Power system exhaust manifold

Abstract

An exhaust manifold for a power system has a first pipe section with at least one inlet configured to fluidly connect the first pipe section to the power system. The exhaust manifold also has a second pipe section disposed adjacent the first pipe section with at least one inlet configured to fluidly connect the second pipe section to the power system. The exhaust manifold further has at least one outlet in fluid communication with the first pipe section and the second pipe section, and at least one bridge member rigidly connecting the first pipe section and the second pipe section.

1 . An exhaust manifold for a power system, comprising: 
 a first pipe section having at least one inlet configured to fluidly connect the first pipe section to the power system;    a second pipe section disposed adjacent the first pipe section and having at least one inlet configured to fluidly connect the second pipe section to the power system;    at least one outlet in fluid communication with the first pipe section and the second pipe section; and    at least one bridge member rigidly connecting the first pipe section to the second pipe section.    
   
   
       2 . The exhaust manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second pipe sections are connected to the power system such that the exhaust manifold is allowed to move relative to the power system.  
   
   
       3 . The exhaust manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one inlet of at least one of the first and second pipe sections includes a means for mechanically connecting the exhaust manifold to the power system while allowing movement of the exhaust manifold relative to the power system.  
   
   
       4 . The exhaust manifold of  claim 3 , wherein the means for mechanically connecting includes a flange connected to the at least one of the first and second pipe sections.  
   
   
       5 . The exhaust manifold of  claim 4 , wherein the flange includes an aperture for receiving a fastener.  
   
   
       6 . The exhaust manifold of  claim 5 , wherein the aperture is oversized relative to the fastener.  
   
   
       7 . The exhaust manifold of  claim 6 , wherein the aperture has a diameter that is between approximately 20% and 60% greater in size than the fastener.  
   
   
       8 . The exhaust manifold if  claim 6 , wherein the aperture has a diameter that is between approximately 35% and 50% greater in size than the fastener.  
   
   
       9 . The exhaust manifold of  claim 6 , wherein the aperture has a diameter that is approximately 40% greater in size than the fastener.  
   
   
       10 . The exhaust manifold of  claim 3 , wherein the means for mechanically connecting includes a first flange connected to the first pipe section and a second flange connected to the second pipe section, and the at least one bridge member is disposed between the first flange and the second flange.  
   
   
       11 . The exhaust manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one inlet of the first pipe section has a centrally-located axis and the at least one inlet of the second pipe section has a centrally-located axis substantially parallel to the centrally-located axis of the at least one inlet of the first pipe section.  
   
   
       12 . The exhaust manifold of  claim 11 , wherein the outlet has at least one axis aligned with a flow direction through the outlet and substantially orthogonal to the centrally-located axis of the at least one inlet of both the first and second pipe sections.  
   
   
       13 . The exhaust manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet is offset towards one of the first and second pipe sections from a point substantially midway between the first and second pipe sections.  
   
   
       14 . The exhaust manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the first pipe section has a first end, the second pipe section has a second end disposed in substantially opposite orientation relative to the first end, and the outlet is offset towards one of the first and second ends from a point substantially midway between the first and second ends.  
   
   
       15 . The exhaust manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one inlet of the first pipe section includes a first plurality of inlets, the at least one inlet of the second pipe section includes a second plurality of inlets, the number of first plurality of inlets is equal to the number of second plurality of inlets, the first and second plurality of inlets are equally spaced, and the outlet is offset towards one of the first and second plurality of inlets from a point substantially midway between the first and second plurality of inlets.  
   
   
       16 . The exhaust manifold as in  claim 1 , further including a first conduit connecting the first pipe section to the outlet, and a second conduit connecting the second pipe section to the outlet.  
   
   
       17 . The exhaust manifold of  claim 16 , wherein the first conduit has a length greater than a length of the second conduit.  
   
   
       18 . The exhaust manifold of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one bridge member is a first bridge member, and the exhaust manifold further includes a second bridge member provided between one of the first and second pipe sections and one of the first and second conduits.  
   
   
       19 . The exhaust manifold of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first pipe section, the second pipe section, the first conduit, and the second conduit has a serpentine shape.  
   
   
       20 . The exhaust manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the power system includes a turbocharger and the outlet includes a means for connecting the exhaust manifold to the turbocharger.  
   
   
       21 . The exhaust manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust manifold is integrally formed as a single unit.  
   
   
       22 . The exhaust manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust manifold is formed by sand casting.  
   
   
       23 . A method of assembling an exhaust manifold to a power system having an engine, the method comprising: 
 inserting at least one fastener through at least one oversize aperture in the exhaust manifold to engage the engine; and    applying a predetermined torque to the fastener such that the at least one fastener allows movement of at least a portion of the exhaust manifold relative to the engine after assembly.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the predetermined torque is between approximately 20 and 50 Nm.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the predetermined torque is approximately 33 Nm.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , further including inserting at least a second fastener through at least one aperture nominally sized for the at least a second fastener to anchor at least a second portion of the exhaust manifold to the engine.  
   
   
       27 . A power system, comprising: 
 an engine;    a turbocharger in fluid communication with an exhaust flow of the engine and configured to compress air directed into the engine;    an exhaust manifold fluidly disposed between the engine and the turbocharger, the exhaust manifold including: 
 a first pipe section having at least one inlet configured to fluidly connect the first pipe section to the engine;  
 a second pipe section disposed adjacent the first pipe section and having at least one inlet configured to fluidly connect the second pipe section to the engine;  
 at least one outlet in fluid communication with the first pipe section and the second pipe sections; and  
 at least one bridge member rigidly connecting the first pipe section to the second pipe section.  
   
   
   
       28 . The power system of  claim 27 , further including a first flange associated with the at least one inlet of the first pipe section and a second flange associated with the at least one inlet of the second pipe section, the first and second flanges configured to mechanically connect the exhaust manifold to the engine while allowing movement of the exhaust manifold relative to the engine.  
   
   
       29 . The power system of  claim 28 , wherein each of the first and second flanges include an over-sized aperture for receiving a fastener.  
   
   
       30 . The power system of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one bridge member is disposed between the first and second flanges.  
   
   
       31 . The power system of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one inlet of the first pipe section has a centrally-located axis and the at least one inlet of the second pipe section has a centrally-located axis substantially parallel to the centrally-located axis of the at least one inlet of the first pipe section.  
   
   
       32 . The power system of  claim 31 , wherein the outlet has at least one axis aligned with a flow direction through the outlet and substantially orthogonal to the centrally-located axis of the at least one inlet of both the first and second pipe sections.  
   
   
       33 . The power system of  claim 27 , wherein the outlet is offset towards one of the first and second pipe sections from a point substantially midway between the first and second pipe sections.  
   
   
       34 . The power system as in  claim 27 , further including a first conduit connecting the first pipe section to the outlet, and a second conduit connecting the second pipe section to the outlet.  
   
   
       35 . The power system of  claim 34 , wherein the first conduit has a length greater than a length of the second conduit.  
   
   
       36 . The power system of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one bridge member is a first bridge member and the exhaust manifold further includes a second bridge member provided between one of the first and second pipe sections and one of the first and second conduits.  
   
   
       37 . The power system of  claim 34 , wherein at least one of the first pipe section, the second pipe section, the first conduit, and the second conduit has a serpentine shape.  
   
   
       38 . The power system of  claim 27 , wherein the outlet includes a flange configured to connect the exhaust manifold to the turbocharger.  
   
   
       39 . The power system of  claim 27 , wherein the exhaust manifold is integrally formed as a single unit.  
   
   
       40 . The power system of  claim 27 , wherein the exhaust manifold is formed by sand casting.  
   
   
       41 . An exhaust system for an engine, comprising: 
 an exhaust manifold having a plurality of oversize apertures; and    a plurality of fasteners insertable through the oversize apertures to connect the exhaust manifold to the engine, such that the exhaust manifold is movable relative to the engine after assembly.    
   
   
       42 . The exhaust system of  claim 41 , wherein at least one of the plurality of fasteners connecting the exhaust manifold to the engine is torqued between approximately 20 and 50 Nm.  
   
   
       43 . The exhaust system of  claim 41 , wherein at least one of the plurality of fasteners connecting the exhaust manifold to the engine is torqued to approximately 33 Nm.  
   
   
       44 . The exhaust system of  claim 41 , further including at least one anchoring fastener, wherein the exhaust manifold further includes at least one aperture nominally sized for the at least one anchoring fastener, the at least one anchoring fastener being configured to anchor at least a portion of the exhaust manifold to the engine.