Connecting flange for connecting two tubular components to each other

A connector assembly comprising:

• a first tubular component;
• a connecting flange defining a flange longitudinal axis and including:
• a flange body annularly surrounding said flange longitudinal axis;
• said flange body having a first flange contact region and a second flange contact region arranged along said flange longitudinal axis with said second flange contact region being at a distance from the first flange contact region;
• at said first flange contact region, a first inner circumferential contact surface being provided for contact of said flange body against an outer circumferential surface of one of said tubular components to be connected to each other via said connecting flange;
• at said second flange contact region, a second inner circumferential contact surface being provided for contact of said flange body against the outer circumferential surface;
• wherein an insulating recess is provided in said flange body axially between said first inner circumferential contact surface and said second inner circumferential contact surface;
• wherein said insulating recess opens radially inward in the flange body and at least one of the following applies:
• i) said insulating recess extends radially outwardly with respect to said first inner circumferential contact surface;
• ii) said insulating recess extends radially outward with respect to said second inner circumferential contact surface;
• said connecting flange lying with said first inner circumferential contact surface and said second inner circumferential contact surface on the outer circumferential surface of said first tubular component;
• wherein:
• said flange body has a flange connecting region disposed axially between said first flange contact region and said second flange contact region, said flange connecting region projecting radially outwardly with respect to said first flange contact region and said second flange contact region and having a connecting region vertex lying axially between said first flange contact region and said second flange contact region, said flange body being at a largest radial distance from said flange longitudinal axis in said connecting region vertex;
• said flange body has a first connecting surface extending from said connecting region vertex to said first flange contact region at, starting from said connecting region vertex, a decreasing radial distance from said flange longitudinal axis, and has a second connecting surface extending from said connecting region vertex to said second flange contact region at, starting from said connecting region vertex, a decreasing radial distance from said flange longitudinal axis;
• said flange body defines a sealing element receiving recess open to said first connecting surface;
• and
• a sealing element received in said sealing element receiving recess and projecting over said first connecting surface is provided on said flange body axially between said connecting region vertex and said first flange contact region.

An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, the exhaust system comprising:

• a connecting assembly including:
• a first tubular component;
• a connecting flange defining a flange longitudinal axis and including:
• a flange body annularly surrounding said flange longitudinal axis;
• said flange body having a first flange contact region and a second flange contact region arranged along said flange longitudinal axis with said second flange contact region being at a distance from the first flange contact region;
• at said first flange contact region, a first inner circumferential contact surface being provided for contact of said flange body against an outer circumferential surface of one of said tubular components to be connected to each other via said connecting flange;
• at said second flange contact region, a second inner circumferential contact surface being provided for contact of said flange body against the outer circumferential surface;
• wherein an insulating recess is provided in said flange body axially between said first inner circumferential contact surface and said second inner circumferential contact surface;
• wherein said insulating recess opens radially inward in the flange body and at least one of the following applies:
• i) said insulating recess extends radially outwardly with respect to said first inner circumferential contact surface;
• ii) said insulating recess extends radially outward with respect to said second inner circumferential contact surface;
• said connecting flange lying with said first inner circumferential contact surface and said second inner circumferential contact surface on the outer circumferential surface of said first tubular component;
• a second tubular component connected via said connecting flange to said first tubular component;
• wherein:
• said flange body has a flange connecting region disposed axially between said first flange contact region and said second flange contact region, said flange connecting region projecting radially outwardly with respect to said first flange contact region and said second flange contact region and having a connecting region vertex lying axially between said first flange contact region and said second flange contact region, said flange body being at a largest radial distance from said flange longitudinal axis in said connecting region vertex;
• said flange body has a first connecting surface extending from said connecting region vertex to said first flange contact region at, starting from said connecting region vertex, a decreasing radial distance from said flange longitudinal axis, and has a second connecting surface extending from said connecting region vertex to said second flange contact region at, starting from said connecting region vertex, a decreasing radial distance from said flange longitudinal axis;
• said flange body defines a sealing element receiving recess open to said first connecting surface;
• and
• a sealing element received in said sealing element receiving recess and projecting over said first connecting surface is provided on said flange body axially between said connecting region vertex and said first flange contact region.