Exhaust manifold for four-cylinder engine

• US 7,520,127 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2005
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nishizawa, Kimiyoshi, Ashida, Masaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Binh Q.
• Application Number:
  US11/223,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20060005535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 603/05, 603/12, 603/13, 603/20, 603/22, 603/23, 603/02, 603/14
• US Class Current: 60/323
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/08 Other arrangements or adaptations of exhaust conduits pipes, joints or supports therefor in general F16L; collecting or removing exhaust gases of vehicle engines in workshops B08B15/00, on highways E01C1/005
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/10 of exhaust manifolds with cooling jacket F01N3/046
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/28 Construction of catalytic reactors
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 27/04 in exhaust systems only, e.g. for sucking-off combustion gases
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

In an exhaust manifold of a four-cylinder engine four cylinders of which line up in order of cylinder #1, cylinder #2, cylinder #3 and cylinder #4, temperature rise performance of a manifold catalyst improves by shortening a total length of the exhaust manifold while preventing exhaust gas interference between the cylinders. Therefore, an exhaust manifold branch of cylinder #1 and an exhaust manifold branch of cylinder #4 in outward sides of the engine that are not fired in succession are made convergent with its convergence angle θ1 being equal to or below 20 degrees to form a first convergent exhaust manifold branch and an exhaust manifold branch of cylinder #2 and an exhaust manifold branch of cylinder # 3 between the cylinder #1 and cylinder #4 that are not fired in succession are made convergent at a minimum distance having a laterally projected shape to form a second convergent exhaust manifold branch. The first and the second convergent exhaust manifold branches are thereafter convergent at a convergence angle θ3 from 0 degrees to 20 degrees.

Claims

1. An engine comprising:

a cylinder head defining first, second, third and fourth cylinders; and

an exhaust manifold connected with the cylinder head, for conveying exhaust from the cylinders, the exhaust manifold comprising;

first, second, third and fourth exhaust branches connected, respectively, with the first, second, third and fourth cylinders;

a first convergent branch into which the first and fourth exhaust branches converge together;

a second convergent branch into which the second and third exhaust branches converge together; and

a collection portion into which the first convergent branch and the second convergent branch converge together;

wherein the second and third exhaust branches extend, respectively, along center lines intersecting each other at a second convergent point which is located in the second convergent branch and which is not located within the collection portion;

wherein the first and fourth exhaust branches extend, respectively, along center lines which extend through the first convergent branch without intersecting each other, and which intersect each other at a first convergent point located in the collection portion; and

wherein the exhaust flow path between the cylinder head and the second convergent point is shorter than the exhaust flow path between the cylinder head and the first convergent point.

2. An engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the engine further comprises an exhaust catalyst connected with a downstream end of the collection portion.

3. An engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second convergent branches extend in parallel to each other;

and the second convergent branch is longer than the first convergent branch.

4. An engine as set fourth in claim 1, wherein the second convergent branch extends straight from an upstream end to a downstream end.

5. An engine as set fourth in claim 1, wherein the first and second convergent branches extend downward in the state in which the engine is installed upright so that the cylinders are upright.

6. An engine as set fourth in claim 1, wherein the collection portion is tapered such that the collection portion is expanded toward a downstream end.

7. An engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second convergent branches are separated by a single partition wall.

8. An engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first, second, third and fourth cylinders are arranged in a row so that the second and third cylinders are arranged between the first and fourth cylinders;

the exhaust branches converging into the first convergent branch are connected, respectively, with the first and fourth cylinders, the exhaust branches converging into the second convergent branch are connected, respectively, with the second and third cylinders; and

the first convergent branch is located between the second convergent branch and the cylinder head of the engine.