Metex Mfg. Corporation

Lawrence John Brophy, Iii

Kurry Brian Emmons

Compressed wire filament(s) form a seal that seals the joint between first and second pipes of an automotive exhaust system secured by bolted together first and second flanges. The seal is initially attached to the first pipe and first flange in an intermediate assembly by an interface connection that prevents the seal from axially moving off of the first pipe prior to final assembly to the second pipe and second flange. A male projection is at the end region of the first pipe outer surface to which the seal is attached. The first flange abuts the seal at a planar seal interface. The seal has a bore with a longitudinal channel portion for initially axially engaging the projection and a transverse channel portion medially the seal bore for receiving the projection by rotation of the seal after the projection is axially displaced within the seal bore. The transverse channel portion may be tapered to wedge the projection in place to preclude accidental disengagement of the seal prior to final assembly to the mating second flange and second pipe. The joint in one embodiment articulates and in a second embodiment the joint is fixed and does not articulate. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Exhaust pipe joint and seal

Two steel pipes are each connected to a mounting flange for joining the two pipes, the flanges in one embodiment being fixed stationary to each other and in a second embodiment fixed movable relative to each other. A compressed knitted wire mesh seal is between the two flanges in a dynamic embodiment. Each flange has a spherical inner concave or outer convex surface and the seal has an inner concave and outer convex spherical surface. The seal outer convex spherical surface has a radius smaller than the mating flange concave inner surface. The origins of the two radii are offset. The seal inner concave spherical surface has a radius that is larger than the mating spherical outer convex surface of the corresponding flange. The seal contacts the two flanges in an annular set of pressure points to provide enhanced sealing action. In a second embodiment, the pipes are fixed stationary relative to each other and the outer flange is connected to a pipe spherical segment which segment has an inner concave spherical surface which engages the seal outer convex surface. The radii of the mating surfaces are different to provide enhanced sealing pressure points at the tangency of the mating surfaces.

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Franklin Park, NJ, United States of America

Lawrence John Brophy, Iii