AU2019100295A4 - 4WD Snorkel Filter - Google Patents

Abstract

SNORKEL FILTER A snorkel for a four wheel drive or similar off-road vehicle may be provided with a cover piece that includes an internal cavity that receives a removable cartridge. The cartridge includes a frame that defines a receptacle for receiving a replaceable filter. In use, the cover piece is fitted to the snorkel at the air intake end with the filter disposed across the air intake. The cartridge can be removed without tools to replace or clean the filter as required. Figure recommended to accompany abstract: Fig. 2 Fig. 2

Description

4WD SNORKEL FILTER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This disclosure relates to accessories for four wheel drive vehicles, off road vehicles and the like. The disclosure particularly relates to accessories for snorkels that are used on off-road vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Four wheel drive and similar off road vehicles often encounter river crossings in which the water height rises above the air intake level for the engine. To prevent water from entering the engine, many four wheel drives are fitted with a snorkel that connects to the regular air intake and raises the height of the air intake, thereby allowing the vehicle to pass through deeper water.

[0003] The snorkel generally moves the point of air intake from within the engine bay of the vehicle to outside the engine bay. The snorkel has components fitted within the engine bay of the vehicle and connected to the air-intake of the engine. The engine bay components define an internal conduit. The snorkel includes an external conduit that connects to the internal conduit through a hole or aperture made in the vehicle body. Conveniently, the external conduit often rises adjacent the Apillar of the vehicle where it does not interfere with the operation of doors or obstruct vision. The external conduit terminates in an end-piece that is located at the approximate roof height of the vehicle. The end-piece defines an air-intake for the snorkel.

[0004] An example of a prior art end-piece 10 is shown in Fig. 1. The end-piece 10 includes an angle conduit 11 having an

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2019100295 19 Mar 2019 inner passage that passes from an air intake end 12 through a substantial 90 degree bend 16 to a downstream end 18. The downstream end 18 of the end-piece 10 is received into the external conduit piece of the snorkel. A ring clamp or similar (not shown) may be used to secure the end-piece to the external snorkel conduit. A cover piece 15 covers the air intake 12 and is secured to the angle conduit 11 by screws 17 or similar. The cover piece includes a course grille 19 or similar structure to prevent large debris from entering into the snorkel. Typically, the cover piece 15 including the grille 19 is a molded plastic component.

[0005] With the air-intake 12 facing forward, the end-piece is designed to produce a ram effect in which the vehicle's forward momentum facilitates air ingress into the snorkel. In general, the air through the snorkel may be cleaner and cooler than air sourced from within the engine bay and therefore the use of the snorkel is considered to provide benefits other than merely raising the height of the air intake level. An exception to these benefits can be when the vehicle is travelling on dusty roads, in particular when in convoy. A large amount of dust and debris may enter the snorkel to be filtered by the air filters of the engine. These filters may require regular cleaning in order to maintain engine performance. However, the internal location of these air filters makes cleaning more difficult and, being out of sight, are often out of consideration for many vehicle owners .

[0006] What is required, is an improved snorkel arrangement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] A snorkel for a four wheel drive or similar off-road vehicle may be provided with a cover piece that includes an

DOCKET NO: CPP01INV internal cavity that receives a removable

2019100295 19 Mar 2019 cartridge receiving provided disposed cartridge .

The includes a frame that defines a replaceable filter .

In use, the on the across without tools to snorkel the air replace receptacle cover piece for is at the air intake intake .

or clean [0008] In one aspect of the an air intake component for component including a body and a cartridge removably removable cartridge defining end

The cartridge with the filter can be removed the filter as required.

disclosure, there is provided a vehicle snorkel, the air intake piece defining an internal cavity, receivable into the cavity, the a receptacle for a filter .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] Reference will now be made, by way of example only, to specific embodiments and to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0010] Fig. 1 shows a prior art snorkel end-piece for an off-road vehicle;

[0011] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of an air intake component for a vehicle snorkel in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0012] Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of an end-piece for a snorkel in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0013] Fig. 4 shows an assembled view of the end-piece of

Fig. 2 with a partially inserted cartridge;

	[0014]	Fig.	5	shows	a rear	perspective	view	of a	front
piece	r
	[0015]	Fig.	6	shows	a front	perspective	view	of a	spacer
piece	r
	[0016]	Fig.	7	shows	a front	perspective	view	of	a rear

piece;

DOCKET NO: CPP01INV [0017] Fig. 8 shows a front perspective of an embodiment of an assembled body;

2019100295 19 Mar 2019

[0018]	Fig.	9	shows a	front	perspective	view	of	a
cartridge;
[0019]	Fig.	10	shows a	front	perspective	view	of	a
cartridge and filter;	and
[0020]	Fig.	11	shows a	front	perspective	view	of	an

alternative embodiment of a front piece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0021] In Fig. 2 there is a shown a front perspective view of an air intake component 20 for a snorkel. The air intake component may be a cover piece 20 for an upstream or air-intake end of a snorkel in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The air intake component 20 includes a body 30 that may be secured to the end of a snorkel via screw holes 376. For example, the air intake component 20 may be located in place of the cover piece 15 on the air intake end of the snorkel end piece 10 in Fig. 1. The body 30 has an internal cavity that receives a removable cartridge 40. The cartridge 40 receives a replaceable filter 25.

[0022] The air intake component is shown in exploded view in Fig. 3 with the filter 25 omitted for clarity. Fig. 4 shows the cover piece 20 in assembled configuration with the cartridge 40 partially inserted in the body 30.

[0023] In one embodiment, the body 30 may include multiple components that are assembled together to define an internal cavity accessed via a slot. The slot allows the cartridge and filter to be received into the body 30. As shown in Fig. 3, an embodiment of the body may include a front piece 32, spacer wall 34 and a rear piece 36, shown individually in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 respectively. The front piece 32 is shown in reverse perspective

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2019100295 19 Mar 2019 in Fig. 5. The front piece 32 has a substantially rectangular perimeter wall 320 (Fig. 5) . The perimeter wall 320 has a top wall 322, bottom wall 324, left wall 326 and right wall 327. The perimeter wall defines an air intake opening 330 between the walls. Within the air intake opening 330 is a grille 328 formed by crossing struts that span the air intake opening between the sides of the perimeter wall 320.

[0024] The rear edges of the top and bottom walls 322, 324 are formed with rearward projecting semi-circular projections 334 for guiding the cartridge as will be described in more detail below.

[0025] A channel 339 may be formed in the rear surface of the side walls 326, 327 and bottom wall 324 to facilitate assembly with the spacer 34, as will be described in more detail below. The channel 339 is shown as being continuous. In an

alternative embodiment, the channel	339	may	be formed of
multiple discrete	sections .
[0026] The	front piece 32 may	be	a	plastic	molded
component.
[0027] The	spacer 34, shown in	Fig	• 6,	is a	partial
rectangle having	left and right side walls	342,	344 and	a lower

wall 346. A top edge of the spacer 34 is open. Each of the left and right side walls 342, 344 is formed with a semi-circular recess or notch 352 on its inner surface that receives a complementary formation on the cartridge. Projecting forward of the front edge of the perimeter walls 342, 344, 346 are thinned portions or flanges 348, 350 that can be received into the channel 339 in the rear edge of the walls of the front piece 32 to provide engagement between the front piece 32 and the spacer 34. The rear surfaces of the side walls 342, 344 (not shown) may be formed with channels similar to channels 339 for providing assembly engagement with the rear piece 36.

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2019100295 19 Mar 2019 [0028] The spacer 34 may be a plastic molded component.

[0029] The rear piece 36 is shown in isolation in Fig. 7. The rear piece 36 has a substantially rectangular perimeter wall 360. The perimeter wall 360 has a top wall 362, bottom wall 364, left wall 366 and right wall 367. The walls define an opening 368 for the air intake.

[0030] The left and right side walls 366, 367 have slots 371 to facilitate engagement and assembly of the rear piece 36 with the spacer 34.

[0031] The left and right walls 366, 367 are formed with rearwardly extending flanges 372, 374. Holes 376 through these flanges can be used to secure the cover piece assembly to the end piece of the snorkel.

[0032] The rear piece 36 may be a plastic molded component.

[0033] The front piece 32, spacer 34 and rear piece 36 may be secured together by inserting the assembly flanges into their complementary slots. Additional fasteners may secure the pieces together, including, without limitation, adhesives or press fit elements .

[0034] An embodiment of an assembled body is shown in Fig.

8. Once assembled, the body defines a cavity 382 that can receive the cartridge. A cartridge slot 380 is provided by the open top end of the spacer 34 between the front piece 32 and rear piece 36 that is the thickness of the spacer 34. The cartridge slot 380 provides access to the cavity 382 within the body assembly. In the embodiment of Fig. 8, the grille of the front piece may include a decorative logo.

[0035] An embodiment of the cartridge is shown in isolation in Fig. 9. The cartridge 40 has a frame that defines a receptacle for receiving a filter (not shown). In one embodiment, the cartridge 40 includes a substantially rectangular perimeter wall 410. The perimeter wall 410 has a top

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2019100295 19 Mar 2019 wall 412, bottom wall 414, left wall 416 and right wall 417. The cartridge is formed with a grille 420 at the rear edge of the perimeter wall so that the grille 420 and perimeter wall 410 together define a receptacle 425 forward of the grille 420 for receiving a filter.

[0036] The perimeter wall 410 is sized and shaped to be received within the slot 380 of the body. The outer surface of the left and right side walls 416, 417 of the cartridge may include semi-circular projections 422 that project sideways and are received into the corresponding slots 352 in the inner surfaces of the side walls of the spacer element. The front edges of the top and bottom walls 412, 414 may include notches 432 that engage the projections 334 of the front piece 32.

[0037]	The	top	wall	412	of the cartridge	may	have an
overhang 424	at	the left and	right sides of the top	wall	412 .
[0038]	Fig	. 10	shows	a	front perspective	view	of the

cartridge 40 with a filter 25 received into the cartridge receptacle .

[0039] In use, the body assembly may be secured to the end piece of a snorkel via screws or similar through the screw holes 376. A filter element 25 may be placed in the cartridge 40 and then the cartridge 40 may be inserted into the cavity 382 of the body 30 via the slot 380. The alignment projections 334 align with the corresponding notches 432 and guide the placement of the cartridge 40 into the body 30. The cartridge 40 may be pressed into the body until the retention projections 422 on the sides of the cartridge engage the slots 352 on the spacer. Being predominantly plastic components, there is sufficient flex in the components to allow passage of the projections 422 until the projections engage the spacer slots 352.

[0040] When the cartridge is fully seated, the cartridge is retained in the body by the retention projections 422 within the

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2019100295 19 Mar 2019 retention slots 352. In this position, the overhang 424 of the top wall of the cartridge becomes substantially flush with the spacer side walls 342, 344, creating an aesthetic finish. A small gap may remain between the overhang and the spacer side wall to allow removal of the cartridge by fingers. The filter is sandwiched between the grille 420 of the cartridge and the grille 328 of the front piece 32.

[0041] Fig. 11 shows an embodiment of the front piece having an additional hood 490 extending forward of the main perimeter wall 320.

[0042] In use, the body 30 is provided on the snorkel at the air intake end with the filter disposed across the air intake. The filter is thus disposed to filter the air as it enters the air intake of the snorkel. When required, the filter can be removed for replacement or cleaning by removing the cartridge from the body. A particular advantage is that no tools are required to remove the cartridge from the body. The retention projections 422 and complementary slots 352 may be sized and shaped so that hand force only is required to overcome the retention and urge the cartridge out of body.

[0043] Various forms of filter may be used and the particular type of filter is not considered pertinent to the present disclosure.

[0044] The present illustrated embodiments describe a cartridge that is slidably received into the body piece 30. The present applicants consider this construction to provide advantages of security, stability, and convenience. However, the person skilled in the art will understand that various modifications to the above described embodiments may be madewhile still achieving the objective of having a replaceable filter element fitted across the air intake of the snorkel. In particular other forms of a removable cartridge will be readily

DOCKET NO: CPP01INV apparent. For example, the body may be provided with a openable

2019100295 19 Mar 2019 or removable piece such cover piece, that, when cavity for replacing include a cartridge remaining removing the the filter.

pivot,

e.g.

to pivot attached out as a hinged door or gate, removed, provides access to filter cartridge and/or for or a latched the internal removing and

In one embodiment, the cartridge in one top corner, that allows may the of the slot for filter replacement while to the body piece.

Alternatively, stops may be put in place to prevent removal entirety, while still allowing the of the cartridge cartridge to be sufficiently to allow filter replacement.

[0045] In an alternative embodiment, the body in its removed

0 may include no grille component. Instead, the cartridge frame 40 may include front and back grilles with a gap between them that accommodates the filter. A slot in one of the perimeter walls,

e.g. the top or side wall may allow the filter to be removed and replaced from the cartridge.

[0046] The body 30 is described and illustrated herein as an air intake component that is removable from the snorkel.

In particular, the air intake component is described and illustrated as a cover piece that is removable from an endpiece of a snorkel at an air-intake end of the snorkel.

The person skilled in the art will readily understand that one of the key aspects is a means for providing a removable filter .

Such means may be provided whether the body is made removable from, or integral with, other components of the snorkel such as the snorkel end-piece. Thus the ability to detach the body from the other components of the snorkel is not considered pertinent to the present disclosure in its broadest form.

[0047] While particular reference has been made to four wheel drive vehicles, the person skilled in the art will be

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2019100295 19 Mar 2019 aware that snorkels may be fitted to a range of vehicles and the disclosure is not to be limited to any particular vehicle type.

[0048] In the above description, terms of orientation such as front, rear, top, bottom, left, right, etc. are used for ease of reference to the drawings. It is not intended that such terms of orientation are to be used to constrain the scope of the invention and other orientations are considered to fall within the scope of the disclosure in its broadest form.

[0049] Although embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanied drawings and described in the foregoing description, it will be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the disclosure as set forth by the broad statements herein and/or as defined by the following claims.

Claims (5)

1. An air intake component for a vehicle snorkel, the air intake component including:

an air intake cover defining an internal cavity; and a cartridge removably receivable into the cavity, the removable cartridge defining a receptacle for a filter.

2. The air intake component of claim 1 including a filter received within the receptacle.

3. The air intake component of claim 1 or 2 including one or more attachment holes for use in attaching the air intake component to an upstream end of a vehicle snorkel.

4. The air intake component of any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the air intake cover includes a body defining a slot that provides entry for the cartridge to the internal cavity.

5. The air intake component of any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the removable cartridge includes a frame that defines the receptacle for receiving a filter therein, wherein the frame can be at least partially removed from the air intake cover.