Exhaust pipe structure

Abstract

A center of gravity (G 1 ) of a second exhaust pipe ( 12 ) is located on the side of an axis (J 1 ) connecting two associated support members ( 16, 17 ) that is distal to a ball joint ( 15 ). Thus, creating a moment that applies a load (F 1 ) to a ball joint ( 15 that presses the ball joint ( 15 ) up toward the vehicle body. In turn, by locating a center of gravity (G 2 ) of a third exhaust pipe ( 13 ) on the side of an axis (J 2 ) connecting two associated support members ( 19, 20 ) that is proximal to the ball joint ( 15 ) the weight of the third exhaust pipe ( 13 ) creates a moment which that applies a load (F 2 ) to the ball joint ( 15 ) that presses the ball joint ( 15 ) down away from the vehicle body. Consequently, the load (F 1 ) and the load (F 2 ) of approximately the same magnitude act in opposite directions.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . An exhaust pipe structure comprising:
 a plurality of separate exhaust pipes connected in series as an exhaust pipe connected to an internal combustion engine; and   a universal joint for connecting the separate exhaust pipes so that the plurality of separate exhaust pipes bend flexibly at each universal joint, wherein:   the paired separate exhaust pipes are connected to each other through the universal joint, and each of the paired separate exhaust pipes is supported in a manner such that a first load applied from a side of one of the paired separate exhaust pipes to the universal joint and a second load applied from a side of the other separate exhaust pipe of the paired separate exhaust pipes to the universal joint, which are of approximately the same magnitude, act in opposite directions to each other so that the first load and the second loads from the weight of the paired separate exhaust pipes, which act on the universal joint, combine to be almost zero.   
   
   
       11 . An exhaust pipe structure comprising:
 a plurality of separate exhaust pipes connected in series as an exhaust pipe connected to an internal combustion engine; and   universal joints that connect the separate exhaust pipes so that the plurality of separate exhaust pipes bend at the universal joints, wherein:   the separate exhaust pipes include a first exhaust pipe fixedly connected to the internal combustion engine, a second exhaust pipe connected to the first exhaust pipe via the first universal joint that is bendable, and a third exhaust pipe connected to the second exhaust pipe via the second universal joint that is bendable;   each of the separate exhaust pipes is supported in a manner such that a first load applied to the second universal joint from the weight of the second exhaust pipe and a second load applied to the second universal joint from the weight of the third exhaust pipe, which are of approximately the same magnitude, act in opposite directions to each other so that loads from the weight of the separate exhaust pipes, which act on each of the universal joints, combine to be almost zero.   
   
   
       12 . The exhaust pipe structure according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 two first support members that support the second exhaust pipe; and   two second support members that support the third exhaust pipe,   wherein the center of gravity of the second exhaust pipe is located one side of an axis connecting the two first support members that is proximal to the second universal joint, and   the center of gravity of the third exhaust pipe is located one side of an axis connecting the two second support members that is distal to the second universal joint.   
   
   
       13 . The exhaust pipe structure according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the third exhaust pipe is supported by one of the two second support members at a first portion and is supported by the other second support member at a second portion,   the first portion is located at a position on the third exhaust pipe that is farther from the second universal joint than the second portion; and   the second portion is located at a position on the third exhaust pipe that is farthest away from a phantom line connecting the one of the second support members and the second universal joint.   
   
   
       14 . The exhaust pipe structure according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 two first support members that support the second exhaust pipe; and   two second support members that support the third exhaust pipe,   wherein the center of gravity of the second exhaust pipe is located one side of an axis connecting the two first support members that is distal to the second universal joint, and   the center of gravity of the third exhaust pipe is located one side of an axis connecting the two second support members that is proximal to the second universal joint.   
   
   
       15 . The exhaust pipe structure according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the third exhaust pipe is supported by one of the two second support members at a first portion and is supported by the other second support member at a second portion,   the first portion is located at a position on the third exhaust pipe that is farther from the second universal joint than the second portion; and   the second portion is located at a position on the third exhaust pipe that is farthest away from a phantom line connecting the one of the second support members and the second universal joint.   
   
   
       16 . The exhaust pipe structure according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the second exhaust pipe is supported at two first support portions;   the third exhaust pipe is supported at two second support portions,   the center of gravity of the second exhaust pipe is located one side of an axis connecting the two first support portions that is proximal to the second universal joint, and   the center of gravity of the third exhaust pipe is located one side of an axis connecting the two second support portions that is distal to the second universal joint.   
   
   
       17 . The exhaust pipe structure according to  claim 16 , wherein
 one of the two second support portions is located at a position on the third exhaust pipe that is farther from the second universal joint than the other second support portion, and   the other second support portions is located at a position on the third exhaust pipe that is farthest away from a phantom line connecting the one of the second support portions and the second universal joint.   
   
   
       18 . The exhaust pipe structure according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the second exhaust pipe is supported at two first support portions;   the third exhaust pipe is supported at two second support portions,   the center of gravity of the second exhaust pipe is located one side of an axis connecting the two first support portions that is distal to the second universal joint, and   the center of gravity of the third exhaust pipe is located one side of an axis connecting the two second support portions that is proximal to the second universal joint.   
   
   
       19 . The exhaust pipe structure according to  claim 18 , wherein
 one of the two second support portions is located at a position on the third exhaust pipe that is farther from the second universal joint than the other second support portion, and   the other second support portions is located at a position on the third exhaust pipe that is farthest away from a phantom line connecting the one of the second support portions and the second universal joint.