Gas flow baffle for wave interference silencing systems

Claim 2

A wave interference silencing system for the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, said silencing system comprising: a cylindrical acoustical equalization conduit; a pair of attenuating members connected to and located upstream and downstream of said equalization conduit, each of said attenuating members having an outer conduit helically wrapped around an inner conduit wherein said inner conduit provides a substantially axial flow path for gases flowing therethrough from said engine and said outer conduit provides a substantially circumferential flow path for such gases; a planar gas flow baffle member positioned across said equalization conduit for creating a physical barrier to relative circumferential movement of said gases exiting the upstream attenuating member so as to promote complete mixing and stabilization of the gases prior to entering the downstream attenuating member.

Claim 3

In a wave interference silencing system having an acoustical equalization chamber through which exhaust gases flow between serially connected attenuating sections, each of said attenuating sections having an inner conduit and an outer conduit helically wrapped with respect to the inner conduit so as to establish a circumferential vortex flow pattern at the exit end of the attenuating section, the improvement comprising: a gas diverting member disposed within the acoustical equalization chamber, said gas diverting member having a surface positioned adjacent the exit end of one of said attenuating sections so as to cause turbulent interaction between gases exiting from the inner and outer conduits by establishing a barrier to said circumferential vortex flow pattern thereby promoting flow and energy stabilization prior to the gases entering a succeeding attenuating section.

Claim 4

In a wave interference silencing system having an acoustical equalization chamber through which exhaust gases flow between serially connected attenuating sections, each of said attenuating sections having an inner conduit and an outer conduit helically wrapped with respect to the inner conduit so as to establish a circumferential vortex flow pattern at the exit end of the attenuating section, the improvement comprising: a gas diverting member disposed within the acoustical equalization chamber, said gas diverting member having a surface positioned adjacent the exit end of one of said attenuating sections so as to cause turbulent interaction between gases exiting from the inner and outer conduits by establishing a barrier to said circumferential vortex flow pattern thereby promoting flow and energy stabilization prior to the gases entering a succeeding attenuating section.

Claim 5

In a wave interference silencing system having an acoustical equalization conduit serially connected between wave interference attenuating sections, each of said attenuating sections having an inner axial flow path and an outer helical flow path which causes gases flowing therethrough to establish a circumferential vortex flow pattern at the exit end of the attenuating section, a gas diverting bAffle for stabilizing the gas stream so as to present uniform vibrational energy at the succeeding attenuating section comprising: a conical member housed within the equalization conduit with its apex facing the exit end of the attenuating section and its outer surface flaring outwardly therefrom sufficiently to divert the gases flowing in the inner axial flow path into turbulent interference with the gases flowing in the outer helical flow path thereby creating an impedance to said circumferential vortex flow pattern and accelerating mixing and stabilizing of the gas stream.

Claim 6

In a wave interference silencing system having an acoustical equalization conduit serially connected between wave interference attenuating sections, each of said attenuating sections having an inner axial flow path and an outer helical flow path which causes gases flowing therethrough to establish a circumferential vortex flow pattern at the exit end of the attenuating section, a gas diverting bAffle for stabilizing the gas stream so as to present uniform vibrational energy at the succeeding attenuating section comprising: a conical member housed within the equalization conduit with its apex facing the exit end of the attenuating section and its outer surface flaring outwardly therefrom sufficiently to divert the gases flowing in the inner axial flow path into turbulent interference with the gases flowing in the outer helical flow path thereby creating an impedance to said circumferential vortex flow pattern and accelerating mixing and stabilizing of the gas stream.

Claim 7

A wave interference silencing system for the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, said silencing system comprising: a cylindrical acoustical equalization conduit; a pair of attenuating members connected to and located upstream and downstream of said equalization conduit, each of said attenuating members including an outer conduit helically wrapped around an inner conduit wherein said inner conduit provides a substantially axial flow path for gases flowing therethrough from said engine and said outer conduit provides a substantially circumferential flow path for said gases; a planar gas flow baffle member positioned diametrically across said equalization conduit for creating a physical barrier to relative circumferential movement of said gases exiting the upstream attenuating member so as to accelerate the mixing of the separate flow paths and promote complete mixing and stabilization of the gases prior to the gases entering the downstream attenuating member.

Claim 8

A wave interference silencing system for the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, said silencing system comprising: a cylindrical acoustical equalization conduit; a pair of attenuating members connected to and located upstream and downstream of said equalization conduit, each of said attenuating members including an outer conduit helically wrapped around an inner conduit wherein said inner conduit provides a substantially axial flow path for gases flowing therethrough from said engine and said outer conduit provides a substantially circumferential flow path for said gases; a planar gas flow baffle member positioned diametrically across said equalization conduit for creating a physical barrier to relative circumferential movement of said gases exiting the upstream attenuating member so as to accelerate the mixing of the separate flow paths and promote complete mixing and stabilization of the gases prior to the gases entering the downstream attenuating member.