Holder for an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine

Abstract

A bracket for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine comprises a bracket body (12) with a bracket base (14) and a bracket wall (16) extending from the bracket base (14), as well as a bracket pin (24) extending from an outer surface of the bracket wall (16), wherein a pin recess (40) is formed in the bracket pin (24) on at least one circumferential region. This enables more uniform solidification of the structure during the die-casting process and thus increased mechanical strength between the bracket pin (24) and the bracket wall (16).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a holder which can be used to hold an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine in a vehicle.

[0002] Such a holder 10 is in Fig. 1 shown in perspective. The holder 10, generally manufactured as an aluminum die-cast part, comprises a holder body 12 with a substantially plate-like holder base 14 and a holder wall 16 extending approximately orthogonally therefrom along an outer peripheral region of the base 14. In a central region of the holder base 14, a fastening element through-opening 18 is provided, through which a fastening element, designed, for example, as a screw bolt or the like, can be passed in order to secure the holder 10, for example, in the region of an underbody of a vehicle.In order to ensure a defined positioning of the holder 10, a rotation-lock projection 22 can be provided, for example, on a tab 20 protruding from the base 14, which projection can be positioned engaging in an associated opening, for example in the area of ​​the underbody, and can thereby hold the holder 10 against rotation about the fastening element passing through the fastening element through-opening 18.

[0003] The holder wall 16 has a varying wall height in the circumferential direction, starting from the holder base 14. In a region of maximum wall height, a holder pin 24 is provided on an outer side of the holder wall 16, extending essentially orthogonally away from the holder wall 16 with respect to a direction of extension of the holder wall 16 from the holder base 14. The holder pin 24 adjoins the outer side of the holder wall 16 with a first end region 26 and has a cross-sectional geometry that is essentially constant, for example essentially circular, in the direction of a pin axis Z. A pin head 30 is provided at a second end region 28 of the holder pin 24, which is larger in size than the outer dimension of the holder pin 24.

[0004] Increased stability is provided by two stiffening projections 32, 34 provided on an inner side of the holder wall 16 in the area in which the holder pin 24 adjoins the outer side of the holder wall 16. These projections extend, starting from the holder base 14, essentially parallel to one another along the inner side of the holder wall 16 and form between them a recess 36 which is open inwards, i.e. in the direction of the fastening element through-opening 18. The stiffening projections 32, 34 are positioned on the holder wall 16 such that on the outer side of the holder wall 16 the holder pin 14 is arranged essentially between them or overlapping them and the pin longitudinal axis Z extends between the stiffening projections 32, 34 through the recess 36.

[0005] The holder pin 24 can support, for example, elastic suspension elements constructed from rubber-like material, which can also be suspended from corresponding holding elements of an exhaust system and can thus elastically support the exhaust system with respect to the holder 10 and thus also the associated vehicle.

[0006] The holder 10 is manufactured with the holder body 12 and the holder pin 24, for example, from aluminum material in a die-casting process. Fig. 2a) und 2b ) show, based on model calculations, the solidification behaviour of the construction material of the holder 10 introduced into a die-casting mould in a liquid state.

[0007] The Fig. 2a ) shows the solidification state approximately 2.4 seconds after the start of the die-casting process. It can be seen that the construction material of the holder 10 has largely solidified. Only in the area of ​​the holder pin 24, and particularly in the area where the holder pin 24 adjoins the holder wall 16, is there a core area, designated 38, in which the construction material of the holder 10 has not yet solidified.

[0008] Approximately 2.9s after the start of the die casting process remains, as the Fig. 2b ), such a non-solidified core region 38 is only present where the first end region 26 of the holder pin 24 adjoins the holder wall 16. Since in this state no further liquid build-up material is introduced into the die-casting mold, the delayed solidification of the build-up material of the holder 10 leads to a comparatively porous, unstable material structure, particularly in the mechanically highly stressed transition region between the holder pin 24 and the holder wall 16.

[0009] It is the object of the present invention to provide a holder for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine with increased mechanical strength.

[0010] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a holder for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, comprising: a holder body with a holder base and a holder wall extending from the holder base, a holder pin extending from an outer side of the holder wall, wherein a pin recess is formed in the holder pin on at least one circumferential region.

[0011] By designing the holder pin in such a way that it has a pin recess in at least one circumferential region, a volume area is created within an outer circumferential contour line of the holder pin that is not filled with the build-up material of the holder pin, which leads to faster and more uniform solidification of the flowable build-up material used to manufacture the holder. The formation of potentially weakened areas due to the material structure can thus be avoided.

[0012] In the holder according to the invention, the holder base can be substantially plate-shaped. To secure the holder, for example, in the area of ​​a vehicle's underbody, a fastening element access opening can be provided in the holder base. Furthermore, a rotation-locking projection extending in the opposite direction to the holder base with respect to the direction of extension of the holder wall can be provided on the holder base in order to lock the holder in a defined position, for example, in the area of ​​a vehicle's underbody.

[0013] A high level of stability of the holder with the lowest possible use of material can be supported, for example, by the holder wall extending at least partially along an outer circumferential region of the holder base, and / or by the holder wall being designed in a ring-like manner and essentially without interruption, and / or by the holder wall having a varying wall height starting from the holder base.

[0014] Since an essential function of the holder wall is also the connection of the holder pin to the holder body, it is further proposed that the holder pin is provided on the holder wall in an area of ​​maximum wall height.

[0015] For increased stability of the holder, at least one stiffening projection adjoining the holder base can be provided on an inner side of the holder wall.

[0016] With regard to the rigidity of the holder, it is particularly advantageous if two stiffening projections arranged at a distance from one another are provided on the inside of the holder wall, wherein the holder pin on the outside of the holder wall connects to the holder wall in an overlapping manner essentially between the two stiffening projections and / or at least one stiffening projection.

[0017] At least one stiffening projection can be rib-like. Furthermore, it can be provided that at least one stiffening projection transitions into a wall region of the holder wall with an increased wall thickness that decreases in the direction away from the stiffening projection. This creates a larger volume region adjacent to such a stiffening projection filled with the construction material of the holder, which influences the solidification behavior of the construction material of the holder such that, in particular, the construction material present in the transition region between the holder pin and the holder wall solidifies with high structural strength before solidification begins in this wall region with increased thickness.

[0018] Since the transition between the holder wall and the holder pin is particularly critical with regard to the structural strength of the holder, it is particularly advantageous if the pin recess is formed in the holder pin at least in a first end region of the holder pin adjoining the holder wall.

[0019] The holder pin can be designed to extend in the direction of a pin longitudinal axis, and the pin recess can be designed to extend in the direction of the pin longitudinal axis and to be open radially outwards in order to easily carry out a die-casting process in the holder pin.

[0020] To ensure secure interaction of the holder with, for example, rubber-elastic suspension elements for an exhaust system, a pin head protruding relative to an outer dimension of the holder pin can be provided at a second end region of the holder pin, remote from the holder wall. For rapid and uniform solidification of the construction material of the holder, particularly in the area of ​​the holder pin, it is particularly advantageous if the pin recess extends to the pin head.

[0021] The influence on the solidification behavior of the construction material of the holder introduced by the provision of a pin recess can be used particularly efficiently if a recess depth of the pin recess is at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, of a cross-sectional dimension of the holder pin in a recess depth direction.

[0022] To ensure a stable yet economically viable production, it is proposed that the holder body and the holder pin be formed as a single die-cast part, preferably made of aluminum. It should be noted that the term "single-piece" means that all components of the holder are provided as a single block of material in a single operation, rather than being manufactured as separate components and then assembled.

[0023] The invention further relates to a method for producing a bracket constructed according to the invention for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. In this method, the bracket body is manufactured as a single piece as a die-cast part, preferably from aluminum.

[0024] The present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a holder for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine; Fig. 2 shows in the illustrations a) and b) the solidification behaviour of the holder produced in a die-casting process. Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3one of the Fig. 1 corresponding representation of a holder constructed according to the invention; Fig. 4 in the representations a) and b) the solidification behavior of the holder produced in a die-casting process of the Fig. 3 ; Fig. 5one of the Fig. 1 corresponding representation of a holder constructed according to the invention; Fig. 6 in the representations a) and b) the solidification behavior of the holder produced in a die-casting process of the Fig. 5 ; Fig. 7 a cross-sectional view of a holder pin of the holder of the Fig. 3 .

[0025] The following are based on the Fig. 3 bis 7 various designs of holders constructed according to the invention are described. These correspond in terms of their basic structure, i.e. in terms of the design of the holder 10 with the holder body 12 and the holder pin 24 extending away from the holder wall 16, to the previously described with reference to the Fig. 1 structure already described. Therefore, with regard to this basic structure, reference is made to the above explanations on Fig. 1 referred to.

[0026] In Fig. 3 It can be seen that a pin recess, generally designated 40, is formed in the holder pin 24. The pin recess 40 extends from the first end region 26, i.e., from the region in which the holder pin 24 adjoins the holder wall 16, to the pin head 30, essentially in a straight line in the direction of the pin longitudinal axis Z. The pin recess 40 is open radially outward with respect to the pin longitudinal axis Z and preferably has a substantially constant cross-sectional geometry in the direction of the pin longitudinal axis Z.

[0027] The Fig. 7 illustrates that the pin recess 40 has a depth T in a recess depth direction RT which, in the illustrated embodiment, is greater than half the cross-sectional dimension D of the holder pin 24 in the recess depth direction RT.

[0028] By providing the pin recess 40, a comparatively large volume is present in the cross-section of the holder pin 24 that is not filled with the build-up material of the holder 10 or that is to be filled during the die-casting process. This volume of the pin recess 40 that is not to be filled with the build-up material of the holder 10 significantly influences the solidification behavior of the build-up material of the holder 10 during a die-casting process.

[0029] The Fig. 4a) und 4b ) show in analogy to the Fig. 2a) und 2b ) the solidification behaviour of the construction material of the holder 10, determined by model calculations. In the Fig. 4a ) which occurs approximately 2.4 seconds after the start of the die-casting process, the construction material of the holder 10 is essentially only in a comparatively small core area 38 not yet solidified, whereby this core area 38 is also positioned where the holder pin 24 adjoins the holder wall 16. After approximately 2.9 seconds, shown in Fig. 4b ), the build-up material of the holder 10, which has been introduced into a die-casting mold, has completely solidified. There remains no core region in which a solidification behavior leading to a different material structure exists. In particular, that volume region of the then solidified build-up material of the holder 10, in which the holder pin 24 adjoins the holder wall 16, has hardened with a uniform, very stable material structure. Thus, in comparison to the Fig. 1 In the embodiment example shown, despite the fact that the holder pin 24 is less solid and constructed with less material due to the provision of the pin recess 40, a more stable structure of the holder 10 is achieved which is more resistant to the mechanical stresses occurring during operation of a vehicle.

[0030] An alternative embodiment of such a holder pin 24 formed with a pin recess 40 is shown in Fig. 5 The holder pin 24 basically has the same structure as in Fig. 3 shown. Adjacent to the stiffening projection 34, however, there is a wall region 42 of the holder wall 16 in which the holder wall 16 has a greater wall thickness compared to the other regions thereof positioned in the circumferential direction around the holder base 14. For example, where the stiffening projection 34 merges into this region 42 of the holder wall 16, the holder wall 16 can have a thickness that corresponds to the wall thickness present in the other regions of the holder wall 16 plus the height of the stiffening projection 34. The wall thickness of the holder wall 16 decreases in the direction away from the stiffening projection 34, so that, along with the decreasing projection height of the holder wall 16 from the holder base 14, the holder wall 16 approaches the thickness in the lower region of the Fig. 5 shown structure with a lower projection height from the holder base 14 and a substantially constant, smaller wall thickness.

[0031] The Fig. 6illustrates that by providing the wall region 42 of the holder wall 16 laterally adjacent to the region of the holder wall 16 in which the holder pin 24 adjoins it, a core region 38' remains when the build-up material of the holder 10 solidifies during a die-casting process, in which core region the build-up material has not yet solidified approximately 2.4 seconds after the start of the die-casting process. The volume region of the not yet solidified build-up material is thus increasingly moved away from the volume region in which the holder pin 24 adjoins the holder wall 16. This also contributes to a more uniform solidification behavior in this volume region in which the holder pin 24 adjoins the holder wall 16.

Claims

1. Holder for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, comprising: - a holder body (12) with a holder base (14) and a holder wall (16) extending from the holder base (14), - a holder pin (24) extending from an outer side of the holder wall (16), wherein a pin recess (40) is formed in the holder pin (24) on at least one peripheral region.

2. Holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the holder base (14) is substantially plate-like, and / or that a fastening element through-opening (18) is provided in the holder base (14), and / or that an anti-rotation projection (22) extending in the opposite direction to a direction of extension of the holder wall (16) relative to the holder base (14) is provided on the holder base (14).

3. Holder according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatthe holder wall (16) extends at least partially along an outer peripheral region of the holder base (14), or / and that the holder wall (16) is formed in a ring-like manner and is substantially uninterrupted, or / and that the holder wall (16) has a varying wall height starting from the holder base (14).

4. Holder according to claim 3, characterized in that the holder pin (24) is provided on the holder wall (16) in an area of ​​maximum wall height.

5. Holder according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that at least one stiffening projection (32, 34) adjoining the holder base (14) is provided on an inner side of the holder wall (16).

6. Holder according to claim 5, characterized in thaton the inside of the holder wall (16) two stiffening projections (32, 34) arranged at a distance from one another are provided, wherein the holder pin (24) on the outside of the holder wall (16) adjoins the holder wall (16) in an overlapping manner essentially between the two stiffening projections (32, 34) and / or at least one stiffening projection (32, 34).

7. Holder according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that at least one stiffening projection (32, 34) is rib-like, and / or that at least one stiffening projection (34) merges into a wall region (42) of the holder wall (16) with an increased wall thickness that decreases in the direction away from the stiffening projection (34).

8. Holder according to one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the pin recess (40) in the holder pin (24) is formed at least in a first end region (26) of the holder pin (24) adjoining the holder wall (16).

9. Holder according to one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the holder pin (24) extends in the direction of a pin longitudinal axis (Z), and that the pin recess (40) in the holder pin (24) extends in the direction of the pin longitudinal axis (Z) and is open radially outwards.

10. Holder according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that a pin head (30) projecting with respect to an outer dimension of the holder pin (24) is provided on a second end region (28) of the holder pin (24) remote from the holder wall (16), and that the pin recess (40) extends up to the pin head (30).

11. Holder according to one of claims 1-10, characterized in that a recess depth (T) of the pin recess (40) of at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, of a cross-sectional dimension (D) of the holder pin (24) in a recess depth direction (R T ) is.

12. Holder according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe holder body (12) is formed integrally with the holder pin (24) as a die-cast part, preferably made of aluminum.

13. A method for producing a holder (10) for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine according to one of claims 1-12, wherein the holder body (12) is produced in one piece as a die-cast part, preferably from aluminum.

Images