The present invention generally relates to a vehicle exhaust system; More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle exhaust system that includes an exhaust finisher with a flexible boot connecting a rear end of an exhaust pipe to a forward end of the exhaust finisher.
Many vehicles include an exhaust finisher that extends through an opening or recess in a rear bumper fascia. The exhaust finisher is often directly attached or non movably supported to the rear bumper. A rear end of an exhaust pipe extends into an oversized opening defines at a forward end of the exhaust finisher such that the exhaust pipe is movable relative to the exhaust finisher.
One object of the present disclosure is to provide a flexible connection between a rear end a an exhaust pipe arid a forward end of an exhaust finisher.
Another object of the, present disclosure is to provide a flexible boot connected to rear end of an exhaust pipe and a forward end of an exhaust finisher, with the flexible boot allowing movement of the exhaust pipe relative to the exhaust finisher where the movement is a result of thermal expansion and contraction of the exhaust pipe or from relative movement between the exhaust pipe and the exhaust finisher resulting from, for example, rough road conditions.
In view of the state of the known technology, one aspect at the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle exhaust system with an exhaust assembly, a boot and an exhaust finisher. The exhaust finisher is fixedly and non-movably attached to one of a vehicle body structure and a rear bumper assembly. The exhaust finisher extends at least part way through an opening of the rear bumper assembly. The boot has a first end, a second end and a flexible portion. The first end is attached to a rear end of an exhaust pipe of the exhaust assembly. The second end is attached to a forward end of the exhaust finisher. The flexible portion extends from the front end to the second end. The flexible portion is elastically deformable in response to thermal expansion and contraction of the exhaust assembly.
Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:
Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments are provided for illustration only wand not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Referring initially to
The rear end 14 of the vehicle body structure 16 includes a bumper structure 18 (shown in
The vehicle 10 also includes an exhaust system 30 that is installed beneath the vehicle body structure 16 in a conventional manner. As shown in
It should be understood from the drawings and the description herein that the vehicle 10 depicted in the drawings can include two separate exhaust systems 30 and two corresponding exhaust finishers 12. Since the two separate exhaust systems 30 and the, two corresponding exhaust finishers 12 are basically identical, except that they are symmetrically mirror images of one another, description of only one exhaust system 30 and only one exhaust finishers 12 is provided herein below for the sake of brevity. It should be understood that description of one of the exhaust systems 30 applies equally to both, and description of one of the exhaust finishers 12 applies equally to both.
The exhaust pipe 32 is connected to the exhaust finisher 12 via a boot 34, as is described in greater detail below.
The exhaust finisher 12 is fixedly and non-movably attached to one of the vehicle body structure 16 and a portion of the rear bumper assembly 18 (including the rear bumper fascia 20). The exhaust finisher 12 extends at least part way through the opening 22 the rear bumper fascia 20 of the rear bumper assembly 18. Since rear bumper assemblies, including bumper fascias, are conventional vehicle structures, further description of the elements and structures of a rear bumper assembly are omitted for the sake of brevity.
The exhaust pine 32 defines a rear end of the exhaust assembly 30. The exhaust pipe 32 includes a first annular flange 36 that extends radially outward therefrom, as shown in
The exhaust finisher 12 includes a forward end 38 that is hidden by the bumper fascia 28, as viewed in
The boot 34 includes a first end 50, a second end 52, and a flexible portion 54, as showin in
The first end 50 of the, boot 34 has a circular or cylindrical shape defining a first diameter D1. The first end 50 is configured to attach to the exhaust pipe 32 via any of a variety of fastening structures. The first end 50 of the boot 34 includes a second annular flange 56 that extends radially outward therefrom. The first annular flange 36 and the second annular flange 56 are dimensioned to mate with one another. The first annular flange 36 and the second annular flange 56 can be fixed to one another via mechanical fasteners (not shown), such as screws, staples or rivets. Alternatively, the first annular flange 36 and the second annular flange. 56 can be welded to one another. Further alternative attachment configurations are described further below.
The second end 52 of the boot 34 has a circular or cylindrical shape defining a second diameter D2, with the second diameter D2 being larger than the first diameter D1, as shown in
The flexible portion 5L extends from the from end 50 to the second end 52. The flexible portion 54 is shaped as an accordion-like bellows that is elastically deformable such that the first end 50 and the second end 52 are movable relative to one another.
Specifically, as the engine (not shown) al the vehicle 10 warms up, the exhaust system 30 can undergo thermal expansion and once the engine is shut off, the exhaust system 30 can undergo thermal contraction. Depending upon the overall design of the exhaust system 30, in a cooled state, the exhaust system 30 can be a first overall length, and in a heated state can be a second overall length greater than the first overall length. Hence, as the exhaust system 30 undergoes thermal expansion and contraction, the exhaust pipe 32 can move relative to the exhaust finisher 12. One characteristic of the overall design of the boot 34 is that the flexible portion 54 changes its shape in response to the thermal expansion and contraction of the exhaust system 30 or from relative movement between the exhaust pipe and the exhaust finisher resulting from, for example, rough road conditions.
Specifically,
The boot 34 provides several advantage and benefits to the, exhaust system 30. For example, the boot 34 can provide a sealed connection between the exhaust pipe 32 and the exhaust finisher 12. However, in contrast, the boot 34 can be provided with fresh air inlets, and need not provide a seal between the exhaust pipe 32 and the exhaust finisher 12, as is explained below in further embodiments.
Another advantage or benefit is that the boot 34 blocks any view of the underside of the vehicle 10 through the openings 42 of the exhaust finisher 12. Specifically, when a person looks into the exhaust finishers 12, as is possible in
Referring now to
The boot 34′ is similar to the boot 34 of the first embodiment. The boot 34′ includes a first end 50′, the second end 52 and the flexible portion 54. The second end 52 and the flexible portion 54 are as described above with respect to the first embodiment. The first end 50′ is similar to the first end 50. However, the first end 50′ includes a second annular flange 56′ that has been modified, as compared to the second annular flange 56 of the first embodiment. Specifically, the second annular flange 56′ includes a plurality of projections 60.
The projections 60 of the second annular flange 56′ of the boot 34′ connect to openings 62 formed in a first annular flange 36′ of an exhaust pipe 32′. The exhaust pipe 32′ is identical to the exhaust pipe 32 of the first embodiment, except that the first annular flange 36′ includes the openings 62. Otherwise, the first annular flange 36′ is identical to the first annular flange 36 of the first embodiment.
The projections 60 are inserted into the openings 62 and fix the boot 34′ to the exhaust pipe 32′. The projections 60 can be snap-fitting projections that are forced through the openings 62. The projections 60 are compressed when forced into the openings 62 and expand one through the openings 62. Alternatively, the projections 60 can be deformed after insertion into the openings 62, thereby fixing the boot 34′ to the exhaust pipe 32′.
Referring now to
The exhaust finisher 12′ is identical to the exhaust finisher 12 of the first embodiment, except that the cylindrically shaped projection 44 of the first embodiment has been modified. Specifically, a cylindrically shaped projection 44′ of the exhaust finisher 12 includes a plurality of fresh an inlet openings 64 that not covered by the second end 52 of the boot 34 with the boot 34 installed to the exhaust finisher 12′.
With the engine (not shown) of the vehicle 10 operating, but exhaust gases are forced out of the exhaust pipe 32. As those gases pass through the boot 34 and into the exhaust finisher 12′, fresh air is, drawn into the exhaust finisher 12′ through the openings 64 mixing with the exhaust gases.
Referring now to
The exhaust pipe 132 is identical to the exhaust pipe 12 of the first embodiment, except that the exhaust pipe 132 includes a plurality of heat dissipating fins 68 that extend forward from the first annular flange 36 and away from a rearward end 132a. The first end 50 (not shown in
Referring now to
The exhaust pipe 132′ is identical to the exhaust pipe 32 of the first embodiment, except a first annular flange 136 has been modified, as compared to the first annular flange 36 of the first embodiment. Specifically, the first annular flange 136 of the exhaust pipe 132′ includes a plurality of air channels 70, or openings, that assist in dissipation of heat from the exhaust pipe 132′.
Referring now to
The boot 134 is identical to the boot 34 of the first embodiment, except a second end 152 of the boot 34 has been, modified, as compared to the second end 52 of the first embodiment. Specifically, the second end 152 includes gap or cutaway 152a that can make installation of the second end 152 to the exhaust finisher 12 (not shown in
Referring now to
The exhaust pipe 232 is identical to the exhaust pipe 32 of the first embodiment, except that a plurality of pins 90 have been attached, formed with or welded thereto. The pins 90 extend radially outward from the exhaust pipe 232 and are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance, as explained below.
The boot 234 is identical to the boot 34 of the first embodiment, except a first end 250 of the boot 234 has been modified, as compared to the first end 50 of the boot 34 of the first embodiment. Specifically, the first end 250 includes a plurality of hook-shaped slots 92 that are dimensioned to receive corresponding ones of the plurality of pins 90 of the exhaust pipe 232. As shown in
Referring now to
The exhaust pipe 32 is identical to the exhaust pipe 32 of the first embodiment, except that an aero shield 94 has been welded via a welding flange W to an exterior surface of the exhaust pipe 32 at a location forward from the first annular flange 36. The shield 94 provides protection for the boot 34 in the event that debris should be heading toward the boot 34 while the vehicle 10 is in motion. The aero shield 94 also has sufficient surface area to assist in the dissipation heat.
The various structural elements of the vehicle 10 (other than the boot 34 and related portions of the exhaust system 30) are conventional components that are well known in the art. Since these vehicle elements are well known in the art, these structures will not be discussed or illustrated in detail herein. Rather, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the components can be;any type of structure andor programming that can be used to carry out the present invention.
In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, andor steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers andor steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. Also as used herein to describe the above embodiments, the following directional terms “forward”, “rearward”, “above”, “downward”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “below” and “transverse” as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directions of a vehicle equipped with the vehicle exhaust system. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the present invention should be interpreted relative to a vehicle equipped with the vehicle exhaust system.
The terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed.
While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the size, shape, location or orientation of the various components can be changed as needed andor desired. Components that are shown directly connected or contacting each other can have intermediate structures disposed between them. The functions of one element can be performed by two, and vice versa. The structures and functions of one embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment. It is not necessary for all advantages to be present in a particular embodiment at the same time. Every feature which is unique from the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, also should be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicant, including the structural andor functional concepts embodied by such features. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose at limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.