Silencer

Abstract

A silencer for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine comprises a silencer housing (12) with a circumferential wall (14) surrounding a silencer interior (24), at least one compensating intermediate wall (44) arranged in the silencer interior (24), and at least one exhaust pipe (30) passing through at least one compensating intermediate wall (44) in the area of ​​a compensating pipe opening (42) formed therein, wherein the compensating pipe opening (42) has an inner compensating opening dimension (IL) transversely to an opening center axis (Mo) of the compensating pipe opening (42) in at least one compensating opening longitudinal direction (RA) orthogonal to the opening center axis (Mo), and the exhaust pipe (30) passing through the compensating pipe opening (42) has a pipe outer dimension (AL) in the compensating opening longitudinal direction (RA), wherein the compensating opening inner dimension (IL) is larger than the pipe outer dimension (AL) in the compensating opening longitudinal direction (RA).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a silencer for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine.

[0002] Such a silencer generally comprises a silencer housing with a peripheral wall elongated in the direction of a silencer longitudinal axis, surrounding the silencer longitudinal axis and radially outwardly delimiting a silencer interior, and with an end wall axially delimiting the silencer interior at each of the two axial end regions of the peripheral wall. The peripheral wall can be designed as a tubular body formed, for example, by winding a sheet metal part, to whose two axial ends the end walls formed as separate sheet metal parts can be attached. In an alternative embodiment, the silencer housing can be constructed, for example, from two housing shells, each of which forms a part of the peripheral wall and a part of each end wall.

[0003] In order to divide the silencer interior into various chambers that contribute to sound attenuation, one or more partition walls are provided in the silencer interior, generally supported on the peripheral wall in their outer peripheral region. Furthermore, one or more exhaust pipes are provided in the silencer interior, penetrating one or more such partition walls in the region of respective pipe openings. To introduce exhaust gas into the silencer interior or to discharge exhaust gas from the silencer interior, at least one exhaust pipe can be passed through a pipe opening formed in the peripheral wall and / or at least one exhaust pipe can be passed through a pipe opening formed in an end wall.

[0004] It is the object of the present invention to provide a silencer for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, the design of which enables simplified assembly.

[0005] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a silencer for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, comprising a silencer housing with a peripheral wall surrounding a silencer interior, at least one compensating intermediate wall arranged in the silencer interior, and at least one exhaust pipe passing through at least one compensating intermediate wall in the region of a compensating pipe opening formed therein, wherein the compensating pipe opening has a compensating opening inner dimension transversely to an opening center axis of the compensating pipe opening in at least one compensating opening longitudinal direction orthogonal to the opening center axis, and the exhaust pipe passing through the compensating pipe opening has a pipe outer dimension in the compensating opening longitudinal direction, wherein the compensating opening inner dimension is greater than the pipe outer dimension in the compensating opening longitudinal direction.

[0006] By providing such a compensating pipe opening accommodating an exhaust pipe, it is possible to arrange an exhaust pipe passing through such a compensating pipe opening in various positions relative to the compensating partition wall in the longitudinal direction of the compensating opening. This avoids overdetermination in the positioning of such an exhaust pipe if it also passes through other components of the silencer, for example, other partition walls and / or an end wall or the peripheral wall. On the other hand, the variation permitted during assembly in the positioning of an exhaust pipe in relation to a compensating partition wall enables precise positioning relative to another component through which it passes, for example, the peripheral wall or an end wall.This precise positioning, which can be achieved during assembly of these components, can in turn help to avoid further machining measures, such as cutting off a protruding pipe section.

[0007] For an easy-to-implement design, the exhaust pipe can have an essentially circular outer peripheral contour.

[0008] To support the variable positioning of an exhaust pipe in the region of a compensating pipe opening, it is proposed that the compensating pipe opening be designed as an elongated hole, wherein the compensating pipe opening is delimited in an exhaust pipe receiving section by opening edge sections of the compensating partition wall that extend essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the compensating opening and extend essentially rectilinearly. In the extension region of the exhaust pipe receiving section, the exhaust pipe can then be positioned essentially freely without creating constraints between the two opening edge sections.

[0009] In order to achieve a stable structure, an opening transverse dimension of the compensation pipe opening substantially orthogonal to the compensation opening longitudinal direction at least in a compensation length region of the compensation pipe opening substantially correspond to a pipe outer dimension of the exhaust pipe orthogonal to the compensation opening longitudinal direction.

[0010] For this purpose, it can be provided, for example, that a distance of the opening edge sections substantially transverse to the compensation opening longitudinal direction substantially corresponds to the pipe outer dimension orthogonal to the compensation opening longitudinal direction.

[0011] A stable structure can be further supported by the exhaust pipe being firmly connected to the compensating partition wall in at least one fastening area lying orthogonally to the compensating opening longitudinal direction and at a distance from a pipe longitudinal axis.

[0012] For a mechanically stable and thermally resistant design, the exhaust pipe can be connected in the at least one fastening area to the compensating partition wall by material bonding, preferably welding.

[0013] Furthermore, for a stable design, it can be provided that the exhaust pipe is firmly connected in at least one fastening area to the compensating intermediate wall in the area of ​​one of the opening edge sections.

[0014] The compensating partition wall can be formed as a sheet metal part, and the compensating pipe opening can be defined by a passage formed in the compensating partition wall. This passage can also provide the opening edge sections in the exhaust pipe receiving section of the compensating pipe opening.

[0015] To introduce or discharge exhaust gas into or from the silencer interior, at least one exhaust pipe passing through a compensation pipe opening can be designed as an angled pipe with a first pipe section passing through the compensation pipe opening and elongated in the direction of a first pipe longitudinal axis section, and a second pipe section engaging in a pipe opening in the peripheral wall and elongated in the direction of a second pipe longitudinal axis section. In order to achieve, for example, a flush termination of this pipe section with the peripheral wall, particularly in that region of the second pipe section in which it passes through the peripheral wall or engages in the pipe opening in the peripheral wall, it can further be provided that the compensation opening longitudinal direction and the second pipe longitudinal axis section lie in one plane and / or are substantially parallel to one another.

[0016] If the first pipe longitudinal axis section and the second pipe longitudinal axis section are substantially orthogonal to each other, such an exhaust pipe can be provided as a substantially rectangular angle pipe.

[0017] In order to be able to achieve a defined sound damping characteristic, it is proposed that at least two partition walls arranged one after the other in the direction of a silencer longitudinal axis are provided in the silencer interior, that at least one exhaust pipe passes through at least two partition walls in the region of a respective pipe opening, and that at least one, preferably each of the partition walls is a compensating partition wall.

[0018] For communication between the chambers separated by a compensating partition wall, which also contributes to sound absorption, at least one, preferably a plurality of connecting openings can be formed in at least one, preferably each compensating partition wall.

[0019] The invention further relates to an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, comprising at least one silencer constructed according to the invention.

[0020] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a silencer shown with a partially open housing; Fig. 2 an intermediate wall of the silencer of the Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 a detailed view of the partition wall of the Fig. 2 , if it is designed as a compensating partition wall; Fig. 4 a principle partial longitudinal sectional view of the silencer of the Fig. 1 with a partition wall designed as a compensating partition wall.

[0021] In Fig. 1 is a silencer for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine generally designated 10. The silencer 10 comprises a silencer housing 12 with a formed, for example, by winding a sheet metal element and in Fig. 1 only partially shown peripheral wall 14 and at both axial end regions 16, 18 of the peripheral wall 14, which are spaced apart in the direction of a silencer longitudinal axis SL, an end wall 20, 22. The peripheral wall 14 and the end walls 20, 22 delimit a silencer interior space 24 through which exhaust gas can flow.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, five partition walls 26 1 , 26 2 , 26 3 , 26 4 , 26 5 are arranged in the silencer interior 24. The partition walls 26 1 , 26 2 , 26 s, 26 4 , 26 s are supported in a respective outer circumferential region on the inside of the circumferential wall 14 and form, between themselves and also in connection with the end walls 20, 22, respective chambers 28 1 , 28 2 , 28 3 , 28 4 , 28 5 , 28 6 of the silencer 10.

[0023] Extending inside the muffler 10 are several exhaust pipes, generally designated 30 and also only partially shown. The exhaust pipes 30 serve to introduce the exhaust gas emitted by an internal combustion engine into the muffler 10 or into its interior 24, to guide it through the various chambers 28 1 , 28 2 , 28 3 , 28 4 , 28 5 , 28 6 and to discharge it again from the muffler 10. For example, exhaust pipes 30 can penetrate the peripheral wall 14 and / or can penetrate one or more intermediate walls 26 1 , 26 2 , 26 3 , 26 4 , 26 5 as well as one or both end walls 20, 22.

[0024] In this context, it should be noted that in Fig. 1 The silencer 10 is shown only as an example. Of course, various configurations could be provided with regard to the number and positioning of the partition walls as well as the exhaust pipes in the silencer interior 24.

[0025] The Fig. 2 illustrates, for example, an exemplary embodiment of such an intermediate wall using the intermediate wall 26 2. The intermediate wall 26 2 is designed as a formed sheet metal part and has a fundamentally plate-like body 32 oriented substantially orthogonally to the silencer's longitudinal axis SL. In the outer peripheral region, the body 32 is adjoined by a flanging-formed edge region 34, with which the intermediate wall 26 2 rests against the inner surface of the peripheral wall 14. For example, in association with the intermediate wall 26 2, the peripheral wall 14 can have a circumferentially circumferential recess in which the edge region 34 is received for the defined retention of the intermediate wall 26 2.

[0026] In order to enable communication between the two chambers 28 2 , 28 3 separated from one another by the intermediate wall 26 2 , which contributes to sound absorption, a plurality of connecting openings 36 can be provided in the body 32 of the intermediate wall 26 2 . Furthermore, a pipe opening 38, 40 is provided in each case in association with the exhaust pipes 30 leading through the intermediate wall 26 2 . The pipe openings 38, 40 can be designed as passages, so that in the region of each of the pipe openings 38, 40, an opening edge section of the intermediate wall 26 2 is formed which borders each of the pipe openings 38, 40 and is curved or extends in the axial direction. An exhaust pipe 30 passing through a respective pipe opening 38, 40 can be attached to such an opening edge section, for example by welding.

[0027] While the basic structure of such a silencer has been described above, the following will be explained with reference to the Fig. 3 und 4 an inventive modification of the above with reference to the Fig. 2 explained in detail with reference to the intermediate wall 26 2. In this context, it should also be emphasized that the design aspects described below in connection with the pipe opening 38 of the intermediate wall 26 2 can be implemented equally in all or some of the other intermediate walls 26 1 , 26 3 , 26 4 , 26 5 or in all or only some of the pipe openings provided in the intermediate walls 26 1 , 26 2 , 26 3 , 26 4 , 26 5.

[0028] In Fig. 3 In connection with the pipe opening 38 it is shown that this, deviating from the one shown in Fig. 2 recognizable, essentially circular and adapted to the outer circumferential contour of the exhaust pipe 30 passing through it, has a slot-like configuration. The pipe opening 38 forms, with this configuration, a compensating pipe opening 42, which in a compensating opening longitudinal direction RA has a compensating opening inner dimension IL that is larger than a transverse opening dimension IQ of the compensating pipe opening 42 transverse to the compensating opening longitudinal direction RA. Both the compensating opening longitudinal dimension IL and the transverse opening dimension IQ of the compensating pipe opening 42 are orthogonal to a Fig. 4 visible opening center axis Mo.

[0029] The compensating pipe opening 42, or the intermediate wall 26 2 , which in this embodiment provides a compensating intermediate wall 44, are shaped such that opening edge sections 48, 50 are formed on the passage 46 surrounding the compensating pipe opening 42, which edge sections run essentially rectilinearly in the compensating opening longitudinal direction RA and are parallel to one another. The opening edge sections 48, 50 thus form an exhaust pipe receiving section 53. An exhaust pipe 30 can be received in the exhaust pipe receiving section 53, the outer pipe dimension AQ of which essentially corresponds to the transverse opening dimension IQ orthogonal to the compensating opening longitudinal direction RA. As a result, the exhaust pipe 30 can be accommodated in the compensation pipe opening 42 transversely to the compensation opening longitudinal direction RA essentially without play, but can be arranged in any position along the opening edge sections 48, 50 in the compensation opening longitudinal direction RA.For example, the geometry of the compensating pipe opening 42 can be such that, when the exhaust pipe 30 is positioned in an end region of the two opening edge sections 48, 50 in the compensating opening longitudinal direction RA, the exhaust pipe 30 also abuts against a respective arcuate connecting region 52, 54 of the passage 46 that also provides the opening edge sections 48, 50. For this purpose, the radius of curvature of these arcuate connecting regions 52, 54 can substantially correspond to the radius of curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the exhaust pipe 30.

[0030] The Fig. 4 illustrates the area of ​​the silencer 10 in which the exhaust pipe 30, designed as an angled pipe, penetrates the intermediate wall 26 2 , designed as a compensating intermediate wall 48. The exhaust pipe 30 has a first pipe section 56 extending essentially in the direction of a pipe longitudinal axis LR. The pipe longitudinal axis LR is positioned essentially parallel, possibly also coaxially, to the opening center axis Mo of the compensating pipe opening 42. At the same time, the pipe longitudinal axis LR also forms a first pipe longitudinal axis section L R1 of the first pipe section 56.

[0031] The exhaust pipe 30 further comprises a second pipe section 58, which is elongated in the direction of a second pipe longitudinal axis section L R2. The two pipe longitudinal axis sections L R1 and L R2 are substantially orthogonal to each other, so that the exhaust pipe 30, designed as an angled pipe, forms a right-angled transition between the two pipe sections 56, 58.

[0032] The second pipe section 58 engages in a pipe opening 62 of the peripheral wall 14, formed, for example, in the region of a passage 60 in the peripheral wall 14. Since the exhaust pipe 30 can be variably positioned in the compensating opening direction RA in the compensating intermediate wall 42, it is possible to position the second pipe section 58 such that it ends flush with the peripheral wall 14 or the passage 60 formed thereon and can be connected to the peripheral wall 14 there, for example, by a weld seam, or protrudes slightly beyond the passage 60 to a defined extent in order to then be able to realize the weld connection with the peripheral wall 14 in this protruding area. Further post-processing measures to cut off an excessively protruding end section of the second pipe section 58 are then not necessary.

[0033] For a stable structure, the exhaust pipe 30 can then be firmly connected to the first pipe section 56 with the compensating intermediate wall 44 either before or after the second pipe section 58 is firmly connected to the peripheral wall 14. For this purpose, fastening areas 64, 66 can be formed by material bonding, in particular welding, where the first pipe section 56 of the exhaust pipe 30 abuts the opening edge sections 48, 50.

[0034] In the Fig. 3 und 4 It can be clearly seen that, due to the elongated hole-like design of the compensation pipe opening 42, an intermediate space 68, 70 is created on at least one side of the exhaust pipe 30 inserted into or passing through it in the compensation opening longitudinal direction RA, via which intermediate space the chambers 28 2 , 28s formed on both sides of the compensation partition wall 44 are connected to one another. This is harmless for the functionality of the silencer 10, since the chambers 28 2 and 28s are already connected to one another via the connecting openings 36. If the total opening cross-section provided for this connection is relevant for the sound damping characteristics, the opening cross-section introduced by the intermediate spaces 68 and / or 70 can be compensated for by a correspondingly smaller number and / or the dimensioning of the connecting openings 36.

[0035] The inventive design of the silencer 10 with at least one compensating intermediate wall or compensating pipe opening makes it possible to position an exhaust pipe passing through or engaging in such a compensating pipe opening with greater freedom, so that in particular the above-described exact alignment with respect to other components, for example the peripheral wall, is enabled. For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous if, as in Fig. 4 shown, the compensating opening longitudinal direction is oriented parallel to the direction in which an exhaust pipe is to be precisely aligned with respect to another component. In the illustrated embodiment, this is the extension direction of the second pipe longitudinal axis section L R2 . This is, as in Fig. 4as can be seen, parallel to the compensation opening longitudinal direction RA and, in the assembled state, essentially also corresponds to the center axis of the pipe opening 62 formed in the peripheral wall 14.

[0036] The design according to the invention is also particularly advantageous when an exhaust pipe passes through several partition walls or one or more partition walls and an end wall. This avoids over-determination in the defined positioning and can prevent constraints in those areas where an exhaust pipe passes through a partition wall or an end wall.

Claims

1. A silencer for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, comprising a silencer housing (12) with a peripheral wall (14) surrounding a silencer interior (24), at least one compensating intermediate wall (44) arranged in the silencer interior (24) and at least one exhaust pipe (30) passing through at least one compensating intermediate wall (44) in the region of a compensating pipe opening (42) formed therein, wherein the compensating pipe opening (42) extends transversely to an opening center axis (Mo) of the compensating pipe opening (42) in at least one compensating opening longitudinal direction (R A ) a compensation opening internal dimension (I L ) and the exhaust pipe (30) passing through the compensating pipe opening (42) has an outer pipe dimension (A L ) in the compensation opening longitudinal direction (R A ), wherein the compensation opening inner dimension (I L ) is larger than the pipe outer dimension (AL ) in the compensation opening longitudinal direction (RA).

2. Silencer according to claim 1, characterized in that the exhaust pipe (30) has a substantially circular outer peripheral contour.

3. Silencer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the compensating pipe opening (42) is designed in the form of an elongated hole, wherein the compensating pipe opening (42) is formed in an exhaust pipe receiving section (52) by a groove extending in the longitudinal direction (R A ) is delimited by substantially parallel, substantially rectilinearly extending opening edge sections (48, 50) of the compensating intermediate wall (44).

4. Silencer according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that an opening transverse dimension (I Q ) of the compensation pipe opening (42) substantially orthogonal to the compensation opening longitudinal direction (R A ) at least in a compensation length region (53) of the compensation pipe opening (42) substantially corresponds to an outer pipe dimension (A Q) of the exhaust pipe (30) orthogonal to the compensation opening longitudinal direction (R A ) corresponds.

5. Silencer according to claim 3 and claim 4, characterized in that a distance between the opening edge sections (48, 50) substantially transverse to the compensating opening longitudinal direction (R A ) essentially the pipe outer dimension (A Q ) orthogonal to the compensation opening longitudinal direction (R A ) corresponds.

6. Silencer according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the exhaust pipe (30) in at least one direction orthogonal to the compensating opening longitudinal direction (R A ) at a distance from a pipe longitudinal axis (L R ) is firmly connected to the compensating intermediate wall (42).

7. Silencer according to claim 6, characterized in that the exhaust pipe (30) is connected in the at least one fastening region (64, 66) to the compensating intermediate wall (44) by material bonding, preferably welding.

8. Silencer according to claim 3 and claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the exhaust pipe (30) is firmly connected in at least one fastening region (64, 66) to the compensating intermediate wall (44) in the region of one of the opening edge sections (48, 50).

9. Silencer according to one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the compensating intermediate wall (44) is designed as a formed sheet metal part, and that the compensating pipe opening (42) is delimited by a passage (46) formed in the compensating intermediate wall (44).

10. Silencer according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that at least one exhaust pipe (30) passing through a compensation pipe opening (42) as an angle pipe with a section (L R1 ) elongated first tube section (56) and a tube opening (62) of the peripheral wall (14) engaging in the direction of a second tube longitudinal axis section (L R2) elongated second pipe section (58), and that the compensating opening longitudinal direction (R A ) and the second pipe longitudinal axis section (L R2 ) lie in one plane and / or are essentially parallel to each other.

11. Silencer according to claim 10, characterized in that the first pipe longitudinal axis section (L R1 ) and the second pipe longitudinal axis section (L R2 ) are essentially orthogonal to each other.

12. Silencer according to one of claims 1-11, characterized in that in the silencer interior (24) at least two in the direction of a silencer longitudinal axis S Lsuccessively arranged intermediate walls (261, 262, 263, 264, 265) are provided, that at least one exhaust pipe (30) passes through at least two intermediate walls (261, 262, 26s, 264, 26s) in the region of a respective pipe opening (38, 40), and that at least one, preferably each of the intermediate walls (261, 262, 26s, 264, 26s) is a compensating intermediate wall (44).

13. Silencer according to one of claims 1-12, characterized in that at least one, preferably a plurality of connecting openings (36) are formed in at least one, preferably each compensating intermediate wall (44).

14. Exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, comprising at least one silencer (10) according to one of claims 1-13.

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