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Support structure for mufflerRelated Patent Categories: Power Plants, Internal Combustion Engine With Treatment Or Handling Of Exhaust Gas, By Means Producing A Chemical Reaction Of A Component Of The Exhaust Gas, Using A CatalystSupport structure for muffler description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070119155, Support structure for muffler. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a support structure for a muffler with a particulate filter stored inside, which makes it possible to properly detach or attach the particulate filter. BACKGROUND ART [0002] Particulates or particulate matter entrained in exhaust gas from a diesel engine is mainly constituted by carbonic soot and a soluble organic faction (SOF) of high-boiling hydrocarbon and contains a trace of sulfate (misty sulfuric acid fraction). In order to suppress the particulates from being diffused into atmosphere, it has been conceived as shown in FIG. 7 that a particulate filter 6 is incorporated in an exhaust pipe 4 into which exhaust gas 3 is introduced from a diesel engine 1 via exhaust manifold 2 (see, for example, Reference 1). [0003] It has been proposed that this kind of particulate filter 6 is fitted by storing it in a muffler 5 for improved mountability to a vehicle since a new space is hardly available in the vehicle for arrangement of the filter 6. [0004] On the other hand, conventionally, the muffler 5 is suspended from and supported by a vehicle body as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in such a manner that a bracket 7 is welded to an upper peripheral portion of the muffler 5, the bracket 7 being suspended from and supported by a frame 9 via, for example, a stay 8; alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the muffler 5 is encircled and held by a U-bolt 10, the U-bolt 10 being suspended from and supported by the frame 9 via, for example, the stay 8 (see, for example, Reference 2). [0005] [Reference 1] JP 2003-65032A [0006] [Reference 2] Japanese Utility Model Publication 6-83914 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] Problems to be Solved by the Invention [0007] However, in the former conventional structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bracket 7 has to be conformed at its lower end with the outer periphery of the cylindrical muffler 5 for welding, which causes the bracket 7 to have a curvature complementary with the outer periphery of the muffler 5, resulting in problems, i.e., expensive modeling fee and increased manufacturing cost. There is also a problem that stress concentration tends to occur at weld boundaries x. [0008] On the other hand, in the latter conventional structure shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, opposite ends of the U-bolt 10 fastened to the stay 8 are required to have a pitch p longer than a diameter of the muffler 5, so that tip ends of the stay 8 are largely protruded as shown by A in the figure and tend to a problem of interference with peripheral devices. The ends of the stay 8 are largely protruded also for a reason that the muffler 5 has to be suspended and supported in a sufficiently spaced-apart relationship from the frame 9 so as to prevent interference between a vertical extension of the U-bold 10 shown by B in the figure and a lower flange 9a of the frame 9. [0009] When the particulate filter 6 is fitted in such muffler 5 as mentioned above, unburned ash deriving from lubricant and generated during combustion within cylinders is gradually accumulated in the filter 6, which necessitates direct cleaning such as air cleaning or water washing of the filter 6 or replacement with a new particulate filter 6. However, there have been no such particular structures proposed up to the present for satisfactory support of the muffler 5 with particulate filter 6 being detachable and attachable and without the conventional problems. [0010] The invention was made in view of the above and has its object to provide a support structure for a muffler with a particulate filter stored inside and properly detachable and attachable, which is low in manufacturing cost, hardly causes stress concentration and readily prevents interference with peripheral devices. Means or Measure for Solving the Problems [0011] The invention is directed to a support structure for a muffler with a particulate filter stored inside, the muffler being divided, at positions in front of and behind the stored filter, into portions, said divided portions being fastened together through flanges thereof for easy detachment and attachment, characterized in that brackets for suspension and support of the muffler from and by a vehicle body are also fastened together upon fastening of the flanges. [0012] Thus, the brackets may be simplified in shape to an extent that they may be fastened together upon fastening of the flanges. Unlike conventional ones, the brackets do not need to be conformed with an outer periphery of a muffler, resulting in cheap modeling fee and decreased manufacturing cost. Moreover, they need no welding, which preliminarily prevents the problem of stress concentration tending to occur upon welding. [0013] Furthermore, for fastening of the brackets together with the flanges, relatively small fastening regions each of the order within the diameter of a muffler will suffice. As a result, for suspension and support of the bracket from and by a vehicle body, no stays with larger projections will be required unlike a conventional support using a U-bolt; relatively short stays will suffice for suspension and support from and by a vehicle body, readily preventing interference with peripheral devices. [0014] When the invention is to be carried out more concretely, for example, each of the brackets may have a lower end formed with an overlap portion for overlapping with corresponding ones of the flanges only at portions thereof adjacent to their tops. The overlap portion is fastened together with the flanges at a position adjacent to the tops of the flanges. [0015] In the invention, the particulate filter may carry oxidation catalyst; the particulate filter may carry NO.sub.x absorption reduction catalyst. Effects of the Invention [0016] The following various, excellent effects and advantages will be obtainable according to a support structure for a muffler of the invention. [0017] (I) The brackets may be simplified in shape so that modeling fee for the brackets may be cheap to decrease the manufacturing cost. Furthermore, no welding is employed for fitting of the brackets so that preliminarily prevented is a problem on mechanical strength that stress concentration tends to occur at weld boundaries, thereby providing the support structure with which stress concentration hardly occurs. [0018] (II) Relatively small fastening regions are required for fastening of the brackets together with the flanges, which makes it unnecessary to use stays with larger protrusions for suspension and support of the brackets from and by the vehicle body. This can readily prevent interference with the peripheral devices and can substantially relieve restrictions on layout of the muffler and peripheral devices. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] [FIG. 1] A side view showing an example of conventional support structures for mufflers. [0020] [FIG. 2] A front view of the support structure shown in FIG. 1. [0021] [FIG. 3] A side view showing another example of the conventional support structures for mufflers. Continue reading about Support structure for muffler... Full patent description for Support structure for muffler Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Support structure for muffler patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Support structure for muffler or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Superheated urea injection for aftertreatment applications Next Patent Application: Exhaust gas treatment device with insulated housing construction Industry Class: Power plants ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Support structure for muffler patent info. 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