CLAMP WITH SPRING LOADED BOLT TO REPAIR BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD FLANGE BOLTS
A exhaust manifold flange bolt repair system uses a spring loaded bolt to provide a quick and easy exhaust repair. The system of the present invention seals the gap in the exhaust and, when properly installed, will not come off. The repair system includes an oval clamp that can be applied to the exhaust manifold after a broken manifold bolt is removed. The oval clamp includes a female threaded portion that can be disposed over the hole of the exhaust manifold where the broken bolt was removed. A bolt can be threaded into the female threaded portion of the oval clamp, and a portion of the end of the bolt can fit into the hole in the exhaust manifold. This bolt provides a replacement manifold bolt. Springs can be disposed between a nut and the exhaust pipe flange, along the new bolt and any remaining manifold bolts.
1 . A clamp assembly comprising:
a female threaded end;
a threaded bolt operable to thread in a first side of the female threaded end; and
a loop running from one side of the female threaded end, looping about a second opposite side thereof, and attached to a second side of the female threaded end, wherein
the loop forms a plane that is angled from about 3 to about 10 degrees with respect to an axis of the threaded bolt threaded into the female threaded end.
2 . The clamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the female threaded end is a hexagonal nut.
3 . The clamp assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first washer and a second washer sandwiching a spring disposed along a length of the threaded bolt.
4 . An exhaust manifold flange bolt repair system comprising:
a clamp assembly including a female threaded end, a threaded bolt operable to thread in a first side of the female threaded end, and a loop running from one side of the female threaded end, looping about a second opposite side thereof, and attached to a second side of the female threaded end, wherein the loop forms a plane that is angled from about 3 to about 10 degrees with respect to an axis of the threaded bolt threaded into the female threaded end;
a spring operable to be disposed along the axis of the threaded bolt; and
a nut disposed on an end of the threaded bolt.
5 . The exhaust manifold flange bolt repair system of claim 4 , further comprising washers sandwiching the spring.
6 . The exhaust manifold flange bolt repair system of claim 5 , wherein the clamp assembly is operable to secure to an exhaust manifold flange and the spring is disposed between an exhaust pipe manifold and the nut.
7 . A method for repairing a broken exhaust manifold flange bolt, comprising:
removing a broken flange bolt such that the broken flange bolt is in its flange bolt hole and is flush with an exhaust manifold flange;
placing a clamp assembly about the flange bolt hole, wherein the clamp assembly includes a female threaded end and a loop running from one side of the female threaded end, looping about a second opposite side thereof, and attached to a second side of the female threaded end, wherein the loop forms a plane that is angled from about 3 to about 10 degrees with respect to an axis of a threaded bolt threaded into the female threaded end;
tightening the threaded bolt into the female threaded end;
placing an exhaust pipe flange onto the threaded bolt;
placing a spring against the exhaust pipe flange;
placing a nut on an end of the threaded bolt; and
tightening the bolt to secure the exhaust pipe flange to the exhaust manifold flange.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising disposing a first washer between the spring and the exhaust pipe flange.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising disposing a second washer between the spring and the nut.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the exhaust pipe flange is disposed on one or more existing exhaust manifold flange bolts in addition to the threaded bolt.
11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein more than one broken manifold flange bolts are replaced by the clamp assembly.