Patent Description:
In various applications, fluids and-more specifically gasses-must traverse paths that involve sharp turns and then split into two or more streams of flowing fluid. For example, in engines, fluids or gasses must often rapidly change direction, such as within a fuel delivery system.

In many instances, the flowing gas (e.g., air) must be divided shortly after a sharp turn (e.g. a turn between about <NUM>° and <NUM>°). However, many fluids, such as gasses, are easily compressible. As such, the compressed gas will tend to compress at and shortly after the sharp turn. For example, flowing air in an intake valve in an engine will tend to hug the outside of a <NUM>° bend compressing the air. Thus, dividing the flow of a compressible fluid shortly after a sharp turn can often lead to uneven mass distribution in the divided streams.

While some engines have tried to account for uneven mass distribution by adding a turning vane at the sharp turn, in some situations, such as with large engines operating with low pressure fuel delivery systems, a turning vane cannot be added upstream of the flow splitter. Thus, a need therefore exists to address the issue of more even mass distribution of flow splitters that are placed downstream of a sharp turn.

<CIT> discloses a device for the uniform distribution of a flow of conveyed goods in horizontally or diagonally laid pipelines.

<CIT> discloses an elastic connector for connecting the fuel supply mechanism to the cylinder. The connector has a first channel for fuel/air mixture and a second channel for combustion air. The connector has a first connection end and a second connection end at which the two channels open out. The two channels are separated from one another by a partition that extends in the longitudinal direction of the channels. The partition is twisted about its longitudinal central axis between the first and second connection ends to achieve a great elasticity of the connector. To produce the elastic connector, a respective core is used for each channel, and the cores are moved relative to one another to enable removal of the connector from a mold.

The above mentioned and other features and objects of the claimed invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the claimed invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of exemplary embodiments of the claimed invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the presently claimed invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the presently claimed invention. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate exemplary embodiments of the presently claimed invention, in various forms, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the presently claimed invention in any manner.

The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the claimed invention to the precise form disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize its teachings.

As used herein, the modifier "about" used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (for example, it includes at least the degree of error associated with the measurement of the particular quantity). When used in the context of a range, the modifier "about" should also be considered as disclosing the range defined by the absolute values of the two endpoints. For example, the range "from about <NUM> to about <NUM>" also discloses the range "from <NUM> to <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of a flow-divider (e.g., a flow splitter) according to various embodiments. Flow splitter <NUM> includes an inlet <NUM> and at least two outlets, including a first outlet <NUM> and a second outlet <NUM>. With temporary reference to <FIG>, the bottom of flow splitter (looking along the Y-axis) is shown. As can be seen in <FIG>, flow splitter <NUM> includes an internal vane <NUM> comprising a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM> (shown in <FIG>). The first end <NUM> is located near (e.g., at, adjacent, and/or operably coupled) to the inlet <NUM>. Further, the second end <NUM> is located near the at least two outlets (e.g., the first outlet <NUM> and the second outlet <NUM>). As will be described below, the internal vane <NUM> is configured to turn, between the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM>, an internal flowing fluid from <NUM> degrees to a degree between about <NUM> degrees and about <NUM> degrees.

<FIG> illustrates another perspective view of flow splitter <NUM>. <FIG> helps to illustrate the division between the first outlet <NUM> and the second outlet <NUM>. As can be seen in <FIG>, the inlet <NUM> may be positioned below the first outlet <NUM> and the second outlet <NUM> with respect to the Y-axis. Flow splitter <NUM> then directs the flow into first outlet <NUM> and second outlet <NUM>, which have differing directions.

The perspective view of <FIG> illustrates how the flow splitter <NUM> separates the flow into two differing directions with respect to the X-axis. In some embodiments, initially, the internal vane <NUM> (e.g., the first end <NUM> of the internal vane <NUM>) may be parallel with the X-axis and is located near the inlet <NUM>. As an internal flowing fluid (e.g., a gas) flows through the flow splitter <NUM>, the internal vane <NUM> divides the internal flowing fluid. Thus, with reference to <FIG>, the external wall <NUM> and the internal vane <NUM> may form a first conduit <NUM> and a second conduit <NUM>. As the internal vane <NUM> progresses along the positive Y-axis (e.g., towards the second end <NUM> located near the at least two outlets <NUM> and <NUM>), the internal vane <NUM> rotates (e.g., rotates around an axis, such as the y axis). Initially, at the first end <NUM> of the internal vane <NUM>, the internal vane <NUM> is at <NUM> degrees corresponding to a plane, such as an x-z axis plane and located on the x axis. As the internal vane <NUM> progresses from the first end <NUM> to the second end <NUM>, the internal vane <NUM> rotates around the y axis. The rotation may be gradual (e.g., <NUM> or <NUM> degrees every few millimeters) or may be more sudden (e.g., <NUM> or <NUM> degrees for a few millimeters). At the second end <NUM> of the internal vane <NUM> and due to the rotation, the internal vane <NUM> is positioned with a degree (e.g., a degree between about <NUM> degrees to about <NUM> degrees) corresponding to the same plane (e.g., the x-z axis plane).

The internal vane <NUM> is configured to split the internal flowing fluid along a first axis (e.g., along the Y-axis) and then divide the flow between the two outlets, first outlet <NUM> and second outlet <NUM>. First outlet <NUM> and second outlet <NUM> may then split the internal flowing fluid wherein one of the outlets has a first axis component and the another outlet has a second axis component, and the first and second axis components defining a plane.

For example, with temporary reference to <FIG>, the first axis component and the second axis component of the outlets may form an angle θ in the X-Y plane. In various embodiments, the angle between the first outlet <NUM> and the second outlet <NUM> may be an acute angle, may be a right angle, or may be an obtuse angle. <FIG> illustrates angle θ as a substantially right angle on a plane formed by the first axis component (X-axis) and a second axis component (Y-axis) that is parallel to the X-Y plane. As discussed above, the splitting of the internal flowing fluid between the first outlet <NUM> and the second outlet <NUM> is accomplished by the twisting or rotation of the internal vane <NUM>.

For example, <FIG> illustrate various cross-sectional views along the Y-axis and help to illustrate the rotation of the internal vane <NUM> from the first end <NUM> to the second end <NUM> according to various embodiments. The internal vane <NUM> is configured to turn the internal fluid from <NUM> degrees to a degree between about <NUM>° to about <NUM>°, such as a degree between about <NUM>° to about <NUM>°, between about <NUM>° to about <NUM>°, or about <NUM>°. For example, <FIG> shows a cross-sectional view of the internal vane <NUM> at the first end <NUM>. Then, <FIG> show the progression of the rotation of the internal vane <NUM>. Further, <FIG> shows a cross-sectional view of the internal vane <NUM> at the second end <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the internal vane <NUM> may create a first conduit <NUM> and a second conduit <NUM> between the internal vane <NUM> and the outer wall <NUM> of the flow divider. In various embodiments, the cross-sectional areas of the first conduit <NUM> and the second conduit <NUM> may be equal or they may be different. In some embodiments, the cross-sectional areas of the first conduit <NUM> and the second conduit <NUM> may vary between the cross-sectional area at different locations of the internal vane <NUM> (e.g., the first end <NUM> of the internal vane <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) may have a different cross-sectional area from the locations of the internal vane <NUM> (shown in <FIG>)).

The average cross-sectional area of the first conduit <NUM> is different than an average cross-sectional area of the second conduit <NUM>. The average cross-sectional area of the first conduit <NUM> is greater than an average cross-sectional area of the second conduit <NUM>. The variation is not particularly limited and may be up to about <NUM>% greater, up to about <NUM>% greater, up to about <NUM>% greater, or up to about <NUM>% greater.

In some embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the first conduit <NUM>, the second conduit <NUM>, or both the first conduit <NUM> and the second conduit <NUM> may decrease between the first end <NUM>, an intermediary position located within the internal vane <NUM>, and the second end <NUM>. Without being limited to any theory, it is believed that the variation of the size of the cross-sectional areas of either the first conduit <NUM>, the second conduit <NUM>, or both, may be used to advantageously effect pressure, flow velocity, or both. In some embodiments, the first cross-sectional area may be between about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% larger than the second cross-sectional area, between about <NUM>% and about <NUM>% larger than the second cross-sectional area, or about <NUM>% larger than the second cross-sectional area. In various embodiments, the size difference between the first cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area cause a pressure drop between the inlet <NUM> and at least one of the outlets <NUM>, <NUM>.

While the <FIG> have provided embodiments comprising one internal vane, a person of ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of the disclosed embodiment of the claimed invention will recognize that a plurality of vanes may be used. For example, in some embodiments, more internal vanes may be added to divert flow to more than two outlets. In various embodiments, a second vane may be added. The second vane may be configured to turn, between a first end of the second vane and a second end of the second vane, the internal flowing fluid between about <NUM> degrees and <NUM> degrees. In various embodiments, the internal vanes may be parallel or in series. In other embodiments only the first ends of the internal vanes may be parallel or in series.

<FIG> is a diagram of data taken from an exemplary flow splitter <NUM>. Exemplary flow circuit <NUM> may include a sharp turn <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates initial gas flow <NUM> flowing along the X-axis. After entering the sharp turn <NUM>, the gas flows to flow divider <NUM>. The flow was evenly directed to first outlet <NUM> and second outlet <NUM> and to first downstream flow circuit <NUM> and second downstream circuit <NUM>, which were coupled to first outlet <NUM> and second outlet <NUM>, respectively, with first coupler <NUM> and second coupler <NUM>. Thus, flow divider was able to evenly redirect initial gas flow <NUM> after a sharp turn <NUM> into first flow direction <NUM> and second flow direction <NUM>.

The mass flow data illustrated was also measured and then compared with a conventional flow divider without an internal vane. The flow dividers were connected to an engine that was operated at an initial flow rate and a maximum flow rate. The ratio of the first outlet and the second outlet were then compared.

Thus, as can be seen in in Table <NUM>, the incorporation of an internal vane resulted in a significant improvement in equally dividing the mass flow to the two outlets of the mass flow divider.

While this disclosure has been described as having an exemplary design, the presently claimed invention may be further modified within the scope of the claims. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the claimed invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the presently claimed invention as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the presently claimed invention pertains.

However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements. The scope is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless explicitly so stated, but rather "one or more. " Moreover, where a phrase similar to "at least one of A, B, or C" is used in the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B or C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C.

In the detailed description herein, references to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "an example embodiment," etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art with the benefit of the present disclosure to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the claimed invention in alternative embodiments.

Claim 1:
A flow splitter (<NUM>) comprising:
an inlet (<NUM>) configured to receive a fluid flowing along a first linear axis;
at least two outlets, one outlet (<NUM>) configured to receive a first portion of the fluid flow and another (<NUM>) outlet configured to receive a second portion of the fluid flow;
an internal vane (<NUM>) comprising a first end (<NUM>) corresponding to the inlet and a second end (<NUM>) corresponding to the at least two outlets, wherein the internal vane forms a first conduit (<NUM>) and a second conduit (<NUM>) using the internal vane and wherein the internal vane is twisted about the first axis from <NUM> degrees at the first end to a degree between about <NUM> degrees and <NUM> degrees at the second end;
characterised in that
the average cross-sectional area of the first conduit is greater than the average cross-sectional area of the second conduit.