HOOD AIR SCOOP

Abstract

An apparatus and a system is provided that may be utilized to provide stability to air flow through a hood scoop. The present invention may also be utilized to straighten and smooth out air flow through a hood scoop and accompanying air filter media. The present invention utilizes an air filtration media which may be inserted into at least a portion of a vehicle hood scoop and may filter out particulate and may also slow air flow down temporarily in order to straighten and/or smooth turbulent air flow through the air filtration media. Additionally, the present invention may provide an apparatus that may facilitate more uniform pressure inside the hood scoop of the vehicle

Claims

1. An apparatus for filtering and straightening air flow through a filtration media, the apparatus comprising: a hood scoop mounted on a vehicle; and a filtration media capable of filtering particulate from entering air wherein said filtration media is mounted into the hood scoop of the vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filtration media is a vehicle air filter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: an air filtration media wherein the air filtration media has a plurality of honeycomb openings thereon.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hood scoop of the vehicle has an opening thereon whereby the opening is utilized to accommodate intake of air into the engine of the vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hood scoop of the vehicle has an opening thereon whereby the opening is utilized to accommodate intake of air into the engine of the vehicle and further wherein the filtration media is located in the opening of the hood scoop.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the filtration media is located just inside the opening of the hood scoop.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filtration media is mounted in a vertical plane to the outside opening of the hood scoop whereby air entering the hood scoop would defaultly encounter the filtration media before it could further enter the engine of a vehicle and further wherein the filtration media is in direct contact with air flow outside a vehicle.

8. A system for filtration and straightening of air flow into a vehicle engine, the system comprising: a hood scoop mounted onto a vehicle; and an air filtration media having a front portion and a rear portion whereby the air filtration media is adapted to be releasably attached to the hood scoop mounted onto a vehicle.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the air filtration media is capable of smoothing and straightening incoming air.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the air flow entering the air filtration media may be turbulent and further wherein the air filtration is capable of providing uniform air pressure exiting from the rear portion of the media.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the air filtration media may have at least one side wherein the at least one side is adaptable for fitment against the inside edge of the hood scoop.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the air filtration media may utilize a plurality of honeycomb openings thereon to stabilize incoming turbulent air directed at the front portion of the air filtration media.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the air filtration media is substantially fully exposed to air flow entirely outside of the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the air filtration media covers the entire width of the opening in a hood scoop mounted on a vehicle.

15. The system of claim 8 wherein the hood scoop is attached to the front portion of the vehicle in a position above the hood of the vehicle.

16. A method for utilizing a filtration and laminar air flow system, the method comprising the steps of: providing a vehicle hood scoop mounted to a portion of the vehicle whereby the hood scoop has an opening thereon to accommodate air flow from outside the vehicle and to direct said air flow to the engine of the vehicle; and providing an air filtration media whereby the air filtration media is utilized to filter particulate and to stabilize air pressure entering the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of: utilizing a plurality of honeycomb shaped openings on the air filtration media to allow for laminar air flow of incoming air, whereby the shape of the openings allows for smoothing and straightening of incoming air into the back portion of the hood scoop and further into the engine of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of: providing an air filtration media having a front portion and a rear portion whereby the front portion is adapted to direct at all incoming air flow into the hood scoop and further wherein the air released from the rear portion of the air filtration media is allowed to enter the engine of the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of: allowing said air filtration media to slow down air speed through the filtration media to provide a more uniform pressure inside the hood scoop.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of: allowing for movement of the air filtration media within the hood scoop to maximize air flow into the engine of the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0075] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the apparatus in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0076] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the apparatus in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0077] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the apparatus in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0078] FIG. 4 is a side view of the apparatus in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0079] FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the apparatus in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0080] Turning now to the drawings wherein elements are identified by numbers and like elements are identified by like numbers throughout the 5 figures, the invention is depicted in FIG. 1 and illustrates an apparatus and a system 1 for filtration of air into a vehicle 3 and use of a filtration media 5 for directional enhancement of air flow into the vehicle 3.

[0081] Referring first to FIG. 1, a new hood scoop 7 and filter element 5 is provided. The hood scoop 7 may be integrated onto the hood 9 of a vehicle 3 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The hood scoop 7 in an exemplary embodiment may take the shape of an oval, but as can be appreciated, the hood scoop 7 may be of any orientation and configuration to allow for the placement of a filter media 5 therein. In an exemplary embodiment, the hood scoop 7 may have a top portion 11 and a first side portion 13 and a second side portion 15. Additionally, the hood scoop 7 may have a rear portion 17 extending away from the front portion 21 of the hood scoop 7. The front portion 21 of the hood scoop 7 may have an opening 23 incorporated therein to allow for air flow 25 through the opening 23 of the hood scoop 7 into an air intake system such as a carburetor 29 contained within the vehicle 3.

[0082] As further illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the hood scoop 7 may be positioned on the top edge 31 of a vehicle 3 and may be designed with an opening 23 incorporated thereon to allow for air flow 25 to be captured and/or incorporated into the hood scoop 7 and taken into the hood scoop 7 and routed to be used by the vehicle engine (not shown). As illustrated in FIG. 1, the hood scoop 7 may have an opening 23 thereon and further wherein the opening 23 may be substantially filled by an air filtration media 5 incorporated into the opening 23 of the hood scoop 7. It should be noted that the air filtration media 5 may be incorporated into the front opening 23 of the hood scoop 7 such that the air filtration 5 is in a plain with the front edge 33 of the hood scoop 7. However, in another exemplary embodiment, the air filtration media 5 may be inserted into a position just inside the hood scoop opening 23 whereby the air filtration media 5 is maintained in a position inside the hood scoop 7 structure of the vehicle 3. It should also be understood that the air filtration media 5 may be located anywhere within the hood scoop 7 structure.

[0083] FIG. 1 further illustrates air flow 25 from outside of the hood scoop 7 into the opening 23 positioned in the hood scoop 7. Additionally, as illustrated, the hood scoop 7 may have an air filtration media 5 therein whereby the air flow 25 may have direct contact with the air filtration media 5. The air filtration media 5 may have a honeycomb structural appearance 41. The honeycomb structure may facilitate smoothening and straightening of incoming turbulent air flow 25. Additionally, the air filtration media 5 may be utilized to filter the incoming air flow 25 to eliminate particulates and other foreign substances. Still further, it is contemplated that the air filtration media 5 may also be utilized to smooth air flow 25 through the air filter media 5. Many vehicles which travel at very high speeds have a significant problem wherein the air flow 25 through the hood scoop 7 tends to be very turbulent. It is contemplated that the air filtration media 5 may smooth, straighten and filter the incoming air. In an exemplary embodiment, the air filtration media 5 may have a honeycomb type construction 41. However, it should be appreciated that any type of design pattern and/or configuration may be utilized that will facilitate smoothening, straightening and filtering of the incoming air flow 25. In an exemplary embodiment, the air filter media 5 may have a plurality of honeycomb shaped openings 43 thereon to slightly slow the air speed down while directing the air flow 25 into the appropriate channels. The results of this slowing is a smoother and more uniform air field 47 within the filter as illustrated in FIG. 5. The honeycomb shape of the opening forces air flow 25 into a unidirectional, straightened path upon exiting the rear side 49 of the air filtration media 5.

[0084] Additionally, the air filtration media 5 may also provide a more uniform pressure inside the hood scoop 7 of the vehicle 3. In typical prior art applications, a vehicle 3 having a hood scoop 7 is prone to inconsistent and unstable pressure inside the hood scoop 7. This is typically caused by the air flow into a specifically shaped hood scoop 7. This problem tends to increase as both air velocity and the velocity of the vehicle 3 increase. By utilizing the air filtration media 5 within the opening 23 of the hood scoop 7, the air filtration media 5 may provide more uniform pressures inside the hood scoop 7 by eliminating the turbulence inside the hood scoop that is normally found in prior art applications. The positioning of the air filtration media 5 may provide for more consistent and uniform air pressure 47 not only inside the hood scoop 7, but also air flow into the carburetors and other intake mechanisms of the vehicle 3, thereby allowing for better breathing and air flow to the engine (not shown).

[0085] As illustrated in FIG. 2, a hood scoop 7 may have a generally convex top portion 11 and may taper towards the back portion 17 of the hood scoop 7. Additionally, the hood scoop 7 may also have a hood scoop tray 51 which may seal the bottom portion 53 of the hood scoop 7 to a vehicle carburetor 29. The hood scoop tray 51 may be configured to fit a plurality of different vehicle applications including different intake systems. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the hood scoop tray 51 may be eliminated in systems whereby carburetors 29 are not used. Additionally, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the hood scoop 7 has a front portion 21 whereby an opening 23 is incorporated into the front portion 21 therein producing a lip 55 around the outside edges 57 of the opening. In the cross-sectional view, it can be seen that the air filtration media 5 is located within the hood scoop 7 and is configured to substantially block air flow 25 entering the vehicle intake system without first going through the air filtration media. FIGS. 2 and 4 illustrate placement of the air filtration media 5 in a vertical fashion to completely seal air flow from direct ingress into the vehicle intake system. The vertical placement of the air filtration media 5 allows for more direct contact with incoming air flow 25 whereby all air flow 25 entering the hood scoop 7 would first be confronted with the air filtration media 5 prior to entering the carburetor 29 and/or other intake system of the vehicle 3. Additionally, the placement of the air filtration media 5 at the front portion 21 of the hood scoop 7 ensures that after particulate filtration is achieved, air pressure exiting the air filtration media 5 is more uniform and constant thereby allowing for consistent air flow to the carburetor 29. It is contemplated that the air filtration media 5 be placed just inside the lip 55 of the hood scoop. However, it should be noted, that it is further contemplated that the air filtration media 5 may be placed in a vertical plane with the lip 55 as illustrated in FIG. 3 whereby the opening 23 and filtration media 5 may portray the illusion of a closed off hood scoop 7. Moreover, in another exemplary embodiment, the air filtration media 5 may be placed much further back in the hood scoop 7 if desired by a user.

[0086] FIG. 4 further illustrates that another air flow director 61 may be inserted just prior to the air filtration media 5 thereby allowing for smoothing and straightening of turbulent air flow 25 prior to exposure to the air filtration media 5. This may allow for quicker filtration and straightening of the air flow 25 and quicker access to said air flow by the engine of the vehicle 3.

[0087] FIG. 5 illustrates the air flow 25 patterns relating to filtration and straightening of the air flow 25 through the filtration media 5. As evidenced by FIG. 5, when air flow 25 collides with the hood scoop opening 23, often times only small portions of the air enters in a substantially straight configuration. A large portion of air flow 25 is very turbulent and directed in less than ideal paths. This can cause serious problems with air intake by the engine of the vehicle 3. As illustrated, the air flow 25 is forced against the air filtration media 5 which utilizes a plurality of honeycomb shaped openings 43 which allow for air flow 25 to be directed therethrough and thereby straightened during the filtration process. The air filtration media 5 may typically have aluminum honeycomb. Additionally, it may also consist of a layer of aluminum powder coated screen. Once the air flow 25 is directed into the front surface 63 of the filtration media, the filtration media will filter the air from particulate and also direct the air into the back portion 17 of the hood scoop 7 in a linear, more uniform fashion than the air that strikes the front surface of the air filtration media 5. Upon exiting the back surface 65 of the filtration media 5, the air flow 25 has been slowed down and straightened out to provide a more uniform and consistent pressure into the intake system of the vehicle 3.

[0088] Thus, specific embodiments and applications of a safety device system have been disclosed. It should be apparent however, to those skilled in the art, that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. The terms comprises and comprising should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.