Flexible Conduit Element

Abstract

The current invention comprises a flexible conduit means for an exhaust system of a combustion engine vehicle, comprising a bellows member (2), an outer flexible braided or knitted member (3) enclosing the bellows member, a resilient member (4), that is elastically deformable and encloses the outer braided or knitted member at least partially and abuts against it, whereas the bellows member comprises two corrugated portions (21), a connecting portion (24) between the corrugated portions, and the resilient member (4) encloses the connecting portion at least partially, the connecting portion (24) comprises flanks (25) that are formed at its axial ends and extend at least in a radial direction, and a curved portion (26) which connects the flanks with each other and which is at least partially enclosed by the resilient member (4).

Claims

1. Flexible conduit means (1) for an exhaust system of a combustion engine vehicle, comprising: a bellows member (2) extending in an axial direction, an outer flexible braided or knitted member (3) that encloses the bellows member (2) at least partially, at least a resilient member (4), that is elastically deformable and encloses the outer braided or knitted member (3) at least partially and abuts against it, whereas the bellows member (2) comprises: at least two corrugated portions (21) that are annularly corrugated in the axial direction of the bellows member (2) by alternating ridges and recesses (23) along the outer periphery of the corrugated portions (21) at substantially regular intervals (28), at least a connecting portion (24) that is formed axially between the corrugated portions (21) of the bellows member (2), and the resilient member (4) encloses the connecting portion (24) at least partially, characterized in that the connecting portion (24) comprises flanks (25) that are formed at its axial ends, and which extend at least in a radial direction, and the connecting portion (24) in between comprising a curved and/or arched portion (26) which connects the flanks (25) with each other and which is at least partially enclosed by the resilient member (4), and the axial length of the connecting portion (24) differs from the regular intervals (28) of the corrugated portions (21).

2. Flexible conduit means (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the largest outer diameter (29) of the connecting portion (24) is smaller than the outer diameter of the adjacent corrugated portions (21).

3. Flexible conduit means (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the curved and/or arched portion (26) is shaped in concave and/or convex form.

4. Flexible conduit means (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the curved and/or arched portion (26) comprises a plurality of curves or bends which consist preferably of different radii.

5. Flexible conduit means (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting portion (24) is curved and/or arched at least partially in a radial direction towards the outside and towards the inside.

6. Flexible conduit means (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the profile of the resilient member (4) extends at least partially along the axial direction of the bellows member (2).

7. Flexible conduit means (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the resilient member (4) has a curved profile which substantially at least resembles the axial shape of the connecting portion (24).

8. Flexible conduit means (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the resilient member (4) presses the outer flexible braided or knitted member (3) against the connecting portion (24).

9. Flexible conduit means (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact between the outer flexible braided or knitted member (3) and the connecting portion (24) is substantially a line contact along the outer surface circumference of the connecting portion (24).

10. Flexible conduit means (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact between the outer flexible braided or knitted member (3) and the connecting portion (24) is a surface contact which extends substantially along the axial direction of the bellows member (2) and along the outer surface circumference of the connecting portion (24).

11. Flexible conduit means (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the flanks (25) are connected in the axial direction to the next portion by an at least partially cylindrical portion (27).

12. Flexible conduit means (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axial length (30) between the corrugated portions (21) which enclose a connecting portion (24) is at least two times to seven times longer, preferably three times to six times longer, than the regular intervals (28) of the corrugated portions (21).

13. Flexible conduit means (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axial length (31) between the flanks (25) of the connecting portion (24) is at least 30 percent to 80 percent of the axial length (30) between the adjacent corrugated portions (21) which are connected to the cylindrical portion (27), preferably 40 to 70 percent.

14. Flexible conduit means (1) according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the largest outer diameter (29) of the connecting portion (24) is larger than the averaged diameter of at least one of the adjacent corrugated portions (21).

15. Flexible conduit means (1) according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the smallest diameter of the connecting portion (24) is larger than the smallest inner diameter of at least one of the adjacent corrugated portions (21).

Description

[0021] The present invention will further be described by the following FIGS. 1, 2 and 3:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a partial cut-out cross-section of the first embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows an overview of the flexible conduit metal means of a third embodiment.

[0025] In FIG. 1, an partial axial cut view of one embodiment of the flexible conduit means 1 is shown. The flexible conduit means 1 comprises an inner bellows member 2 in the center, the adjacent outer flexible member 3, and on the outside a resilient member 4. The shown bellows member 2 comprises a corrugated portion 21 on its axial left and right side, and the connecting portion 24 axially between them. The bellows member 2 is fixedly connected to the outer flexible member on its axial outer ends with collar members 11 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0026] The bellows member 2 is comprising the corrugated portions 21 which have ridges and recesses 23 which are made by bending of the bellows member 2 towards the axial outside and the inside along the axial length of the bellows member 2. Thereby the corrugated portions 21 have annular rings along its axial surface which have an inner and an outer diameter and are repeated by regular intervals 28.

[0027] Axially between the corrugated portions 21 is the connecting portion 24. In FIG. 1, the connecting portion 24 and the adjacent corrugated portions 21 each enclose a cylindrical portion 27 between them. The cylindrical portion 27 has on each side a radius which is connected to the corrugated portion 21 and the connecting portion 24. Between the two cylindrical portions 27 is the connecting portion 24 which comprises of flanks 25 which are oriented radially and are connected by a curved or arched portion 26. The flanks may also have only a partial radial direction. By the flanks 25 the length of the connecting portion 24 is defined. Also if the connecting portion should just show a half circle shape or an elliptic shape still the flanks are necessary to connect the connecting portion 24 with the bellows member 2. Thus the connecting portion 24 is defined by the first and last flank 25 which further becomes the connecting portion 24.

[0028] The arched or curved portion of the connecting portion 24 may have any shape which have radii or continuously curved surface shapes. By rounded curves or arc shapes the vibration behaviour is positively influenced in that the warping moment of the connecting portion is increased. Together with the increase a wobbling movement or vibration is reduced and thus the transfer of vibration to the adjacent parts is lessened. Further the generation of noise from the flexible conduit means itself is reduced. The curves or arcs can have any shape and may be designed as a continuous rounded surface so that sharp bends or buckles are omitted. In FIG. 1, the arched or curved portion 26 spans the complete axial distance between the two flanks 25. The largest outer diameter 29 of the connecting portion 24 is smaller than the largest outer diameter of the corrugated portions 21. Radially further outside of the metal bellows member 2 is the outer flexible member 3 which spans over both corrugated portions 21, the bellows member 2 and the connecting portion 24.

[0029] The outer flexible member 3 is held in place against movement by the resilient member 4 which contacts the outer flexible member 3 in the area of the connection portion 24. The outer diameter of the resilient member 4 is at least the same size as the outer diameter of the outer flexible member 3 so that the outer shape of the flexible conduit means 1 is not extended beyond the outer diameter of the outer flexible member 3. The resilient member has a contact surface to the outer flexible member 3 shaped parallel to the axial direction of the flexible conduit means 1 so that it has substantially a cylindrical shape. The resilient member 4 holds the outer flexible member 3 by an radial elastic force towards the axis of the flexible conduit means thereby providing tension on the outer flexible member 3 so that the outer flexible member 3 has a movable contact to the corrugated portions 21 and friction force between the outer flexible member 3 and the corrugated portions 21 is ensured.

[0030] In the axial area of the connecting portion 24 the resilient member 4 and the outer flexible member 3 do not contact the connecting portion 24 so that the resilient member 4 has free radial play to apply the elastic force on the outer flexible member 3 and it can be ensured that the resilient member 4 can apply the complete amount of force without being blocked by the connecting portion 24 which allows an accurate adjustment of the resilient member 4 and the outer flexible member 3 to the environment and the vibration conditions. This also ensures that the tensions applied to the outer flexible member 3 is acting on the complete length of the outer flexible member 3 as the complete axial length is pulled by the resilient member 4. The outer flexible member is held on its ends by the collar members 11 so that the tension to the outer flexible member is distributed evenly over the surface.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the current invention. The construction is basically the same as shown in FIG. 1. Yet the embodiment of FIG. 2 shows a different setup of the connecting portion 24 and of the usage of the outer flexible member 3.

[0032] The connecting portion 24 also is defined by the flanks 25. Yet between the flanks 25 is a concave curved portion 26 which is also curved towards the inside of the bellows member 2. By this arrangement, the embodiment according to FIG. 2 is different to the embodiment of FIG. 1 in that the connecting portion 24 is also curved towards the inside of the bellows member 2 and is therefore similar to the surface of the connecting portion 24.

[0033] In the area of the connecting portion 24, the resilient member 4 contacts the outer flexible member 3 and presses the outer flexible member 3 on the connecting portion 24 and its curved inward portion 26 and a surface contact is provided. Due to the bent shape of the connecting portion 24 and the similar bent shape of the resilient member 4, the area of the contact surface of the outer flexible member 3 and the connecting portion 24 is further increased in comparison to a plain cylindrical-shaped area and increases the friction of the outer flexible member 3 and the connecting portion 24 so that the surface pressure of the resilient member 4 is further supported by a higher friction area between the flexible member and the connecting portion 24.

[0034] The design of the connecting portion 24 in FIG. 2 brings the resilient member 4 in contact with the connecting portion 24. Therefore the tension applied to the outer flexible member 3 can be accurately adjusted as the contact of the resilient member 4 limits the tension which is applied on the outer flexible member 3. This makes it possible in comparison to the embodiment of FIG. 1 to have the outer flexible member 3 in more loose friction contact with the bellows member 2 in the area of the corrugated portions 21 as the resilient member 4 fixes the outer flexible member 3 firmly with the surface contact.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a flexible conduit means 1 according to another embodiment. The shown flexible conduit means 1 consists of a bellows member 2 which has on its outside the outer flexible member 3. The outer flexible member 3 is fixed to the bellows member 2 on its axial ends with collar rings 11 which are fixed by clamping or welding. The bellows member 2 comprises annular corrugations 21 along its axial length which increases the flexibility of the bellows member 2 to vibration or movement. The bellows member 2 contacts the outer flexible member 3 so that friction between the outer flexible member 3 and the bellows member 2 is ensured. Due to this friction, the noise and vibration behaviour of the flexible conduit means 1 is dampened and thus the generation of sound or vibration is reduced.

[0036] FIG. 3 shows that the outer flexible member 3 has actually a braided or knitted structure, preferably a knitted structure. In order to ensure a good friction between the outer flexible member 3 and the bellows member 2, the outer flexible member 3 is fixed to the end portions of the flexible conduit means 1 by force so that an axial tension is applied to the outer flexible member 3 which pulls the outer flexible member 3 against the surface of the corrugated portions 21 of the bellows member 2. To improve the friction of the outer flexible member 3 on the bellows member 2 a resilient member 4 is provided which surrounds the bellows member 2 in axial area of a connecting portion 24. In this embodiment the resilient member 4 is consisting of wire which is in concave shape in the axial direction.

[0037] The resilient member 4 provides a radial force on the outer flexible member 3 so that the outer flexible member 3 is clamped and held between the resilient member 4 and the connecting portion 24. The outer flexible member 3 is contacting the connecting portion 24 which has a curved portion 26 in an mainly concave shape. By the shape of the contact area the friction force is further improved by the curved shape so that under vibration load of the flexible conduit means 1 the outer flexible member 3 is held in place against axial movement. Due to the shape not only the force of the resilient member 4 in the radial direction holds the outer flexible member 3 in place but also the resistance of the curvature radius of the contact area which increases the resistance of movement along the axial direction. It is also possible to have a connecting portion 24 in a multiple curved shape.

REFERENCES

[0038] 1 Flexible conduit means [0039] 11 Collar Ring [0040] 2 Bellows member [0041] 21 Corrugated portion [0042] 23 Ridges/recesses [0043] 24 Connecting portion [0044] 25 Flanks [0045] 26 Curved/arched portion [0046] 27 Cylindrical portion [0047] 28 Regular intervals [0048] 29 Largest outer diameter of the connecting portion [0049] 30 Axial length between the corrugated portions [0050] 31 Axial length between the flanks [0051] 3 Outer flexible member [0052] 4 Resilient member