Sound Generating Device on a Vehicle for Reducing or Generating Engine Sound and Exhaust System

Abstract

A sound generating device is provided on a vehicle to reduce or generate engine sound, and is used in particular for an exhaust system of a combustion engine of the vehicle. The sound generating device has a housing into which a loudspeaker is positioned to divide an inner space of the housing into two sub-spaces separated in a gas-tight manner. A seal rim provides the gas-tight sealing of the loudspeaker towards the housing. An abutment rim positions the loudspeaker in the inner space of the housing. The abutment rim and the seal rim are spaced apart from each other in a direction of a central axis of the loudspeaker. There is also described an exhaust system of a combustion engine of a vehicle with a sound generating device.

Claims

1. A sound generating device on a vehicle to reduce or generate engine sound, in particular for an exhaust system of a combustion engine of a vehicle, comprising: a housing into which a loudspeaker is attached so that the loudspeaker divides an inner space of the housing into two sub-spaces separated from each other in a gas-tight manner; a seal rim to provide gas-tight sealing of the loudspeaker towards the housing; and an abutment rim to axially position the loudspeaker in the inner space of the housing, and wherein the abutment rim and the seal rim are axially spaced apart from each other and/or wherein the loudspeaker is attached to a central housing part and a largest inside diameter of the sub-space on a rear side of the loudspeaker is larger than an outside diameter of the loudspeaker by at least 25%.

2. The sound generating device according to claim 1, wherein the central housing part comprises a ring-shaped flange section on which the abutment rim and a seal as well as threaded bolts are arranged, and wherein an interior of the ring-shaped flange section an opening is provided to pass the sound generated by the loudspeaker.

3. The sound generating device according to claim 2, wherein the central housing part on an outer circumference of the ring-shaped flange section is at least sectionally designed as a funnel or truncated cone-shape.

4. The sound generating device according to claim 2, wherein in an area of the opening the ring-shaped flange section has an axially angled opening rim.

5. The sound generating device according to claim 1, wherein the central housing part on one side is connected with an upper housing part and on an opposite side with a bottom housing part.

6. The sound generating device according to claim 5, wherein the bottom housing part has a lateral sound outlet that is connected to an exhaust gas-carrying duct.

7. The sound generating device according to claim 1, wherein the central housing part protrudes into an interior of the housing and forms a part of a partition wall between the two sub-spaces.

8. The sound generating device according to claim 1, wherein a changeover of the central housing part from the outside diameter to a diameter of the abutment rim is effected via a truncated cone-shaped section of the central housing part.

9. The sound generating device according to claim 1, wherein the loudspeaker rests against the housing via the abutment rim.

10. The sound generating device according to claim 1, wherein a seal is arranged between the seal rim and the housing and a distance between the seal rim and the abutment rim determines a distance between the seal rim and the housing, wherein the distance between the seal rim and the abutment rim is selected so that the seal is compressed in a defined way.

11. The sound generating device according to claim 1, wherein the abutment rim and the seal rim are formed on a section of a loudspeaker basket or of a housing part of the housing.

12. The sound generating device according to claim 1, wherein the loudspeaker is attached to the housing with threaded bolts welded to the housing or to the loudspeaker, and wherein the threaded bolts each pass through a hole arranged on the loudspeaker or on the housing and are fixed therein.

13. The sound generating device according to claim 12, wherein the holes are arranged radially between the seal rim and the abutment rim, and/or the threaded bolts are arranged radially in an area in which the housing is axially spaced apart from the loudspeaker.

14. The sound generating device according to claim 1, wherein the abutment rim and/or the seal rim have substantially circumferentially closed geometries and/or that the seal rim is located radially within the abutment rim as viewed in a direction of a central axis of the loudspeaker.

15. The sound generating device according to claim 12, wherein the abutment rim does not extend circumferentially, but rests against the housing only in an area around the threaded bolts.

16. The sound generating device according to claim 12, wherein the abutment rim rests against the housing in an arc-shaped section around the threaded bolts.

17. The sound generating device according to claim 1, wherein a seal and the abutment rim rest against a common, planar counter surface.

18. The sound generating device according to claim 1, wherein, in a direction of a longitudinal axis, the abutment rim lies in a radial plane intersecting a sound outlet opening.

19. An exhaust system of a combustion engine of a vehicle comprising: a sound generating device connected to an exhaust gas-carrying duct; and the sound generating device comprises a housing into which a loudspeaker is attached so that the loudspeaker divides an inner space of the housing into two sub-spaces separated from each other in a gas-tight manner, a seal rim to provide gas-tight sealing of the loudspeaker towards the housing, and an abutment rim to axially position the loudspeaker in the inner space of the housing, and wherein the abutment rim and the seal rim are axially spaced apart from each other and/or wherein the loudspeaker is attached to a central housing part and a largest inside diameter of the sub-space on a rear side of the loudspeaker is larger than an outside diameter of the loudspeaker by at least 25%.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] FIG. 1 schematically shows a section of an exhaust system according to the invention with an inventive sound generating device;

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a sound generating device according to the invention in a partly sectional side view;

[0036] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the sound generating device according to the invention as shown in FIG. 2;

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a central housing part of the sound generating device according to the invention as shown in FIG. 3, and

[0038] FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show details of the sound generating device according to the invention as shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] FIG. 1 schematically shows an exhaust system 10 of a non-illustrated combustion engine of a vehicle. The exhaust system 10 comprises an exhaust pipe 12 on the side of the combustion engine, which carries exhaust gases coming from the combustion engine.

[0040] In addition, the exhaust system 10 comprises a sound generating device 14. In the sound generating device 14 sound is generated, which via a sound line 16 and an orifice 18 is joined with the exhaust gas guided in the exhaust pipe 12 on the side of the combustion engine. Via the orifice 18, the sound line 16 and the exhaust pipe 12 are connected with an exhaust gas-carrying duct 20, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed, e.g., as an exhaust tailpipe.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows the sound generating device 14. The sound generating device 14 comprises a housing 21, which comprises a pot-shaped upper housing part 22, a central housing part 24 and a bottom housing part 26.

[0042] The individual housing parts 22, 24, 26 preferably are made of metal in one example, in particular of sheet metal, and are connected with each other e.g. by welding, soldering, gluing, folding, screwing, and/or other suitable methods.

[0043] At the pot-shaped bottom housing part 26 an oval sound outlet is formed, which is connected with the exhaust gas-carrying duct 20 via the sound line 16.

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, a loudspeaker 30 is attached to the central housing part 24 such that it divides the housing 21 into two sub-spaces 32, 34, a sub-space 34 and 32, respectively, on the rear side and on the front side of the loudspeaker. These sub-spaces 32, 34 are located along a central axis 36 of the loudspeaker 30 on opposite sides of the loudspeaker 30.

[0045] The sub-space 32 opens into the sound outlet 28, whereas in the sub-space 34 the electrical connection contacts as well as the excitation mechanism of the loudspeaker 30 are arranged.

[0046] The sub-space 34 is gas-tightly separated from the sub-space 32 by the loudspeaker 30 and in part by the central housing part 24.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows the sound generating device 14 in an exploded representation. It can be seen that the loudspeaker 30 is fastened in the funnel-shaped central housing part 24 by threaded bolts 38 and nuts 40, for example. In the illustrated embodiment, six of a total of eight threaded bolts 38 can be seen. The same applies for the nuts 40.

[0048] To fasten the loudspeaker 30 the threaded bolts 38 are inserted through holes 42 in the loudspeaker 30 and fixed with the nuts 40. The nuts 40 preferably are designed as self-locking nuts, which preferably do not include any plastic parts. The electrical connection contacts of the loudspeaker 30 likewise are shown in FIG. 3.

[0049] In the illustrated embodiment, the holes 42 are arranged on a funnel-shaped, laterally in part open loudspeaker basket 43. In particular, the holes 42 are arranged on a substantially cylindrical section of the loudspeaker basket 43.

[0050] FIG. 4 shows the central housing part 24 in a sectional view. An outer edge of the central housing part 24 is formed by a cylinder-shaped section. The same is adjoined by a truncated cone or funnel-shaped section 44. The truncated cone-shaped section 44 distinctly protrudes into the bottom housing part. The truncated cone-shaped design stiffens the central housing part 24. The funnel-shaped section 44 changes over into a ring-shaped flange section 45, which is arranged in a plane that is vertical to the central axis 36 of the loudspeaker 30.

[0051] The loudspeaker 30 protrudes into a depression formed by the truncated cone-shaped section 44, so that the sub-space 34 can be increased and the axial installation space can be reduced. The flat construction furthermore is achieved in that the largest inside diameter D of the sub-space 34 on the rear side of the loudspeaker 30, here in the region of the central housing part 24, is larger than the outside diameter d (FIG. 6) of the loudspeaker 30, which usually is located in the area of an outer rim 52 (here abutment rim) of the loudspeaker basket 43, by least 25%. Furthermore, in the direction of the longitudinal axis 36 the abutment rim 52 lies in a radial plane of the longitudinal axis 36 intersecting the sound outlet opening 28.

[0052] The ring-shaped flange section 45 encloses an opening 46 with an angled opening rim 48. Angling imparts additional stiffness to the central housing part 24 and hence to the entire housing 21.

[0053] On the ring-shaped flange section 45, the threaded bolts 38 are arranged and welded to the ring-shaped flange section 45. The tightness of the ring-shaped flange section 45 is not impaired by the threaded bolts 38. The threaded bolts 38 substantially extend parallel to the central axis 36 of the loudspeaker 30.

[0054] The synopsis of FIG. 4 with FIG. 3 also reveals that the opening 46 is arranged such that the sound generated by the loudspeaker 30 can pass through this opening 46 and is guided from the bottom housing part 26 in the direction of the sound outlet 28.

[0055] FIG. 5 shows a part of the ring-shaped flange section 45 in a sectional view. In addition, the screw connection of the loudspeaker 30 with the housing 21 and the sealing of the loudspeaker 30 towards the housing 21 can be seen in detail.

[0056] Like in FIG. 3, the holes 42 through which the threaded bolts 38 pass are arranged on the loudspeaker basket 43. The threaded bolts 38 are secured in the holes 42 with the nuts 40.

[0057] In addition, the abutment rim 52 and a seal rim 54 are provided at the loudspeaker basket 43. The abutment rim 52 is axially, i.e. in the direction of the loudspeaker middle axis 36, spaced apart from the seal rim 54, wherein the abutment rim 52 and the seal rim 54 preferably lie in parallel planes.

[0058] The abutment rim 52 rests against the central housing part 24, hence against the housing 21, directly, i.e. without any intermediate elements. Via the abutment rim 52 the loudspeaker 30 is positioned in the housing 21.

[0059] Since the abutment rim 52 directly rests against the central housing part 24 or more exactly against the ring-shaped flange section 45 of the central housing part 24 in a circumferentially closed manner, the distance between the abutment rim 52 and the seal rim 54 corresponds to the distance of the seal rim 54 from the central housing part 24 or more exactly from the ring-shaped flange section 45 of the central housing part 24.

[0060] A closed ring-shaped seal 56 is provided between the seal rim 54 and the ring-shaped flange section 45 of the central housing part 24. The seal 56 thus seals the loudspeaker 30 towards the housing 21.

[0061] In the representation of FIG. 5 the seal 56 is compressed so that it fills the area between the seal rim 54 and the ring-shaped flange 45 under tension. Since the distance between the seal rim 54 and the abutment rim 52 is fixed, the compression of the seal 56 is a defined compression.

[0062] In particular, the compression of the seal 56 is not dependent on how firmly the loudspeaker 30 is screwed to the central housing part 24 with the nuts 40 and the threaded bolts 38. It merely is important that the abutment rim 52 rests against the central housing part 24.

[0063] The seal 56 possibly can be loose or vulcanized onto the seal rim 54, but preferably is integrated in one part into a so-called loudspeaker bead 85 (FIG. 5) to whose radially inner side the loudspeaker membrane (not shown) in turn is glued.

[0064] Conversely, the flow of force generated by the screw connection of the loudspeaker 30 with the central housing part 24 does not go through the seal 56, but through the section of the loudspeaker 30, more exactly of the loudspeaker basket 43, which faces the abutment rim 52. The strength of the screw connection hence is independent of a possible change of the elasticity of the seal 56 or a possible shrinkage of the seal 56.

[0065] In summary, the positioning of the loudspeaker 30 at the housing 21 hence is independent of the sealing of the loudspeaker 30 with respect to the housing 21.

[0066] In the illustrated embodiment, the threaded bolts 38 and the holes 42 are arranged between the seal rim 54 and the abutment rim 52 in a radial direction as seen with respect to the central axis 36 of the loudspeaker. The seal rim 54 is located radially within the abutment rim 52.

[0067] In addition, in the region of the threaded bolts 38, the housing 21, more exactly the central housing part 24, is spaced apart from the loudspeaker 30, more exactly from the loudspeaker basket 43.

[0068] In the illustrated embodiment, the abutment rim 52, the seal 56 and the threaded bolts 38 are arranged on the ring-shaped flange section 45. This ring-shaped flange section 45 hence forms a common, planar counter surface for the seal 56 and the abutment rim 52.

[0069] It can also be seen that the central housing part 24 protrudes into the interior of the housing 21 and thus together with the loudspeaker 30 forms a partition wall between the sub-spaces 32, 34. Of course, the abutment rim 52 and the seal rim 54 also can be present at the central housing part 24, and the loudspeaker 30, more exactly the loudspeaker basket 43, is flat to form an associated counter surface. Furthermore, the threaded bolts 38 can then be welded to the loudspeaker 30 or to the loudspeaker basket 43.

[0070] In FIG. 6, the abutment rim 52 and the seal rim 54 are shown in a perspective representation. The loudspeaker 30 and hence also the loudspeaker basket 43 are designed substantially round. Around each stay bolt an arc-shaped abutment rim 52 is formed, with which alone the loudspeaker basket 43 rests against the central housing part 24. Between the arc-shaped abutment rims 52 a minimum gap is present towards the central housing part 24. This should result in freedom from clatter. As an alternative, the abutment rim 52 can of course also extend around the loudspeaker circumference in a ring-shaped closed manner. The seal rim 54 always extends in a substantially ring-shaped manner, wherein the ring is a circular ring. The seal rim 54 has a closed circumferential geometry. Around the stay bolts the axially angled section 81 of the loudspeaker basket 43 extends substantially cylindrically, like a half-pipe. In FIG. 6 this half-pipe bears the reference numeral 83.

[0071] The half-pipe 83 is the part of the loudspeaker basket 43 compressed via the stay bolts.

[0072] The sound generating device alternatively can be attached to the exhaust system without opening into the exhaust branch with the sound outlet opening and thus directly emitting the sound for generating another engine sound or for reducing the engine noise, wherein for this purpose the sound generating device alternatively can also be accommodated at other points of the vehicle.

[0073] Although an embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this disclosure. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this disclosure.