| Title of Invention | BONNET OF A VEHICLE WITH AN INTEGRATED AIR DUCT |
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| Abstract | The present invention consists of a bonnet with an integrated air duct, which comprises of a main body of outside surface (1), reinforcement structure forming the inner surface (2), hollow air passage (3), form by joining of these surfaces extending from front of vehicle structure/grill (9), up to the intercooler area or engine intake and likewise. |
| Full Text | FORM 2 THE PATENT ACT 1970 & The Patents Rules, 2003 PROVISIONAL / COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10 and rule 13) 1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION "BONNET WITH INTEGRATED AIR DUCT 2. APPLICANT 3. (a) NAME : MAHINDRA AND MAHINDRA LIMITED. (b) NATIONALITY : Indian Company, registered under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 (c) ADDRESS : R&D Centre, Auto Sector, 89, M.I.D.C Nashik-422 007. Maharashtra State, India 3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION PROVISIONAL The following specification describes the invention. COMPLETE The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed. 1 Title: Bonnet with Integrated Air Duct. Technical Field: The present innovation relates to the bonnet of an automobile, wherein, it has multiple functions. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bonnet encompassing an integral air duct to provide air to the intercooler of the engine or any device which requires air for its functioning. Prior Art: An intercooler, in turbocharged and supercharged internal combustion engines requires air to provide a denser intake charge to the engine and allows more air and fuel to be combusted per engine cycle, increasing the output of the engine. This air requirement is fulfilled with a duct running between front opening at grille and intercooler. Kia Carens, Nissan Xtrial and Tata Indigo are the well-known carmakers who have provided a separate plastic duct under the bonnet, which carry airflow from front of engine to intercooler of engine. High torque generates high heat loads to the point where cooling of manual gearbox transmissions is necessary, transmission coolers are often provided by the vehicle manufacturer. Car models of Nissan X-Trail and Tata Indigo have an intercooler mounted on the engine over its top-most part and just under the vehicle bonnet (or hood). There is a fairly large hollow plastic part, which is fastened to the underside of the bonnet forming a duct. The front portion of this duct is either a single opening or split into two openings and in the bonnet-closed condition is positioned in front of the front grille. The rear portion carries a seal, which seats over the top of the intercooler and overall forms a conduit for the cooling air. 2 The bonnet of the Audi car has a noise insulator fastened to the underside of the bonnet. This insulator is shaped to provide an air passage to the engine intercooler. Lamborghini car has front bumper with integrated air-intake for the front mounted oil cooler. Other than these concepts, in the public domain, no patents relating to the present innovation were found to the best of the knowledge of the applicant. Deficiencies of Prior Art: 1) Present designs do not integrate the air duct (snorkel) with bonnet to provide passage to air and stiffness to the bonnet in the required areas. 2) In automobiles, which have top mounted intercooler, the gap between the bonnet reinforcement and intercooler is very small and so it is difficult to introduce separate duct for passage of air to the intercooler. Addition of a duct introduces one more part in the vehicle and packaging in limited space was an issue. This difficulty resulted into the present invention. 3) In case of other vehicles mentioned above, the air duct is made of plastic and not an integrated part of bonnet. Object of the Present Invention: The main objects of the present invention are- 1. To create passage for the unobstructed flow of air to the intercooler of the engine from the outside through front grille, when the vehicle is in motion. 2. To eliminate use of additional part like plastic, composite material etc for the purpose. 3. To utilize space under the bonnet effectively. 3 Advantages of the Present Invention: 1) Aerodynamic benefits - utilizes air dragged in for intercooling purposes. 2) Reduction in number of parts by combining both bonnet and air duct that is made up of metal. 3) The weight of the bonnet is reduced. 4) Absorbs engine noise, vibration and buffeting due to airflow. Description of the invention: Description of figures: Figure (1) shows exploded view of bonnet with integrated air duct according to the present invention. Figure (2) shows cross sectional side view of bonnet with air duct and path of the airflow in the bonnet according to present invention. The bonnet-outer surface (1) is made of sheet metal. The reinforcing structure (2) is at the inner side of the bonnet and joined with the bonnet at its edges mechanically. Oven hardening sealant is provided at the central portion at the joint of outer and inner surface of the bonnet. The reinforcing structure is formed to provide a hollow space (3) as shown in figure 1. The leading end of this hollow space is split up into two slots (4). The trailing end of hollow space opens as a single square (5) on the upper side of the intercooler (7). The bottom of this trailing square opening is fitted with a flexible rubber bellow (6), which provides a continuous passage for air as well as a seal. The intercooler, a separate part (7), has a cover (8) mounted above it and it acts as a seat for flexible rubber bellow (6). The front two slots of the air duct (snorkel) open out into the front grille (9) which carries two curved air guides (10), which in turn face the on-rushing air stream. 4 The normal functions of a conventional bonnet are static / passive in nature and it remains in its place after being closed. On closing the bonnet (1), the trailing square opening (5) of the reinforcing structure (2) get connected to the intercooler (7) through its cover (8) and flexible rubber bellow (6). The front opening slots (4) of the reinforcement structure (2) of the bonnet panel (1) gets connected to the two air guides (10). This creates a complete leak proof air-conveying duct (snorkel) from the front of the vehicle leading to the intercooler core. As the vehicle moves forward, it displaces the air in front of it. A part of the displaced air is drawn into this air passage and directed over the intercooler core. This cooling air enters over the top face of the intercooler core and exits from its bottom and into the engine compartment and then onwards into the air stream passing from the underbody of the vehicle. The mass flow rate of the air increases with the forward velocity of the vehicle. In the event of a frontal collision with a stationary object or moving vehicle, reinforcement structure folds and collapses and thus absorbs a portion of the impact energy. When the vehicle is running under various operating conditions, there are varied noise and vibration inputs due to the running engine, road inputs and airflow. The bonnet, by virtue of its design with air duct integrated within it, damps the noise emanating from the engine compartment. Its structure also absorbs the vibration inputs and does not give off any of its own noise due to this vibration as tested with CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis. The quantity of air passing through the bonnet is a function of the overall pressure drop across the entire system. The geometry of air guides, coefficient of friction, inner height of the air duct (space between the bonnet and reinforcement structure), drag coefficient, length of the air duct and surface area of intercooler core are the parameters which are considered to achieve effective design of the present invention. 5 We claim: 1. A bonnet of vehicle with an integrated air duct comprising a) a main body of outside surface and reinforcement structure, b) a hollow passage/duct formed in the bonnet extending from front of vehicle structure up to the top of intercooler/engine/any device requiring air for its normal functioning, c) an opening at front of bonnet as an inlet for introducing outside air to move through the front grill to the intercooler area/engine intake and likewise. 2. A bonnet with integrated air duct as claimed in claim 1, wherein both surfaces are fabricated in metal or reinforced plastics or composite material or any material or combination of these. 3. A bonnet with integrated air duct, as hereinabove described in the specification with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 31st day of July, 2007 (KIRAN A.JOSHI) (AGENT FOR THE APPLICANT) 6 Abstract: The present invention consists of a bonnet with an integrated air duct, which comprises of a main body of outside surface (1), reinforcement structure forming the inner surface (2), hollow air passage (3), form by joining of these surfaces extending from front of vehicle structure/grill (9), up to the intercooler area or engine intake and likewise. |
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1527-MUM-2007-ABSTRACT(14-6-2013).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-ABSTRACT(9-1-2012).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-CLAIMS(AMENDED)-(14-6-2013).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-CLAIMS(AMENDED)-(9-1-2012).pdf
1527-mum-2007-correspondence 1(19-12-2007).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-CORRESPONDENCE 16-6-2008.pdf
1527-mum-2007-correspondence 2(14-1-2008).pdf
1527-mum-2007-correspondence 3(7-8-2008).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-CORRESPONDENCE(11-2-2013).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-CORRESPONDENCE(27-6-2013).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-CORRESPONDENCE(29-8-2008).pdf
1527-mum-2007-correspondence-received.pdf
1527-mum-2007-description (complete).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-DRAWING(9-1-2012).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-FORM 1(11-2-2013).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-FORM 1(14-6-2013).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-FORM 13(11-2-2013).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-FORM 13(14-6-2013).pdf
1527-mum-2007-form 18(19-12-2007).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-FORM 2(TITLE PAGE)-(14-6-2013).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-FORM 2(TITLE PAGE)-(9-1-2012).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-FORM 26(9-1-2012).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-FORM 3(14-6-2013).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-FORM 3(27-6-2013).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-FORM 3(29-8-2008).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-FORM 3(9-1-2012).pdf
1527-mum-2007-form 9(7-9-2007).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-GENERAL POWER OF ATTORNEY(11-2-2013).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-MARKED COPY(14-6-2013).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-MARKED COPY(9-1-2012).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-PETITION UNDER RULE-137(27-6-2013).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT(9-1-2012).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-REPLY TO HEARING(14-6-2013).pdf
1527-MUM-2007-SPECIFICATION(AMENDED)-(9-1-2012).pdf
| Patent Number | 256518 | |||||||||||||||
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| Indian Patent Application Number | 1527/MUM/2007 | |||||||||||||||
| PG Journal Number | 27/2013 | |||||||||||||||
| Publication Date | 05-Jul-2013 | |||||||||||||||
| Grant Date | 27-Jun-2013 | |||||||||||||||
| Date of Filing | 08-Aug-2007 | |||||||||||||||
| Name of Patentee | MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD. | |||||||||||||||
| Applicant Address | R&D CENTRE, AUTO SECTOR, 89, M.I.D.C., SATPUR, NASHIK 422007, | |||||||||||||||
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| PCT International Classification Number | E03C1/28 | |||||||||||||||
| PCT International Application Number | N/A | |||||||||||||||
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