Exhaust bellows for dynamic torsion control in an exhaust system

• US 20040100094A1
• Filed: 11/21/2003
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tru-Flex LLC (Nelson Global Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Tru-Flex Metal Hose Corp.
• Inventors: Swank, Scott R., Thomas, R. Winfield
• Granted Patent: US 7,066,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/226
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/1816 the pipe sections being joined together by flexible tubular elements only, e.g. using bellows or strip-wound pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2470/12 Tubes being corrugated
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 25/0054 with specially shaped sealing rings
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 25/0063 with two corrugated pipes being directly connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/11 the sleeve having the form of a bellows with multiple corrugations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/903 Corrugated

Abstract

A flexible bellows tube connecting pipes in a system such as a vehicle exhaust system. Various embodiments are disclosed, with each including two conduit sections having mating corrugations that overlap to provide a seal while allowing the two sections to rotate in response to torsion loading. Different configurations of the interfitting corrugations and related structure are disclosed in the different embodiments.

Claims

1. A flexible conduit structure for connecting first and second pipes, comprising:

a first conduit section having a body portion presenting a corrugation having a predetermined first diameter and an end portion for connection with said first pipe;

a second conduit section having a body portion presenting a plurality of corrugations each having a diameter greater than said first diameter and one corrugation having a diameter substantially equal to said first diameter, said first and second conduit sections intermitting such that said corrugation of the first section mates with said one corrugation of the second section in a manner allowing relative rotation between said first and second conduit sections with the mating corrugations effecting a seal during such rotation; and

an end portion of said second conduit section for connection with said second pipe.

2. A flexible conduit structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said one corrugation of said second section is an end corrugation located at one end of said plurality of corrugations.

3. A flexible conduit structure as set forth in claim 2, including a second end corrugation of said second section located at an end of said plurality of corrugations opposite said one end thereof, said second end corrugation having a diameter substantially equal to said first diameter.

4. A flexible conduit structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein said body portion of said first conduit section fits inside of said second conduit section and extends inside of substantially all of said plurality of corrugations on said second section.

5. A flexible conduit structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein said body portion of said first conduit section fits inside of said second conduit section and extends inside of substantially all of said plurality of corrugations on said second section.

6. A flexible conduit structure as set forth in claim 1, including at least one small corrugation on said second conduit section having a diameter less than said first diameter and a location between said one corrugation and said plurality of corrugations.

7. A flexible conduit structure as set forth in claim 1, including a second small corrugation on said second conduit section having a diameter substantially equal to said one small corrugation and located such that said plurality of corrugations are between said one small corrugation and said second small corrugation.

8. A flexible conduit structure as set forth in claim 7, wherein said body portion of said first conduit section fits inside of said second conduit section and extends inside of substantially all of said plurality of corrugations on said second section.

9. A flexible conduit structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein said body portion of said first conduit section fits inside of said second conduit section and extends inside of substantially all of said plurality of corrugations on said second section.

10. A flexible conduit structure for connecting first and second pipes, comprising:

a first conduit section having a body portion presenting a single small corrugation having a first diameter and an end portion for connection with said first pipe;

a second conduit section having a body portion presenting a pair of small corrugations each having a diameter substantially equal to said first diameter and a plurality of large corrugations each having a diameter greater than said first diameter, said large corrugations being located between said pair of small corrugations;

said first and second conduit sections interfitting such that said single small corrugation on said first section mates with one of said small corrugations in a manner to effect a seal therewith while allowing relative rotation between said first and second conduit sections; and

an end portion of said second conduit section for connection with said second pipe.

11. A flexible conduit structure as set forth in claim 10, wherein said body portion of said first conduit section fits inside of said second conduit section and extends inside of substantially all of said large and small corrugations on said second section.

12. A flexible conduit structure for connecting first and second pipes, comprising:

a first conduit section having a body portion presenting a single corrugation having a first diameter and an end portion for connection with said first pipe;

a second conduit section having a body portion presenting a plurality of large corrugations each having a diameter greater than said first diameter and a pair of small corrugations each having a diameter less than said first diameter, said large corrugations being located between said small corrugations;

a single intermediate corrugation on said body portion of the second conduit section having a diameter substantially equal to said first diameter and a location adjacent to one of said small corrugations on a side thereof opposite said large corrugations, said first and second conduit sections interfitting such that said single corrugation on said first section mates with said intermediate corrugation on said second section in a manner to effect a seal therebetween while allowing relative rotation between said first and second conduit sections; and

an end portion of said second conduit section for connection with said second pipe.

13. A flexible conduit structure as set forth in claim 12, wherein said body portion of said first conduit section fits inside of said second conduit section and extends inside of substantially all of said large and small corrugations.