Five pass muffler

Claim 2

A muffler comprising a housing having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end, an inlet tube connected to the inlet, first transverse partition means adjacent the downstream end of the inlet tube, three radially separated annular partitions surrounding the inlet tube and supported at one end by the first partition means, second transverse partition means adjacent the inlet end of the housing supporting the other ends of thE annular partitions, said inlet tube providing a first longitudinal pass for gas flow and having outlet means for gas to flow into a first annular space between the inlet tube and the smallest of said annular partitions, said first annular space comprising a second longitudinal pass for gas flow and said smallest of said annular partitions having outlet means for gas to flow into a second annular space between it and the intermediate size annular partition, said second annular space comprising a third longitudinal pass for gas flow and said intermediate size annular partition having outlet means for gas to flow into a third annular space between it and the largest annular partition, said third annular space comprising a fourth longitudinal pass for gas flow and said largest annular partition having outlet means for gas to flow into a fourth annular space between it and the housing, said fourth annular space comprising a fifth longitudinal pass for gas flow, and third transverse partition means adjacent the outlet and acting with the first transverse partition means to form an outlet chamber opening into said outlet, said fourth annular space having an outlet opening into said outlet chamber.

Claim 3

A muffler as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second and third transverse partitions act with the housing to define end chambers, certain of said annular spaces communicating with said end chambers.

Claim 4

A muffler as set forth in claim 1 wherein said largest annular partition is supported on the third transverse partition and defines a wall of the outlet chamber and has openings therein connecting the fourth annular space to the outlet chamber.

Claim 5

In a muffler, a housing having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end, an inlet tube connected to the inlet, three radially separated annular partitions surrounding the inlet tube, means supporting the tube and partitions in the housing, said inlet tube providing a first longitudinal pass for gas flow and having outlet means for gas to flow into a first annular space between the inlet tube and the smallest of said annular partitions, said first annular space comprising a second longitudinal pass for gas flow and said smallest of said annular partitions having outlet means for gas to flow into a second annular space between it and the intermediate size annular partition, said second annular space comprising a third longitudinal pass for gas flow and said intermediate size annular partition having outlet means for gas to flow into a third annular space between it and the largest annular partition, said third annular space comprising a fourth longitudinal pass for gas flow and said largest annular partition having outlet means for gas to flow into a fourth annular space between it and the housing, said fourth annular space comprising a fifth longitudinal pass for gas flow, gas passage means connecting said fourth annular space to said outlet, a first transverse partition means in the housing adjacent the inlet thereof and supporting the inlet tube and the annular partitions, a second transverse partition means in the housing adjacent the downstream end of the inlet tube supporting the annular partitions, and a third transverse partition means in the housing adjacent the outlet thereof and acting with the second transverse partition means to define an outlet chamber forming part of said gas passage means, said largest annular partition having outlet means opening into said outlet chamber to connect said fourth annular space thereto.

Claim 6

In a muffler, a housing having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end, an inlet tube connected to the inlet, three radially separated annular partitions surrounding the inlet tube, means supporting the tube and partitions in the housing, said inlet tube providing a first longitudinal pass for gas flow and having outlet means for gas to flow into a first annular space between the inlet tube and the smallest of said annular partitions, said first annular space comprising a second longitudinal pass for gas flow and said smallest of said annular partitions having outlet means for gas to flow into a second annular space between it and the intermediate size annular partition, said second annular space comprising a third longitudinal pass for gas flow and said intermediate size annular partition having outlet means for gas to flow into a third annular space between it and the largest annular partition, said third annular space comprising a fourth longitudinal pass for gas flow and said largest annular partition having outlet means for gas to flow into a fourth annular space between it and the housing, said fourth annular space comprising a fifth longitudinal pass for gas flow, gas passage means connecting said fourth annular space to said outlet, a first transverse partition means in the housing adjacent the inlet thereof and supporting the inlet tube and the annular partitions, a second transverse partition means in the housing adjacent the downstream end of the inlet tube supporting the annular partitions, and a third transverse partition means in the housing adjacent the outlet thereof and acting with the second transverse partition means to define an outlet chamber forming part of said gas passage means, said largest annular partition having outlet means opening into said outlet chamber to connect said fourth annular space thereto.

Claim 7

A muffler as set forth in claim 4 wherein at least one of said first and third transverse partition means acts with an end of the housing to define an end chamber and has openings therein to communicate at least one of the annular spaces with the end chamber.

Claim 8

A muffler as set forth in claim 5 wherein both said first and third transverse partition means act with an end of the housing to define end chambers at the inlet and at the outlet ends respectively of the housing and both said first and third tRansverse partition means have openings therein to respectively communicate at least one annular space with the end chambers.

Claim 9

A muffler as set forth in claim 6 wherein said inlet and outlet include bushings extending respectively through the inlet end chamber and the outlet end chamber and supported respectively by the first and third transverse partition means.

Claim 10

A muffler as set forth in claim 7 wherein said third transverse partition means has openings therein connecting the outlet end chamber with said outlet chamber.

Claim 11

A muffler as set forth in claim 8 wherein said inlet tube is perforated and a closed shell surrounds the perforated portion of the inlet tube and is located in said first annular space.