Precipitation cover for an exhaust system

Abstract

An apparatus for an exhaust system, the apparatus comprising a precipitation cover adapted to be positioned at least partially downstream of a tailpipe, relative to a direction of an exhaust gas flow. The precipitation cover comprises a first cover end and a second cover end. The first cover end is configured as a precipitation outlet, and the second cover end is configured as an exhaust gas outlet and a precipitation inlet. When the first cover end and the tailpipe are coupled together, the first cover end and the tailpipe cooperate so as to form a precipitation exit opening.

1 . An apparatus for an exhaust system, the apparatus comprising precipitation cover adapted to be positioned at least partially downstream of a tailpipe relative to a direction of an exhaust gas flow, the precipitation cover comprising a first cover end and a second cover end, the first cover end configured as a precipitation outlet, the second cover end configured as an exhaust gas outlet and a precipitation inlet, wherein when the first cover end and the tailpipe are coupled together, the first cover end and the tailpipe cooperate so as to form a precipitation exit opening. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the precipitation cover comprises a base cover and an extended cover, the base cover being positioned substantially downstream of an end of the tailpipe relative to a direction of the exhaust gas flow, the extended cover being positioned substantially upstream of the end of the tailpipe relative to a direction of the exhaust gas flow. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the precipitation cover and the tailpipe are both tubularly shaped, and an inner diameter of the precipitation cover is larger than an outer diameter of the tailpipe. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the precipitation cover further comprises a hood extending axially from the second cover end. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first cover end and an end of the tailpipe cooperate so as to form the precipitation exit opening. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first cover end is positioned radially outside of an end of the tailpipe. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tailpipe further comprises a first tailpipe section and a second tailpipe section, the first tailpipe section defining an imaginary tailpipe axis, the second tailpipe section being substantially elbow shaped and is positioned downstream of the first tailpipe section relative to the direction of the exhaust gas flow, the precipitation cover defining an imaginary cover axis, and the imaginary tailpipe axis and the imaginary cover axis defining an angle therebetween in a range of 90° and 150°. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the angle therebetween is in a range of between 110° and 130°. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the precipitation cover overlaps the tailpipe so as to form an overlapped region. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the precipitation cover and the tailpipe are spaced apart, along the overlapped region, so as to form an annular gap therebetween. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a spacer mounted to the tailpipe, the precipitation cover being mounted to the spacer. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the spacer is “horseshoe shaped.” 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the spacer is a bead of weld. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the tailpipe further comprises a first tailpipe section and a second tailpipe section, the first tailpipe section defines an imaginary tailpipe axis, the second tailpipe section is substantially elbow shaped and is positioned downstream of the first tailpipe section relative to the direction of the exhaust gas flow, the precipitation cover defines an imaginary cover axis, the imaginary tailpipe axis and the imaginary cover axis define a plane, and the spacer is symmetric relative to the plane. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 a first end surface of the spacer connects an inner surface of the spacer and an outer surface of the spacer;   a second end surface connects the inner surface of the spacer and the outer surface of the spacer; and   the first end surface of the spacer and the second end surface of the spacer and the inner surface of the precipitation cover and the outer surface of the tailpipe cooperate so as to define the precipitation exit opening.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the spacer is mounted to an outer surface of the tailpipe, and the precipitation cover is mounted to an outer surface of the spacer. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the spacer partially extends around the outer surface of the tailpipe. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a supplemental spacer, the supplemental spacer being mounted to the tailpipe, the precipitation cover being mounted to the supplemental spacer, and the supplemental spacer being positioned downstream of the spacer relative to the direction of the exhaust gas flow. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein:
 a first end surface of the supplemental spacer connects an inner surface of the supplemental spacer and an outer surface of the supplemental spacer;   a second end surface of the supplemental spacer connects the inner surface of the supplemental spacer and the outer surface of the supplemental spacer; and   the first end surface of the supplemental spacer and the second end surface of the supplemental spacer and the inner surface of the precipitation cover and the outer surface of the tailpipe cooperate so as to define a supplemental precipitation exit opening.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for an exhaust system, the apparatus comprising precipitation cover and a spacer, the precipitation cover adapted to be positioned at least partially downstream of a tailpipe relative to a direction of an exhaust gas flow, the precipitation cover comprising a first cover end and a second cover end, the first cover end configured and a precipitation outlet, the second cover end configured as an exhaust gas outlet and a precipitation inlet, the spacer being mounted to the tailpipe, the precipitation cover being mounted to the spacer, wherein:
 when the first cover end and the tailpipe are coupled together, the first cover end and the tailpipe cooperate so as to form a precipitation exit opening;   the precipitation cover overlaps the tailpipe so as to form an overlapped region;   the precipitation cover and the tailpipe are spaced apart, along the overlapped region, so as to form an annular gap therebetween; and   the precipitation cover further comprises a hood extending axially from the second cover end.