ARTICULATED EXHAUST SYSTEM

TRADUCTION NON-DISPONIBLE

English Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The exhaust manifold for a transversely mounted
automobile engine terminates adjacent to the negine in an outlet having
an articulated connection with the inlet of an exhaust header that
terminates in an exhaust pipe discharging to the atmosphere.
The articulated connection comprises an annular
coupling portion having a spherical surface at the header inlet seated
in sealing engagement with a spherical or conical sealing surface de-
fining the manifold outlet. An annular flange adjacent to the inlet
of the header may be seated in sealing engagement against a second
sealing surface of the annular coupling portion. The sealing engage-
ments may be maintained by a collar yieldingly urged against the
annular flange by spring means that engage the collar at spaced
locations on a line parallel to the roil axis of the engine and passing
through the center of the first named spherical surface.
Exhaust tuning is accomplished by partitioning the
header inlet into separate exhaust passages that communicate with
selected exhaust ports of the engine by means of short conduits of the
manifold. At a predetermined location downstream of the exhaust ports,
the separate passages of the header merge.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. In an exhaust system for an automobile
engine, a gas passage comprising an exhaust manifold 12
for conducting exhaust gas from said engine and also com-
prising an exhaust header 16 for conducting said gas from
said manifold to the atmosphere, means for effecting an
articulated connection between the outlet of said manifold
and the inlet-of said header comprising two annular
coupling portions of said passage in communication with the
members respectively comprising said manifold 12 and header
and having sealing surfaces in mutual sliding sealing
engagement around said passage, said coupling portions
being carried by the members 12 and 16, respectively for
moving therewith to effect said engagement, flange 18-19
means associated with one 16 of said members for moving
the latter to effect said engagement upon relative movement
of said flange means in a predetermined direction with
respect to the other member, and means 20 for yieldingly
urging said relative movement of said flange means in said
predetermined direction.
2. In the combination according to claim 1,
said two annular coupling portions being integral with said
manifold and header respectively.
3. In the combination according to claim 2,
one of said coupling portions and said flange means
comprising formed portions of a single length of pipe.
4. In a combination according to claim 3, said
sealing surface of said one coupling portion comprising
the exterior surface of said length of pipe and being
spherical about a center on a line parallel to the roll
13

axis of said engine, said means for yieldingly urging
comprising a pair of yieldable supports engaging said
flange means on said line.
5. In the combination according to claim 4,
said flange means comprising a collar seated against one of
said formed portions of said pipe, said supports engaging
said collar at said locations on said line.
6. In the combination according to claim 1,
the sealing surface of one of said coupling portions being
spherical about a center on a line parallel to the roll
axis of said engine, said means for yieldingly urging
comprising supporting means yieldingly engaging said flange
means on said line.
7. In the combination according to claim 6,
said supporting means engaging said flange means at
diametrically opposite sides of said center.
8. In the combination according to claim 1,
a sealing annulus comprising one of said annular coupling
portions and having spherical and transverse annular
sealing surfaces around said passage, said transverse
surface being transverse to the major axis of said annulus,
said spherical surface comprising one of said sealing surfaces
in said mutual sealing engagement and being centered on
a line parallel to the roll axis of said engine, said flange
means having a sealing surface in sealing engagement with
said transverse sealing surface, said means for yieldingly
urging comprising supporting means yieldingly engaging said
flange means on said line for urging said sealing surface
of said flange means into said sealing engagement with
said transverse sealing surface.
14

9. In the combination according to claim 8, said
flange means comprising a flange integral with said one coupling
portion and also comprising a collar engaging said flange around
the latter annular portion, and said supporting means yieldingly
engaging said collar on said line at opposite sides of said center.
10. In the combination according to claim 9, said one
coupling portion comprising a portion of said header, the other
coupling portion comprising a portion of said manifold and its
sealing surface comprising an annular conical surface enlarging
in the downstream direction of the flow of said exhaust gas.
11. In the combination according to claim 10, said
other coupling portion being adjacent the outlet of said manifold,
said one coupling portion being adjacent the inlet of said header
and having a cylindrical exterior surface extending coaxially
into said annulus, said annulus having an inner cylindrical
surface interfitting coaxially with said cylindrical exterior
surface.
12. In the combination according to claim 11, the
sealing surfaces of said flange extending in a plane transverse to
the major axis of, said annulus and being clamped against said
transverse sealing surface of said annulus for relative movement
as a unit with respect to pivoting of said manifold about the
center of said spherical surface.
13. In the combination according to claim 8, said one
coupling portion and said annulus having interfitting cylindrical
surfaces, one of said intermitting cylindrical surfaces being
sleeved coaxially over the other.
- 15 -

14. In the combination according to claim 13, the
sealing surfaces of said flange extending in a plane transverse
to the major axis of said annulus and being clamped to said
transverse sealing surface of said annulus for relative movement
as a unit with respect to movement of the other of said annular
portions about the center of said spherical surface.
15. In the combination according to claim 1, said mani-
fold comprising a plurality of separate conduits for connecting
a plurality of separate exhaust ports of said engine with said
outlet, said header comprising a plurality of separate conduits
extending from said inlet, and means for effecting exhaust tuning
for said engine comprising means for connecting selected conduits
of said manifold at said outlet with selected conduits of said
header at said inlet for conducting exhaust gases from the former
to the latter, said selected conduits of said header merging at a
predetermined location downstream of said outlet.
16. In the combination according to claim 15, said two
annular coupling portions being integral with said manifold and
header respectively.
17. In the combination according to claim 16, one of
said coupling portions and said flange means comprising portions
of a single length of pipe.
18. In the combination according to claim 15, the seal-
ing surface of one of said-coupling portions being spherical about
a center on a line parallel to the roll axis of said engine, said
means for yieldingly urging comprising supporting means yieldingly
engaging said flange means on said line.
- 16 -

19. In the combination according to claim 15, a sealing
annulus comprising one of said annular coupling portions and
having spherical and transverse annular sealing surfaces around said
passage, said transverse surface being transverse to the major
axis of said annulus, said spherical surface comprising one of said
sealing surfaces in said mutual sealing engagement and being centered
on a line parallel to the roll axis of said engine, said flange
means having a sealing surface in sealing engagement with said
transverse sealing surface, said means for yieldingly urging
comprising supporting means yieldingly engaging said flange means
on said line for urging said sealing surface of said flange means
into said sealing engagement with said transverse sealing surface.
20. In the combination according to claim 19, said
flange means comprising a flange integral with said one coupling
portion and also comprising a collar engaging said flange around
the latter annular portion, and said supporting means yieldingly
engaging said collar on said line at opposite sides of said center.
21. In the combination according to claim 1, said one
annular coupling portion being carried by said header and having
its sealing surface spherical about a center at the major axis of
said one annular coupling portion and a line parallel to the roll
axis of said engine, said means for yieldingly urging comprising
supporting means yieldingly engaging said flange means on said
line, the other annular coupling portion being carried by said
manifold, said manifold having a first partition at said outlet
partitioning the same into two parts, said manifold also comprising
a plurality of separate conduits for connecting selected exhaust
ports of said engine with each of said two parts, said header

Claim 21 (Cont'd.)
having a second partition at said inlet partitioning the same
into two parts, said partitions cooperating to connect each of th
parts of said header inlet with one of each of the parts of said
manifold outlet and having confronting edge surfaces in sliding
sealing engagement, at least one of said edge surfaces being
spherical about said center, said header comprising two conduits
communicating with said two parts of said inlet respectively and
merging into a single conduit at a predetermined downstream
location.
22. In the combination according to claim 21, a sealing
annulus carried by said one coupling portion and having two.
annular sealing surfaces around said passage, one of said annular
sealing surfaces comprising said spherical sealing surface, said
flange means having a sealing surface in sealing engagement with
the other of said two sealing surfaces.
23. In the combination according to claim 22, said
flange means comprising a flange integral with said header and
having said sealing surface in sealing engagement with the other of
said two sealing surfaces, said flange means also comprising a
collar engaging said flange around said header, and said means for
yieldingly urging comprising means yieldingly engaging said collar
on said line at opposite sides of said center.
24. In the combination according to claim 23, the
major extent of said edge surfaces of said partitions being
transverse to said roll axis.
- 18 -

25. In an exhaust system for a transversely mounted
automobile engine having a transversely extending roll axis which
results in predominant movements of the parts attached to the
engine in planes substantially normal to the roll axis; an
exhaust gas passage comprising an exhaust manifold with an outlet
portion thereof attached to the engine for conducting exhaust gases
from the engine and also an exhaust header with an inlet portion
for conducting exhaust gases from the manifold to atmosphere;
means forming an articulated connection between the outlet
portion of the manifold and the inlet portion of the header
including two annular coupling portions of the gas passage
associated respectively with the members comprising the manifold
outlet portion and the header inlet portion and having seal
surfaces removably interfitting one within the other in mutual
sliding and sealing engagement around the gas passage; the
coupling portions being carried by the members respectively for
movement therewith and with one coupling portion being in the
form of a distinct annularly shaped seal member extending around
one of the members; means around the one member for preventing
axial movement of the seal member in one direction away from the
other coupling portion and having outwardly extending portions;
means for urging the members and coupling portions together to
effect sealing engagement therebetween including a pair of
springs, each being diametrically positioned with respect to the
axis of the members and together lying in a plane which extends
substantially normal to the aforedescribed plane of predominant
movement; the springs being secured between the members so as to
yieldably urge the members axially toward one another to form a
sealing contact between the coupling portions.
26. In an exhaust system for a transversely mounted
automobile engine having a transversely extending roll axis
19

which results in predominant movements of the parts attached to
the engine in planes substantially normal to the roll axis; an
exhaust gas passage comprising an exhaust manifold with an outlet
portion attached to the engine for conducting exhaust gases from
the engine and also an exhaust header with an inlet portion for
conducting exhaust gases from the manifold to atmosphere; means
forming an articulated connection between the outlet portion
of the manifold and the inlet portion of the header including
two annular coupling portions of the gas passage associated
respectively with the members comprising the manifold outlet
portion and the header inlet portion and having primary seal
surfaces removably interfitting one another in mutual sliding
and sealing engagement around the gas passage; the coupling
portions being carried by the members respectively for movement
therewith and with one of the coupling portions being in the
form of a distinct annularly shaped seal member having a central
bore therethrough so as to receive the end portion of one of the
members; the seal member also having a secondary seal surface
extending normal to the axis of the one member; means around the
one member engaging the secondary sealing surface to prevent
leakage thereby and to block axial movements of the seal member
in a direction away from the other coupling portion, yieldable
means urging the members and coupling portions together thereby
engaging the primary seal surfaces and including a pair of
elongated coil-type springs together being diametrically posi-
tioned with respect to the axis of the members and lying on a
plane which extends substantially normal to the aforedescribed
planes of predominant movement; the springs being secured between
the members so as to yieldably urge the members axially toward
one another to form a sealing contact between the primary seal
surfaces.

27. A vehicle engine and exhaust system including means
for mounting the engine transversely in the vehicle with the
engine roll axis also extending transversely; an exhaust gas
passage between the vehicle engine and atmosphere including an
exhaust manifold attached to the engine with an outlet portion
therewith forming an elongated and rigid assembly which moves
predominantly in a plane normal to the roll axis; the exhaust
gas passage further including an exhaust header with an inlet
portion; articulated connection means between the members
comprising the outlet and inlet portions including two annular
coupling portions having seal surfaces interfitting one another
in mutual sliding and sealing end engagement about the gas
passage, one of the coupling portions taking the form of distinct
annularly shaped seal member having a central bore therethrough
receiving the end portion of one of the members; the seal member
further having a secondary seal surface extending normal to the
axis of the one member; means engaging the secondary sealing
surface to prevent leakage thereby and to block movements of the
seal member in an axial direction away from the other coupling
portion; means yieldably urging the members and coupling portions
together and including a pair of elongated coil-type spring
diametrically positioned with respect to the axis of the members
and together forming a plane which extends substantially normal
to the plane of predominant movement, the springs being secured
so as to urge the members in axial directions to engage the
coupling portions whereby the interfitting sealing surfaces of
the coupling portion are engaged to permit relative angular
displacements between the members accomplished with a minimum
of spring flexure.
28. In an exhaust system for an automobile engine, an
exhaust manifold having an outlet and defining a portion of a gas pas-
sage for conducting exhaust gases from the engine, an exhaust header
having an inlet and defining another portion of the gas passage
21

for conducting exhaust gas from the manifold to the atmosphere,
means for effecting an articulated connection between the manifold
outlet and header inlet comprising; a pair of annular coupling
portions in communication with the members which comprise the
manifold and header respectively and having sealing surfaces there-
between in mutual sliding engagement, the coupling portion being
associated with and carried by the members comprising the manifold
and header respectively for movement therewith to effect the en-
gagement, flange means associated with one of the members and
engageable therewith for moving the one member and its associated
coupling portion in one predetermined direction into the engage-
ment with the other member and its associated coupling portion,
elongated spring means with first and second end portions for
yieldably urging the coupling portions into sealing engagement,
the first end of the spring means being spaced a constant distance
from the other member, the sealing surface of one of the pair of
coupling portions being spherical about a point substantially
coincident with a line running parallel to the roll axis of the
engine, and the second end of the spring means urging the flange
means in the one predetermined direction and engaging a surface
of the flange means substantially along the line running parallel
to the roll axis of the engine with the surface lying in a plane
including the line running parallel to the roll axis of the engine,
whereas when the engine moves about its roll axis, the angular
relation between the one member and its associated coupling
portion and the flange means is changed with respect to the other
member and its associated coupling portion substantially about the
line running parallel to the engine roll axis which movement is
affected in a sealing manner by the sliding engagement between the
coupling portions and is accompanied by only slight changes in the
dimension of the elongated spring means between the first and
22

second ends due to the particular engagement of the second end
of the spring means with the surface of the flange means described
hereinbefore.
29. In the combination according to Claim 28, said
flange means including a collar member extending about the header
member and a radially offset portion of the header member which is
axially positioned therealong so that the surface of the flange
means as defined by the collar member is on the line running
parallel to the engine roll axis.
30. In the combination according to Claim 28, the sealing
surface of one of said coupling portions comprising an annular
interior surface at the outlet of said manifold and enlarging
radially in a downstream direction of the exhaust gas flow, the
annular enlarging surface comprising an integral outlet of said
manifold.
31. In the combination according to Claim 30, the annulus
comprising one of said coupling portions which forms the other
of the sealing surfaces which surface has a spherical contour
for engagement with the annular enlarging sealing surface of
the manifold.
32. In the combination according to Claim 29, the sealing
surface of one of said coupling portions comprising an annular
interior surface at the outlet of the manifold and enlarging
in the downstream direction of exhaust gas flow, the annular
enlarging sealing surface comprising an integral outlet of said
manifold, the annulus comprising one of the annular coupling
portions and having a sealing surface with a spherical contour,
said annulus also having a transverse annular sealing surface
about said header extending transverse to the major axis of the
annulus, the radially offset portion of the flange means having
a second surface thereof in sealing engagement with said trans-
verse sealing surface thereby sealing contact is established by
23

the engagement between the second end of the elongated spring
means with the surface of the flange means on the line running
parallel to the engine roll axis.
33. The combination according to Claim 28, the flange
means comprising a radially offset portion of a length of pipe
sleeved over the end of the header at its upstream end and secured
thereto, the flange means also comprising a collar member extend-
ing about the length of pipe and engaging the offset portion
thereof to axially position the collar so that the one surface
of the flange means engages the springs second end on the line
running parallel to the engine roll axis.
34. In the combination according to Claim 28, the sealing
annulus having a cylindrical inner bore adapted to encircle the
header, the sealing surface of one of said coupling portions
comprising an annular interior surface at the outlet of the
manifold and enlarging in the downstream direction of exhaust gas
flow, the annular enlarging sealing surface comprising an integral
outlet of said manifold, the annulus comprising one of the coupling
portions and having a sealing surface with a spherical contour,
said annulus also having a transverse annular sealing surface
about said header extending transverse to the major axis of the
annulus, the radially offset portion of the flange means having
a second surface thereof in sealing engagement with said trans-
verse sealing surface whereby sealing contact is established by
the engagement between the second end of the elongated spring means
with the surface of the flange means on the line running parallel
to the engine roll axis.
35. The combination according to Claim 32, the radially
offset portion having a sealing surface extending a plane
24

transverse to the major axis of said annulus and being clamped
by said collar against said transverse sealing surface of said
annulus for relative movement as a unit therewith upon pivoting
of said manifold about the center of said spherical surface.
36. The combination according to Claim 32, the annulus
member having a transverse annular sealing surface about said header
extending transversely to the major axis of the annulus, the
radially offset portion of the header providing a sealing surface
with the transverse sealing surface of the annulus engaging in a
plane transverse to the major axis of the annulus and the header
and being clamped together for relative movement therewith as
the manifold member pivots about the center of said spherical
surface.
37. In an exhaust system for an automobile engine having a
multiple sequentially operative exhaust port, a gas passage com-
prising an exhaust manifold which includes a plurality of
separate conduits for connecting the exhaust ports with an out-
let and for conducting exhaust gases therebetween and further
comprising an exhaust header which includes a plurality of
separate conduits extending from an inlet and for conducting
exhaust gases from the outlet of the manifold to atmosphere,
coupling means for connecting the outlet of said manifold with
the inlet of said header to effect exhaust tuning for said engine
by connecting selected conduits of said manifold at said outlet
with selected conduits of said header at said outlet, said
selective conduits of said header merging at a predetermined
location downstram of said outlet, said exhaust tuning means
comprising partition means at said coupling including a first
partition at said outlet of the manifold separating the same
into two outlet parts, said conduits of said manifold connecting

two sets of non-consecutively operative exhaust ports of said
engine with two outlet parts respectively, said partition means
also comprising a second partition at said inlet of the header
separating the same into two inlet parts, said partitions co-
operatively engaging to connect one of the inlet parts with one
of the outlet parts and connecting the other inlet part with
the other outlet part, said coupling means comprising two
coupling portions carried by said manifold and header respective-
ly and having sealing surfaces interfitting in sliding sealing
relation to effect an articulated connection between the manifold
and the header, the sealing surfaces of the coupling portion carried
by one of the two members comprising said manifold and header
being spherical about a center on a line parallel to the roll
axis of the engine, resiliently yieldable means urging said
sealing surfaces into sliding sealing relationship, flange means
carried by said one member, said yieldable means having a
yieldable portion engaging said flange means on said line.
38 . In the combination according to Claim 37, said
yieldable means also having a portion fixed with respect to the
other of said members.
39 . In the combination according to Claim 38, said
engine comprising a four cylinder piston type engine having a
separate exhaust port associated with each cylinder, two of said
separate conduits connecting the exhaust ports associated with
two non-consecutively firing cylinders being also connected with
one of the two outlet parts, and two of said separate conduits
connecting the exhaust ports associated with the other two non-
consecutively firing cylinders being also connected with the
other of said outlet parts.
40 . In the combination according to Claim 37, said one
26

member comprising said header and carrying said flange means.
41. In the combination according to Claim 40, the coupl-
ing portion carried by the manifold being annular and its sealing
surface comprising its inner surface enlarging in the downstream
direction of the exhaust gas flow, said spherical sealing surface
being seated within said downstream enlarging inner sealing
surface in said sliding sealing relationship.
42 . In the combination according to Claim 40, said
spherical sealing surface comprising an integral portion of said
header at its inlet.
43 . In the combination according to Claim 37, the other
sealing surface in said sliding sealing relationship with said
spherical sealing surface comprising an interior surface of the
outlet of said manifold.
44 . In the combination according to Claim 43, said
other sealing surface being annular and enlarging in the down-
stream direction of the exhaust gas flow and having said spherical
sealing surface seated therein.
45. In the combination according to Claim 37, a sealing
annulus comprising the coupling portion carried by said one
member and having said spherical sealing surface, said annulus
also having a transverse annular sealing surface around said
passage and transverse to the major axis of said annulus, said
flange means having a sealing surface in sealing engagement with
said transverse sealing surface, said yieldable means yieldingly
engaging said flange means on said line for urging the sealing
surface of said flange means into said sealing engagement with
said transverse sealing surface.
27

46. In the combination according to Claim 45, said
sealing annulus being carried by said header, the sealing sur-
face of the other coupling portion comprising the outlet of said
manifold.
47. In the combination according to Claim 41, said
header having a cylindrical exterior surface extending coaxially
into said annulus, said annulus having an inner cylindrical
surface interfitting coaxially with said cylindrical exterior
surface.
48. In the combination according to Claim 37, said
partitions having confronting edge surfaces in sliding sealing
engagement, one of said edge surfaces being spherical about said
center.
49. In the combination according to Claim 48, the
coupling portion carried by said one member comprising a sealing
annulus having two annular sealing surfaces around said passage,
one of said annular sealing surfaces comprising said spherical
sealing surface, said flange means having a sealing surface in
sealing engagement with the other of said two sealing surfaces.
50. In the combination according to Claim 49 said
flange means comprising a flange integral with said header and
having its sealing surface in sealing engagement with the other of
said two sealing surfaces, said flange means also comprising a
collar engaging said flange around said header, and said means for
yieldingly urging comprising means yieldingly engaging said collar
on said line at opposite sides of said center.
51. In the combination according to Claim 50 the major
extent of said edge surfaces of said partitions being transverse
28

to said roll axis.
52 . In the combination according to Claim 51, the other
sealing surface in said sliding sealing relationship with said
spherical sealing surface comprising an interior surface of the
outlet of said manifold.

Description

llOQQ48
This invention is concerned with exhaust systems
for automobiles and is illustrated by way of example with a
sub-compact vehicle wherein for optimum compactness the
engine is mounted with its roll axis transverse to the
longitudinal front-to-rear axis of the vehicle. It will be
apparent that the invention may be readily employed in other
applications.
Difficulty is encountered at times in maintaining
a conventional rigid connection between the exhaust manifold
of the engine and the customary rearwardly extending exhaust
header of tailpipe. Various articulated connections have
been proposed heretofore, but such connections have been
subject to excessive wear and leakage after a short period
of use.
An object of this invention is to provide an
improved comparatively leak proof articulated connection
between the exhaust manifold and header or tailpipe that
utilizes a sealing annulus in sealing engagement with annular
seats around the manifold outlet and heat inlet and is
characterized by durability, efficiency, and simplicity and
economy of construction, replacement and operation.
The present invention resides in an exhaust system
for an automobile engine wherein there is provided a gas
passage including an exhaust manifold for conducting exhaust
gas from the engine and also including an exhaust header
for conducting the gas from the manifold to the atmosphere.
Means is provided for effecting an articulated connection
between the outlet of the manifold and the inlet of the
header means, which means includes two annular coupling
portions of the passage in communication with the members
respectively comprising the manifold and header and having
sealing surfaces in mutual sliding sealing engagement around

~0~ 8
the passage. The coupling portions are carried by the
members respectively for moving therewith to effect the
engagement. Flange means is associated with one of the
members for moving the latter to effect the engagement upon
relative movement of the flange means in a predetermined
direction with respect to the other member. Means yieldingly
urge the relative movement of the flange means in the
predetermined direction.
In a specific embodiment of the invention, an
annulus is provided with a spherical sealing surface in
sealing engagement wit}~<- spherical or conical sealing
surface defining the m.lnifold outlet. The inlet end of the
header may telescope into the annulus and be provided with
an annular radially extending sealing flange that seats
against an annular sealing surface of the annulus transverse
to the latter's ma~or axis. A collar may be yieldingly
clamped against the annular flange of the inlet end of the
header by spring means that engage the collar at diametrically
opposite sides of the center of the spherical sealing surface
on a line that extends parallel or nearly parallel to the
roll axis of the engine.
~.

?(348
Exhaust tuning to obtain improved performance
from an engine having a pulsating exhaust has been common
heretofore, but where the roll axis of the engine is transverse
to the longitudinal axis of the exhaust tailpipe, such tun!lg
has been difficult and expensive because of the flexibility
required fo~ the exhaust system adjacent the engine. In
a preferred exhaust tuning system, each exhaust port is
provided with a separate conduit that merges with the conduits
of the other ports at a predetermined location downstream of
the exhaust ports where a predetermined exhaust pressure
phase relationship exists. The expense of the separate
exhaust conduits and the corresponding number of articulated
connections has prevented exhaust tuning for small low
cost engines, such as the four cylinder engines mounted
transversely in a subcompact vehicle.
It is accordingly another object of the invention
to provide imp~oved low cost means for exhaust tuning
that is suitable but not limited for use with small economical
transversely mounted engines and that is particularly efficient
and simple in structure,maintenance, and operation.
~ nother object is to provide such exhaust
tuning comprising an exhaust manifold having a separate
short manifold conduit connected with each exhaust port
of the en~ine and extending to an outlet for the manifold.
The latter is provided with an articulated connection with
the inlet end of an exhaust header which is partitioned into
a number of header conduits. The header conduits are connected
at the articulated connection with selected manif~ld
conduits and merge at a predetermined location do~nstream
of the articulated connection to cffect the desired exhaust
tuning
tm/

Q48
Accord:ingly each separate short l!lrtnifold conduit may be
connected with a separat,e header conduit for opti~um tuning and
only a single lealc resist,ant articulated connection is required.
The single articulated connection also avoids the di~icult and
costly fabrication required to assure ~he necessary alignmen~ of
the multiple articulated connections and to avoid leakage that
would result from misalignment of such connections.
In a preferred construction, the header comprises two
separate conduits, each connected with selected manifold conduits.
Thus with a four cylinder engine for example, the short man~fold
conduits associated with non_consecutively firing cylinder, such
as cylinders 1 and 3, are connecte~ with one header conduit, and
the short manifold conduits associated with the cylinders 2 and 4
are connected with the other header conduit, wherein the num~ rs
1-4 represent the firing order of the cylinders~ not necessarily
their physical arrangement in the engine. By reason of su~h a
construction, four short manifold conduits and only two of the
longer header conduits are required for the exhaust tuning.
Other objects of this invention will appear in the
following description and appen~ed claims, reference being had
~o the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification
wherein like re~erence characters designate corresponding parts
in the several views.
Fi~. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a 4-cylinder
automobile engine mounted with its roll axis transverse to the
longitudinal or fore and a~t axis of the vehicle.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged axial section showing
details of the articulated connection between the exhaust
manifold and exhaust header.
Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrat-
ing a modification of the invention adopted for engine tuning.
Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken
in the direction of the arrows substantially along the
line 4-4 of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken in the dlrection-
of the arrows substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.
Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar to Figs. 3
and 2 respectively, showing modifications.
Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing
another modification.
It is to be understood that the invention is
not limited in its application to the details of construction
and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments
and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also
it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology
employed herein is for the purpose of description and not
of limitation.
Fig. 1 illustrates the present invention adapted
for use with a 4-cylinder engine 10 mounted transversely with
respect to the front to rear axis of an automobile, where
provision may be made for exhaust tuning. It will be
apparent that the invention is not limited to a piston-
cylinder type engine and has application
tm/

48
with any pulsating engine having multiple exhaust ports.
The engine 10 may be conventional and in the present instance
has four exhaust ports 11 disc~larsing respectively into four
short manifold conduits 12, 12b, 12c and 12d o~ an exhaust
manifold 12 having an outlet 13, Fig. 2. The four conduits
12a-12d merge at the outlet 13, which is suitably connected
by means of an articulated coupling with the inlet 15 of an
exhaust header 16.
:-. . , . .. - , . - . . - - - - . ..................... .. .
-- - The outlet 13 is defined by an annular conical
sealing surface diver~ing in the downstream direction
with respect to the exhaust gas flow. A sealing annulus
17 has a spherical sealing surface 17a seated in sealing
relationship at the conical surface 13 and also has an annular
transverse sealing surface 17b seated in sealing relationship
against the proximate sealing surface of an annular movement
limiting and sealing flange 18 of the header 16 adjacent
its inlet end 15. The flange 18 extends radially outwar~ly
from the header 16 transversely to the latter's major axis.
The interior surface 17c of the annulus 17 is cylindrical and
coaxial with the axis of header 16, which axis is perpendicular
to the plane of the confronting sealing surfaces 17b and
flange 18 and also to the roll axis of the engine 10.
The surface 17c fits coaxially and snugly around the
cylindrical header inlet end lS.
A cla~ing collar 19 is yieldingly urged
against the side of flang 18 opposite the end 15 by means
of a pair of diametrically arranged springs 20 which are
held in clamping position by shoulder bolts 21. Each of the
bolts 21 extends through a bolt hole 22 in the collar 19,
has a screw threaded end 21 a of reduced diameter that
eY~tends through a hole 23 in the manifold 12 and is secured
in position by a nut 24, and has an annular shoulder 21~
that seats against thc mani~old 12. ~ flange or elllargelTlellt

llO~Q~8
21c provides a spring retainer for the spring 20 to urge
the latter against the collar 19.
By the construction described, the shoulder
21b effects a predetermined spacing between the flange
21c and manifold 12 and accordingly maintains a predetermined
spring induced compressional force cla~ping the collar 19
against the flange 18, thereby to clamp the sealing
surfaces 17a and 17b between the conical sealing surface
13 and upper transverse surface of the flange 18 respectively
to maintain a sealing relationship therebetween. It is
important to note that the major axes of the springs 20
at their regions of contact with collar 19 intersect a
line parallel to the roll axis lOa of the engine 10
and through the center of curvature 26 of the spherical
surface 17a. Thus during rolling motion of the engine 10
about its roll axis lOa, the primary relative movement of the
clamped together header 16, annulus 17, and collar 19,
with respect to the manifold 12, takes place between the
conical surface 13 and spherical surface 17a about a pivot
axis comprising the latter line through the center 26, so
that flexing and alternate compressing and tensioning of
the springs 20 and their consequent failure is reduced to
a minimum.
The exhaust header 16 extends rearwardly for
several feet, usually through a muffler which is suspended
from the undercarriage of the vehicle. ~ccordingly the
inlet end 15 of the header 16 may freely move up and down
during the aforesaid rolling of the engine 10 without
rupturing the connection or mounting of the header 16 with
the vehicle body at or near the muffler. Pitching of the
engine 10 about a pitch axis transverse to the ?^oll a~is
is usually nominal in comparison to the l-ollin~ ac-tion.
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Thus the rearwardly extending header 16 has adequate resiliency
or flexibility to accommodate such movement without recourse
to an articulated junction, such as the spherical surface 17a
seated at the conical sur~ace 13. Accordingly instead
of the spherical surface 17a illustrated, a cylindrical surface
about an axis through 26 and parallel to the roll axis lOa is
adequate. The comparatively inconsequential engine pitch
is then readily accom~odated by torsion in the header 16.
The springs 20 are sèldom compressed or elongated during
such movement. The spherical surface 17a and conical
surface 13 are preferred because of the ease with which these
surfaces may be fabricated, although the sealing surface 13
can also be spherical.
The manifold 12 may comprise a steel casting
- and the header 16 may comprise tubular steel stock whereas the
annulus 17 may comprise a softer material such as a sintered
powdered metal, graphite impregnated woven steel mesh, or
other suitable sealing material capable of withstanding
the high exhaust temperature. As the annulus 17 wears with
use, the springs 20 maintain the sealing engagement
between the sealing surfaces to effect a gas tight seal
which in most instances will last for the life of the vehicle
without replacement.
Figs. 3-5 illustrate a modification of the
invention adapted for exhaust tuning a four cylinder engine.
Instead of the conical sealing surface 13 of Fig. 2, a
spherical surface 13a concentric with surface 17a is preferred
for the outlet of manifold 12. The outlet 13a and header
inlet 15 may be partitioned into a number of separate passages,
each connected with selected exhaust ports of the engine
10 to enable exhaust tuning in accordance with conventional
practice, depending upon the desired extent and refinement
of the tuning. For optimum tuning with a ~-c~lin-'er engine
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lll)~Q48
having the four exhaust ports 11, the manifold outlet 13a and
he~der inlet 15 may each be partitioned into four separate
exhaust passages, each connected with one of each of the
four exhaust ports associated with the conduits 12a-d. In
a simplified and less costly system, the outlet 13a and
inlet 15 may be partitioned into two passages, each connected
with two of the four exhaust ports 12a-d associated with
non-consecutlvely firing cylinderO In other respects,
the manifold outlet 13a and annulus 17 cooperate with the
flange 18, collar 19, springs 20, and bolts 21 as described
above. To simplify fabrication, the flange 18 is crimped
from a tubular sleeve portion 18a which fits closely around
the inlet 15 and is welded thereto, instead of being
crimped from the la~tter as in Fig. 1.
~ Figs. 3-5, the manifold outlet 13a is partitioned
diametrically into two openings or passages 13x and 13y by
septums 27 integral respectively with manifold 12 and inlet
15. Each opening 13x or 13y is in communication with
- selected exhaust ports of the engine 10. In this situation
each of the two manifold openings is in communication with
two engine cylinders that do not fire consecutively. For
example, if the cylinders are numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4
according to their firing order, cylinders 1 and 3 will
be connected via two of the short manifold conduits 12a and
12c with the manifold opening 13x, and cylinders 2 and 4 will
be similarly connected via conduits 12b and 12d with the
other manifold opening 13y.
The septum 28 also partitions the annulus 17
diametrically into two passages 17x and 17y in co,-~nunication
respectively with the two outlets 13x and 13y. The diametrical
opposite edyes of the septum 28 fit closely witllin the
cylindrical surface 17c, Fig. 5, but with a small clearance
to accommodate differen-tial thermal expansio
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ll`O~Q~8
between the materials of the annulus 17 and septum 28,
which latter may be steel stamping. In the latter regard,
it is important that the septum 28 and annulus 17 are separate
and slightly spaced members because the exhaust gas heat
is not as readily dissipated from the central septum 28
as from the annulus 17. When the latter members are formed
integrally from the same material, the resulting thermal
- expansion of the hotter septum 28 tends to warp or crack -
- the cooler annulus`l7.`
The septums 27 and 28 extend transversely to
the roll axis lOa and are provided with confronting and
closely interfitting spherical surfaces 27a and 28a respectively
centered at 26, thereby to effect a gas seal therebetween
while enabling the engine 10 to pitch or roll. Also in
Fig. 3, the upper or leading edge surface 28a may be
comparatively sharp or pointed in the sectional view to
effect a surface 28a that wears rapidly against the
spherical surface 27a during operation. The septum 28
may thus be dimensioned to effect an initial high friction
seal between the surfaces 27a and 28a. After a short
wearing-in period, the leading edge 28a wears sufficiently
to provide an effective low friction gas seal with the
surface 27a.
The downstream edge of the septum 28 is
provided with a notch 28b to receive a closely interfitting
septum 29 integral with septum 28, as for example by being
welded thereto. The septum 29 partitions the header inlet
15 into two separate passages l5x and 15y in communication
with the passages 17x, 13x and 17y, 13y respectively.
The passages 15x and 15y merge into header 16 at a predetermined
downstream location 31, Fig. 1. The header 16 continues there-
after to the customary muffler and exhaust tailpipe. The
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ll~Q!48
length of the passages 15x and 15y is determined by the
tuning cllaracteristic desired. For optimum exhaust tuning
at high speed operation, the conduits 15x and 15y will
be comparatively short, whereas for optimum exhaust tuning
at slower speeds, these conduits will be somewhat longer.
The header inlet 15 may be formed from two
separate pipes, each formed to provide a half round passage
similar in cross section to the half round passages 17X and
-17y iilustrated in Fig. 4 and welded together at their -
flattened diametrical portions to provide the septum 29,
or it may be formed from a single piece of pipe that is
cut transversely of its axis along approximately half of
its circumference, then bent back on itself to open the
cut and effect the side-by-side passages 15x and 15y,
Fig. 3, which passages are also formed to half round shapes
in section similar to the passages 17x and 17y in Fig. 4,
wherein the uncut circumferential portion of the original
pipe comprises the leading edge of the septum 29.
Fig. 6 illustrates a construction similar
to Fig. 3 except that the septum 28 as a separate sheetmetal
stamping is eliminated. In its place, the septum 29 is
extended to a generally spherical upstream edge 29a in
concentric sealing engagement with the spherical surface
27a. In all other respects the structure and operation of
the Fig. 6 modifica~ion is the same as described in regard
~o Fig. 3.
Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 except that
the conical sealing surface 13 is replaced by the spherical
surface 13a centered at 26. Also the sealing annulus 17 is
eliminated and replaced by an inturned rounded annular end
15a of the inlet 15, which may also be formed spherically
about the center 26 at its areas of contact witln 13a,
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~lOQ1348
; .~ . ,
although in this case the spherical seal is not essential
for operation. In all other respects, the structure and
operation in Fig. 7 is the same as described in regard to
Fig. 2. ~
Fig. 8 illustrates a spherical sealing surface ~;
18d similar in all respects to sealing surface 15a of Fig. 7
but formed on an extension of the sleeve 18a and employed
- ~ with the partitions 27 and-29 of Fig. 6. In all respects, the
structure and operation of the-parts are the samë as the
correspondingly nunbered parts described above.
.'.
~- ~
'' ' ' ' ' ' :`
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