Manifold on a six-cylinder in line engine

Claim 1

A manifold for a six-cylinder in-line engine for conducting exhaust gases from the engine to exhaust piping, said manifold being comprised of a first partial manifold and a second partial manifold, said first partial manifold communicating with a first, second and third cylinder of said engine, said second partial manifold communicating with a fourth, fifth and sixth cylinder of said engine; each of said partial manifolds being comprised of two single layer half shells of sheet metal welded together along their respective joining seams so as to form each said partial manifold, each said partial manifold thereby having single layer sheet metal walled passages for conducting exhaust gases; said passages bounding and defining two areas between said passages and the engine, the first said area being located in the region next to and between a first pair of adjacent cylinders of the engine with which each said partial manifold communicates, the other said area being located in the region next to and between a second pair of adjacent cylinders with which each said partial manifold communicates, one of said second pair of cylinders not being one of said first pair of cylinders, said half shells including planar web portions adjacent said passages, said web portions of each half shell contacting in a common plane corresponding web portions of the half shell to which it is welded, said contacting web portions being welded together at a plurality of spots; said web portions comprising sheets which substantially extend over and enclose each of the said two areas, said web portions providing support against thermal deformation of said partial manifold; each said partial manifold including flanged connection sockets for each of the three cylinders with which the partial manifold communicates; each said partial manifold also including a collecting pipe for conducting exhaust gases away from the manifold to exhaust piping, and means for connecting the collecting pipe to the exhaust piping.