Yieldable connector for exhaust pipe sections

Claim 2

A yieldable connector for sections of exhaust piping which comprises first and second connector sections adapted to be fastened to first and second exhaust pipe sections, respectively, and being held together by a hinge, said first section comprising a tubular portion adapted to be fastened at one end to a first section of an exhaust pipe and having a transversely extending flange at the other end thereof, means holding said flange to said hinge, said flange including means opposite said hinge for fastening at least one spring substantially directly to it, said flange and means opposite said hinge lying substantially in the same plane, the second connector section being adapted to be fastened to the second exhaust pipe section and having an end which communicates with the first connector section when the connector sections are in connected position, a transversely extending flange at said end which contacts the flange of the first connector section when the connector sections are in connected position, the flange having the hinge held to it so that the hinge, spring, fastening means and the flanges cooperate to hold the sections of the connector and of the exhaust pipe firmly together in normal connected position and, upon rotation of the first section of the connector and the exhaust pipe about 180* about the hinge, to open position, the hinge, spring, fastening means and flanges hold the sections of the connector and the exhaust pipe firmly together in substantially side-byside relationship.

Claim 3

A yieldable connector according to claim 1 which is for sections of vertical, cylindrical, motor vehicle engine exhaust piping and in which the means opposite the hinge is for fastening a pair of springs to the flange and includes a pair of flange extensions positioned so that springs connected to them will clear the connector and piping section in connected, disconnected and intermediate positions.

Claim 4

A connector according to claim 2 wherein the transversely extending flanges are substantially flat and in normal connected position are holdable against each other by the springs, with the hinge, so as to prevent relative longitudinal movement and rocking of the connector and exhaust pipe sections.

Claim 5

A yieldable connector according to claim 2 wherein the end of the second connector section of the yieldable connector enters the first connector section when the connector sections are in connected position.

Claim 6

A yieldable connector according to claim 2 wherein the pair of flange extensions for fastening of the springs is so located that lines communicating their axes with the center of the cylindrical connector make obtuse angles with a line communicating such connectoR center with the mid-point of the hinge.

Claim 7

A yieldable connector according to claim 5 wherein the end of the second connector section of the yieldable connector enters the first connector section when the connector sections are in connected position.

Claim 8

A yieldable connector according to claim 2 wherein a pair of tension springs is attached to the extensions of the flange on the end of the first connector section.

Claim 9

A yieldable connector according to claim 5 wherein a pair of tension springs is attached to the pair of flange extensions of the first connector section through holes in such extensions and the springs are adapted to be fastened to the second exhaust pipe section.

Claim 10

A yieldable cylindrical exhaust pipe for a motor vehicle engine which comprises first and second exhaust pipe sections, first and second yieldable connector sections adapted to be fastened to the first and second exhaust pipe sections respectively and being held together by a hinge, said first connector section comprising a cylindrical portion adapted to be fastened at one end to the first section of exhaust piping and having a transversely extending flange at the other end thereof, means holding said flange to said hinge, said flange including a pair of flange extensions opposite said hinge for fastening a pair of springs substantially directly to it, said flange extensions and said flange lying substantially in the same plane, a pair of tension springs fastened substantially directly to such flange extensions and being adapted to be fastened to the second exhaust pipe section, the second yieldable connector section having an end which enters the first connector section when the connector sections are in connected position, a transversely extending flange at said end which contacts the flange of the first connector section when the connector sections are in connected position and means for fastening the tension springs onto the second section of exhaust pipe and for holding them in desired position so that the hinge, springs, fastening means and the flanges cooperate to hold the sections of the connector and of the exhaust pipe firmly together in normal connected position and, upon rotation of the first section of the connector and the exhaust pipe attached thereto about 180* about the hinge, to open, yielded position, the hinge, springs, flanges and fastening means hold the sections of the connector and the exhaust pipe firmly together in substantially side-by-side relationship.

Claim 11

A yieldable cylindrical exhaust pipe for a motor vehicle engine which comprises first and second exhaust pipe sections, first and second yieldable connector sections adapted to be fastened to the first and second exhaust pipe sections respectively and being held together by a hinge, said first connector section comprising a cylindrical portion adapted to be fastened at one end to the first section of exhaust piping and having a transversely extending flange at the other end thereof, means holding said flange to said hinge, said flange including a pair of flange extensions opposite said hinge for fastening a pair of springs substantially directly to it, said flange extensions and said flange lying substantially in the same plane, a pair of tension springs fastened substantially directly to such flange extensions and being adapted to be fastened to the second exhaust pipe section, the second yieldable connector section having an end which enters the first connector section when the connector sections are in connected position, a transversely extending flange at said end which contacts the flange of the first connector section when the connector sections are in connected position and means for fastening the tension springs onto the second section of exhaust pipe and for holding them in desired position so that the hinge, springs, fastening means and the flanges cooperate to hold the sections of the connector and of the exhaust pipe firmly together in normal connected position and, upon rotation of the first section of the connector and the exhaust pipe attached thereto about 180* about the hinge, to open, yielded position, the hinge, springs, flanges and fastening means hold the sections of the connector and the exhaust pipe firmly together in substantially side-by-side relationship.

Claim 12

A yieldable exhaust pipe for a motor vehicle engine which comprises upper and lower exhaust pipe sections, a yieldable connector connecting such sections and including upper and lower connector sections, a pair of springs joined to one of such connector sections and adjustably fastened to the opposed exhaust pipe section and clamp means tightly clamping about the circumference of the exhaust pipe, having joined to it and extending away from the exhaust pipe a pair of means fastening onto the ends of such springs, such springs being located far enough away from the exhaust piping and connector parts so that the springs are not obstructed by such or other portions of the fastening means and clamping means when the exhaust pipe is in normal and yielded positions and when it is between such positions.

Claim 13

A yieldable exhaust pipe for a motor vehicle engine which comprises upper and lower exhaust pipe sections, a yieldable connector connecting such sections and including upper and lower connector sections, a pair of springs joined to one of such connector sections and adjustably fastened to the opposed exhaust pipe section and clamp means tightly clamping about the circumference of the exhaust pipe, having joined to it and extending away from the exhaust pipe a pair of means fastening onto the ends of such springs, such springs being located far enough away from the exhaust piping and connector parts so that the springs are not obstructed by such or other portions of the fastening means and clamping means when the exhaust pipe is in normal and yielded positions and when it is between such positions.