Abstract:
The present invention discloses an exhaust apparatus for attaching to new or existing engine exhaust systems comprised of a conduit for the ingress of exhaust emissions from an engine, a hollow central body, and a conduit for the egress of exhaust emissions from an engine. The hollow central body is hexagonal in shape, and is comprised of a top panel, a bottom panel, a first wing, and a second wing. The hollow central body is attached to the exhaust system in a manner whereby engine emissions cannot escape while passing through the ingress conduit, hollow central body, or egress conduit. Two or more vanes are internally situated near the point of egress so that engine emissions flowing from the central body must pass through the vanes prior to flowing into the egress conduit.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/022,161, filed on Jan. 18, 2008, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to exhaust systems for engines, including but not limited to combustion engines. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention provides an exhaust apparatus for attaching to existing exhaust systems, or alternatively, for incorporating into the design of exhaust systems of newly built engines. 
         [0004]    Recognizing the current demand for lowering noxious emissions and greenhouse gases that are often associated with combustion engines, it is one object of the present invention to increase the fuel efficiency of an engine incorporating the present invention into its exhaust system. 
         [0005]    Further recognizing that, notwithstanding the current demand to lower noxious emissions and greenhouse gases by increasing an engine&#39;s fuel efficiency, there is also a demand to increase fuel efficiency without compromising the engine&#39;s performance. Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to increase an engine&#39;s fuel efficiency while simultaneously increasing an engine&#39;s horsepower rating. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is generally comprised of a conduit for the ingress of exhaust emissions from an engine, a hollow central body, and a conduit for the egress of exhaust emissions from an engine. 
         [0007]    The hollow central body of the present invention is preferably hexagonal in shape, and is generally comprised of a top panel, a bottom panel, a first wing, and a second wing. Preferably, the hollow central body is stamped with ridges to lower, or altogether avoid vibrations produced by the compression of engine exhaust emissions as they pass through the hollow central body. 
         [0008]    The hollow central body is attached to and located between the ingress conduit and egress conduit, respectively, in a manner whereby engine emissions cannot escape from the device while passing through the ingress conduit, hollow central body, or egress conduit. 
         [0009]    Two or more vanes are internally situated at or near the point of attachment between the hollow central body and the egress conduit so that engine emissions flowing from the central body must pass through the plurality of vanes prior to flowing into and through the egress conduit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of the exhaust apparatus. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a bottom view of the exhaust apparatus. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a plan view of the exhaust apparatus with the top panel removed. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of the exhaust apparatus. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates a view of the ingress conduit entrance and hollow central body entrance of the exhaust apparatus. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  illustrates a view of the egress conduit exit and hollow central body exit of the exhaust apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 , the present invention is comprised of an ingress conduit  1  having an ingress conduit entrance  2 ; a hollow central body  3 ; and an egress conduit  4  having an egress conduit exit  5 . A first end of hollow central body  3  is attached to ingress conduit  1  at first attachment point  18 , and a second end of hollow central body  3  is attached to egress conduit  4  at second attachment point  30 . Hollow central body  3  is situated between ingress conduit  1  and egress conduit  4 . Preferably, hollow central body  3  is generally hexagonal in shape and is comprised of a top panel  6 ; a bottom panel  7 ; a first wing  8 ; a first side panel  11 ; a second side panel  12 ; a second wing  13 ; a third side panel  16 ; and a fourth side panel  17 . 
         [0017]    The present invention is preferably constructed of a material capable of withstanding high temperatures and pressures associated with engine exhaust systems known in the art, including but not limited to iron or steel. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the ingress conduit entrance  2  and the egress conduit exit  5  is approximately between twenty and forty centimeters, and preferably between twenty five and thirty centimeters. 
         [0019]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , emissions enter the exhaust apparatus via the ingress conduit entrance  2 . In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of ingress conduit entrance  2  is approximately between two and six centimeters, and preferably between three and five centimeters. 
         [0020]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , in one embodiment of the present invention, a first end of ingress conduit  1 , is more distal to hollow central body  3 , includes ingress conduit entrance  2 , and is substantially circular. A second end of ingress conduit  1  is more proximal to hollow central body  3 , is substantially rectangular in shape, and forms the hollow central body entrance  19 . The cross-sectional area of the ingress conduit  1  decreases from the distal end of ingress conduit  1  to the proximal end of the ingress conduit  1 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , ingress conduit  1  retains a substantially uniform shape notwithstanding the transition from a substantially circular first end of ingress conduit  1  to a substantially rectangular second end of ingress conduit  1   
         [0021]    Hollow central body  3  has a substantially rectangular inlet which securely connects with the proximal end of ingress conduit  1  at a first attachment point  18 . Ingress conduit  1  is securely attached to hollow central body  3  at first attachment point  18  so that emissions passing through ingress conduit  1  and into hollow central body  3  cannot escape from the device. 
         [0022]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , preferably, hollow central body entrance  19  is substantially rectangular. Hollow central body entrance  19  has a first entrance wall  20  facing first wing  8 ; a second entrance wall  21  facing second wing  13 ; a third entrance wall  22  facing top panel  6 ; and a fourth entrance wall  23  facing bottom panel  7 . The distance between third entrance wall  22  and fourth entrance wall  23  of hollow central body entrance  19  is approximately between four centimeters and eight centimeters, and preferably between five and seven centimeters. The distance between first wall  20  and second wall  21  of hollow central body entrance  19  is approximately between two and five centimeters, and preferably between three and four centimeters. 
         [0023]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in one embodiment of the present invention, first side panel  11  is further comprised of angle B  25 ; second side panel  12  is further comprised of angle C  26 ; third side panel  16  is further comprised of angle E  28 ; and fourth side panel  17  is further comprised of angle F  29 . Angles B, C, E, and F  25 ,  26 ,  28 , and  29  are approximately between 135 and 165 degrees, and preferably between 140 and 155 degrees. 
         [0024]    As further illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in another embodiment of the present invention, the point of contact between first side panel  11  and second side panel  12  is comprised of angle A  24 , and the point of contact between third side panel  16  and fourth side panel  17  is angle D  27 . Angle A  24  and angle D  27  are between approximately 120 and 160 degrees, and preferably between 140 and 150 degrees. 
         [0025]    The distance between angle A  24  and angle D  27  of hollow central body  3  is approximately between eight and eleven centimeters, and preferably between nine and ten centimeters. The distance between angle A  24  and angle B  25  is approximately between one and five centimeters, and preferably between two and four centimeters. The distance between angle A  24  and angle F  29  is approximately between one and five centimeters, and preferably between two and four centimeters. The distance between angle D  27  and angle C  26  is approximately between one and five centimeters, and preferably between two and four centimeters. The distance between angle D  27  and angle E  28  is approximately between one and five centimeters, and preferably between two and four centimeters. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the distance between top panel  6  and top panel  7  of hollow central body  3  is approximately between four centimeters and eight centimeters, and preferably between five and seven centimeters. 
         [0027]    In another embodiment of the present invention, first, second, third, and fourth side panels  11 ,  12 ,  16 , and  17  of hollow central body  3  are reinforced with additional sheets of metal to lower, or altogether avoid vibrations produced by the compression of emissions as they pass through hollow central body  3 . Top panel  6  and bottom panel  7  can also be reinforced with additional sheets of metal to help lower, or altogether avoid vibrations produced by the compression of emissions as they pass through hollow central body  3 . In yet another embodiment, the interior surface of top panel  6  and/or bottom panel  7  are stamped with two or more parallel opposing grooves  9  and  10  to help lower, or altogether avoid vibrations produced by the compression of emissions as they pass through hollow central body  3 . 
         [0028]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , emissions exit the present invention via a first end of the egress conduit  4 , defined herein as the egress conduit exit  5 . The diameter of egress conduit exit  5  is approximately between two and six centimeters, and preferably between three and five centimeters. 
         [0029]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , in one embodiment of the present invention, the first end of egress conduit  4 , is more distal to hollow central body  3 , includes egress conduit exit  5 , and is substantially circular. A second end of egress conduit  4  is more proximal to hollow central body  3 , is substantially rectangular in shape, and forms the hollow central body exit  31 . The cross-sectional area of the egress conduit  1  decreases from the distal end of egress conduit  4  to the proximal end of the egress conduit  4 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , egress conduit  4  retains a substantially uniform shape notwithstanding the transition from a substantially circular first end of egress conduit  4  to a substantially rectangular second end of ingress conduit  4 . 
         [0030]    Hollow central body  3  has a substantially rectangular outlet which securely connects with the proximal end of egress conduit  4  at a second attachment point  30 . Egress conduit  4  is securely attached to hollow central body  3  at second attachment point  30  so that emissions passing through hollow central body  3  and into egress conduit  4  cannot escape from the device. 
         [0031]    In another embodiment, the distance between first attachment point  18  and second attachment point  30  is approximately between nine and thirteen centimeters, and preferably between ten and twelve centimeters. 
         [0032]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , hollow central body exit  31  is preferably rectangular in shape having a first exit wall  32  facing first wing  8 ; a second exit wall  33  facing second wing  13 ; a third exit wall  34  facing top panel  6 ; and a fourth exit wall  35  facing bottom panel  7 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the distance between third exit wall  34  and fourth exit wall  35  of hollow central body exit  31  is approximately between four centimeters and eight centimeters, and preferably between five and seven centimeters. The distance between first exit wall  32  and second exit wall  33  of hollow central body exit  31  is approximately between two and five centimeters, and preferably between three and four centimeters. 
         [0033]    In one embodiment of the present invention, one or more vanes are situated within the hollow central body  3  near the second attachment point  30 , and preferably, securely attached to the proximal end of egress conduit  4  at hollow central body exit  31 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , in a preferred embodiment, vane  36  is opposed parallel to vane  37 . A first end of vanes  36  and  37  are attached to top panel  6  of hollow central body  3 , and a second end of vanes  36  and  37  are to bottom panel  7  of hollow central body  3 . Preferably, the distance between vanes  36  and  37  is approximately between zero and three centimeters, and preferably between one and two centimeters. Emissions flowing through the hollow central body  3  must pass through vanes  36  and  37  prior to flowing into and through the egress conduit  4 . 
         [0034]    In one embodiment of the present invention, vanes  36  and  37  are approximately between four and eight centimeters in height, and preferably between five and seven centimeters. Vanes  36  and  37  are approximately between one and four centimeters in length, and preferably between two and three centimeters. 
         [0035]    Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.