Retention linkage for vehicle exhaust systems
AssigneePACCAR Inc
InventorWilliam R Connelly
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One embodiment of an exhaust system support assembly formed in accordance with the present disclosure includes a wishbone link (10) that couples an exhaust member (26) to a vehicle (56) The wishbone link includes a leg (12) branching into a first arm (14) and a second arm (16) A first pivot assembly (20) pivotally couples the first arm (14) to the exhaust member (26), and a second pivot assembly (22) pivotally couples the second arm (16) to the exhaust member (26) A third pivot assembly (24) pivotally couples the leg (12) to the vehicle (56) so that the wishbone link (10) is movable in two or more degrees of freedom relative to the vehicle (56).
Claims29
An exhaust system support assembly for coupling an exhaust member to a vehicle comprising:
- (a) a wishbone link having a leg branching into a first arm and a second arm;
- (b) a first pivot assembly for pivotally coupling the first arm to the exhaust member;
- (c) a second pivot assembly for pivotally coupling the second arm to the exhaust member;
- and
- (d) a third pivot assembly for pivotally coupling the leg to the vehicle so that the wishbone link is movable in two or more degrees of freedom relative to the vehicle.
An exhaust system support assembly for coupling an exhaust member to a vehicle comprising:
- (a) a wishbone link having a leg branching into a first arm and a second arm;
- (b) a first heim joint for pivotally coupling the first arm to the exhaust member;
- (c) a second heim joint for pivotally coupling the second arm to the exhaust member;
- and
- (d) a third heim joint for pivotally coupling the leg to the vehicle so that the wishbone link is movable in two or more degrees of freedom relative to the vehicle.
A method for coupling an exhaust member to a vehicle, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a wishbone link having a leg branching into a first arm and a second arm;
- (b) pivotally coupling the first arm to the exhaust member with a first pivot assembly;
- (c) pivotally coupling the second arm to the exhaust member with a second pivot assembly;
- and
- (d) pivotally coupling the leg to the vehicle with a third pivot assembly so that the wishbone link is movable in two or more degrees of freedom relative to the vehicle.
An exhaust system support assembly for coupling an exhaust member to a vehicle comprising:
- (a) a wishbone link having a leg branching into a first arm and a second arm;
- (b) means for pivotally coupling the first arm to the exhaust member;
- (c) means for pivotally coupling the second arm to the exhaust member;
- and
- (d) means for pivotally coupling the leg to the vehicle so that the wishbone link is movable in two or more degrees of freedom relative to the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.