GB2333566A

GB2333566A - Flexible tubular connector comprising corrugated bellows and braided liner

Info

Publication number: GB2333566A
Application number: GB9801727A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David James Scales; Martin William Knight; Terry John Whitbread
Original assignee: SENIOR FLEXONICS AUTOMOTIVE LI
Current assignee: SENIOR FLEXONICS AUTOMOTIVE LI
Priority date: 1998-01-27
Filing date: 1998-01-27
Publication date: 1999-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-27
Also published as: EP1051565A1; JP2002501141A; ZA99605B; GB9801727D0; GB2333566B; WO1999037898A1; AU2172799A

Abstract

In the connector, the braided liner 4 has a circumferentially continuously welded end 6 which is disposed within an end part 2 of the bellows 1 and which is expanded radially outwards within an outer cylindrical support ring 5. An outer braided hose 3 may also be provided coaxially disposed around the bellows 1 and retained within the ring 5.

Description

Flexible Connector This invention relates to a flexible connector and relates more especially to a flexible connector for connection in a motor vehicle exhaust system.

Flexible connectors for motor vehicle exhaust systems are known which consist of a helically corrugated or ring corrugated metallic bellows member which is provided with an outer braided tubular hose disposed coaxially around it, and also with an inner braided tubular liner, the cornmon ends of the inner tubular liner, the bellows member and the outer braided hose being radially expanded outwards within a surrounding cylindrical support ring to provide a pipe coupling end. In such a construction it is normal to provide each end of the inner braided liner with an inner support ring which is spot welded to the braided liner and the support ring is radially expanded outwards together with the inner braided liner, the bellows member, and the outer braided hose, within the surrounding cylindrical support ring.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible connector of the kind described but which obviates the need to provide the inner support rings spot welded to the inner braided liner.

According to the present invention there is provided a flexible connector comprising a metallic corrugated bellows member and a braided tubular liner disposed in said bellows member, said braided liner having a circumferential continuously welded end which is disposed within an end part of said bellows member and which is expanded radially outwards into contact with the inner surface of said bellows member.

In carrying out the invention it may be arranged that said flexible connector comprises an outer braided tubular hose member which is disposed coaxially around said bellows member, the common ends of said braided liner, said bellows member and said outer hose member being radially expanded outwards within a cylindrical support ring surrounding said ends.

In a preferred embodiment it is arranged that the or each end of said braided tubular liner is resistance welded around the circumference thereof, and conveniently, the resistance weld may be effected by a pair of electrically energised opposed rollers between which the braided wall of said tubular liner is passed.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1, is a fragmentary and partially cut-away view of a flexible connector in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 2, is a photographic perspective view of the left hand end of the flexible connector of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings there is shown a flexible connector for connection in a motor vehicle exhaust system.

The flexible connector of Fig. 1 comprises a helically corrugated or ring corrugated bellows member 1 which is provided with plain cylindrical end portions 2, only the left hand portion of which is shown.

The bellows member 1 is provided with an outer braided tubular hose 3 disposed coaxially around it and also with an inner braided tubular liner 4. The ends of the outer braided hose 3 and the inner braided liner 4 extend adjacent the plain cylindrical ends 2 of the bellows member 1 and are contained within an outer cylindrical support ring 5 disposed on each end of the assembly. In the manufacture of the flexible connector of Fig. 1, the common ends of the braided tubular liner 4, the bellows member 1 and the outer braided hose 3 are radially expanded within the outer support ring 5 in order to secure the parts together and in order to provide a correctly sized aperture for receiving an exhaust pipe to which the flexible connector may subsequently be connected.

As has already been mentioned, in prior art flexible connectors of the kind thus far described, it is usual to provide each of the inner braided liners with an inner support ring which is spot welded to the braided liner in a prior subassembly procedure.

In the flexible connector shown in Fig. 1 the need for an inner support ring for each end of the inner braided liner 4 is obviated by arranging that each end of the inner braided liner 4 is continuously welded around its circumference so as to cause the individual wires of the braid to be welded together as shown at 6 in Fig. 1. The welded end 6 of the inner braided liner 4 is then radially expanded within the outer cylindrical support ring 5 and enables the inner braided liner 4 to be retained in position without the need for an additional inner support ring.

In Fig. 2 the left hand end of the flexible connector of Fig. 1 is shown and depicts the inner braided liner 4, the end 6 of which is continuously welded around its entire circumference, disposed within the end 2 of the bellows member 1, the end of the outer braided hose 3 which is just visible and the outer cylindrical support ring 5.

The ends of the inner braided liner 4 may be welded using any convenient welding technique, although electric resistance welding has been found to be very suitable. Typically the electric resistance welding may be effected by using a pair of electrically energised opposed rollers between which the braided wall of the inner braided liner is passed.

It should be appreciated that the flexible connector which has been described has been given by way of example only and may be adapted to suit any particular application. For example, although the flexible connector described is for use in motor vehicle exhaust systems, other applications may be possible.

Claims

1. A flexible connector comprising a metallic corrugated bellows member and a braided tubular liner disposed in said bellows member, said braided liner having a circumferential continuously welded end which is disposed within an end part of said bellows member and which is expanded radially outwards into contact with the inner surface of said bellows member.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1, comprising an outer braided tubular hose member which is disposed coaxially around said bellows member, the common ends of said braided liner, said bellows member and said outer hose member being radially expanded outwards within a cylindrical support ring surrounding said ends.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the or each end of said braided tubular liner is resistance welded around the circumference thereof.

4. A connector as claimed in claim 3, in which the resistance weld is effected by a pair of electrically energised opposed rollers between which the braided wall of said tubular liner is passed.

5. A flexible connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.