Dual Mode Exhaust Muffler

• US 20090229913A1
• Filed: 02/09/2009
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Waldron'S Antique Exhaust
• Original Assignee: Waldron'S Antique Exhaust
• Inventors: Tonietto, Joseph M., Hall, James R., Hand, Thomas E.
• Application Number:
  US12/368,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20090229913A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 181/254
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 1/083 using transversal baffles defining a tortuous path for the gases or successively throttling gas flow
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 1/084 the gases flowing through the silencer two or more times longitudinally in opposite directions, e.g. using parallel or concentric tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 1/089 using two or more expansion chambers in series F01N1/083, F01N1/084, F01N1/086 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 1/166 for changing gas flow path through the silencer or for adjusting the dimensions of a chamber or a pipe F01N1/165 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2470/02 Tubes being perforated
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2470/04 characterised by shape, disposition or dimensions of apertures
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2470/14 Plurality of outlet tubes, e.g. in parallel or with different length
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2470/16 Plurality of inlet tubes, e.g. discharging into different chambers

Abstract

A dual mode exhaust muffler for the engine of a vehicle that may be shifted between a quiet mode and a loud mode. A single muffler, a dual transverse muffler with two independent exhaust flow streams, and a dual transverse muffler with a combined exhaust flow stream embodiments are disclosed. An inlet tube may be a solid wall tube to minimize sound attenuation in the loud mode. The dual transverse muffler embodiments utilize an exhaust flow path that passes out through a reticulated wall of one tube and passes into a reticulated wall of a second tube. A vacuum switch having a two position on/off slide actuator may be used with any of the muffler assemblies.

Claims

1. A muffler assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a shell;

an inlet tube disposed within the shell that extends from the an inlet end to a first chamber and through which exhaust gases flow, the inlet tube is a solid wall tube;

a plurality of sound attenuating tubes are disposed within the shell that have a plurality of sound attenuating orifices spaced along the length of the sound attenuating tubes, the sound attenuating tubes extend from the first chamber through a plurality of baffles disposed inside of the shell;

a valve closure element directs the exhaust gases flowing through the inlet tube that does not have sound attenuating orifices through the sound attenuating tubes in a first mode of operation, the valve closure element directs exhaust gases from the first chamber into a second chamber in a second mode of operation; and

an outlet tube discharges the exhaust gases from the muffler assembly, the outlet tube receives exhaust gases that are routed through the sound attenuating tubes in the first mode of operation, the outlet tube has an opening through which exhaust gases are received from the second chamber in the second mode of operation that have not been circulated through the sound attenuating tubes.

2. The muffler assembly of claim 1 further comprising a vacuum diaphragm actuator that is operatively connected to the valve closure element by a rod, the rod having a clevis on one end that is pivotally connected to an operator of the actuator by a pin, wherein the rod has a collar that secures the valve closure element to the rod at a selected position, and wherein an adjustable actuator connector has a spring that biases the valve closure element into the first mode of operation.

3. The muffler assembly of claim 2 further comprising a vacuum control switch having an inlet port that is connected to a source of vacuum by a inlet tube, the vacuum control switch having an outlet port that is connected to the vacuum diaphragm actuator by an outlet tube, the vacuum control switch having a manually engaged actuator that is movable from a normal position wherein no vacuum is ported to the outlet port and the valve closure element is in the first mode of operation to an activation position wherein vacuum is ported to the outlet port and the valve closure element is shifted to the second mode of operation.

4. The muffler assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve closure element is a flat disk that is moved between a first position in which the flat disk blocks the flow of exhaust gases from the first chamber to the second chamber while permitting the flow of exhaust gases through the sound attenuating tubes and a second position in which the flat disk permits the flow of exhaust gases from the first chamber to the second chamber while blocking the flow of exhaust gases through the sound attenuating tubes.

5. The muffler assembly of claim 1 wherein the sound attenuating tubes are disposed in an acoustic absorption medium.

6. The muffler assembly of claim 5 wherein the sound attenuating tubes are wrapped in a stainless steel wool sock that inhibits the passage of particulates from the acoustic absorption medium into the sound attenuating tubes.

7. A dual transverse muffler assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a shell;

a first inlet tube through which exhaust gases flow into the shell that is partially disposed within the shell that extends from the a first end wall to an interior chamber;

a second inlet tube through which exhaust gases flow into the shell that is partially disposed within the shell that extends from a second end wall to the interior chamber;

at least one sound attenuating tube disposed within the shell that has a first plurality of sound attenuating orifices spaced along the length of the sound attenuating tube, the sound attenuating tubes extend from the interior chamber through a plurality of baffles disposed inside of the shell;

a valve closure element directs the exhaust gases through the sound attenuating tube in a first mode of operation, the valve closure element directs exhaust gases from the first chamber into a second chamber in a second mode of operation; and

an outlet tube extends through the shell from a first outlet tube opening through the first end wall to a second tailpipe opening through the second end wall, the outlet tube receives exhaust gases through a portion of the outlet tube that has a second plurality of sound attenuating orifices that were routed through the sound attenuating tube in the first mode of operation, the outlet tube has a direct flow opening through which exhaust gases are received from the second chamber in the second mode of operation that have not been circulated through the sound attenuating tube, and wherein exhaust gases are discharged from the shell in both the first and second modes of operation through the first and second tailpipe openings.

8. The dual transverse muffler assembly of claim 7 further comprising a vacuum diaphragm actuator that is operatively connected to the valve closure element by a rod, the rod having a clevis on one end that is pivotally connected to an operator of the actuator by a pin, wherein the rod has a collar that secures the valve closure element to the rod at a selected position, and wherein an adjustable actuator connector has a spring that biases the valve closure element into the first mode of operation.

9. The dual transverse muffler assembly of claim 8 further comprising a vacuum control switch having an inlet port that is connected to a source of vacuum by a inlet tube, the vacuum control switch having an outlet port that is connected to the vacuum diaphragm actuator by an outlet tube, the vacuum control switch having a manually engaged actuator that is movable from a normal position wherein no vacuum is ported to the outlet port and the valve closure element is in the first mode of operation to an activation position wherein vacuum is ported to the outlet port and the valve closure element is shifted to the second mode of operation.

10. The dual transverse muffler assembly of claim 7 wherein the valve closure element is a flat disk that is moved between a first position in which the flat disk blocks the flow of exhaust gases from the first chamber to the second chamber while permitting the flow of exhaust gases through the sound attenuating tubes and a second position in which the flat disk permits the flow of exhaust gases from the first chamber to the second chamber while blocking the flow of exhaust gases through the sound attenuating tubes.

11. The dual transverse muffler assembly of claim 7 wherein the sound attenuating tubes are disposed in an acoustic absorption medium.

12. The dual transverse muffler assembly of claim 11 wherein the sound attenuating tubes are wrapped in a stainless steel wool sock that inhibits the passage of particulates from the acoustic absorption medium into the sound attenuating tubes.

13. A dual transverse muffler assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a shell;

a central baffle provided within the shell that divides the shell into two parts;

first and second sets of muffler components provided within the shell on opposite sides of the central baffle with one set of muffler components being provided in each of the two parts, wherein each set of muffler components comprise;

a first baffle provided within the shell proximate the end wall;

a second baffle provided within the shell at a spaced location relative to the first baffle on the opposite side of the first baffle from the end wall;

a third baffle provided within the shell between the second baffle and the central baffle;

an inlet tube through which exhaust gases flow into the shell that is partially disposed within the shell and that extends from the an end wall through the first and second baffles to an interior chamber;

a sound attenuating tube is disposed within the shell that has a first plurality of sound attenuating orifices spaced along the length of the sound attenuating tube, the first sound attenuating tube extends from an inlet that opens into the interior chamber through the first and second baffles to a first end chamber defined between the end wall and the first baffle;

a valve opening ring disposed in the third baffle;

a valve closure element disposed in the shell between the inlet in the sound attenuating tube and the valve opening ring that directs the exhaust gases through the sound attenuating tube in a quiet mode of operation, the valve closure element directs exhaust gases from the first interior chamber through the valve opening ring and into a direct exhaust chamber defined between the third baffle and the central baffle;

an outlet tube extends through the shell from a outlet tube opening through the first end wall to the central baffle, the outlet tube has a plurality of sound attenuating orifices that receive exhaust gases that pass through the first plurality of sound attenuating orifices of the sound attenuating tube in the quiet mode of operation, the outlet tube has at least one direct flow opening through which exhaust gases are received from the direct exhaust chamber in the loud mode of operation that have not been circulated through the sound attenuating tube, and wherein exhaust gases are discharged from the shell in both the first and second modes of operation through the tailpipe opening.

14. The dual transverse muffler assembly of claim 13 wherein the muffler components further comprise a vacuum diaphragm actuator, a rod that is operatively connected to the vacuum diaphragm actuator, a clevis is provided on one end of the rod that is pivotally connected to the actuator by a pin, a collar secures the valve closure element to the rod at a selected position, and wherein a return spring biases the valve closure element into engagement with the valve opening ring in the first mode of operation.

15. The dual transverse muffler assembly of claim 14 further comprising a vacuum control switch having an inlet port that is connected to a source of vacuum by a inlet tube, an outlet port is connected to the vacuum diaphragm actuator by an outlet tube, the vacuum control switch having a manually engaged actuator that is movable from a normal position wherein no vacuum is ported to the outlet port in the quiet mode of operation to an activation position wherein vacuum is ported to the outlet port and the vacuum diaphragm actuator is shifted to the loud mode of operation.

16. The dual transverse muffler assembly of claim 13 wherein the valve closure element is a flat disk that is moved between a first position in which the flat disk blocks the flow of exhaust gases from the interior chamber to the direct flow chamber while directing the flow of exhaust gases through the sound attenuating tube and a second position in which the flat disk permits the flow of exhaust gases from the interior chamber to the direct flow chamber while blocking the flow of exhaust gases through the sound attenuating tube.

17. The dual transverse muffler assembly of claim 13 wherein the sound attenuating tube is disposed in an acoustic absorption medium.

18. The dual transverse muffler assembly of claim 17 wherein the sound attenuating tubes are wrapped in a stainless steel wool sock that inhibits the passage of particulates from the acoustic absorption medium into the sound attenuating tubes.