초록 ▼

A vehicle air cleaner system 10 includes a cyclone chamber 14 and a variable inlet 30 . The variable inlet 30 communicates airflow to the cyclone chamber 14 at a relatively constant velocity by varying an opening 32 in response to airflow which enters the inlet 12 . During a relatively low airflow c

A vehicle air cleaner system 10 includes a cyclone chamber 14 and a variable inlet 30 . The variable inlet 30 communicates airflow to the cyclone chamber 14 at a relatively constant velocity by varying an opening 32 in response to airflow which enters the inlet 12 . During a relatively low airflow condition the variable inlet 30 directs airflow closer to a center of the cyclone chamber 14 which increase the angular velocity of the airflow by directing airflow toward smaller radii 42 s within the cyclone chamber. During a relatively high airflow condition the variable inlet directs airflow toward the outer diameter of the cyclone chamber 14 and larger radii 42 L to assure an angular speed sufficient to separate out undesirable particles yet prevent an undesirable pressure drop across the air cleaner system 10 . By varying communication of airflow to particular radii within the cyclone chamber 14 , a relatively constant pressure drop across the air cleaner system 10 is provided regardless of airflow velocity.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vehicle air cleaner system comprising:a cyclone chamber;a variable inlet which defines an axis; anda flex diaphragm system transverse the axis which selectively extends at least partially into the cyclone chamber to selectively direct airflow within said cyclone chamber to maintain a relatively

1. A vehicle air cleaner system comprising:a cyclone chamber;a variable inlet which defines an axis; anda flex diaphragm system transverse the axis which selectively extends at least partially into the cyclone chamber to selectively direct airflow within said cyclone chamber to maintain a relatively constant cyclone airflow velocity. 2. The vehicle air cleaner system as recited in claim 1, wherein said flex diaphragm system comprises a biased pressure balanced piston. 3. The vehicle air cleaner system as recited in claim 2, wherein said biased pressure-balanced piston selectively extends at least partially within said cyclone chamber. 4. The vehicle air cleaner system as recited in claim 3, wherein said biased pressure-balanced piston offsets the airflow toward one of a plurality of offset radii to maintain a relatively constant cyclone airflow velocity. 5. The vehicle air cleaner system as recited in claim 1, wherein said cyclone chamber comprises a plurality of offset radii. 6. The vehicle air cleaner system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a media filter adjacent an outlet from said cyclone chamber. 7. A method of operating an air cleaner system comprising the steps of:(1) directing airflow into a cyclone chamber; and(2)extending a biased pressure-balanced piston transverse an axis defined by an inlet and at least partially into the cyclone chamber to selectively restrict the inlet to maintain relatively constant cyclone airflow velocity. 8. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the step of:(a) offsetting the airflow to one of a plurality of radii within the cyclone chamber with the biased pressure-balanced piston. 9. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said step (1) further comprises increasing the angular velocity to compensate for predetermined air cleaner system conditions. 10. A method of operating an air cleaner system comprising the steps of:(1) controlling an inlet to the cyclone chamber to maintain a relatively constant cyclone airflow velocity;(2) extending a biased pressure-balanced piston transverse an axis defined by the inlet and at least partially into the cyclone chamber; and(3) Offsetting the airflow within the inlet with the biased pressure-balanced piston toward one of a plurality of radii within the cyclone chamber. 11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said step (2) further comprises increasing an angular velocity of the airflow within the cyclone chamber in response to a predetermined air cleaner system condition. 12. A vehicle air cleaner system comprising:a cyclone chamber;a variable inlet which selectively restricts airflow to said cyclone chamber to maintain a relatively constant cyclone airflow velocity;a movable valve to vary an opening within said variable inlet, said movable valve comprises a hemi-circular portion to at least partially block said opening within said variable inlet. 13. The vehicle air cleaner system as recited in claim 12, further comprising a motor to rotate said movable valve. 14. A vehicle air cleaner system comprising:a cyclone chamber;a variable inlet which defines an axis; and a movable valve transverse the axis which selectively extends at least partially within said cyclone chamber to offset an airflow toward one of a plurality of offset radii to maintain a relatively constant cyclone airflow velocity.