Straight through muffler with conically-ended output passage

• US 6,158,546 A
• Filed: 06/25/1999
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Incorporated (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Inc (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hanson, Roger D., Sterrett, Dale E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nappi, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): San Martin, Edgardo
• Application Number:
  US09/339,996
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 181/255, 181/247, 181/248, 181/249, 181/252, 181/256, 181/269, 181/272, 181/212, 60/299, 1/302, 422/180
• US Class Current: 181/255
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 1/02 by using resonance
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 1/023 Helmholtz resonators
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 1/04 having sound-absorbing materials in resonance chambers
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2470/30 Tubes with restrictions, i.e. venturi or the like, e.g. for sucking air or measuring mass flow
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2490/155 being disposed one after the other in flow direction

Abstract

The present invention provides a muffler which has an outlet tube with a funnel shaped element having a large diameter end positioned in an expansion chamber and conically tapering to a junction with a cylindrical neck element extending into an inlet end of an outlet tube. An inlet tube is supported by an outer shell which also supports the outlet tube. The inlet tube is attached to the outer shell by a first partition and a first end cap, forming a tuning chamber. The outlet tube is attached to the outer shell by the funnel shaped element and a second end cap, forming an outlet chamber. A space defined by the distance between the first partition and the second partition and the geometry of the outer shell forms an expansion chamber. The three different chambers serve to either tune or quiet the exhaust coming from an internal combustion engine, and the funnel shaped element serves to smooth the flow of exhaust from the inlet tube to the outlet tube.

Claims

1. A muffler comprising:

an outer shell having a first end cap and a second end cap;

an inlet tube passing through and supported by said first end cap; and

an outlet tube having a funnel shaped element positioned within said outer shell and facing an end of said inlet tube, said outlet tube passing through and supported by said second end cap, said funnel shaped element having an open large diameter end having a cross sectional area larger than a cross sectional area of said inlet tube.

2. A muffler as claimed in claim 1, wherein a tuning chamber surrounds at least a portion of said inlet tube, said tuning chamber being in fluid communication with said inlet tube, said tuning chamber tuned to attenuate a first frequency range when an exhaust stream travels through said inlet tube.

3. A muffler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inlet tube terminates in an expansion chamber, said inlet tube being in fluid communication with said expansion chamber, said expansion chamber tuned to attenuate a second frequency range when an exhaust stream travels from said inlet tube to said expansion chamber.

4. A muffler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outlet tube is surrounded by an outlet chamber, said outlet tube being in fluid communication with said outlet chamber, said outlet chamber tuned to attenuate a third frequency range when an exhaust stream travels through said outlet tube.

5. A muffler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said large diameter end tapers to a junction, said inlet tube having an end in proximal location to said large diameter end of said outlet tube, said end of said inlet tube being spaced a distance of between 2 and 3 times a diameter of said inlet tube away from said junction.

6. A muffler for an internal combustion engine, said muffler comprising:

an outer shell having a first end cap and a second end cap;

an inlet tube inserted into said first end cap, said inlet tube being connected to said outer shell by a first partition and said first end cap, said inlet tube having a plurality of perforations,

a tuning chamber defined by said inlet tube, said outer shell, said first partition and said first end cap;

an outlet tube having a funnel shaped element having an open large diameter end, said funnel shaped element inserted into said second end cap of said outer shell, said large diameter end of said funnel shaped element having a diameter larger than a diameter of said inlet tube, said outlet tube being connected to said outer shell by said funnel shaped element and said second end cap, said outlet tube having a plurality of perforations;

an outlet chamber defined by said outlet tube, said outer shell, said funnel shaped element and said second end cap; and

said funnel shaped element positioned in an expansion chamber and conically tapering to a junction with a cylindrical neck element extending into an inlet end of said outlet tube.

7. The muffler as claimed in claim 6 wherein said outlet chamber is substantially filled with a noise abating material.

9. The muffler as claimed in claim 6, wherein said large diameter end of said funnel shaped element is positioned in proximal location to an end of said inlet tube, said junction being spaced at a distance of between 2 and 3 times a diameter of said inlet tube from said end of said inlet tube.

10. The muffler as claimed in claim 6, wherein said large diameter end of said funnel shaped element has a diameter substantially equaling a diameter of said outer shell.

8. A muffler for an internal combustion engine, said muffler comprising:

an outer shell having a first end cap and a second end cap;

an inlet tube inserted into said first end cap, said inlet tube being connected to said outer shell by a first partition and said first end cap, wherein said first partition and said first end cap are spaced at a distance apart of between 3 and 4 times a diameter of said inlet tube;

a tuning chamber defined by said inlet tube, said outer shell, said first partition and said first end cap;

an outlet having a funnel shaped element having a large diameter end, said funnel shaped element inserted into said second end cap of said outer shell, said large diameter end of said funnel shaped element having a diameter larger than said diameter of said inlet tube, said outlet tube being connected to said outer shell by said funnel shaped element and said second end cap, said outlet tube having a plurality of perforations;

an outlet chamber defined by said outlet tube, said outer shell, said funnel shaped element and said second end cap; and

said funnel shaped element positioned in an expansion chamber and conically tapering to a junction with a cylindrical neck element extending into an inlet end of said outlet tube.