Patent ID: 8555847

Claim:
A process for production of an intake manifold or splitter ( 1 ) to be mounted on a cylinder head block of an internal combustion engine, the process comprising: providing a functional unit, comprised of a shaft ( 5 ) with valves ( 6 ) attached thereto, ii) bearing parts ( 7 ) comprising clothespin-like clamps that each comprise two opposing and mutually complementary branches ( 7 ′) each with a front end ( 7 ″) and a rear end ( 7 ′″), each branch ( 7 ′) having a recess ( 10 ) defining a portion of a rotary bearing, and iii) an intake manifold or splitter body ( 1 ′) having a plurality of pipes ( 2 ) provided with end portions ( 2 ′) defining outlet openings attached to at least one connection plate ( 4 ) that is configured for mounting said intake manifold or splitter ( 1 ) on the cylinder head block of the internal combustion engine, said at least one connection plate ( 4 ) defining a contact surface for sealing said intake manifold of splitter ( 1 ) with said cylinder head block, the intake manifold or splitter body ( 1 ′) having, formed in the at least one connection plate ( 4 ) between the end portions ( 2 ′) of the pipes ( 2 ), receiving housings ( 8 ) for receiving the functional unit ( 5 , 6 ) and the bearing parts ( 7 ); mounting the bearing parts ( 7 ) onto shaft segments ( 5 ′) of the shaft ( 5 ) that extend between the valves ( 6 ) of the functional unit by drawing together the opposing branches ( 7 ′) of corresponding bearing parts ( 7 ) and clamping the shaft segments ( 5 ′) inside the recesses ( 10 ) of the corresponding bearing parts ( 7 ) to form a completed sub-assembly ( 5 , 6 , 7 ); installing the completed sub-assembly ( 5 , 6 , 7 ) in the end portions ( 2 ′) and the receiving housings ( 8 ) of the manifold or splitter body ( 1 ′) by introducing said bearing parts ( 7 ) into the receiving housings ( 8 ) of the at least one connection plate ( 4 ), the front ends ( 7 ″) of the branches ( 7 ′) being located at a bottom of said receiving housing ( 8 ); and implementing a molding or over-molding at a level of the contact surface of the at least one connection plate ( 4 ) such that material connected by said molding or over-molding i) causes a mechanical locking of the completed sub-assembly ( 5 , 6 , 7 ) in the receiving housings ( 8 ), and ii) constitutes sealing formations ( 11 , 14 , 14 ′) that seal against gases between the end portions ( 2 ′) of the pipes ( 2 ) and the cylinder head block at the level of the contact surface.