GB2182997A

GB2182997A - A device for repairing a silencer

Info

Publication number: GB2182997A
Application number: GB08527999A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeromy Cecil Turner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-11-13
Filing date: 1985-11-13
Publication date: 1987-05-28
Also published as: GB8527999D0

Abstract

An apparatus is provided to repair a silencer 1 which is perished in the region 3 where the exhaust pipe 2 is connected to the silencer 1. The apparatus consists of two elements 4 which can be assembled together to form an assembly which has a first part 5 surrounding and sealingly engaging the main body portion of the silencer 1, and a further part 7 sealingly surrounding the exhaust pipe 2. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to a device for repairing a silencer THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a device for use in repairing a silencer, such as a silencer used on an internal combustion engine.

All motor vehicles having an internal combustion engine are required to be provided with an adequate operative silencer, and silencers are also provided on internal combustion engines that have other uses, such as driving electric generators.

A conventional silencer is of generally cylindrical configurantion with an inlet pipe at one end of the silencer and an outlet pipe at the other end. The silencer on a motor vehicle is a relatively expensive component to replace, but silencers are subject to deterioration, and it is not unusual for a silencer to become perforated.

If a perforation appears in the outer cylindrical shell of the silencer, it is possible to repair the silencer by applying a silencer bandage.

However, if the silencer perishes at either end, that is to say where the inlet pipe or the outlet pipe are joined to the silencer, it is not practicable to seek to repair the silencer with a silencer bandage, and at the present time if a silencer perishes in this region it is necessary to replace the silencer.

The present invention seeks to provide a device which can enable a silencer to be repaired when the silencer has perished at either end of the silencer.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided an apparatus for repairing a defective silencer of the type having a body portion of circular or other cross section of relatively large diameter and at least one pipe emanating from an end of the body portion, the pipe being of lesser diameter, said apparatus comprising a plurality of elements adapted to be assembled together to form an assembly which has a first part surrounding and sealing engaging the main body portion of the silencer and an intermediate part forming an integral seal with a further part sealingly surrounding the or each pipe.

Preferably the assembly is constituted by two separate elements.

Conveniently each element comprises a relatively large diameter shell portion having an internal configuration dimensioned to abut the exterior of the main body portion of the silencer, a transverse wall provided at one end of the shell portion adapted to lie adjacent an end wall of the silencer and a protruding semi cylindrical portion adapted to abut the exterior of the pipe.

Advantageously one side edge of each element is provided with a stepped lip adapted to sealing engage the un-lipped adjacent edge of the corresponding element.

In one embodiment the two elements are identical.

Preferably means are provided to retain the elements together as an assembly.

Conveniently said retaining means comprise at least one clip adapted to surround the elements and hold them together.

The invention also relates to a kit of parts for repairing a motor vehicle silencer, said kit of parts comprising an apparatus according to the invention together with a container of silencer sealing compound.

According to another aspect to this invention there is provided a method of repairing a perforated or perished silencer of the type having a body portion of circular or other section of relatively large diameter and at least one pipe emanating from an end of the body portion, the pipe being of lesser diameter, said method comprising the steps of taking a plurality of elements and assembling the elements to form an assembly which has a first part surrounding and sealingly engaging the main body portion of the silencer and an intermediate part forming an integral seal with a further part sealingly surrounding the or each pipe, the assembly covering the perforated or perished part of the silencer.

Preferably each element comprises a relatively large diameter shell protion having an internal configuration dimensioned to abut the exterior of the main body portion of the silencer, a transverse wall provided at one end of the shell portion adapted to lie adjacent an end wall of the silencer and a protruding semicylindrical portion adapted to abut the exterior of the pipe.

Advantageously the method comprises the step of applying a sealant to the silencer and/or to said elements.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of a motor car silencer, illustrating components of the present invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the silencer of Fig. 1 when repaired utilising the invention, and Figure 3 is a perspective view of an alternative form of silencer repaired by an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings Fig. 1 illustrates a generally cylindrical motor car silencer 1 having an inlet pipe 2 which is coaxially aligned with the main body of the silencer 1, and which enters the silencer at one end 3 thereof. It is to be assumed, for the purpose of this explanation, that the end 3 of the silencer is perished and is in need of the repair.

As can be seen in Fig. 1, two repair elements 4 are provided. The two repair ele ments are each of precisely the same design, and are made of steel, or other appropriate metal.

Each repair element consists of a main semi-cylindrical shell portion 5, having an internal diameter which is substantially the same as the external diameter of the main cylindrical portion 1 of the silencer. At one side edge the shell 5 terminates in a perpendicular semicircular plate 6, and a semi-cylindrical projection 7, of smaller diameter than the shell portion 5, projects from the semi-circular plate 6 on the side thereof remote from the main shell portion 5. The semi-cylindrical projection 7, the semi-circular plate 6 and the cylindrical shell portion 5 all have centres of curvature lying on a single elongate axis.

One side edge of the semi-cylindrical projection 7 is provided with a stepped lip 8, and the side edge of the plate 6 which extends away from the lipped edge 8 of the projection 7 is also provided with a corresponding lip 9.

The edge of the shell 9 adjacent the termination of the lip 5 is provided with a corresponding lip 10.

As can be seen from Fig. 2 the two repair elements 4 can be positioned to embrace the end part of the silencer 1. The unlipped edges 11, 12, 13 of each of the elements 4 engage in a sealing manner with the lipped edges of the cooperating element.

As shown in Fig. 2 two separate clips 14, 15 are provided which embrace the components and draw the components together. The clips may be of any appropriate design.

Before placing the described elements in position on a perished silencer it is possible that any hole in the silencer may be packed with an appropriate sealant material, such as a silencer sealant material as sold commercially at the present time. Also such a material may be spread on the interior of the described repair elements 4 and in particular in the region of the lipped edges thereof, so that when the described elements have been located in position and the clips 14, 15 have been located in position and have been tightened, a substantially gas-tight seal is provided.

When the two elements have been positioned as described above the shells 5 embrace and sealingly engage the main body of the silencer whilst the projections 7 embrace and engage the pipe 2. The plates 6 form an intergral seal interconnecting the shells 5 and the projections 7 so that any perforation in the end wall of the similar is effectively repaired.

It is to be appreciated that the illustrated elements are specifically designed to fit the specific silencer being repaired. However, there are only a certain number of specific sizes of silencer in common use at the present point in time, and thus it is envisaged that by manufacturing a few components of various standard designs it will be possible to repair silencers on virtually any make of motor car.

Fig. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention where the repair component elements 4' are designed for use with a silencer 1' of oval configuration having an offset pipe 2. It is to be appreciated that in such a case the two elements 4' will not be of identical design, but will be designed appropriately to have engaging lips corresponding to the lips described above and have offset projections adapted to embrace the inlet pipe 2.

It is envisaged that a complete repair kit may be sold comprising the two necessary repair elements, the two retaining clips and also, optionally, a tube or tin of appropriate sealant material. One such kit would be necessary to repair one end of a perished silencer.

Whilst the invention has been described by way of example it is to be appreciated that many modifications or improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example the free end of the outer shell portion 5 and/or the free end of the projection 7 may be swaged inwardly to ensure that a good seal is provided with the exterior of the silencer and the exterior of the pipe. Alternatively, in the case of a silencer provided with twin pipes emanating from the silencer, two cooperating elements may be provided each having two projecting portions to embrace and engage the twin exhaust pipes. Alternatively again it is envisaged that, in certain circumstances, more than two elements may be needed to completely surround and engage the silencer to provide an adequate gas-tight sealing arrangement.

Whilst reference has been made to the use of clips which surround the described elements to mount the elements in position it is conceivable that the elements may be provided with aperture lugs or the like adapted to cooperate with bolts to enable the elements to be directly bolted to each other whilst embracing a silencer.

Claims

1. An apparatus for repairing a defective silencer of the type having a body portion of circular or other cross section of relatively large diameter and at least one pipe emanating from an end of the body portion, the pipe being of lesser diameter, said apparatus comprising a plurality of elements adapted to be assembled together to form an assembly which has a first part surrounding and sealingly engaging the main body portion of the silencer and an intermediate part forming an integral seal with a further part sealingly surrounding the of each pipe.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the assembly is constituted by two separate elements.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each element comprises a relatively large diameter shell portion having an internal configuration dimensioned to abut the exterior of the main body portion of the silencer, a transverse wall provided at one end of the shell portion adapted to lie adjacent an end wall of the silencer and a protruding semi cylindrical portion adapted to abut the exterior of the pipe.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 wherein one side edge of each element is provided with a stepped lip adapted to sealing engage the unlipped adjacent edge of the corresponding element.

5. An apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the two elements are identical.

6. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein means are provided to retain the elements together as an assembly.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said retaining means comprise at least one clip adapted to surround the elements and hold them together.

8. A kit of parts for repairing a motor vehicle silencer, said kit of parts comprising an apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, together with a container of silencer sealing compound.

9. A method of repairing a perforated or perished silencer of the type having a body portion of circular or other section of relatively large diameter and at least one pipe emanating from an end of the body portion, the pipe being of lesser diameter, said method comprising the steps of taking a plurality of elements and assembling the elements to form an assembly which has a first part surrounding and sealingly engaging the main body portion of the silencer and an intermediate part forming an integral seal with a further part sealingly surrounding the or each pipe, the assembly covering the perforated or perished part of the silencer.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein each element comprises a relatively large diameter shell portion having an internal configuration dimensioned to abut the exterior of the main body portion of the silencer, a transverse wall provided at one end of the shell portion adapted to lie adjacent an end wall of the silencer and a protruding semicylindrical portion adapted to abut the exterior of the pipe.

11. A method according to claim 9 and 10 comprising the step of applying a sealant to the silencer and/or to said elements.

12. An apparatus for repairing a defective silencer substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

13. An apparatus for repairing a defective silencer substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A method of repairing a silencer according to claim 9 and substantially as herein described.

15. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.