Exhaust muffler for vehicle

• US 8,985,272 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2013
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Motors
• Original Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Yoshida, Atsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Forrest M
• Application Number:
  US14/062,166
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 181/282, 181/212
• US Class Current: 181/282
• 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 1/10 in combination with sound-absorbing materials F01N1/125 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/0097 the purifying devices are arranged in a single housing
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/1872 the assembly using stamp-formed parts or otherwise deformed sheet-metal
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2230/06 Spark arresters
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2450/22 by welding or brazing
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2885 with exhaust silencers in a single housing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters

Abstract

An exhaust muffler for a vehicle includes: a sleeve portion made up of an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve; an upstream side cover that has an exhaust entrance and that closes an upstream side opening of the sleeve portion; and a downstream side cover that has an exhaust exit and that closes a downstream side opening of the sleeve portion. At least one of the upstream side cover and the downstream side cover has a peripheral flange portion that externally holds the sleeve portion. The peripheral flange portion has an outer sleeve holding portion and an inner sleeve holding portion. One end portion of the inner sleeve abuts on the inner sleeve holding portion so as to be slidable in a length direction of the inner sleeve. One end portion of the outer sleeve is fixed to the outer sleeve holding portion.

Claims

1. An exhaust muffler for a vehicle comprising:

a muffler body including;

a sleeve portion including an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve, the inner sleeve being arranged in the outer sleeve with an interval therebetween;

an upstream side cover having an exhaust entrance and arranged to close an upstream side opening of the sleeve portion; and

a downstream side cover having an exhaust exit and arranged to close a downstream side opening of the sleeve portion;

wherein each of the upstream side cover and the downstream side cover has a peripheral flange portion that externally holds the sleeve portion, the peripheral flange portion of each of the upstream side cover and the downstream side cover having an outer sleeve holding portion holding the outer sleeve and an inner sleeve holding portion holding the inner sleeve, the inner sleeve holding portion being positioned further radially inward than the outer sleeve holding portion,

wherein a first end portion of the inner sleeve abuts on the inner sleeve holding portion of the peripheral flange portion of a first one of the upstream side cover and the downstream side cover so as to be slidable in a longitudinal direction of the inner sleeve,

wherein a first end portion of the outer sleeve is fixed to the outer sleeve holding portion of the peripheral flange portion of the first one of the upstream side cover and the downstream side cover, and

wherein a second end portion of the outer sleeve and a second end portion of the inner sleeve are fixed to the outer sleeve holding portion and the inner sleeve holding portion, respectively, of the peripheral flange portion of a second one of the upstream side cover and the downstream side cover.

2. The exhaust muffler for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the first end portion of the inner sleeve is bent radially inward.

3. The exhaust muffler for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the inner sleeve holding portion of the peripheral flange portion of each of the upstream side cover and the downstream side cover comprises a plurality of arc-shaped portions arranged in a circumferential direction of the peripheral flange portion with an interval between one another and arranged in a concave manner.

4. The exhaust muffler for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the upstream side cover and the downstream side cover have a substantially identical shape.