Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
  • F01N1/00—Silencing apparatus characterised by method of silencing
  • F01N1/02—Silencing apparatus characterised by method of silencing by using resonance
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
  • F01N2470/00—Structure or shape of gas passages, pipes or tubes
  • F01N2470/18—Structure or shape of gas passages, pipes or tubes the axis of inlet or outlet tubes being other than the longitudinal axis of apparatus

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an exhaust apparatus including a muffler device, which is provided in an exhaust system of a vehicle engine.
• an exhaust system of a vehicle engine is provided with an exhaust apparatus including a muffler device for lowering a temperature and a pressure of exhaust gas.
• a horizontal muffler type exhaust apparatus is known, in which a tubular muffler device is provided in such a manner that a center axis extends along a lateral direction of the vehicle.
• Fig. 5 shows a plan view of a typical horizontal muffler type exhaust apparatus.
• the exhaust apparatus is provided with a muffler device 110 forming an expansion chamber, and an exhaust pipe 120 for introducing exhaust gas to the muffler device 110 and discharging the exhaust gas from the muffler device 110.
• the muffler device 110 has a circumferential surface portion 111 formed substantially in an elliptical tubular shape, and end plates 112 and 113 provided in such a manner as to cover both end opening portions of the circumferential surface portion 111. Further, the muffler device 110 is installed in the vehicle in such a manner that a center axis C of the circumferential surface portion 111 extends along a lateral direction T of the vehicle (a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle) .
• a part of the exhaust pipe 120 extends in an interior of the muffler device 110 through an upstream through hole 112A formed in the end plate 112 and a downstream through hole 113A formed in the end plate 113.
• the exhaust pipe 120 has an inlet portion 121 corresponding to a portion in an upstream side of the upstream through hole 112A, and an outlet portion 122 corresponding to a portion in a downstream side of the downstream through hole 113A.
• the inlet portion 121 has a first bent portion 121A
• the outlet portion 122 has a second bent portion 122A.
• an opening portion 123 connecting an internal space of the exhaust pipe 120 with an internal space of the muffler device 110 is formed in a portion accommodated in the interior of the muffler device 110 in the exhaust pipe 120.
• Exhaust gas discharged from a plurality of cylinders of the engine is introduced into the interior of the muffler device 110 through an exhaust gas manifold connected to the cylinders, an exhaust gas catalyst device and the inlet portion 121, and is diffused to the interior of the muffler device 110 through the opening portion 123.
• the exhaust gas diffused as mentioned above repeatedly comes into collision with an inner wall of the muffler device 110, whereby a temperature and a pressure thereof gradually are lowered, and is thereafter discharged to the outside through the outlet portion 122.
• the bent portion 121A of the inlet portion 121 and the bent portion 122A of the outlet portion 122 are respectively arranged outside of the muffler device 110. Accordingly, it is hard to make a length along the vehicle lateral direction T of the exhaust apparatus small without changing the shape of the muffler device 110. Accordingly, it is impossible to disregard the constrain on the installing space, and types of vehicles to which the exhaust apparatus can be mounted are limited.
• An exhaust apparatus shown in Fig. 6 is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 8-58404.
• an inlet portion 221 of an exhaust pipe 220 is formed in a straight pipe shape, and is structured such as to be connected to a circumferential surface portion 211 of a muffler device 210. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the length of the exhaust apparatus in a lateral direction T of a vehicle without changing the shape of the muffler device 210.
• the exhaust apparatus has the following drawbacks with respect to a joint portion between the inlet portion 221 and the muffler device 210.
• the joint portion between the inlet portion 221 and the muffler device 210 exists on a peripheral edge portion of an upstream through hole 211A formed in a curved surface shaped circumferential surface portion 211, it is hard to provide adequate strength to the joint portion.
• the joint portion between the inlet portion 221 and the muffler device 210 corresponds to a portion in which a temperature difference is large between an engine operating time and an engine stopping time, a fatigue of the joint portion caused by repetitive thermal expansion and the thermal contraction in accordance with temperature changes is great.
• An objective of the present invention is to provide an exhaust apparatus of a vehicle engine that maintains a high bonding strength of an exhaust pipe with respect to a muffler device, while keeping a margin of an installing space in a lateral direction of the vehicle.
• an engine exhaust apparatus comprising.
• the apparatus includes a substantially elliptic tubular muffler device, an inlet portion, and an outlet portion.
• the tubular muffler device is mounted to a vehicle, and is provided in such a manner that a center axis extends along a lateral direction of the vehicle.
• the inlet portion introduces exhaust gas of an engine to the muffler device.
• the outlet portion discharges exhaust gas to the outside from the muffler device.
• the muffler device has a circumferential surface portion formed substantially in an elliptic tubular shape, and a pair of end plates provided in such a manner as to cover both end opening portions of the circumferential surface portion.
• the inlet portion is connected to one of the end plates, and the outlet portion is connected to the circumferential surface portion.
• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an engine exhaust apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention
• Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the exhaust apparatus in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 is a plan view showing an engine exhaust apparatus according to a modified embodiment of the present invention
• Fig. 4 is a plan view showing an engine exhaust apparatus according to another modified embodiment of the present invention
• Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of a typical engine exhaust apparatus.
• Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of another typical exhaust apparatus .
• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an engine exhaust apparatus 1 in accordance with the present embodiment.
• the exhaust apparatus 1 is a horizontal muffler type exhaust apparatus.
• the exhaust apparatus 1 is provided with a muffler device 10 forming an expansion chamber, and an exhaust pipe 20 for introducing exhaust gas to the muffler device 10 and discharging exhaust gas from the muffler device 10.
• the muffler device 10 has a circumferential surface portion (a tubular surface or a tubular wall) 11 formed substantially in an elliptic tubular shape, and first and second end plates (upstream and downstream end plates) 12 and 13 provided in such a manner as to cover both end opening portions of the circumferential surface portion 11.
• the muffler device 10 is installed to a vehicle in such a manner that a portion having a large curvature in the circumferential surface portion 11, that is, a portion having a small radius of curvature faces in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
• an upstream through hole 12A is formed in the first end plate 12, which is arranged a side through which exhaust gas discharged from the cylinders of the engine is introduced into the muffler device 10.
• a downstream through hole 11A is formed at a portion positioned in a rear side of the vehicle, in the portion having the large curvature in the circumferential surface portion 11 of the muffler device 10.
• a part of the exhaust pipe 20 extends in the interior of the muffler device 10 through the upstream through hole 12A and the downstream through hole HA.
• the exhaust pipe 20 has an inlet portion 21 corresponding to a portion in an upstream side of the upstream through hole 12A, and an outlet portion 22 corresponding to a portion in a downstream side of the downstream through hole HA.
• the inlet portion 21 is connected to the muffler device 10 in a state of having a bent portion 21A outside of the muffler device 10.
• the outlet portion 22 is constituted by a pipe formed in a straight pipe shape.
• the inlet portion 21 and the outlet portion 22 are connected via a relay portion arranged in the interior of the muffler device 10 mentioned above.
• both of the muffler device 10 and the exhaust pipe 20 are formed of a stainless steel.
• Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the exhaust apparatus 1 in Fig. 1.
• a first center line Cl is a line dividing a long diameter of the circumferential surface portion 11 into two equal parts, and corresponds to a center axis of the circumferential surface portion 11.
• a second center line C2 is orthogonal to the first center line Cl, and is a line dividing the muffler device 10 into two equal parts in a direction of the first center line Cl.
• the first center line Cl extends along a vehicle lateral direction T, and the second center line C2 extends along the vehicle longitudinal direction.
• an upstream guide portion (an upstream support portion) 12B for supporting the inlet portion 21 of the exhaust pipe 20 is formed in the first end plate (the upstream end plate) 12 in such a manner as to extend toward the outside of the muffler device 10.
• the upstream guide portion 12B is formed in a tubular shape, and is provided on the peripheral edge of the upstream through hole 12A mentioned above.
• the upstream guide portion 12B is provided at a position which is shifted toward the upstream side of the muffler device 10, that is, a position which is shifted toward an upper side in Fig. 2 with respect to the first center line Cl.
• the inlet portion 21 is fixed to the upstream guide portion 12B in accordance with a welding.
• the inlet portion 21 and the outlet portion 22 are connected to each other via a relay pipe 23 corresponding to a relay portion.
• the relay pipe 23 has a curved portion 23A, and a communication hole 23B is formed in the curved portion 23A.
• An expansion pipe 24 guiding the exhaust gas introduced from the inlet portion 21 through the communication hole 23B to the internal space of the muffler device 10 so as to diffuse the exhaust gas extends from the curved portion 23A.
• the expansion pipe 24 has a proximal end portion 24A communicating with the communication hole 23B, and a distal end portion 24B communicating with the internal space of the muffler device 10.
• the proximal end portion 24A is fixed to the relay pipe 23 on a peripheral edge of the communication hole 23B through welding.
• a downstream guide portion (a downstream support portion) HB for supporting the outlet portion 22 is formed in the circumferential surface portion 11 in such a manner as to extend toward the outside of the muffler device 10.
• the downstream guide portion HB is formed in a tubular shape, and is provided on a peripheral edge of the downstream through hole HA.
• the downstream guide portion HB is provided at a position which is shifted toward the downstream side of the muffler device 10, that is, a position which is shifted toward a right side in Fig. 2 with respect to the second center line C2.
• the downstream guide portion 11B is provided at a position close to the second end plate 13.
• the downstream guide portion 11B is provided at a position which is in an opposite side to the upstream guide portion 12B with respect to the first center line Cl, and is in an opposite side to the upstream guide portion 12B with respect to the second center line C2.
• the upstream guide portion 12B and the downstream guide portion HB are provided at diagonal positions in the muffler device 10.
• the outlet portion 22 is fixed to the downstream guide portion HB in accordance with a welding.
• the exhaust apparatus 1 in accordance with the embodiment is formed as such a structure that a partition plate is not provided in the interior of the muffler device 10, that is, such a structure that the exhaust pipe 20 is supported to the muffler device 10 only by the upstream guide portion 12B and the downstream guide portion HB.
• the exhaust gas discharged from the cylinders of the engine is introduced to the muffler device 10 through an exhaust manifold connected to the cylinders, an exhaust gas catalyst device and the inlet portion 21 of the exhaust pipe 20.
• the exhaust gas introduced to the muffler device 10 is introduced to the internal space of the muffler device 10 through the relay pipe 23 and the expansion pipe 24 so as to be diffused.
• the diffused exhaust gas repeatedly comes into collision with the inner wall of the muffler device 10, whereby the temperature and pressure thereof are gradually lowered. Thereafter, the exhaust gas is discharged to the outside through the outlet portion 22 of the exhaust pipe 20.
• the inlet portion 21 of the exhaust pipe 20 is connected to the end plate 12 of the muffler device 10 arranged laterally with respect to the vehicle. Accordingly, in comparison with the exhaust apparatus having the structure that the inlet portion is connected to the circumferential surface portion of the muffler device, as shown in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 8-58404, it is possible to provide a high strength to the joint portion between the inlet portion and the end plate.
• the muffler device 10 is installed in such a manner that the portion having the large curvature in the circumferential surface portion 11 faces in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Accordingly, the installation space necessary in the vehicle height direction can be reduced.
• the inlet portion 21 of the exhaust pipe 20 is connected to the position which is shifted toward the upstream side of the muffler device 10, in the end plate 12.
• the outlet portion 22 of the exhaust pipe 20 is connected to the position which is shifted toward the downstream side of the muffler device 10, in the circumferential surface portion 11.
• the upstream guide portion 12B and the downstream guide portion 11B are provided at the diagonal positions in the muffler device 10 in such a manner as to be spaced as largely as possible in a three-dimensional manner. Accordingly, it is possible to more effectively make good use of the internal space of the muffler device 10. Also, it is possible to lower the temperature of the exhaust gas near the outlet portion 22, and to reduce the range of changes in the temperature. As a result, it is possible to maintain a higher bonding strength in the joint portion between the outlet portion 22 and the muffler device 10.
• the inlet portion 21 of the exhaust pipe 20 is connected to the muffler device 10 in the manner having the bent portion 2IA outside of the muffler device 10, and the outlet portion 22 of the exhaust pipe 20 is connected as the pipe formed in the straight pipe shape to the muffler device 10. Accordingly, it is possible to install the exhaust apparatus 1 efficiently in terms of space with respect to the vehicle. Since the rigidity in the joint portion between the inlet portion 21 and the end plate 12 is sufficiently high, there is a risk that the rigidity in the bent portion 21A of the inlet portion 21 becomes relatively low in comparison with that in the joint portion between the inlet portion 21 and the end plate 12.
• the rigidity of the joint portion between the outlet portion 22 and the circumferential surface portion 11 becomes lower than that in the joint portion with the end plate 12 in the same manner as the bent portion 21A. Accordingly, the rigidity balance in the entire exhaust apparatus 1 is maintained in a favorable manner.
• the exhaust apparatus 1 of the vehicle engine in accordance with this invention is not limited to the structure exemplified in the embodiment mentioned above, but may be carried out, for example, as the following modifications of the above embodiment .
• the connecting position of the inlet portion 21 to the end plate 12, and the connecting position of the outlet portion 22 to the circumferential surface portion 11 are not limited to the illustrated embodiment.
• Each of the connecting positions may be set to positions described in the following items (A) and (B) .
• an upstream through hole 312A is formed in such a manner as to be positioned on a first center line Cl in an end plate 312 of a muffler device 310.
• An inlet portion 321 of an exhaust pipe 320 is connected to the upstream through hole 312A.
• a connecting position of an outlet portion 322 of the exhaust pipe 320 is the same as the embodiment mentioned above.
• a downstream through hole 311A is formed at a position which is shifted toward an end plate 313 (a right side in Fig.
• a downstream through hole 411A is formed in such a manner as to be positioned on a second center line C2, in a circumferential surface portion 411 of a muffler device 410, and an outlet portion 422 is fixed to the circumferential surface portion
• an upstream through hole 412A is formed at a position which is shifted toward an upstream side (an upper side in Fig. 4) of the muffler device 10 than a first center line Cl, with respect to an end plate 412 of the muffler device 410, and the inlet portion 421 of the exhaust pipe 420 is fixed to the end plate 412 in such a manner as to pass through the upstream through hole 412A.
• the inlet portion and the outlet portion are arranged in such a manner that the distance between the joint portions thereof to the muffler device becomes as large as possible in a three-dimensional manner. That is, it is sufficient that at least one of the inlet portion and the outlet portion is provided at the position which is shifted from the first or second center line Cl or C2 of the muffler device.
• the outlet portion may be connected to the portion having the small curvature in the circumferential surface portion.
• the connecting positions of the inlet portion and the outlet portion of the exhaust pipe to the muffler device may be set as follows. That is, the structure may be made such that the inlet portion is connected so as to be on the first center line Cl with respect to the upstream end plate of the muffler device, and the outlet portion is connected so as to be on the second center line C2 with respect to the circumferential surface portion. Further, the structure may be made such that the inlet portion is connected a position which is shifted toward the downstream side of the muffler device than the first center line Cl, and the outlet portion is connected closer to the upstream end plate than the second center line C2 with respect to the circumferential surface portion.
• the muffler device may be structured such that both end surfaces are formed so as to have the substantially elliptic tubular shape closed by the end plate, the inlet portion of the exhaust pipe is connected to the upstream end plate of the muffler device, and the outlet portion of the exhaust pipe is connected to the circumferential surface portion.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Exhaust Silencers (AREA)
• Cooling, Air Intake And Gas Exhaust, And Fuel Tank Arrangements In Propulsion Units (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=38670731

Family Applications (1)

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Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (22)

• 2006
  • 2006-10-03 JP JP2006271901A patent/JP2008088914A/ja active Pending
• 2007
  • 2007-10-01 CN CNA2007800369283A patent/CN101523020A/zh active Pending
  • 2007-10-01 BR BRPI0719788A patent/BRPI0719788A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2007-10-01 US US12/441,346 patent/US20090236174A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2007-10-01 TR TR2009/02229T patent/TR200902229T2/xx unknown
  • 2007-10-01 WO PCT/JP2007/069534 patent/WO2008041759A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (4)

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