US4424882A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Resonator type mufflers
Assignee: Supertrapp Industries Inc
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Filing: 1981-07-20
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Granted: 1984-01-10
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Expires: 2001-07-20
Abstract
Abstract Resonator type mufflers of this invention utilize multiple chambers with inductor tubes between the chambers, and specific size and spatial relationships among the tubes and chambers. In one form of muffler suitable for industrial applications or vehicular use, elongated inductor tubes passing from one chamber to a second chamber have downstream ends spaced about 3/4 inch from the end wall of the second chamber, which has a central opening with area at least as large as the combined areas of the inductor tubes. For industrial mufflers which are required to be short, there is only one set of coextensively positioned inductor tubes, but for longer mufflers as on motorcycles, an elongated primary inductor preferably is used in addition, as a primary resonator stage. In another embodiment of a muffler particularly for motorcycles, first and second inductor tubes overlap within a second chamber in a particular space-saving arrangement, which also lends itself to muffler core replacement in housings of generally standard configuration.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul S. Moller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:56
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N13/00; F01N13/18; F01N13/1838; F01N13/1844; F01N1/00; F01N1/02; F01N1/023; F01N1/04; F01N1/08; F01N13/009; F01N13/0097; F01N13/1855; F01N13/1888; F01N13/1894; F01N3/00; F01N3/06; F01N2230/00; F01N2230/06; F01N2450/00; F01N2450/24; F01N2470/00; F01N2470/30; F01N2490/00; F01N2490/02; F01N2490/15; F01N2490/155
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A resonator type muffler for an internal combustion engine, comprising: an elongated housing having an inlet and an outlet; a chamber divider extending generally transversely across the interior of the housing to define a first chamber in communication with the housing's inlet, upstream of the divider, and a second chamber downstream of the divider; at least one sound inductor tube extending longitudinally in the housing through the chamber divider, with an inlet end in the first chamber and an outlet extending into the second chamber; and a wall forming a downstream end of the second chamber, with an opening; the outlet end of the inductor tube being spaced from the wall at the downstream end of the second chamber by a distance of from about 1/2 to 1 inch, and being offset from the wall opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A resonator type muffler for an internal combustion engine, comprising: an elongated housing having an inlet and an outlet; a chamber divider extending generally transversely across the interior of the housing to define a first chamber in communication with the housing's inlet, upstream of the divider, and a second chamber downstream of the divider; at least one sound inductor tube extending longitudinally in the housing through the chamber divider, with an inlet end in the first chamber and an outlet extending into the second chamber; and a wall forming a downstream end of the second chamber, with an opening; the outlet end of the inductor tube being spaced from the wall at the downstream end of the second chamber by a distance of from about 1/2 to 1 inch, and being offset from the wall opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 1, including at least two similar inductor tubes arranged coextensively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 1, wherein said distance is about 3/4 inch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the area of the opening in the downstream end wall of the second chamber is at least equal to the sum of the areas of each inductor tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 1, further including means defining a third chamber downstream of the wall at the end of the second chamber, in communication with the inductor tube, with an outlet connecting the third chamber to the atmosphere.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 5, further including spark arrestor means associated with the third chamber, for collecting hot particles from the exhaust stream and preventing their passage out to the atmosphere.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 1, wherein the housing is tapered from a smaller end at its inlet to a larger end at its outlet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 1, wherein the chamber divider is a plate of the same shape as the cross-sectional shape of the housing, with an opening for each inductor tube, fitted closely around the tube in substantial sealing relationship.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 1, wherein each inductor tube includes flow diffuser means at its outlet end for reducing flow resistance where high-velocity gases in the inductor tube decelerate into the second chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 9, said flow diffuser means comprising a flare or taper at the downstream end of each inductor tube, extending to a larger opening area at the outlet end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 1, wherein each inductor tube includes a taper at its upstream end, the inlet to the tube being of smaller opening area and increasing as the taper progresses downstream, for enhancing reflected sound wave attenuation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 11, further including a bell mouth at the upstream end of the inductor tube taper, for efficiently receiving gases and sound energy in the tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 1 or 2, wherein each inductor tube extends through the chamber divider into the second chamber by about 1/4 inch, the chamber divider being about 1 inch from the downstream end wall of the second chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 13, wherein the area of the opening in the downstream end wall of the second chamber is at least equal to the sum of the areas of each inductor tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 1, wherein the first chamber is immediately adjacent to the inlet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
73 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 15, the inlet being generally centrally located in the upstream end of the housing, with an axis of the housing passing through the inlet, and there being at least two inductor tubes arranged coextensively, generally parallel to the axis and spaced outwardly therefrom, out of the entry path from the inlet, with inlet ends of the inductor tubes extending adjacent to the inlet end of the housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 16, wherein the opening in the downstream end wall of the second chamber is located along the axis of the housing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 17, the area of the opening in the downstream end wall of the second chamber being at least equal to the sum of the areas of the inductor tubes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
74 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 1, further including a primary chamber in the housing upstream of the first chamber and immediately adjacent to the inlet, with a primary chamber divider extending across the housing's interior between the primary and first chambers, and including a primary inductor tube extending longitudinally in the housing through the primary chamber divider, overlapping a portion of the length of each said sound inductor tube in the first chamber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 19, there being at least two said sound inductor tubes arranged coextensively, with their upstream portions juxtaposed with the downstream portion of the primary inductor tubes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 20, the area of the opening in the downstream end of the second chamber being at least equal to the sum of the areas of said sound inductor tubes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 19, the primary inductor tube being longer than said sound inductor tube and effective for lower frequencies.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 19, further including means defining a third chamber downstream of the wall at the end of the second chamber, in communication with said sound inductor tube, with an outlet connecting the third chamber to the atmosphere.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 23, further including spark arrestor means associated with the third chamber, for collecting hot particles from the exhaust stream and preventing their passage out to the atmosphere.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 19, wherein the housing is tapered from a smaller end at its inlet to a larger end at its outlet.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 19, wherein each inductor tube includes flow diffuser means at its outlet end for reducing flow resistance where high-velocity gases in the first inductor tube decelerate into the second chamber.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 26, said flow diffuser means comprising a flare or taper at the downstream end of each inductor tube, extending to a larger opening area at the outlet end.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 19, wherein said distance is about 3/4 inch.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
The resonator type muffler of claims 1, 19 or 20, wherein the length of each said sound inductor tube is about one-eighth the wavelength of the predominant frequency to be attenuated.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 27, each said sound inductor tube having an effective diffusion rate of between about 10° and about 15°.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 19, wherein the primary inductor tube has a length of about one-fourth the wavelength of the predominant frequency to be attenuated.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 19, wherein the primary chamber has a volume of at least about five times the displacement of a cylinder of the engine.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 32, wherein the first chamber is of about the same volume as the primary chamber.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chamber divider includes a multiplicity of holes comprising about 1% of the area of the chamber divider.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said holes are between about 1/16" and 3/16" in diameter.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, wherein the chamber divider includes a multiplicity of small holes.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
143 words
A resonator type muffler for an internal combustion engine, comprising: an elongated housing having an inlet and an outlet; a chamber divider extending generally transversely across the interior of the housing to define a first chamber in communication with the housing's inlet, upstream of the divider, and a second chamber downstream of the divider; at least one sound inductor tube extending longitudinally in the housing through the chamber divider, with an outlet end in the first chamber and an outlet extending into the second chamber; and a wall forming a downstream end of the second chamber, with an opening; the outlet end of the inductor tube being spaced from the wall at the downstream end of the second chamber by a distance of about 3/4 inch, and being offset from the wall opening, and the chamber divider including a multiplicity of small holes.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
143 words
A resonator type muffler for an internal combustion engine, comprising: an elongated housing having an inlet and an outlet; a chamber divider extending generally transversely across the interior of the housing to define a first chamber in communication with the housing's inlet, upstream of the divider, and a second chamber downstream of the divider; at least one sound inductor tube extending longitudinally in the housing through the chamber divider, with an outlet end in the first chamber and an outlet extending into the second chamber; and a wall forming a downstream end of the second chamber, with an opening; the outlet end of the inductor tube being spaced from the wall at the downstream end of the second chamber by a distance of about 3/4 inch, and being offset from the wall opening, and the chamber divider including a multiplicity of small holes.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
The resonator type muffler of claim 37, wherein said holes occupy about 1% of the area of the chamber divider.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-01-09 | 1987-07-11 | 1988-01-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-01-09 | 1991-07-11 | 1992-01-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-01-09 | 1995-07-11 | 1996-01-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |