Abstract:
The present invention relates to a vibration reduction device of a muffler tail-pipe for construction equipment, comprising: an engine hood provided to one side of an engine room for the protection of the peripheral parts including an engine and a muffler, and having a through hole at one side of the top surface thereof; the muffler provided to the lower portion of the engine hood in a state where the muffler is connected to one side of the engine; a tail-pipe of which one end is connected to the muffler and the other end is protruded to the outside by penetrating the through hole of the engine hood; and a plurality of elastic support parts for fixing the tail-pipe such that the tail-pipe is elastically supported by the engine hood. The present invention can maximally reduce the vibration transmitted to the tail-pipe by the elastic support means when the tail-pipe vibrates with the muffler due to the vibration of the muffler by the engine, as the tail-pipe connected to the muffler is elastically supported from the engine hood through the elastic support parts. Therefore, the present invention can solve the problem of the connection portion of the muffler and the tail-pipe being easily deformed or damaged by the concentration of the stress to the connection portion of the muffler and the tail-pipe as the tail-pipe vibrates with the muffler according to the vibration of the muffler.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an apparatus for reducing vibration of a muffler tailpipe for a construction machine. More particularly, the present invention relates to such an apparatus for reducing vibration of a muffler tailpipe for a construction machine, which can prevent deformation and damage of a tailpipe due to vibration of a muffler. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In general, a construction machine is provided with an exhaust pipe connected to an exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine and a muffler. In addition, the exhaust pipe is a steel pipe which discharges an exhaust gas generated from the exhaust manifold to the outside, and serves to interconnect the exhaust manifold and the muffler. 
         [0003]    The muffler is a device that is used to reduce the temperature and pressure of the exhaust gas released from the internal combustion engine and the exhaust noise. A tailpipe is installed at one side of the muffler so that a resultant exhaust gas is discharged to the atmosphere through the tailpipe. 
         [0004]    Meanwhile, the construction machine is a mechanical apparatus composed of a strong structure, which is used in a rough work environment. Thus, an engine capable of generating a high power is required to drive the construction machine composed of the strong structure, and the engine for generating a high power generates engine vibration of a high level, which has various effects on the components of the construction machine. 
         [0005]    Among the components affected by the engine vibration, the muffler is connected to an engine through an exhaust pipe, and a tailpipe  11  is formed at one side of a muffler  10  in order to discharge a resultant exhaust gas to the atmosphere as shown in  FIG. 1 . In addition, an engine hood is installed in the form of a cover at an upper side of the engine and peripheral components including the muffler  10  to protect the engine and the peripheral components from introduction of foreign substances such as rainwater or dust and an external shock. 
         [0006]    The engine hood  20  has a through-hole  21  formed on a top surface thereof so that the tailpipe  11  is upwardly protruded to the outside of the engine hood  20  from one side of the muffler  10  through the through-hole  21 . 
         [0007]    Conventionally, the tailpipe  21  formed on the muffler  10  is formed in the shape of a long straight pipe so that vibration of the engine and shaking or jerking of the tailpipe  11  due to a work load of the construction machine occur more intensively as it goes toward the top end of the tailpipe  11 . As a result, when a great vibration is continuously concentrated on a connection portion between the muffler  10  and the tailpipe  11  as indicated by a time waveform (a) according to the vibration of the tailpipe and a frequency waveform (b) transformed from the time waveform (a) in  FIG. 2 , a reverse moment against a forced moment is generated at the connection portion between the muffler  10  and the tailpipe  11 , thus causing a problem in that the connection portion is easily deformed or damaged by stress concentration occurring at the connection portion. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the aforementioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for reducing vibration of a muffler tailpipe for a construction machine, in which a tailpipe connected to a muffler of the construction machine is configured so as to be elastically supported by an engine hood to minimize the delivery of vibration caused by an engine and a work load to the tailpipe so that a connection portion between the muffler and the tailpipe can be prevented from being easily deformed or damaged. 
       Technical Solution 
       [0009]    To achieve the above object, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for reducing vibration of a muffler tailpipe for a construction machine, including:
       an engine hood installed at one side of an engine room to protect peripheral components including an engine and a muffler and having a through-hole formed at one side of a top surface thereof;   a muffler installed at a lower portion of the engine hood in such a manner as to be connected to one side of the engine, and a tailpipe connected at one end thereof to the muffler and projected at the other end thereof to the outside of the engine hood through the through-hole of the engine hood;   a tailpipe connected at one end thereof to the muffler and projected at the other end thereof to the outside of the engine hood through the through-hole of the engine hood; and   a plurality of elastic supports configured to fix the tailpipe so that the tailpipe is elastically supported by the engine hood.       
 
         [0014]    Preferably, the elastic support may include:
       a fixing member installed on an outer circumference of the tailpipe;   a plurality of connection holes formed at a peripheral portion of the through-hole of the engine hood; and   a plurality of elastic members configured to connect the fixing member and the connection holes to each other and arranged radially around the tailpipe.       
 
         [0018]    Preferably, the elastic support may include:
       a fixing member installed on an outer circumference of the tailpipe;   a plurality of fixtures formed at a peripheral portion of the through-hole of the engine hood; and   a plurality of elastic members configured to connect the fixing member and the fixtures to each other and arranged radially around the tailpipe.       
 
         [0022]    More preferably, the fixing member may be formed by shearing a portion thereof to form two ends so that the two ends of the sheared portion are fastened to each other by means of a fastening member, and may include a plurality of retaining portions formed on an outer circumference thereof. Each of the elastic member may include a pair of opposed hooks formed at both ends thereof in such a manner that one of the hooks is fixed to an associated one of the retaining portions, and the other of the hooks is fixed to an associated one of the connection holes of the engine hood. 
         [0023]    More preferably, the fixing member may be formed by shearing a portion thereof to form two ends so that the two ends of the sheared portion are fastened to each other by means of a fastening member, and may include a plurality of retaining portions formed on an outer circumference thereof. Each of the elastic member may include a pair of opposed hooks formed at both ends thereof in such a manner that one of the hooks is fixed to an associated one of the retaining portions, and the other of the hooks is fixed to an associated one of the fixtures of the engine hood. 
         [0024]    More preferably, the hooks formed at the both ends of each elastic member may be directly fittingly coupled to an associated one of the retaining portions and an associated one of the connection holes, or may be indirectly coupled to the associated one of the retaining portions and the associated one of the connection holes through fastening members. 
         [0025]    More preferably, the hooks formed at the both ends of each elastic member may be directly fittingly coupled to an associated one of the retaining portions and an associated one of the fixtures, or may be indirectly coupled to the associated one of the retaining portions and the associated one of the fixtures through fastening members. 
         [0026]    More preferably, the elastic member  140  may include a spring that undergoes tension and compression. 
       Advantageous Effect 
       [0027]    The apparatus for reducing vibration of a muffler tailpipe for a construction machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention as constructed above has the following advantages. 
         [0028]    In accordance with the apparatus for reducing vibration of a muffler tailpipe for a construction machine of the present invention, the tailpipe connected to the muffler is elastically supported by the engine hood through the elastic support so that when the tailpipe is also vibrated due to vibration of the muffler, which is caused by the engine and the work load, vibration delivered to the tailpipe can be reduced by means of the elastic support. 
         [0029]    Therefore, a problem can be effectively solved in that stress concentration occurs at a connection portion between the muffler and the tailpipe due to the vibration of a relatively large tailpipe, and thus the connection portion between the muffler and the tailpipe is easily deformed or damaged, thereby prolonging the lifespan of the muffler product, increasing reliability of the product, and ultimately improving the brand image of the product. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]    The above objects, other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0031]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a state in which a muffler and a tailpipe as essential elements for a construction machine are installed in accordance with the prior art; 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  shows a time waveform (a) and a frequency waveform (b) according to vibration of a tailpipe formed on a muffler for a construction machine in accordance with the prior art; 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing an apparatus for reducing vibration of a muffler tailpipe for a construction machine in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 4   a  is a top plan view showing an elastic support of a vibration reduction apparatus for a construction machine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4   b  is a top plan view showing another example of the elastic support shown in  FIG. 4   a;    
           [0036]      FIG. 5   a  is a perspective view showing an elastic support of an apparatus for reducing vibration of a muffler tailpipe for a construction machine in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 5   b  is a perspective view showing another example of the elastic support shown in  FIG. 5   a ; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 6  shows a time waveform (a) and a frequency waveform (b) according to vibration of a tailpipe on which a vibration reduction apparatus for a construction machine in accordance with the present invention is installed. 
       
    
    
     EXPLANATION ON REFERENCE NUMERALS OF MAIN ELEMENTS IN THE DRAWINGS 
       [0039]      100 , 100   a:  elastic support 
         [0040]      110 : fixing member 
         [0041]      111 : retaining portion 
         [0042]      112 , 150 ; fastening member 
         [0043]      120 : connection hole 
         [0044]      130 : fixture 
         [0045]      140 : elastic member 
         [0046]      141 : hook 
         [0047]      200 : muffler 
         [0048]      210 : tailpipe 
         [0049]      300 : engine hood 
         [0050]      310 : through-hole 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0051]    Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0052]    The matters defined in the description, such as the detailed construction and elements, are nothing but specific details provided to assist those of ordinary skill in the art in a comprehensive understanding of the invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed hereinafter. 
         [0053]    In the drawings, for the sake of a clearer understanding of the present invention, sizes or shapes of elements illustrated in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation. Also, the following terms particularly defined in consideration of the configuration and function of the present invention may vary according to an intention of a user or an operator or according to custom. Therefore, definition of such terms should be made based on overall contents of the specification. 
         [0054]    First, an apparatus for reducing vibration of a muffler tailpipe for a construction machine in accordance with the present invention largely includes an engine hood that protects engine system components, a muffler that is connected to the engine so as to be protected by the engine hood, a tailpipe that is installed on the muffler, and an elastic support that fixes the tailpipe so that the tailpipe is elastically supported by the engine hood. Hereinafter, respective constituent elements of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0055]    The engine hood  300  is installed at one side of an engine room to protect the engine system components, and is formed in the shape of a cover which is openable or closable so that when the inspection and maintenance of the engine and an heat exchanger or cooling and exhaust system components are required, the engine hood  300  can be opened to perform a necessary work. 
         [0056]    A through-hole  310  is formed at one side of a top surface of the engine hood  300 . Preferably, the through-hole  310  is formed in the shape of an elongated hole. The through-hole  310  is intended to facilitated the installation of the tailpipe  210  when the tailpipe  210  is formed protrudingly outwardly from the muffler  200  installed inside the engine hood  300 . The elongated through-hole  310  is formed to prevent interference between the tailpipe  210  and the inner circumference of the through-hole  310  when the tailpipe  210  is vibrated along with the vibration of the engine and construction machine. 
         [0057]    The through-hole  310  formed on the engine hood  300  needs not to be construed as being limited to the elongated hole. The shape of the through-hole  310  may be modified in various manners depending on the length, the shape and the installation conditions of the tailpipe  210  projected to the outside of the engine hood  300  through the through-hole  310 . The through-hole  310  needs not to be configured in consideration of the width and direction of vibration of the tailpipe  210 . 
         [0058]    Although it has not been shown in the drawings that the muffler  200  is a component for reducing an exhaust noise while lowering the temperature and pressure of an exhaust gas emitted from the engine, the muffler  200  is connected to one side of the engine through an exhaust pipe and is positioned at a lower portion of the engine hood  300  so as to be protected by the engine hood  300 . 
         [0059]    The tailpipe  210  is a component which is connected to the muffler  200  to discharge an exhaust gas exhausted from the muffler  200  to the atmosphere. The tailpipe  210  is formed in the shape which is projected toward one side from the muffler  200 . The tailpipe  210  may be installed in a vertical or horizontal direction or in an inclined direction from the muffler  200  depending on the kind of the construction machine to which the tailpipe is applied and the installation conditions of the tailpipe  210 . 
         [0060]    An upper end of the tailpipe  210  connected to the muffler  200  in such a manner as to be projected from the muffler  200  is positioned at the outside of the engine hood  300  after passing through the through-hole  310  formed on the engine hood  300 . The tailpipe  210  is configured as a cylindrical straight pipe having a constant length for the efficiency of the exhaust operation. 
         [0061]    The elastic supports  100  and  100   a  serve to fix the tailpipe  210  so that the tailpipe  210  is elastically supported by the engine hood  300  in order to reduce vibration delivered to the tailpipe  210  from the muffler  200 . 
         [0062]    A method for elastically support the tailpipe  210  needs not to be limited to fixation of the elastic supports  100  and  100   a  connected to the tailpipe  210  to the engine hood  300 , and the elastic supports  100  and  100   a  connected to the tailpipe  210  may be fixed to a vehicle body or a fixing component of the construction machine in proximity to the tailpipe  210   
         [0063]    The elastic support  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes a fixing member  110  surroundingly installed on an outer circumference of the tailpipe  210 ; a plurality of connection holes  120  formed at a peripheral portion of the through-hole  310  of the engine hood  300 ; and a plurality of elastic members  140  that connects the fixing member  110  and the connection holes  120  to each other as shown in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b.    
         [0064]    The connection holes  120  are penetratingly formed on a top surface and an underside of a peripheral portion of the through-hole  310 . The connection holes  120  are preferably formed at four directional points of the peripheral portion of the through-hole  310  around the tailpipe  210 . 
         [0065]    The elastic support  100   a  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention includes a fixing member  110  surroundingly installed on an outer circumference of the tailpipe  210 ; a plurality of fixtures  130  formed at a peripheral portion of the through-hole  310  of the engine hood  300 ; and a plurality of elastic members  140  that connects the fixing member  110  and the fixtures  130  to each other as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5   a  and  5   b.    
         [0066]    The fixtures  130  may be formed selectively either on a top surface or an underside of the peripheral portion of the through-hole  310 , or on an inner circumferential surface of the through-hole  310 . In addition, the fixtures  130  are preferably formed at four directional points of the peripheral portion of the through-hole  310  around the tailpipe  210 . 
         [0067]    The fixing member  110  of the elastic support  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention and the elastic support  100   a  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention is preferably formed of a metal material which can endure high temperature and is formed in a ring shape having a constant width. The fixing member  110  is configured to surround the outer circumference of the tailpipe  210 . 
         [0068]    More specifically, the fixing member  110  is formed by shearing a portion thereof to form two ends so that the two ends of the sheared portion are fastened to each other by means of a fastening member  112  such as a bolt and a nut. Thus, when the fixing member  110  is installed on the outer circumference of the tailpipe  210 , the sheared portion of the fixing member  110  is widened so that the fixing member  110  can be easily fitted around the outer circumference of the tailpipe  210  using the widened portion of the fixing member  110 , and the sheared portion of the fixing member surroundingly fitted around the outer circumference of the tailpipe  210  can be securely fixed by means of the fastening member  112 . 
         [0069]    The fixing member  110  includes a plurality of retaining portions  111  formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof. Each of the retaining portions  111  is formed in a shape in which one end of the elastic member  140  can be retainingly fixed to the retaining portion, such as a holed shape or a hooked shape. 
         [0070]    Each of the elastic member  140  of the elastic support  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of opposed hooks  141  formed at both ends thereof in such a manner that one of the hooks is directly fittingly fixed to each of the retaining portions  111  of the fixing member  110 , and the other of the hooks is directly fittingly fixed to each of the connection holes  120  formed at the peripheral portion of the through-hole  310  of the engine hood  300 . 
         [0071]    Alternatively, the hooks  141  formed at both ends of each elastic member  140  are not directly fittingly fixed to each of the retaining portions  111  of the fixing member  110  and each of the connection holes  120  formed at the peripheral portion of the through-hole  310 , but after a fastening member  150  such as a screw and a washer or a bolt and a nut is first installed at each of the retaining portions  111  of the fixing member  110  and each of the connection holes  120  formed at the peripheral portion of the through-hole  310 , the hooks  141  may be fixed to the fastening member  150 . 
         [0072]    Each of the elastic member  140  of the elastic support  100  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of opposed hooks  141  formed at both ends thereof in such a manner that one of the hooks is directly fittingly fixed to each of the retaining portions  111  of the fixing member  110 , and the other of the hooks is directly fittingly fixed to each of the fixtures  130  formed at the peripheral portion of the through-hole  310  of the engine hood  300 . 
         [0073]    Preferably, the other of the hooks  141  of each elastic member  140  may be fixed to each of the fixtures  130  in such a manner as to surround the outer circumference of the fixture. More preferably, a fastening hole  131  is formed in each of the fixtures  130  and then the other of the hooks  141  of each elastic member  140  may be fixed to each fixture  130  in such a manner as to pass through the fastening hole  131  of the fixture. 
         [0074]    Alternatively, the hooks  141  formed at both ends of each elastic member  140  are not directly fittingly fixed to each of the retaining portions  111  of the fixing member  110  and each of the fixtures  130 , but after a fastening member  150  such as a screw and a washer or a bolt and a nut is first installed at each of the retaining portions  111  of the fixing member  110  and each of the fixtures  130 , the hooks  141  may be fixed to the fastening member  150 . 
         [0075]    The fixtures  130  may be directly designed and configured in such a manner as to be integrally formed at the peripheral portion of the through-hole  310  in the production process of the engine hood  300 . Although not shown in the drawings, in the case of the engine hood  300  which has been previously produced, the fixtures  130  may be fixed by forming holes at the peripheral portion of the through-hole  300 , fastening a bolt to each of the holes, passing the fixture  130  through a distal end of the bolt, and fastening a nut to the bolt. 
         [0076]    The fixing member  110  and the connection holes  120  of the elastic support  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention are preferably arranged on the same horizontal line so that the elastic member  140  interconnecting the fixing member  110  and the connection hole  120  is held in a horizontal state. 
         [0077]    Any one of the fixing member  110  and the connection hole  120  may be positioned higher or lower than the other of the fixing member  110  and the connection hole  120  so that the elastic member  140  is held in an inclined state. 
         [0078]    The fixing member  110  and the fixtures  130  of the elastic support  100   a  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention are also preferably arranged on the same horizontal line so that the elastic member  140  interconnecting the fixing member  110  and the fixture  130  is held in a horizontal state. Any one of the fixing member  110  and the fixture  130  may be positioned higher or lower than the other of the fixing member  110  and the fixture  130  so that the elastic member  140  is held in an inclined state. 
         [0079]    The number of the retaining portions  111  of the fixing member  110  and the connection holes  120  of the elastic support  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention and the number of the retaining portions  111  of the fixing member  110  and the fixtures  130  of the elastic support  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention may be configured to be four, respectively, as shown in the drawings, and thus the number of the elastic members  140  interconnecting the fixing member  110  and the connection holes  120  and the number of the elastic members  140  interconnecting the fixing member  110  and the fixtures  130  may be configured to be four so that the tailpipe  210  is elastically supported in four directions by the engine hood  300  through the four elastic members  140 . 
         [0080]    The number of the retaining portions  111  of the fixing member  110  and the connection holes  120  or the number of the retaining portions  111  of the fixing member  110  and the fixtures  130  may be configured to be more than or less than four, and thus the number of the elastic members  140  may be configured to be more than two, three, or four so that the tailpipe  210  is elastically supported either in two direction facing each other or in three or four radial directions by the engine hood  300  through a various numbers of elastic members  140 . 
         [0081]    The installation state of the tailpipe  210  may vary depending on the kind of the construction machine, and the installation direction of the elastic supports  100  and  100   a  may vary depending on the installation state of the tailpipe  210 . 
         [0082]    In the case where the tailpipe  210  is installed in such a manner as to stand upright, the elastic supports  100  and  100   a  are installed horizontally so that horizontal vibration of the tailpipe  210  is reduced. In the case where the tailpipe  210  is installed in such a manner as to be laid down laterally, the elastic supports  100  and  100   a  are installed vertically so that vertical vibration of the tailpipe  210  is reduced. 
         [0083]    The elastic member  140  of the elastic support  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention and the elastic member  140  of the elastic support  100   a  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention are preferably implemented as a spring that undergoes tension and compression. The vibration of the muffler  200  connected to the engine varies depending on the kind of the construction machine, and thus it is obvious that a modulus of elasticity of the spring should be determined in consideration of the width and magnitude of vibration of the tailpipe  210  according to the characteristics of the vibration of the engine and the work load. 
         [0084]    A process of reducing the vibration of the tailpipe using the vibration reduction apparatus installed at the tailpipe of the muffler in accordance with the present invention will be described hereinafter. 
         [0085]    When the muffler  200  connected to the engine through the exhaust pipe is vibrated along with the drive of the engine, the tailpipe  210  installed at the muffler  200  is vibrated together with the muffler  200 . In this case, as the tailpipe  210  is increased in the vibration width as it goes toward the top, stress concentration occurs at a connection portion between the muffler  200  and the tailpipe  210   
         [0086]    The present invention enables the fixing member  110  installed on the outer circumference of the tailpipe  210  and the peripheral portion of the through-hole  310  of the engine hood  300  to be elastically supported in four radial directions by the elastic supports  100  and  100   a  so that vibration generated from the tailpipe  210  can be sufficiently reduced by the tension and compression operation of the elastic supports  100  and the  100   a.    
         [0087]      FIG. 6  shows a time waveform (a) and a frequency waveform (b) according to vibration generated from a distal end of the tailpipe installed at the muffler for the construction machine. According to the present invention, it can be seen that a time waveform according to vibration is reduced as shown in  FIG. 6(   a ) and there is no change in a frequency component of the vibration in a frequency waveform domain transformed from the time waveform but an amplitude of the vibration is reduced as shown in  FIG. 6(   b ) as a result of the diagrammatic comparison of the magnitudes of vibration of a tailpipe on which the vibration reduction apparatus for a construction machine is installed. 
         [0088]    Therefore, the stress concentration phenomenon occurring at the connection portion between the muffler  200  and the tailpipe  210  depending on the vibration of the tailpipe  210  can be avoided by the vibration reduction apparatus of the present invention. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0089]    In accordance with the apparatus for reducing vibration of a muffler tailpipe for a construction machine of the present invention as constructed above, the tailpipe connected to the muffler is elastically supported by the engine through the elastic support means so that when the tailpipe is vibrated by the vibration of the engine and the muffler due to the work load of the construction machine, the elastic support means can reduce the vibration delivered to the tailpipe. Thus, it is possible to effectively solve a problem in that stress concentration occurs at the connection portion between the muffler and the tailpipe, and thus the connection portion between the muffler and the tailpipe is easily deformed or damaged. 
         [0090]    While the present invention has been described in connection with the specific embodiments illustrated in the drawings, they are merely illustrative, and the invention is not limited to these embodiments. It is to be understood that various equivalent modifications and variations of the embodiments can be made by a person having an ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the true technical scope of the present invention should not be defined by the above-mentioned embodiments but should be defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.