Patent US923150A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5901754A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5901754A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Flexible fluid conduit element with a metal bellows
Assignee: Witzenmann GmbH
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Filing: 1997-03-10
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Granted: 1999-05-11
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Expires: 2017-03-10
Abstract
Abstract To reduce turbulence in a fluid flow, especially exhaust gas from automotive internal combustion engines, within a flexible conduit element, a bellows (1, 40, 42) has an internal hose (6) located therein made of woven or knit metal wire. The hose is engaged against the internal corrugations of the bellows (1) and/or a connecting pipe (41) between adjacent bellows (40, 42) to guide the exhaust gases, and dampen vibrations and oscillations, which may become resonant with the corrugations of the bellows, and thereby decrease noise level during the gas flow. The hose (6) is engaged against the inner corrugations (3) of the bellows by, for example, first axially compressing the hose to result in permanent deformation of the wires to a diameter larger than the clear inner diameter of the bellows; by then forcing the hose into the bellows, the hose will resiliently compress and engage against the bellows. The hose, at least at one point remote from an attachment stub (4) has the wires thereof circumferentially connected so that, upon axial compression, the hose will bulge in barrel shape. More than one connection (17, 18, 20-22) of the wires may be used. The frictional engagement force may be enhanced and controlled by additional internal force spreading elements, such as springs and the like, or by formation of pimples or small bulges embossed on the outside of the hose.
Inventors
- 👤 Fabian Elsasser
- 👤 Tom Krawietz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:19
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N13/00; F01N13/18; F01N13/1805; F01N13/1811; F01N13/1816; F16; F16L; F16L27/00; F16L27/10; F16L27/107; F16L27/11; F16L27/111; F16L51/00; F16L51/02; F16L51/025; F16L51/027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A fluid conduit element (1), optionally for conduction of exhaust gases from internal combustion engines, having a conduit part including a metallic bellows, defining inner corrugated wall portions (3), said conduit part having coupling stubs (4, 5) attached to end portions of the conduit element; an inner woven or knit hose (6, 206, 306, 406, 506, 906) made essentially of metal wires, said inner hose (6, 206, 306, 406, 506, 906) being secured to one (4) of said coupling stubs (4, 5) to form a common end connection therewith, wherein the outer diameter of the inner hose (6, 206, 306, 406, 506, 906) essentially matches the clear inner diameter of the conduit part; wherein the wires of the hose are relatively fixed in position with respect to each other over the circumference of the hose at locations (17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23) spaced from said one coupling stub (4); and internal hose spreading force means are provided, acting on the hose (6, 206, 306, 406, 506, 906) tending to radially spread or expand at least a portion of said hose and frictionally engage at least said portion of the hose with at least one facing inner wall portion of the conduit part (1, 40, 41, 42).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
A fluid conduit element (1), optionally for conduction of exhaust gases from internal combustion engines, having a conduit part including a metallic bellows, defining inner corrugated wall portions (3), said conduit part having coupling stubs (4, 5) attached to end portions of the conduit element; an inner woven or knit hose (6, 206, 306, 406, 506, 906) made essentially of metal wires, said inner hose (6, 206, 306, 406, 506, 906) being secured to one (4) of said coupling stubs (4, 5) to form a common end connection therewith, wherein the outer diameter of the inner hose (6, 206, 306, 406, 506, 906) essentially matches the clear inner diameter of the conduit part; wherein the wires of the hose are relatively fixed in position with respect to each other over the circumference of the hose at locations (17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23) spaced from said one coupling stub (4); and internal hose spreading force means are provided, acting on the hose (6, 206, 306, 406, 506, 906) tending to radially spread or expand at least a portion of said hose and frictionally engage at least said portion of the hose with at least one facing inner wall portion of the conduit part (1, 40, 41, 42).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The element of claim 1, wherein said conduit part comprises at least two bellows (40, 41) located axially longitudinally sequentially, and an intermediate metallic pipe element (42) connecting said two bellows (40, 41); and wherein the inner diameter of the intermediate pipe (42) essentially corresponds to the clear or free inner diameter of the adjacent bellows (40 41).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
The element of claim 1, wherein said internal hose spreading force means comprises a radially acting resilient expansion force of the hose upon axial compression or upsetting of the hose to a greater outer diameter thereof than the clear inner diameter of the conduit part (1, 40, 41, 42) to result in remanent deformation, and subsequent resilient decrease in the diameter of the hose to the free inner diameter of said conduit part upon insertion of the axially compressed hose into said conduit element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The element of claim 1, wherein said location (17) remote from said one coupling stub (4) is the free end of the hose (6, 206, 306, 506, 906).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The element of claim 1, wherein said location (18, 20, 21, 22, 23) is in a position between the ends of the hose (6, 206, 306, 406, 506, 906).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The element of claim 5, wherein said location is closer to said one coupling sleeve stub (4) than to the free end (16) of the hose.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The element of claim 1, wherein at least a plurality of said locations, where the wires of the hose (206) are relatively fixed in position with respect to each other, are provided.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The element of claim 7, wherein said plurality of locations are uniformly distributed over the free length of the hose (206).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The element of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the hose, at the locations where the wires of the hose are relatively fixed in position with respect to each other, is less than the clear inner diameter of the conduit part (1).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The element of claim 1, wherein the wires of the hose, at the location where they are relatively fixed in position with respect to each other, are interconnected by welding of the wires.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The element of claim 10, wherein the welding of the wires comprises a rolled weld or spot weld.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The element of claim 10, wherein said welding comprises a laser weld.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The element of claim 1, wherein said internal hose spreading force means comprises metallic springs (27-32).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The element of claim 13, wherein said spring means (27, 28) comprises at least one spiral spring, fixed in axial position within said hose, and inserted therein.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The element of claim 13, wherein said spring means (29-31) comprises at least one ring-spring (29-31) inserted in said hose (6) and axially fixed in position therein.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The element of claim 13, wherein said spring means (27-31) comprises at least one of: tape or ribbon material; wire material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The element of claim 16, wherein said spring means comprises at least one flat spring element (27, 29-31) including flat spring material located within the hose (6) in a position in which its larger cross-sectional side is parallel to an axis (19) of the conduit part.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The element of claim 16, wherein said spring means comprises a circular spiral spring (28).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
86 words
The element of claim 13, wherein the spring means comprises a longitudinally slit tubular metallic sleeve (32) having an outer diameter corresponding, essentially, to the clear or free inner diameter of the conduit part (1, 40-42); wherein one end (33) of said sleeve (32) is integrated into said one sleeve stub (4); and wherein the sleeve (32) is formed with slits (34) starting from a region adjacent the connection to said stub (4) and extending, parallel to an axis (19) of the conduit part (1, 40-42).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The element of claim 19, wherein said slits (34) are open at the end of the sleeve remote from said stub (4).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The element of claim 19, wherein said fingers (35) have at least one radially outwardly directed preformed bulge (36, 37).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The element of claim 19, further including at least one metallic spreader ring (38) located in the region of the fingers, and axially secured in position within said hose to at least one of said fingers (35).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The element of claim 22, wherein said spreader ring (38) is positioned in the region of the free end of said sleeve (32).
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The element of claim 19, wherein said sleeve (32) has an end portion extending inwardly of said stub (4) and forming a permanent fixed connection between said conduit part (1, 40-42) and said hose (906).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The element of claim 1, wherein said internal hose spreading force means comprises a plurality of outwardly extending pimples or bulges (25) and forming permanent deformations (25) of said hose (506).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The element of claim 25, wherein said bulges or pimples (25) are uniformly distributed over the entire free length of said hose (506).
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
The element of claim 1, further including an inner support ring (7) fitted into said coupling stub and forming a secure connection at the conduit part (1, 40-42) and said hose (6, 206, 306, 406, 506).
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The element of claim 1, wherein the coupling stub (4) of the conduit part (1, 40-42) has a larger inner diameter than the remaining portions of the conduit part.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
53 words
The element of claim 28, wherein the conduit part comprises a bellows (1) having inwardly extended corrugations (3); wherein the first corrugation adjacent said coupling stub has an inner diameter which, essentially, is between the inner diameter of the coupling stub and the free inner diameter of the remainder of the bellows (1).
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
46 words
The element of claim 1, wherein the conduit part includes at least one bellows (1, 40, 42); and wherein the hose (6, 206, 306, 406, 506, 906) extends, essentially, over the entire length of the conduit part and at least over the length of the bellows.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The element of claim 1, wherein the hose (6, 206, 306, 406, 506, 906) extends beyond the entire length of the conduit part (1, 40-42).
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
38 words
The element of claim 1, wherein said conduit part further comprises an outer metallic textile hose forming a jacket (8); and wherein said outer textile hose is securely connected with the ends (4, 5) of the conduit part.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
The element of claim 32, further including an outer tightly fitted support ring (9, 10) fitted over the outer jacket (8) at the respective cylindrical ends (4, 5) of the conduit part to form a secure connection therewith.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
The element of claim 33, wherein the conduit part comprises at least one bellows (1, 40, 42); wherein the support rings (9, 10) facing the corrugated portion of the bellows are conically expanded (14, 15).
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
58 words
The element of claim 32, wherein the conduit part comprises at least one bellows defining outer corrugations; and wherein the first outer corrugation of the bellows adjacent the cylindrical ends (4, 5) have a reduced outer diameter which, essentially, is between the outer diameter of the remaining corrugated portions of the bellows and the adjacent cylindrical connection end.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
26 words
The element of claim 1, wherein said hose (6, 206, 306, 406, 506, 906) is coated with a material which is corrosion-resistant and high temperature accepting.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
13 words
The element of claim 36, wherein said material has low surface friction characteristics.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
The element of claim 1, wherein said hose (6, 206, 306, 406, 506, 906) includes glass fibers as part of the hose structure, or a woven or knit glass fiber jacket.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
34 words
The element of claim 1, wherein the outer circumference of the hose (6, 206, 306, 406, 506, 906) is coated outside with a material which is corrosion-resistant and high temperature accepting and heat insulating.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
47 words
The element of claim 1, in combination with a source of fluid, wherein the fluid source is connected to said one coupling stub (4, 5) to flow through said hose in the direction (A) from said one coupling stub to the free end (16) of the hose.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-05-10 | 2002-11-09 | 2003-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-10 | 2006-11-09 | 2007-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-10 | 2010-11-09 | 2011-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |