ENGINE MUFFLER

• US 20140284138A1
• Filed: 03/20/2014
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Murakami, Hiroko, Mizuguchi, Hiroshi, Kono, Shohei, Kondo, Yoshinobu
• Granted Patent: US 8,950,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 181/272
• 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 13/1838 characterised by the type of connection between parts of exhaust or silencing apparatus, e.g. between housing and tubes, between tubes and baffles
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/1888 the housing of the assembly consisting of two or more parts, e.g. two half-shells
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2230/04 Catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2340/00 Dimensional characteristics of the exhaust system, e.g. length, diameter or volume of the apparatus; Spatial arrangements of exhaust apparatuses
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2450/00 Methods or apparatus for fitting, inserting or repairing different elements
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2450/22 by welding or brazing
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2470/02 Tubes being perforated
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2470/18 the axis of inlet or outlet tubes being other than the longitudinal axis of apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2490/06 the gases flowing longitudinally from inlet to outlet in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49398 Muffler, manifold or exhaust pipe making

Abstract

An engine muffler includes a cylindrical muffler body whose interior is partitioned by at least one partition plate in a longitudinal direction of the muffler body into a plurality of expansion chambers. The muffler body is constructed of a plurality of divided muffler body members divided from each other in the longitudinal direction at the position of the partition plate, and a gap is provided between opposed end portions of the divided muffler body members. The partition plate has an annular section held in fitting engagement with the inner peripheral surface of at least one of the opposed end portions, and it is positioned in such a manner as to close the gap. The opposed end portions are welded, from a radially outward direction, to the outer peripheral surface of the annular section along their respective entire perimeters.

Claims

1. An engine muffler comprising:

a cylindrical muffler body; and

at least one partition plate partitioning an interior of the muffler body in a longitudinal direction of the muffler body into a plurality of expansion chambers, the muffler body being constructed of a plurality of divided muffler body members divided from each other in the longitudinal direction at a position of the partition plate, a gap being provided between opposed end portions of the plurality of divided muffler body members,

the partition plate having an annular section held in fitting engagement with an inner peripheral surface of at least one of the opposed end portions of the plurality of divided muffler body members, the partition plate being disposed in such a manner as to close the gap,

the opposed end portions of the plurality of divided muffler body members being welded, from a radially outward direction of the muffler body, to an outer peripheral surface of the annular section along respective entire perimeters thereof.

2. The engine muffler according to claim 1, wherein the annular section has a flat flange portion formed integrally with and along an entire perimeter of an outer peripheral portion of the annular section to extend radially outward from a distal end of the outer peripheral portion of the annular section through the gap, and a cylindrical extension portion extending in an axial direction of the annular section from an radially outward end of the flange portion,

the extension portion is located opposite from the outer peripheral portion across the flange portion and held in fitting engagement with an outer peripheral surface of other of the opposed end portions, and

the opposed end portions of the divided muffler body members are welded, from the radially outward direction, to the outer peripheral surface of the annular section along the respective entire perimeters by the one of the opposed end portions being welded, from the radially outward direction, to the flange portion along the entire perimeter thereof and by the other of the opposed end portions being welded, from the radially outward direction, to the extension portion along the entire perimeter thereof.

3. The engine muffler according to claim 1, wherein the annular section has a flat flange portion formed integrally with and along an entire perimeter of an outer peripheral portion of the annular section to extend radially outward from a distal end of the outer peripheral portion of the annular section through the gap, and

the opposed end portions of the divided muffler body members are welded to the outer peripheral surface of the annular section along the respective entire perimeters by being welded, from the radially outward direction, to the flange portion along the respective entire perimeters thereof.

4. The engine muffler according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of expansion chambers comprise first, second and third expansion chambers sequentially arranged in the longitudinal direction, and the at least one partition plate comprises first and second partition plates, the first partition plate partitioning between the first expansion chamber and the second expansion chamber, the second partition plate partitioning between the second expansion chamber and the third expansion chamber, and

wherein the engine muffler further comprises a communication pipe extending between the first partition plate and the second partition plate, the communication pipe having a catalyst layer provided therein and having a longitudinally-halfway portion communicating with the second expansion chamber,

the communication pipe having one end portion communicating with the first expansion chamber and joined to the first partition plate along an entire perimeter thereof,

the communication pipe having another end portion slidably fitted in a through-hole formed in the second partition plate,

the other end portion of the communication pipe and the through-hole being covered with a cap from a side of the third expanded chamber, the cap being joined to the second partition plate in a sealed condition.