Breakable duct for use with a motor vehicle air induction system

摘要

The disclosed inventive concept provides a crushable air duct having formed thereon a series of strategically positioned and patterned crack-initiating grooves. The grooves allow the air duct to be crushed in an impact event and a specified impact force, thereby protecting adjacent and higher cost under hood components from damage. In an impact event, the series of grooves allows the cracks in the air duct to readily propagate throughout the pattern in a controlled and predictable manner. The crushable air duct is formed from a rigid polymerized material. The duct includes an inlet and an outlet. The grooves are formed on either or both the exterior surface and the interior surface of the duct. Some of the grooves extend generally between the inlet and the outlet. These grooves are preferably parallel. Other grooves are circumferentially formed around the duct. At least some of the parallel and circumferential grooves intersect.