Silencer

Abstract

A silencer for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine comprises a silencer housing (14), at least one partition wall (26, 28, 30) arranged in a housing interior (24), and at least one silencer connecting pipe (42) supported in a first pipe end region (44) on the silencer housing (14) and supported in a second pipe end region (48) on a support element (50) arranged in the housing interior (24) and forming an integral part of a partition wall (30), for introducing exhaust gas into the housing interior (24) or for discharging exhaust gas from the housing interior.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a silencer for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, comprising a silencer housing, at least one intermediate wall arranged in a housing interior and at least one silencer connection pipe for introducing exhaust gas into the housing interior or for discharging exhaust gas from the housing interior.

[0002] Such a silencer connection pipe, which can be used as an inlet pipe for introducing exhaust gas into the housing interior or as an outlet pipe for discharging exhaust gas from the housing interior, is generally supported by one of its pipe end regions on the silencer housing and is fixed, for example by welding, to provide a gas-tight seal.

[0003] A silencer according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from WO 2011 / 061213A1. In this silencer, a silencer connection pipe is supported on one side by a silencer housing and on the other side by an intermediate wall arranged in the silencer housing. The intermediate wall has a wall body that is angled at 90° in two bending areas. Between two sections of the wall body that are offset from one another in a respective intermediate wall plane, the wall body forms a support element that adjoins the mutually offset sections of the wall body and has an opening in the support element that accommodates the silencer connection pipe.

[0004] It is the object of the present invention to provide a silencer for an exhaust system in which a silencer connection pipe used as an inlet pipe or as an outlet pipe can be stably supported in a simple manner in its pipe end region located in a housing interior of a silencer housing.

[0005] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a silencer for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine according to claim 1. The silencer comprises: a silencer housing, at least one intermediate wall arranged in a housing interior, at least one silencer connecting pipe supported in a first pipe end region on the silencer housing and supported in a second pipe end region on a support element arranged in the housing interior and forming an integral part of an intermediate wall, for introducing exhaust gas into the housing interior or for discharging exhaust gas from the housing interior.

[0006] Partition walls arranged inside a silencer housing serve to divide the housing interior into several chambers that support a defined exhaust gas flow within the housing interior and / or to support pipes running inside the silencer housing. By providing a support element for supporting a silencer connection pipe used as an inlet or outlet pipe as an integral component of such a partition wall, a stable configuration is achieved, while at the same time, the structural complexity is minimized, since no measures are required to connect such a support element to a partition wall.

[0007] It should be noted in this context that, in the sense of the present invention, the integral design of two components, in particular of the support element with an intermediate wall, means that the components involved are provided as a single, e.g. substantially monolithic, block of material and are not designed as separate components and joined together by a connecting process.

[0008] The one partition wall, i.e. the partition wall providing the support element for the associated silencer connection pipe, comprises a wall body lying substantially in a partition wall plane and is thus substantially plate-like and flat, and the support element extends from the wall body out of the partition wall plane.

[0009] In order to achieve the angled configuration of the wall body and the support element, the support element is connected to the wall body in a bending area and is bent out of the plane of the partition wall in the bending area.

[0010] The support element extends substantially orthogonally to the partition wall plane, which is particularly advantageous when the silencer housing comprises a peripheral wall elongated in the direction of a housing longitudinal axis and an end wall at each of the two axial ends of the peripheral wall, and the partition wall plane is arranged substantially orthogonally to the housing longitudinal axis. This also allows for an orientation of the silencer connecting pipe with respect to the partition wall having the support element, in which mutual interference between the partition wall or wall body on the one hand and the silencer connecting pipe on the other hand is avoided.

[0011] For a structurally simple design, the at least one silencer connecting pipe can be elongated in the direction of a pipe's longitudinal axis, and the support element can extend substantially orthogonally to the pipe's longitudinal axis. This ensures that the silencer connecting pipe, at its second pipe end region, interacts with the support element in the same way over its entire circumference.

[0012] The pipe longitudinal axis can extend substantially parallel to the partition wall plane, so that the at least one silencer connection pipe has a substantially equal distance from the wall body substantially over its entire extension area.

[0013] In order to ensure a defined positioning of the silencer connecting pipe with respect to the support element, the support element can have a shaped region which encompasses the second pipe end region of the at least one silencer connecting pipe and / or engages in the second pipe end region of the silencer connecting pipe.

[0014] The axial escape of exhaust gas at the second pipe end region can be prevented by the fact that the at least one silencer connection pipe is closed off by the support element at its second pipe end region.

[0015] For this purpose, it can be provided, for example, that the at least one silencer connection pipe is closed off at its second pipe end region by the shaped region engaging in the second pipe end region.

[0016] For a stable cohesion of the silencer connecting pipe with the support element, alternatively or in addition to the previously mentioned positive connection, the at least one silencer connecting pipe can be fixed in its second pipe end region to the support element by material connection, preferably welding.

[0017] The at least one silencer connecting pipe can be accommodated with its first pipe end region in an opening of the silencer housing, so that a connection to tubular components of an exhaust system extending outside the silencer can be easily established. Furthermore, to achieve a stable design, the at least one silencer connecting pipe can be secured to the silencer housing in its first pipe end region by means of a material connection, preferably by welding.

[0018] Especially in the case of larger exhaust systems, it can be advantageous if the silencer connection pipe is supported between its first pipe end region and its second pipe end region by at least one further support element forming an integral part of the intermediate wall.

[0019] For this purpose, the at least one further support element can have a shaped area encompassing the silencer connection pipe.

[0020] The invention further relates to an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, comprising at least one silencer constructed according to the invention.

[0021] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1a top view of a silencer with the silencer housing shown open; Fig. 2a detailed view of the silencer of the Fig. 1 in Area II in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3, in its illustrations a) and b), shows alternative embodiments of the connection of a silencer connecting pipe to a support element. Fig. 4 shows a further alternative embodiment of the connection of a silencer connecting pipe to a support element.

[0022] In Fig. 1 A silencer 10 of an exhaust system, generally designated 12, for an internal combustion engine in a vehicle is shown with an open silencer housing 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the silencer housing 14 is designed with two housing shells, for example, which are essentially symmetrical to one another, of which Fig. 1 only the housing shell 16 can be seen.

[0023] The silencer housing 14 is elongated in the direction of a longitudinal housing axis G and comprises a peripheral wall 18 surrounding the longitudinal housing axis G and essentially elongated in the direction of the longitudinal housing axis G, and an end wall 20, 22 at each of the two axial ends of the peripheral wall 18. In the illustrated embodiment, three intermediate walls 26, 28, 30 are arranged in a housing interior 24 surrounded by the silencer housing 14. The intermediate walls 26, 28, 30 essentially divide the housing interior 24 into four chambers 32, 34, 36, 38. The intermediate walls 26, 28, 30 can be designed with openings connecting the chambers separated by these openings, or one or more of the intermediate walls can be designed essentially without one or more such openings, so that at least one chamber can be used as a resonator chamber of a Helmholtz resonator.For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the chamber 32, which is delimited between the end wall 20 and the intermediate wall 26, can be such a resonator chamber which is open to the chamber 36 formed between the two intermediate walls 28, 30 via a tube 40 passing through the intermediate wall 26 and providing a resonator neck.

[0024] In this context, it should be noted that with regard to the number and positioning of the partition walls and also the direct communication between adjacent chambers permitted or prevented by these walls, Fig. 1 only an exemplary example of a silencer 10 is shown. It is self-evident that the number, position and function of the partition walls depend on the Fig. 1 may differ from the design shown.

[0025] The silencer 10 has a silencer connection pipe 42, which serves as an inlet pipe in the illustrated embodiment. The silencer connection pipe 42 is received with a first pipe end region 44 in an opening 46 formed in the peripheral wall 18 of the silencer housing 14. This opening 46 can be formed in sections in the housing shells providing the silencer housing 14. To achieve a gas-tight and stable connection, the silencer connection pipe 42 can be firmly connected to the silencer housing 14 by welding in its first pipe end region 44.

[0026] In a second pipe end region 48 located in the housing interior 24, the silencer connecting pipe 42 is supported on a plate-like support element 50. The plate-like support element 50 forms an integral component of the intermediate wall 30. The intermediate wall 30, like the other intermediate walls 26 and 28, is provided as a formed sheet metal part and has a substantially flat wall body 52 located in an intermediate wall plane E. In its outer peripheral region, the wall body 52 can be surrounded by an axially bent edge 54, with which the intermediate wall 30 is held to the peripheral wall 18 of the silencer housing 14.

[0027] In a bending region 56, the support element 50 adjoins the wall body 52 of the intermediate wall 30 or is bent therefrom in such a way that the essentially plate-like support element 50 extends approximately orthogonally from the intermediate wall plane E and is thus positioned essentially parallel to the housing longitudinal axis G and orthogonal to a pipe longitudinal axis R of the silencer connecting pipe 42.

[0028] To provide the support element 50 as an integral component of the intermediate wall 30, a substantially U-shaped cutout can be formed in the wall body 52 of the intermediate wall 30, so that the support element 50 has a connection to the wall body 52 only in the bending region 56.

[0029] In order to be able to hold or position the second pipe end region 48 of the silencer connection pipe 42 in a defined manner with respect to the support element 50, as shown in Fig. 3 shown, the support element 50 may have a molding area 58. In the embodiment example of the Fig. 3a ) the shaped area 58 is dome-shaped and dimensioned such that it can be positioned so as to engage in the second pipe end area 48 of the silencer connecting pipe 42. Thus, a positive connection is created essentially orthogonally to the pipe longitudinal axis R, establishing a defined positioning of the silencer connecting pipe 42 with respect to the support element 50. In order to additionally achieve a stable connection and, in particular, to prevent rattling noises, the second pipe end area 48 can be fixed to the support element 50 by a weld 60. This weld 60 can be a weld seam running circumferentially around the pipe longitudinal axis R, but can also comprise a plurality of discrete point-like or line-like weld areas spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction around the pipe longitudinal axis R.

[0030] One recognizes in Fig. 3a ) that the muffler connecting pipe 42 is essentially sealed off from the escape of exhaust gas in its second pipe end region 48 by the shaped region 58. This means that exhaust gas introduced into the muffler 10 via the muffler connecting pipe 42 can only enter the housing interior 24 through a perforation 62 formed in the muffler connecting pipe 42 in the region of the chamber 36. If an axial entry into the chamber 36 with respect to the pipe longitudinal axis R is also required, it is possible to provide one or more openings in the dome-like or dome-like shaped region 58 that allow the passage of exhaust gas.

[0031] At the Fig. 3b ), the molded portion 58 is formed, for example, in the form of a passage, which forms an opening 64 for receiving the second pipe end portion 48 of the silencer connecting pipe 42. The second pipe end portion 48 can be inserted into this opening 64 and held therein by the weld 60.

[0032] To divert the exhaust gas introduced into the housing interior 24 via the silencer connection pipe 42, a further silencer connection pipe 66 serving as an outlet pipe can be provided, which is received, for example, in the region of the peripheral wall 20 in an opening formed in the silencer housing 14 and is fixed in this region, for example by welding, to the silencer housing 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the further silencer connection pipe 66 penetrates the three intermediate walls 26, 28, 30 and is open to the chamber 38.

[0033] It should also be noted in this context that the course of such a further connecting pipe and its connection to the silencer housing 14 could be designed differently than shown in the figures. It is also possible for the further silencer connecting pipe 66 to be used as an inlet pipe, while the silencer connecting pipe 42 is used as an outlet pipe. Furthermore, it is self-evident that several such silencer connecting pipes 42 can be provided, which are supported in the respective second pipe end region via a support element 50 formed integrally with an intermediate wall. For this purpose, such a support element formed integrally with a further intermediate wall could be provided, or two support elements extending in opposite directions from the wall body of the intermediate wall could be provided on the intermediate wall.

[0034] In a further embodiment, the shaped area formed on the support element 50 could have a plurality of sections arranged radially offset relative to one another with respect to the pipe longitudinal axis R, wherein some of these sections engage in the silencer connection pipe 42 and thus support it from the radial inside, and some of the sections lie radially outside the silencer connection pipe 42 and thus support it from the radial outside. Such sections can, for example, be designed as circumferential sections of the Fig. 3b ) and designed as a passage.

[0035] Finally, a design of the support element 50 is also possible in which it is designed essentially without any shaping, so that the silencer connecting pipe 42 with its second pipe end region 48 lies essentially butt against it and is fixed by the weld 60.

[0036] Another alternative design variant is in Fig. 4 shown. In this embodiment, the silencer connecting pipe 42 is supported not only in its second pipe end region 48 by a support element 50 formed integrally on the intermediate wall 30, but also in an intermediate region 68 located between the two pipe end regions 44, 48. In this embodiment, the intermediate wall 30 has, in the direction of the pipe longitudinal axis R, a plurality of support elements 50, 50', two in the embodiment example shown, which are bent out of the plane E in respective bending regions 56.

[0037] The support element 50 provided in association with the second pipe end region 48 can, as shown in Fig. 3a is shown, have a shaped portion 58 engaging in the second pipe end portion 48, or can, as shown in Fig. 3bshown, have a molded portion 58 encompassing the second pipe end portion 48.

[0038] The support element 50' provided in association with the intermediate region 68 has a shaped region 58 encompassing the intermediate region 68 and having an opening 64 accommodating the silencer connecting pipe 42. A very stable connection can also be achieved in this region by materially connecting the support element 50 to the silencer connecting pipe 42, for example, by welding.

Claims

1. A sound damper for an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine, comprising: - a sound damper housing (14), - at least one intermediate wall (26, 28, 30) which is arranged in a housing interior (24), - at least one sound damper connection pipe (42), which is supported in a first pipe end region (44) on the sound damper housing (14) and which is arranged in a second pipe end region (48) on a support element (50) which is arranged in the housing interior (24) and which forms an integral component of an intermediate wall (30), for introducing exhaust gas into the housing interior (24) or for directing exhaust gas out of the housing interior, wherein the one intermediate wall (30) comprises a wall member (52) which is located substantially in an intermediate wall plane (E) and wherein the support element (50) extends from the wall member (52) out of the intermediate wall plane (E), wherein the support element (50) adjoins the wall member (52) in a bending region (56) and is bent out of the intermediate wall plane (E) in the bending region (56) so that the support element (50) extends in a substantially orthogonal manner to the intermediate wall plane (E), characterized in that the support element (50) is provided as an integral component of the intermediate wall (30) by forming a substantially U-shaped recess in the wall member (52) and the intermediate wall element (52) adjoining the support element (50) only in the bending region (56).

2. The sound damper as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sound damper housing (14) comprises a circumferential wall (18) which is elongate in the direction of a longitudinal housing axis (G) and an end wall (20, 22) at both axial ends of the circumferential wall (18) and in that the intermediate wall plane (E) is arranged substantially orthogonally to the longitudinal housing axis (G).

3. The sound damper as claimed in one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one sound damper connection pipe (42) is elongate in the direction of a longitudinal pipe axis (R) and in that the support element (50) extends substantially orthogonally to the longitudinal pipe axis (R).

4. The sound damper as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the longitudinal pipe axis (R) extends substantially parallel with the intermediate wall plane (E).

5. The sound damper as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the support element (50) has a formation region (58) which engages round the second pipe end region (48) of the at least one sound damper connection pipe (42) and / or which engages in the second pipe end region (48) of the sound damper connection pipe (42).

6. The sound damper as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one sound damper connection pipe (42) is closed by the support element (50) at the second pipe end region (48) thereof.

7. The sound damper as claimed in claim 5 and claim 6, characterized in that the at least one sound damper connection pipe (42) is closed at the second pipe end region (48) thereof by the formation region (58) which engages in the second pipe end region (48).

8. The sound damper as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sound damper connection pipe (42) is fixed in the second pipe end region (48) thereof to the support element (50) by material engagement, preferably welding.

9. The sound damper as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the at least one sound damper connection pipe (42) is received with the first pipe end region (44) thereof in an opening (46) of the sound damper housing (14).

10. The sound damper as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the at least one sound damper connection pipe (42) is fixed in the first pipe end region (44) thereof by material engagement, preferably welding, to the sound damper housing (14).

11. The sound damper as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the sound damper connection pipe (42) is supported between the first pipe end region (44) and the second pipe end region (48) thereof by at least one additional support element (50') which forms an integral component of the intermediate wall (30).

12. The sound damper as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the at least one additional support element (50') has a formation region (58) which engages round the sound damper connection pipe (42).

13. An exhaust gas system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle comprising at least one sound damper (10) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 12.

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