IP Library Granted Patent US 11,187,135
Granted Patent B2
US 11,187,135 · App. 16/443,179 · Granted Nov 30, 2021

Vehicle exhaust system

Inventors: Michael A. Golin (Ann Arbor, MI); Gabriel Ostromecki (Ann Arbor, MI); Frederick M. Baumgartner (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
F01N13/141F01N13/1838
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,187,135
App. No.
16/443,179
Granted
Nov 30, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle exhaust system includes a tubular component which allow passage of exhaust gases therethrough. The tubular component includes an upstream pipe having a first end and a second end. The tubular component further includes a downstream pipe having a third end and a fourth end. The third end of the downstream pipe at least partially encloses the second end of the upstream pipe such that the upstream pipe and the downstream pipe together define a junction region and the fourth end defines a primary exhaust gas flow path. The downstream pipe at least partially defines an opening within the junction region such that the opening provides a secondary exhaust gas flow path.

Claims (60)

1. A vehicle exhaust system comprising:

a tubular component adapted to allow passage of exhaust gases therethrough, the tubular component comprising:

an upstream pipe having a first end and a second end; the second end of the upstream pipe defining at least one notch;

a downstream pipe having a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end of the downstream pipe at least partially encloses the second end of the upstream pipe such that the upstream pipe and the downstream pipe together define a junction region and the fourth end defines a primary exhaust gas flow path; and

wherein the downstream pipe at least partially defines one or more openings within the junction region such that the one or more openings provide a secondary exhaust gas flow path.

2. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein the downstream pipe defines a raised collar extending at least partially along a circumference of the downstream pipe within the junction region such that the one or more openings are defined within the raised collar.

3. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein the downstream pipe defines a raised trough within the junction region such that the one or more openings are defined within the raised trough.

4. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein:

the upstream pipe defines a D-shaped section within the junction region;

the downstream pipe further defines another opening within the junction region disposed diametrically opposed to the one or more openings such that the another opening is plugged by the D-shaped section of the upstream pipe.

5. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the downstream pipe at the third end is greater than a diameter of the upstream pipe at the second end.

6. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein the upstream pipe and the downstream pipe are joined together by welding.

7. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular component is a tailpipe.

8. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein a volume of exhaust gases flowing through the primary exhaust gas flow path is greater than a volume of exhaust gases flowing through the secondary exhaust gas flow path.

9. A tubular component for a vehicle exhaust system comprising:

an upstream pipe having a first end and a second end; the second end of the upstream pipe defining at least one notch;

a downstream pipe having a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end of the downstream pipe at least partially encloses the second end of the upstream pipe such that the upstream pipe and the downstream pipe together define a junction region; and

wherein the downstream pipe further defines an opening within the junction region such that the opening provides a leakage path for exhaust gases.

10. The tubular component of claim 9 , wherein the downstream pipe defines a raised collar extending at least partially along a circumference of the downstream pipe within the junction region such that the opening is defined within the raised collar.

11. The tubular component of claim 9 , wherein the downstream pipe defines a raised trough within the junction region such that the opening is defined within the raised trough.

12. The tubular component of claim 9 , wherein:

the upstream pipe defines a D-shaped section within the junction region;

the downstream pipe further defines another opening within the junction region disposed diametrically opposed to the opening such that the another opening is plugged by the D-shaped section of the upstream pipe.

13. The tubular component of claim 9 , wherein a diameter of the downstream pipe at the third end is greater than a diameter of the upstream pipe at the second end.

14. The tubular component of claim 9 , wherein the upstream pipe and the downstream pipe are joined together by welding.

15. The tubular component of claim 9 , wherein the tubular component is a tailpipe.

16. The tubular component of claim 9 , wherein the fourth end defines a primary exhaust gas flow path and wherein the one opening within the junction region defines a secondary exhaust gas flow path such that a volume of exhaust gases flowing through the primary exhaust gas flow path is greater than a volume of exhaust gases flowing through the secondary exhaust gas flow path.

17. A vehicle exhaust system comprising:

a tubular component adapted to allow passage of exhaust gases therethrough, the tubular component comprising:

an upstream pipe having a first end and a second end;

a downstream pipe having a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end of the downstream pipe at least partially encloses the second end of the upstream pipe such that the upstream pipe and the downstream pipe together define a junction region and the fourth end defines a primary exhaust gas flow path;

wherein the downstream pipe at least partially defines one or more openings within the junction region such that the one or more openings provide a secondary exhaust gas flow path; and

wherein the downstream pipe defines a raised collar extending at least partially along a circumference of the downstream pipe within the junction region such that the one or more openings are defined within the raised collar.

18. A vehicle exhaust system comprising:

a tubular component adapted to allow passage of exhaust gases therethrough, the tubular component comprising:

an upstream pipe having a first end and a second end;

a downstream pipe having a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end of the downstream pipe at least partially encloses the second end of the upstream pipe such that the upstream pipe and the downstream pipe together define a junction region and the fourth end defines a primary exhaust gas flow path;

wherein the downstream pipe at least partially defines one or more openings within the junction region such that the one or more openings provide a secondary exhaust gas flow path; and

wherein the downstream pipe defines a raised trough within the junction region such that the one or more openings are defined within the raised trough.

19. A vehicle exhaust system comprising:

a tubular component adapted to allow passage of exhaust gases therethrough, the tubular component comprising:

an upstream pipe having a first end and a second end;

a downstream pipe having a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end of the downstream pipe at least partially encloses the second end of the upstream pipe such that the upstream pipe and the downstream pipe together define a junction region and the fourth end defines a primary exhaust gas flow path; and

wherein the downstream pipe at least partially defines one or more openings within the junction region such that the one or more openings provide a secondary exhaust gas flow path; and

wherein the upstream pipe defines a D-shaped section within the junction region; and the downstream pipe further defines another opening within the junction region disposed diametrically opposed to the one or more openings such that the another opening is plugged by the D-shaped section of the upstream pipe.

20. A tubular component for a vehicle exhaust system comprising:

an upstream pipe having a first end and a second end;

a downstream pipe having a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end of the downstream pipe at least partially encloses the second end of the upstream pipe such that the upstream pipe and the downstream pipe together define a junction region;

wherein the downstream pipe further defines an opening within the junction region such that the opening provides a leakage path for exhaust gases; and

wherein the downstream pipe defines a raised collar extending at least partially along a circumference of the downstream pipe within the junction region such that the opening is defined within the raised collar.

21. A tubular component for a vehicle exhaust system comprising:

an upstream pipe having a first end and a second end;

a downstream pipe having a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end of the downstream pipe at least partially encloses the second end of the upstream pipe such that the upstream pipe and the downstream pipe together define a junction region;

wherein the downstream pipe further defines an opening within the junction region such that the opening provides a leakage path for exhaust gases; and

wherein the downstream pipe defines a raised trough within the junction region such that the opening is defined within the raised trough.

22. A tubular component for a vehicle exhaust system comprising:

an upstream pipe having a first end and a second end;

a downstream pipe having a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end of the downstream pipe at least partially encloses the second end of the upstream pipe such that the upstream pipe and the downstream pipe together define a junction region;

wherein the downstream pipe further defines an opening within the junction region such that the opening provides a leakage path for exhaust gases; and

wherein the upstream pipe defines a D-shaped section within the junction region and the downstream pipe further defines another opening within the junction region disposed diametrically opposed to the opening such that the another opening is plugged by the D-shaped section of the upstream pipe.

Assignments (8)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 20, 2025
From: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
To: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 072553/0215 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Apr 7, 2023
From: TENNECO INC.; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063268/0506 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Nov 22, 2022
From: DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; TENNECO INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061989/0689 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 061975/0031 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 061971/0156 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 9, 2021
From: GOLIN, MICHAEL A.; OSTROMECKI, GABRIEL; BAUMGARTNER, FREDERICK M.
To: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
Reel/Frame 057426/0726 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 17, 2021
From: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 055626/0065 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 1, 2020
From: TENNECO INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 054555/0592 →
Continuity (1)
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