The invention will be described in detail in what follows on the basis of an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawing, in which
FIG. 1 presents a perspective oblique view of an exemplary embodiment of the fastening component claimed for the invention mounted on a cylindrical catalytic converter housing, only a partial length area is shown;
FIG. 2 an end view drawn on a larger scale than that in FIG. 1, of the open end of a catalytic converter housing, there being connected to the fastening component a first and a second heat shield which constitute encapsulation of the catalytic converter housing;
FIG. 3 a diagonal perspective view much larger than that in FIG. 2 showing only the area designated as III in FIG. 2, a screw connection between the fist heat shield and the fastening component being shown only in part;
FIG. 4 the partial length area shown in FIG. 1 of the catalytic converter housing with heat shield mounted on it, its screw connection to the fastening component not being shown, and
FIG. 5 a presentation similar to that of FIG. 4, but of the second side opposite that of the heat shield of FIG. 4, with the heat shield connected to the fastening component.
The invention will be explained in what follows on the basis of an exemplary embodiment in which the fastening component claimed for the invention for positioning of structural elements is provided in the form of a first and a second heat shield which forms an encapsulation on the outer side of the catalytic converter. The invention is, of course, suitable for positioning of structural elements of other kinds.
FIG. 1 illustrates the fastening component in the form of a band clamp 1 in the form of a sheet metal possessing elastic properties, by preference of stainless steel. The band clamp 1 is fastened to elastic parts (not shown in FIG. 1) described in detail in what follows, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, on the cylindrical outer circumference of the catalytic converter 3. As is to be seen in FIG. 2, the measured length of the band clamp 1 is such that it extends over approximately one-half of the circumference of the catalytic converter 3. Each of the two ends 5 of the band clamp 1 has a flat extension 7 projecting radially outward in relation to the circular curvature of the band clamp 1.
As is shown in FIG. 2, and especially in FIG. 3, the band clamp 1 does not have over its entire length a circular extension following the external circumference of the catalytic converter 3 but rather has bending sections at which the band clamp 1 is spaced a distance from the enclosed catalytic converter 3. Such is the case of the area of length positioned in the center between the ends 5, where there is formed by bending sections 9 and 11 (FIG. 2) a level section of length 13 radially offset outward which forms a spacer element and a support for a bolting element 15. In addition, there is in front of each end 5 of the band clamp 1 a bending section 17 displaced radially outward by the ends 5 of the band clamp, so that a spacer element is formed, of which one, designated 19, is to be seen in FIG. 3.
At each end 5 of the band clamp 1 there extends from the spacer element 19 a length of a flat tensioning spring 21 serving as an extension of the band clamp 1. As is shown with particular clarity in FIG. 3, the respective tensioning spring 21 extends diagonally radially inward and adjoins a tensioning area 23 under spring tension on the outer circumference of the catalytic converter 3. If the band clamp 1 is clipped onto the catalytic converter 3 from the side, that is, into the position shown in FIG. 1, the band clamp 1 is immobilized on the tensioning area 23 by the force of tensioning springs 21.
As a further development of the mounting process for encapsulation of the catalytic converter 3 a first heat shield 25, which, as is to be seen in FIG. 4, is more or less in the form of a half-shell, is connected to the band clamp 1 clipped onto the catalytic converter 3. As has already been pointed out, the band clamp 1 has on each of its ends 5 an extension 7 running outward at a angle. These extensions form a mounting position for the first heat shield 25, which, as is to be seen in FIG. 4, analogously to the extensions 7 of the band clamp 1, has extensions 27 extending at an angle laterally outward. These extensions 27, provided with bolt holds, may be bolted onto the extensions 7 on the band clamp 1, specifically, by means of a bolting fixture which in each instance has a forced in nut 29 and fixing bolt 31 (the latter has been omitted from FIG. 3).
As is shown the most clearly in FIG. 3, the flat springs 21 are bent radially outward in an arc in their section extending to the free end 33 and adjoining the tensioning area 23 and are engaged by their outer end 33 in a recess 35 (shown only in FIG. 3) in the first heat shield 25. The dimensions of the recess 35 are such that a relative movement may be executed in the circumferential direction in order to compensate for thermal changes in dimension. As is to be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the heat shield 25 is provided with local curvatures and shaped so that its interior is spaced at least in some sections a distance from the catalytic converter 3 enclosed.
In order to complete the encapsulation, there is presented in FIG. 5 a diagonal elevational view of a second heat shield 37 which, like the first heat shield 25, forms a partial shell, fastened to it by means of the locking element 15 on the band clamp 1 (the part of total bolting element operating in conjunction with the bolting element for the second heat shield 37 is not shown in the figures). As is illustrated by FIG. 2 in particular, not only is the second heat shield 37 on the band clamp 1 immobilized by way of the bolting element 15 but also spaced at a distance from the catalytic converter 3 engaged by the spacer elements of the band clamp 1, which arise from its bending sections 9, 11, and 17. The band clamp 1 itself is fixed not only in position on the catalyst 3 both by the tensioning springs 21 but is secured from pulling away from the catalytic converter 3 in that the first heat shield 25 encloses the area surrounding the catalyst 3 not enclosed by the band clamp 1. The second heat shield 37, which is associated with the area enclosing the catalytic converter 3 surrounded by the band clamp 1, also is unequivocally fixed in position by the connection with the bolting element 15 and is spaced relative to the catalytic converter 3 as desired a distance from the surrounded catalytic converter 3 by means of spacer elements (19 in FIG. 3 and section 13 in FIG. 2).
Patent Application
20070251061
