Abstract:
An apparatus supports a muffler whereby vibration noise generated in the muffler is reduced during driving of the vehicle because the strength of the apparatus for supporting the muffler is enhanced.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application 10-2004-0068343 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Aug. 30, 2004, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference herein.  
       TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting a muffler. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting a muffler for reducing noise occurring in the muffler during driving of a vehicle.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Generally, a muffler of a vehicle is mounted to a rear portion of a vehicle for reducing noise caused by exhaust gas exiting the engine of the vehicle. The muffler is mounted to the vehicle&#39;s body by a hanger that is typically made of elastic material. The elastic material reduces transmission of vibrations between the vehicle body and the muffler.  
         [0004]     Conventionally, a muffler is mounted with a hanger rod that is connected to a hanger. The hanger rod is welded to the muffler and a hanger supporter is disposed in a direction corresponding to a direction of the hanger rod. A predetermined distance is maintained between the hanger support and the hanger rod. The hanger support and the hanger rod are respectively inserted to mounting holes of the hanger.  
         [0005]     Due to the conventional configuration, the upper mounting hole and the lower mounting hole are formed in the middle of the hanger for inserting one end of each of the hanger support and the hanger rod thereinto. Therefore, a vibration transmitted from an exhaust system to a vehicle body can be reduced.  
         [0006]     However, a drawback of the conventional design is that the strength of the hanger rod is insufficient because the hanger rod is welded to only one side of the muffler. In addition, noise caused by vibration of the apparatus for supporting the muffler occurs in a case that an engine operates in high speed or the vehicle is driven at high speed.  
         [0007]     The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention includes an apparatus for supporting a muffler having advantages of reducing noise occurring in the muffler during driving by enhancing the strength of the apparatus for supporting the muffler. An exemplary apparatus for supporting the muffler according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an end plate secured to one end of the muffler, a rod having one end secured to the end plate such that the muffler is hung to a vehicle body, and a bracket connected respectively to the rod and the end plate such that the bracket supports the rod with respect to the end plate. An exhaust pipe is connected to the end plate and the bracket is connected to both the exhaust pipe and the end plate. A penetration hole is formed in the bracket and the rod is connected to the bracket by being inserted into the penetration hole.  
         [0009]     According to another embodiment for supporting a muffler an apparatus includes an end plate secured to one end of the muffler, a first bracket and a second bracket secured to the end plate, and a rod respectively connected to the first bracket and the second bracket such that the muffler is hung to a vehicle body. First and second penetration holes are respectively formed in the first and second brackets and the rod is connected to the first and second brackets by being inserted into the first and second penetration holes. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  shows an apparatus for supporting a muffler according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  shows an apparatus for supporting a muffler according to another embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing an apparatus for supporting a muffler according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an apparatus for supporting a muffler according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an end plate  31 , a rod  33 , and a bracket  40 . The end plate  31  is secured to an end of the muffler  30 , and one end of the rod  33  is secured to the end plate  31  such that the muffler  30  is hung to a vehicle body  100 .  
         [0014]     The bracket  40  is respectively connected to the rod  33  and the end plate  31  such that the bracket  40  supports the rod  33  with respect to the end plate  31 . An exhaust pipe  32  for exhausting exhaust gas is connected to the muffler  30  by the end plate  31 . The other end of the rod  33  is connected to a hanger  20  which is connected to the vehicle body  100 . That is, the muffler  30  can be hung to the vehicle body  100  by the rod  33  being connected to a first mounting hole  21  of the hanger  20  and the vehicle body  100  being connected to a second mounting hole  22 .  
         [0015]     The exhaust pipe  32  is connected to the end plate  31 , and the bracket  40  is connected to both the exhaust pipe  32  and the end plate  31 . That is, the first connecting surface  44  of the bracket  40  are connected to the end plate  31  and a second connecting surface  43  is connected to the exhaust pipe  32 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, the bracket  40  may be connected to the exhaust pipe  32  and end plate  31  by welding, or the like. A penetration hole  41  is formed in the bracket  40  and the rod  33  is connected to the bracket  40  by being inserted into the penetration hole  41 .  
         [0016]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the portion of the rod  33  that is inserted into the penetration hole  41  has a predetermined angle and the predetermined angle may be changed according to a size of the bracket  40 . In addition, because the rod  33  is connected to both the bracket  40  and the end plate  31 , the strength of the apparatus for supporting the muffler is sufficient to support the weight of the muffler. Further, transmission of vibrations from the muffler  30  to the vehicle can be reduced through this enhanced muffler coupling.  
         [0017]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , another embodiment includes an apparatus for supporting a muffler that includes not only an end plate  31  and a rod  33  but also a first bracket  45  and a second bracket  50 . The first bracket  45  and the second bracket  50  are secured to the end plate  31 . More particularly, a first connecting surface  44  of the first bracket  45  are connected to the end plate  31  and a second connecting surface  43  is connected to the exhaust pipe  32 .  
         [0018]     In addition, a third connecting surface  51  of the second bracket  50  is connected to the end plate  31  and a surface of the second bracket  50  that is disposed opposite to the first connecting surfaces  44  of the first bracket  45  is connected to the first bracket  45 . The rod  33  is respectively connected to the first bracket  45  and the second bracket  50  such that the muffler  30  is hung to the vehicle body  100 .  
         [0019]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the connections among the end plate  31 , the exhaust pipe  32 , the first bracket  45 , and the second bracket  50  may be realized by welding, a bolt, or the like.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , first and second penetration holes  53  and  55  are respectively formed to the first and second brackets  45  and  50 . The rod  33  is connected to the first and second brackets  45  and  50  by being inserted into the first and second penetration holes  53  and  55 , respectively.  
         [0021]     According to an embodiment of the present invention described above, the strength of the apparatus for supporting the muffler is enhanced because the first and the second brackets  45  and  50  are connected to the end plate  31  connected to the muffler  30 . Therefore, the occurrence of noise in the apparatus for supporting the muffler is reduced.  
         [0022]     As described above, according to embodiments of the present invention, because the strength of the apparatus for supporting the muffler is enhanced, vibration and noise caused by the vibration can be reduced.  
         [0023]     While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.