Exhaust decoupler system

• US 6,354,632 B1
• Filed: 03/21/2000
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SJM Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: SJM Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Dae Hyun, Jung, Eun Sung
• Primary Examiner(s): Browne, Lynne H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUNWOODY, AARON M
• Application Number:
  US09/532,003
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 285/47, 285/49, 285/226, 285/299, 285/300, 285/301
• US Class Current: 285/49
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/1811 with means permitting relative movement, e.g. compensation of thermal expansion or vibration
• 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: F16L 27/1004 introduced in exhaust pipes for hot gases
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/111 the bellows being reinforced
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 51/027 with external reinforcement

Abstract

An exhaust decoupler system for motor vehicles includes: a sleeve through which exhaust gas may pass from the engine; a couple of retainer members oppositely positioned from the exhaust pipe and engine, one member engaged with the outer side of the sleeve, at which end the rims are circumferentially bent; bellows between the rims of the inner retainer members, for absorbing the bending and expansion to maintain the exhaust gas to be airtight; outer retainer members located externally the inner retainer members, both ends engaged with the inner retainer members, inner side to be opened toward the center; a guide ring member for dividing the inner retainer members and outer retainer members to symmetrically form first pockets and second pockets, and for surrounding the bellows; and an inner buffering member and an outer buffering member in the form of loop to be filled within in the first pockets and the second pockets. The bending displacement is efficiently absorbed to minimally effect the engine by oppositely sliding the guide ring member in the bending displacement direction between the inner and outer buffering members. Moreover, the system enables the sliding length between the inner and outer buffering members to be shortened, thereby reducing the abrasion and friction noise, so that the fatigue life of the overall exhaust pipe and the durability of the product can be increased.

Claims

1. An exhaust decoupler system for motor vehicles, comprising:

a cylindrical sleeve for exhaust gas from an engine to pass through;

a couple of inner retainer members oppositely positioned toward the engine and an exhaust pipe, one member engaged with the outer side of the sleeve, at which end rims of the inner retainer members are circumferentially bent to extend radially from the axis of the pipe;

bellows fixed between the rims of the inner retainer members, for absorbing the bending and expansion of the system so as to maintain the system airtight;

a couple of outer retainer members positioned outside of the inner retainer members, both ends of the outer retainer members engaged with the inner retainer members with an inner side to be opened toward the axis of the pipe;

a guide ring member for dividing the inner retainer members and outer retainer members to symmetrically form first pockets and second pockets, and for surrounding the bellows; and

an inner buffering member and an outer buffering member shaped in a form of loop to be filled within in the first pockets and the second pockets.

3. The exhaust decoupler system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sleeve is installed on one end of the engine and one end of the exhaust pipe so as to connect the engine and the exhaust pipe.

2. The exhaust decoupler system for motor vehicles, comprising:

a cylindrical sleeve for exhaust gas from an engine to pass through;

a couple of inner retainer members oppositely positioned toward the engine and an exhaust pipe, one member engaged with the outer side of the sleeve, at which end rims of the inner retainer members are circumferentially bent to extend radially from the axis of the pipe;

bellows fixed between the rims of the inner retainer members, for absorbing the bending and expansion of the system so as to maintain the system airtight;

a couple of outer retainer members positioned outside of the inner retainer members, both ends of the outer retainer members engaged with the inner retainer members with an inner side to be opened toward the axis of the pipe;

a guide ring member for dividing the inner retainer members and outer retainer members to symmetrically form first pockets and second pockets, and for surrounding the bellows;

an inner buffering member and an outer buffering member shaped in a form of loop to be filled within in the first pockets and the second pockets; and

bending angle control pieces located at the end of said guide ring member.

4. The exhaust decoupler system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said sleeve is installed on one end of the engine and one end of the exhaust pipe so as to connect the engine and the exhaust pipe.