Intake device to which engine ECU is fixed and method of assembling the same

• US 5,996,543 A
• Filed: 03/30/1998
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nakayama, Toshiaki, Ishida, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamen, Noah P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, HAI H
• Application Number:
  US09/049,924
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 123/184.21, 123/184.24, 123/184.34, 123/184.42, 123/184.47, 123/184.61, 123/198 R, 123/198 E, 361/678, 361/600
• US Class Current: 123/184.21
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/024 using filters, e.g. moistened F02M35/026 takes precedence; cleaning of the filtering material F02M35/08
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10249 Electrical or electronic devices fixed to the intake system; Electric wiring electric heaters F02M31/12; sensors F02M35/10373
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0026 provided with connectors and printed circuit boards [PCB], e.g. automotive electronic control units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/064 sealed by potting, e.g. waterproof resin poured in a rigid casing

Abstract

An ECU for an engine is held in a circuit holding member provided in an air cleaner cap of an intake device. A space between the ECU and the circuit holding member is filled with a potting material, so that the ECU is fixed to the circuit holding member. As a result, the ECU can have high shakeproof properties not to cause malfunctions and not to be damaged by vibrations.

Claims

1. An intake device for filtering air and supplying the air into an engine, the intake device comprising:

an element for filtering the air;

an electronic control unit having a circuit element and a connector electrically connected to the circuit element and protruding from the electronic control unit; and

a case holding the element therein and having an opening portion and a circuit holding member, the circuit holding member being for holding the electronic control unit and a filling material therein, the electronic control unit held in the circuit holding member with the connector exposed outside of the case from the opening portion, the filling material filling a space between the electronic control unit and the circuit holding member to fix the electronic control unit to the circuit holding member.

2. The intake device of claim 1, wherein the case is divided by the element into a dusty side and a clean side such that the air flows from the dusty side to the clean side through the element, and wherein the circuit holding member is disposed on the clean side in the case.

3. The intake device of claim 1, wherein the filling material fills a gap between the connector of the electronic control unit and the opening portion of the case.

4. The intake device of claim 1, which is assembled steps of:

disposing the electronic control unit in the circuit holding member;

protruding the connector of the electronic control unit outside of the case through the opening portion;

supplying the filling material into the circuit holding member; and

hardening the filling material to fix the electronic control unit to the circuit holding member.

5. An intake device for filtering air and supplying the air into an engine controlled by an electronic control unit having a circuit element and a connector electrically connected to the circuit element and protruding from the electronic control unit, comprising:

an air cleaner having an element for filtering the air;

a throttle communicating with the air cleaner for controlling a flow rate of the air;

a surge tank communicating with the air cleaner through the throttle; and

an intake manifold communicating with the surge tank and for supplying the air into the engine,

wherein one of the air cleaner, the throttle, the surge tank, and the intake manifold has an opening portion and a circuit holding member for holding the electronic control unit and a filling material, the electronic control unit held in the circuit holding member with the connector exposed outside through the opening portion, the filling material filling a space between the electronic control unit and the circuit holding member to fix the electronic control unit in the circuit holding member.

6. The intake device of claim 5, wherein the filling material fills a gap between the connector of the electronic control unit and the opening portion.

7. The intake device of claim 5, wherein the electronic control unit is covered with the filling material to expose the connector.

8. The intake device of claim 5, which is assembled in steps of:

disposing the electronic control unit in the circuit holding member;

supplying the filling material into the circuit holding member; and

hardening the filling material to fix the electronic control unit to the circuit holding member.