EP1317607A1

EP1317607A1 - Honeycomb body having a shortened, slotted inner sheathing tube

Info

Publication number: EP1317607A1
Application number: EP01969678A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rolf BRÜCK; Jörg-Roman KONIECZNY; Katrin Schaper; Wolfgang Maus
Original assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
Current assignee: Vitesco Technologies Lohmar Verwaltungs GmbH
Priority date: 2000-09-13
Filing date: 2001-08-31
Publication date: 2003-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2021-08-31
Also published as: DE50102488D1; AU2001289857A1; DE10045540A1; US7258843B2; WO2002023021A1; JP2004509264A; US20030147782A1; EP1317607B1; ES2222391T3

Abstract

The invention relates to a honeycomb body (1) held by means of an inner sheathing tube (7) inside a housing (2), especially inside a housing (2) of an exhaust gas system (3) of an internal combustion engine (4). The inner sheathing tube (7) has an overall length (9), which is axially (5) delimited by two edges (8) and which is significantly shorter than the axial length (11) of the honeycomb body. In addition, the inner sheathing tube (7) is arranged in an almost axially centrical manner around the honeycomb body (1) and is joined, especially soldered, to the same in at least one axial connection area (19) by using joining techniques. According to the invention, the inner sheathing tube (7) is fastened to the housing (2) in a partial area (10) inside the axial connection area (19), in which said tube is internally joined to the honeycomb body (1), or the tube is also fastened externally to or inside the housing (2) while directly abutting against the honeycomb body, whereby the areas of the inner sheathing tube (7), which are not joined to the housing (2) but are inwardly joined to the honeycomb body (1), are configured as radially resilient spring elements (18). This results in the creation of a flexible holding device that adapts to deformations of the honeycomb body without tearing away which is advantageous particularly in honeycomb bodies made of very thin sheet metal layers, in particular, those thinner than 0.03 mm.

Description

Honeycomb body with shortened, slotted inner jacket tube

The invention relates to a holder of a honeycomb body in a housing, in particular in a housing of an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, according to the preamble of claim 1. Such honeycomb bodies are used in particular in automobile construction for cleaning an exhaust gas generated by an internal combustion engine. ■

Such a holder is known for example from US 4,948,353. A similar holder is also known from JP 8-294 632. The cylindrical honeycomb body described there is made of smooth and corrugated metal sheets and is surrounded by a zinder-shaped jacket. The jacket has slots distributed over its circumference, which extend from an end face of the jacket. The honeycomb body with the jacket is oriented so that the slots face away from the exhaust gas inlet side during the cleaning process of the exhaust gas. The honeycomb body is connected to the jacket only in the area of the slots. On the opposite side, that is, the exhaust gas inlet side, the jacket is connected to a cylindrical, coaxially external housing.

Investigations with regard to the behavior of such a honeycomb body under alternating thermal loads have shown that the honeycomb body shrinks radially, especially near its end faces. In this case, stresses can occur in the connection area between the honeycomb body and the jacket, which make permanent connection of the honeycomb body to the jacket difficult. In particular, honeycomb bodies made of very thin sheet metal, for example thinner than 0.03 mm or even larger than 0.25 mm, take on a barrel-like shape, the middle area retaining its original diameter, but the end faces having a smaller diameter. Proceeding from this, it is an object of the present invention to provide a holder for a honeycomb body in a housing, which is adapted in particular to the behavior of the honeycomb body described in the case of changing temperatures and thus ensures permanent fixation of the honeycomb body in the housing.

This object is achieved by a honeycomb body in accordance with the features of claim 1. Further advantageous details of supported honeycomb bodies according to the invention are described in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, a honeycomb body is held in a housing by means of an inner jacket tube, in particular a housing of an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, the inner jacket tube having an overall length axially delimited by two edges, which is substantially smaller than the axial length of the honeycomb body, furthermore the inner jacket tube approximately axially in the middle is arranged around the honeycomb body and connected to it in at least one axial section, in particular soldered. The inner jacket tube is fastened in a partial area within the axial section, in which it is connected on the inside to the honeycomb body (1), or directly adjacent to it on the outside on or in the housing (2), the non-housing (2) regions of the inner casing tube (7) connected inwards to the honeycomb body (1) are designed as radially elastic spring elements (18). The holder according to the invention is characterized in that the spring elements can follow the deformation of the honeycomb body without tearing loose, and at the same time the connection of the inner jacket tube to the housing takes place in the area in which the diameter of the honeycomb body changes only slightly.

A shorter length of the inner jacket tube compared to the honeycomb body has the advantage that particularly strongly shrinking areas of the honeycomb body (such as near the end faces) are not hindered in their movement. In addition, a heat-insulating gap is formed around these areas, which in particular the heating behavior of the honeycomb body is positively influenced, since the thermal energy introduced at the end in these areas cannot be dissipated to an inner jacket tube surrounding the honeycomb body.

The spring elements can preferably be formed by slots and limited in the circumferential direction, which means that, depending on their dimensioning, almost any elasticity can be set.

Particularly in the case of honeycomb bodies made of very thin metal sheets in exhaust systems of motor vehicles, it has surprisingly been found in tests that they are subject to considerable loads due to deformation not only on the gas inlet side but also on the gas outlet side. While such a honeycomb body is primarily heated by an exhaust gas via the exhaust gas tube, the honeycomb body cools down from both ends at the same time. This leads to an increased radial shrinkage of the honeycomb body near the end faces compared to other areas. The Irmen casing tube forms segments in connection with the slots, which behave similarly to spiral springs. This means that these spiral springs, when they are in contact with the honeycomb body, can at least radially follow the thermal expansion or shrinkage of the honeycomb body. In this way, thermal stresses between the honeycomb body and the inner jacket tube can be significantly reduced. Therefore, the formation of spring elements on both sides is very advantageous.

According to yet another embodiment, the entire honeycomb body with holder is arranged approximately symmetrically to a central plane. The Irmenmantelrohr is thus constructed essentially symmetrically, which in particular simplifies the assembly of such a holder. In addition, such a symmetrical arrangement corresponds to the essentially symmetrical deformation of the honeycomb body during cooling. The slots have at least one end region, a slot width and a slot length and at least partially limit a spring element of the inner jacket tube in such a way that the spring element can be deflected at least radially. This ensures a reduction in the thermally induced stresses which can arise due to the different thermal expansion behavior of the inner jacket tube and the honeycomb body. It is particularly advantageous that the slot width is at least 1 mm, preferably at least 2 mm. This ensures that the spring elements do not interfere with each other even with greater deformation inwards.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the holder, the slot width varies over the slot length. For example, the slot width can start from an end region in the direction of the slot. In this way, the bending strength of the spring element can be set precisely as a function of the thermal loads on the holder. The slots can also extend at least partially in the circumferential direction of the inner jacket tube. This means that the slots are not exclusively straight, but can, for example, have a corrugated or sinusoidal shape.

It is also particularly advantageous that the slots have a recess in the at least one end region. The recesses are designed so that the formation of notches in the end region of the slots is prevented.

According to a further embodiment of the holder, at least some spring elements each have at least one transverse slot. The transverse slot runs essentially parallel to the edge of the inner casing tube. The transverse slots serve to set a certain bending stiffness of the spring element. A larger number and / or a greater length of transverse slots in a spring element result in a lower bending stiffness, as a result of which radial deflection takes place due to lower forces. Here it is it is also particularly advantageous to provide the transverse slots with a rounding in at least one end section, as a result of which notching due to high dynamic stress is avoided.

In a further embodiment of the holder, the honeycomb body has sheet metal layers which are structured such that they have channels through which an exhaust gas can flow. The honeycomb body has in particular at least a channel density of 800 cpsi (“cells per square inch”). The sheet metal layers are made from sheets that have a sheet thickness preferably less than 0.03 mm, in particular less than 0.025 mm. Such a honeycomb body is suitable due to its very large surface area in relation to the volume, it is very good as a carrier body for a catalytically active coating, thereby ensuring that a catalytically active surface flowing past is provided with sufficient catalytically active surface, whereby the conversion of pollutants in the exhaust gas is particularly effective , preferably less than 0.025 mm, have a very low surface-specific heat capacity, which means that after a cold start the honeycomb body very quickly reaches a temperature which is required for a catalytic conversion of the pollutants in the exhaust gas.

The connection of the inner casing tube to the housing can be done in various ways, which will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. It is important that the inner jacket tube cannot come loose, but the connection between the housing and the inner jacket tube does not affect the elasticity of the inner jacket tube outside the partial area in which the connection to the housing takes place.

Further details and particularly preferred exemplary embodiments of the honeycomb body according to the invention and their mounting in a housing are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. Show: 1 schematically shows an embodiment of a honeycomb body according to the invention in a schematic side view with a longitudinally cut housing,

2 schematically shows the structure of an internal combustion engine with an exhaust system,

3 to 8 embodiment of the fastening of the inner jacket tube in a housing in a schematic representation,

Fig. 9 is a schematic representation of a cross section through a honeycomb body and an inner jacket tube.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a honeycomb body 1 according to the invention, in a housing 2 of an exhaust system 3 (not shown) of an internal combustion engine 4 (not shown). The honeycomb body 1 and an inner jacket tube 7 are arranged coaxially in the housing. The inner jacket tube 7 has essentially axial 5 slots 6 and has a total length 9 which is axially delimited by two edges 8. The central axis 5 indicates that the honeycomb body is generally rotationally symmetrical or has an oval or elliptical cross section. The inner casing tube 7 is directly or indirectly connected to the housing 2 on its outside in at least one partial region 10 (hatched) that is axially smaller than its total length 9. The honeycomb body 1 has an axial honeycomb body length 11 which is delimited by the end faces 29. The honeycomb body 1 is connected in the connection area 19 (dotted) to the inside of the inner casing tube 7. The areas of the inner casing tube 7 which are not connected to the housing 2 but are connected to the honeycomb body 1 are designed as radially elastic spring elements 18. This allows an almost unhindered expansion or shrinkage of the honeycomb body 1 during alternating thermal loads. The spring elements 1.8 are delimited by slots 6, which are preferably arranged symmetrically to a central plane 14 of the inner casing tube 7. This supports the essentially symmetrical shrinkage of the Honeycomb body 1 under operating conditions, which ultimately leads to a barrel-like shape in which the central area changes only slightly.

The slots 6 are arranged here outside the central plane 14 and, in this exemplary embodiment, extend up to the edges 8 of the inner jacket tube

7th

FIG. 2 schematically shows the structure of an internal combustion engine 4 with an exhaust system 3. The exhaust gas generated in the internal combustion engine 4 is passed on to the surroundings by the exhaust system. Components for cleaning the exhaust gas are arranged in the housing 2 of the exhaust system 3. Figure 2 shows an example of a honeycomb body which is held by an inner casing tube 7 with slots 6 in the housing 2.

Figures 3 to 8 show different attachment options between the inner casing tube 7 and the housing 2. Here, very different attachment options can be used, which have in common that they do not significantly affect the elasticity of the inner casing tube 7 in the off-center area.

Fig. 3 shows a positive connection, in which the inner jacket tube 7 is held in a bead 12 of the housing 2 via an intermediate piece 13. To avoid vibrations, a swelling mat 20 or a material such as mica can preferably be introduced as an intermediate layer.

Fig. 4 shows another type of positive connection, which simultaneously forms a radial sliding seat 12, 13, which allows radial, but no axial displacements. Again, a swelling mat 20 or mica can be used as an intermediate layer.

Fig. 5 shows a particularly simple and preferred embodiment, in which the inner jacket tube 7 directly in a correspondingly shaped outer bead 12 of the housing 2 is held, again with the possibility of providing an intermediate layer 12 made of mica or the like, but a holder without an intermediate layer 20 is possible.

Fig. 6 shows a holder in which the inner jacket tube 7 is suspended on the housing 2 via a tube-like intermediate piece 13. This intermediate piece 13 can be soldered or welded on. It can also consist of different segments (not shown) separated by axial slots, which brings about an additional elasticity of the fastening.

Fig. 7 shows an embodiment similar to Fig. 6, but with the inner jacket tube 7 being deformed in an S-shaped cross section, so that it simultaneously forms an intermediate piece 13 which is fastened to the housing 2.

FIG. 8 shows a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention in a schematic side view with a longitudinally sectioned housing 2. The inner jacket tube 7 is provided with axial slots 6, which are approximately symmetrical to a centrally located annular intermediate piece 13. However, these slots do not go all the way to the edges 8 of the inner jacket tube 7. This is easier to handle in the production process because of the smooth edges 8 than an inner jacket tube slotted to the edges. The connection area 19 (dotted) between the inner casing tube 7 and the honeycomb body 1 ends approximately at half the length of the slots 6, so that elastic spring elements 18 are formed even when the slots 6 are not continuous. The annular intermediate piece 13 can also be made so stiff that, in the event of thermal tensions between the honeycomb body 1 and the housing 2, the housing 2 essentially deviates slightly.

Figure 9 shows schematically a cross section through a honeycomb body 1 and

Inner jacket tube 7, the cross section being arranged through a region of the inner jacket tube 7 which has no slots 6. The honeycomb body 1 has

Sheet metal layers 25, which are structured so that they can flow through for an exhaust gas re channels 26 form. The channels here are formed by stacking corrugated and smooth sheets. The honeycomb body 1 is then produced by engaging or winding the sheet layers 25. The honeycomb body preferably has a bang density of at least 800 cpsi. The sheets 25 have a sheet thickness 28, which is preferably less than 0.025 mm.

The holding of a honeycomb body according to the invention in a housing ensures permanent fixation of the honeycomb body, in particular in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. The temperature differences and pressure fluctuations that occur can be compensated for by the holder according to the invention in that the radial expansion or shrinkage of the honeycomb body is not hindered in such a way that life-limiting tensions arise between the housing and the honeycomb body.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

honeycombs

casing

exhaust system

Verbrennungskrafrmaschine

axis

slot

Inner sheath tube

edge

Overall length (of the inner jacket tube)

Section (hatched)

Honeycomb body

Bead (positive locking)

joint

Cross-sectional plane

end

slot width

slot length

spring element

Connection area (dotted)

Swelling mat / mica

recess

transverse slot

sheet metal layer

channel

sheet

sheet thickness

front

Claims

claims

1. honeycomb body (1) held by means of an inner jacket tube (7) in a housing (2), in particular a housing (2) of an exhaust system (3) of an internal combustion engine (4), the inner jacket tube (7) being one of two edges (8) axially (5) has a total length (9) which is substantially smaller than the axial length (11) of the honeycomb body, the inner jacket tube (7) being arranged approximately axially centrally around the honeycomb body (1) and with it in at least one axial connection area (19) is connected by joining, in particular soldered, characterized in that the inner casing tube (7) in a partial area (10) within the axial connection area (19), in which it is connected on the inside to the honeycomb body (1), or directly adjacent to it is also attached to the outside on or in the housing (2), the areas of the inner casing tube (7) not connected to the housing (2) but inwards to the honeycomb body (1) as radially elastic spring elements ( 18) are designed.

2. Honeycomb body according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring elements (18) are limited in the circumferential direction by approximately axially extending slots (6) in the inner casing tube (7).

3. honeycomb body according to claim 2, characterized in that the slots (6) extend on both sides approximately axially from the partial region (10).

4. honeycomb body according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the honeycomb body with inner casing tube (7) and housing (2) is constructed approximately symmetrically with respect to a cross-sectional plane (14) running through its center.

5. honeycomb body according to claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the slots (6) to the edges (8) of the inner casing tube (7) extend.

6. honeycomb body according to claim 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that the slot width (16) is at least 1 mm, preferably at least 2 mm.

7. honeycomb body according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the slot width (16) varies over the slot length (17).

8. honeycomb body according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that each slot (6) on at least one end region (15) has a recess (21).

9. honeycomb body according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that at least some slots (6) each have at least one transverse slot (22).

10. Honeycomb body according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the honeycomb body (1) has sheet metal layers (25) which are structured in such a way that they have channels (26) through which an exhaust gas can flow, said channel body in particular having a channel density of at least 800 cpsi and the sheet layers (25) with sheets (27) with a sheet thickness (28) are preferably less than 0.03 mm, in particular less than 0.025 mm.

11. Honeycomb body according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner casing tube (7) is connected to the housing (2) by at least one welded connection.

12. honeycomb body according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the inner jacket tube (7) is held by a positive connection (12, 13) in the housing (2).

13. Honeycomb body according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the inner casing tube (7) is fastened to the housing (2) by means of a circumferential circumferential annular collar (13), in particular in a radially flexible manner, preferably in a radial sliding seat

(12, 13).

14. Honeycomb body according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the inner casing tube (7) is folded approximately S-shaped in longitudinal section.