Air intake plenum for air induction channel
View Patent ↗An air intake plenum ( 100 ) disposed in an air induction channel ( 112 ) in a hood ( 116 ) defined by a bottom channel wall ( 120 ), a rear hood reinforcement wall ( 122 ), a cab wall ( 124 ), and an exterior skin ( 126 ), where the air induction channel extends between an air inlet ( 114 ) laying in a plane generally parallel with the direction of travel “T” of the vehicle to an air outlet ( 118 ), includes a plenum inlet ( 128 ). The plenum inlet ( 128 ) is generally co-planar with the air inlet ( 114 ) of the air induction channel ( 112 ). At least one side wall ( 136, 138 ) extends from the plenum inlet ( 128 ) to a plenum outlet ( 144 ) and is angled downwards towards the bottom channel wall ( 120 ). Air through the plenum inlet ( 128 ) impinges against the side wall ( 136, 138 ), exits the plenum outlet ( 144 ), and is directed to impinge against the bottom channel wall ( 120 ) of the air induction channel ( 112 ) where contaminants drop out of the air.
1. An air intake plenum disposed in an air induction channel in a hood defined by a bottom channel wall, a rear hood reinforcement wall, a cab wall, and an exterior skin, the air induction channel extending between an air inlet laying in a plane generally parallel with the direction of travel of the vehicle to an air outlet, the plenum comprising:
a plenum inlet generally co-planar with the air inlet of the air induction channel, wherein the air intake plenum and the air induction channel generally lay in the same plane substantially over the length of the induction channel;
at least one side wall extending from the plenum inlet to a plenum outlet, wherein in the direction from the plenum inlet to the plenum outlet, the at least one side wall is angled downwards towards the bottom channel wall;
wherein air through the plenum inlet impinges against the at least one side wall, wherein the at least one side wall is a trailing surface of the plenum in the direction of travel and the air exits the plenum outlet, wherein the air intake plenum is configured to direct the air exiting the plenum outlet downward to impinge against the bottom channel wall of the air induction channel where contaminants drop out of the air.
2. The air intake plenum of claim 1 wherein the plenum inlet has a generally oval-shape.
3. The air intake plenum of claim 1 wherein the plenum is formed of plastic.
4. The air intake plenum of claim 1 further comprising at least one fastener receiver that is disposed generally in the plane of the plenum inlet.
5. The air intake plenum of claim 4 wherein the at least one fastener receiver is integrally formed into the air intake plenum and has a front face that is generally coplanar with the plenum inlet.
6. The air intake plenum of claim 1 further comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, and a first side wall, wherein the first side wall has a smaller radius of curvature than the at least one side wall.
7. The air intake plenum of claim 6 further comprising a front surface that defines the plenum inlet, and opposite the front surface is a rear surface that defines the plenum outlet, wherein the upper wall, the lower wall, the first side wall and the at least one side wall extend from the front surface to the rear surface.
8. The air intake plenum of claim 7 wherein the first side wall extends at an acute angle from the plenum inlet to the plenum outlet.
9. The air intake plenum of claim 8 wherein the acute angle is in the range of about 45-90 degrees.
10. The air intake plenum of claim 7 wherein the at least one side wall extends at an acute angle from the plenum inlet to the plenum outlet.
11. The air intake plenum of claim 10 wherein the acute angle is in the range of about 0 to 45-degrees.
12. An air intake plenum disposed in an air induction channel in a hood defined by a bottom channel wall, a rear hood reinforcement wall, a cab wall, and an exterior skin, the air induction channel extending between an air inlet laying in a plane generally parallel with the direction of travel of the vehicle to an air outlet, the plenum comprising:
a front surface defining a plenum inlet that is generally co-planar with the air inlet of the air induction channel, wherein the air intake plenum and the air induction channel generally lay in the same plane substantially over the length of the induction channel;
a rear surface defining a plenum outlet;
an upper wall extending from the front surface to the rear surface, wherein from the front surface to the rear surface, the upper wall slopes downwards towards the bottom channel wall;
a lower wall extending from the front surface to the rear surface, wherein in the direction from the front surface to the rear surface, the lower wall slopes downwards towards the bottom channel wall;
wherein air through the plenum inlet impinges against at least one of the upper wall and the lower wall, and the air exits the plenum outlet wherein the air intake plenum is configured to direct the air downward to impinge against the bottom channel wall of the air induction channel where contaminants drop out of the air.
13. The air intake plenum of claim 12 wherein the plenum is formed of plastic.
14. The air intake plenum of claim 12 wherein the slope of the upper wall is greater than the slope of the lower wall.
15. The air intake plenum of claim 12 further comprising a plurality of fastener receivers that are disposed generally in the plane of the plenum inlet.
16. The air intake plenum of claim 15 wherein the fastener receivers are integrally formed into the air intake plenum and have a front face that is generally coplanar with the plenum inlet.
17. The air intake plenum of claim 12 wherein the plane of the plenum inlet and the plane of the plenum outlet are generally parallel.
18. The air intake plenum of claim 12 wherein the plenum inlet is generally oval-shaped.
19. The air intake plenum of claim 18 wherein one end of the oval-shaped plenum inlet has a smaller radius of curvature than a second end of the plenum inlet.
20. An air intake plenum disposed in an air induction channel in a hood defined by a bottom channel wall, a rear hood reinforcement wall, a cab wall, and an exterior skin, the air induction channel extending between an air inlet laying in a plane generally parallel with the direction of travel of the vehicle to an air outlet, the plenum comprising:
a front surface defining a plenum inlet that is generally co-planar with the air inlet of the air induction channel, the front surface having a plurality of fastener receivers that are disposed generally in the plane of the plenum inlet, wherein the air intake plenum and the air induction channel generally lay in the same plane substantially over the length of the induction channel;
a rear surface defining a plenum outlet;
an upper wall extending from the front surface to the rear surface, wherein in the direction from the front surface to the rear surface, the upper slopes downwards towards the bottom channel wall;
a lower wall extending from the front surface to the rear surface, wherein in the direction from the front surface to the rear surface, the lower wall slopes downwards towards the bottom channel wall;
a first side wall having a first radius of curvature extending from the front surface to the rear surface;
a second side wall having a second radius of curvature extending from the front surface to the rear surface, wherein the second radius of curvature is larger than the first radius of curvature wherein the second side wall is a trailing surface of the plenum in the direction of travel;
wherein air through the plenum inlet impinges against at least one of the upper wall and second side wall, and exits the plenum outlet, wherein the air intake plenum is configured to direct the air exiting the air intake plenum downward to impinge against the bottom channel wall of the air induction channel where contaminants drop out of the air.