An exhaust assembly includes a first pipe with a ball portion and a second pipe with a flare portion that is positioned in an overlapping relationship with the ball portion. The ball portion and flare portion are slidable relative to each other to allow alignment adjustment between the first and sec
An exhaust assembly includes a first pipe with a ball portion and a second pipe with a flare portion that is positioned in an overlapping relationship with the ball portion. The ball portion and flare portion are slidable relative to each other to allow alignment adjustment between the first and second pipes. A connector assembly includes a first connector member supported by the first pipe, a second connector member supported by the second pipe, and a clamp member that is used to serviceably connect the first and second pipes together. The first connector member includes a first plurality of fingers that are alternated with a second plurality of fingers on the second connector member. The clamp member is received within a groove formed about an outer circumference of the first and second connector members when the first and second pluralities of fingers are aligned with each other. The clamp member is easily removed for service operations as needed.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. An exhaust assembly comprising: a first connector member associated with a first exhaust component having a first curved surface, said first connector member including a first ring shaped body portion with a first connection interface wherein said first ring shaped body surro
What is claimed is: 1. An exhaust assembly comprising: a first connector member associated with a first exhaust component having a first curved surface, said first connector member including a first ring shaped body portion with a first connection interface wherein said first ring shaped body surrounds said first exhaust component; a second connector member associated with a second exhaust component having a second curved surface, said first and said second curved surfaces being positioned in an overlapping relationship to each other, and said second connector member including a second ring shaped body portion with a second connection interface interspersed with said first connection interface wherein said second ring shaped body surrounds said second exhaust component; and at least one clamp member cooperating with said first and said second connection interfaces to secure the first and the second exhaust components together. 2. The exhaust assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first connection interface comprises a first plurality of fingers and said second connection interface comprises a second plurality of fingers that extend between said first plurality of fingers in an alternating pattern. 3. The exhaust assembly according to claim 1 wherein said at least one clamp member comprises a U-bolt. 4. The exhaust assembly according to claim 1 wherein one of the first and the second exhaust components includes a ball portion forming a corresponding one of said first and second curved surfaces and the other of the first and the second exhaust components includes a flare portion forming a corresponding other of said first and second curved surfaces, with the ball portion and the flare portion being positioned in an overlapping relationship to each other to allow alignment adjustment between the first and the second exhaust components. 5. The exhaust assembly according to claim 1 wherein said at least one clamp member is selectively removable from said first and said second connector members for service operations. 6. The exhaust assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first and said second exhaust components each define an axis and wherein said first and said second ring shaped body portions comprise first and second bands having outer circumferential surfaces that surround said first and said second exhaust components, respectively, in a direction extending about said axis, and wherein said first and said second connection interfaces extend radially outwardly from one edge of said first and said second bands, respectively. 7. The exhaust assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first and said second connection interfaces cooperate with each other to form a curved recess that receives said at least one clamp member, said curved recess extending about an outer circumference of said first and said second connector members. 8. The exhaust assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first and said second exhaust components comprise first and second exhaust pipes, and wherein said first curved surface is immovable relative to said first exhaust pipe and said second curved surface is immovable relative to said second exhaust pipe, and with said first and said second curved surfaces being movable relative to each other for alignment purposes. 9. An exhaust assembly comprising: a first connector member associated with a first exhaust component having a first curved surface, said first Connector member including a first ring shaped body portion with a first connection interface that comprises a first plurality of fingers, and wherein said first ring shaped body portion surrounds the first exhaust component with said first plurality of fingers being circumferentially spaced apart from each other about said first ring shaped body portion; a second connector member associated with a second exhaust component having a second curved surface to overlap said first curved surface, said second connector member including a second ring shaped body portion with a second connection interface interspersed with said first connection interface, said second connection interface comprising a second plurality of fingers that extend between said first plurality of fingers in an alternating pattern, and wherein said second ring shaped body portion surrounds the second exhaust component with said second plurality of fingers being circumferentially spaced apart from each other about said second ring shaped body portion; and at least one clamp member cooperating with said first and said second connection interfaces to secure the first and the second exhaust components together. 10. The exhaust assembly according to claim 9 wherein each of said first plurality of fingers includes a first finger portion extending generally parallel to a first center axis defined by said first ring shaped body portion and a first flared distal tip portion extending outwardly from said first finger portion in a direction transverse to said first center axis and wherein each of said second plurality of fingers includes a second finger portion extending generally parallel to a second center axis defined by said second ring shaped body portion and a second flared distal tip portion extending outwardly from said second finger portion in a direction transverse to said second center axis, said first and said second finger portions being aligned with each other to form a recess between said first and said second flared distal tip portions. 11. The exhaust assembly according to claim 10 wherein said at least one clamp member is at least partially received within said recess. 12. An exhaust assembly comprising: a first exhaust pipe having a ball portion at one end; a second exhaust pipe having a flare portion at one end, said ball portion and said flare portion being positioned in an overlapping relationship to each other at a sliding interface to allow alignment adjustment between said first and said second exhaust pipes, and wherein said ball portion is immovable relative to said first exhaust pipe and said flare portion is immovable relative to said second exhaust pine, and with said ball portion and said flare portion being movable relative to each other for alignment purposes; a first connector member having a first ring shaped body including a first plurality of interlocking fingers, said first connector member being supported by said first exhaust pipe; a second connector member having a second ring shaped body including a second plurality of interlocking fingers positioned adjacent said first plurality of interlocking fingers, said second connector member being supported by said second exhaust pipe; and at least one clamp member that cooperates with said first and said second pluralities of interlocking fingers to secure said first and said second exhaust pipes together. 13. The exhaust assembly according to claim 12 wherein said first and said second pluralities of interlocking fingers are positioned in an alternating pattern relative to each other. 14. The exhaust, assembly according to claim 13 wherein one finger of said first plurality of interlocking fingers is positioned directly between two fingers of said second plurality of interlocking fingers and wherein one finger of said second plurality of interlocking fingers is positioned directly between two fingers of said first plurality of interlocking fingers. 15. The exhaust assembly according to claim 13 wherein each finger of said first and said second pluralities of interlocking fingers includes a flared distal tip such that a groove is formed about an outer circumference of said first and said second connector members when said first and said second pluralities of interlocking fingers are aligned with each other, and wherein said at least one clamp member is received within said groove. 16. The exhaust assembly according to claim 15 wherein said at least one clamp member comprises a U-bolt. 17. The exhaust assembly according to claim 12 wherein said first and said second exhaust pipes define a common axis and wherein said first and said second ring shaped bodies comprise first and second bands that surround said first and said second exhaust pipes, respectively, in a direction extending about said axis, and wherein said first and said second plurality of interlocking fingers extend radially outwardly from one edge of said first and said second bands, respectively. 18. The exhaust assembly according to claim 12 wherein said first and said second plurality of interlocking fingers cooperate to form a curved recess that receives said at least one clamp member, said curved recess extending about an outer circumference of said first and said second connector members. 19. The exhaust assembly according to claim 12 wherein said first ring shaped body surrounds said first exhaust pipe and said second ring shaped body surrounds said second exhaust pipe. 20. An exhaust assembly comprising: a first exhaust pipe having a ball portion at one end; a second exhaust pipe having a flare portion at one end, said ball portion and said flare portion being positioned in an overlapping relationship to each other at a sliding interface to allow alignment adjustment between said first and said second exhaust pipes; a first connector member including a first plurality of interlocking fingers, said first connector member being supported by said first exhaust pipe, wherein said first connector member comprises a first ring shaped body having a first inner circumferential portion and a first outer circumferential portion, said first inner circumferential portion directly engaging said ball portion with said first plurality of interlocking fingers extending outwardly from said first outer circumferential portion; a second connector member including a second plurality of interlocking fingers positioned adjacent said first plurality of interlocking fingers, said second connector member being supported by said second exhaust pipe, and wherein said second connector member comprises a second ring shaped body having a second inner circumferential portion and a second outer circumferential portion, said second inner circumferential portion directly engaging said flare portion with said second plurality of interlocking fingers extending outwardly from said second outer circumferential portion, and wherein said first and said second pluralities of interlocking fingers are positioned in an alternating pattern relative to each other; and at least one clamp member that cooperates with said first and said second pluralities of interlocking fingers to secure said first and said second exhaust pipes together, and wherein each finger of said first and said second pluralities of interlocking fingers includes a flared distal tip such that a groove is formed about an outer circumference of said first and said second connector members when said first and said second pluralities of interlocking fingers are aligned with each other, and wherein said at least one clamp member is received within said groove.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (6)
Mefferd Floyd R. (Laurens IA), Apparatus and method for coupling elongated members.
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