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    • 专利摘要:
    18 ABSTRACT The present invention relates to a flexible device (102) for directingexhaust gases from a first vehicle body to a second vehicle body of an5 articuiated vehicle, wherein the exhaust gases are used for heating thesecond vehicle body. The flexible device (102) comprising: a first tube being aheat resistant flexible tube, the first tube (408) being contained by a helicalextension spring (402) and fixed to the helical extension spring (402), thehelical extension spring (402) being fixed to the first tube (408) such that the10 flexible device (102) having a loaded and an unloaded condition, wherein alength of the flexible device (102) in the loaded condition is at least 50%larger compared to the length of the flexible device in the unloaded condition. For publication: fig 4.
    公开号:SE1450372A1
    申请号:SE1450372
    申请日:2014-03-31
    公开日:2015-10-01
    发明作者:Carl Samuelson；Hakan Yorulmaz
    申请人:Trelleborg Ind Ab；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    AWAPATENT AB Kontor/HandläggareMalmö/Daniel Enetoft/DET Trelleborg Industri AB Ansökningsnr Vår referens SE-210681711 DEVICE FOR DIRECTING EXHAUST GASES IN AN ARTICULATEDVEHICLE Technical field of the invention The present invention relates to a flexible device for directing exhaustgases from a first vehicle body to a second vehicle body of an articulatedvehicle, wherein the exhaust gases are used for heating the second vehiclebody.
    Backqround of the invention A articulated vehicle, for example a trailer or a hauler, may comprise afirst vechicle body wherein an engine is located and a second vehicle bodycomprising a bucket for holding material to be transported, e.g. stones, sandor similar, by the articulated vehicle. This type of articulated vehicle is capableof unloading or ejecting the material from the second vehicle body at varioustimes. However, in certain weather conditions, the material has a tendency toadhere to the bucket of the second vehicle body thereby resisting ejectionfrom the articulated vehicle.
    For this reason, it has for many years been common to transferexhaust gases, by use of a conduit, from the first vehicle body to the secondvehicle body in order to heat various portions of the bucket of the secondvehicle body. This heat inhibits the tendency of the material to stick to thebucket walls.
    However, an articulated vechicle is typically designed to be steered bybending the vehicle in the middle around the hitch assembly. Thus, theconduit which is used to convey the flow of exhaust from the motor of the firstvechicle body to the second vehicle body must be able to accommodatechanges in the distance and angular relationship between the first vehiclebody and the second vehicle body during operation of the articulated vehicle.ln particular, the hitch assembly allows the first vehicle body to be pivoted inrelation to the second vehicle body in a horizontal plane (e. g. during a left orright turn). Moreover, the hitch assembly of the articulated vechicle typicallyallows the first vehicle body to be moved in a rotational direction relative tothe second vehicle body due to the very coarse terrain in which the articulated vehicle is typically employed (e. g. due to scattered rocks or holes in thefield).
    US 2008/0093151 (Komatsu LTD.) allegedly solves this problem usinga exhaust pipe device interconnecting the first and the second vehicle bodiesso that oscillation and swing of the first or the second vehicle body relative toeach other can be allowed. The exhaust pipe device comprises a plurality ofpipes, a hose and rotatable connections to allow for absorbing the oscillationand swing of the first and second vehicle body. A problem with this approachis that, since the exhaust gases are hot and are flowing through the exhaustpipe device in high speed, soot particles may clog the inside of the exhaustgas device and start to burn. This is particularly a problem where thepipes/hoses are interconnected with each other. When being clogged by thesoot particles, the flexibility and ability of the exhaust pipe system to allow foroscillation and swing is severely decreased. Moreover, the exhaust pipedevice in US 2008/0093151 is complex and expansive to manufacture andinstall.
    EP 1463650 (Umiastowski) discloses a device for guiding exhaustgases from a vehicle, i.e. a car, such that the gases are not accumulated in atrailer towed by the vehicle. The device may comprise a flexible tubecomprising an outer metal coil which contains a tube formed from one ormore heat resistant textile layers. The trailer is typically a caravan for peopleor horses. lndeed, this device is designed to be used on straight roads, undercalm conditions. Moreover, there is no need for the exhaust gases to be kepthot, since the gases are not used for heating up the trailer. The device mayfor example comprise cooling fins to cool the exhaust gases guided by thedevice. Moreover, exhaust gases from a car differs from exhaust gases froma larger diesel motor as often used in the above mentioned articulated vehiclewhen it comes to speed of the gases and heat of the gases.
    Summary of the inventionln view of the above, an objective of the invention is to solve or at leastreduce one or several of the drawbacks discussed above. Generally, theabove objective is achieved by the attached independent patent claims.According to a first aspect, the present invention is realized by aflexible device for directing exhaust gases from a first vehicle body to asecond vehicle body of an articulated vehicle, the flexible device being 3 connected to a first exhaust pipe fixed to the first vehicle body via a firstconnection means and to a second exhaust pipe fixed to the second vehiclebody via a second connection means, the flexible device comprising: a firsttube being a heat resistant flexible tube, the first tube being contained by ahe|ica| extension spring and fixed to the he|ica| extension spring, the he|ica|extension spring being fixed to the first tube such that the flexible devicehaving a loaded and an un|oaded mode, wherein a length of the flexibledevice in the loaded condition is at least 50% larger compared to the length ofthe flexible device in the un|oaded condition.
    The present invention is based on the understanding that by using afirst tube for directing exhaust gases from a first vehicle body to a secondvehicle body for heating parts of the second vehicle body, an increased flowof exhaust gases may be achieved. This may be advantageous sincereduction of flow decreases the efficiency of the heating system of the secondvehicle body. Moreover, by allowing for increased flow, the risk of pressurebeing built up in the exhaust system may be decreased. Such a pressure canhave a negative effect of the engine performance of the articulated vehicleand can further increase the risk of engine failure.
    Moreover, the inventors have realized that using a corrugated, i.e.extendable and compressible, tube alone may mean that the compressionand extension of the flexible device for directing exhaust gases cannot becontrolled to the extent that may be necessary for the harsh condition inwhich the flexible device is employed. The solution for this problem may be tothe let first tube being contained by a he|ica| extension spring and fixed to thehe|ica| extension spring such that the flexible device has a loaded and anun|oaded mode. By fixing the first tube to the he|ica| extension spring suchthat when the spring is in an un|oaded mode, the first tube is compressedwithin the spring, the flexible device may be compressed in a controlled way.When the distance between the first and second vehicle body is increased,e.g. due to changed angular relationship between the first vehicle body andthe second vehicle body, the he|ica| extension spring is extended, whichmeans that the first tube is also extended. When the distance is decreased,the deflection force of the extension spring, i.e. when the load of the spring isdecreased, will cause the entire flexible device to be compressed in acontrolled way.
    By allowing the length of the flexible device in the loaded condition tobe least 50% larger compared to the length of the flexible device in the unloaded condition, the articulated vehicle may be constructed such that itallows for large variations of the distance between the first and the secondexhaust pipe when employing the vehicle. This may for example allow for anincreased pivot between the first and second vehicle body, and consequentlyto a more easy to drive vehicle. lt may further allow for the vehicle to bedriven in a very coarse terrain with sudden differences in height. Further,since the first tube can be compressed to such an extent and still becontrolled and contained by the helical extension spring this may allow forreduced minimum distance between first vehicle and second vehicle. Thismay further have the advantage that the installation of the flexible devicebetween the first vehicle body and the second vehicle body can be done on asmaller area and that such an installation may be simplified.
    Moreover, the design of the flexible device may allow for the firstvehicle body to be moved in a rotational direction relative to the secondvehicle body without any further swiveling features such that rotatableconnection means connecting the flexible device to the first and secondexhaust pipes of the first and second vehicle body. Both the helical extensionspring and the first tube can, without breaking or being deformed, withstandthe torsional movement arising when being employed in articulated vehiclewhen the vehicle used in a coarse terrain. This may further simplify themanufacturing and the installation process of the flexible device since noswiveling connection means may be needed. A fixed connection means mayfurther be cheaper and more durable than a swiveling connection means.
    A further advantage of the inventive flexible device is that is comprisesless components compared to prior art since the extension/compression andthe rotation is handled by the first tube in combination with the helicalextension spring. This may have the advantage that the flexible device has areduced price and can be manufactured in a simple way.
    Moreover, by using a tube which is contained in a helical extensionspring for directing the exhaust gases, the risk of clogging the flexible devicewith soot articles is reduced since the number of edges inside the flexibledevice where soot particles can get stuck is reduced. Further, since the shapeof the flexible device will be more or less straight or at least without anyabrupt bends, no matter if the flexible device is in a loaded or unloadedcondition, the risk of clogging the device may be reduced. This may increasethe lifetime of the flexible device. 5 A further advantage of having such a flexible device for directingexhaust gases from a first vehicle body to a second vehicle body of anarticulated vehicle may be that if a rock or similar is dropped on the device,the flexibility of the device will cause the device to bend away and thusreduce the risk of getting broken due to the blow from the rock.
    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the length of theflexible device in the loaded condition is at least 65% larger compared to thelength of the flexible device in the unloaded condition. This may furtherincrease the acceptable variations of the distance between the first and thesecond exhaust pipe when employing the articulated vehicle. An extensionrange of 65%-75% may provide good balance between the required stiffnessof the spring for providing a controlled compression of the flexible device andthe acceptable variations that the flexible device can provide for. According toother embodiments, an extension range of 65%-100% is considered toprovide such a good balance.
    According to other embodiments of the present invention, a distancebetween the first and second exhaust pipe when the articulated vehicle is in afully pivoted state is less than 90% of the max length of the first tube whenbeing in a fully extended state. According to other embodiments, this distanceis less than 90% of the max extension of the helical extension spring. Themax extension of the helical extension string is understood to mean anextension a little bit shorter than an extension wherein the spring ispermanently set, that is when the spring is extended so far that its elasticproperties have been exceeded and it does not return to its original conditionupon release of load. According to other embodiments, the allowed extensionof the first tube and the helical extension spring have other values which maybe differing such that the spring may be allowed to be extended closer to itsmax extension compared to the first tube and vice versa. The advantage ofnever letting the first tube and/or the helical extension spring to be fullyextended is that the risk of breakage of the components is reduced.
    According to other embodiments of the present invention, the firstflexible device is adapted for enduring temperatures up to 580°C withoutsubstantial deformation. The average temperature of exhaust gases is 180 -250 degrees Celsius, depending on the engine type. However, the flexibledevice must be able to withstand peak temperature of 450 - 500 degreesCelsius, and sometimes even higher peak temperatures due to the highspeed of the exhaust gases directed by the flexible device.
    According to other embodiments of the present invention, the flexibledevice further comprises a second tube being a heat resistant flexible tubeenclosing the helical extension spring and the first tube. The articulatedvehicle often is employed in environments where the risk of rocks falling onthe flexible device, or dirt sticking to the flexible device. Moreover, thearticulated vehicle, and thus the flexible device, may be exposed to highpressure cleaning. This may be harmful for the first tube and/or the helicalextension spring and such a cover may protect these vital inner parts of theflexible device from dirt, blows by e.g. a rock and high pressure cleaning.
    According to embodiments of the present invention, the second tube isfixed to the flexible device by hose clamps fixed to the first and secondconnection means. Since the second tube is enclosing the helical extensionspring and the first tube, the second tube will interact with the spring and thefirst tube in compression and extension. Consequently it is enough if the tubeis fixed to the flexible device at the ends of the second tube. The use of hoseclamps fixed to the connection means provides for a simple and cheapattachment. A further advantage is that by fixing the second tube to theflexible device only by hose clamps, the second tube may easily be replaced.Since the flexible device often is employed in harsh environments, asdescribed above, the second tube may be worn out and thus easyreplacement is advantageous.
    According to other embodiments of the present invention, the helicalextension spring is fixed to the first tube by means of a strip of a heatresistant material, and wherein the strip is fixed to the first tube over at least apart of the coils of the helical extension spring. By fixing the extension springby means of a strip of material, the excessive material when the flexibledevice is compressed may be reduced compared to if the extension springwas fixed by a further tube. According to embodiments, the strip is fixed to thefirst tube by means of stitches of a thread made of heat resistant fibers. Usingstitches for fastening the strip to the first tube may be a simple and costefficient but still very durable way of fastening the strip. Moreover, stitches ofheat resistant fibers may endure heat better than other fastening means suchas gluing.
    According to other embodiments of the present invention, at leastsome of the coils of the helical extension spring are fully enclosed by the stripof heat resistant material and the first tube. This may keep the spring firmly fixed to the first tube while reducing the material required for fastening thespnng.
    According to other embodiments of the present invention, the ends ofthe helical extension spring are fixed to the first and second connectionmeans. As mentioned above, the helical extension spring can, withoutbreaking or being deformed, withstand the torsiona| movement arising whenthe articulated vehicle is being employed in a coarse terrain. Consequently,the ends of the spring can be fixed to the first and second connection means,which in turn is fixed to the first and the second vehicle body. This mayreduce the risk of the helical extension spring tearing the first and/or thesecond tube since the ends of the spring is fixed to the connection means. Byfixing the first and second connection means to the vehicle bodies, the needfor swiveling connection means is removed which reduce the complexity ofthe flexible device.
    According to other embodiments of the present invention, the first andsecond connection means each comprises an inner metal pipe and an outermetal pipe, wherein a first end and a second end of the first tube is fixed tothe first and second connection means respectively by positioning each endof the first tube between the inner and the outer metal pipe of thecorresponding connection means and mechanically pressing the inner andouter metal pipe together. An advantage of this embodiment may be that it isa simple and cheap way of fastening the first tube to the connection means.According to embodiments, the ends of the helical extension spring arefastened in the same way. According to embodiments, both an end of the firsttube and the corresponding end of the helical extension spring is fixed to thecorresponding connection means at the same manufacturing step, which mayfurther simplify the manufacturing process.
    According to embodiments, an outlet of the inner metal pipe for outflowof the exhaust gas from the first connection means is formed by an endportion of the inner metal pipe, the end portion being tapered in a flowdirection of the exhaust gas. This embodiment may have two differentadvantages. First, by having such a tapered outlet, a laminar flow in theexhaust gas may be achieved. This may reduce the turbulence of the exhaustgases when the gases are directed in the flexible device. Second, by having atapered outlet, the inner metal pipe may be designed such that the risk oftearing the first tube against the edge of the inner metal pipe is reduced. Thiswill be further elaborated in the detailed section below.
    According to embodiments of the present invention, an inlet of theinner metal pipe for inflow of the exhaust gas into the second connectionmeans is formed by an end portion of the inner metal pipe, the end portionbeing widened in a flow direction of the exhaust gas. By having such awidened inlet, the inner metal pipe may be designed such that the risk oftearing the first tube against the edge of the inner metal pipe is reduced. Thiswill be further elaborated in the detailed section below. ln a second aspect, the present invention provides an articulatedvehicle comprising a first vehicle body, a second vehicle body, a first exhaustpipe fixed to the first vehicle body, a second exhaust pipe fixed to the secondvehicle body, and a flexible device according to the first aspect for directingexhaust gases from the first vehicle body to the second vehicle body via thefirst exhaust pipe and the second exhaust pipe.
    The second aspect may generally have the same features andadvantages as the first aspect.
    Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention willappear from the following detailed disclosure as well as from the drawings.
    Brief description of the drawinqs The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages ofthe present invention, will be better understood through the followingillustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the presentinvention, with reference to the appended drawings, where the samereference numerals will be used for similar elements, wherein: figure 1 shows an articulated vehicle according to embodiments of theinvention, figure 2 shows a flexible device for directing exhaust gases betweenvehicle bodies of the articulated vehicle shown in figure 1, figures 3a-b show the flexible device in an unloaded condition and in aloaded condition, figure 4 describes the structure of the flexible device, figure 5 shows the flexible device of figure 4 in cross section, figure 6 shows the connection means of the flexible device in crosssecüon.
    As illustrated in the figures, the sizes of layers and regions areexaggerated for illustrative purposes and, thus, are provided to illustrate thegeneral structures of embodiments of the present invention.
    Detailed descriptionFigure 1 shows by way of example an articulated vehicle. The vehicle comprises a first vehicle body 104 and a second vehicle body 106. Thearticulated vehicle 100 is designed to be steered by bending the vehicle in themiddle around a hitch assembly 112. The vehicle further comprises a firstexhaust pipe 108 fixed to the first vehicle body 104, and a second exhaustpipe 110 fixed to the second vehicle body 106. The vehicle further comprisesa flexible device 102 for directing exhaust gases from the first vehicle body104 to the second vehicle body 106 via the first exhaust pipe 108 and thesecond exhaust pipe 110.
    Figure 2 shows the flexible device 102 when mounted between the firstexhaust pipe 108 the second exhaust pipe 110. The flexible device 102 isconnected to the first exhaust pipe 108 via a first connection means 202a andto the second exhaust pipe 110 via the second connection means 202b.Since a distance between the two exhaust pipes 108, 110 may be largelyvarying, due to the changes in the distance and angular relationship betweenthe first vehicle body 104 and the second vehicle body 106 during operationof the articulated vehicle 100, the flexible device needs to accommodate suchvarying distances. According to some embodiments, a minimum distancebetween the first exhaust pipe 108 and the second exhaust pipe 110 is 700mm. When the articulated vehicle 100 is deflected to its maximum steeringangles, this distance between the first exhaust pipe 108 and the secondexhaust pipe 110 may be 1000-1400 mm, depending on the type ofarticulated vehicle. As understood by the skilled person, this distance mayscale depending on the size of the articulated vehicle, such that for largevehicle the minimum distance may be 900 and the maximum distance may be1300-1800 mm. The same goes for smaller vehicles where the distances arereduced accordingly. The distances further depend on the type of a hitchassembly that is used between the two vehicle bodies.
    The structure of the flexible device 102 will now be described inconjunction with figure 4 and 5. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the firstconnections means 202a and how the connections means 202a is fixed to theremaining parts of the flexible device 102. Figure 4 further shows thestructure of the flexible components of the flexible device 102. Figure 4 thusshow a first end portion of the flexible device, i.e. the portion closest to thefirst vehicle body 104 shown in figure 1. For illustrative purposes, parts of the components of the flexible device 102 are cut away in figure 4. Figure 5shows the flexible device 102 shown in figure 4 in cross section. lt may benoted that a corresponding second end portion of the flexible device 102, i.e.the portion c|osest to the second vehicle body 106 shown in figure 1 andcomprising the second connection means 202b, may be structured in thesame way as the first end portion shown in figure 4 and 5.
    The flexible device 102 comprises a first tube 408 being a heatresistant flexible tube. The flexible device 102 further comprises a he|ica|extension spring 402, wherein the first tube 408 is contained by and fixed tothe he|ica| extension spring 402. By fixing the first tube 408 to the he|ica|extension spring such the first tube may be compressed and extended withinthe spring, the flexible device may have a loaded and unloaded condition,wherein a length of the flexible device 102 in the loaded condition is at least50% larger compared to the length of the flexible device 102 in the unloadedcondition. The flexible device 102 further comprises a second tube 404 beinga heat resistant flexible tube enclosing the he|ica| extension spring 402 andthe first tube 408. The second tube 404 is included in the flexible device inorder to protect the vital inner parts, i.e. the first tube 408 and the spring 402,from the harsh environment where the flexible device often is employed, e.g.an environment where stones or other structure may fall onto the flexibledevice. The second tube is however optional. According to embodiments, thesecond tube 404 is fixed to the flexible device 102 by hose clamps fixed to theconnection means 202a.
    Figure 4 and 5 describes the flexible device 102 in a Ioaded condition,i.e..a condition where the articulated vehicle 100 in figure 1 is deflected to itsmaximum steering angles (or in its fully pivoted state), such that this distancebetween the first exhaust pipe 108 and the second exhaust pipe 110 is at itsmaximum. As can be seen in figure 4 and 5, the first tube 408 and the secondtube 404 are not in their fully extended state. On the contrary, both tubes 408,404 are slightly corrugated. According to embodiments, the distance betweenthe first 108 and second 110 exhaust pipe when the articulated vehicle 100 isin a fully pivoted state is less than 90% of the max length of the first tube 408when being in a fully extended state. According to embodiments, this isequally valid for the second tube 404. This reduces the risk of damaging thetubes 408, 404 by extending them beyond their fully extended state, whichwould risk tearing of the tubes 408, 404. As discussed above, the length ofthe flexible device 102 in its Ioaded condition may be somewhere between 11 50-120% larger compared to the length of the flexible device 102 in theunloaded condition. This means that the distance between each coil of thespring 402 may be reduced by approximately 50%, but not much more, whenbeing in the unloaded condition. Consequently, the spring 402 is not close-wound (i.e. coiled with adjacent coils touching) even in the unloadedcondition, thereby allowing (corrugated) parts of the first tube 408 to beplaced between the coils of the spring 402 without risking wear of the firsttube 408. According to embodiments, the pitch of the spring 402 in itsunloaded condition is 10-20 mm. The wire diameter of the coils of the springmay be 2 - 8 mm.
    According to embodiments, a typical diameter of the opening 416 ofthe flexible device may be 100-140 mm. This is large enough for allowingtransmission of exhaust gases from the first vehicle body to the secondvehicle body of the articulated vehicle, even when a motor of the articulatedvehicle is powerful. Typically, the inner diameter of the first tube 408 isapproximately the same as the diameter of the opening, i.e. 100-140 mm.This size of the first tube 408 allow for a not to heavy flexible device. A heavyflexible device would require a more powerful spring in order to contract whenthe distance between the first 108 and second 110 exhaust pipe is reduced.This may not be advantageously for the abilities of the flexible device tohandle rotational movements between the first 104 and second 106 vehiclebodies. Further, a larger diameter of the flexible device 102 leads to a highermanufacturing cost due to the larger and more powerful spring, and theincreased area of the hoses 404, 408. ln figure 4 and 5, the helical extension spring 402 is fixed to the firsttube 408 by means of a strip 406 of a heat resistant material, wherein thestrip 406 is fixed to the first tube 408 over at least a part of the coils of thehelical extension spring 402. The strip 406 may for example be fixed to thefirst tube by means of stitches of a thread made of heat resistant fibers. Atleast some of the coils of the helical extension spring 402 are fully enclosedby the strip 406 of heat resistant material and the first tube 408. According tosome embodiments, all the coils are fully enclosed, but according to otherembodiments, for example the coils closest to the connection means 202a isnot fixed to the first hose 408. According to some embodiments, the strip 406is a continuous piece of heat resisting material, but the strip 406 may alsocomprise several adjacent strips of heat resisting material. Using severaladjacent strips 406 may simplify the process of fixing the spring 402 to the 12 first hose 408. Using one continuous strip 406 may be advantageous forincreasing the lifetime of the flexible device 102.
    The connection means 202a comprises an inner metal pipe 424 and anouter metal pipe 422. The end of the first tube 408 is fixed to the connectionmeans 202a by positioning the end of the first tube 408 between the inner424 and the outer 422 metal pipe of the connection means 202a andmechanically pressing the inner 418 and outer 410 metal pipes together. Theend of the helical extension spring 402 is fixed to the connection means 202a.According to embodiments, this fixation is done in the same manufacturingstep as the fixation of the first tube 408 to the connection means 202a.According to other embodiments, the first tube 408 extends further than thecoils of the spring 402, such that the inner tube is fixed between the inner 424and outer 422 metal pipes while the spring is fixed to the connection means202a in some other suitable way, for example by welding.
    The second tube 404 is fixed to the flexible device 102 by a hoseclamp 418 fixed to the connection means 202a. By forming the connectionsmeans with circumferentially protruding sections 412 and 426, wherein thedistance between them matches a width of the hose clamp 418, a firm fixationof the second tube 404 may be achieved. However, the design of theconnection means 202a in figure 4-6 is just by way of example, according tosome embodiments, the hose clamp 418 is fixed around the outer metal pipe422.
    The outer metal pipe 422 may be designed such that a portion 410 ofthe outer metal pipe 422 is bent around the protruding section 412 when theouter metal pipe 422 has been mechanically pressed together with the innermetal pipe 424. This may be advantageously in that the outer metal pipe 422is firmly fixed to the inner metal pipe 424. The outer metal pipe 422 maycomprise such a bent portion 410 before being mechanically pressed to theinner metal pipe 424, or the manufacturing step of mechanically pressing thetwo pipes 424, 422 together may form such a bent portion.
    The flexible device 102 may further comprise at least one separate coil420 which is not connected to the spring 402. The separate coil(s) may befixed to the first hose 408 by means of a strip of heat resistant material in thesame way as the spring 402 is fixed to the first hose 408. The separate coil(s)420 may be used for firmly fixing the first hose 408 to the connection means202a by positioning one coil 420 adjacent to a protrusion 414 whenmechanically pressing the inner 424 and the outer 422 metal pipes of the 13 corresponding connection means 202a. Any further separate coi|(s) may beused for further fix the first hose 408 to the connection means 202a. Asunderstood from above, separate coi|(s) may be used for fixing the first hose408 to the connection means 202b as well.
    According to embodiments, the flexible device 102 is adapted forenduring temperatures up to 580°C without substantial deformation. This isachieved by using heat resistant material for the first hose 408, the secondhose 404, the strip 406 and the thread fixing the strip 406 to the first hose408. ln the following, such a heat resistant material is exemplified. ls shouldbe noted though, that the materials is just examples, and that any materialable to withstanding temperatures up to 580°C, or at least able to withstandpeak temperature of 450 - 500° Celsius may be used for the invention.
    The main element of the heat resistant material is to withstand the hightemperature and chemical environment of exhaust gasses. The materialshould also be flexible and have a high resistance to fatigue since the flexibleproperties of the flexible device, along with the conditions under which theflexible device is employed, may cause the flexible device, and thus thematerials used in the flexible device to compress and stretch. The materialused may be a coated fabric. The fibers in the fabric may be made of glassfiber or a combination of glass fibers and polyaramide fibers. The fabric maybe coated with a layer of material with high temperature resistance such assilicone or Teflon or other materials with high temperature and chemicalresistance. The heat resistant material can also be made in a combination oflayers of such coated fabrics. The material used may also be metalizedfabrics formed by an aluminisation process, for example the materialReflespace® provided by Dickson PLT or a material with similar properties.According to some embodiments, the material of the first tube 408 may differfrom the material of the second tube 404.
    Figures 3a-b show by way of example the flexible device in anunloaded condition and in a loaded condition, respectively. As can be seen infigure 3b, even in the loaded condition, the flexible device is in a corrugatedstate.
    Figure 6 shows by way of example the inner metal pipe 424 of theconnection means 202a, 202b of the flexible device 102 in cross section.Figure 6 thus represents both the first connection means 202a and thesecond connection means 202b. For the first connection means 202a, anoutlet of the inner metal pipe for outflow of the exhaust gas from the first 14 connection means 202a is formed by an end portion 614 of the inner metalpipe 424, the end portion 614 being tapered in a flow direction of the exhaustgas. This means that for the first connection means 202a, the exhaust gas willflow from right to left in figure 6. The angle 602 of the tapered end portionmay range between 10-30°. ln one embodiment, the angle of the tapered endportion of the first connection means 202a is 20°.
    According to embodiments of the second connection means 202b, aninlet of the inner metal pipe 424 for inflow of the exhaust gas into the secondconnection means 202b is formed by an end portion 614 of the inner metalpipe 424, the end portion 614 being widened in a flow direction of the exhaustgas. This means that for the second connection means 202b, the exhaust gaswill flow from left to right in figure 6. The angle 602 of the widened end portionmay range between 10-30°. ln one embodiment, the angle of the tapered endportion of the first connection means 202a is 20°. lt may be noted thataccording to some embodiments, the angle 602 for the first connection means202a is larger than the angle 602 for the second connection means 202b.
    The tapered and widened end portions 614 may have the advantagethat the risk of tearing the first tube 408 against the edge 616 of the innermetal pipe is reduced. Moreover, by having a tapered end portion 614 of thefirst connection means 202a, a laminar flow through the flexible device 102may be achieved, which may be advantageous.
    A length 612 of the connection means 202a, 202b may be 130 mm.The diameter 608 of the tapered/widened end portion may be 120 mm. Ageneral diameter 604, i.e. not including the protrusions 412, 414, 426 and theend portion 614, of the flexible device may be 123 mm. The thickness of theinner metal pipe may be 3-6 mm. A diameter of the right most protrusion 426may be 145-147mm. A diameter of the two smaller protrusions may be 132-134 mm. The above measures are only disclosed by way of example, andmay for example vary with 110% for each measure. lt may be noted that the design of the connection means 202a, 202bmay be used in other applications where a hose or similar needs to be firmlyfixed to a connection means, wherein the hose may be twisted and turned inuse. Using the design of the connection means shown in fig 4-6 may beadvantageous in other applications since the risk of tearing the hose againstthe edge 616 of the connection means is reduced. Moreover, the angular endportion 614 may be advantageous in applications where a laminar flow of thefluid/gas flowing through the connected hose is needed.
    权利要求:
    Claims (14)
    [1] 1. A flexible device (102) for directing exhaust gases from a first vehiclebody (104) to a second vehicle body (106) of an articulated vehicle (100), theflexible device (102) being connected to a first exhaust pipe (108) fixed to thefirst vehicle body (104) via a first connection means (202a) and to a secondexhaust pipe(110) fixed to the second vehicle body (106) via a secondconnection means (202b), the flexible device (102) comprising: a first tube (408) being a heat resistant flexible tube, the first tube (408) being contained by a helical extension spring (402)and fixed to the helical extension spring (402), the helical extension spring (402) being fixed to the first tube (408)such that the flexible device (102) having a loaded and an unloadedcondition, wherein a length of the flexible device (102) in the loaded condition isat least 50% larger compared to the length of the flexible device in theunloaded condition.
    [2] 2. The flexible device according to claim 1, wherein the length of theflexible device (102) in the loaded condition is at least 65% larger comparedto the length of the flexible device (102) in the unloaded condition.
    [3] 3. The flexible device according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein adistance between the first (108) and second (110) exhaust pipe when thearticulated vehicle (100) is in a fully pivoted state is less than 90% of the maxlength of the first tube (408) when being in a fully extended state.
    [4] 4. The flexible device according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein theflexible device (102) is adapted for enduring temperatures up to 580°Cwithout substantial deformation.
    [5] 5. The flexible device according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the flexibledevice (102) further comprises a second tube (404) being a heat resistant 16 flexible tube enclosing the he|ica| extension spring (402) and the first tube(408).
    [6] 6. The flexible device according to claim 5, wherein the second tube (404)is fixed to the flexible device (102) by hose clamps (418) fixed to the first(202a) and second (202b) connection means.
    [7] 7. The flexible device according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the he|ica|extension spring (402) is fixed to the first tube (408) by means of a strip (406)of a heat resistant material, and wherein the strip (406) is fixed to the firsttube (408) over at least a part of the coils of the he|ica| extension spring(402).
    [8] 8. The flexible device according to claim 7, wherein the strip (406) is fixedto the first tube (408) by means of stitches of a thread made of heat resistantfibers.
    [9] 9. The flexible device according to any one of claims 7-8, wherein at leastsome of the coils of the he|ica| extension spring (402) are fully enclosed bythe strip (406) of heat resistant material and the first tube (408).
    [10] 10.ends of the he|ica| extension spring (402) are fixed to the first (202a) and The flexible device according to any one of claims 7-9, wherein the second (202b) connection means.
    [11] 11.first (202a) and second (202b) connection means each comprises an inner The flexible device according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the metal pipe (424) and an outer metal pipe (422), wherein a first end and asecond end of the first tube (408) is fixed to the first (202a) and secondconnection means (202b) respectively by positioning each end of the firsttube (408) between the inner (424) and the outer (422) metal pipe of thecorresponding connection means (202a, 202b) and mechanically pressing theinner (424) and outer (422) metal pipe together. 17
    [12] 12.metal pipe (424) for outflow of the exhaust gas from the first connection The flexible device according to claim 11, wherein an outlet of the inner means (202a) is formed by a end portion (614) of the inner metal pipe (424),the end portion (614) being tapered in a flow direction of the exhaust gas.
    [13] 13.in|et of the inner metal pipe (424) for inflow of the exhaust gas into the second The flexible device according to any one of claims 11-12, wherein an connection means (202b) is formed by an end portion (614) of the inner metalpipe (424), the end portion (614) being widened in a flow direction of theexhaust gas.
    [14] 14. An articulated vehicle (100) comprising a first vehicle body (104), a second vehicle body (106), a first exhaust pipe (108) fixed to the first vehicle body (104), a second exhaust pipe (110) fixed to the second vehicle body (110),and a flexible device (102) according to any one of claim 1-13 for directingexhaust gases from the first vehicle body (104) to the second vehicle body(106) via the first exhaust pipe (108) and the second exhaust pipe (110).
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    WO2015152791A1|2015-10-08|
    SE537948C2|2015-12-01|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    DE3505699C1|1985-02-19|1986-08-14|Adam Opel AG, 6090 Rüsselsheim|Exhaust pipe with an inserted corrugated spring tube for motor vehicles|
    DE4426722C1|1994-07-22|1995-11-02|Masterflex Kunststofftechnik G|Flexible hose for hot engine exhaust gases|
    AUPR947301A0|2001-12-07|2002-01-24|Umiastowski, Tomasz|Exhaust fume diverter|
    US20080093151A1|2005-01-14|2008-04-24|Komatsu Ltd.|Articulate Vehicle Having Exhaust Pipe Device Deformable According to Oscillation and Swing of Vehicle Body|EP3415735A1|2017-06-15|2018-12-19|Tru-Flex, LLC|Exhaust coupling system|
    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    SE1450372A|SE537948C2|2014-03-31|2014-03-31|Device for the control of exhaust gases in an articulated vehicle|SE1450372A| SE537948C2|2014-03-31|2014-03-31|Device for the control of exhaust gases in an articulated vehicle|
    PCT/SE2015/050335| WO2015152791A1|2014-03-31|2015-03-20|Device for directing exhaust gases in an articulated vehicle|
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