GB2333365A

GB2333365A - Exhaust probe mounting

Info

Publication number: GB2333365A
Application number: GB9800790A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David William Jackson
Original assignee: Assembly Technology and Test Ltd
Current assignee: Assembly Technology and Test Ltd
Priority date: 1998-01-14
Filing date: 1998-01-14
Publication date: 1999-07-21
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-14
Also published as: GB2333365B; FR2773590A1; GB9800790D0; FR2773590B1

Abstract

An exhaust probe assembly comprising a pole (10), a loop (32) of material at an intended distal end (12) of the pole (10), an exhaust probe (18) connected to that end (12) and tightening means (28, 10) to tighten the loop (32) on the end of an exhaust outlet (36).

Description

Exhaust probe assembly The present invention relates to an exhaust probe assembly.

Hitherto, one such assembly has comprised a tube having one end for insertion into an exhaust outlet, for example the open end of a diesel engine exhaust pipe, and an analysing unit at the other end of the tube to analyse the exhaust gases.

One problem encountered with such an earlier construction of exhaust probe assembly is the difficulty of inserting the tube part in the exhaust pipe when this is in a relatively inaccessible position, such as centrally on the undercarriage of a large lorry.

Accordingly the present invention is directed to an exhaust probe assembly comprising a pole, a loop of material at an intended distal end of the pole, an exhaust probe connected to that end and tightening means to tighten the loop on the end of an exhaust outlet.

Preferably the loop of material comprises a loop of flexible elongate material, such as a cable or wire.

The pole may comprise a telescopic pole of a construction which can be extended to a desired length, and then which can be held at that length by twisting the ends relative to one another.

At least one end of such flexible material may be located within such a telescopic pole, or at an intended proximal end thereof, so that the tightening of the loop can be effected by lengthening the pole and then twisting the proximal end thereof, the distal end being prevented from rotating with the proximal end when the latter is twisted by virtue of the engagement of the loop on the exhaust outlet.

In the event that the probe is a tubular portion, it may comprise two legs which are generally at right angles to one another. One of the legs may then extend through the loop, and a flexible hose may be connected to the other end, the hose also being connected to a smoke meter or other exhaust analysing means. It should be borne in mind, however, that the probe might be a relatively tiny device held in position within or adjacent to the loop. Signals from a sensor within the probe may be received by a wire or even by radio signals.

The present invention also extends to a method of using such an assembly.

An example of an exhaust probe assembly made in accordance with the present invention will be now described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of the assembly; Figure 2 shows the same view as Figure 1 on an enlarged scale and with some parts removed for clarity; Figure 3 shows a further side view of the assembly viewed in the direction of the arrow III in Figure 1, and with a resilient member attached to the end of a pole of the assembly; Figure 4 shows the same view as Figure 3 on an enlarged scale; Figure 5 shows the same view as in Figures 3 and 4 but with a loop of the assembly extended; and Figure 6 shows the same view as in Figure 5 on an enlarged scale.

The assembly shown in the Figures comprises a telescopic pole 10 on an intended distal end 12, of which there is secured a bracket 14 by means of clasps 16, which are generally U-shaped members screwed to the bracket 14.

A flexible stainless steel right-angled tube 18 is secured to the bracket 14 by means of further clasps 20. This tube constitutes a probe, one leg 22 of which extends transversely of the distal end 12 of the pole 10, and the other leg of the tube extending generally parallel to the pole 10 and having its end connected to a flexible hose 24, the other end of which is connected to a smoke meter 26.

A cable 28 extends within the telescopic pole, having its two ends connected to the intended proximal end 30 thereof in its interior, and a central portion of the cable 28 extending beyond the end 12 of the pole 10 to form a loop 32.

The leg 22 of the tube 18 extends through the loop 32.

The distal end 12 of the pole 10 is provided with a resilient temperature-resistant rubber-silicon buffer 33.

When the assembly is stowed away, the telescopic pole is collapsed to its shortest length, and the hose 24 is wound around it.

In use, the flexible tube 24 is unwound, the telescopic pole is lengthened, and the leg 22 of the tube 18 is inserted into the end of an exhaust pipe (shown in ghost form as item 36 in Figure 2) of an engine. The pole is manoeuvred at the proximal end 30 so that that leg 22 of the tube 18 is inserted well into the exhaust pipe 36, the latter then extending through the loop 28. This is now tightened by extending the pole further and the assembly is secured in this way by rotating the proximal end 30 of the pole 10.

The buffer 33 assists in this tightening, and also ensures a tight fit in the event that other non-resilient portions of the assembly relax a little after the tightening.

With the engine running and exhaust gases flowing out of the exhaust pipe 36, the pressure of the exhaust gases is sufficient for some of those gases to be urged into the tube 18, along the flexible hose 24 and into the smoke meter 26.

At the end of use, the assembly is detached from the exhaust pipe by reversing the order of operations already described for attachment and the probe assembly can then be stowed away.

Whilst the leg 22 of the pipe 18 may be positioned to one side of the interior of the exhaust pipe 36 when the assembly is in use, it is nonetheless provided with stainless steel butterfly members 34 to ensure that the leg 22 of the tube 18 does not actually come into contact with the inside of the exhaust pipe 36.

Numerous variations and modifications to the illustrated assembly can be made without taking the resulting construction outside the scope of the present invention. For example, the tightening of the loop could be effected by having a lever arrangement at the end of the pole, or by having a screw-threaded proximal end of the pole to which the ends of the cable are attached, so that rotation of that end relative to the rest of the pole will effect tightening of the loop on the exhaust pipe. The buffer 33 can be replaced by a spring, located for example between one end or both ends of the cable 28 and the pole 10, or instead the cable 28 may be replaced by a heatresistant elastic elongate member. The bracket 14 and/or the tube or probe 18 may be attached by quick-release means (not shown) for ready dismantling and re-assembly. This also enables the equipment to be used without a pole when the latter is not needed.

Claims

Claims: 1. An exhaust probe assembly comprising a pole, a loop of material at an intended distal end of the pole, an exhaust probe connected to that end and tightening means to tighten the loop on the end of an exhaust outlet.
2. An exhaust probe assembly according to claim 1, in which the loop of material comprises a loop of flexible elongate material.
3. An exhaust probe assembly according to claim 2, in which the flexible elongate material comprises a cable or wire.
4. An exhaust probe assembly according to any preceding claim, in which the pole comprises a telescopic pole of a construction which can be extended to a desired length.
5. An exhaust probe assembly according to claim 4, in which the pole can be held at that length by twisting the ends relative to one another.
6. An exhaust probe assembly according to claim 5, read as appended to claim 2 or 3, in which at least one end of the flexible material may be located within such a telescopic pole, or at an intended proximal end thereof, so that the tightening of the loop can be effected by lengthening the pole and then twisting the proximal end thereof, the distal end being prevented from rotating with the proximal end when the latter is twisted by virtue of the engagement of the loop on the exhaust outlet.
7. An exhaust probe assembly according to any preceding claim, in which the probe comprises a tubular portion.
8. An exhaust probe assembly according to claim 7, in which the probe comprises two legs which are generally at right angles to one another.
9. An exhaust probe assembly according to claim 8, in which one of the legs extends through the loop, and a flexible hose is connected to the other end, the hose also being connected to a smoke meter or other exhaust analysing means.
10. An exhaust probe assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the probe comprises a sensor held in position within or adjacent to the loop.
11. An exhaust probe assembly according to claim 10, in which signals from the sensor are obtainable by a wire connected thereto.
12. An exhaust probe assembly according to claim 10, in which signals from the sensor are obtainable by a radio device connected thereto.
13. A method of analysing exhaust from an exhaust outlet, using an assembly as claimed in any preceding claim.
14. An exhaust probe assembly substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.