Patent ID: 6851425

Claim:
An exhaust port assembly comprising: a conduit having a first end and a second end and adapted to carry a flow of gas, wherein the conduit is generally cylindrical shaped; and venting means, disposed between the first end and the second end of the conduit and having a fixed area, for venting a flow of exhaust gas from within the conduit to ambient atmosphere while 1) minimizing noise associated with the flow of exhaust gas passing to atmosphere, 2) diffusing the flow of exhaust gas passing to ambient atmosphere over a relatively large area, and 3) minimizing the area occupied by the venting means on the conduit, wherein the venting means comprises an opening defined in the conduit and a cap disposed in a fixed position over the conduit such that the cap does not move relative to the conduit during changes in pressure within the conduit, and having substantially the same width as the opening, wherein the cap overlies the opening so that a gap is defined between an edge of the cap and an edge of the opening, and wherein the gap extends a first length along at least a portion of the conduit, and wherein the opening is an arcuate slot having a length that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the conduit.