BACKGROUND

The disclosed subject matter relates to a vehicle configured to travel off-road. More particularly, the disclosed subject matter relates to methods and apparatus that control the ingestion of water into an internal combustion engine, and methods and apparatus that evacuate water from a water ingestion control system.

Some vehicles can be configured for travel along an improved path such as a paved road or highway as well as for travel along an unimproved path such as a dirt trail or across unmarked and uneven terrain such as through wooded areas, sand, open fields and rocky terrain. While traveling along an unimproved or unmarked path the vehicle can encounter numerous water obstacles such as but not limited to standing water, creeks, streams and rivers. In severe weather conditions it may also be possible for a vehicle to experience water obstacles on improved pathways. The vehicle can be configured with an intake snorkel which has an opening elevated above the internal combustion engine of the vehicle at a predetermined height. The snorkel can permit the vehicle to ford a water obstacle that is no deeper than a predetermined depth without ingesting water from the water obstacle. The predetermined depth can be any appropriate depth that the driver perceives as a safe and reliable operation of the vehicle. For example, predetermined depth can be based on a hip point height or an eye point height for an operator of the vehicle.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments are directed to a water ingestion control system for an internal combustion engine connected to an air box and an exhaust pipe. The water ingestion control system can include a snorkel, a plurality of closure structures, a choking valve, and a controller. The snorkel can be connected to the air box and include an air intake opening and a plurality of evacuation inlets spaced apart from each other. A respective one of the closure structures selectively opens and closes a respective one of the evacuation inlets. The choking valve can be located between the air intake opening and the air box and selectively operated between an opened state in which the choking valve opens fluid communication between the snorkel and the air box and allows air flowing through the snorkel to enter the air box, and a closed state in which the choking valve closes fluid communication between the snorkel and the air box and prevents fluid in the snorkel from flowing into the air box and the internal combustion engine. The controller can be in electrical communication with the choking valve and configured to place the choking valve in the closed state when the controller receives data indicative of the presence of water in the snorkel.

Some embodiments are directed to a vehicle that can include a frame assembly, at least one body panel mounted on the frame assembly, an internal combustion engine mounted on the frame assembly, an airbox housing a filter, a snorkel, a closure structure, a choking valve, a controller, a compressed air storage tank, at least one line, and an air compressor. The snorkel can be connected to the air box and include an air intake opening and at least one evacuation inlet. The closure structure can be configured to close the at least one evacuation inlet. The choking valve can be between the air intake opening and the air box and selectively operated between an opened state in which the choking valve opens fluid communication between the snorkel and the air box and allows air flowing through the snorkel to enter the air box and flow into the internal combustion engine, and closed state in which the choking valve closes fluid communication between the air box and the internal combustion engine and prevents fluid in the snorkel from exiting the snorkel and flowing into the air box and the internal combustion engine. The controller can be in electrical communication with the choking valve and configured to place the choking valve in the closed state when the controller receives data indicative of the presence of water in the snorkel. The at least one line can be configured for connecting the compressed air storage tank to the at least one evacuation inlet. The air compressor can be connected to the compressed air storage tank and configured to maintain a predetermined pressure in the compressed air storage tank.

Some embodiments are directed to a water ingestion and evacuation system for a vehicle including an internal combustion engine, an air box connected to the engine and an exhaust pipe connected to the engine. The water ingestion and evacuation system can include a snorkel, a closure structure, a choking valve, a moisture sensor, a controller, and a one-way valve. The snorkel can be connected to the air box and include a first end, a second end, an air intake opening at the first end, and at least one evacuation inlet spaced apart from each of the first end and the second end. The closure structure can close the at least one evacuation inlet. The choking valve can be located between the air intake opening and the air box and selectively operated between an opened state in which the choking valve opens fluid communication between the snorkel and the air box and allows air flowing through the snorkel to enter the air box, and a closed state in which the choking valve closes fluid communication between the snorkel and the air box and prevents fluid in the snorkel from flowing into the air box and the internal combustion engine. The controller can be in electrical communication with the choking valve and the moisture sensor and configured to place the choking valve in the closed state when the controller receives from the moisture sensor the data indicative of the presence of water in the snorkel. The one-way valve can be mounted on the exhaust pipe, open when the choking valve is in the opened state and exhaust gas flows through the exhaust pipe, and close when the choking valve is in the closed state and exhaust gas ceases to flow through the exhaust pipe.

