GB2557368A

GB2557368A - Exhaust isolator assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2557368A
Application number: GB1701543.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Azpiazu Inaki; Fletcher Simon
Original assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Current assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Priority date: 2016-11-30
Filing date: 2017-01-31
Publication date: 2018-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 2037-01-31
Also published as: GB2557368B; GB201701543D0

Abstract

An exhaust isolator assembly 10 includes a plastics material frame 12, an isolator member 30 made of an elastic material (e.g. EPDM, silicone rubber or EAM rubber) located and supported within the frame, and support tape 28 which extends around part of the perimeter of the frame. A lower part 16 of the frame may be convexly curved. A mounting formation 20 in the form of a push and twist member may be provided on an upper part of the frame. The support tape may extend only around the sides and lower part of the frame. The isolator member may have a mounting hole 42 with an anti-stick lining 44 of PTFE or PE. The frame may be overmoulded onto the tape and may be formed by injection moulding. The isolator member may be overmoulded onto the frame. A vehicle exhaust system has a plurality of exhaust isolator assemblies.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Exhaust isolator assembly Abstract Title: Exhaust isolator assembly (57) An exhaust isolator assembly 10 includes a plastics material frame 12, an isolator member 30 made of an elastic material (e.g. EPDM, silicone rubber or EAM rubber) located and supported within the frame, and support tape 28 which extends around part of the perimeter of the frame. A lower part 16 of the frame may be convexly curved. A mounting formation 20 in the form of a push and twist member may be provided on an upper part of the frame. The support tape may extend only around the sides and lower part of the frame. The isolator member may have a mounting hole 42 with an anti-stick lining 44 of PTFE or PE. The frame may be overmoulded onto the tape and may be formed by injection moulding. The isolator member may be overmoulded onto the frame. A vehicle exhaust system has a plurality of exhaust isolator assemblies.

FIG. 2

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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EXHAUST ISOLATOR ASSEMBLY

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an exhaust isolator assembly. In particular it relates to an exhaust isolator assembly for isolating the interior of a vehicle from the vehicle’s exhaust.

Aspects of the invention relate to an exhaust isolator assembly, a method of forming an exhaust isolator assembly, a vehicle exhaust system, and a vehicle with such an exhaust system.

BACKGROUND

A plurality of exhaust isolators are usually provided on a vehicle exhaust system to isolate the vehicle and especially the vehicle interior from vibrations in the exhaust system. Conventionally such isolators comprise an elastomeric member located within a metal frame. Such arrangements are however relatively heavy, and can also be relatively expensive to produce. Parts of the exhaust system are generally hung from such isolators.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide an exhaust isolator assembly, a method of forming an exhaust isolator assembly, a vehicle exhaust system, and a vehicle including such a system.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided an exhaust isolator assembly, the assembly comprising a plastics material frame, an isolator member made of an elastomeric material located and supported within the frame, and support tape which extends around part of the perimeter of the frame.

The frame may have upper, side and lower parts, and a lower part may be convexly curved.

A mounting formation may be provided on the upper part.

The support tape may extend around the side and lower parts, and may extend only around the side and lower parts. The support tape may extend around the whole of the lower part, and at least a substantially proportion of the side parts.

The frame may be overmoulded onto the tape.

The frame may be formed by injection moulding.

The isolator member may be overmoulded onto the frame.

A portion of elastomeric material may also be provided on the mounting formation, and may be overmoulded onto the mounting formation.

A mounting hole may be provided in the isolator member.

The exhaust isolator assembly may be configured such that in use the mounting hole is aligned at least generally parallel to the longitudinal direction of an exhaust system.

An anti stick lining may be provided in the isolator member mounting hole. This provides the advantage of an exhaust hanger being able to move smoothly relative to the sourced isolator.

The anti stick lining may be of PTFE or PE, and may have an internal layer of PTFE and an external layer of PE.

The mounting formation may be in the form of a push and twist member, and may comprise a projection with an enlarged head, which head has a greater length in a first direction relative to a second direction perpendicular thereto. The head may have a generally rectangular shape. This readily enables the assembly to be mounted on an exhaust hanger or other component without the requirement of separate fasteners.

The frame may be made of polyamide, and the polyamide may be glass filled. Other engineering polymers, high performance polymers, or ultra polymers may be used for the frame.

The isolator member may be made of any of EPDM, silicone rubber or EAM rubber.

The tape may be a plastics material and may be PPA (polyphthalamide). The tape may be fibre reinforced, and may have carbon fibre reinforcement. The tape may be a pre-formed planar support layer.

It is understood that the tape could be a flexible planar fabric or a rigid pre-formed part.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming an exhaust isolator assembly, the method comprising injection moulding a plastics material frame, overmoulding the frame onto a support tape around part of the exterior of the frame, and overmoulding an elastomeric material isolator member within the frame.

The exhaust isolator assembly may be according to any of the preceding paragraphs.

According to a still further aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle exhaust system comprising a plurality of exhaust isolator assemblies according to any of the preceding paragraphs.

A yet further aspect of the invention provides a vehicle with an exhaust system according to any of the above paragraphs.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of part of an exhaust isolator assembly embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a complete assembly as per Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional perspective view of the assembly of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic part perspective view of an exhaust isolator assembly embodiment of the invention mounted in use; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view from above showing mounting of an exhaust isolator assembly embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The Figures illustrate an exhaust isolator assembly 10, the assembly 10 including a plastics material frame 12, an isolator member 30 made of an elastomeric material located and supported within the frame 12, and support tape 28 which extends around part of the perimeter of the frame 12.

The drawings show an exhaust isolator assembly 10 suitable for mounting an exhaust or exhaust components to the underside of a vehicle, with the exhaust or components hanging from the isolator assembly 10. The assembly 10 includes a plastics material frame 12 which in this instance is made from a glass filled polyamide (nylon 6,6). The frame 12 has a substantially U-shaped cross sectional shape with side parts 14 and a convex lower part 16. An upper part 18 extends between the top ends of the side parts 14. A mounting formation 20 extends upwardly in use from the upper part 18 and comprises a stem 22 leading to an enlarged head 24 which is rectangular in plan view, with longer sides 26 parallel to the side parts 14. The frame 12 is formed by injection moulding.

A support tape 28 extends from adjacent the top of the side parts 14 of the frame and around the lower part 16. The support tape 28 is just provided over a central part of the frame 12, equispaced from edges of the side and lower parts 14,16. The support tape 28 is made of a PPA (polyphthalamide) matrix with glass fibre reinforcements. This is formed onto the frame 12 during moulding thereof in an overmoulding procedure. An isolator member 30 of EPDM is provided which fills the space defined by the frame 12 and also covers the upper part 18 of the frame and the head 24. The isolator member 30 is overmoulded on the frame

12.

The isolator member 30 is profiled and extends around the inside of the frame 12 with an upper enlarged portion 32 defining a profiled space 34 therebeneath, and a central portion 36 interconnected by webs 38 to parts 40 adjacent respective side parts 14 of the frame. The central portion 36 is cylindrical and has a central through hole 42. The central through hole 42 is provided with a non stick lining 44 which has an external PE layer 46, and an internal PTFE layer 48.

In use the assembly 10 can be mounted to an exhaust hanging bracket 50 as shown in Fig.

4. The bracket 50 has a twist and turn mounting with a rectangular opening 52 which is longer in one direction than in a perpendicular direction. The enlarged head 24 when aligned with the opening 52 can pass therethrough. The assembly 10 can then be rotated and the assembly will then be retained in place with the enlarged head 24 orientated at 90° relative to the corresponding opening, and so cannot pass therethrough. This mounting is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 5.

In use the exhaust isolator assembly 10 will be positioned such that the through hole 42 is aligned generally parallel to the longitudinal direction of the exhaust. The exhaust or an exhaust component will be hung from the isolator assembly 10, with a pin or bar extending through the central hole. During use of the exhaust, the exhaust can for instance expand by up to 15mm, and the non stick lining 44 enables the pin or bar holding a part of the exhaust to slide longitudinally without significant resistance.

There is thus described an exhaust isolator assembly which provides for a number of advantages. The use of plastics material provides very significant reduction in weight relative to existing metal arrangements. With moulded plastic components there is generally a weakness around a mould joint. In the above example this is overcome by the support tape, which will extend over the mould joints and any lines of weaknesses this may cause in the isolator assemblies.

The non stick lining to the through hole means that expansion of the exhaust system can readily be compensated for by movement of a pin or other object with little resistance through the isolator assembly. The twist and push mounting, means the isolator assemblies can readily be located in position, and also readily removed if required. An exhaust isolator assembly is therefore provided which can be readily and inexpensively manufactured, but also provides enhanced performance relative to conventional arrangements.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. For example different materials may be used. The assembly may be a different shape or have a different profile. Different manufacturing techniques may be used in producing the isolator assemblies.

Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not.

Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. An exhaust isolator assembly, the assembly comprising a plastics material frame, an isolator member made of an elastomeric material located and supported within the frame, and support tape which extends around part of the perimeter of the frame.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, in which the frame has upper, side and lower parts.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, in which the lower part is convexly curved.

4. An assembly according to claims 2 or 3, in which a mounting formation is provided on the upper part.

5. An assembly according to any of claims 2 to 4, in which the support tape extends around the side and lower parts.

6. An assembly according to claim 5, in which the support tape extends only around the side and lower parts.

7. An assembly according to claim 6, in which the support tape extends around the whole of the lower part, and at least a substantial proportion of the side parts.

8. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the frame is overmoulded onto the tape.

9. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the frame is formed by injection moulding.

10. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the isolator member is overmoulded onto the frame.

11. An assembly according to claim 4, or any of claims 5 to 10 when dependent on claim 4, in which a portion of elastomeric material is provided on the mounting formation.

12. An assembly according to claim 11, in which the portion of elastomeric material is overmoulded onto the mounting formation.

13. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a mounting hole is provided in the isolator member.

14. An assembly according to claim 13, in which the exhaust isolator assembly is configured such that in use the mounting hole is aligned at least generally parallel to the longitudinal direction of an exhaust system.

15. An assembly according to claims 13 or 14, in which an anti stick lining is provided in the isolator member mounting hole.

16. An assembly according to claim 15, in which the anti stick lining is of PTFE or PE.

17. An assembly according to claim 4, or any of claims 5 to 16 when dependent on claim

4, in which the mounting formation is in the form of a push and twist member.

18. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the frame is made of any of polyamide, glass filled polyamide, other engineering polymers, high performance polymers, or ultra polymers.

19. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the isolator member is made of any of EPDM, silicone rubber or EAM rubber.

20. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the tape is any of a plastics material, PPA (polyphthalamide), carbon fibre reinforced PPA or glass fibre reinforced PPA.

21. A method of forming an exhaust isolator assembly, the method comprising forming a plastics material frame with a support tape around part of the frame, and forming an elastomeric material isolator member within the frame.

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22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the forming of the plastics material is an injection moulding onto the support tape in an overmoulding process, and the forming of the elastomeric material is a further overmoulding process.

23. A vehicle exhaust system comprising a plurality of exhaust isolator assemblies

0 according to any of claims 1 to 20.

24. A vehicle with an exhaust system according to claim 23.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1701543.9 Examiner: Rachel Smith