Flexible connector

Claim 2

The flexible connector of claim 1 in which said articulated joint includes two tubular metal elements of circular cross section and having opposite mating surfaces, one of the mating surfaces having an arcuate profile to accommodate movement between the coupling member and the liner.

Claim 3

The flexible connector of claim 2 with at least one of said mating surfaces having a profile of spherical section.

Claim 4

The flexible connector of claim 1 having means restricting the relative axial displacement of said bellows and liner.

Claim 5

The flexible connector of claim 4 wherein said means include at least one pair of interlocking dimples disposed on the bellows and the liner.

Claim 6

The flexible connector of claim 5 having three pairs of interlocking dimples symmetrically disposed in circumferentially spaced relation about the bellows and the liner.

Claim 7

The flexible connector of claim 6 having a plurality of said three pairs of interlocking dimples in axial spaced relation along the bellows and the liner.

Claim 8

The flexible connector of claim 1 with said bellows having two ends, said ends separated by a non-corrugated central portion.

Claim 9

The flexible connector of claim 8 having means on said bellows for stiffening said central portion.

Claim 10

The flexible connector of claim 9 wherein said bellows stiffening means comprises a circumferential rib on said central portion.

Claim 11

The flexible connector of claim 8 with a bellows shielding member comprising two longitudinally spaced shroud elements which extend inwardly from points adjacent said ends of the bellows toward said central portion.

Claim 12

The flexible connector of claim 11 with said shroud elements being flared.

Claim 13

The flexible connector of claim 12 with said flared shroud elements having spaced apart ends with cross sections of increased diameter which encircle said non-corrugated central portion and having ends with cross sections of decreased diameter which engage said coupling members.

Claim 14

A flexible exhaust system connector for directing exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine to a discharge means, such that the relative displacements of said engine and said discharge means induced by the vibratory forces generated by the engine are accommodated by said joint comprising: a tubular metal bellows having oppositely disposed end portions, said end portions separated by a central portion, with said end portions having axially spaced corrugations; a tubular metal liner in said bellows and extending to said corrugated end portions, such that said liner and said bellows define an annular cavity therebetween; coupling members adjacent said corrugated end portions of said bellows; means restricting the relative axial displacement of said bellows and said liner; and an articulated joint between at least one of said coupling members and said liner.

Claim 15

The flexible exhaust system connector of claim 14 wherein said annular cavity thermally isolates said bellows from exhaust gas flowing through said liner.

Claim 16

A flexible automotive exhaust system connector comprising: a tubular metal bellows disposed within said structure and having oppositely disposed end portions, said end portions separated by a central portion, with said end portions having axially spaced corrugations; a tubular metal liner in said bellows and extending to points near said end portions of said bellows, such that said liner provides improved audio isolation between impinging automotive exhaust gases flowing through said liner and the exterior of said connector; coupling members adjacent said corrugations of said bellows; means restricting the relative axial displacement of said bellows and said liner; and an articulated joint between at least one of said coupling members and said liner, whereby said connector may be used to direct exhaust gases from an automobile engine to a preferred discharge means, such that the varied underbody geometry and engine displacement of many automobiles may be accommodated by said connector.