Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~HIS INVENTIO~ related to an apparatus for repairiny or
protecting the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine,
such as a motor engine exhaust system.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus for repairing the exhaust system of an internal
combustion engine which is clean and convenient to use and which
may be used with a range of exhaust boxes or pipes of different
diameters.
According to the present invention there is provided an
apparatus suitable for repairing or protecting an exhaust box or
pipe in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine,
comprising a flexible laminated sheet, formed of a heat
resistant sealing layer and a heat resistant support layer, and
fastening means coupled to the flexible sheet for securing the
flexible sheet in place when the sheet is wrapped around the
exhaust box or pipe with the sealing layer innermost so that a
seal is provided between the sheet and the exhaust box or pipe,
the fastening means comprising a fastening strap in the form of
a flexible strip of material, a connecting device adjustably
connecting one end of the fastening strap to the sheet so that
the strap extends substantially parallel to the sheet and a
pluralilty of coupling pockets defined on the outer surface of
the support layer of the sheet at locations spaced apart in the
longitudinal direction of the strap~ the other end of the strap
being formed with a head shaped to be received and retained in a
selected one of the coupling pockets to suit the sheet
approximately to the diameter of the exhaust box or pipe around
which the sheet is wrapped, so that adjustment of the connecting
device finally tightens the sheet onto the box or pipe.
Conveniently, the coupling member is formed by a plate
secured to the surface of the flexible sheet, the plate being
formed with a notch and having portions thereof adjacent the
notch deformed out of the plane of the plate to define the
head-receiving recess.
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Preferably, the fastening stKap is formed along its
length with transversely extending recesses or slots and the
adjustable connecting device comprises a hollow body attached to
the flexible sheet and defining a passage for receiving the one
end of the fastening strap, the body rotatably supporting a
screw which engages the recesses or slots of the strap so that
the strap is held by the screw but is movable lengthwise
relative to the body upon rotation of the screw.
The layer of the laminated flexible sheet which in use
of the apparatus i9 outermost from the exhaust box or pipe is
conveniently formed from a metal, such a stainless sheel.
For a better understanding of the present invention,
and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will
now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flexible sheet of
an apparatus embodying the invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the Figure 1 apparatus;
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Figure 3 is a per pective view of a motor vehicle
exhaust system showing an initial step of a method
embodying the invention; and
Figure 4 iq a perspective view of a motor vehicle
exahust system fitted with apparatus in accordance with
the invention.
Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 shows
a flexible elongate sheet 1 of apparatus embodying the
invention for protecting or repairing an exhaust box or
pipe in the exhaust system of an internal combustion
engine.
The flexible sheet 1 is a laminate comprising an
outer layer 2 and an inner, preferably resilient, sealing
or gasket layer 3. The outer layer 2 is preferably
formed of a metal, in particular stainless steel plate
having a thickness of from 0.005 inches to 0.008 inches,
although any suitable heat resistant material having the
required strength properties could be used~ The sealing
or gasket layer 3 may comprise a layer of alumino
silicate fibrous material or any other suitable heat
resistant material.
Fastening means 4 are coupled to the flexible sheet
1 to secure the sheet in place when the sheet is wrapped
around an exahust box or pipe as shown in Figure ~ with
the inner layer 3 of the sheet contacting and sealing the
area of the exahust box or pipe around which the flexible
sheet is wrapped.
The fastening means 4 comprises a fastening straP 5
adjustably connected to the sheet 1 by a connecting
device 6 secured to the sheet adjacent one end thereof
: and a series of coupling derices 7 spaced apart along the
length of the sheet 1 and thus spaced apart in the
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direction of the length of the strap 5.
The connecting device 6 comprises a hollow metal
body 8 attached to the striP 1 by a stainless steel metal
strip 9 welded to the outer layer 2 of the 3heet. The
body 8 encloses and rotatably supporks a ~crew 10.
The fastening strap 5 comprises a stainless steel
metal strip formed along its length with a ~eries of
transversely extending slots 11. One end of the
fastening strap is adapted to be inserted into a passage
which extends through the housing and in which the thread
of the screw 10 engages the slots 11 of the fastening
strap so that the strap is moved lengthwise relative to
the housing 8 upon rotation of the screw 10. The other
end of the fastening strip 5 is ~ormed with a shaped head
12 defined by a local narrowing or neck 13 of the strip.
The slots 11 could be replaced by recesses in other
embodiments (not illustrated).
Each of the coupling members 7 is constituted by a
stainless steel plate 14 attached to the stainless steel
surface of the sheet 1, for example, by welding. The
stainless steel plate 14 is formed with a rectangular
notch 15 ~acing the end of the sheet 1 at which the
connecting device 6 is attached and opposed portions 16
and 17 of the plate 1 L~ adjacent the mouth of the recess
15 are deformed out of the plane of the plate 14 to
define between such raised portions and the surface of
3 the sheet 1 a pocket for receiving the head 12 of the
fastening strap 5 with the neck 13 received in the notch
15.
In use of the apparatus to protect or repair an
exhaust box 20, adhesive-backed sealing strips 21 are, if
required, first applied on either side of a raised seam
22 of the box 20 in the area to be protected or reir-
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~orced, as shown in Figure 3. In the case shown in
Figure 3, the apparatus is being used to repair ~he hole
25 which has ~ormed in the exhau~t box. The sealing
strips 21 may be formed o~ any suitable heat re~istant
material. The ~lexible sheet 1 is then wrapped around
the area to be repaired or rein~orced with the resilient
layer 3 of the laminate innermost, so that the ~lexible
sheet extends right around the exhaust box and~ as shown
in Figure 4, the ends of the ~lexible sheet 1 preferably
overlap. The head 12 o~ the fasten~ng strap 5 is ~itted
into the pocket of that one o~ the ~oupling members 7
which most closely adapts the diameter o~ the wrapped
sheet 1 to the diameter of the exhaust box. Finally, the
sheet 1 is pulled tightly into engagement with the
exhaust box by rotating the screw 10 to shorten the
length of the strap 5 between the selected coupling
member and the connecting device 6.
It will be appreciated that an exhaust pipe can be
protected or reinforced in a similar manner to that
described abo~e, without ~here normally being any need
for sealing strips 21.
Apparatus embodying the invention thus enables an
exahust box or pipe to be cleanly, e~fectively and
conveniently repaired. Moreover, the provision o~ the
series o~ spaced apart coupling members i enables a
~lexible sheet 1 of given dimensions to be used with a
range of exhaust boxes or pipes having di~ferent
diameters.
Apparatus ~mbodying the invention not only allows
any cracks or holes in the exhaust system to be sealed7
but also serve to reinforce repaired area of the exhaust
sy~tem, thereby minimising the risk of craek propagation
or failure in areas adjacent to a damaged area~ It is
also envisaged that the apparatus could be applied as a
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protective measure to an undamaged area of an exhaust
system, if desired, in order mechanically to reinforce
the area in question or to protect against the weather
and other adverse external effects.
Whilst it is envisaged that the present invention
will find its main application in the repair and
pro~ection of the exhaust system~ of internal combustion
engines on mobile structures, such as motor vehicles or
boats, the invention is, of course, equally applicable to
the exhaust system of static internal combustion engine
installations, such as electrical generating sets.
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