Vortex generating device for air conduits

Abstract

A device and method for generating a vortex within an air conduit of an internal combustion engine as well as a method of manufacturing such a device. The device focuses a portion of the air flowing into an air conduit into a number of tightly focused air streams tangent to a circle located concentrically within the lumen of the air conduit at a point downstream from the device. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the device contains a number of blades which are formed into tightly curled, open, truncated cone shapes (i.e. open frustroconical shapes) where the circumference of the curvature of the blade is smallest where the air first meets the blade and increases continuously across the width of the blade. In the preferred embodiment, the blades have rounded edges and extend only partway into the center of the device and are separated from each other by gaps.

1 . A device for improving the flow of air through air conduits of an internal: combustion engine comprising: 
 a housing defining a generally cylindrical enclosure with a first end and a second end, the first end of the housing and the second end of the housing being in open communication with the exterior of the housing;    a plurality of blades spaced around the opening of the first end of the housing, such blades being shaped at an angle to direct air flowing into the second end of the housing into streams of air flowing tangent to a circle located outside of the first end of the housing.    
   
   
       2 . The invention in  claim 1  where the blades are shaped in a curving, open, generally frustroconical shape, where the radius of the curvature of a first edge of each blade nearest the second end of the housing is greater than the radius of curvature of the a second edge of the each blade nearest the first end of the housing, the radius of the curvature of the each continuously decreasing from the first edge of each blade to the second edge of each blade.  
   
   
       3 . The invention in  claim 2  where the blades are separated by gaps.  
   
   
       4 . The invention in  claim 3  where the housing is formed from an open strip of flexible, resilient material and the blades are non-overlapping, whereby the device can be compressed to fit a range of air conduit diameters, such device when compressed further tending to expand, biasing the outer surface of the housing against the inner wall of the air conduit into which it has been inserted, whereby the device is held firmly in place.  
   
   
       5 . The invention in  claim 1  where the radius of the circle located outside of the first end of the housing is 60-75% the size of the lumen of the air conduit in which the device is mounted.  
   
   
       6 . The invention in  claim 2  where the ratio between the radii is approximately 2:1 and the radius of the curvature of the blade decreases smoothly across the width of the blade.  
   
   
       7 . The invention in  claim 3  where the gaps are approximately ⅛″.  
   
   
       8 . The invention in  claim 4  where compression of the device allows the diameter of the housing to vary by up to 1 inch without causing the blades of the device to obstruct each other in the lumen of the device.  
   
   
       9 . The invention in  claim 4  where the device is formed from a single piece of flexible, resilient material.  
   
   
       10 . A method of forming an air vortex within an air conduit comprising the steps: 
 dividing the air flowing into a hose into a plurality of discrete streams of air;    directing each of the discrete streams of air tangent to a circle within the lumen of an air conduit.    
   
   
       11 . The invention in  claim 10  where the radius of the circle within the lumen of an air conduit is 60-75% the size of the lumen of the air conduit.