HOUSING CONNECTION

Abstract

A housing connection for connecting at least two adjacently placed exhaust gas housing end sections or exhaust pipe end sections of an exhaust gas housing or exhaust pipe, wherein the housing connection includes a spacer element which can be introduced between the two end sections, and wherein at least one retaining part is provided, configured as a retaining band, with at least two ends, which can be applied onto a circular shape of the exhaust gas housing or exhaust pipe end sections which are to be connected, and which at least partially circumferentially surrounds the respective end section, wherein the respective end is secured to the spacer element, and wherein the spacer element can be brought into contact against the respective exhaust gas housing end section or exhaust pipe end section, at least indirectly by way of the retaining band, or directly.

Claims

1. A housing connection for connecting at least two adjacently placed exhaust gas housing end sections or exhaust pipe end sections of an exhaust gas housing or exhaust pipe, wherein the housing connection comprises: a spacer element which can be introduced between the two end sections, wherein at least one retaining part is provided, configured as a retaining band, with at least two ends, which can be introduced onto a circular shape of the exhaust gas housing end section or exhaust pipe end section which is to be connected and at least partially surrounds the respective end section circumferentially, wherein the respective end is secured to the spacer element, wherein the spacer element can be brought into contact against the respective exhaust gas housing end section or exhaust pipe end section, at least indirectly by way of the retaining band or directly.

2. The housing connection according to claim 1, wherein the retaining band is configured as two-part, and comprises a first band part with two ends and a second band part with two ends, wherein the respective ends of each band part are connected to the spacer element.

3. The housing connection according to claim 1, wherein the spacer element comprises four coupling zones K1, K2, K3, K4, in which the respective end of the retaining band can be connected to the spacer element, wherein the four coupling zones K1, K2, K3, K4 are offset in relation to the circular shape of the retaining band by an angle α, with 20°≦α≦180° or α=120°.

4. The housing connection according to claim 2, wherein characterized in that the spacer element comprises at least two circular contact sections, as well as a web which connects the contact sections, wherein the contact sections can be brought into contact against the respective circular exhaust gas housing end section or exhaust pipe end section.

5. The housing connection according to claim 4, wherein the respective contact section extends in relation to the circular shape of the retaining band over an angle α, with 20°≦α≦180° or α=120°.

6. The housing connection according to claim 1, wherein the retaining band is arranged at least partially below or above the spacer element, or that the retaining band and the spacer element are butt-jointed.

7. The housing connection according to claim 1, wherein the spacer element is configured as multi-part, or that a plurality of spacer element parts are provided.

8. A system, consisting of: the housing connection according to claim 1 and a plurality of exhaust gas housings or exhaust pipes, wherein the exhaust gas housings or exhaust pipes are connected by the housing connection.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the retaining band is arranged at least partially between the spacer element and the exhaust gas housing in sandwich fashion, or that at least coupling zones K1, K2, K3, K4 of the spacer element are arranged between the retaining band and the exhaust gas housing in sandwich fashion.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein two, three, four, or five exhaust gas housings or exhaust pipes are provided, which are brought into contact against one another by means of at least one spacer element part, and are connected by at least one retaining band or a plurality of band parts.

11. The housing connection according to claim 2, wherein the spacer element comprises four coupling zones K1, K2, K3, K4, in which the respective end of the retaining band can be connected to the spacer element, wherein the four coupling zones K1, K2, K3, K4 are offset in relation to the circular shape of the retaining band by an angle α, with 20°<_α<_180° or α=120°.

12. The housing connection according to claim 11, wherein characterized in that the spacer element comprises at least two circular contact sections, as well as a web which connects the contact sections, wherein the contact sections can be brought into contact against the respective circular exhaust gas housing end section or exhaust pipe end section.

13. The housing connection according to claim 12, wherein the respective contact section extends in relation to the circular shape of the retaining band over an angle α, with 20°≦α≦180° or α=120°.

14. The housing connection according to claim 13, wherein the retaining band is arranged at least partially below or above the spacer element, or that the retaining band and the spacer element are butt-jointed.

15. The housing connection according to claim 14, wherein the spacer element is configured as multi-part, or that a plurality of spacer element parts are provided.

16. The system according to claim 9, wherein two, three, four, or five exhaust gas housings or exhaust pipes are provided, which are brought into contact against one another by means of at least one spacer element part, and are connected by at least one retaining band or a plurality of band parts.

17. A system, consisting of: the housing connection according to claim 15, and a plurality of exhaust gas housings or exhaust pipes, wherein the exhaust gas housings or exhaust pipes are connected by the housing connection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Further advantages and features of the invention are explained in the claims and in the description and represented in the figures. The figures show:

[0017] FIG. 1 a principle sketch of two exhaust gas housings connected by a retaining band;

[0018] FIG. 2 the arrangement according to FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 3 the arrangement according to FIG. 1 in a view from above;

[0020] FIG. 4 a principle sketch of the cross-section Q of the retaining band;

[0021] FIG. 5 a principle sketch in a side view;

[0022] FIG. 6 a principle sketch in a side view with three exhaust gas housings; and

[0023] FIG. 7 the arrangement according to FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] According to FIG. 1, two exhaust gas housings 4, 4′ or exhaust pipes 4, 4′ respectively are positioned relative to one another by means of a spacer element 2, and connected by means of a two-part retaining band 3, and concomitantly by a first band part 3a and a second band part 3b to the spacer element 2. The spacer element 2 is arranged in this situation in the region of the respective exhaust gas housing end section or exhaust pipe end section 4.1, 4.1′ as also represented according to FIG. 2. For this purpose, the spacer element 2 comprises at least two circular contact sections 2.1, 2.2, and a web 2.3, which connects the contact sections 2.1, 2.2. The contact sections 2.1, 2.2 lie at least indirectly against the respective exhaust gas housing end section or exhaust pipe end section 4.1, 4.1′ for support. The spacer element 2 comprises four coupling zones K1, K2, K3, K4, in which the respective end 3a1, 3a2, 3b1, 3b2 of the retaining band 3 is connected or welded to the spacer element 2. The four coupling zones K1, K2, K3, K4 are offset in relation to the circular shape of the retaining band 3 by an angle α of some 120°. In a corresponding manner, the respective contact section 2.1, 2.2 extends with respect to the circular shape of the retaining band 3 likewise by an angle α of some 120°. The web 2.3 extends in a radial direction between both contact sections 2.1, 2.2. At both the ends, the web 2.3 is bent over forwards and extends in the axial direction.

[0025] The respective band part 3a, 3b runs in this situation circumferentially around the respective exhaust pipe 4, 4′ or the respective end section 4.1, 4.1′ and ends in the region of the respective coupling zone K1, K2, K3, K4 of the spacer element 2. Accordingly, the respective end 3a1, 3a2, 3b1, 3b2 is placed in the region of the spacer element 2. In this situation, the respective end 3a1-3b2 can be placed in sandwich fashion between the spacer element 2 and the respective end section 4.1, 4.1′, or alternatively placed outside, such that the respective part of the spacer element 2 is placed between the respective end 3a1-3b2 and the respective end section 4.1, 4.1′ in sandwich fashion. As an alternative to these two variants, the respective end 3a1-3b2 can also be positioned butt-jointed against the spacer element 2 or a respective spacer element part 2a, 2b.

[0026] According to FIGS. 1 to 3, the respective end 3a1-3b2 of the retaining band 3 is butt-jointed against the spacer element 2.

[0027] As represented according to FIG. 4, the retaining band 3 exhibits a flat cross-section profile Q, such that this can be wound circumferentially over the respective end section 4.1, 4.1′.

[0028] In the principle sketch according to FIG. 5, as an alternative, all the ends 3a1-3b2 of the two band parts 3a, 3b are placed in sandwich fashion between the respective exhaust pipe 4, 4′ and the spacer element 2. The respective contact sections 2.1, 2.2 in this case are in contact, at least partially only indirectly, by way of the ends 3a1-3b2 against the respective exhaust gas housing end section or exhaust pipe end section 4.1, 4.1′. Between the four coupling zones K1, K2, K3, K4, the respective contact section 2.1, 2.2 is preferably directly in contact against the respective exhaust gas housing end section or exhaust pipe end section 4.1, 4.1′. The projections or ends 3a1-3b2 of the respective band part 3a, 3b, remaining in the interior in the region of the spacer element 2, are derived individually on the basis of the sizes or tolerances present in relation to the diameters of the exhaust pipes 4, 4′ on the one hand, and the length of the respective band part 3a, 3b on the other.

[0029] In the embodiment according to FIG. 6, the spacer element 2 is configured as two-part and comprises two spacer element parts 2a, 2b, which in combination ensure the relative position of the exhaust pipe end sections 4.1, 4.1′ or of the exhaust gas housings 4, 4′, 4″. The respective ends 3a1-3c2 of the band parts 3a, 3b, 3c project in the interior of the spacer element 2, such that the spacer element 2 is placed in the region of the respective end 3a1-3c2 in sandwich fashion between the respective band part 3a-3c and the respective exhaust pipe 4-4″.

[0030] For the purpose of the materially-bonded connection, the respective exhaust pipe end section 4.1, 4.1′ and the respective band part 3a-3c, as well as the spacer element 2, are preferably welded on the pipe inner side. For this purpose, a weld seam is arranged circumferentially over the circumference, which connects the adjacent component parts by a material bond. The weld seam can of course also be arranged on the outside, running over the circumference, wherein the narrow point between the two exhaust gas housings 4, 4′, 4″ represents a problem point for this welding process. The two coupling zones K1, K4 are offset in relation to the circular shape of the retaining band 3 by an angle α of some 115°. The two coupling zones K1, K2 are offset in relation to the circular shape of the retaining band 3 by an angle α of some 80°.

[0031] According to the embodiments in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the retaining band 3 or the respective band part 3a-3b project in the axial direction over the end of the respective exhaust gas housing or exhaust pipe 4, 4′. This also applies to the spacer element 2. The form and size of this projection can be freely selected depending on the application situation. A projection also favours the use of an interior weld seam. If it is intended that the weld seam should be arranged on the outside, this projection is not necessary for this purpose.

[0032] In an embodiment which is not represented, the respective exhaust gas housings 4, 4′ can also be coupled in the region of both end sections by means of a corresponding housing connection.

[0033] In the embodiment according to FIG. 7, a single-part retaining band 3 is provided. Only the two ends 3a2, 3b1 are connected by the spacer element 2. On the other sections of the retaining band 3, in particular opposite the two ends 3a2, 3b1, the retaining band is connected or welded to the spacer element 2 either by the side surface or the underside, or through-welded via the outside.

REFERENCE NUMBER LIST

[0034] 1 Housing connection [0035] 2 Spacer element [0036] 2.1 Contact section [0037] 2.2 Contact section [0038] 2.3 Web [0039] 2a Spacer element part [0040] 2b Spacer element part [0041] 3 Retaining part, retaining band [0042] 3a First band part [0043] 3b Second band part [0044] 3c Third band part [0045] 3a1 End [0046] 3a2 End [0047] 3b1 End [0048] 3b2 End [0049] 3c1 End [0050] 3c2 End [0051] 4 Exhaust gas housing or exhaust pipe [0052] 4′ Exhaust gas housing or exhaust pipe [0053] 4″ Exhaust gas housing or exhaust pipe [0054] 4.1 Exhaust gas housing- or exhaust pipe end section [0055] 4.1′ Exhaust gas housing- or exhaust pipe end section [0056] K1 Coupling zone [0057] K2 Coupling zone [0058] K3 Coupling zone [0059] K4 Coupling zone [0060] Q Cross-section profile [0061] α Angle