Dana Corporation

Colin Ching-Ho Chen

Calin Matias

Frank Walter Popielas

Mark Boogemans

Kanu G Shah

Dennis F Person

An improved heat shield offers thermal insulation and reduced noise transmission for vehicular engine components, including exhaust manifolds. The structure has three layers: an outer structural metal layer, a center insulation layer to isolate heat and dampen noise, and an inner metal layer directly adjacent the shielded component for reflecting heat back to the shielded component. As disclosed, the shield has at least one edge portion defined by outwardly flared undulations or waves. The waved edge minimizes impact of plastic deformation of the metal edges during manufacture of the shield, which tends to produce wrinkling at the edges, and creates undesirable stiffness. Finally, the edge boundary of the outer metal heat shield layer is folded over the edges of the insulation and inner metal layers to avoid any sharp edges, thus preventing injury to installers and reinforcing the heat shield structure to enhance useful life under vibration and heat conditions.

Insulated heat shield with waved edge

An improved heat shield provides thermal insulation and reduced noise transmission of vehicular engine components, including exhaust manifolds. The structure has three layers; an outer structural metal layer, a center insulation layer to isolate heat and dampen noise, and an inner metal layer directly adjacent the shielded component for reflecting heat back to the shielded component. The heat shield is attached by bolts to the shielded component. In the described embodiment, the volume of the insulation layer is expanded by approximately 15 to 20 percent over conventional shields to produce a softer, thicker material having a lower density but unchanged mass. The invention provides a technique to achieve desired thickness and density in insulation layers via modal finite element analysis. The relatively thicker heat shield more effectively absorbs vibration and attenuates noise without increase in mass. In the described embodiment, the layer contains cellulose, diatomaceous earth, talc, and fiberglass.

Sound barrier layer for insulated heat shield

A fuel cell apparatus includes at least two facing, parallel plates, stacked together but spaced apart by resilient sealing beads disposed on at least one of the plates. The resilient sealing beads are adapted to facilitate control of fluid flows, such as electrolytes, between the plates and are thus called fluid sealing beads. Each plate contains at least one bolt aperture for securement of the two plates together in the described facing, yet spaced apart, arrangement. Separate beads disposed about the aperture(s) act as aperture load compensation beads. In one preferred embodiment, the fluid sealing beads have one uniform thickness, while the aperture compensation beads have another thickness less than that of the fluid sealing beads. In the same embodiment, the aperture compensation beads are wider, however, than the fluid sealing beads. In another embodiment, the thicknesses of the fluid sealing beads may be varied as a function of proximity of any portion of the fluid bead to the bolt hole apertures, with the thickness of aperture beads being less to accommodate anticipated normally higher stress loads at bolted connections.

Fuel cell plate with variable thickness sealing beads

A heat shield provides thermal insulation and reduced noise transmission for under-the-hood vehicular engine components, such as exhaust manifolds. The structure is formed in three layers: an outer metal layer to provide structural integrity, a center insulation layer to isolate heat and dampen noise, and an inner metal layer directly adjacent the shielded component for reflecting heat back to the shielded component. As disclosed, the insulation layer is sandwiched between the two metal layers. The heat shield is formed in two integral mating halves to define a unitary structure containing grommets. The grommets incorporate capscrews rotatably secured in respective halves of the structure for attachment to mounting bosses on the component. Finally, the edges of the two metal layers of the heat shield are folded over to prevent injury to installers, and to reinforce the heat shield structure for enhancing its useful life under severe conditions of vibration and heat.

Insulated heat shield

An improved heat shield offers both a thermal insulation and reduced noise transmission for vehicular engine components, including exhaust manifolds, for example. The structure has three layers: an outer structural metal layer, a center insulation layer to isolate heat and dampen noise, and an inner metal layer directly adjacent the shielded component for reflecting heat back to the shielded component. As disclosed, the heat shield includes at least one bolt aperture for attachment of the shield to a shielded component, such as an exhaust manifold in the described embodiment. The aperture is circumferentially bordered by at least one non-planar undulation defining a protuberance. The protuberance is spaced circumferentially about the aperture. As the bolted connection of the heat shield to the manifold is a major source of vibration transmittal from the manifold into the shield, the protuberance is effective to dampen the vibration, and hence noise associated with the vibration.

Growing community of inventors

Barrington, IL, United States of America

Colin Ching-Ho Chen