JP2013525658A - Exhaust pipe hanger band assembly, fiber sleeve stretch limiter therefor, and method for increasing the tensile strength of an exhaust pipe hanger band - Google Patents

Abstract

  An exhaust pipe hanger band assembly, a sleeve therefor, and a method for increasing the tensile strength of the exhaust pipe hanger band are provided. The exhaust pipe hanger band assembly includes an elastic body configured to operably couple the exhaust pipe member to a vehicle frame member. The resilient body has an annular outer surface that extends along the body central axis between opposing sides. The assembly further includes a fiber sleeve having a tubular wall extending along the sleeve central axis in a generally parallel relationship with the body central axis between opposing ends. The tubular wall has at least one region of a warp knitting yarn extending along the sleeve central axis and at least one insertion weft extending substantially transverse to the warp knitting yarn around the tubular wall And have. At least one insertion weft is knitted with at least one region of the heel yarn.

Description

  The present invention relates generally to an exhaust hanger band assembly having an elastic body that relieves shock loads, and more particularly to a mechanism used to limit the elongation of the exhaust hanger band assembly.

  It is known to construct an exhaust pipe hanger band having a body molded with an elastic material in order to impart relaxation properties to the hanger band. Typically, the exhaust hanger band has a pair of through openings spaced apart from each other, usually through the parallel axes for receiving individual hanger rods extending generally parallel therethrough. Extends along. Typically, one of the hanger rods is fixed to a vehicle frame member, and the other of the hanger rods is fixed to an exhaust pipe member. In use, when the vehicle encounters road irregularities, the individual hanger rods exert compressive and tensile loads on the hanger band, and the elastic properties of the body act to mitigate vibrations. Unfortunately, the elastic properties of the hanger band gradually collapse over time, leading to fatigue of the band, eventually ending with the band extending to the point of failure under tension. Some of the factors that affect the fatigue failure rate of an elastic band are the magnitude of the tensile force exerted on the band, the duration and period of the tensile force exerted on the band, the degree of unevenness in the area where the vehicle travels, and the Includes the degree of heat exposure from the exhaust system encountered during use.

  A hanger band comprising a fiber sleeve made according to the present invention overcomes or significantly minimizes the limitations of the prior art, for example as described above.

  The exhaust pipe hanger band assembly includes an elastic body configured to operably couple the exhaust pipe member to a vehicle frame member. The resilient body has an annular outer surface that extends along the body central axis between opposing sides. The assembly further includes a fiber sleeve having a tubular wall extending along a sleeve central axis that is generally parallel to the body central axis between opposite ends. The tubular wall includes at least one region of a plurality of knitted yarns extending along the central axis of the sleeve and at least one insertion extending substantially transverse to the warp yarn around the tubular wall. Includes weft. At least one insertion weft is connected to at least one region of the plurality of knitting yarns in the heel direction.

  According to another aspect of the invention, a fiber sleeve is provided that is configured to be placed snugly against an elastic exhaust hanger band. The fiber sleeve has a tubular wall extending along a central axis between opposite ends. The tubular wall includes at least one region of a plurality of knitted yarns extending along the central axis and at least one insertion weft extending substantially transverse to the warp yarn around the tubular wall. Including. The at least one insertion weft is connected to at least one region of the plurality of knitting yarns in the heel direction.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for increasing the tensile strength of an elastic exhaust pipe hanger band. The method includes providing an elastic exhaust hanger band having an annular outer surface and placing a tubular fiber sleeve in close alignment with the annular outer surface.

  The fiber sleeve made according to the present invention provides a hanger band with an increased capacity of tensile strength, reduces the amount of hanger band elongation for a given applied tensile force, and withstands radiant heat Applied to cover and extend over the extended hanger band to increase the capacity of the hanger band, extend the service life of the hanger band, and easily increase the tensile strength of the extended hanger band, and manufacture and use Is economical.

  These and other objects, features and advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the presently preferred embodiments and best modes, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view of an exhaust pipe hanger band assembly including a fiber sleeve constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of an exhaust pipe hanger band assembly including a fiber sleeve in the mold. FIG. 2 is an end view of the fiber sleeve of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a partial schematic view of the inner surface of a fiber sleeve, showing a knitting pattern used to construct the fiber sleeve according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic elevation view showing the outer surface of the fiber sleeve of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a partial schematic view of the outer surface of a fiber sleeve, showing the knitting pattern used to construct the fiber sleeve. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the wall of the fiber sleeve, taken along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a fiber sleeve constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a fiber sleeve constructed in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 is a graph showing a comparison of tensile elongation between an exhaust pipe hanger band according to the prior art and an exhaust pipe hanger band combined with a fiber sleeve according to the invention under a predetermined tensile load.

  Referring to the drawings in more detail, FIG. 1 illustrates a hanger having an elastic body 14 and an exhaust pipe hanger band assembly 10 constructed according to one aspect of the invention and including an elongation limiting fiber sleeve, hereinafter referred to simply as a sleeve 12. Shows the band. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the body 14 can be provided in the form of a known hanger band having a variety of shapes and dimensions, and the sleeve 12 can be an annular assembly of the hanger band body 14 as a manufactured assembly or in the market. Constructed to be assembled over the outer surface 16, the sleeve 12 is positioned over the body 14 to provide additional strength to the existing hanger body 14. When the sleeve 12 is placed over the body 14, the body 14 functions to maintain its useful elasticity and absorb and mitigate vibrations during use, but the sleeve 12 is shown in the graph of FIG. In particular, it acts to limit the distance of tensile elongation of the body 14. Therefore, the main body 14 can withstand a high tensile load without being stretched to the fatigue point, and thereby the useful life of the hanger band main body 14 can be extended.

  The hanger body 14 has a pair of through openings 18, 20 spaced apart from each other for receiving individual hanger rods 22, 24 extending generally parallel therethrough. It extends along parallel axes. One hanger rod 22 is configured to be fixed to a frame member of a vehicle (not shown), and the other hanger rod 24 is fixed to an exhaust pipe member (not shown). That is, the hanger body 14 is configured to operably connect the exhaust pipe member to the vehicle. The outer surface 16 of the hanger body 14 has a width that extends along a central axis 29 between the opposing side surfaces 26, 28, and preferably bulges and extends around the perimeter adjacent each side surface 26, 28. An edge 30 is included. Thus, the outer surface 16 has a slightly reduced annular diameter portion 32 extending between two opposing edges 30 projecting radially outward.

  As best shown in FIG. 1, the sleeve 12 has a tubular wall 34 that extends along the sleeve central axis between opposing open ends 38, 40. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the wall 34 is also referred to as an insertion weft 46, at least one region of the knitted yarn 44 extending along the central axis 36, and the tubular wall 34. And at least one built-in weft that extends substantially transverse to the central axis 36. As best shown in FIG. 6, the insertion weft thread 46 is connected to the knitted yarns 44 in the heel direction by tack stitches 48, and is straight on the plurality of knitted yarns 44 in the heel direction. A floating portion 50 extending upward in any direction. That is, the insertion weft thread 46 does not have a “knitting” loop and extends along a substantially straight path, so that it extends with the use of a minimum amount of thread around the tubular wall 34, thereby reducing the size of the thread. Resulting in a small stretch when a radial force is encountered. The warp direction yarn 44 and the inserted weft yarn 46 can be provided as various materials. For the specifically inserted weft yarn 46, for example, para-aramide (Kevlar, Twaron), liquid crystal polymer (Vectran), high strength polymer, etc. (PET, Nylon) and the like, preferably provided as a high tensile strength yarn having a relatively large denier, such as about 1000. That is, the weft yarn 44 and the inserted weft yarn 46 are provided as having very high breaking strength and very low elongation. Also, these yarns 44, 46 are provided as having excellent resistance to high temperatures, such as those in direct contact with the vehicle exhaust system.

  In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, the knitted yarn 44 in the heel direction extends continuously around the tubular wall 34 between the opposed ends 38,40. Accordingly, the knitted yarn 44 in the heel direction forms a continuous outer surface 52 and inner surface 54 of the tubular wall 34. As described above, the weft knitting yarn 46 is inserted into the warp knitting yarn 44 along the transverse direction and may float to the radially outer side of the heel yarn 44 if desired. In the preferred embodiment, it is inserted with a buoyant portion 50 extending along the inner surface 54 (FIGS. 3 and 5). In this case, when viewed from the outer surface 52, the weft 46 is not very visible. The knitted yarn 44 in the heel direction may be knitted using any of a variety of knitting stitches, such as, but not limited to, jersey stitches, interlock knitting stitches, and knitting stitches. Further, the knitting yarn 44 in the heel direction is finished knitted at the end portions 38 and 40 without the presence of insertion wefts at the end portions 38 and 40.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the exhaust hanger band assembly 10 ′ has a sleeve 12 constructed as described above, but the sleeve 12 is disposed over the outer surface of the elastic hanger body 14. Instead, the hanger body 14 is molded with respect to the sleeve 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic hanger body 14 is molded over the sleeve 12 such that the sleeve 12 is insert molded into the elastic material of the hanger body 14. That is, the sleeve 12 and the hanger body 14 are manufactured as an integral, inseparable one-piece assembly, and the sleeve 12 is invisible and encapsulated by the material of the body 14. Of course, if the elastic material is molded radially inward of the sleeve 12 so that the sleeve 12 is joined to the molding material of the body 14 to be joined to the outer surface of the body 14 in the molding process, the sleeve 12 is the outer member. Can stay as. On the other hand, as described above, the sleeve 12 functions to extend the useful life of the assembly 10 ′ by preventing the body 14 from being elastically stretched beyond a predetermined circumferential limit of the sleeve 12. It also works to prevent premature fatigue of the body 14.

  In FIG. 7, a sleeve 112 according to another embodiment of the invention is shown, wherein the same reference numbers changed by 100 elements are used to show similar features as the sleeve 12 described above.

  Although the sleeve 112 has a tubular wall 134, the wall 134 does not have a network in which the knitted warp yarns extending between the opposite ends 138, 140 are continuously connected in the circumferential direction. Comprises a plurality of cocoon knitting yarns 144 arranged circumferentially around the tubular wall 134, the regions 56 being generally parallel to the longitudinal central axis 136 of the sleeve 112. It is extended. Further, the plurality of heel direction knitting regions 56 separated in the circumferential direction are interconnected by an annular heel direction knitting region 58 extending around the tubular wall 134. The annular heel knitted region 58 is shown by way of example to form the opposite ends 138, 140 of the tubular wall 134.

  As in the case of the sleeve 12 described above, the sleeve 112 has at least one of the insertion weft yarns 146 knitted with at least some of the warp-direction knitting yarns 144, and the heel-direction knitting yarn 144 positions the insertion weft yarns 146 in the correct position. Hold on. In the illustrated embodiment, the insertion weft yarn 146 is knitted in the heel direction knitting region 56 extending along the central axis 136, but not the annular heel direction knitting region 58 that forms the ends 138, 140. Can't mix. As described above, the insertion weft 146 provides a sleeve 112 with a predetermined fixed radial extension, which prevents the elastic hanger band body 14 from being extended beyond the extension limit of the sleeve 112 and thus the hanger. The useful life of the band body 14 is extended.

  In FIG. 8, a sleeve 212 according to another embodiment of the invention is shown, wherein the same reference numbers changed by 200 elements are used to show similar features as the sleeve 12 described above.

  Sleeve 212 is similar to sleeve 112 and has a tubular wall 234 extending between opposing ends 238, 240 with respect to the tubular wall 234, and the knitted yarns 244 are circumferentially spaced apart from one another. The region 256 is configured to extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal central axis 236 of the sleeve 212. However, the plurality of heel direction knitting regions 256 separated in the circumferential direction are not interconnected by the annular heel direction knitting regions, and are completely separated as individual regions 256.

  As with the sleeve 12 described above, the sleeve 212 has at least one insertion weft 246 that is knitted with at least some of the heel knitting yarns 244. The insertion weft 246 is interwoven with a warp knitting region 256 extending along the central axis 236 to provide a sleeve 212 with a predetermined fixed stretch, and the elastic hanger band body 14 is the stretch limit of the sleeve 212. And the useful life of the hanger band body 14 is extended.

  It should be understood that other embodiments of the invention that accomplish the same function are included within the scope of the invention. It should also be understood that the hanger band assembly can be manufactured in a variety of shapes, sizes and diameters, such as by changing the size and shape of the knitted sleeve. The invention is defined by the claims arising from this application and related applications.

Claims (25)

An exhaust pipe hanger band assembly,
An elastic body configured to operably couple an exhaust pipe member to a vehicle frame member, the elastic body having an annular outer surface extending along a body central axis between opposing sides. Have
Also included is a fiber sleeve having a tubular wall extending between opposing ends along a sleeve central axis in a relationship generally parallel to the central axis of the elastic body, the wall extending along the central axis. At least one region of heel knitting yarn and at least one insertion weft extending substantially transverse to the wing knitting yarn around the tubular wall, wherein the at least one insertion weft is the heel An exhaust hanger band assembly that is knitted with at least one region of directional yarn.   The exhaust hanger band assembly of claim 1, wherein the fiber sleeve extends circumferentially on the outer surface of the elastic body.   The exhaust hanger band assembly of claim 3, wherein the elastic body is molded to the fiber sleeve.   The exhaust hanger band assembly of claim 1, wherein the elastic body is molded over the fiber sleeve.   The exhaust hanger band assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one region of the heel knitting yarn extends continuously in the tubular wall.   The exhaust hanger band assembly of claim 5, wherein at least one of the insertion weft yarns has a buoyant portion extending transversely to the heel yarn.   The exhaust hanger band assembly of claim 6, wherein the levitation portion extends along an inner surface of the tubular wall.   The exhaust hanger band assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one region of the heel knitting yarn forms a plurality of heel knitting regions circumferentially separated by the tubular wall.   The exhaust hanger band assembly of claim 8, wherein the plurality of circumferentially spaced heel knitted areas are interconnected by at least one annular ridge knitted area extending around the tubular wall.   The exhaust hanger band assembly of claim 9, wherein the at least one annular heel knitting region forms the opposite end of the tubular wall. A fiber sleeve configured to be closely fitted to an elastic exhaust pipe hanger band,
A tubular wall extending along a central axis between opposite ends, wherein said wall is at least one region of a cocoon knitting yarn extending along said central axis and said wing knitting around said tubular wall A fiber sleeve having at least one insertion weft extending substantially transverse to the yarn, wherein the at least one insertion weft is knitted with at least one region of the warp knitting yarn.   The fiber sleeve of claim 11, wherein at least one region of the cocoon knitting yarn extends continuously in the tubular wall.   13. The fiber sleeve of claim 12, wherein the at least one insertion weft has a buoyant portion that extends transverse to the cocoon knitting yarn.   The fiber sleeve of claim 13, wherein the floating portion extends along an inner surface of the tubular wall.   12. The fiber sleeve of claim 11, wherein at least one region of the heel knitting yarn forms a plurality of heel knitting regions circumferentially separated by the tubular wall.   The fiber sleeve of claim 15, wherein the circumferentially spaced heel knitted areas are interconnected by at least one annular ridge knitted area extending around the tubular wall.   The fiber sleeve of claim 16, wherein the at least one annular heel knitting region forms an opposite end of the tubular wall. A method of increasing the tensile strength of an elastic exhaust pipe hanger band,
Providing an elastic exhaust pipe hanger band having an annular outer surface;
Placing a tubular fiber sleeve in close fitting with the annular outer surface.   Having at least one region of a warp knitting yarn extending between opposite ends along a central axis and at least one insertion weft extending transversely to the wing knitting yarn around the tubular wall 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising knitting a wall of a fiber sleeve and knitting the at least one insertion weft yarn into at least one region of the warp knitting yarn.   20. The method of claim 19, further comprising knitting at least one region of the warp knitting yarn with the tubular wall.   21. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing at least one insertion weft with a buoyant portion extending across the cocoon knitting yarn.   The method of claim 21, further comprising extending the floating portion along an inner surface of the tubular wall.   19. The method of claim 18, further comprising knitting at least one region of the heel direction knitting yarn as a plurality of heel direction knitting regions circumferentially separated by the tubular wall.   24. The method of claim 23, further comprising interconnecting a plurality of circumferentially spaced heel knitting regions with at least one annular heel knitting region extending around the tubular wall.   25. The method of claim 24, further comprising forming opposing ends of the tubular wall with the at least one annular heel knitting region.