Internal combustion engine exhaust device and method for making same

• US 6,848,438 B2
• Filed: 04/10/1998
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Renault
• Original Assignee: Renault
• Inventors: Pierdet, Alain, Markiewski, Patrick Francois, Celerier, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): JIMENEZ, MARC QUEMUEL
• Application Number:
  US09/402,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20010025419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,489 Days
• Field of Search: 123/672, 123/703, 123/676, 123/677, 123/679, 298/900.8, 72/71, 721/12, 724/79, 138/177, 138/37, 204/410, 204/428, 602/76, 603/22
• US Class Current: 123/672
• CPC Class Codes: B21C 37/298 Forming collars by flow-drilling flow drilling B21J5/066
• CPC Class Codes: B21J 5/066 Flow drilling
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/008 Mounting or arrangement of exhaust sensors in or on exhaust apparatus sensor arrangements for engine control F02D41/1439
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2530/04 Steel alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49398 Muffler, manifold or exhaust pipe making

Abstract

An internal combustion engine exhaust device. The device includes a conduit element through which exhaust gases flow. The conduit element includes a housing for mounting a measurement sensor such as an oxygen probe. The housing is formed by a hole extended by an insert produced directly through the conduit element.

Claims

1. An exhaust device for an internal combustion engine, said exhaust device comprising:

a measuring transducer configured to analyze a flow of exhaust gases from the engine; and

a pipe element adapted to carry the flow of exhaust gases from the engine, said pipe element having an integral housing in which said measuring transducer is mounted, said housing having a threaded hole extending through a bush extending only through a wall of said pipe element, said bush having an interior portion and an exterior portion, said interior portion extending further within an interior of said pipe element than said exterior portion extends beyond an exterior of said pipe element.

2. The exhaust device according to claim 1, wherein said wall of said pipe element has a substantially uniform thickness of between 1 mm and 3 mm.

3. The exhaust device according to claim 2, wherein said wall of said pipe element is made of a stainless metal alloy.

4. The exhaust device according to claim 1, wherein said wall of said pipe element is made of a stainless metal alloy.

5. A process for making an exhaust device for an internal combustion engine, said process comprising the steps of:

forming an integral housing in a pipe element adapted to carry a flow of exhaust gases from the engine, the housing being formed from a flow-drilling operation comprising drilling through only a wall of the pipe element with a tool at a speed and a penetration force adapted to cause melting and upsetting of a material of the wall around the tool in proportion to an advance of this tool until a bush of required height and diameter is obtained, wherein the bush has an interior portion and an exterior portion, the interior portion extending further within an interior of the pipe element than the exterior portion extends beyond an exterior of the pipe element;

tapping a hole through the bush to form internal threads in the hole; and

mounting within the housing a measuring transducer configured to analyze a flow of exhaust gases from the engine.

6. The process according to claim 5, wherein the tool is an ogival mandrel.

7. The process according to claim 5, wherein the wall of the pipe element has a substantially uniform thickness of between 1 mm and 3 mm.

8. The process according to claim 5, wherein the wall of the pipe element is made of a stainless metal alloy.

9. The process according to claim 5, wherein the speed of the tool is greater than 500 rpms.

10. The process according to claim 9, wherein the speed of the tool is between 3000 rpms and 5000 rpms.