WO2020148129A1

WO2020148129A1 - Method for producing a muffler, muffler, and vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2020148129A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/050317
Authority: WO
Inventors: Boris Kienle; André Lungfiel; Hans Peter Fiessinger; Klaus Regenold
Original assignee: Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies, Germany Gmbh
Priority date: 2019-01-14
Filing date: 2020-01-08
Publication date: 2020-07-23
Also published as: DE102019100741A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a segmented muffler (10) for the exhaust section of a motor vehicle, having the steps of: forming a first end segment (12) and a second end segment (16) of the muffler (10); connecting the first end segment (12) and the second end segment (16) by means of a connecting segment (20); and inserting a first exhaust pipe (46) into the first end segment (12) and a second exhaust pipe (48) into the second end segment (16). The invention additionally relates to a muffler (10) which has been produced according to such a method and to a vehicle comprising such a muffler.

Description

Process for making a silencer, silencer as well

vehicle

The invention relates to a method for producing a segmented silencer for an exhaust system of a motor vehicle. The invention further relates to a muffler that was manufactured using such a method, and to a vehicle.

The exhaust gases of a motor vehicle are used to treat the combustion gases that are derived from the internal combustion engine in order to reduce emissions. The pollutants are removed from the exhaust gas by means of particle filters and catalysts by chemical, catalytic and / or mechanical means or converted into other substances.

It is also known to use silencers in an exhaust system to reduce the noise emissions. Silencers are known in different embodiments with different operating principles, for example in the form of reflection, absorption or resonance silencers.

In the automotive sector, efforts are always made to use manufacturing processes that are as cost-efficient as possible in order to achieve a competitive advantage.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a method by means of which a muffler adapted to an exhaust system of a motor vehicle can be produced inexpensively. The object of the invention is also to provide a silencer for an exhaust system of a motor vehicle, which can be produced particularly cost-effectively.

To achieve the object, a method for producing a segmented muffler for an exhaust system of a motor vehicle is provided, in which, in the finished state, a first and an opposite second end segment are coupled to one another by means of an intermediate sheath of a connecting segment, each end segment has its own peripheral jacket having a first and an opposite second opening, with the steps of: a) forming the first end segment by closing the opposite openings of the first peripheral jacket in sections by attaching a first end wall to the first peripheral jacket, at least around its first opening to close in sections, and by attaching a preferably perforated first partition to the first peripheral jacket to at least partially close its second opening, a first silencer chamber being formed from the first end wall, the first partition and the first

Peripheral jacket is limited, b) attaching the connecting jacket to the first end segment such that the connecting jacket forms an extension of the first peripheral jacket and extends away from the first partition, c) inserting a preferably perforated first exhaust pipe into the first end segment, the first exhaust pipe to runs to a flow opening in the first end wall and to a flow opening in the first intermediate wall, and fastening the first exhaust pipe to the first end wall and / or the first

Intermediate wall, d) forming the second end segment by closing the opposite openings of the second peripheral jacket in sections, by attaching a second end wall to the second peripheral jacket to at least partially close its first opening, and by attaching a preferably perforated second intermediate wall to the second peripheral jacket, to at least partially close its second opening, a second muffler chamber being delimited by the second end wall, the second intermediate wall and the second peripheral jacket, e) fastening that end of the second end segment to the connecting segment so that the second intermediate wall and / or the second peripheral jacket directly adjoins the connecting jacket, and f) inserting a preferably perforated second exhaust pipe into the second end segment, the second exhaust pipe extending up to a flow opening in the second end wall and up to a flow opening in the second intermediate wall, and fastening the second exhaust pipe on the second end wall and / or the second partition.

The end walls of the end segments each have an opening through which exhaust gas can flow during operation of the motor vehicle. These openings in the end walls are connected to one another in terms of flow within the segmented muffler, so that exhaust gas can flow into the muffler through the opening of one end segment and out of the muffler through the opening of the other end segment.

For the purposes of the invention, a jacket is a tubular peripheral wall of the corresponding segment which is closed in the circumferential direction.

In the sense of the invention, an exhaust pipe is a pipe through which exhaust gas can flow during operation of the motor vehicle, or a pipe which is intended to conduct exhaust gas through its interior during operation of the motor vehicle. The exhaust pipes ensure that the exhaust gas is guided through the muffler in a defined way, at least in the sections in which an exhaust pipe is provided.

In this case, at least some of the exhaust pipes are preferably perforated, at least in sections, in order to ensure a defined coupling of the exhaust gas with the muffler chamber and thus good sound absorption via the perforation.

By designing the muffler in a segmented manner, in particular as a type of modular system, a muffler can be produced in a simple manner by means of the method steps described above, which is flexibly adapted to specific requirements, in particular in connection with the muffling and that available in the motor vehicle for the muffler standing installation space. Since the basic process steps are independent of the built-in segments, the manufacturing costs can be kept particularly low.

In particular, the first exhaust pipe extends through the first flow opening and / or the second exhaust pipe through the second flow opening. In this way, the first exhaust pipe protrudes from the first end segment and / or the second exhaust pipe from the second end segment into the connecting segment.

In one embodiment, in step b) the connecting jacket is attached to the first intermediate wall and / or to the first peripheral jacket, as a result of which the connecting jacket is attached to already existing components and therefore no additional components are required for the attachment.

In a further embodiment, in step d) the connecting jacket is attached to the second intermediate wall and / or to the second peripheral jacket, as a result of which the muffler can be designed to be particularly compact and with few individual parts.

The first end wall and / or the first intermediate wall are preferably fastened to the first peripheral jacket and the connecting jacket to the first end segment in a common step. Additionally or alternatively, the second end wall and / or the second intermediate wall are further fastened to the second peripheral jacket and the connecting jacket to the second end segment in a common step. By assembling the components first and then connecting them together, the number of fastening steps can be reduced. Furthermore, three-layer connections can be formed in one step, in particular between the first intermediate wall, the first peripheral jacket and the connecting jacket or between the second intermediate wall, the second peripheral jacket and the connecting jacket. This three-layer connection of the intermediate walls of the corresponding peripheral jacket and of the connecting jacket has the advantage that these components can be attached to one another in one step. In comparison to an embodiment in which the intermediate walls are each connected to the peripheral jacket and the connecting jacket to the peripheral jackets in two layers, the three-layer embodiment is particularly time and material efficient. The attachment can be done by folding, welding and / or soldering. As a result, the aforementioned components of the silencer can be reliably installed in a short time and at low cost.

It can be provided that the peripheral jackets and the connecting jacket are connected to the end or intermediate walls adjoining them in a completely circumferential and tight manner. In this way, a fluid coupling of the areas separated by the front or intermediate wall can be reliably prevented at the connection point. According to one embodiment, a transition of the peripheral jacket of an end segment to the intermediate wall is tapered and the connecting jacket has a corresponding conical widening in order to form a corresponding contact surface between the peripheral jacket and the connecting jacket, which ensures a reliable and secure, flat connection of the two jackets to one another.

It is advantageous if the interior of the connecting segment forms a silencer chamber. The volume of the connecting segment can thus be used for sound absorption and the silencer can thereby be designed to be particularly compact. According to a further embodiment, the first exhaust pipe and / or the second exhaust pipe connects the muffler chambers of two of the segments to one another in terms of flow. In this way, a plurality of muffler chambers can be coupled to one another in a defined manner, as a result of which the muffler can have improved soundproofing properties and / or a more compact structure.

The first and second exhaust pipes are preferably plugged into one another in the connecting segment, as a result of which a simple and secure connection of the exhaust pipes to one another can be ensured. Here, the exhaust pipes are connected to one another in terms of flow. This means that the exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust pipe is conducted into the other exhaust pipe via the connection point of the two exhaust pipes. In particular, the first exhaust pipe is an upstream exhaust pipe with a male coupling section and the second exhaust pipe is a downstream exhaust pipe with a female coupling section and the upstream exhaust pipe and the downstream exhaust pipe are connected to one another via the male coupling section and the female coupling section. With this design, the flow resistance through the connection point is not increased significantly, ie by less than 10%.

The exhaust pipes can be tightly connected to one another, in particular by means of a sealing element, so that essentially no exhaust gas can flow out of the interior of the exhaust pipe at the connection point.

In a further embodiment, a sound absorption material is used in at least one segment of the group consisting of end segments and connecting segment. In particular, the sound absorption material is inserted into the muffler chamber of the corresponding segment before both openings of the peripheral jacket or the connecting part jacket are closed. In this way, a silencer can be produced with little effort, which comprises at least one silencer chamber which is at least partially filled with sound absorption material.

According to the invention, a silencer is also provided to achieve the above-mentioned object, which was produced using the method according to the invention.

According to one embodiment, the muffler has at least two adjacent end walls or partitions with different cross sections, ie with different areas and / or shapes, which are connected to one another by one of the peripheral shells or the connecting sheath. In this case, the corresponding peripheral jacket or the connecting jacket is fastened to the end walls or intermediate walls in a circumferentially closed manner. The geometry, ie size and shape, of the muffler can be adapted to specific requirements, such as the installation space available for the muffler in the drive train of the motor vehicle, via the different cross sections of the end walls and / or intermediate walls. According to a further embodiment, the muffler has a first exhaust pipe that extends through the intermediate wall of the first end segment and is fluidly connected to the muffler chamber of the first end segment, and a second exhaust pipe that extends through the intermediate wall of the second end segment and with the muffler chamber of the second end segment is connected in terms of flow. The exhaust pipe ensures that exhaust gas is passed through the muffler and in particular the muffler chambers in a defined manner during operation of the motor vehicle, in order to reliably ensure particularly good sound absorption. The first exhaust pipe is preferably perforated in the region of the first end segment and / or the second exhaust pipe is perforated in the region of the second end segment in order to connect the respective exhaust pipe to the associated muffler chamber in terms of flow. The perforation ensures good coupling of the exhaust gas flowing through the corresponding exhaust pipe during operation of the motor vehicle with that adjacent to the perforation

Muffler chamber, whereby a particularly good sound absorption can be achieved.

At least one exhaust pipe extending at least through one segment can be imperforate in the segment. Here, there is also a silencer chamber of the segment via at least one perforated one

Partition wall connected to an adjacent silencer chamber. In this way, exhaust gas can be passed through a muffler chamber by means of the non-perforated tube, the exhaust gas not being coupled directly via a perforation in the tube to the muffler chamber adjacent to the tube, but indirectly via a further one

Silencer chamber, which is coupled via the perforated partition to the silencer chamber adjacent to the pipe. As a result, different muffler chambers can be coupled to one another in different ways, as a result of which more degrees of freedom are available in the design of the muffler in order to adapt the properties of the muffler to the specific requirements in the exhaust system of a motor vehicle.

The invention further relates to a vehicle with a silencer according to the invention: Further advantages and features result from the following description and from the attached drawings. In these show:

- Figure 1 is a sectional view of a silencer according to the invention according to a first embodiment, for a vehicle according to the invention

FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of a two-layer connection point of the silencer from FIG. 1,

3 shows a detailed view of a three-layer connection point of the silencer from FIG. 1,

- Figures 4 to 9 in a sectional view different steps for the positioning of the silencer of Figure 1 according to a method according to the invention, and

- Figure 10 is a sectional view of a silencer according to the invention according to a second embodiment for a vehicle according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a silencer 10 which is provided for an exhaust system of a vehicle with an internal combustion engine.

The muffler 10 comprises a first end segment 12 with an inlet opening 14 and a second end segment 16 with an outlet opening 18, which are connected to one another in terms of flow with respect to the outer housing by means of a connecting segment 20, so that exhaust gas G from the internal combustion engine in the direction of flow S via the in operation of the motor vehicle Inlet opening 14 flows through the first end segment 12 and the connecting segment 20 into the second end segment 16 and from there flows out of the silencer 10 via the outlet opening 18.

The first end segment 12 is can-shaped and comprises a first circumferential jacket 22, an upstream end wall 24 and a perforated downstream intermediate wall 26. The first circumferential jacket 22 is closed in the circumferential direction about the axis R and is formed by a tube and has a first opening 28 ( see Figure 4) by the upstream End wall 24 is closed in sections, and an oppositely arranged second opening 30, which is closed in sections by the downstream intermediate wall 26.

The volume inside the first end segment 12, which is delimited by the first circumferential jacket 22, the upstream end wall 24 and the downstream intermediate wall 26, forms a silencer chamber 32 of the first end segment 12.

The inlet opening 14 is provided in the upstream end wall 24 and the downstream intermediate wall 26 has an inner outlet opening 34, which is arranged concentrically with the inlet opening 14.

The second end segment 16 is designed analogously to the first end segment 12 and comprises a second circumferential jacket 36, a perforated upstream intermediate wall 38 and a downstream end wall 40 which delimit a silencer chamber 32 of the second end segment 16.

The second circumferential jacket 36 here has a first opening 29 (see FIG. 7) which is closed in sections by the downstream end wall 40 and an oppositely arranged second opening 30 which is closed in sections by the upstream intermediate wall 38.

In contrast to the first end segment 12, which is arranged upstream of the second end segment 16, the intermediate wall 38 is provided upstream and the end wall 40 downstream in the second end segment 16.

Furthermore, the downstream end wall 40 has the outlet opening 18 and the upstream intermediate wall 38 has an inner inlet opening 42 which is arranged concentrically with the outlet opening 18.

In a further embodiment, the first end segment 12 and the second end segment 16 can be designed as identical parts, which results in advantages in production and in logistics which can further reduce the manufacturing costs of the silencer 10.

The end walls 24, 40 are funnel-shaped, the funnel extending from the respective silencer chamber 32 in or against the flow direction S. In principle, the end walls 24, 40 can be of any design. In particular, the inlet opening 14 and / or the outlet opening 18 can be provided at any point on the corresponding end wall 24, 40.

The connecting segment 20 comprises a connecting jacket 44 which is closed in the circumferential direction about the axis R and extends from the downstream intermediate wall 26 to the upstream intermediate wall 38, and a silencer chamber 32 which is delimited by the connecting jacket 44 and the downstream intermediate wall 26 and the upstream intermediate wall 38 becomes. In particular, the connecting jacket 44 is a tube.

In an alternative embodiment, the connecting segment 20 may not have a silencer chamber 32.

The silencer 10 also has a first internal, upstream exhaust pipe 46 and a second internal, downstream exhaust pipe 48, which are connected to one another in terms of flow.

The first internal exhaust pipe 46 extends from the inlet opening 14 in the upstream end wall 24 through the silencer chamber 32 of the first end segment 12 and through the inner outlet opening 34 in the downstream intermediate wall 26 into the silencer chamber 32 of the connecting segment 20.

The second internal exhaust pipe 48 extends from the outlet opening 14 in the downstream end wall 40 through the silencer chamber 32 of the second end segment 16 and through the inner inlet opening 42 in the upstream intermediate wall 38 into the silencer chamber 32 of the connecting segment 20.

The first and the second exhaust pipe 46, 48 are positively connected to one another in the silencer chamber 32 of the connecting segment 20 by means of a plug connection 50. The plug connection 50 is formed by the downstream end 52 of the first exhaust pipe 46 and the upstream end 54 of the second exhaust pipe 48, which are designed to be complementary to one another.

The downstream end 52 is here designed as a male coupling section and the upstream end 54 as a female coupling section. The first and second exhaust pipes 46, 48 also each have a perforation 56, which is arranged in a section of the exhaust pipe 46, 48 that adjoins the muffler chamber 32 of the first and second end segments 12, 16, respectively. In this way, during operation of the motor vehicle, the exhaust gas G is conducted by means of the internal first and second exhaust pipes 46, 48 from the inlet opening 14 in the upstream end wall 24 through the muffler 10 to the outlet opening 18 in the downstream end wall 40. In this case, the exhaust gas G is coupled in terms of flow directly via the perforation 56 in the first exhaust pipe 46 to the muffler chamber 32 of the first end segment 12 and via the perforation 56 in the second exhaust pipe 48 directly to the muffler chamber 32 of the second end segment 16. Furthermore, the exhaust gas G is coupled via the muffler chambers 32 of the first and second end segments 12, 16 indirectly to the muffler chamber 32 of the connecting segment 20 in terms of flow.

For clarification, it is pointed out that the

Silencer chambers 32 each extend in the radial direction between the corresponding exhaust pipes 46, 48 and the jackets (first peripheral jacket 22, second peripheral jacket 36 and connecting jacket 44) and in particular do not extend into the exhaust pipes 46, 48.

In an alternative embodiment, the exhaust gas G can be coupled in terms of flow directly to the muffler chamber 32 of the connecting segment 20, for example via a corresponding perforation 56.

The silencer chambers 32 are empty resonator chambers in this embodiment. That means the silencer 10 is a

Resonance silencer.

Alternatively, the muffler 10 can be a reflection muffler or an absorption muffler. Furthermore, the muffler 10 can be a muffler in which the operating principles of the aforementioned types of mufflers are combined. In an alternative embodiment, any number of the muffler chambers 32 can be filled with an insulating material, in particular a sound absorption material.

The end walls 24, 40 and the intermediate walls 26, 38 each extend between the corresponding exhaust pipes 46, 48 and the jackets 22, 36, 44 and are each radially on the inside of the first and second exhaust pipes 46, 48 and radially on the outside Coat 22, 36, 44 attached.

Here, the end walls 24, 40 are welded radially on the outside to the outer axial end 58, 59 of the corresponding circumferential casing 22, 36 at a two-layer connection point 60 that completely encircles in the circumferential direction U (see FIG. 2).

The intermediate walls 26, 38 are each radially on the outside with the inner axial end 62, 63 of the corresponding circumferential jacket 22, 36 and the axial ends 64, 65 of the connecting jacket 44 adjoining this end 62, 63 at a three-layer connection point 66 that completely encircles in the circumferential direction U. welded tightly and firmly in three layers (see Figure 3), alternatively soldered or crimped.

In order to ensure a large contact area and thus a good contact between the connecting jacket 44 and the corresponding peripheral jacket 22, 36, the transition 68 between the peripheral jacket 22, 36 to the adjacent intermediate wall 26, 36 is tapered and the axial ends 64, 65 of the The connecting jacket 44 is flared in a complementary manner, so that the axial ends 64, 65 of the connecting jacket 44 each fit the adjacent inner axial ends 62, 63 of the peripheral jackets 22, 36 in a form-fitting manner.

Radially on the inside, the end walls 24, 40 and the intermediate walls 26, 38 are welded to the first and second exhaust pipes 46, 48 and are thus completely and tightly connected in the circumferential direction U to the respective exhaust pipe 46, 48.

In an alternative embodiment, the end walls 24, 40 and / or the intermediate walls 26, 38 can be fastened to the corresponding exhaust pipes 46, 48 and / or the corresponding jackets 22, 36, 44 essentially in any manner, in particular by means of folding, welding or Soldering. Furthermore, the intermediate walls 26, 38 can be attached to the corresponding exhaust pipes 46, 48 and / or the corresponding jackets 22, 36, 44 only in sections in the circumferential direction U. This is particularly the case if the perforation of the intermediate walls 26, 38 extends up to the radially inner and / or radially outer edge of the intermediate wall 26, 38 and thus up to the corresponding exhaust pipe 46, 48 and / or the corresponding jacket 22, 36, 44 extends.

The muffler 10 is rotationally symmetrical with the exception of the perforated sections.

During operation of the motor vehicle, the exhaust gas G flows through the muffler 10 from the inlet opening 14 via the first and second exhaust pipe 46, 48 through the segments 12, 16, 20 to the outlet opening 18. The exhaust gas G is damped via the coupling with the muffler chambers 32 .

A method for setting the muffler 10 to be free will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 to 9.

In a first step (see FIG. 4), the first end segment 12 is assembled by closing the first opening 28 of the first peripheral jacket 22 with the upstream end wall 24 and the second opening 30 of the first peripheral jacket 22 with the downstream intermediate wall 26.

Furthermore, the connecting jacket 44 is attached to the first end segment 12, so that the axial end 64 of the connecting jacket 44 abuts the inner axial end 62 of the first peripheral jacket 22.

In a subsequent step (see FIG. 5), the upstream end wall 24 is fastened radially on the outside to the first peripheral jacket 22 in a two-layer connection.

Furthermore, in the same step, the first circumferential jacket 22 and the connecting jacket 44 are fastened radially on the inside to the downstream intermediate wall 26 in a three-layer connection.

The attachment can be done simultaneously or one after the other. In an alternative embodiment, the first peripheral jacket 22 can be attached to the upstream end wall 24 and / or the downstream intermediate wall 26 before the connecting jacket 44 is placed on the first end segment 12. Subsequently, the first exhaust pipe 46 (see FIG. 6) is inserted in the axial direction through the inlet opening 14 into the first end segment 12 until the upstream end 70 of the first exhaust pipe 46 abuts the inlet opening 14 and the first exhaust pipe 46 completely through the silencer chamber 32 of the first end segment 12, with the downstream end 52 protruding through the inner outlet opening 34 from the downstream intermediate wall 26.

In an alternative embodiment to this, the first exhaust pipe 46 can be inserted in the opposite axial direction via the inner outlet opening 34 in the downstream intermediate wall 26. The first exhaust pipe 46 is then fastened radially on the outside to the upstream end wall 24 and the downstream intermediate wall 26.

In an alternative embodiment, the first exhaust pipe 46 is attached to the upstream end wall 24 or the downstream intermediate wall 26.

In a subsequent step (see FIG. 7), the second end segment 16 is assembled by closing the first opening 29 of the second peripheral jacket 36 with the downstream end wall 40 and the second opening 31 of the second peripheral jacket 36 with the upstream intermediate wall 38.

Furthermore, the second end segment 16 is placed opposite the first end segment 12 on the connecting jacket 44 (see FIG. 8), so that the axial end 65 of the connecting jacket 44 is adjacent to the inner axial end 63 of the second peripheral jacket 36. In a subsequent step, the downstream end wall 40 is fastened radially on the outside to the second circumferential jacket 36 in a two-layer connection. Furthermore, in the same step, the second peripheral jacket 36 and the connecting jacket 44 are fastened radially on the inside to the upstream intermediate wall 38 in a three-layer connection.

The attachment can be done simultaneously or one after the other. In an alternative embodiment, the second peripheral jacket 36 can be attached to the downstream end wall 40 and / or the upstream intermediate wall 38 before the second end segment 16 is placed on the connecting jacket 44.

Subsequently, the second exhaust pipe 48 (see FIG. 9) is pushed in the axial direction through the outlet opening 18 into the second end segment 16 until the downstream end 72 of the second exhaust pipe 48 abuts the outlet opening 18 and the second exhaust pipe 48 completely through the silencer chamber 32 of the second end segment 16, the upstream end 54 protruding from the upstream partition 38 through the inner inlet opening 42.

Furthermore, the ends 52, 54 of the exhaust pipes 46, 48 protruding into the muffler chamber 32 of the connecting segment 20 are plugged into one another and thus the first exhaust pipe 46 is connected in terms of flow with the second exhaust pipe 48. The second exhaust pipe 48 is then fastened radially on the outside to the upstream intermediate wall 38 and to the downstream end wall 40.

In an alternative embodiment, the second exhaust pipe 48 is attached to the upstream partition 38 or the downstream end wall 40.

The end walls 24, 40, the intermediate walls 26, 38, the jackets 22, 36, 44 and the exhaust pipes 46, 48 are fastened by welding.

In an alternative embodiment, each fastening can additionally or alternatively be formed by means of folding and / or soldering. Preferably, three layers are soldered simultaneously in order to be able to ensure a reliable connection of the three layers to one another.

In an embodiment in which a sound absorption material is provided in at least one of the muffler chambers 32, the sound absorption material is introduced into the corresponding muffler chamber 32 before the corresponding muffler chamber 32 is closed on both sides by means of end walls 24, 40 and / or intermediate walls 26, 38, so that at least an opening 28, 30 in the jacket 22, 36, 44 surrounding the muffler chamber 32 is open for inserting the sound absorption material.

A silencer 10 according to a second embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. The same reference numerals are used for the components which are known from the above embodiment, and reference is made to the preceding explanations in this regard.

In contrast to the first embodiment, the upstream end wall 24 of the muffler 10 according to the second embodiment has a smaller diameter perpendicular to the axis R than the intermediate walls 26, 38 and the downstream end wall 40.

The first circumferential jacket 22 is cylindrical, the cross section of the upstream end wall 24 forming the base of the cylinder.

Because of this, the muffler 10 has a step 74 between the first end segment 12 and the connecting segment 20, which is due to the different sizes of the two segments 12, 20.

Here, the axially inner end 62 of the first peripheral jacket 22 is fastened to the end face 76 of the downstream intermediate wall 26 facing the first peripheral jacket 22.

The axial end 64 of the connecting jacket 44 is fastened radially on the outside to the downstream intermediate wall 26.

The ends 62, 64 adjoining the step 74 are in this case completely and tightly connected to the downstream intermediate wall 26 in the circumferential direction about the axis R. Furthermore, the downstream intermediate wall 26 has no perforation in the section 78 in which it adjoins the surroundings, so that the muffler 10 is tightly closed at this point and preferably exhaust gas only into the muffler 10 through the inlet opening 14 and the outlet opening 18 or can flow out of the muffler 10.

Of course, in a further alternative embodiment, any adjacent end walls 24, 40 and / or intermediate walls 26, 38 can have a different cross section from one another.

Additionally or alternatively, the cross section of the circumferential jacket 44 perpendicular to the axis R can be smaller than the cross section of the intermediate walls 26, 38.

In principle, the end walls 24, 40 and intermediate walls 26, 38 can each have any cross section or any outer contour, as a result of which the silencer 10 adjoins segments 12, 16,

20 with differently shaped cross sections perpendicular to the axis R. In an alternative embodiment, the shells 22, 36, 44 of segments 12, 16, 20, which are delimited by two differently shaped end walls 24, 40 and / or intermediate walls 26, 38, can be funnel-shaped, around end walls 24, 40 and / or intermediate walls 26, 38 with different outer contours, in particular radially on the outside. The end walls 24, 40 and the intermediate walls 26, 38, 78 can essentially have any desired outer contours, but non-round, oval or circular outer contours are preferred.

Furthermore, the axial distances between adjacent end walls 24,

40 and / or partitions 26, 38 can each be of any size. Furthermore, the central axes of different segments 12, 16, 20 can be arranged differently, in particular offset from one another.

The size and shape of the muffler 10 is preferably adapted to the space available in the motor vehicle and the volumes of the muffler chambers 32 to the sound attenuation of the exhaust gas G to be achieved. The manufacture of the muffler 10 according to the second embodiment is essentially analogous to the first embodiment.

The advantage of the previously described muffler 10 is that the segmented construction of the muffler 10 means that the available space in the motor vehicle can be used efficiently, as a result of which the muffler 10 can be designed to be particularly powerful and / or compact.

Furthermore, by means of the modular system formed by the individual segments 12, 16, 20, a silencer 10 can be produced in a simple manner, which is specially matched to the requirements of the corresponding motor vehicle.

Furthermore, the method for production is particularly cost-efficient, since the basic method steps can be used independently of the individual structure of the segments 12, 16, 20 and thus universally for the production of essentially any segmented sound absorber 10. The invention is not restricted to the embodiments shown. In particular, individual features of an embodiment can be combined with other features as desired, independently of the other features of the corresponding embodiment.

Claims

1. A method for producing a segmented muffler (10) for an exhaust system of a motor vehicle, in which, in the finished state, a first and an opposite second end segment (12, 16) are coupled to one another by means of a connecting jacket (44) of a connecting segment (20) arranged between them , wherein each end segment (12, 16) has its own peripheral jacket (22, 36), which has a first and an opposite second opening (28, 29, 30, 31), with the steps: a) forming the first end segment (12 ) by closing the opposite openings (28, 30) of the first section by section

Circumferential casing (22) by attaching a first end wall (24) to the first circumferential casing (22) to at least partially close its first opening (28) and by attaching a preferably perforated first intermediate wall (26) to the first circumferential casing (22) to close its second opening (30) at least in sections, a first silencer chamber (32) being delimited by the first end wall (24), the first intermediate wall (26) and the first circumferential jacket (22), b) fastening the connecting jacket (44) on the first end segment

(12) such that the connecting jacket (44) forms an extension of the first peripheral jacket (22) and extends away from the first intermediate wall (26), c) inserting a preferably perforated first exhaust pipe (46) into the first end segment (12) , wherein the first exhaust pipe (46) extends up to a flow opening (14) in the first end wall (24) and up to a flow opening (34) in the first intermediate wall (26), and securing the first exhaust pipe (46) to the first End wall (24) and / or the first intermediate wall (26), d) forming the second end segment (16) by sections

Closing the opposite openings (29, 31) of the second peripheral jacket (36) by a second end wall (40) on second peripheral jacket (36) is fastened to at least partially close its first opening (29) and by a preferably perforated second intermediate wall (38) is attached to the second peripheral jacket (36) to at least partially close its second opening (31) , a second silencer chamber (32) being delimited by the second end wall (40), the second intermediate wall (38) and the second peripheral jacket (36), e) fastening that end of the second end segment (16) to the connecting segment (20), so the second partition

(38) and / or the second peripheral jacket (36) directly adjoins the connecting jacket (44), and f) inserting a preferably perforated second exhaust pipe (48) into the second end segment (16), the second exhaust pipe (48) up to a flow opening (18) in the second end wall (40) and up to a flow opening (42) in the second intermediate wall (38), and fastening the second exhaust pipe (48) to the second end wall (40) and / or the second intermediate wall (38). 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that in step b) the connecting jacket (44) on the first intermediate wall (26) and / or on the first peripheral jacket (22) is attached.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in step d) the connecting jacket (44) on the second intermediate wall (38) and / or on the second peripheral jacket (36) is attached.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first end wall (24) and / or the first intermediate wall (26) on the first peripheral jacket (22) and the connecting jacket (44) on the first end segment (12) in a common step are fastened, and / or that the second end wall (40) and / or the second intermediate wall (38) are fastened to the second circumferential jacket (36) and the connecting jacket (44) to the second end segment (16) in a common step. 5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peripheral jackets (22, 36) and the connecting jacket (44) each with the adjacent end or intermediate walls (24, 26, 38, 40) completely circumferentially in the circumferential direction ( U) and tightly connected. 6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a transition (68) of the peripheral jacket (22, 36) of an end segment (12, 16) to the intermediate wall (26, 38) is tapered and the connecting jacket (44) a corresponding has conical expansion to form a contact surface. 7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interior of the connecting segment (20) forms a silencer chamber (32).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first exhaust pipe (46) and / or the second exhaust pipe (48) each connects the muffler chambers (32) of two of the segments (12, 16, 20) in terms of flow.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and the second exhaust pipe (46, 48) are inserted into one another in the connecting segment (20), in particular wherein the first exhaust pipe (46) is an upstream exhaust pipe (46) with a male coupling section (52) and the second exhaust pipe (48) is a downstream exhaust pipe (48) with a female coupling section (54), and wherein the upstream exhaust pipe (46) and the downstream exhaust pipe (48) via the male coupling section (52) and the female coupling section (54) are interconnected.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sound absorption material is used in at least one segment of the group of end segments (12, 16) and connecting segment (20), in particular wherein the sound absorption material in the muffler chamber (32) of the corresponding segment ( 12, 16, 20) is used before both openings (28, 29, 30, 31) of the peripheral jacket (22, 36) or the connecting jacket (44) are closed. 1 1. Silencer (10) produced by the method according to one of the preceding claims.

12. Silencer according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the

Muffler (10) has at least two adjacent end walls or intermediate walls (24, 26, 38, 40) with different cross sections, which are connected to one another by one of the peripheral jackets (22, 36) or the connecting jacket (44), the corresponding peripheral jacket ( 22, 36) or the

Connection jacket (44) is attached circumferentially closed to the end walls or partitions (24, 26, 38, 40).

13. Muffler according to claim 1 1 or 12, characterized in that the muffler (10) has a first exhaust pipe (46) which extends through the intermediate wall (26) of the first end segment (12) and with the muffler chamber (32) of the is fluidly connected to the first end segment (12) and has a second exhaust pipe (48) which extends through the intermediate wall (38) of the second end segment (16) and is fluidly connected to the muffler chamber (32) of the second end segment (16).

14. Silencer according to claim 13, characterized in that the first exhaust pipe (46) is perforated in the region of the first end segment (12) and / or the second exhaust pipe (48) is perforated in the region of the second end segment (16) to the respective To connect the exhaust pipe (46, 48) in terms of flow to the associated muffler chamber (32).

15. Silencer according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that at least one exhaust pipe (46, 48) extending at least through a segment (12, 16, 20) in the segment (12, 16, 20) is imperforate and a silencer chamber (32 ) of the segment (12, 16, 20) is connected to an adjacent silencer chamber (32) via at least one perforated intermediate wall (26, 38).

16. Vehicle with a silencer according to one of the preceding claims.