| 摘要 |
A coupling assembly (56) for coupling an exhaust system to a pipe through which hot gases are discharged. The coupling assembly (56) couples the exhaust pipe (54) of a vehicle (16) to a flexible exhaust suction hose (42) of a vehicle emission capture system (10) of the type that discharges vehicle exhaust gases from within a structure (12) to a location outside of the structure. The coupling assembly includes two portions, one portion being a rubber-like boot (62) which is secured to the free end (42.3) of a flexible suction hose (42), the rubber-like boot carrying near its free end (62.2) a garter spring (64), and the other portion of the coupling assembly being a ball adaptor (60) which may be secured to the tail pipe (54) of a vehicle. The ball adaptor has a connection portion (60.1) and a spherical portion (60.3) through which hot exhaust gases may pass. The major external diameter of the spherical portion of the ball adaptor is slightly greater than the internal diameter of the garter spring (64). By following this design it is possible to slip the garter spring (64) loosely over the ball adaptor (60) to connect the flexible exhaust hose (42) to the tail pipe (54) of the vehicle, the garter spring (64) permitting a disconnect from the tail pipe as the vehicle exits a structure. When the two portions are assembled together, the boot portion is loosely supported by the ball adapter permitting the boot to freely rotate relative to the ball adaptor as the vehicle is moved, and to permit cooling ambient air to enter the flexible hose.
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