KR101305251B1 - Exhaust volume - Google Patents

Abstract

The exhaust volume 10 includes an enclosed main enclosure region 12. Both sides of this area are provided with passages for the circulation of the exhaust gas. At least one shell 30 having a vessel shape having an opening is included. The opening is defined by the peripheral edge 36 of the shell. The shell 30 is tightly coupled to the outer surface of the main enclosure area 12 wrapped along the peripheral edge 36. The enclosed main enclosure region 12 opposite the shell comprises a plurality of perforations 4 which enable communication between the interior of the enclosed region 12 and the interior of the shell 30.

Description

Exhaust Volume {EXHAUST VOLUME}

The present invention relates to an exhaust volume of the type comprising a main enclosure having passages for movement of the exhaust gases on each side.

Motor vehicles driven by heat engines have exhaust lines. The exhaust line acts to limit noise pollution and, as appropriate, to purify the exhaust gas before it is released to the atmosphere.

The exhaust line has an exhaust volume along its length, which serves to form an exhaust silencer for reducing sound energy or to receive a depollution member. The purification member is one such as a catalytic purification memeber or particle filter.

In low cost vehicles, exhaust volumes—more specifically—exhaust silencers are formed by shells composed of rolled metal sheets. The longitudinal edges of the shells are joined together, in particular by crimping. An end wall, commonly referred to as a 'cup', is attached to each end of the shell by crimping or welding. Passages for the movement of the exhaust gases are provided through the cup.

Exhaust volumes of this type are not expensive because their manufacture is simple. However, the outer shape of the exhaust volume is bound to be constant. That is, it is composed of a shape generated by a rotating body such as a cylinder or a cone.

For higher-range vehicles, it is known to provide exhaust volumes of apparent shape that are small in appearance and optimized to provide maximum volume for the exhaust gases at the same time. For this purpose, the exhaust volume has a complicated shape in appearance. This is a shape complementary to the shape of the recess formed in the vehicle body of the vehicle accommodating the exhaust volume.

Thus, such exhaust volumes generally have a substantially parallelepiped shape. Each face has projections and hollows to match the complementary shape of the vehicle structure as accurately as possible.

This type of exhaust volume is produced from two half-shells connected by intermediate welds along their peripheral edges. Each half-shell is formed by stamping a metal sheet.

Two half-shells provide the mechanical strength of the exhaust volume. Therefore, the metal sheets used to form such half-shells should be relatively thick and rigid. Therefore, the process of drawing out such thin metal sheet is relatively difficult to perform. And this increases the overall cost of this type of exhaust silencer.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an exhaust volume that provides an apparently complex shape to optimize the space occupied by the exhaust volume in view of the appearance constraints in its fitting.

The invention thus relates to an exhaust volume of the type mentioned above, comprising at least one casing in the form of a vessel having an opening delimited by a peripheral edge, the casing having a main enclosure along the peripheral edge. Tightly connected to an outer surface of the main enclosure, the main enclosure includes a plurality of perforations facing the casing to communicate the interior of the enclosure with the interior of the casing.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the exhaust volume has one or more of the following features.

The number of perforations is greater than 30.

The diameter of the perforation is between 3.5 mm and 5 mm;

The casing is bounded by a sheet of metal between 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm thick.

The main enclosure is formed from a sheet of metal between 0.3 mm and 1.4 mm thick.

The casing is bounded by an embossed metal sheet.

The casing is formed by the punching out of the embossed metal sheet.

The space delimited between the casing and the outer surface of the enclosure is filled with fibers.

It includes an attachment tab which is not connected to the casing but is only connected to the enclosure.

The main enclosure is bounded by a rolled shell, the longitudinal edges of the shell being connected to one another along the longitudinal connection to form a tube, the enclosure being attached to the attached transverse wall It is blocked at each end of the shell and a passage for the movement of the exhaust gas penetrates each transverse wall.

The main enclosure is bounded by two shelled and conjoined half-shells.

The invention will be better understood with reference to the following description and drawings, which are given only as an example of the invention.

1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an exhaust volume according to the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view of the exhaust volume in FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of the exhaust volume according to the present invention.

4 is a perspective view of another variant of the exhaust volume according to the present invention.

1 shows an exhaust volume 10 according to the invention. More specifically, in this embodiment, an exhaust silencer is shown. The exhaust silencer can be integrated in the exhaust line and is intended to reduce noise pollution by the pulsed mode of exhaust gas circulating in the exhaust line.

The exhaust volume includes a main enclosure 12 that is rolled and bound by a crimped shell 14. In this embodiment, the enclosure 12 is generally cylindrical and its cross section is circular. The shell is usually composed of a rectangular sheet-metal blank. The sheet blank is curled so that the opposite longitudinal edges meet. These longitudinal edges are connected to each other along a connecting line 16 extending along the enclosure's generatrix. This is in particular by crimping.

In other variations, the blocked shell may be frustoconical.

At each end of the shell 14 the enclosure is blocked by end walls 18A and 18B, commonly referred to as 'cups'. These walls are formed by a metal disc crimped to the periphery of the shell. Passages 19A and 19B for movement of the exhaust gas are provided in the respective end walls 18A and 18B and inlets and outlets for the exhaust gas are formed. These passages 19A and 19B are respectively extended by the inlet pipe 20A and the outlet pipe 20B.

The metal sheet used to delimit the enclosure, more specifically to form the shell 14 and the end walls 18A, 18B, can be either 1.45.10-type ferritic steel or 1.43. Steel metal sheets commonly used for exhaust lines, such as .01-type austenitic steels. The thickness of this metal sheet is between 0.3 mm and 1.4 mm and more preferably between 0.4 mm and 1.0 mm so that the main enclosure 14 can be sufficiently firm and self-supporting. In other words, the shape can be maintained even without other support elements.

According to the invention, a complementary casing 30 is attached to the outer surface of the main enclosure 12 to form a complementary space 32. The casing 30 is formed from an embossed metal sheet formed by folding or stamping out of a press.

The casing delimits a vessel-shaped element with an opening bounded by a peripheral edge 36.

The casing 30 is tightly connected to the outer surface of the enclosure 12 by a connection provided along the entire peripheral edge 36. In the illustrated embodiment, the casing 30 is connected along two connecting lines 36A, 36B extending longitudinally along the busbars of the enclosure 12 and generally has a semicircle on a plane transverse to the enclosure 12. It is connected by two connecting portions 36C and 36D which extend along it.

The connection, preferably provided along the peripheral edge 36 of the casing above the enclosure, is produced by resistance seam welding or otherwise crimped—optionally co- crimped, such as end walls 18A, 18B. co-crimping).

A plurality of perforations 40 are formed only through the shell 14 in the region of the casing 30 for communication between the interior of the main enclosure 12 and the space delimited by the casing 30. . These perforations are evenly distributed over the surface of the shell 14 covered by the casing 30. Each of these perforations has a diameter between 3.5 mm and 5 mm. The number of perforations is preferably greater than 30.

Advantageously the space 32 delimited by the casing 30 to reduce noise pollution is filled with fiber glass 42 or ceramic fiber 42.

The material used to form the casing 30 preferably consists of an embossed metal sheet. The thickness of this embossed metal sheet is rather thin, especially between 0.1 and 0.2 mm.

The embossed metal sheet consists of a metal sheet-metal blank with a small, embossed, uniform matrix formed by the metal sheet. These reliefs consist of, for example, nested hexagons, octagons, stars or any other complementary geometry. Each element of the pattern forming the embossment has a surface area between 1 mm 2 and 50 mm 2.

Since the thin embossed metal sheet is formed into a complex shape with a cavity 52 or hollow 54, the casing 30 substantially complements the space available in the vehicle housing the exhaust silencer. It may have a shape.

Moreover, the exhaust volume includes tabs 56 for attaching to the vehicle structure. These tabs are not coupled to the casing 30, in particular by welding, but only to the enclosure 12.

In such a device, the casing 30 having a thin thickness is connected to the rigid enclosure 12 and maintained in shape.

It will be appreciated that this type of exhaust silencer can be produced at low cost. Because the supporting structure is formed from a rolled and crimped shell and the end walls are attached to both ends of the shell, the process of manufacturing such a structure can be well controlled and inexpensive. Only one casing 30 needs to be attached to the shell 14. Even with complex shapes, this casing can be formed simply and inexpensively because the machinability of the embossed metal sheets used to form the casing is very high.

The presence of this casing delimits the space in communication with the interior of the enclosure 12 and provides an exhaust silencer with a large but low production cost.

In other variations, enclosures of this type may be used to receive purifying members, such as particle filters or catalytic purifying members.

If the enclosure is thick enough, a layer of fiber can be provided and used for heat insulation.

In the variant shown in FIG. 3, the enclosure can be formed by a shell elongated more than 360 °. In particular, the shell 14 is rolled one and a half times so that half of the enclosure 12 is twice as thick. This is formed by the superposition of two regions of the shell 14. As before, the edges of the shells are not welded to each other in the longitudinal direction but are welded along the weld 60 onto the surface of the common part of the shell.

The perforations 40 are preferably formed in the median region of the shell delimiting the enclosure 12 having a layer of thickness. In contrast, there are no perforations formed through the enclosure in the enclosure 12 region that is twice as thick as the shell 14. The casing 30 is attached to an area having a thickness of one layer in the enclosure 12.

This type of structure provides good mechanical strength and a satisfactory sound performance level of exhaust volume. This is because the base of the enclosure has twice the thickness and at the same time enables a relatively light exhaust volume and the top of the enclosure consists of only one relatively thin thickness.

In a variant and in some embodiments, the perforations 40 may not be distributed over most of the surface area of the enclosure facing the casing 30 but may only be distributed over a specific area of the enclosure.

Advantageously such perforations may only be formed on the sides of the enclosure 12. That is, it is distinguished from the area of the enclosure arranged just below the vehicle structure. Thus avoiding excessive proximity to the vehicle structure, which can cause excessive heat transfer.

According to another variant, the perforations may be selectively located only in the region of a particular chamber if the enclosure 12 is divided into a plurality of chambers by the inner wall.

In another variation, the casing 30 may only extend above a portion of the surface of the enclosure 12. That is, it does not completely cover the wall of the enclosure 12 between the two end walls. Connections 36C and / or 36D are created by welding over a common portion of the lateral wall of the enclosure.

According to another variant, the casing 30 may extend beyond the end wall. Thus connections 36C and / or 36D are created in the associated end walls 18A, 18B.

According to another variant, the end walls 18A, 18B may be composed of converging and diverging tubular profile members obtainable by a flow turning process.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the enclosure 12 is formed by two half-shells 114A, 114B, half-shell, not formed by a longitudinally rolled and welded metal sheet blank. Each half-shell is formed by punching and connected to each other by longitudinal welds 116 of the periphery provided over a rim formed in each half-shell. The inlet end 20A and the outlet end 20B are formed by an opening provided between the two half-shells.

Each half-shell 114A, 114B is formed by casting a sufficiently thick metal sheet to provide satisfactory rigidity of the enclosure.

The casing, denoted by reference numeral 130 and formed by punching out of an embossed metal sheet, is attached to one of two half-casings similar to the casing 30 of the previous embodiment. Ports 140 are formed through the walls of the half-shells that support the casing 130 in a row.

In this embodiment, one enclosure formed from two half-shells produced in a simple shape can be used to form a plurality of different series of exhaust volumes by varying only the shape of the casing 130 to which it is attached.

Since casing 130 is made from a material that can be easily shaped, the various series of exhaust volumes have low production costs.

Claims (11)

In the exhaust volume (10) comprising a main enclosure (12) having passages (20A, 20B) on each side for movement of the exhaust gas, At least one casing 30 in the form of a vessel having an opening bounded by a peripheral edge 36, The casing 30 is tightly connected to the outer surface of the main enclosure 12 along the peripheral edge 36, The main enclosure includes a plurality of perforations 40 facing the casing 30 to communicate the interior of the enclosure with the interior of the casing 30, The casing 30 has a single layer made of an embossed metal sheet, The main enclosure 12 is formed by a rolled shell 14, The shell (14) is exhaust volume, characterized in that one and a half rolls so that the half thickness of the main enclosure (12) is twice the thickness of the other half. The method of claim 1, Exhaust volume, characterized in that the number of the perforations (40) is greater than 30. The method of claim 1, Exhaust volume, characterized in that the diameter of the perforation 40 is between 3.5mm and 5mm. The method of claim 1, The casing 30 is bounded by a thin metal plate, and the thickness of the thin metal plate is between 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm, characterized in that the exhaust volume. The method of claim 1, The main enclosure (12) is exhaust volume, characterized in that formed from a thin metal plate having a thickness between 0.3mm and 1.4mm. The method of claim 1, The casing 30 is exhaust volume, characterized in that formed by the punching out of the embossed metal sheet. The method of claim 1, Exhaust volume, characterized in that the space (32) delimited between the casing (30) and the outer surface of the enclosure (12) is filled with fibers (42). The method of claim 1, Exhaust volume, characterized in that it comprises an attachment tab (56) which is not attached to the casing (30) but is only coupled to the enclosure (12). delete delete In the exhaust volume (10) comprising a main enclosure (12) having passages (20A, 20B) on each side for movement of the exhaust gas, At least one casing 30 in the form of a vessel having an opening bounded by a peripheral edge 36, The casing 30 is tightly connected to the outer surface of the main enclosure 12 along the peripheral edge 36, The main enclosure includes a plurality of perforations 40 facing the casing 30 to communicate the interior of the enclosure with the interior of the casing 30, The casing 30 has a single layer made of a metal sheet, the thickness of the metal sheet is between 0.1mm and 0.2mm, The main enclosure 12 is formed by a rolled shell 14, The shell (14) is exhaust volume, characterized in that one and a half rolls so that the half thickness of the main enclosure (12) is twice the thickness of the other half.

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