Vehicle exhaust system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11639676-B2
Application number	US-201916443282-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2019
Priority date	Jun 17, 2019
Publication date	May 2, 2023
Grant date	May 2, 2023

Abstract

A vehicle exhaust system includes a tubular component having an inner surface and an outer surface. The vehicle exhaust system also includes at least one opening defined by the tubular component. The at least one opening extends through each of the inner surface and the outer surface. The vehicle exhaust system further includes a patch adapted to cover the at least one opening. The patch includes a first portion extending parallel to the central axis. The first portion defines a plurality of pores. The first portion covers the at least one opening. The patch also includes a second portion extending away from the first portion. The first portion has a first thickness and the second portion has a second thickness.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle exhaust system comprising:
a tubular component having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface defines a primary exhaust gas flow path, wherein the tubular component defines a central axis extending between an inlet end and an outlet end of the tubular component;
at least one opening defined by the tubular component, the at least one opening providing a secondary exhaust gas flow path, wherein the at least one opening extends through each of the inner surface and the outer surface; and
a patch adapted to cover the at least one opening, the patch including:
a first portion extending parallel to the central axis, the first portion comprising a plurality of spaced pores, wherein the first portion covers the at least one opening; and wherein each of the plurality of pores has a diameter and wherein a distance between adjacent spaced pores exceeds the diameter of any of the plurality of pores; and
a second portion comprising a plurality of ribs defining a frame circumscribing the first portion and extending away from the first portion, the frame comprising a center rib dividing the first portion into first and second lands separated by the center rib;
wherein the first portion has a first thickness and the second portion has a second thickness for providing structural rigidity to the first portion.

2. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein the second portion extends perpendicularly away from the first portion.

3. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 further includes at least one wire mesh insert coupled with the first portion, the at least one wire mesh insert adapted to cover at least one of the plurality of pores.

4. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.

5. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein the first portion further includes a thermal expansion joint.

6. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of pores is inclined with respect to the central axis.

7. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 6 , wherein the second portion is inclined with respect to the central axis.

8. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one wire mesh insert further includes an integrated retention system for coupling with the first portion of the patch.

9. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion together form an integral structure.

10. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular component is a muffler.

11. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pores are angled with respect to a central axis of the tubular component.

12. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 11 , wherein the angle of the plurality of pores is opposite a flow direction through the tubular component.

13. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 11 , wherein the angle of the plurality of pores is approximately 45 degrees.

14. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein the first land and the second land are equal size.

15. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced pores includes spaced pores on both the first land and the second land.

16. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein the center rib extends parallel to the central axis.

17. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein the patch is substantially flat.

18. A tubular component for a vehicle exhaust system, the tubular component comprising:
an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface defines a primary exhaust gas flow path, wherein the tubular component defines a central axis extending between an inlet end and an outlet end of the tubular component;
at least one opening providing a secondary exhaust gas flow path, wherein the at least one opening extends through each of the inner surface and the outer surface; and
a patch adapted to cover the at least one opening, the patch including:
a first portion extending parallel to the central axis, the first portion defining a plurality of pores, wherein the first portion covers the at least one opening; wherein the first portion comprises lands surrounding each of the plurality of pores and wherein an area of the lands surrounding each of the plurality of pores is greater than an area of each of the plurality of pores;
a second portion comprising a plurality of ribs defining a frame circumscribing the first portion and extending away from the first portion, the frame comprising a center rib dividing the first portion into first and second lands separated by the center rib; wherein the first portion and the second portion together form an integral structure, wherein the first portion has a first thickness and the second portion has a second thickness; and
at least one wire mesh insert coupled with the first portion to cover at least one of the plurality of pores, wherein the at least one wire mesh insert includes an integrated retention system for coupling with the first portion of the patch.

19. The tubular component of claim 18 , wherein the second portion extends perpendicularly away from the first portion.

20. The tubular component of claim 18 , wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.

21. The tubular component of claim 18 , wherein the first portion further includes a thermal expansion joint.

22. The tubular component of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the plurality of pores is inclined with respect to the central axis.

23. The tubular component of claim 22 , wherein the second portion is inclined with respect to the central axis.

24. The tubular component of claim 18 , wherein the tubular component is a muffler.

25. A patch adapted to cover at least one opening in a tubular component of a vehicle exhaust system, the patch comprising:
a first portion comprising a plurality of pores and lands surrounding each of the plurality of pores; wherein an area of the lands surrounding the plurality of pores is greater than an area of the plurality of pores;
a second portion comprising a plurality of ribs defining a frame circumscribing the first portion and extending away from the first portion, the frame comprising a center rib dividing the first portion into first and second lands separated by the center rib; wherein the first portion and the second portion together form an integral structure, wherein the first portion has a first thickness and the second portion has a second thickness; and
at least one wire mesh insert coupled with the patch to cover at least one of the plurality of pores, wherein the at least one wire mesh insert includes a first head portion, a second head portion, and an intermediate portion extending between each of the first head portion and the second head portion, wherein each of the first head portion and the second head portion is adapted to couple the at least one wire mesh insert with the patch, and wherein the intermediate portion is adapted to be disposed in at least one of the plurality of pores.

26. The patch of claim 25 , wherein the patch further includes a thermal expansion joint.

27. The patch of claim 25 , wherein at least one of the plurality of pores is inclined with respect to a central axis.

Assignees

• Tenneco Automotive Operating Co Inc

Inventors

• Golin Michael A
• Walworth Bradley
• Ostromecki Gabriel

Classifications

• F01N2310/00

  Selection of sound absorbing or insulating material · CPC title

• F01N13/007

  Apparatus used as intake or exhaust silencer · CPC title

• F01N1/006

  comprising at least one perforated tube extending from inlet to outlet of the silencer · CPC title

• F01N13/08

  Other arrangements or adaptations of exhaust conduits {(pipes, joints or supports therefor in general F16L; collecting or removing exhaust gases of vehicle engines in workshops B08B15/00, on highways E01C1/005)} · CPC title

• F01N1/24

  by using sound-absorbing materials (F01N1/04, F01N1/06, F01N1/10, F01N1/14, F01N1/16 take precedence) · CPC title