# US 12,760,677 B2 · Method for joining components of an exhaust system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,760,677 B2 - Document ID: US12760677B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/748,878 - Filed: 2024-06-20 - Published: 2024-10-10 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-22 - Assignees: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc. - Applicants: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company LLC - Inventors: Edward C. Hill; Matthew Yule; Dongying Jiang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12760677B2 ## CPC - F01N 13/1805: {Fixing exhaust manifolds, exhaust pipes or pipe sections to each other, to engine or to vehicle body (pipe joints in general F16L; fixing auxiliaries in motor vehicles in general B60K)} - B21D 39/046: {Connecting tubes to tube-like fittings} - B21D 39/048: {using presses for radially crimping tubular elements} - F01N 13/185: {the connection being realised by deforming housing, tube, baffle, plate, or parts thereof} - F16L 13/141: {by crimping or rolling from the outside} - F01N 2450/20: by mechanical joints, e.g. by deforming housing, tube, baffle plate or parts thereof - F01N 2470/24: Concentric tubes or tubes being concentric to housing, e.g. telescopically assembled - F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16) - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract An exhaust system and a method of joining components of an exhaust system comprises obtaining an outer sleeve, a first pipe with a first end, and a second pipe with a second end. The method includes inserting the first end of the first pipe within the outer sleeve to define a first overlap, inserting the second end of the second pipe within the outer sleeve to define a second overlap, and radially inwardly deforming the outer sleeve and the first pipe at the first overlap. The outer sleeve and the second pipe are radially inwardly deformed at the second overlap. The outer sleeve and the first pipe as well as the outer sleeve and the second pipe are pressed into engagement with one another along the length of first overlap and the second overlap to define a pipe joint. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of joining components of an exhaust system, the method comprising: obtaining a longitudinally extending outer sleeve; obtaining a first pipe with a first end; obtaining a second pipe with a second end; inserting the first end of the first pipe within the outer sleeve to define a first overlap; inserting the second end of the second pipe within the outer sleeve to define a second overlap; radially inwardly deforming the outer sleeve and the first pipe at the first overlap; and radially inwardly deforming the outer sleeve and the second pipe at the second overlap, the outer sleeve and the first pipe as well as the outer sleeve and the second pipe being pressed into engagement with one another along a length of first overlap and the second overlap to define a pipe joint, further including concurrently engaging a tool with a radially inwardly extending projection with an outer surface of the outer sleeve to form a dimple in the outer sleeve and a corresponding pocket in the first pipe or the second pipe while at least one of the radially inwardly deforming steps is performed, wherein during the engaging a tool with a radially inwardly extending projection with an outer surface of the outer sleeve, material around a perimeter of the dimple is constrained to define a longitudinally elongated dimple shape as compared to a shape of the projection. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of the first overlap is not engaged by a tool used to radially inwardly deform the outer sleeve at the first overlap. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the portion of the first overlap that is not engaged by a tool is positioned at a terminal end of the first pipe. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first end of the first pipe is radially enlarged, the first pipe including a body portion having a diameter less than the radially enlarged first end, wherein the radially inwardly deforming reduces the radially enlarged first end to a size equal to or less than the diameter of the body portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the radially inwardly deforming the outer sleeve and the first pipe includes engaging a tool on an outer surface of the outer sleeve and not engaging a tool on an inner surface of the first pipe. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning an inner sleeve within the outer sleeve, the first pipe, and the second pipe prior to the radially inwardly deforming steps, the method further including pressing the first pipe and the second pipe into engagement with the inner sleeve during the radially inwardly deforming steps. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the radially inwardly deforming the outer sleeve and the first pipe at the first overlap into pressed engagement step positions the first pipe and the outer sleeve in sealing engagement with one another. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising overlapping a portion of the second pipe with a portion of the first pipe to define a third overlap prior to radially inwardly deforming the outer sleeve and the second pipe at the second overlap. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising radially inwardly deforming the outer sleeve, the first pipe, and the second pipe at the third overlap. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve includes a wall thickness 1.2 to 3.0 times a thickness of the first pipe wall.