or other attachment means.  
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
       [0031]    In use, the adaptable fluid flow apparatus of this invention permits a single design to be applied to a variety of applications. In the case of a fluid flow apparatus for an internal combustion engine, for example, one set of parts may be use for multiple applications of one engine model regardless of whether the elbow connector must extend upwards, to one side, or even parallel to the fluid flow body to suit each particular application. Prior to assembly to the engine, the required position of the elbow connector is determined, and the connector is then assembled onto the fluid flow body in the proper orientation. One fluid flow body configuration and one elbow connector configuration can be used for each engine model regardless of the engine application and manifold connection requirements. As a result, fewer different parts are required, thus leading to lower unit costs and lower inventories for production components and service parts.  
         [0032]    As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, this invention is applicable to a variety of fluid flow applications and is not limited to engine applications. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that, with respect to engine fluid flow apparatus, this invention is not limited to air inlet manifolds in engines. Thus, it should be understood that the invention is not restricted to a component of this particular configuration and may be adapted to a wide range of fluid flow applications e.g. in coolant systems where the fluid flow apparatus can provide alternative fluid flow connector angles and locations on a coolant body.  
         [0033]    Various additions or modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from scope of the following claims.