Engine, vehicle provided with such an engine, and a connecting element between a first and a second element of an engine

Abstract

An engine includes a first element, a second element, an exhaust duct which extends from the first element into the second element, a connecting element which connects the first element to the second element and delimitates the exhaust duct at the transition between the first and second elements, the connecting element being flexible to allow relative movements between the first and the second elements. The connecting element includes a ring whose fastening to the first element is offset radially relative to its fastening to the second element.

1 . An engine comprising a first element, a second element, an exhaust duct which extends from the first element into the second element, a connecting element which connects the first element to the second element and delimits the exhaust duct at a transition between the first and second elements, the connecting element being flexible to allow relative movement between the first and the second elements, wherein the connecting element includes a ring whose fastening to the first element is offset radially relative to its fastening to the second element.  
   
   
       2 . An engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting element has an inner periphery at which it is fastened to the first element, and an outer periphery at which it is fastened to the second element.  
   
   
       3 . An engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting element includes a flexible disc with a thickness which is substantially smaller than its extent in its propagation plane.  
   
   
       4 . An engine according to  claim 3 , wherein the disc propagates transversely to the longitudinal direction of the exhaust duct at the transition between the first and second elements.  
   
   
       5 . An engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the second element has, in a region in which it is fastened to the connecting element, an inside circumference which is substantially greater than a circumference of the exhaust duct at a corresponding cross-section.  
   
   
       6 . An engine according to  claim 1 , wherein a thermally insulating cushion is arranged between the first element and the second element to protect and thermally insulate the connecting element from gas flowing through the exhaust duct.  
   
   
       7 . An engine according to  claim 6 , wherein the thermally insulating cushion is overlapped by at least one guide plate fastened to at least one of the first element and the second element and is protected by the at least one guide plate from the exhaust gases in the exhaust duct.  
   
   
       8 . An engine according to  claim 1 , wherein a guide plate for guiding exhaust gases internally past and at a distance from the connecting element is fastened to the first element.  
   
   
       9 . An engine according to  claim 8 , wherein a guide plate for guiding exhaust gases internally past and at a distance from the connecting element is fastened to the second element.  
   
   
       10 . An engine according to  claim 9 , wherein the guide plate fastened to the first element, and the guide plate fastened to the second element, overlap one another in the exhaust flow direction.  
   
   
       11 . An engine according to  claim 1 , wherein a guide plate for guiding exhaust gases internally past and at a distance from the connecting element is fastened to the second element.  
   
   
       12 . An engine according to  claim 1 , wherein a gas turbine is arranged in or forms part of the first element, and that a heat exchanger is arranged in or forms part of the second element, and that exhaust gases from the gas turbine are led away from it via the exhaust duct.  
   
   
       13 . An engine according to  claim 12 , wherein the heat exchanger is a stationary heat exchanger in which heat exchange takes place between exhaust gases and combustion air which is supplied to the gas turbine.  
   
   
       14 . A vehicle provided with an engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the engine is situated with the second element vertically above or below the first element and under a floor of the vehicle.  
   
   
       15 . A connecting element for absorbing thermal movements between a first element and a second element of an engine, whereby an exhaust duct extends from the first element into the second element, the connecting element including a flexible disc with a thickness which is significantly smaller than an extent of the disc in a propagation plane of the disc.  
   
   
       16 . A connecting element according to  claim 15 , wherein the connecting element is provided with means for fastening to the first element and the second element respectively and that the means for fastening to the second element is arranged radially externally relative to the means for fastening to the first element.  
   
   
       17 . A connecting element according to  claim 15 , wherein the connecting element is provided with holes to accommodate bolts for fastening the connecting element to the first element and the second element.  
   
   
       18 . A connecting element according to  claim 17 , wherein the holes for fastening the connecting element to the second element are disposed radially externally relative to the holes for fastening to the first element.