Variable Sound Muffler System

• US 20080314679A1
• Filed: 08/04/2006
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Charles S.P. Halpin, Grant M. Rowe
• Original Assignee: Charles S.P. Halpin, Grant M. Rowe
• Inventors: Rowe, Grant M., Halpin, Charles S.P.
• Application Number:
  US11/997,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20080314679A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 181/241
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 1/085 using a central core throttling gas passage
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 1/16 by using movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 1/24 by using sound-absorbing materials F01N1/04, F01N1/06, F01N1/10, F01N1/14, F01N1/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2470/02 Tubes being perforated

Abstract

A muffler system includes a housing having two pipes perforated with holes or other shapes that slide or rotate on top of each other. The sliding or rotating pipes allow for varying degrees of alignment of the holes and thereby allow more or less sound dampening. The control of the sound dampening is actuated by an operator via an electric switch that activates at least one of the pipes inside the muffler system to rotate or slide on each other thereby aligning the holes.

Claims

1. A muffler system comprising:

a housing;

a first pipe located within the housing and a second pipe rotatably mounted on the first pipe, the first and second pipes each comprising at least one complementary aperture therethrough; and

an actuating means connected to at least one of the first pipe and the second pipe for r rotating one of the first or second pipe relative to the other.

3. The muffler system according to claim 1 wherein the first and second pipes each comprise a plurality of complementary apertures therethrough.

4. The muffler system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of complementary apertures comprises a plurality of first apertures on the first pipe and a plurality of corresponding second apertures on the second pipe, and the movement of the pipes relative to each other allows for the first and second apertures to be fully or partially aligned or for the first apertures to be substantially closed by the second pipe.

5. The muffler system according to claim 4 wherein the actuating means is a motor.

6. The muffler system according to claim 5 wherein the motor is connected to and controlled by a switch.

7. The muffler system according to claim 6 wherein the switch is located adjacent the user of the device to which the muffler system is connected.

16. The muffler system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one butterfly valve located within the first pipe and coupled to the second pipe whereby movement of the second pipe initiates opening and closing of the butterfly valve.

2. A muffler system comprising:

a housing;

a first pipe located within the housing and a second pipe mounted thereon and adapted to move longitudinally relative to the first pipe, the first and second pipes each having at least one complementary aperture located therethrough; and

an actuating means connected to the second pipe for moving the second pipe in a longitudinal direction relative to the first pipe.

25. The muffler system according to claim 2 wherein the first and second pipes each comprise a plurality of complementary apertures therethrough.

26. The muffler system according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of complementary apertures comprises a plurality of first apertures on the first pipe and a plurality of corresponding second apertures on the second pipe, and the movement of the pipes relative to each other allows for the first and second apertures to be fully or partially aligned or for the first apertures to be substantially closed by the second pipe.

27. The muffler system according to claim 26 wherein the actuating means is a motor.

28. The muffler system according to claim 27 wherein the motor is connected to and controlled by a switch.

29. The muffler system according to claim 28 wherein the switch is located adjacent the user of the device to which the muffler system is connected.

30. The muffler system according to claim 2 further comprising at least one butterfly valve located within the first pipe and coupled to the second pipe whereby movement of the second pipe initiates opening and closing of the butterfly valve.

8. A muffler system comprising:

a housing;

an exhaust conduit located within the housing and operable for the passage of exhaust gas therethrough, the conduit comprising a plurality of first apertures;

a conduit cover connected to the exhaust conduit and having a plurality of second apertures, the cover being operable to cover the plurality of first apertures located on the exhaust conduit and adapted to move relative to the conduit to partially or completely align the plurality of second apertures with the plurality of first apertures; and

an actuating means connected to the conduit cover and operable to move the cover relative to the conduit.

9. The muffler system according to claim 8 wherein the actuating means is a motor.

10. The muffler system according to claim 9 wherein the motor is connected to and controlled by a switch.

11. The muffler system according to claim 10 wherein the switch is located adjacent the user of the device to which the muffler system is connected.

31. The muffler system according to claim 8 further comprising at least one butterfly valve located within the first pipe and coupled to the second pipe whereby movement of the second pipe initiates opening and closing of the butterfly valve.

12. An internal muffler system for use within the housing of a muffler system connected to an engine comprising:

a first pipe operable to be located within the housing and a second pipe rotatably mounted on the first pipe, the first and second pipes comprising a plurality of complementary apertures therethrough; and

an actuating means connected to at least one of the first pipe and the second pipe for rotating one of the first or second pipes relative to the other.

32. The muffler system according to claim 12 further comprising at least one butterfly valve located within the first pipe and coupled to the second pipe whereby movement of the second pipe initiates opening and closing of the butterfly valve.

13. An internal muffler system for use within the housing of a muffler system connected to an engine comprising:

an exhaust conduit operable to be located within the housing and operable for the passage of exhaust gas therethrough, the conduit comprising a plurality of first apertures;

a conduit cover connected to the exhaust conduit and having a plurality of second apertures, the cover being operable to cover the plurality of first apertures located on the exhaust conduit and adapted to move relative to the conduit to align the plurality of second apertures with the plurality of first apertures; and

an actuating means connected to the conduit cover and operable to move the cover relative to the conduit.

14. The muffler system according to claim 13, wherein the second pipe is rotatably mounted on the first pipe and the actuating means is operable to rotate the first and second pipe relative to each other.

15. The muffler system according to claim 13, wherein the second pipe is mounted on the first pipe and adapted to move longitudinally relative to the first pipe and the actuating means is operable to move the second pipe in a longitudinal direction relative to the first pipe.

33. The muffler system according to claim 13 further comprising at least one butterfly valve located within the first pipe and coupled to the second pipe whereby movement of the second pipe initiates opening and closing of the butterfly valve.

17. An insert for use with a straight-through muffler system, comprising:

a first pipe and a second pipe mounted on the first pipe, the first and second pipes each comprising at least one aperture therethrough, the pipes being sized to be received within the straight-through muffler;

at least one connection means attached to at least one of the first or second pipes and operable to releasably attach the insert to the straight-through muffler; and

at least one positioning means located on the peripheral end of the first pipe and operable to indicate to a user the position of the second pipe relative to the first pipe.

18. The insert according to claim 17, wherein the second pipe is rotatably mounted on the first pipe.

19. The insert according to claim 17, wherein the second pipe is operable to move longitudinally relative to the first pipe.

20. The insert according to claim 17, wherein the at least one connection means comprises an attachment arm connected to the outer surface of the second pipe and extending parallel to the second pipe and having at last one releasable attachment means extending from the arm towards the second pipe and operable to abut the outside surface of the muffler when the insert is located therein and to secure the insert thereto.

21. The insert according to claim 20, wherein the at least attachment means is a screw.

22. The insert according to claim 17, wherein the at least one aperture on the first pipe is complementary to the at least one aperture on the second pipe.

23. The insert according to claim 17, wherein the first pipe comprises a plurality of first apertures and the second pipe comprises a plurality of second apertures and the first and second apertures are of equal size and configuration and the second pipe is operable to move relative to the first pipe to allow for the positioning of the second apertures relative to the first apertures to be at least one of complete alignment, partial alignment and no alignment.

24. The insert according to claim 17, wherein each of the first and second pipes include end plates operable to releasably connect to each other for securing the first and second pipes in a series of predetermined positions.