Device for modifying the height of an exhaust silencer of a vehicle of motorcycle type from the ground

Abstract: A device (8) for modifying the height of the discharge end (5) of an exhaust silencer (1) of a vehicle of motorcycle type from the ground, said silencer (1) being connected at one end (6) to the terminal part (7A) of the exhaust pipe (7) of the vehicle engine; the device (8) comprises cylindrical elements (10, 11) connected respectively to the end (6) of the silencer (1) and to the terminal part (7A) of the exhaust pipe (7), said elements (10, 11) being able to be fitted together in socket manner and being rotatable relative to each other so as to enable the discharge end (5) of the silencer (1) to be set to the desired height and to be locked in that position to the vehicle frame.

Description: This invention relates to a device for modifying the height of an exhaust silencer of a vehicle of motorcycle type from the ground in accordance with the preamble claim 1. As is well known, the use of variable-height exhaust silencers in a vehicle of motorcycle type allows the mounting of side bags of various dimensions depending on user requirements. In a known device of the said type, the silencer is formed in two portions connected together by a ball joint which enables only the end portion of said silencer to be rotated relative to the other portion, which is rigid with the engine exhaust pipe. This known device therefore enables the height of the exhaust silencer to be modified to only a small extent, as part of this latter is fixed to said exhaust pipe, which is provided in a well defined portion of the motorcycle. JP-07-166859 describes a known solution with the features indicated in the preamble of the main claim. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved device for modifying the height of an exhaust silencer of a vehicle of motorcycle type from the ground. A particular object of the present invention is to provide a device of the said type which is of simple construction and enables the height of the vehicle exhaust silencer from the ground to be widely varied. These and further objects which will be apparent to the expert of the art are attained by a device in accordance with the accompanying claims. The present invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawing, which is provided by way of non-limiting example and in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a silencer in two possible positions of use, one of which is shown by dashed lines; and Figure 2 is an exploded view in cross-section showing the device of the invention. With reference to said figures, an exhaust silencer is indicated overall by 1 and comprises a tubular body 2 with different-diameter sections and associated with the frame of a motorcycle (not shown) by a support bracket 3. The silencer 1 comprises a discharge end 5 and an end 6, distant from the discharge end 5, to cooperate with a terminal part 7A of an exhaust pipe 7 originating from the motorcycle engine (not shown). More specifically, said end 6 is arranged to be associated with the exhaust pipe 7 via a device 8, the subject of the invention, which enables the height of the silencer 1 (or rather of its discharge end 5) from the ground to be modified by rotating the body 2 about a longitudinal axis W of said device perpendicular to the central plane of symmetry K of the vehicle (shown schematically in Figure 2 by a dashed line) and passing through the end 6 of said body. According to the invention, the device 8 comprises a first cylindrical part 10 associated with the end 6 of the silencer 1, and a second cylindrical part 11 associated with the exhaust pipe 7. The parts 10 and 11 are able to mutually cooperate by means of an insertion fit. For this purpose the part 10 comprises an outer first cylindrical portion 13 and an inner second cylindrical portion 14. A cavity 15 is present between these portions. The inner portion 14 is associated, in proximity to one 18 of its ends, to a third cylindrical portion 16 to which the first portion 13 is also fixed and which defines a step 17 in the interior of the part 10. A first cylindrical portion 20 of the second part 11 of the device 8 is positionable within the cavity 15; a second cylindrical portion 21 of said part is positioned internal to the first portion 20 and with it defines a cavity 23 arranged to receive the second portion 14 of the part 10. The second portion 21 of the part 11 is arranged to abut on the step 17 within the part 10. Preferably, the free ends 13A, 14A, 20A, 21A of the corresponding portions defining the parts 10 and 11 of the device 8 are tapered or inclined so as to facilitate the aforesaid socket fit, ie their mutual insertion one into the other. After this mutual insertion, the device 8 is tight against the exhaust gases originating from the engine, and enables the height of the discharge end 5 to be modified by simply rotating said parts relative to each other. After the desired height of the end 5 has been attained, the body 2 is fixed to the motorcycle frame such as to prevent separation between the parts 10 and 11 of the device 8, or between the silencer 1 and the exhaust pipe 7. An elastic element (not shown) is preferably hooked onto a bracket 40 present on the end 6 of the silencer 1, to cooperate with a corresponding fixing member (not shown) present on the exhaust pipe 7. This elastic element maintains the parts 10 and 11 united while adjusting the height of the silencer 1 from the ground.

Claims: An exhaust arrangement including an exhaust pipe (7) and an exhaust silencer (1) having a body (2), and in-between a device (8) for modifying the height of the discharge end (5) of said exhaust silencer (1) of a vehicle of motorcycle type from the ground, the device (8) comprising a first (10) and a second (11) cylindrical parts connected respectively to the other end (6) of the silencer (1) and to the terminal part (7A) of the exhaust pipe (7), said parts (10,11) being able to be fitted together in socket manner and being rotatable relative to each other, characterised in that the body (2) of said exhaust silencer (1) is rotatable about a longitudinal axis (W) of said device (8), said longitudinal axis (W) being perpendicular to the central plane of symmetry (K) of the vehicle so as to enable the discharge end (5) of the silencer (1) to be set to the desired height and to be locked in that position to the vehicle frame. An exhaust arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the first cylindrical part (10) connected to the other end (6) of the silencer (1) comprises coaxial cylindrical portions (13, 14) which are spaced apart to define between them an interspace (15) arranged to receive a portion (20) of the second cylindrical part (11) connected to the exhaust pipe (7). An exhaust arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the first cylindrical part (11) connected to the terminal part (7A) of the exhaust pipe (7) comprises a pair of coaxial cylindrical portions (20, 21) defining between them an interspace (23) arranged to receive a portion (14) of the second cylindrical part (10) connected to the silencer (1). An exhaust arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that a step (17) is provided within the first cylindrical part (10) connected to the end (6) of the silencer, to limit the insertion of the second cylindrical part (11) connected to the exhaust pipe (7) into the first cylindrical part (10).

Inventors: BILANCIONI FRANCO, MENGOLI GIANLUIGI, BILANCIONI, FRANCO, MENGOLI, GIANLUIGI
Applicants: DUCATI MOTOR HOLDING S P A, DUCATI MOTOR HOLDING S.P.A.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: F01N7
IPC codes: F01N13