SEALED FLEXIBLE COUPLING WITH TORSION ACCEPTANCE

• US 20090284006A1
• Filed: 05/12/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American BOA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: American BOA, Inc.
• Inventors: Chahine, Paul, Janssen, Rolf
• Granted Patent: US 8,042,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/229
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/1811 with means permitting relative movement, e.g. compensation of thermal expansion or vibration
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/11 the sleeve having the form of a bellows with multiple corrugations

Abstract

A coupling has respective support elements extending respectively from each coupling end toward the other, but not directly connected to each other. Radially oriented ends of these elements define a pocket capturing a cushion therein. A non-metallic bellows operably covers the coupling. An optional thermal shield is disposed between the bellows and the support element.

Claims

1. A flexible coupling for use in automotive exhaust systems and comprising:

a plurality of elongated elements extending from and between respective ends of said coupling;

at least a first element extending from one of said ends being spaced from a second element extending from another of said ends;

a cushion captured between ends of said elongated first and second elements, said element ends extending about said cushion from respective ends of said coupling; and

a non-metallic bellows extending from one end of said coupling to another end thereof and attached at its end to respective ends of said coupling.

2. A coupling as in claim 1 further including rings surrounding and holding ends of said non-metallic bellows to other elements of said coupling.

3. A coupling as in claim 2 further comprising a thermal insulating sleeve disposed between said non-metallic bellows and respective ones of said attachments.

4. A coupling as in claim 1 wherein said cushion is an annulus.

5. A coupling as in claim 1 wherein said first element is operably attachable to a first pipe and said second element is operably attachable to a second pipe.

6. A coupling as in claim 5 wherein said coupling, when so attached, operably isolates motion of one of said pipes from another of said pipes.

7. A coupling as in claim 5 wherein said coupling, when so attached, operably dampens forces extended from one of said pipes to another of said pipes.

8. A coupling as in claim 1 further including at least first and second support elements oriented at, and extending from, a first end of said coupling toward a second end thereof and partially defining a pocket;

at least one third support element oriented at and extending from said second end of said coupling toward said first end and including a portion defining, with said first and second elements, said pocket;

said cushion captured in said pocket between said first and second elements and between said first and second elements and said third support element.

9. A coupling as in claim 8, said bellows covering said first, second and third elements.

10. A coupling as in claim 9 further including a thermal insulating sleeve disposed between said bellows and said first, second and third elements.

11. A coupling as in claim 1 wherein said coupling is disposed between ends of two exhaust pipes, said bellows accommodating torsional, bending, axial displacement and radial displacement of said pipes.

12. A coupling as in claim 1 wherein respective first and second ends of support elements are oriented radially of each other and cooperatively define a pocket capturing said cushion.