Exhaust gas system

Abstract

Exhaust gas systems and methods are disclosed. A system includes an extensible duct assembly to communicate an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine to an exhaust gas receiver. An angularly positionable ball joint assembly may be coupled to the duct assembly to fluidly and sealably couple the duct assembly to at least one of the outlet and the exhaust receiver. A method of installing an exhaust gas system includes presenting a first portion of the exhaust gas system to one of an exhaust gas outlet and an exhaust gas receiver, and positioning a second portion of the exhaust gas system relative to the other of the exhaust gas outlet and the exhaust gas receiver. The first portion and the second portion may be adjusted to achieve an alignment, and the first portion and the second portion may be sealably coupled to fixedly retain the alignment.

1 . An exhaust gas system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 an extensible duct assembly configured to fluidly and sealably communicate an exhaust gas from an outlet of the internal combustion engine to an exhaust gas receiver; and   at least one angularly positionable ball joint assembly coupled to the duct assembly and configured to fluidly and sealably couple the duct assembly to at least one of the outlet and the exhaust gas receiver.   
   
   
       2 . The exhaust gas system of  claim 1 , wherein the extensible duct assembly includes a bellows assembly positioned between the outlet and the exhaust gas receiver and configured to sealably permit a longitudinal adjustment of the duct assembly. 
   
   
       3 . The exhaust gas system of  claim 2 , wherein the extensible duct assembly includes a transition conduit configured to be telescopically received by the bellows assembly. 
   
   
       4 . The exhaust gas system of  claim 3 , wherein the bellows assembly and the transition conduit are configured to be circumferentially compressed to sealably couple the bellows assembly and the transition conduit. 
   
   
       5 . The exhaust gas system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one angularly positionable ball joint assembly is configured to be circumferentially compressed to fluidly and sealably couple the ball joint assembly. 
   
   
       6 . The exhaust gas system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one angularly positionable ball joint assembly includes a first angularly deflectable ball joint assembly configured to sealably and fluidly couple to the outlet and a second angularly deflectable ball joint assembly configured to sealably and fluidly couple to the exhaust gas receiver, and wherein the extensible duct assembly is configured to sealably and fluidly couple to the first angularly deflectable ball joint assembly and to the second angularly deflectable ball joint assembly to fluidly and sealably communicate the exhaust gas from the outlet to the exhaust gas receiver. 
   
   
       7 . An exhaust gas system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 a first end configured to couple with an exhaust outlet of the internal combustion engine;   an opposing second end configured to couple to an exhaust receiver, wherein at least one of the first end and the second end is rotatably adjustable; and   an extensible section having an adjustable length and configured to fluidly couple the first end to the second end.   
   
   
       8 . The exhaust gas system of  claim 7 , wherein the extensible section includes a bellows assembly configured to permit a sealable longitudinal adjustment of the length. 
   
   
       9 . The exhaust gas system of  claim 8 , further including a transition conduit configured to be telescopically received by the bellows assembly. 
   
   
       10 . The exhaust gas system of  claim 9 , wherein the bellows assembly and the transition conduit are configured to be circumferentially compressed by a clamp to sealably couple the bellows assembly and the transition conduit. 
   
   
       11 . The exhaust gas system of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first end and the second end includes a ball joint assembly configured to permit a rotatable deflection of the at least one of the first end and the second end, wherein the ball joint assembly is circumferentially compressible by a clamp to fluidly seal the ball joint assembly. 
   
   
       12 . A method of installing an exhaust gas system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 presenting a first portion of the exhaust gas system to a selected one of an exhaust gas outlet of the internal combustion engine and an exhaust gas receiver;   positioning a second portion of the exhaust gas system relative to the other of the exhaust gas outlet of the internal combustion engine and the exhaust gas receiver;   adjusting the first portion and the second portion of the exhaust gas system by angularly deflecting at least one ball joint assembly to achieve a predetermined alignment of the first portion and the second portion; and   sealably coupling the first portion and the second portion to fixedly retain the predetermined alignment.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein presenting the first portion includes loosely coupling a ball joint assembly to the selected one of the exhaust gas outlet and the exhaust gas receiver. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein positioning the second portion includes loosely coupling a ball joint assembly to the other of the exhaust gas outlet and the exhaust gas receiver. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein adjusting the first portion and the second portion includes adjusting an extensible section that is positioned between the exhaust gas outlet and the exhaust gas receiver. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the extensible section includes a bellows assembly, and wherein adjusting the extensible section includes applying a tool to undulations of the bellows assembly to provide a desired spacing between the undulations. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the extensible section includes a transition conduit configured to slidably receive the bellows assembly, and wherein adjusting the extensible section includes adjusting a length of the transition conduit and the bellows assembly. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein sealably coupling the first portion and the second portion includes applying a circumferential compression to a first ball joint assembly coupled to the selected one of the exhaust gas outlet and the exhaust gas receiver, and applying a circumferential compression to a second ball joint assembly coupled to the other of the exhaust gas outlet and the exhaust gas receiver. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein sealably coupling the first portion and the second portion includes applying a circumferential compression to an extensible section that is positioned between the exhaust gas outlet and the exhaust gas receiver. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein applying the circumferential compression to the extensible section includes applying the circumferential compression to a bellows assembly and a transition conduit.