Back to results
US 9,157,559 B2Granted
Exhaust connection member with braided cover
AssigneeTru-Flex, LLC
InventorsRobert F. Stalcup, II, Scott R. Swank
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exhaust connection coupler and a method for manufacturing a braid cover incorporated therein are provided.
Claims13
A coupler for an exhaust system, comprising:
- a flexible bellows including a generally cylindrical corrugated body that is formed from a metallic material,
- a braid cover including (i) a neck, and (ii) a body section extending over the bellows from a first end to a second end such that a gap is defined between at least portion of the body section of the braid cover and the corrugated body of the bellows, and
- a retainer secured to the corrugated body and the neck of the braid cover,
- wherein the neck of the braid cover is received in a pocket defined in the retainer, the pocket being closed at one end, and
- wherein (i) the body section of the braid cover has an outer-most diameter, (ii) the generally cylindrical corrugated body has an outer-most diameter, and (iii) the retainer has an outer-most diameter that is less than the outer-most diameter of the body section of the braid cover and the outer-most diameter of the generally cylindrical corrugated body.
2 more elements
A coupler for an exhaust system, comprising:
- a bellows including a generally cylindrical corrugated body that is formed from a metallic material, the generally cylindrical corrugated body having an outer-most diameter,
- a braid cover extending over the bellows, the braid cover including a body section having a first diameter, an end section including a neck having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, a shoulder extending radially between the body section and the neck, the shoulder forming a stiffened corner to provide the cover with rigidity, and
- a retainer secured to the corrugated body and the braid cover,
- wherein the neck of the braid cover is received in a pocket defined in the retainer, the pocket being closed at one end, and
- wherein the retainer includes a collar positioned radially outward of the neck of the braid cover, the collar partially defining the closed pocket, and
- wherein the retainer has an outer-most diameter that is less than the first diameter of the body section of the braid cover and the outer-most diameter of the generally cylindrical corrugated body.
3 more elements
A coupler for an exhaust system, comprising:
- a flexible bellows including a generally cylindrical corrugated body that is formed from a metallic material,
- a braid cover including (i) a neck, and (ii) a body section extending over the bellows from a first end to a second end such that a gap is defined between at least portion of the body section of the braid cover and the corrugated body of the bellows, and
- a retainer secured to the corrugated body and the neck of the braid cover, such that the neck and an end of the corrugated body is received in a pocket having one closed end defined in the retainer,
- wherein (i) the body section of the braid cover has an outer-most diameter, (ii) the generally cylindrical corrugated body has an outer-most diameter, and (iii) the retainer has an outer-most diameter that is less than the outer-most diameter of the body section of the braid cover and the outer-most diameter of the generally cylindrical corrugated body.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.