Patent ID: 12203409

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure. Common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one having ordinary skill in the art that the specific detail need not be employed to practice the present embodiments. In other instances, well-known materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present embodiments.

Additionally, any examples or illustrations given herein are not to be regarded in any way as restrictions on, limits to, or express definitions of any term or terms with which they are utilized. Instead, these examples or illustrations are to be regarded as being described with respect to one particular embodiment and as being illustrative only. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any term or terms with which these examples or illustrations are utilized will encompass other embodiments which may or may not be given therewith or elsewhere in the specification and all such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of that term or terms. Language designating such nonlimiting examples and illustrations includes, but is not limited to: “for example,” “for instance,” “e.g.,” and “in one embodiment.”

FIG.1depicts an inlet shield system100, according to an embodiment. Inlet shield system100may be configured to allow a user to selectively change the amount of air a turbocharger can receive based on a surface area occupied by a mesh covering of inlet shield system100. Inlet shield system100may include a detachable shield110and clamping cylinder120.

Detachable shield110may be configured to be removably coupled with clamping cylinder via castling or splines, as well as via magnets, wherein first magnets with a first polarity may be positioned on an inner face of detachable shield110. Detachable shield110may be a hollow cylinder with a first inner diameter and may include a guard112. The first inner diameter associated with detachable shield may be slightly larger than the inner diameter associated with the outer circumference of an air intake of a turbocharger. Guard112is formed of a mesh, lattice, webbed pattern, etc. that allows air to selectively flow through guard112. In embodiments, a first detachable shield110may have a guard112with a first pattern that occupies a first surface area and a second detachable shield110may have a guard112with a second pattern that occupies a second surface area, wherein the first surface area and the second surface area have different amounts. Based on the amount of surface area occupied by guard112more or less air may enter into an intake of a turbocharger, which may limit or increase the performance of the turbocharger.

Clamping cylinder120may be a hollow cylinder that has an inner circumference that is configured to be positioned adjacent to an outer circumference of the air intake of the turbocharger. Clamping cylinder120may include a clamp and second magnets. The clamp may be configured to apply radial forces against the outer circumference of the air intake of the turbocharger, wherein the clamp is configured to secure the clamping cylinder120and the air intake. An inner circumference of clamping cylinder120may have the first inner diameter. The second magnets may be positioned on an outer face of clamping cylinder120, and may have a second polarity. The second magnets associated with the clamping cylinder120may create forces with the first magnets associated with detachable shield110to couple clamping cylinder120and detachable shield110together. In embodiments, detachable shield110may be coupled to clamping cylinder120based on forces that are perpendicular to the radial forces created by the clamp of clamping cylinder120against the outer diameter of the air intake. This may allow air intake system100to be removed from the inlet of the turbocharger by applying forces in different directions if desired. In embodiments,

In embodiments, while clamping cylinder120is coupled with the air intake of the turbocharger, different detachable shields110may be coupled with clamping cylinder120without removing clamping cylinder120from the air intake of the turbocharger. This may enable quick and efficient interchanges of detachable shields with different air flow properties and safety guards based on a desired need.

FIG.2depicts an outer face205of clamping cylinder120and an outer face of detachable shield110, according to an embodiment. Elements depicted inFIG.2may be described above, and for the sake of brevity a further description of these elements may be omitted.

Outer face205of clamping cylinder120may be configured to be co-planar or in front of an opening associated with the air intake of a turbocharger, while inner circumference207of clamping cylinder120may be positioned directly around an outer circumference of the air intake of the turbocharger. An inner face202of clamping cylinder120may be positioned around the outer circumference of the air intake of the turbocharger. By having outer face205positioned away from the opening of the air intake of the turbocharger, heat may not be transferred as quickly to detachable shield110. Outer face205may include first castling depressions220and projections222, and first magnets210.

First castling depressions220and projections222may be positioned alternating pattern around outer face205to create a changing profile. First castling depressions220may be configured to be aligned with second castling projections420on an inner face405of detachable shield110, and first castling projections220may be configured to be aligned with second castling depressions422on inner face of detachable shield110. Responsive to interfacing first castling depressions220and projections222with second castling projections420and depressions422, detachable shield110may not rotate relative to clamping cylinder120. One skilled in the art may appreciated that other mechanical devices to form an anti-rotation lock between detachable shield110and clamping cylinder120may be used, such as splines.

In embodiments, first depressions220may have a groove extending from an outer circumference of clamping cylinder120towards that inner circumference207of clamping cylinder120. The positioning of first depressions220on the outer circumference of clamping cylinder120may limit heat transfer between clamping cylinder120and detachable shield110, while air is flowing through inner circumference207.

First magnets210may be magnets of a first polarity, which may be positioned on first castling projections222. First magnets210may be configured to be coupled with second magnets410positioned on an inner face of detachable shield110, wherein the forces created by first magnets210and second magnets410may be substantially in parallel to a flow of air through inlet shield system100. Further, the forces created by first magnets210and second magnets410may be orthogonal to the radial forces created by a clamp associated with clamping cylinder120against the outer circumference of the air intake of the turbocharger. This may allow the forces created by the magnets210,410to be assisted with a force created by the air flowing into the air intake in a first direction.

FIG.3depicts an outer face402of detachable shield110, andFIG.4depicts an inner face405of detachable shield110. Elements depicted inFIGS.3and4may be described above, and for the sake of brevity a further description of these elements may be omitted.

As depicted inFIG.3, guard112may be configured to cover an entirety of a passageway through detachable shield110. This may restrict or limit objects from passing through detachable shield110. In embodiments, different detachable shields110may have different patterns formed by guards112, which may occupy more or less space, wherein the performance of the turbocharger may be directly related to the space occupied by guards112. This may be due to guards112reducing a surface area and flow rate of air into the turbocharger.

As depicted inFIG.4, inner face405of detachable shield110may include second castling projections420and depressions422, which may be positioned alternating pattern around to create a changing profile. This may allow second castling projections420and depressions422to be interfaces with first castling depressions420and projections422to form an anti-rotation lock. In further embodiments, the inner face405of detachable shield410may be coated with or include an insulating layer, which may limit the heat transfer from clamping cylinder120to detachable shield110.

Second magnets420may be magnets of a second polarity, which may be positioned on second castling depressions422.

FIGS.5and6depict side views of detachable shield110, according to an embodiment. Elements depicted inFIGS.5and6may be described above, and for the sake of brevity a further description of these elements may be omitted.

FIG.7depicts a front view of outer face205of clamping cylinder120, andFIG.8depicts a front view of an inner face810of claiming cylinder120. Elements depicted inFIGS.7and8may be described above, and for the sake of brevity a further description of these elements may be omitted. As depicted inFIGS.7and8, a hollow passageway may be formed through clamping cylinder120. This may allow air to pass through clamping cylinder120.

FIGS.9and10depict side views of clamping cylinder120, according to an embodiment. Elements depicted inFIGS.5and6may be described above, and for the sake of brevity a further description of these elements may be omitted.

FIG.11depicts an embodiment of clamping cylinder120and detachable shield110being coupled together via their respective magnets, according to an embodiment. Elements depicted inFIG.11may be described above, and for the sake of brevity a further description of these elements may be omitted.

As depicted inFIG.11, the outer face of clamping cylinder120may be positioned directly adjacent to and contacting the inner face of detachable shield110. This may create a unified piece along joint outer circumference1120that allows air to travel through a hollow cylinder formed between the two components.

Furthermore,FIG.11depicts clamp1110. Clamp1110may be configured to form a radial force against the outer circumference of the air intake of the turbocharger. Clamp1110may be aligned with the outer circumference of clamping cylinder120, and may not overlap with the outer surface of detachable shield110. This may allow detachable shield110to be quickly and efficiently removed from clamping cylinder120while clamping cylinder120remains coupled to the air intake of the turbocharger.

FIG.12depicts an embodiment of clamping cylinder120and detachable shield110being coupled together and the air intake of a turbocharger1210, according to an embodiment. Elements depicted inFIG.12may be described above, and for the sake of brevity a further description of these elements may be omitted.

As depicted inFIG.12, when clamping cylinder120is clamped to the air intake and detachable shield110, the entirety inner surface of the detachable shield110may be positioned in front of and away from the intake of the turbocharger1210. This may create a distance between the turbocharger and the detachable shield1210, which may limit the heat transfer between the components, and assist in the removable of detachable shield1210from clamping cylinder120. Furthermore, an inner circumference associated with detachable shield110may be larger than an inner circumference associated with the air intake of the turbocharger1210, which may increase an amount of air that the air intake can receive by creating a Bernoulli effect caused by the change in surface area across the face of detachable shield110and the air intake.

FIG.13depicts a method1300for coupling an inlet shield system to a intake of a turbocharger, according to an embodiment. The operations of method1300presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some embodiments, method1300may be accomplished with one or more additional operations not described, and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in which the operations of method1300are illustrated inFIG.13and described below is not intended to be limiting.

At operation1310, a clamping cylinder may be positioned around an air intake of a turbocharger. A clamp of the clamping cylinder may be tightened to provide a radial force against the outer circumference of the air intake to couple the clamping cylinder to the air intake. A front face of the clamping cylinder may be co-planar or positioned in front of a front face of the air intake.

At operation1320, a first detachable shield may be coupled to the clamping cylinder via magnets positioned on the front face of the clamping cylinder and a rear face of the first detachable shield. The attraction of the magnets may form forces that are in a same direction of air flow through the clamping cylinder and the first detachable shield. The first shield may have a first guard, wherein the first guard is a mesh pattern that extends across the entirety of a front face of the first detachable shield.

At operation1330, the first detachable shield may be removed from the clamping cylinder while the clamping cylinder remains fixed on the air intake of the turbocharger.

At operation1340, a second detachable shield may be coupled to the clamping cylinder magnets positioned on the front face of the clamping cylinder and a rear face of the second detachable shield. The second shield may have a second guard, wherein the second guard is a mesh pattern that is different than the first guard.

Although the present technology has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology is not limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present technology contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any implementation can be combined with one or more features of any other implementation.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “one example” or “an example” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment of the present embodiments. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, “one example” or “an example” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable combinations and/or sub-combinations in one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, it is appreciated that the figures provided herewith are for explanation purposes to persons ordinarily skilled in the art and that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the flow diagrams illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present embodiments. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, may be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B is true (or present).