Patent ID: 7726444

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: an exhaust system baffle including: a tube, wherein the tube includes a central longitudinal axis, wherein the tube includes an inner diameter; a plurality of radially extending flanges mounted in surrounding relation about the tube, wherein each flange includes a centrally positioned aperture and a slit that extends through the flange from the aperture to an outer edge of the flange, wherein the tube extends through the apertures of the flanges, wherein each flange includes a first edge portion that bounds a first side of the slit, wherein each flange includes a second edge portion that bounds a second side of the slit opposite the first side of the slit, wherein the opposed first and second edge portions of each flange are bent such that the opposed first and second edge portions are orientated to extend outwardly from the tube at angles that are each acute in opposed directions with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the tube, wherein at least a portion of the opposed first and second edge portions of each flange are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the tube; and a venturi mounted in the tube, wherein the venturi includes opposed ends, wherein the opposed ends have inner diameters, wherein the venturi includes a middle portion between the opposed ends, wherein the middle portion includes an inner diameter that is less than the inner diameters of the opposed ends of the venturi and is less than the inner diameter of the tube.