Motor vehicles – Power – Hoods
Patent
1980-04-17
1982-08-10
Hix, L. T.
Motor vehicles
Power
Hoods
180 892, 181243, 248 56, 285158, B62D 2500, F01N 718, F16L 918, F16L 3900
Patent
active
043433740
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to a structure for mounting a muffler and more particularly to a structure for mounting a muffler to extend upwardly from the hood of a vehicle.
2. Background Art
There are certain advantages which result from having a muffler extend upwardly through the hood of a vehicle to well above ground level. Emissions are thereby released above the heads of any persons in the vicinity of the vehicle and have a chance to disperse before settling to the height of a person's head.
Often, mufflers have been mounted to extend upwardly from the hood of a vehicle without any structure being used to surround the muffler. However, in such an instance a relatively non-attractive structure results. Also, it is desirable to provide some type of structure about the muffler so as to direct noise upwardly where it can dissipate and to keep the relatively hot muffler from being touched by a person in its vicinity.
If a structure is to be provided about a muffler which extends upwardly from the hood of a vehicle, it is desirable to have the muffler easily installable within the structure for ease of maintainance and repair.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, an improvement is provided in a structure having a plate including a hole and a member extending generally outwardly through the hole. The improvement comprises a stack having first and second end portions, a cavity extending from the first end portion to the second end portion and a flange extending generally outwardly from the second end portion and being attached to the plate, the stack being in surrounding relation about the member. A sleeve structure surrounds and holds the member and is located within the cavity. A tab is attached to the sleeve structure and extends generally outwardly to adjacent the stack. A bracket is attached to the stack and extends generally inwardly to adjacent the tab. The bracket and the tab are securable to one another.
With an improvement as set out above, a muffler can be quickly installed within the stack and can be readily removed for replacement or repair. Also, the muffler is completely surrounded so as to direct sound upwardly and protect anyone in the vicinity from touching the relatively hot muffler. Further, the stack provides a clean and aesthetically pleasing appearance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates, in partial side view, a vehicle having an improvement in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 illustrates, in partial top view, an improvement in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 4 illustrates a view taken along the line IV--IV of FIG. 3.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Adverting first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated therein a vehicle 10 having a hood 12 from which a tubular stack 14 extends generally upwardly.
The hood 12 (FIGS. 3 and 4) has a hole 16 extending therethrough. A longitudinally extending muffler 18 extends generally upwardly through the hole 16. The stack 14 has a first or upper end portion 20 and a second or lower end portion 22. A cavity 24 extends from the upper end portion 20 to the lower end portion 22. A flange 26 extends generally outwardly from the lower end portion 22 and is attached to the hood 12 via bolts 27. The stack 14 is located in surrounding relation about the muffler 18, with the muffler 18 being positioned in the cavity 24.
A sleeve structure 28 surrounds and holds the muffler 18 and is located within the cavity 24. At least one tab 30, and in the embodiment illustrated a plurality of tabs 30, 32 and 34, are attached to the sleeve structure 28 and extend generally outwardly to adjacent the stack 14.
For cooperation with the tabs 30, 32 and 34, at least one bracket 36, and more generally a plurality of brackets 36, 38 and 40, are attached to the
REFERENCES:
patent: 1824717 (1931-09-01), Harty et al.
patent: 2759491 (1956-08-01), Everhart
patent: 3237716 (1966-03-01), Parsons
patent: 3550886 (1970-12-01), Cave
patent: 4020915 (1977-05-01), Darnell et al.
patent: 4085816 (1978-04-01), Amagai et al.
Caterpillar Tractor Co.
Hix L. T,.
Tarcza Thomas H.
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