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Muffler for internal combustion engine

  • US 5,971,098 A
  • Filed: 12/30/1997
  • Issued: 10/26/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A muffler for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

  • a) a housing having a plurality of separate chambers, each of said chambers being separated from said other chambers by a partitioning wall;

    b) an inlet pipe communicating with a first of the chambers for introducing exhaust gas to the first chamber;

    c) an outlet pipe communicating with a second of the chambers for exhausting gas from the muffler;

    d) a port in the partitioning wall separating the first and second chambers to provide an exhaust gas path extending from the first to the second chamber to permit exhaust gas to flow from the inlet pipe to the outlet pipe;

    e) at least one second port in the partitioning wall separating the first and a third chamber to permit exhaust gas to flow between the first and third chambers;

    f) a by-pass pipe providing an exhaust gas path extending from the third to the second chamber to permit exhaust gas to flow from the third chamber to the outlet pipe;

    g) a flap valve, provided at an open downstream end of the by-pass pipe and supported on a shaft displaced laterally of and proximate the open end, the flap valve being movable between a position at which the flap valve closes the downstream open end and a position at which the flap valve allows exhaust gas to flow through the by-pass pipe; and

    h) a resilient member positioned and supported proximate the flap valve to resiliently bias the valve to the position at which the open end is closed while permitting exhaust gas in the by-pass pipe to move the valve against the resilient bias to allow exhaust gas to flow through the by-pass pipe when the exhaust gas in the by-pass pipe reaches a desired pressure;

    wherein a buffer material is interposed between the flap valve and a stay supporting the shaft.

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