Patent ID: 7798286
Filing Date: 2010-09-21
Classification: F01N

Abstract:
1. An exhaust muffler for reducing the sounds associated with pressure waves of combustion gases exhausted from an internal combustion engine through an exhaust pipe, the pressure waves being a plurality of different pressure waves each having an amplitude and a frequency, the pressure waves having at least one objectionable wave having an objectionable amplitude and an objectionable frequency, said muffler comprising: mounting hardware to secure said exhaust muffler to an associated vehicle in a mounted condition such that in said mounted condition said muffler has a top, a bottom and opposing sides, said exhaust muffler further including an elongated fluid passage extending between a muffler inlet and a muffler outlet such that said muffler outlet is in fluid communication with said inlet and defines a muffler length, said muffler inlet being connectable to an end of an associated exhaust pipe of the associated vehicle and having a cross-sectional area similar to the exhaust pipe such that said passage is in an generally unrestricted fluid connection with gases exhausted from an associated engine such that the associated pressure waves freely enter said passage and said outlet being connectable with the atmosphere, said passage extending about a passage axis and said axis defining a generally vertical central plane when in said mounted condition dividing said passage into a first side region and a second side region on either side of said central plane and circumferentially spaced from one another; said first side region having a first radial extent defined as a portion of said passage in said first side region furthest spaced from said central plane, said second side region having a second radial extent defined as a portion of said passage in said second side region furthest spaced from said central plane, said first and second radial extents generally being opposite to one another and generally being horizontally spaced from one another when in said mounted condition, a sound attenuation opening in said passage for receiving and transmitting the at least one objectionable wave into a side attenuation sound chamber, said side sound chamber extending horizontally from said central plane when in said mounted condition and having a flow path with a set length based on the objectionable frequency of the objectionable wave such that when the sound pulse exits said sound chamber the sound pulse reduces the objectionable amplitude of a subsequent objectionable wave, said sound chamber having a length less than said muffler length, said exhaust muffler further including an outer housing extending about said side sound chamber and said passage forming a void therebetween said sound chamber and said outer housing, said muffler further including at least one end plate joining said outer housing to said passage.