Vehicular pollution control muffler

Claim 1

A muffler for exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine comprising: an elongated tubular housing member having enclosing end walls; a liquid gas-purifying agent contained in said housing; an over-flow conduct extending through one of said end walls; valve means in said over-flow conduct to maintain said agent at a predetermined liquid level within and longitudenally of said housing; an exhaust gas conduct extending through said housng from an inlet end to an outlet end; said exhaust gas conduct having inter-connected continous portions including an inlet portion that extends on an axis substantially coincidental with said liquid level, an intermediate portion extending below said liquid level and back toward said other end wall, a substantially vertical riser portion spaced from said other end wall and an exhaust portion extending from said riser portion above said liquid level to said outlet end through one end wall and; a plurality of perforations in a section of said intermediate portion nearest said other end wall in said riser portion below said liquid level and a plurality of perforations in a section of said exhaust portion nearest said other end wall above said liquid level; whereby, the exhaust gases entering said inlet portion are conducted into said intermediate portions of said conduct and are dispersed through said perforations below said liquid level into said liquid gas-purifying agent for purification thereby and the purified exhaust gases accumulate within said housing above said liquid level for passage through said perforations in said section of said exhaust portion and thence into said outlet of said conduct.