EXHAUST PIPE STRUCTURE HAVING VARIABLE CONFLUENCE PORTION

Abstract

An exhaust pipe structure having a variable confluence portion may include a first pipe to discharge exhaust gas generated by engine cylinders disposed in a first line, a second pipe to discharge exhaust gas generated by engine cylinders disposed in a second line, a confluence pipe provided with a first end connected to the first pipe for communication with the first pipe and a second end connected to the second pipe for communication with the second pipe, and a valve plate disposed in the confluence pipe and selectively opened and closed, in which the confluence pipe may include a main connection tube disposed at the first end of the confluence pipe and an entry confluence tube and a sub-entry confluence tube branched off from a middle of the confluence pipe and disposed at the second end of the confluence pipe.

Claims

1. An exhaust pipe structure having a variable confluence portion, the exhaust pipe structure comprising: a first pipe discharging exhaust gas generated by engine cylinders disposed in a first line; a second pipe discharging exhaust gas generated by engine cylinders disposed in a second line; a confluence pipe provided with a first end connected to the first pipe for fluidic communication with the first pipe and a second end connected to the second pipe for fluidic communication with the second pipe; and a valve plate disposed in the confluence pipe and selectively opened and closed, wherein the confluence pipe includes a main connection tube disposed at the first end of the confluence pipe and an entry confluence tube and a sub-entry confluence tube branched off from a middle portion of the confluence pipe and disposed at the second end of the confluence pipe.

2. The exhaust pipe structure according to claim 1, wherein the valve plate: has a disc shape; and is configured to select one of the entry confluence tube and the sub-entry confluence tube as a path of the confluence pipe according to a rotated angle of the valve plate around a rotary shaft.

3. The exhaust pipe structure according to claim 1, wherein the valve plate: has a disc shape; and is configured to open or close the confluence pipe according to a rotated angle of the valve plate around a rotary shaft.

4. The exhaust pipe structure according to claim 3, further comprising an actuator configured to rotate the valve plate when power is applied to the actuator.

5. The exhaust pipe structure according to claim 4, wherein the actuator determines whether or not the valve plate is opened or closed by a logic predetermined according to driving information of a vehicle and then rotates the valve plate to open or close the confluence pipe.

6. The exhaust pipe structure according to claim 5, wherein the actuator rotates the valve plate to close an inside of the confluence pipe, in a first condition in which an engine is rotated at a speed lower than a predetermined speed within a first rotation range, or in a second condition in which the engine is rotated at a speed higher than a predetermined speed within a second rotation range and an engine load is higher than a predetermined load within a first load range.

7. The exhaust pipe structure according to claim 5, wherein the actuator rotates the valve plate to open the entry confluence tube, in a third condition in which an engine is rotated at a constant speed within a third rotation range and an engine load is lower than a predetermined load within a second load range.

8. The exhaust pipe structure according to claim 5, wherein the actuator rotates the valve plate to open the sub-entry confluence tube, in a fourth condition in which an engine is rotated at a constant speed within a third rotation range and an engine load is higher than a predetermined load within a third load range, or in a fifth condition in which the engine is rotated at a speed higher than a predetermined speed within a second rotation range and an engine load is lower than a predetermined load within a fourth load range.

9. The exhaust pipe structure according to claim 1, wherein the first pipe and the second pipe each have sections disposed in parallel in front of mufflers; and the confluence pipe is disposed at the parallel sections of the first and second pipes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1A is a perspective view illustrating a conventional exhaust pipe stricture.

[0026] FIG. 1B is a view illustrating behavior of the conventional exhaust pipe structure near mufflers in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction.

[0027] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are views illustrating an exhaust pipe structure in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention and an enlarged view of a portion of the exhaust pipe structure on which a confluence pipe is mounted.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the confluence pipe in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a valve plate installed in the confluence pipe.

[0029] FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, and FIG. 4C are views illustrating paths of the confluence pipe, generated by control of the valve plate by an actuator.

[0030] It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0032] Various embodiments of the present invention relate to an exhaust pipe structure which maintains silence or generates an exhaust sound of emphasizing dynamics according to driving conditions or driver tastes.

[0033] As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, in an exhaust pipe structure of various embodiments of the present invention, a first pipe 10 to discharge exhaust gas generated by engine cylinders arranged in one line and a second pipe 20 to discharge exhaust gas generated by engine cylinders arranged in the other line are arranged in parallel in the length direction and are connected through a confluence pipe 30.

[0034] In various embodiments, the confluence pipe 30 has a Y shape in which a main connection tube 31 is disposed at one end of the confluence pipe 30 and an entry confluence tube 32 and a sub-entry confluence tube 33 are branched off from the middle part of the confluence pipe 30 and disposed at the other end of the confluence pipe 30.

[0035] Therefore, the confluence pipe 30 is configured such that the main connection tube 31 arranged at one end of the confluence pipe 30 is connected to the first pipe 10 so as to communicate with the first pipe 10 and the entry confluence tube 32 and the sub-entry confluence tube 33 arranged at the other end of the confluence pipe 30 are connected to the second pipe 20 so as to communicate with the second pipe 20, and a valve plate 35 which is opened or closed is installed in the confluence pipe 30, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 3. Here, the confluence pipe 30 is connected to the first pipe 10 and the second pipe 20 by confluence chamber brackets 34.

[0036] Further, when the entry confluence tube 32 and the sub-entry confluence tube 33 are connected to the second pipe 20, a connection position of the entry confluence tube 32 to the second pipe 20 is located closer to the front end of the second pipe 20 (the engine side) than a connection position of the sub-entry confluence tube 33 to the second pipe 20. In various embodiments, the connection position of the entry confluence tube 32 to the second pipe 20 is the same as a connection position of the main connection tube 31 to the first pipe 10.

[0037] In various embodiments of the present invention, respective portions of the confluence pipe 30 have a cylindrical shape, and the valve plate 35 has a disc shape having a diameter which may select one of the entry confluence tube 32 and the sub-entry confluence tube 33 as a path of the confluence pipe 30 or close the inside of the confluence pipe 30, and is opened or closed according to a rotated angle of the valve plate 35 around a rotary shaft.

[0038] When power is applied, the valve plate 35 is combined with an actuator 50 rotated by a motor installed therein. The actuator 50 may be set to judge whether or not the valve plate 35 is opened or closed by a logic predetermined according to driving information of a vehicle and then to rotate the valve plate 35 to be opened or closed.

[0039] In various embodiments of the present invention, the logic to control the valve plate 35 by the actuator 50 is executed as below. FIGS. 4A to 4C are views illustrating paths of the confluence pipe, generated by control of the valve plate by the actuator.

[0040] In the case of a first condition that an engine is rotated at a very low speed of 750 RPM or lower (within a first rotation range), or a second condition that the engine is rotated at a very high speed of 3000 RPM or higher (within a second rotation range) and an engine load is the maximum load, i.e., 75% or higher (within a first load range) (for example, just before idle-start), the actuator 50 may set the valve plate 35 to close the inside of the confluence pipe 30 so as to generate a very rough exhaust sound (to emphasize half-order components). In this case, an exhaust sound of a 3-cylinder engine may be generated as the exhaust sound (in FIG. 4A).

[0041] In the case of a third condition where the engine is rotated at a constant speed of 750 RPM to 3000 RPM (within a third rotation range) and the engine load is lower than 50% (within a second load range) (for example, constant speed/low speed/low load/city driving modes), the actuator 50 may set the valve plate 35 to open the entry confluence tube 32 so as to generate a silent exhaust sound (to emphasize a main order component). In this case, an exhaust sound of a 6-cylinder engine may be generated as the exhaust sound (in FIG. 4B).

[0042] In the case of a fourth condition that the engine is rotated at a constant speed of 750 RPM to 3000 RPM (within the third rotation range) and the engine load is 50% or higher (within a third load range), or a fifth condition that the engine is rotated at a very high speed of 3000 RPM or higher (within the second rotation range) and the engine load is 75% or lower (within a fourth load range) (for example, high speed/acceleration and deceleration/high load/highway driving modes), the actuator 50 may set the valve plate 35 to open the sub-entry confluence tube 33 so as to generate a sufficiently dynamic exhaust sound (to emphasize various order components). In this case, a sufficiently tuning sound may be generated as the exhaust sound (in FIG. 4C).

[0043] The above-described logic explains setting in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, and the various embodiments of the present invention are not limited to this setting. That is, separately from the above-described setting, a rough exhaust sound or a silent exhaust sound may be generated at all times or only under specific conditions according to driver preferences.

[0044] In various embodiments of the present invention, when the engine is rotated at a low speed, the valve plate 35 is opened, exhaust gas from the first pipe 10 and exhaust gas from the second pipe 20 are joined at the confluence pipe 30, half orders are weakened and thus an exhaust sound is silenced, as in the conventional structure. When the engine is rotated at a high speed, the valve plate 35 closes the confluence pipe 30, exhaust gas from the first pipe 10 and exhaust gas from the second pipe 20 are cut off (weakening of half orders is prevented differently from the conventional structure) and thus a rough and dynamic exhaust sound is generated.

[0045] Further, the confluence pipe 30 of various embodiments of the present invention connects the first pipe 10 and the second pipe 20 while supporting the first pipe 10 and the second pipe 20, thus increasing torsional stiffness instead of a conventional reinforcement bracket.

[0046] The actuator 50 to control the valve plate 35 may be operated by a predetermined logic, thus generating various exhaust sounds according to vehicle characteristics or modes operated by a driver.

[0047] In various embodiments of the present invention, as exemplarily shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the first pipe 10 and the second pipe 20 respectively have sections 10a and 20a, which are arranged in parallel in front of mufflers 40, and the confluence pipe 30 is disposed at the sections 10a and 20a of the first and second pipes 10 and 20.

[0048] As is apparent from the above description, an exhaust pipe structure having a variable confluence portion in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention provides characteristic effects, as below.

[0049] The exhaust pipe structure of various embodiments of the present invention adjusts communication between a first pipe and a second pipe according to driving conditions of a vehicle or driver intentions and may thus silence an exhaust sound or generate a dynamic exhaust sound, thereby increasing marketability of the vehicle.

[0050] A confluence pipe of the exhaust pipe structure various embodiments of the present invention is mounted at a position where a conventional reinforcement bracket to improve a vibration mode is disposed (i.e., a section in which the first and second pipes are parallel to each other between mufflers and sub-mufflers), thus being capable of replacing the reinforcement bracket.

[0051] An actuator to control a valve plate is operated by a predetermined logic and thus various exhaust sounds may be generated according to vehicle characteristics or modes operated by the driver.

[0052] For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms “upper” or “lower”, “inner” or “outer” and etc. are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures.

[0053] The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.