Spherical Segment Pipe Connection for Exhaust Line Tolerance Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pipe connection arrangements in exhaust lines of combustion engines are expensive to produce and assemble, and they fail to adequately compensate for position tolerances such as angular misalignments and axial offsets, leading to potential leaks due to thermal stresses.

Innovation Solution

A pipe connection arrangement featuring raised spherical segments on the outer surface of pipe ends that fit into a connecting pipe with a smooth, circular-cylindrical inner wall, allowing for circular-line contact and effective compensation of position tolerances while maintaining a leak-tight joint, which can be produced simply and inexpensively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If widely known compensating connecting pipe arrangements (corrugated-tube compensators, elastomer compensators, plug-type connections) are used to connect pipe ends spaced apart in axial alignment, then position tolerances can be compensated, but the connection becomes less resistant to high thermal stresses and weak points with leaks can form

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompensation of position tolerancesVSAvoidresistance to thermal stresses

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the connecting pipe by providing a spherical segment on its inner wall surface. This spherical segment has a radius that is 0.05 to 0.2 times the inner radius of the connecting pipe, creating a specific contact geometry that allows angular misalignment compensation while maintaining structural integrity under thermal stress. The controlled contact area between the spherical segment and pipe end enables both adaptability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If pipe ends are connected with extensive contact joints (broad contact area between pipe ends and connecting pipe), then connection stability is improved, but manufacturing and assembly costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing and assembly cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies spheroidality by providing a spherical segment on the inner wall surface of the connecting pipe. This curved surface creates a point or line contact with the pipe end, replacing the need for extensive flat contact surfaces. The spherical geometry inherently provides stable positioning and angular misalignment compensation while requiring minimal machining complexity, thus reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining connection stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If pipe ends are spaced apart with axial gap and connected by inserting connecting pipe section, then thermal expansion can be accommodated, but the connection complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal expansion accommodationVSAvoidconnection complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the connecting pipe's inner wall surface into a specific spherical segment region rather than modifying the entire pipe surface. This localized segmentation allows thermal expansion accommodation through the spherical contact geometry while keeping the rest of the connecting pipe simple and easy to manufacture. The segmented approach reduces overall connection complexity compared to fully complex compensating mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 cost-effective and reliable method to compensate for position tolerances and thermal stresses, reducing the risk of leaks and improving the durability of the connection while allowing for large angular and axial misalignments.

Implementation Method 1

there is a need particularly to take into account the thermal pipe expansion during operation, owing to which the end faces of the two pipe ends move towards one another

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS10550752B2Pipe connection arrangement for connecting two pipe ends, in particular two pipe ends arranged in an exhaust line of a combustion engine

Publication Date: 2020.02.04 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE

AI summary

A pipe connection arrangement for connecting two pipe ends arranged in an exhaust line of a combustion engine, the two pipe ends being aligned axially with respect to one another and/or are spaced apart and, on the outer circumferential surface thereof, each have a raised spherical segment in a ring shape. The spherical segments are accommodated in a connecting pipe which surrounds the pipe ends in an overlapping section such that the circumference of the raised spherical segments rests radially on an inner wall of the connecting pipe in a spherical-segment contact region.