Pipe joints or couplings – With casing – lining or protector – Insulated
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-21
2002-03-12
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Pipe joints or couplings
With casing, lining or protector
Insulated
C285S047000, C285S226000, C285S299000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06354632
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an exhaust decoupler system for motor vehicles, and more particularly, to the system for effectively absorbing the noise incurred by the friction and wear of a guide ring in bending displacement between the engine and exhaust system during travelling of a vehicle in order to minimize the effect of displacements to the engine on the exhaust system and for prolonging the fatigue life of vehicle.
PRIOR ART
Recent vehicles preferably adopt the larger engines, which increase the engine roll vibration in starting and braking the engines or shifting gears. Further, the vibrations of the exhaust pipe may occur depending on the road conditions.
Conventional engines of the vehicle are connected with the exhaust pipe employing a muffler for exhausting the exhaust gas from the vehicle. For connection, a decoupler is installed for absorbing and buffering the vibration displacement, impact load or heat deformation. The decoupler on this location should be strong and compact for self-supporting the exhaust pipe with minimum number of lightweight hanger mount.
A number of attempts have been made in the prior art to design an effective decoupler. One attempt to solve the problems of the prior art is demonstrated by GB2,277,969A in which a center point of the bending displacement is determined to absorb the bending displacement.
In the prior art (FIG.
7
), both sleeves
5
and
6
are interposed with a predetermined space. Sleeve
6
is separated by the projection
7
to form two pockets on both sides, for locating respective buffering members
8
in the pockets.
Meanwhile, a bellows
9
is externally positioned between the sleeves
5
and
6
adjacent to the buffering member
8
. A center displacement C is determined in the middle of the position at which the sleeves
5
and
6
are interposed, which is curved and expansible, for enabling the buffering member
8
and the bellows
9
to absorb the expansion displacement in the longitudinal direction from impact occurred in the travelling or engine vibration, and bending displacement at which the central axis degrees are intercrossed around the decoupler.
The bellows
9
is externally exposed and may be easily damaged by corrosion or unexpected object in travelling.
Located in the middle of the buffering member
8
is the center displacement C for absorbing the buffering and bending. In case that the impact of a sudden large displacement is applied, inner sleeve
6
connected to the exhaust pipe is directly exposed to the exhaust gas at high temperature, thereby shortening the fatigue life due to the repetitive impact load. Moreover, the bending of the bellows
9
is achieved by forced moment bending, not angular motion, resulting in the short lifetime.
In order to overcome these disadvantages, a method for increasing the number of creases in the bellows
9
may be considered. However, this method causes an entire length to be increased and the quality of material should be superior as well. This also results in high costs in producing the apparatus.
Because the buffering member
8
cannot efficiently absorb the displacement in the bending direction, it is not suitable for the function of absorbing the large bending. As a result, the function of the decoupler D becomes low and the scope to be applied is very restricted.
In order to overcome the prior disadvantages, Korean Utility Model Application 98-1569 by this applicant has suggested a guide ring to be slided in the direction of the bending displacement between the buffering members and bent in greater displacement angle. However, Korean UM application 98-1569 does not show to control the moving length of the guide ring which slides between the outer mesh ring and the inner mesh ring during the large bending motion. It has another disadvantages that the wearability of the guide ring between the wire mesh rings increases and the frictional noise is incurred.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an exhaust decoupler system which is capable of absorbing the frictional noise and prevents the guide ring from wearing.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an exhaust decoupler system which can improve the passenger's comfort and lengthens the lifetime of the device.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a compact exhaust decoupler system for absorbing the displacement at a large bending angle, which is installed adjacent to the engine at any types of automobiles.
The exhaust decoupler system of the present invention includes: a sleeve
10
through which exhaust gas may pass from the engine; a couple of retainer members
20
and
21
oppositely positioned from the exhaust pipe and engine, one member engaged with the outer side of the sleeve
10
, at which end the rims
20
a
and
21
a
are circumferentially bent; bellows
30
between the rims
20
a
and
21
a
of the inner retainer members
20
and
21
, for absorbing the bending and expansion to maintain the exhaust gas to be airtight; outer retainer members
40
and
41
located externally the inner retainer members
20
and
21
, both ends engaged with the inner retainer members
20
and
21
, inner side to be opened toward the center; a guide ring member
50
for dividing the inner retainer members
20
and
21
and outer retainer members
40
and
41
to symmetrically form first pockets
51
and
52
and second pockets
53
and
54
, and for surrounding the bellows
30
; and an inner buffering member
60
and an outer buffering member
61
in a shape of ring to be filled within in the first pockets
51
and
52
and the second pockets
53
and
54
.
Between the inner and the outer retainer buffering members
60
and
61
the guide ring member
50
is symmetrically slid in the direction of the bending displacement, to shorten the displacement length of the guide ring member
50
.
Accordingly, the present invention can effectively absorb a large degree of bending displacement to minimize the effects to the engine, and decrease the frictional noise and wear of the guide ring member
50
slidable between the inner and outer buffering members
60
and
61
, thereby increasing the fatigue life of the exhaust pipe and the durability.
The foregoing and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4659117 (1987-04-01), Holzhausen et al.
patent: 4911482 (1990-03-01), Doat
patent: 5437479 (1995-08-01), Hartling et al.
patent: 5967193 (1999-10-01), Nagai et al.
patent: 6151893 (2000-11-01), Watanabe et al.
patent: 6164703 (2000-12-01), Kim
patent: 0 519 636 (1992-06-01), None
patent: 0 575 727 (1993-04-01), None
Jung Eun Sung
Kim Dae Hyun
Dunwoody Aaron
SJM Company Ltd.
LandOfFree
Exhaust decoupler system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Exhaust decoupler system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Exhaust decoupler system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2859225