An intake manifold is provided that controls swirl on entry to a combustion chamber. Each intake manifold includes a fin or rib portion positioned to reduce or eliminate swirl induced by the configuration of the intake manifold, particularly when used in a large engine having a left bank and a right bank of combustion chambers. By controlling swirl induced by the intake manifold, swirl consistency is improved between engine cylinders and between the left bank and the right bank, improving the consistency of power output and reducing emissions, particularly particulate emissions, also called smoke.

An engine air intake structure includes a partition plate and a valve. The plate partitions an air intake passage communicating with an intake port into first and second paths. The valve is disposed in the passage and secured to the shaft. A first path opening is changed variable by the valve. The structure also includes an opposing surface, a stepped surface, an extending surface and a measurement groove. The opposing surface is an inner wall surface of the passage and opposes an end away from the shaft when the opening becomes minimal. The stepped surface is located on the intake port side of the end of the valve at the minimal opening and stands erect from the opposing surface. The extending surface extends from the stepped surface toward the intake port. The measurement groove is formed in the extending surface and extends from the stepped surface toward the intake port.

A joint in a system for conducting a fluid has a first duct and a second duct that is coupled together via fasteners. Typically, the fasteners are placed into tabs that are affixed to the ducts and shafts of the fasteners run in the same direction as the duct. When the ducts are plastic and the fasteners are metal, the plastic can creep more than the metal such that the joint fails to seal properly after a period of time. To avoid such a situation, a joint that has fasteners installed at an angle with respect to the ducts is disclosed. The tabs are also angled with respect to the ducts: tabs that form an obtuse angle with one of the ducts mate with tabs on the other duct that form a complementary acute angle. In one embodiment, shafts of pairs of fasteners are roughly perpendicular.

A joint in a system for conducting a fluid has a first duct and a second duct that is coupled together via fasteners. Typically, the fasteners are placed into tabs that are affixed to the ducts and shafts of the fasteners run in the same direction as the duct. When the ducts are plastic and the fasteners are metal, the plastic can creep more than the metal such that the joint fails to seal properly after a period of time. To avoid such a situation, a joint that has fasteners installed at an angle with respect to the ducts is disclosed. The tabs are also angled with respect to the ducts: tabs that form an obtuse angle with one of the ducts mate with tabs on the other duct that form a complementary acute angle. In one embodiment, shafts of pairs of fasteners are roughly perpendicular.

Vehicle engine systems and load path brackets for such systems are presented. The load path brackets can be positioned between an air intake system and a cylinder bank of an engine. In some embodiments, the load path brackets can be operatively connected to a surge tank at a first end and to a cylinder head cover at a second end. The load path brackets can be constructed, positioned, and/or oriented to absorb or transfer forces acting upon the engine system during impacts. For instance, the load path brackets can be arranged such that a longitudinal axis of a portion of load path bracket is positioned based on a predetermined force direction of a predetermined impact force.

A method of modifying an engine after the engine has been initially sold by the manufacturer of the engine, wherein the engine has an air intake pipe and an air flow sensor, wherein the air intake pipe has an exterior wall surface and an interior wall surface, and wherein the air flow sensor has a sensing head disposed at a first location within the air intake pipe spaced apart from the interior wall surface of the air intake pipe, includes the step of: repositioning the sensing head from the first location to a second location, wherein the second location is closer to the interior wall surface of the air intake pipe than the position of the sensing head at the first location.

An intake manifold is provided that controls swirl on entry to a combustion chamber. Each intake manifold includes a fin or rib portion positioned to reduce or eliminate swirl induced by the configuration of the intake manifold, particularly when used in a large engine having a left bank and a right bank of combustion chambers. By controlling swirl induced by the intake manifold, swirl consistency is improved between engine cylinders and between the left bank and the right bank, improving the consistency of power output and reducing emissions, particularly particulate emissions, also called smoke.

An intake manifold is provided that controls swirl on entry to a combustion chamber. Each intake manifold includes a fin or rib portion positioned to reduce or eliminate swirl induced by the configuration of the intake manifold, particularly when used in a large engine having a left bank and a right bank of combustion chambers. By controlling swirl induced by the intake manifold, charge motion consistency is improved between engine cylinders and between the left bank and the right bank, thereby improving the consistency of combustion and power output, improving efficiency and reducing emissions (e.g., decreased particulate emissions (also described as smoke), hydrocarbon emissions, and NOx emissions), and further including an improved knock margin, improved fuel economy, wider rich and lean limits, etc.

An intake manifold is provided that controls swirl on entry to a combustion chamber. Each intake manifold includes a fin or rib portion positioned to reduce or eliminate swirl induced by the configuration of the intake manifold, particularly when used in a large engine having a left bank and a right bank of combustion chambers. By controlling swirl induced by the intake manifold, swirl consistency is improved between engine cylinders and between the left bank and the right bank, improving the consistency of power output and reducing emissions, particularly particulate emissions, also called smoke.

An engine air intake structure includes a partition plate and a valve. The plate partitions an air intake passage communicating with an intake port into first and second paths. The valve is disposed in the passage and secured to the shaft. A first path opening is changed variable by the valve. The structure also includes an opposing surface, a stepped surface, an extending surface and a measurement groove. The opposing surface is an inner wall surface of the passage and opposes an end away from the shaft when the opening becomes minimal. The stepped surface is located on the intake port side of the end of the valve at the minimal opening and stands erect from the opposing surface. The extending surface extends from the stepped surface toward the intake port. The measurement groove is formed in the extending surface and extends from the stepped surface toward the intake port.