Silencer for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle

Abstract

A silencer for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle having a turbocharger and a charge air cooler is provided. The silencer includes a turbocharger module with a passage duct. An inlet interface is fastened to an outlet connector of the turbocharger of the internal combustion engine. An outlet interface of the turbocharger module is fastened one or more modules configured as a resonator module and/or a charge air cooler module. An outlet interface of the module most remote from the outlet connector of the turbocharger is fastened to an inlet interface of a feed line for the charge air cooler of the internal combustion engine.

Claims

1. A silencer for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle having a turbocharger having a turbocharger connector and a charge air cooler having a feed line, the silencer comprising: a turbocharger module having a first inlet interface configured to be fastened to the turbocharger connector, a first outlet interface and a first passage duct extending through the turbocharger module; and a resonator module having a second inlet interface detachably fastened with a fastener to the first outlet interface of the turbocharger module forming a plug connection interface, a second outlet interface configured to be fastened to the feed line, a second passage duct extending through the resonator module and in communication with the first passage duct, and a resonator chamber in communication with the second passage duct via a choke formed in the resonator module.

2. The silencer according to claim 1, wherein the resonator module comprises: a first resonator element adjacent the second inlet interface having a first resonator chamber in communication with the second passage duct via a first choke formed in the first resonator element, and a second resonator element adjacent the second outlet interface having a second resonator chamber in communication with the second passage duct via a second choke formed in the second resonator element, wherein the first resonator element and the second resonator element are arranged in series between the turbocharger connector and the feed line.

3. The silencer according to claim 2, wherein the first resonator chambers is designed for a first frequency range and the second resonator chamber is designed for a second frequency range which is distinct from the first frequency range.

4. The silencer according to claim 2, wherein an outlet interface on each of the first and second resonator elements are configured to provide a common mating interface with the inlet interfaces of the first and second resonator elements such that the order of the first and second resonator elements are interchangeable.

5. The silencer according to claim 1, wherein the resonator module comprises a first resonator element adjacent the turbocharger module having a first resonator chamber in communication with the second passage duct via a first choke formed in the first resonator element and a second chamberless charge air cooler element adjacent the second outlet interface.

6. The silencer according to claim 5, wherein an outlet interface on each of the first resonator element and the second chamberless charge air cooler element are configured to provide a common mating interface with the inlet interfaces of the first resonator element and the second chamberless charge air cooler element such that the order of the first resonator element and the second chamberless charge air cooler are interchangeable.

7. The silencer according to claim 1 wherein the plug connection interface comprises a positively lockable connection.

8. The silencer according to claim 7 wherein the positively lockable connection comprises a locked plug connection interface.

9. A silencer kit used when assembling a silencer for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle having a turbocharger with a turbocharger connector and a charge air cooler having a feed line, the silencer kit comprising: a first turbocharger module having a first turbocharger inlet interface, a first turbocharger outlet interface and a first turbocharger passage duct extending through the first turbocharger module; a second turbocharger module having a second turbocharger inlet interface that is distinct from the first turbocharger inlet interface, a second turbocharger outlet interface and a second turbocharger passage duct extending through the second turbocharger module; a first resonator module having a first resonator inlet interface configured to be detachably fastened with a first fastener to the turbocharger outlet interface of either the first or second turbocharger module forming a first plug connection interface, a first resonator outlet interface, a first resonator passage duct extending through the first resonator module and in communication with the passage duct of either the first or second turbocharger module, and a first resonator chamber in communication with the first passage duct via a first choke formed in the first resonator module; a second resonator module having a second resonator inlet interface configured to be detachably fastened with a second fastener to the turbocharger outlet interface of either the first or second turbocharger module forming a second plug connection interface, a second resonator outlet interface, a second resonator passage duct extending through the second resonator module and in communication with the passage duct of either the first or second turbocharger module, and a second resonator chamber in communication with the second passage duct via a second choke formed in the second resonator module; and a chamberless module having an inlet interface configured to be detachably fastened with a third fastener to the outlet interface of either the first or second turbocharger module or the first or second resonator module forming a third plug connection interface and an outlet interface; wherein the silencer is assembled from a first module selected from the group consisting of the first turbocharger module and the second turbocharger module arranged in series with a second module selected from the group consisting of the first resonator module, the second resonator module, the chamberless module and combinations thereof for locating between the turbocharger connector and the charge air cooler connector.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a motor vehicle silencer of a silencer kit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in a longitudinal section;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a motor vehicle silencer of the silencer kit that is distinct from that shown in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in a longitudinal section;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a motor vehicle silencer of the silencer kit that is distinct from that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in a longitudinal section;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a motor vehicle silencer of the silencer kit that is distinct from that shown in FIGS. 1-3 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in a longitudinal section; and

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a motor vehicle silencer of the silencer kit that is distinct from the previous figures according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in a longitudinal section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description.

(8) FIG. 1 shows a motor vehicle silencer of a silencer module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in a longitudinal section. The silencer module includes a turbocharger module 2 having a passage duct 20, an inlet interface 21, which is or will be detachably fastened to an outlet interface 12 of a connector 1 of a turbocharger 100 for an internal combustion engine 102 of the motor vehicle (not shown). The turbocharger module 2 includes an outlet interface 22, which is or will be detachably fastened to a resonator module 3. The resonator module 3 has a passage duct 30 and an independent resonator chamber 33, which communicates via multiple chokes 34 with the passage duct 30. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, resonator module 3 is the only resonator module in the silencer module, thus most distant from the turbocharger module 2, and is or will be detachably fastened to an inlet interface 61 of a feed line 6 of a charge air cooler 104 of the internal combustion engine 102.

(9) FIG. 2 shows in a manner similar to FIG. 1 a motor vehicle silencer of the silencer kit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Corresponding features for the silencer kit shown in FIG. 2 are identified by identical reference characters to that shown in FIG. 1 so that reference is made to the preceding description and only the differences are discussed in the following. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the silencer includes an additional resonator module 4, which includes a passage duct 40 and an independent resonator chamber 43, which via multiple chokes 44 communicates with the passage duct 40. An inlet interface 41, which is or will be detachably or permanently fastened to the outlet interface 32 of the adjacent resonator module 3 nearer the turbocharger, and an outlet interface 42. This outlet interface 42 of the resonator module 4, which in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2 is most distant from the turbocharger module is or will be detachably fastened to the inlet interface 61 of the feed line 6 instead of the outlet interface 32 of the resonator module 3 as shown in FIG. 1.

(10) FIG. 3 shows in a manner corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 2 a motor vehicle silencer of the silencer kit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Corresponding features for the silencer kit shown in FIG. 3 are identified by identical reference characters to that shown in FIGS. 1-2 so that reference is made to the preceding description and only the differences are discussed in the following. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, the silencer includes a resonator chamberless charge air cooler module 5 in place of the resonator module 4. The module 5 includes a passage duct 50, an inlet interface 51, which instead of the inlet interface 61 of the feed line 6 (see FIG. 1) or instead of the inlet interface 41 of the resonator module 4 (see FIG. 2) is or will be detachably or permanently fastened to the outlet interface of the adjacent resonator module 3 nearer the turbocharger module. An outlet interface 52 of the charge air cooler module 5 is or will be detachably fastened to the inlet interface 61 of the feed line instead of the outlet interface 32 of the resonator module 3 (see FIG. 1) or the outlet interface 42 of the resonator module 4 (see FIG. 2).

(11) FIG. 4 shows in a manner corresponding to FIGS. 1-3 a motor vehicle silencer of the silence kit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Corresponding features for the silencer kit shown in FIG. 4 are identified by identical reference characters to that shown in FIGS. 1-3 so that reference is made to the preceding description and only the differences are discussed in the following. The embodiment of FIG. 4 corresponds to a combination of the embodiments shown FIGS. 2 and 3. Accordingly, the motor vehicle silencer of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4 includes both the resonator module 4 fastened to the resonator module 3 and also the charge air cooler module 5, which instead of the resonator module 3 (see FIG. 3) is fastened in the embodiment of FIG. 4 to the resonator module 4.

(12) FIG. 5 shows in a manner corresponding to FIGS. 1-4 a motor vehicle silencer of the silencer kit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Corresponding features for the silencer kit shown in FIG. 5 are identified by identical reference characters to that shown in FIGS. 1-4 so that reference is made to the preceding description and only the differences are discussed in the following. The embodiment of FIG. 5 corresponds to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, wherein however the outlet connector 1 of the turbocharger has another interface 12. For this reason, the silencer of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5, which is otherwise identical in construction to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, includes a turbocharger module 2 with another inlet interface 21, which is distinct from the turbocharger module 2 or the inlet interface 21 of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4.

(13) Interfaces 12-61 are indicated in FIGS. 1-5 schematically. It will, however, be appreciated that each interface may provide a plug-in connector (e.g., 21, 21 22, 32, 42, 52) for insertion into a receptacle (e.g., 12, 12 31, 41, 51, 61) of the mating interface. The plug-in connector includes an annular groove, in which a fastener 70, 70, in particular a spring fastener, of the receptacle positively engages thus positively locking the plug-in connector in the receptacle. Additionally or alternatively, a releasable plug connection, in particular of the outlet interface 52 of the charge air cooler module 5 or of the outlet interface 32, 42 of the module most distant from the turbocharger can be or is frictionally locked to the feed line 6, in particular by a clip, which presses the feed line onto a plug-in connector of the outlet interface (not shown) which is inserted in the feed line.

(14) An inlet or outlet interface, via which one of the modules 2-5 is or will be connected to a further one of the modules 2-5, can be or will be permanently fastened to an outlet or inlet interface, in particular in a materially joined manner, in particular by gluing or welding, in particular friction welding. The outlet interfaces 22, 22 of the turbocharger modules 2, 2 of the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 are designed for the optional fastening to the same mating interface 31. The outlet interfaces 32, 42 and 52 respectively of one or multiple of the resonator modules 3, 4 and/or of the charge air cooler module 5 can also be designed for the optional fastening to the same mating interface 41, 51 respectively 61. Additionally or alternatively, in an embodiment, at least two of the inlet interfaces 31, 41 and/or 51 can be designed for the optional fastening to the same mating interface 32, 42 respectively 52.

(15) In the exemplary embodiments, the resonator modules 3, 4 each include exactly one resonator chamber 33 and 43 respectively. Here, the resonator Chamber 33 is designed for a first frequency range, the further resonator chamber 43 for a second frequency range that is distinct from the first frequency range.

(16) Viewing FIGS. 1-5 together illustrates a silencer kit according to an aspect of the present disclosure. As is evident by comparing the various embodiments, optionally different silencers can be or are optionally modularly produced by optionally connecting different ones of the turbocharger modules (see FIGS. 4, 5) to the same (or different) resonator modules (or optional connecting of one of the turbocharger modules to different resonator modules) and/or optional connecting of these different assemblies of a turbocharger and a resonator module 2, 3 to a further, in particular different resonator module 4 (see FIGS. 1, 2) and/or the same (or different) charge air cooler modules 5 (see FIGS. 2, 3, 4).

(17) While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.