EP-4735147-A2 - MAGNETIC COVER FOR AIR FILTER BOX

Abstract

An apparatus and methods are provided for a magnetic cover for an air filtration system for an internal combustion engine. The air filtration system includes a housing that has an interior that receives an air filter. A mount portion comprising the housing supports the air filter. The magnetic cover encloses the interior of the housing. An edge portion surrounding an opening in the housing forms an airtight connection with an edge portion of the magnetic cover. The edge portion of the housing includes a number of magnets that attach to a similar number of magnets in the edge portion of the magnetic cover to establish the airtight connection. A seal provides an airtight connection between the housing and the magnetic cover. The housing and the magnetic cover are configured for hand removal of the magnetic cover from the housing.

Inventors

• HECK, Bert
• WILLIAMS, STEVE
• GALLAGHER, PATRICK

Assignees

• K & N Engineering, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240628

Claims (20)

1. 1. An air filtration system for an internal combustion engine, the system comprising: a housing comprising an air filter box having an interior configured to receive an air filter; a mount portion configured to support the air filter; a magnetic cover to enclose the interior; and an inlet to allow an airstream to enter the interior.
2. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an opening configured to provide access to the air filter within the interior.
3. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein an edge portion surrounding the opening is configured to form an airtight connection with an edge portion of the magnetic cover.
4. 4. The system of claim 2, wherein a seal is configured to be disposed between the edge portion and the edge portion of the magnetic cover.
5. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the edge portion includes a first plurality of magnets configured to attach to a second plurality of magnets that are disposed along the edge portion of the magnetic cover so as to establish the airtight connection.
6. 6. The system of claim 4, wherein the magnetic cover comprises a magnetic material configured to attach to the first plurality of magnets.
7. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes at least one depression configured to facilitate a practitioner using a hand to remove the magnetic cover from the housing.
8. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one depression comprises a first depression and a second depression disposed near opposite sides of the magnetic cover.
9. 9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic cover comprises a rigid material that is sufficiently durable and temperature resistant to retain its configuration during installation and operation when coupled with the housing.
10. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the magnetic cover comprises an injection molded material and a plurality of magnets disposed along an edge portion of the magnetic cover so as to attach to a plurality of magnets disposed along an edge portion surrounding an opening to the interior of the housing.
11. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the magnetic cover comprises a metallic material that is capable of magnetically attaching to a plurality of magnets disposed along an edge portion surrounding the opening to the interior of the housing.
12. 12. A method for an air fdtration system for an internal combustion engine, the system comprising: forming a housing comprising an air filter box having an interior configured to receive an air filter; configuring a mount portion to support the air filter; forming a magnetic cover to enclose the interior; and disposing an inlet to allow an airstream to enter the interior.
13. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein forming the housing includes configuring an opening to provide access to the air filter within the interior.
14. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein configuring the opening includes configuring an edge portion surrounding the opening to form an airtight connection with an edge portion of the magnetic cover.
15. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein configuring the edge portion includes disposing a first plurality of magnets along the edge portion to attach to a second plurality of magnets that are disposed along the edge portion of the magnetic cover so as to establish the airtight connection.
16. 16. The method of claim 12, wherein forming the housing includes configuring at least one depression to facilitate a practitioner using a hand to remove the magnetic cover from the housing.
17. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein configuring the at least one depression comprises disposing a first depression and a second depression near opposite sides of the magnetic cover.
18. 18. The method of claim 12, wherein forming the magnetic cover comprises forming a rigid material that is sufficiently durable and temperature resistant to retain its configuration during installation and operation when coupled with the housing.
19. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein forming the magnetic cover comprises injection molding a material into and disposing a plurality of magnets along an edge portion of the magnetic cover so as to attach to a plurality of magnets disposed along an edge portion surrounding an opening to the interior of the housing.
20. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein forming the magnetic cover comprises fabricating a metallic material that is capable of magnetically attaching to a plurality of magnets disposed along an edge portion surrounding the opening to the interior of the housing.

Description

MAGNETIC COVER FOR AIR FILTER BOX PRIORITY [0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Patent Application, entitled “Magnetic Cover For Air Filter Box,” filed on June 30, 2023 and having application serial number 18/217,306, the entirety of said application being incorporated herein by reference. FIELD [0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to filtration devices. More specifically, embodiments of the disclosure relate to an apparatus and methods for a magnetic cover for an air filtration system for an internal combustion engine. BACKGROUND [0003] An air filter designed to remove particulate is generally a device composed of fibrous materials. These fibrous materials may remove solid particulates such as dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria from the air. Air filters are used in applications where air quality is important, notably in building ventilation systems and with engines. [0004] Air filters may be used in automobiles, trucks, tractors, locomotives, and other vehicles that use internal combustion engines. Air filters may be used with gasoline engines, diesel engines, or other engines that run on fossil fuels or other combustible substances. Air filters may be used with engines in which combustion is intermittent, such as four-stroke and two-stroke piston engines, as well as other types of engines that take in air so that a combustible substance may be burned. For example, air filters may be used with some gas turbines. Filters may also be used with air compressors or in other devices that take in air. [0005] Filters may be made from pleated paper, foam, cotton, spun fiberglass, or other known filter materials. Generally, the air intakes of internal combustion engines and compressors tend to use paper, foam, or cotton filters. Some filters use an oil bath. Air filters for internal combustion engines prevent abrasive particulate matter from entering the combustion cylinders of the engine, wherein the particulate matter would cause mechanical wear and oil contamination. Many fuel injected engines utilize a flat panel, pleated paper filter element. This filter usually is placed inside an enclosed, plastic air box connected to a throttle body by way of ductwork. Vehicles that use carburetors or throttle body fuel injection systems typically use a cylindrical air fdter positioned above the carburetor or the throttle body. [0006] A drawback to conventional enclosed air boxes that utilize flat panel paper filters is that as particular matter builds up in the filter, air flow through the filter becomes restricted. Such a restricted air flow generally leads to a reduction in engine performance, such as a decrease in engine power output and greater fuel consumption. Moreover, as the paper filter becomes increasingly clogged, pressure below the filter decreases while the atmospheric air pressure outside the filter remains the same. When the difference in pressure becomes too great, contaminants may be drawn through the paper filter directly into the engine. Thus, the ability of the paper filter to protect the engine from contamination and internal damage tends to decrease near the end of the filter’s service life. Typically, paper air filters are removed from the vehicle and discarded, and a new paper air filter is then installed. Considering that there are millions of vehicles throughout the world, the volume of discarded air filters that could be eliminated from landfills is a staggering number. [0007] Many current air filters are of a reusable variety that enables a practitioner to periodically clean the air filter and reuse it rather than discarding the entire air filter, as is done with conventional air filters. In general, such a reusable air filter must be removed from an air filter box housing the air filter before the filter may be cleaned. Often, removing the air filter requires removing air ducting that is coupled with the air filter box before the air filter box can be opened to extract the air filter. Once cleaned, the air filter must be reinstalled into the air filter box before the air filter box may be closed and any air ducting recoupled with the air filter box. As will be appreciated, many practitioners may conclude that cleaning the air filter is too complicated, thereby discouraging widespread adoption of reusable air filters. What is needed, therefore, is an air filtration system that simplifies removing and reinstalling an air filter. SUMMARY [0008] An apparatus and methods are provided for a magnetic cover for an air filtration system for an internal combustion engine. The air filtration system includes a housing that has an interior configured to receive an air filter. A mount portion comprising the housing is configured to support the air filter. The magnetic cover encloses the interior of the housing. An edge portion surrounding an opening in the housing is configured to form an airtight connection with an edge portion of the magnetic cover. T