Exhaust Pipe Support Assembly for Cab Vibration Isolation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mounting systems for vertically upright exhaust pipes on large vocational vehicles, such as heavy trucks, do not adequately account for the relative movement between the exhaust pipe and the vehicle's cab, leading to potential vibration and noise issues due to the rigid connection.
Innovation Solution
A support assembly comprising a frame with a central cavity and a rotor that allows limited movement, combined with elastomeric isolators for compression, to securely attach the exhaust pipe to the cab while allowing for coaxial translation and rotation, thereby accommodating pitch and other movements of the cab.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid mounting system is used to securely attach the exhaust pipe to the cab, then the exhaust pipe is firmly supported, but vibration and noise increase due to relative movement between the exhaust pipe and cab
Solution Approach 1:
The support assembly incorporates a rotor that can rotate within a frame, allowing the exhaust pipe to move relative to the cab while maintaining support. This dynamic mechanism accommodates relative movement between the exhaust pipe and cab, reducing vibration and noise while preserving support stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor acts as an intermediary element between the exhaust pipe and the cab mounting structure. It provides a controlled interface that allows relative movement while maintaining the connection, thereby reducing harmful vibrations and noise without compromising support reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid connection is used between the exhaust pipe and cab, then structural simplicity is maintained, but the system cannot accommodate pitch and movement of the cab
Solution Approach 1:
The support assembly uses a rotating rotor mechanism that provides adaptive movement capability. The rotor can rotate to accommodate pitch and movement of the cab, increasing adaptability while adding only moderate structural complexity through the rotation joint.
Solution Approach 2:
The support assembly changes the operational parameters by allowing rotational movement of the rotor. This enables the system to adapt to varying cab positions and movements while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through the use of a single rotation degree of freedom.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides a stable and vibration-reduced attachment of the exhaust pipe, maintaining the traditional appearance of a combustion engine-powered vehicle while accommodating the movement of the cab, thus reducing noise and vibration.
Implementation Method 1
Elastomeric isolators are held compressed thicknesswise of the frame between lengthwise opposite end portions of the frame and portions of the one bracket which confront the lengthwise opposite end portions of the frame
Implementation Method 2
A rotor is captured within the cavity with clearance to the surfaces of the first, second, third, and fourth walls bounding the cavity and has symmetrically opposite side surfaces which extend widthwise of the cavity, which face away from each other, and which when viewed in a direction widthwise of the frame, lie on respective circular arcs having identical radii each confronting a respective bearing surface with clearance to the respective bearing surface to journal the rotor for turning within the cavity about an axis of turning extending widthwise of the frame
Data Source
AI summary
A support assembly for supporting an upright engine exhaust pipe on an exterior wall of a truck cab at a location below an outlet of the exhaust pipe. The support assembly allows limited cab motion relative to the exhaust pipe.