Patent Application
20150135692
The present invention relates to an apparatus for conducting a gas flow, in particular an exhaust gas flow of an internal combustion engine, comprising a shell which defines an inlet opening, an outlet opening and at least one bend deflecting the gas flow.
It is frequently necessary in modern motor vehicles due to construction space restrictions to configure the exhaust train with an angle, for which purpose deflection shells of the above-named kind are used. Such deflection shells can in particular be used between two exhaust gas system elements, for example between a particulate filter and an exhaust pipe or between an exhaust pipe and a catalytic converter.
Gas conducting components of the category are typically welded to the upstream component and to the downstream component of the exhaust train. A flange connection can also be provided alternatively to a weld connection. In this case, the flanges belonging to the deflection apparatus are welded to the shell. However, an unwanted welding deformation can occur in this respect. In addition, due to the increased number of components and to the additional machining steps, the manufacturing costs for the exhaust gas system increase.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for the angled conducting of a gas flow which can be manufactured easily and inexpensively as well as while avoiding welding deformation.
The object is satisfied by an apparatus having the features of claim 1.
In accordance with the invention, the shell is composed of a first shell part and of a second shell part, wherein the first shell part defines the inlet opening and the outlet opening and has at least one connection structure for the gas-tight connection of the apparatus to a further gas conducting component, and wherein the second shell part is configured for enclosing the inlet opening and the outlet opening of the first shell part.
The shell conducting the gas flow is therefore not configured in one part, but rather in at least two parts, for example in the form of two half-shells, wherein one shell part is configured for a gas-tight connection to the upstream gas conducting component and/or to the downstream gas conducting component and the second shell part so-to-say forms a cover. A particularly simple and compact construction thereby results. A respective connection structure is preferably provided both at the inlet opening and at the outlet opening. The first shell part can also be configured in two parts so that, for example, the inlet opening and the outlet opening are formed in different components. Since the connection structures, which can in particular be flanges, are already provided at the first shell part, a later welding of flanges can be dispensed with. This in particular has the advantage that no welding deformation occurs.
Further developments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims, in the description and in the enclosed drawings.
The connection structure can in particular be configured in one piece with the first shell part, in particular molded thereto. The number of required components as well as the number of weld seams can thereby be reduced. A direct molding of a flange to a passage-like or tubular shell can be difficult. Due to the two-part design of the shell, the first shell part can, however, have a relatively flat design, whereby the molding on of the connection structure is facilitated.
The connection structure preferably comprises a flange, in particular a clamping flange. This allows a simple and, where required, releasable gas-tight connection to the further components of the exhaust gas system. The number of required weld seams can in particular be kept small by a flange connection.
The connection structure can comprise a pipe stub extending in parallel with the direction of flow of the gas flow. This facilitates the assembly of the deflection apparatus. For example, the pipe stub can be placed onto or plugged into a counter-pipe stub which is in turn provided at the upstream or downstream gas conducting component, that is e.g. projects from a catalytic converter or from a particulate filter.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the pipe stub expands in a direction facing outwardly with respect to the shell. Such an expansion of the pipe stub forms per se a flange which can be adapted in a special manner to a counterpiece of a furthergoing exhaust gas system component.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, the pipe stub is formed as a passage in a deep-drawing process and in particular has a flare at the end side as the expansion. The flare can advantageously form a flange for a V clip.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, the first shell part is plate-shaped, whereas the second shell part is hood-shaped. This allows a particularly simple manufacture since the application of the openings as well as the provision of the connection structures can take place in a favorable manner at the plate-like unworked part.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the shell defines two consecutive bends which preferably each deflect the gas flow by 90°. More pronounced deflections can thus also be effected by one and the same gas conducting apparatus.
The two bends preferably act in the same sense, i.e. the gas conducting apparatus forms a passage arrangement of C shape in longitudinal section. Such an embodiment is in particular advantageous when a particulate filter and an exhaust pipe to be connected to it are arranged directly next to one another. If the application requires, the two bends can also act as deflecting in opposite senses so that the gas conducting apparatus forms a passage arrangement of S shape in longitudinal section.
The invention also relates to an exhaust gas system, in particular for an internal combustion engine, which has an apparatus as described above.
The invention will be described in the following by way of example with reference to the drawings.
In accordance with
The deflection shell 14 is composed of a first shell part 35 and a second shell part 37, with the connection of the deflection shell 14 to the diesel particulate filter 12 as well as to the exhaust pipe 10 taking place exclusively via the first shell part 35. Specifically, the first shell part 35 in accordance with
The gas-tight connection of the deflection shell 14 to the diesel particulate filter 12 and to the exhaust pipe 10 takes place by means of two V clips 26, with the flares 24 of the passages 22 forming a flange for the V clips 26. Corresponding counter-flanges 25 are provided at the diesel particulate filter 12 and at the exhaust pipe 10.
As can be seen from
Due to the two-part design of the deflection shell 14 and to the passages 22 integrated into the deflection shells 14, a particularly compact construction is possible, with only a few components being required overall for manufacturing the deflection shell 14. In addition, the number of weld seams which are required in the assembly of the exhaust train can be reduced. Since the connection structures 20 are molded directly to one of the shell parts—namely to the first shell part 35—no later welding on of flanges has to take place and problems due to welding deformation are avoided.
10 exhaust pipe
12 diesel particulate filter
13 exhaust gas flow
14 deflection shell
15 outlet opening of the deflection shell
16 inlet opening of the deflection shell
18 first bend
19 second bend
20 connection structure
21 plate-shaped base section
22 passage
24 flare
25 counter-flange
26 V clip
30 inlet opening of the exhaust pipe
31 outlet opening of the diesel particulate filter
35 first shell part
37 second shell part
39 catalytic converter
S1 flow axis of the exhaust pipe
S2 flow axis of the diesel particulate filter
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102012214285.1 | Aug 2012 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2013/065181 | 7/18/2013 | WO | 00 |
