U.S. patent application number 10/573655 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-31 for support structure for muffler.
This patent application is currently assigned to HINO MOTORS LTD.. Invention is credited to Masahiro Kimura, Hirofumi Tongu.
Application Number | 20070119155 10/573655 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34430999 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070119155 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tongu; Hirofumi ; et
al. |
May 31, 2007 |
Support structure for muffler
Abstract
Provided is a support structure for a particulate filter stored
inside and properly detachable and attachable, which is low in
manufacturing cost, hardly causes stress concentration and readily
prevents interference with peripheral devices. Concerned is a
support structure for a muffler 11 with the particulate filter 6
stored inside, the muffler 11 being divided at positions in front
of and behind the portion for storage of the filter into portions,
the divided portions being detachably fastened together through
flanges 12a, 13a and 14a. Brackets 15 and 16 for suspension and
support of the muffler 11 from and by a frame 9 (vehicle body) are
fitted by fastening the brackets together upon fastening of the
flanges 12a and 13a and the flanges 13a and 14a.
Inventors: |
Tongu; Hirofumi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Kimura; Masahiro; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND, MAIER & NEUSTADT, P.C.
1940 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
HINO MOTORS LTD.
TOKYO
JP
|
Family ID: |
34430999 |
Appl. No.: |
10/573655 |
Filed: |
July 12, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
July 12, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP04/09941 |
371 Date: |
March 28, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
60/299 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01N 2260/10 20130101;
Y02T 10/12 20130101; F01N 2450/30 20130101; F01N 3/0335 20130101;
F01N 13/1805 20130101; F01N 2230/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
060/299 |
International
Class: |
F01N 3/10 20060101
F01N003/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 8, 2003 |
JP |
2003-349271 |
Claims
1. A support structure for a muffler with a particulate filter
stored inside, the muffler being divided, at positions in front of
and behind the stored filter, into portions, said divided portions
being fastened together through flanges thereof for easy detachment
and attachment, comprising brackets for suspension and support of
the muffler from and by a vehicle body, said brackets fitted by
fastening said brackets together upon fastening of the flanges.
2. The support structure for the muffler according to claim 1,
wherein each of the brackets has a lower end formed with an overlap
portion for overlapping with corresponding ones of the flanges only
at portions thereof adjacent to their tops, said bracket being
fitted by fastening the overlap portion together with the flanges
at a position adjacent to the tops of the flanges.
3. The support structure for the muffler according to claim 1,
wherein the particulate filter carries oxidation catalyst.
4. The support structure for the muffler according to claim 2,
wherein the particulate filter carries oxidation catalyst.
5. The support structure for the muffler according to claim 1,
wherein the particulate filter carries NO.sub.x absorption
reduction catalyst.
6. The support structure for the muffler according to claim 2,
wherein the particulate filter carries NO.sub.x absorption
reduction catalyst.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a support structure for a
muffler with a particulate filter stored inside, which makes it
possible to properly detach or attach the particulate filter.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Particulates or particulate matter entrained in exhaust gas
from a diesel engine is mainly constituted by carbonic soot and a
soluble organic faction (SOF) of high-boiling hydrocarbon and
contains a trace of sulfate (misty sulfuric acid fraction). In
order to suppress the particulates from being diffused into
atmosphere, it has been conceived as shown in FIG. 7 that a
particulate filter 6 is incorporated in an exhaust pipe 4 into
which exhaust gas 3 is introduced from a diesel engine 1 via
exhaust manifold 2 (see, for example, Reference 1).
[0003] It has been proposed that this kind of particulate filter 6
is fitted by storing it in a muffler 5 for improved mountability to
a vehicle since a new space is hardly available in the vehicle for
arrangement of the filter 6.
[0004] On the other hand, conventionally, the muffler 5 is
suspended from and supported by a vehicle body as shown in FIGS. 1
and 2 in such a manner that a bracket 7 is welded to an upper
peripheral portion of the muffler 5, the bracket 7 being suspended
from and supported by a frame 9 via, for example, a stay 8;
alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the muffler 5 is
encircled and held by a U-bolt 10, the U-bolt 10 being suspended
from and supported by the frame 9 via, for example, the stay 8
(see, for example, Reference 2). [0005] [Reference 1] JP
2003-65032A [0006] [Reference 2] Japanese Utility Model Publication
6-83914
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0007] However, in the former conventional structure shown in FIGS.
1 and 2, the bracket 7 has to be conformed at its lower end with
the outer periphery of the cylindrical muffler 5 for welding, which
causes the bracket 7 to have a curvature complementary with the
outer periphery of the muffler 5, resulting in problems, i.e.,
expensive modeling fee and increased manufacturing cost. There is
also a problem that stress concentration tends to occur at weld
boundaries x.
[0008] On the other hand, in the latter conventional structure
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, opposite ends of the U-bolt 10 fastened to
the stay 8 are required to have a pitch p longer than a diameter of
the muffler 5, so that tip ends of the stay 8 are largely protruded
as shown by A in the figure and tend to a problem of interference
with peripheral devices. The ends of the stay 8 are largely
protruded also for a reason that the muffler 5 has to be suspended
and supported in a sufficiently spaced-apart relationship from the
frame 9 so as to prevent interference between a vertical extension
of the U-bold 10 shown by B in the figure and a lower flange 9a of
the frame 9.
[0009] When the particulate filter 6 is fitted in such muffler 5 as
mentioned above, unburned ash deriving from lubricant and generated
during combustion within cylinders is gradually accumulated in the
filter 6, which necessitates direct cleaning such as air cleaning
or water washing of the filter 6 or replacement with a new
particulate filter 6. However, there have been no such particular
structures proposed up to the present for satisfactory support of
the muffler 5 with particulate filter 6 being detachable and
attachable and without the conventional problems.
[0010] The invention was made in view of the above and has its
object to provide a support structure for a muffler with a
particulate filter stored inside and properly detachable and
attachable, which is low in manufacturing cost, hardly causes
stress concentration and readily prevents interference with
peripheral devices.
Means or Measure for Solving the Problems
[0011] The invention is directed to a support structure for a
muffler with a particulate filter stored inside, the muffler being
divided, at positions in front of and behind the stored filter,
into portions, said divided portions being fastened together
through flanges thereof for easy detachment and attachment,
characterized in that brackets for suspension and support of the
muffler from and by a vehicle body are also fastened together upon
fastening of the flanges.
[0012] Thus, the brackets may be simplified in shape to an extent
that they may be fastened together upon fastening of the flanges.
Unlike conventional ones, the brackets do not need to be conformed
with an outer periphery of a muffler, resulting in cheap modeling
fee and decreased manufacturing cost. Moreover, they need no
welding, which preliminarily prevents the problem of stress
concentration tending to occur upon welding.
[0013] Furthermore, for fastening of the brackets together with the
flanges, relatively small fastening regions each of the order
within the diameter of a muffler will suffice. As a result, for
suspension and support of the bracket from and by a vehicle body,
no stays with larger projections will be required unlike a
conventional support using a U-bolt; relatively short stays will
suffice for suspension and support from and by a vehicle body,
readily preventing interference with peripheral devices.
[0014] When the invention is to be carried out more concretely, for
example, each of the brackets may have a lower end formed with an
overlap portion for overlapping with corresponding ones of the
flanges only at portions thereof adjacent to their tops. The
overlap portion is fastened together with the flanges at a position
adjacent to the tops of the flanges.
[0015] In the invention, the particulate filter may carry oxidation
catalyst; the particulate filter may carry NO.sub.x absorption
reduction catalyst.
Effects of the Invention
[0016] The following various, excellent effects and advantages will
be obtainable according to a support structure for a muffler of the
invention. [0017] (I) The brackets may be simplified in shape so
that modeling fee for the brackets may be cheap to decrease the
manufacturing cost. Furthermore, no welding is employed for fitting
of the brackets so that preliminarily prevented is a problem on
mechanical strength that stress concentration tends to occur at
weld boundaries, thereby providing the support structure with which
stress concentration hardly occurs. [0018] (II) Relatively small
fastening regions are required for fastening of the brackets
together with the flanges, which makes it unnecessary to use stays
with larger protrusions for suspension and support of the brackets
from and by the vehicle body. This can readily prevent interference
with the peripheral devices and can substantially relieve
restrictions on layout of the muffler and peripheral devices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] [FIG. 1] A side view showing an example of conventional
support structures for mufflers.
[0020] [FIG. 2] A front view of the support structure shown in FIG.
1.
[0021] [FIG. 3] A side view showing another example of the
conventional support structures for mufflers.
[0022] [FIG. 4] A front view of the support structure shown in FIG.
3.
[0023] [FIG. 5] A side view showing an embodiment of the
invention.
[0024] [FIG. 6] A front view of the support structure shown in FIG.
5.
[0025] [FIG. 7] A schematic view showing an example of an
arrangement of a particulate filter.
EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0026] 4 exhaust pipe [0027] 6 particulate filter [0028] 9 frame
(vehicle body) [0029] 11 muffler [0030] 12 front portion [0031] 12a
flange [0032] 13 intermediate portion (portion for storage of the
particulate filter) [0033] 13a flange [0034] 14 rear portion [0035]
14a flange [0036] 15 bracket [0037] 15a overlap portion [0038] 16
bracket [0039] 16a overlap portion Best Mode for Carrying Out the
Invention
[0040] An embodiment of the invention will be described with rence
to the drawings.
[0041] FIGS. 5 and 6 show an embodiment of the invention. In
embodiment illustrated, a catalytic regeneration type particulate
filter 6 integrally carrying oxidation catalyst is stored inside of
a muffler 11 incorporated in an exhaust pipe 4.
[0042] The particulate filter 6 comprises a porous honeycomb
structure made of ceramics with grid-like compartmentalized
passages. Alternate ones of the passages have plugged one ends and
the remaining passages with unplugged one ends have the plugged
other ends such that only exhaust gas 3 passing through porous thin
walls which compartmentalize the respective passages is discharged
downstream.
[0043] Oxidation reaction of particulates captured by inside
surfaces of the porous thin walls in the particulate filter 6 is
accelerated by the oxidation catalyst so that the particulates are
ignited and burned even at relatively low temperatures; gradually
accumulated within the filter 6 is ash deriving from lubricant and
generated in combustion within cylinders, resulting in requirement
of direct cleaning such as air cleaning or water washing of the
filter 6 or replacement into a new particulate filter 6.
[0044] To this end, employed in the embodiment is a structure such
that the muffler 11 is divided into three, i.e., front,
intermediate and rear portions 12, 13 and 14, the portions being
detachably fastened together through flanges 12a, 13a and 14a by
bolts and nuts, the intermediate portion 13 being the portion for
storage of the particulate filter 6. The particulate filter 6 can
be properly taken out wholly together with the intermediate portion
13 for its cleaning or replacement.
[0045] Front and rear joints comprising flanges 12a, 13a and 14a
are fastened together with angled brackets 15 and 16 by bolts and
nuts, the brackets 15 and 16 being suspended and supported from and
by the frame 9 through stays 8 extending therefrom.
[0046] More specifically, the brackets 15 and 16 have lower ends
formed with overlap portions 15a and 16a overlapped with the
flanges 12a, 13a and 14a only at position adjacent to tops thereof.
The brackets 15 and 16 are fitted by fastening them together with
the flanges 12a, 13a and 14a at position adjacent the tops
thereof.
[0047] In FIG. 5, reference numeral 17 denotes heat insulation
material which surrounds an outer periphery of an intermediate
portion of the muffler 11 so as to maintain the particulate filter
6 at temperature as high as possible.
[0048] Thus, the support structure for the muffler 11 constructed
in this manner makes it possible to simplify the brackets 15 and 16
in shape to an extent fastenable together with the flanges 12a, 13a
and 14a upon fastening of the flanges; the brackets are not needed
to be conformed with the outer periphery of the muffler 11 unlike
the prior art, so that modeling fee is cheap to decrease the
manufacturing cost. Moreover, no welding is employed so that
preliminarily prevented is a problem that stress concentration
tends to occur at weld boundaries.
[0049] Furthermore, for fastening of the brackets 15 and 16
together with the flanges 12a, 13a and 14a, relatively small
regions to an extent within a diameter of the muffler 11 suffice,
which makes it unnecessary to use stays 8 with larger protrusions
required in the conventional structures using U-bolts for
suspension and support of the brackets 15 and 16 from and by the
frame 9 (vehicle body); the brackets may be suspended and supported
from and by the frame 9 via the relatively short stays 8, which can
readily prevent interference with the peripheral devices.
[0050] Thus, according to the above-mentioned embodiment, the
brackets 15 and 16 may be simplified in shape so that modeling fee
for the brackets 15 and 16 may be cheap to decrease the
manufacturing cost. Furthermore, no welding is employed for fitting
of the brackets so that preliminarily prevented is a problem on
mechanical strength that stress concentration tends to occur at
weld boundaries, thereby providing the support structure with which
stress concentration hardly occurs.
[0051] Relatively small fastening regions are required for
fastening of the brackets 15 and 16 together with the flanges 12a,
13a and 14a, which makes it unnecessary to use stays 8 with larger
protrusions for suspension and support of the brackets 15 and 16
from and by the frame 9. This can readily prevent interference with
the peripheral devices and can substantially relieve restrictions
on layout of the muffler 11 and the peripheral devices.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0052] It is to be understood that the muffler support structure is
not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment and that various
changes and modifications may be effected within the gist of the
invention. For example, the muffler may be of any shape such as of
oval section other than cylindrical. The particulate filter may not
necessarily have oxidation catalyst. In lieu of oxidation catalyst,
the filter may carry NO.sub.x absorption reduction catalyst so as
to attain concurrent reduction of particulate and NO.sub.x.
* * * * *