US3850453A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for connecting insulating conduits
Assignee: AP Parts Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1972-10-04
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Granted: 1974-11-26
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Expires: 1992-10-04
Abstract
Abstract The invention is disclosed herein in method and apparatus for connecting first and second insulating conduit means, each conduit having an inner tube to conduct exhaust gases, and an outer tube surrounding the inner tube and spaced therefrom. The inner tubes are sized to enable a sliding reception of an end of one inner tube into an end of another inner tube to provide a substantially gas-tight fit at the resultant overlap of the inner tubes. The outer tubes are sized to enable a sliding reception of an end of one outer tube into an end of the other outer tube to also provide an overlap portion. The normally cooler outer tubes are clamped together at the overlapped portion thereof to effect a mechanical tie between the first and second conduit portions while permitting the unclamped inner tubes to maintain a sliding connection in response to rising and falling temperatures of exhaust gases passing through the inner tubes. An insulating medium may be retained in the passage formed between the inner and outer tubes of the conduit portions by positioning retainers in the passage ends. One of the retainers is advantageously positioned to provide back-up support for the clamping of the outer tubes. The retainer is preferably formed with an inwardly opening channel to conserve weight and material, and to reduce heat transfer from the inner tube to the outer tube by conduction by reducing surface areas in contact. Each of the conduit portions may have similar retainers, in which instance the retainers are advantageously positioned adjacent each other so that both may provide back-up support for the clamping means on the outside of the overlapped portions of the outer tubes. Air or other fluid from a pressurized air or fluid system used in conjunction with the internal combustion engine may be connected for circulation through the passage formed between an inner tube and an outer tube to effect a heat exchange between the circulated air and the inner tube.
Inventors
- 👤 D Bentley
- 👤 N Alexander
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:36
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N13/00; F01N13/14; F16; F16L; F16L59/00; F16L59/14; F16L59/16; F16L59/18; F16L59/182
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
317 words
Apparatus for conducting vehicle engine exhaust gases and insulating the conducted gases from ambient external temperatures including first and second conduits in an assembled relationship, comprising a. a first conduit means including a smaller first inner tube and a larger first outer tube surrounding and spaced from said first inner tube, b. a second conduit means including a second smaller inner tube and a second larger outer tube surrounding and spaced from said second inner tube, c. said first and second inner tubes being sized to enable a reception of an end of one inner tube into an end of the other inner tube to provide a slidable connection of said two inner tubes while maintaining a substantially gas-tight joint at the resultant overlap of the inner tubes, d. said first and second outer tubes being sized to enable a sliding reception of an end of one outer tube into an end of the other outer tube to connect the fIrst and second conduit means at the resultant overlap of the outer tubes while maintaining an insulating space between said inner and outer tubes, e. means extending perimetrically around the outside of the overlapped portion of said outer tubes for clamping the cooler outside tubes together thereby effecting a mechanical tie between the outer tubes of said first and second conduit means and preventing relative movement therebetween said inner tubes having no restraining connection to said outer tubes throughout their length thereby enabling the inner tubes to maintain a sliding longitudinal connection in response to expansion and contraction from exposure to exhaust gases, thus confining exhaust gases within the inner tube and maintaining the integrity of the insulating space to minimize heat loss to enable improved treatment of vehicle exhaust emissions, and f. means for supporting said inner tubes of said first and second conduit means within the outer tubes of said first and second conduit means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
317 words
Apparatus for conducting vehicle engine exhaust gases and insulating the conducted gases from ambient external temperatures including first and second conduits in an assembled relationship, comprising a. a first conduit means including a smaller first inner tube and a larger first outer tube surrounding and spaced from said first inner tube, b. a second conduit means including a second smaller inner tube and a second larger outer tube surrounding and spaced from said second inner tube, c. said first and second inner tubes being sized to enable a reception of an end of one inner tube into an end of the other inner tube to provide a slidable connection of said two inner tubes while maintaining a substantially gas-tight joint at the resultant overlap of the inner tubes, d. said first and second outer tubes being sized to enable a sliding reception of an end of one outer tube into an end of the other outer tube to connect the fIrst and second conduit means at the resultant overlap of the outer tubes while maintaining an insulating space between said inner and outer tubes, e. means extending perimetrically around the outside of the overlapped portion of said outer tubes for clamping the cooler outside tubes together thereby effecting a mechanical tie between the outer tubes of said first and second conduit means and preventing relative movement therebetween said inner tubes having no restraining connection to said outer tubes throughout their length thereby enabling the inner tubes to maintain a sliding longitudinal connection in response to expansion and contraction from exposure to exhaust gases, thus confining exhaust gases within the inner tube and maintaining the integrity of the insulating space to minimize heat loss to enable improved treatment of vehicle exhaust emissions, and f. means for supporting said inner tubes of said first and second conduit means within the outer tubes of said first and second conduit means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 which further includes means extending perimetrically around the inside of one of said outer tubes at the overlap portion of said outer tubes to provide a back-up support means beneath said clamping means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said back-up support means is a solid ring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said back-up support means is a channel-shaped member having the channel opening inwardly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said back-up support means extends from the inside wall of the outer tube to the outside wall of the inner tube of a conduit means to retain a predetermined spacing between said inner and outer tubes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5 which further includes an insulating medium confined in the passage formed between the inner and outer tubes of said first and second conduit means, said back-up means acting to retain said insulating medium in one of said conduits before assembly in said joint connection.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 which further includes a spacing member extending between the inner wall of the outside tube and the outer wall of the inside tube of the other conduit means to retain the insulating medium in the passage between the inner and outer tubes of said other conduit means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said back-up support means of said one conduit means and said spacing means of said other conduit means are positioned adjacent each other when the ends of the conduit means are assembled to enable said spacing means to also provide support for said clamping means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which the outer and inner tubes of one of said conduit means are spaced sufficiently far apart to enable the reception of both of the outer and inner tubes of the other of said conduit means therebetween.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
249 words
A method for connecting first and second vehicle engine insulating conduit means in an assembled relationship, each conduit means having an inner tube and an outer tube surrounding the inner tube and spaced therefrom, to conduct exhaust gases from a vehicle engine to a muffler, comprising the steps of a. sizing said inner tubes to enable a reception of an end of one inner tube into an end of another inner tube to provide a slidable connection of said inner tubes while maintaining a substantially gas-tight fit at the resultant overlap of the inner tubes, b. sizing said outer tubes to enable a sliding reception of an end of one outer tube into an end of the other outer tube to provide an overlapped portion while maintaining an insulating space between inner and outer tubes, and c. clamping the cooler outer tubes together at the overlapped portion thereof to effect a mechanical tie between the outer tubes of said first and second conduit means to prevent relative movement therebetween and enclosing the insulating space between said inner and outer tubes, said inner tubes having no restricTing connection to the outer tubes throughout their length to permit the unclamped inner tubes to maintain a sliding longitudinal connection in response to rising and falling temperatures of exhaust gases passing through said inner tubes, thus confining exhaust gases within the inner tube and maintaining the integrity of the insulating space to minimize heat loss to enable improved treatment of vehicle exhaust gases.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
249 words
A method for connecting first and second vehicle engine insulating conduit means in an assembled relationship, each conduit means having an inner tube and an outer tube surrounding the inner tube and spaced therefrom, to conduct exhaust gases from a vehicle engine to a muffler, comprising the steps of a. sizing said inner tubes to enable a reception of an end of one inner tube into an end of another inner tube to provide a slidable connection of said inner tubes while maintaining a substantially gas-tight fit at the resultant overlap of the inner tubes, b. sizing said outer tubes to enable a sliding reception of an end of one outer tube into an end of the other outer tube to provide an overlapped portion while maintaining an insulating space between inner and outer tubes, and c. clamping the cooler outer tubes together at the overlapped portion thereof to effect a mechanical tie between the outer tubes of said first and second conduit means to prevent relative movement therebetween and enclosing the insulating space between said inner and outer tubes, said inner tubes having no restricTing connection to the outer tubes throughout their length to permit the unclamped inner tubes to maintain a sliding longitudinal connection in response to rising and falling temperatures of exhaust gases passing through said inner tubes, thus confining exhaust gases within the inner tube and maintaining the integrity of the insulating space to minimize heat loss to enable improved treatment of vehicle exhaust gases.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as defined in claim 10 which further includes the step of retaining an insulating medium in the passage formed between the inner and outer tubes of one of said conduit means by positioning a retainer in the passage beneath the clamping area to also provide back-up support for the clamping of the outer tubes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as defined in claim 11 which further includes forming the retainer with an inwardly opening channel to conserve weight and material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method as defined in claim 11 which further includes the step of retaining an insulating medium in the passage formed between the inner and outer tubes of the other of said conduit means by positioning a second retainer in that passage near the end thereof to also enable the second retainer to provide back-up support for the clamping area.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-25 | 1978-05-27 | 1978-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-25 | 1982-05-27 | 1982-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-25 | 1986-05-27 | 1986-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |