Manifold attachment

Details Manifold attachment Manifold attachment

1998-09-08

2001-07-17

Luu, Teri Pham (Department: 3627)

Pipe joints or couplings

Ball and socket

C285S185000, C181S240000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06260888

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a manifold attachment, and more particularly such an attachment for the exhaust manifold for an internal combustion engine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicle exhaust, and more particularly exhaust pipe to exhaust manifold attachments, are difficult to assemble and operate reliably due to the harsh environment and confined space in which they operate.
An example of such an attachment is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,194, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. As shown in the Figure of the '194 patent, a pair of diametrically spaced bolts
20
connect a flange
16
to an exhaust manifold
10
. This attachment provides a clamping force which is unequally distributed about the periphery of the joint, since the bolts provide a maximum clamping force at two discrete diametrically opposed positions.
It would therefore be desirable to provide an exhaust manifold attachment which provides constant clamping force about the circumference of the attachment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention claimed herein is to provide an exhaust manifold attachment which provides a constant clamping force about the periphery of the attachment.
The above object is achieved, and problems of prior approaches overcome, by an exhaust system including a manifold having an exhaust port. An exhaust pipe is sealingly engaged with the exhaust port. A hole is provided in the exhaust pipe and a fastener traverses the hole to secure the exhaust pipe to the manifold.
An advantage of the present invention is that it reduces the number of bolts used for each attachment to a single bolt, thereby reducing cost and complexity while increasing available packaging space.
Another advantage of the present invention is an improvement in the ability to accommodate misalignment of the exhaust and providing a manner of accommodating movement during operation of the motor vehicle.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated by the reader of this specification.


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patent: 5463194 (1995-10-01), Ransom et al.
patent: 5611409 (1997-03-01), Arseneau
patent: 5683119 (1997-11-01), Emmons et al.
patent: 5697650 (1997-12-01), Brown

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