Muffler and engine exhaust apparatus

• US 7,918,311 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2007
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsueda, Koji, Tsuji, Tomoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): SAN MARTIN, EDGARDO
• Application Number:
  US12/376,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20100126799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 181/275, 181/272, 181/268, 181/249, 181/251, 181/237, 181/257, 181/233, 181/234, 181/259, 181/260, 181/262
• US Class Current: 181/275
• 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 1/16 by using movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 1/163 by means of valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2290/10 actuated by pressure of exhaust gases, e.g. exhaust pulses
• 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 2490/02 Two or more expansion chambers in series connected by means of tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2490/06 the gases flowing longitudinally from inlet to outlet in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2490/08 Two or more expansion chambers in series separated by apertured walls only

Abstract

A muffling chamber is located between a first main body wall and a second main body wall with respect to a height direction. An outflow pipe includes: a first opening that connects an outflow passage with a muffling chamber in the vicinity of a first main body wall; and a second opening that connects the outflow passage with the muffling chamber in the vicinity of a second main body wall. The liquid staying on the first main body wall of a first muffler flows into the outflow passage through the first opening. The liquid staying on a second main body wall of a second muffler flows into the outflow passage through a second opening. Therefore, the symmetry of the first muffler and the second muffler is compatible with anti-corrosion.

Claims

1. An exhaust apparatus for an engine of a vehicle, the exhaust apparatus comprising:

an exhaust pipe through which exhaust of the engine flows; and

a first muffler and a second muffler arranged in a transverse direction of the vehicle, the first muffler and the second muffler being connected to the exhaust pipe while being vertically inverted with respect to each other,

wherein the first muffler and the second muffler each includes;

a muffler main body having a muffling chamber for muffling the exhaust;

an inflow pipe for allowing exhaust of the exhaust pipe to flow into the muffling chamber; and

an outflow pipe for discharging exhaust of the muffling chamber to the outside,

wherein each of the muffler main body has a first main body wall and a second main body wall that are opposite to each other in a height direction, the muffling chamber existing between the first main body wall and the second main body wall, and

wherein each of the outflow pipe has;

a first opening that connects a passage of the outflow pipe with the muffling chamber, the first opening being adjacent to the first main body wall; and

a second opening that connects a passage of the outflow pipe with the muffling chamber, the second opening being adjacent to the second main body wall.

2. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first main body wall of the first muffler exists vertically downwardly of the second main body wall of the first muffler, wherein a liquid staying on the first main body wall of the first muffler can flow into a passage of the outflow pipe through the first opening, and

wherein the second main body wall of the second muffler is located vertically downwardly of the first main body wall of the second muffler, wherein a liquid staying on the second main body wall of the second muffler can flow into a passage of the outflow pipe through the second opening.

3. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outflow pipe has an outflow outlet from which exhaust outflows, the outflow outlet being positioned at a center in a height direction of the muffler main body.

4. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the muffler main body has a main body outlet for supporting the outflow outlet, and

wherein the main body outlet is positioned at a center of a height direction of the muffler main body.

5. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the outflow outlet extends through the main body outlet and then, is disposed at the outside of the muffler main body,

wherein a portion of the outflow pipe located at the outside of the muffler main body extends straight.

6. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the muffler main body includes:

a cylindrical shell body defining the muffling chamber, the shell body having a first mouth and a second mouth that is opposite to the first mouth, the shell body defining a first reference plane that is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the cylinder;

a first exterior wall closing the first mouth; and

a second exterior wall closing the second mouth, the second exterior wall having a main body outlet for supporting the outflow pipe,

wherein the outflow pipe having an outflow outlet from which exhaust outflows,

wherein a first shell body projection view is obtained by projecting the shell body onto the first reference plane,

wherein a first outlet projection view is obtained by projecting the outflow outlet onto the first reference plane,

wherein a second outlet projection view is obtained by projecting the main body outlet onto the first reference plane, and

wherein at least one of a center of the first outlet projection view and a center of the second outlet projection view is located at a center in a height direction of the first shell body projection view.

7. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the muffler main body includes:

a shell body having the muffling chamber therein, the shell body being formed in a cylindrical shape and having a first mouth and a second mouth that is opposite to the first mouth, a side part of the shell body having a main body outlet for supporting the outflow pipe, the shell body defining a second reference plane that is parallel to a longitudinal direction and a height direction of the cylinder,

wherein the outflow pipe has an outflow outlet from which exhaust outflows,

wherein a second shell body projection view is obtained by projecting the shell body onto the second reference plane,

wherein a third outlet projection view is obtained by projecting the outflow outlet onto the second reference plane,

wherein a fourth outlet projection view is obtained by projecting the main body outlet onto the second reference plane, and

wherein at least one of a center of the third outlet projection view and a center of the fourth outlet projection view is located at a center in a height direction of the second shell body projection view.

8. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inflow pipe has an inflow inlet into which exhaust flows, and

wherein the inflow inlet is located at a center in a height direction of the muffler main body.

9. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the muffler main body has a main body inlet for supporting the inflow pipe, and

wherein the main body inlet is located at a center of a height direction of the muffler main body.

10. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the inflow inlet extends through the main body inlet and exists at the outside of the muffler main body,

wherein a portion of the inflow pipe located at the outside of the muffler main body extends straight.

11. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the muffler main body includes:

a cylindrical shell body defining the muffling chamber, the shell body having a first mouth and a second mouth that is opposite to the first mouth, the shell body defining a first reference plane that is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the cylinder;

a first exterior wall closing the first mouth, the first exterior wall having a main body inlet for supporting the inflow pipe; and

a second exterior wall closing the second mouth,

wherein the inflow pipe has an inflow inlet into which exhaust flows,

wherein a first shell body projection view is obtained by projecting the first exterior wall onto the first reference plane,

wherein a first inlet projection view is obtained by projecting the inflow inlet onto the first reference plane,

wherein a second inlet projection view is obtained by projecting the main body inlet onto the first reference plane, and

wherein at least one of a center of the first inlet projection view and a center of the second inlet projection view is located at a center in a height direction of the first shell body projection.

12. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the muffler main body includes:

a shell body having the muffling chamber therein, the shell body being formed in a cylindrical shape and having a first mouth and a second mouth that is opposite to the first mouth, a side part of the shell body having a main body inlet for supporting the inflow pipe, the shell body defining a second reference plane that is parallel to a longitudinal direction and a height direction of the cylinder,

wherein the inflow pipe has an inflow inlet into which exhaust flows,

wherein a second shell body projection view is obtained by projecting the shell body onto the second reference plane,

wherein a third inlet projection view is obtained by projecting the inflow inlet onto the second reference plane,

wherein a fourth inlet projection view is obtained by projecting the main body inlet onto the second reference plane, and

wherein at least one of a center of the third inlet projection view and a center of the fourth inlet projection view is located at a center in a height direction of the second shell body projection view.

13. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outflow pipe has an outflow intermediate part that is adjacent to the second main body wall, and

wherein the outflow intermediate part has a second opening that connects a passage of the outflow pipe with the muffling chamber.

14. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the outflow intermediate part of the first muffler includes:

a first portion through which a liquid having flowed into the outflow pipe through the first opening flows;

a second portion that is opposite to the first portion; and

a third portion and a fourth portion, each of which connects the first portion to the second portion,

wherein at least one of the third portion and the fourth portion has the second opening.

15. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the outflow intermediate part of the first muffler includes:

a first portion through which a liquid having flowed into the outflow pipe through the first opening flows;

a second portion that is opposite to the first portion;

a third portion and a fourth portion, each of which connects the first portion to the second portion,

wherein at least one of the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion has the second opening.

16. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the outflow intermediate part of the first muffler includes:

a first portion through which a liquid having flowed into the outflow pipe through the first opening flows; and

a second portion that is opposite to the first portion,

wherein the first portion has a through hole that connects a passage of the outflow intermediate part with the muffling chamber, and

wherein only the second portion has the second opening.

17. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the outflow intermediate part of the first muffler includes:

a first portion through which a liquid having flowed into the outflow pipe through the first opening flows; and

a second portion that is opposite to the first portion,

wherein only the second portion has the second opening.

18. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outflow pipe has an outflow inlet into which exhaust flows, and

wherein the outflow inlet is the first opening.

19. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the muffler main body has a third main body wall and a fourth main body wall, each of which connects the first main body wall to the second main body wall,

wherein a forward direction oriented from an upstream to a downstream and a reverse direction opposite to the forward direction are defined with respect to a longitudinal direction of the muffler main body, wherein a width direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the height direction,

wherein the outflow pipe has:

an outflow inlet into which exhaust flows; and

an outflow outlet from which exhaust outflows,

wherein the outflow pipe includes;

a first outflow pipe, a second outflow pipe;

a third outflow pipe;

a fourth outflow pipe; and

a fifth outflow pipe that are connected in series;

wherein the first outflow pipe has;

a first outflow inlet into which exhaust flows; and

a first outflow outlet from which exhaust outflows, the first outflow inlet being the outflow inlet;

wherein the first outflow pipe is adjacent to the first main body wall with respect to the height direction and is adjacent to a center of the muffler main body with respect to the width direction,

wherein the second outflow pipe has;

a second outflow inlet into which exhaust flows; and

a second outflow outlet from which exhaust outflows, the second outflow inlet being connected to the first outflow outlet,

wherein, from the second outflow inlet toward the second outflow outlet, the second outflow pipe approaches the second main body wall from the first main body wall with respect to the height direction, and approaches to the third main body wall from a center of the muffler main body with respect to the width direction,

wherein the second outflow pipe changes a direction of an exhaust flow from the forward direction to the reverse direction,

wherein the third outflow pipe has;

a third outflow inlet into which exhaust flows; and

a third outflow outlet from which exhaust outflows, the third outflow inlet being connected to the second outflow outlet,

wherein the third outflow pipe is located adjacent to the second main body wall with respect to the height direction and is located adjacent to the third main body wall with respect to the width direction,

wherein the fourth outflow pipe has;

a fourth outflow inlet into which exhaust flows;

and a fourth outflow outlet from which exhaust outflows, the fourth outflow inlet being connected to the third outflow outlet,

wherein, from the fourth outflow inlet to the fourth outflow outlet, the fourth outflow pipe approaches a center of the muffler main body from the second main body wall with respect to the height direction and approaches the fourth main body wall from the third main body wall with respect to the width direction,

wherein a direction of an exhaust flow of the fourth outflow pipe changes from the reverse direction to the forward direction,

wherein the fifth outflow pipe has;

a fifth outflow inlet into which exhaust flows; and

a fifth outflow outlet from which exhaust outflows, the fifth outflow inlet being connected to the fourth outflow outlet, the fifth outflow outlet being the outflow outlet, and

wherein the fifth outflow pipe is located at a center of the muffler main body with respect to the height direction and is located adjacent to the fourth main body wall with respect to the width direction.

20. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the second outflow pipe has a second wall facing part that is adjacent to the second main body wall,

wherein the fourth outflow pipe has a fourth wall facing part that is adjacent to the second main body wall, and

wherein the second opening is provided in at least one of the second wall facing part, the third outflow pipe, and the fourth wall facing part.

21. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the muffler main body includes:

a shell body having the muffler chamber therein, the shell body being formed in a cylindrical shape and having a first mouth and a second mouth that is opposite to the first mouth;

a first exterior wall for closing the first mouth;

a second exterior wall for closing the second mouth;

a first interior wall, the first interior wall and the first exterior wall defining a first muffling chamber,

a second interior wall, the first interior wall and the second interior wall defining a second muffling chamber, the second interior wall and the second exterior wall defining a third muffling chamber, the first muffling chamber, the second muffling chamber, and the third muffling chamber configuring the muffling chamber, the first interior wall having holes that connect the first muffling chamber with the second muffling chamber;

an inner pipe connecting the second muffling chamber with the third muffling chamber; and

a valve device for opening and closing the inner pipe, the valve device being open in the case where a pressure of the third muffling chamber is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the valve device being closed in the case where a pressure of the third muffling chamber is smaller than the threshold value,

wherein the inflow pipe has a hole that connects a passage of the inflow pipe to the second muffling chamber,

wherein the inflow pipe has an inflow outlet from which exhaust outflows, the inflow outlet being located in the third muffling chamber, and

wherein the outflow pipe has an outflow inlet into which exhaust flows, the outflow inlet being locating in the first muffling chamber.

22. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the muffler main body has a third main body wall and a fourth main body wall, each of which connects the first main body wall to the second main body wall,

wherein the inflow pipe has:

an inflow inlet into which exhaust flows; and

an inflow outlet from which exhaust outflows,

wherein the inflow inlet exists at a center in a height direction of the muffler main body, and

wherein the inflow pipe is located adjacent to the third main body wall with respect to a width direction of the muffler main body.

23. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust pipe includes:

a main pipe oriented to the engine; and

a first branch pipe being branched from the main pipe, the first branch pipe being connected to the first muffler, and a second branch pipe being connected to the second muffler.

24. A vehicle comprising the exhaust apparatus according to claim 1.

25. A method for manufacturing an exhaust apparatus, the exhaust apparatus comprising:

a first muffler and a second muffler that are arranged in a transverse direction of a vehicle; and

an exhaust pipe that causes exhaust of the engine flow into the first muffler and the second muffler, the method comprising;

preparing the first muffler and the second muffler, the first muffler and the second muffler each comprising;

a muffler main body having a muffling chamber;

an inflow pipe for allowing exhaust of the exhaust pipe to flow into the muffling chamber; and

an outflow pipe for discharging exhaust of the muffling chamber to the outside, the muffler main body having a first main body wall and a second main body wall that are opposite to each other in a height direction while the muffling chamber is located therebetween, the outflow pipe having;

a first opening that connects a passage in the outflow pipe with the muffling chamber adjacent to the first main body wall; and

a second opening that connects a passage in the outflow pipe with the muffling chamber adjacent to the second main body wall;

connecting the first muffler to the exhaust pipe; and

connecting the second muffler to the exhaust pipe while vertically inverting the second muffler with respect to the first muffler.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising:

locating the first main body wall of the first muffler vertically downwardly of the second main body wall of the first muffler, wherein a liquid staying on the first main body wall of the first muffler can flow into a passage of the outflow pipe through the first opening,

locating the second main body wall of the second muffler vertically downwardly of the first main body wall of the second muffler, wherein a liquid staying on the second main body wall of the second muffler can flow into a passage of the outflow pipe through the second opening.

27. A muffler, comprising:

a muffler main body having a muffling chamber;

an inflow pipe for allowing exhaust of an exhaust pipe to flow into the muffling chamber; and

an outflow pipe for discharging exhaust of the muffling chamber to the outside, the outflow pipe including a first outflow pipe and a second outflow pipe,

wherein the muffler main body has a first main body wall and a second main body wall that are opposite to each other in a height direction while the muffling chamber is located therebetween,

wherein the muffling chamber includes a first separator with a first hole and a second hole and a second separator with a first hole and a second hole,

wherein the outflow pipe has;

a first opening provided in the first outflow pipe that connects a passage of the outflow pipe with the muffling chamber, the first opening being adjacent to the first main body wall; and

a second opening provided in the second outflow pipe that connects a passage of the outflow pipe with the muffling chamber, the second opening being adjacent to the second main body wall, and

wherein the first hole of the first separator supports a portion of the first outflow pipe between the first opening and an outflow end of the first outflow pipe, the second hole of the first separator supports an outflow end of the second outflow pipe, the first hole of the second separator supports the outflow end of the first outflow pipe, and the second hole of the second separator supports an inflow end of the second outflow pipe.

28. A muffler, comprising:

a muffler main body having a muffling chamber;

an inflow pipe for allowing exhaust of an exhaust pipe to flow into the muffling chamber; and

an outflow pipe for discharging exhaust of the muffling chamber to the outside, the outflow pipe including a first outflow pipe and a second outflow pipe,

wherein the muffler main body has a first main body wall and a second main body wall that are opposite to each other in a height direction while the muffling chamber is located therebetween,

wherein the muffling chamber includes a first separator with a first hole and a second hole and a second separator with a first hole and a second hole,

wherein the outflow pipe has;

a first opening provided in the first outflow pipe that connects a passage of the outflow pipe with the muffling chamber, the first opening being adjacent to the first main body wall; and

a second opening provided in the second outflow pipe that connects a passage of the outflow pipe with the muffling chamber, the second opening being adjacent to the second main body wall,

wherein the first hole of the first separator supports a portion of the first outflow pipe between the first opening and an outflow end of the first outflow pipe, the second hole of the first separator supports an outflow end of the second outflow pipe, the first hole of the second separator supports the outflow end of the first outflow pipe, and the second hole of the second separator supports an inflow end of the second outflow pipe, and

wherein, in the case where the muffler is set at a reference posture, the first main body wall is located vertically downwardly of the second main body wall, a liquid staying on the first main body wall can flow into a passage of the outflow pipe through the first opening, and

wherein, in the case where the muffler is vertically inverted with respect to the reference posture, a liquid staying on the second main body wall can flow into a passage of the outflow pipe through the second opening.