US20070095605A1

US20070095605A1 - Muffler for vehicle

Info

Publication number: US20070095605A1
Application number: US10/571,457
Authority: US
Inventors: Young You
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-09-19
Filing date: 2004-09-20
Publication date: 2007-05-03
Also published as: WO2005028823A1; JP2007506025A; CN1853033A; EP1680578A1; KR200340730Y1

Abstract

The present invention discloses a muffler for vehicle, being capable of augmenting engine's output power more than conventional tuning mufflers and more effectively eliminating exhaust noise. The muffler comprises: exhaust pressure control means connected to an exhaust manifold of an vehicle engine, for controlling pressure of the exhaust gas, the exhaust pressure control means comprising an exhaust pressure control plate, which is pivotally attached to a predetermined position of the exhaust pressure control part; and noise elimination means, which shapes generally a hollow pipe and is connected to the exhaust pressure control means part, the noise elimination means comprising a mesh pipe, through which the exhaust gas passes; a sound absorber enveloping the mesh pipe; and a casing enclosing the sound absorber, whose one end is connected to the exhaust pressure control means and the other end is connected to an outlet.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a muffler for vehicle, being capable of augmenting engine's output power more than conventional tuning mufflers and more effectively eliminating exhaust noise.

BACKGROUND ART

A muffler, generally installed at the outlet of an exhaust pipe connected to an exhaust manifold, is a device that eliminates exhaust noise by reducing the pressure of exhaust gas from an engine. Mufflers are roughly divided into a dilation type, an absorption type, and a partition type. Of these, the partition type is generally used for conventional pure parts.
In the partition type muffler having multiple isolating partitions in it, the exhaust gas is step-wise reduced while passing the isolating partitions, and therefore, the partition type muffler has better noise elimination capability compared to other type mufflers. However, since the isolating partitions in itself impede or resist the flow of the exhaust gas, the engine output power is accordingly reduced.
Recently, many automobile maniacs like to tune or replace the original muffler to increase the engine output power at the sacrifice of noise elimination. FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a certain replacement muffler. As shown, the replacement muffler 10 is composed of a casing 1, whose one end is fixed to an exhaust manifold 7 and the other end is connected to an outlet; a multi-punctured pipe 2, located in the casing 1 and connected to the exhaust manifold 7, for forming therein an exhaust gas passing channel 4; and a sound absorbing material 6, filled in the casing 1 and wrapping the multi-punctured pipe 2.
FIG. 2 shows the multi-punctured pipe 2 that has a plurality of holes 3 on its circumference. Explosion sound, especially high frequency sound, from the engine spouts from the holes 3 and absorbed into the sound absorbing material 6 in the middle of passing the exhaust gas passing channel 4. It is noted that the exhaust gas passing channel 4 is completely open such that no hindrance pressure against the exhaust gas from the engine is generated.
In the conventional muffler, since there is no obstacles in the exhaust gas passing channel 4, the exhaust gas can freely pass the channel 4 in the direction of ‘a’, but, for the same reason, the exhaust noise freely gives off the muffler also. In addition, since the exhaust gas passing channel 4 is always open to the atmosphere, the temperature in a combustion room of the engine becomes abnormally lower.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention is invented to overcome the conventional tuning muffler's drawbacks. It is an object of the present invention to provide a muffler for vehicle that generates output power more than the conventional tuning muffler, and also increases the noise elimination capability more than convention partition type muffler.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a muffler for vehicle that prevents the temperature drop in the engine's combustion room occurring in the conventional muffler because the exhaust gas passing channel is always open to the atmosphere.
To achieve the above object, there is provided a muffler for vehicle comprising:
exhaust pressure control means connected to an exhaust manifold of an vehicle engine, for controlling pressure of the exhaust gas,
the exhaust pressure control means comprising an exhaust pressure control plate, which is pivotally attached to a predetermined position of the exhaust pressure control part, and
noise elimination means, which shapes generally a hollow pipe and is connected to the exhaust pressure control means part,
the noise elimination means comprising a mesh pipe, through which the exhaust gas passes; a sound absorber enveloping the mesh pipe; and a casing enclosing the sound absorber, whose one end is connected to the exhaust pressure control means and the other end is connected to an outlet.
According to another feature of the present invention, there is provided a muffler for vehicle comprising
noise elimination means, which shapes generally a hollow pipe and is connected to the exhaust pressure control means part, the noise elimination means comprising a mesh pipe, through which the exhaust gas passes; a sound absorber enveloping the mesh pipe; and a casing enclosing the sound absorber, whose one end is connected to the exhaust pressure control means and the other end is connected to an outlet,
exhaust pressure control means connected to an exhaust manifold of an vehicle engine, for controlling pressure of the exhaust gas,
the exhaust pressure control means comprising an exhaust pressure control plate, which is pivotally attached to a predetermined position of the exhaust pressure control part, and
at least one second noise elimination means connected to said noise elimination means, the second noise elimination means having the same construction as said noise elimination means.
It is preferable that the sound absorber is formed by piling at least two different sound absorbing materials, and the exhaust pressure control plate is located near the location of the engine. It is also preferable that the mesh pipe is dense so as not to be seen through it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-section of a conventional muffler,
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a multi-punctured pipe in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-section of one embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 4 is a detailed view of A-A section in FIG. 3,
FIG. 5 is a front view of an exhaust pressure control plate of the embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mesh pipe of the embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the mesh pipe of the embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention,

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-section of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an A-A cross-section view from FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, a muffler according to the embodiment of the present invention, is composed of an exhaust pressure control part 20 connected to the exhaust manifold of the engine, and a noise elimination part 25 connected to an opposite end of the exhaust pressure control part 20. An opposite end of the noise elimination part 25 is connected to an outlet 27 which emits the exhaust gas from the engine to the atmosphere.
The exhaust pressure control part 20 includes therein an exhaust pressure control plate 21 which is pivotally attached to a certain position of the top of the exhaust pressure control part 20. It is preferable that the exhaust pressure control plate 21 is positioned near the engine. FIG. 5 is a front view of the pressure control plate 21, which shows a plurality of exhaust holes 28. The exhaust holes may be one or several larger holes, unlike many small holes depicted in FIG. 5.
The noise elimination part 25 is composed of a mesh pipe 22, through which the exhaust gas passes; a sound absorber 23 enveloping the mesh pipe 22; and a casing 24 enclosing the sound absorber 23. The mesh pipe 22 is an element that replaces the multi-punctured pipe 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The mesh pipe 22 is depicted in FIG. 6.
Unlike the conventional multi-punctured pipe 2 in which a plurality of holes are penetrated, the mesh pipe 22 according to the present invention is constructed by a mesh sheet 22 a (see FIG. 7). The mesh sheet 22 a, made of a dense wire net, is cylindrically rolled and the lateral ends are capped by fixing means 22 b to be fixed to the cylindrical shape. It is preferable that the mesh sheet 22 a is dense so as not to be seen through it. By replacing the multi-punctured pipe 2 to this mesh pipe 22, both the noise elimination efficiency and the engine output power can be increased. In addition, since the dimension of the mesh pipe 22 is relatively smaller, the dimension of the whole muffler may be decreased.
The sound absorber 23 eliminates the explosion sound of the exhaust gas, in which three different sound absorbing materials are piled: for example, a stainless steel wool 23 a which adjoins the mesh pipe 22; a ceramic wool 23 b in the intermediate layer; and a rock wool 23 c in the outermost layer. The stainless steel wool 23 a plays a role in absorbing the exhaust sound, protecting the other absorbing materials, and malting the exhaust sound mellow even in the long term use. The ceramic wool 23 b is an excellent sound absorbing material that has the good heat-endurability and is strong dampproof. The rock wool 23 c is also an excellent sound absorbing material. The structure of the above sound absorber 23 is just an example, and those who skilled in the relevant art may construct the sound absorber by using other materials.
In the mean time, the mesh pipe 22 shown in FIG. 6 may be warped by high temperature of the exhaust gas, since the mesh pipe 22 is made of a pliable material. For prevention, a conventional multi-punctured pipe (see FIG. 2) may be inserted in the mesh pipe 22 to reinforce it. Since the hole diameter of the multi-punctured pipe 2 is much smaller than that of the mesh pipe 22, the multi-punctured pipe 2 does not have an effect on the sound elimination capability of the muffler of the present invention. It is used just for reinforcing the pliable mesh pipe 22.
Now the operation of the above-structured embodiment will be described. If the exhaust gas from the engine's exhaust manifold is introduced to the exhaust pressure control part 20, the exhaust pressure control plate 21 is backward pushed (see the dotted shape 21′ in FIG. 3) and the exhaust gas enters the noise elimination part 25. The exhaust pressure control plate 21 prevents the temperature drop in the engine's combustion room occurring in the conventional muffler by screen the open shape of the exhaust gas passing channel from the atmosphere. The weight of the exhaust pressure control plate 21 is dependent on the amount of engine power. That is, in the small car having the small power engine, the light plate 21 is used, while in the bigger car having the stronger power engine, the heavier plate 21 is used.
The exhaust noise, especially high-frequency noise, of the gas entering the noise elimination part 25 is absorbed by the sound absorber 23 through the fine meshes of the mesh pipe 22, thereby being eliminated. The mesh pipe 23 exhibits the much more effective sound elimination in that it increases the amount of exhaust sound entering the sound absorber 23 compared to the multi-punctured pipe of the conventional tuning muffler, and protects un-eliminated sound from discharging from the sound absorber 23. In addition, it also increases the engine power compared to the conventional multi-punctured pipe. In the present invention, since the sound absorber 23 is formed by piling different materials having different sound absorbing properties, the sound elimination efficiency can be more increased comparing to the conventional art.
FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The difference from one in FIG. 3 is that a second noise elimination part 25′ is connected to the noise elimination part 25. The structure of the second noise elimination part 25′ is the same as the noise elimination part 25. By adding an extra noise elimination part, the noise elimination efficiency can be increased, of the matter of course. Further, three or more noise elimination part may be connected, and between the noise elimination parts the exhaust pressure control part 20 explained in FIG. 1 may be added. In addition, the manufacturer may provide a structure so that a user can easily assemble and disassemble the multiple noise elimination parts and exhaust pressure control parts. By doing so, users may obtain the muffler suiting their taste or fondness.
FIG. 9 shows still another embodiment of the present invention, in which the difference from one in FIG. 8 is the order of the noise elimination part 25 and the exhaust pressure control part 20. That is, the muffler is constructed by connecting a first noise elimination part 25 to the exhaust manifold, an exhaust pressure control part 20 to the first noise elimination part 25, and again a second noise elimination part 25′ to the exhaust pressure control part 20. The structure of the noise elimination part 25, 25′ and the exhaust pressure control part 20 are the same as those in FIG. 1. Similar to the case in FIG. 8, the muffler may be constructed by adding extra noise elimination parts and exhaust pressure control parts.
FIG. 10 shows yet another embodiment of the present invention, in which a third noise elimination part 25″ is connected to the second noise elimination part 25′ shown in FIG. 8. However, in this embodiment the first noise elimination part 25 is structured by the mesh pipe of the present invention, and the second and the third noise elimination part 25′, 25″ are structured by the conventional multi-punctured pipe. This embodiment in FIG. 10 operates substantially the same as that in FIG. 8, and however a user can precisely tune the exhaust sound and output power according to the present embodiment. As above, those who skilled in the art may design a variety of combination of the inventive noise elimination parts and the conventional ones for their certain purposes.
By the way, in the exhaust pressure control part 20 shown in FIG. 3, the exhaust pressure control plate 21 may produce undesired clinking noise because it knocks against the casing during operation. To get rid of this noise, a tapered multi-punctured pipe 29 is substitutionally inserted in the mesh pipe 22, as shown in FIG. 11. The figure of the tapered multi-punctured pipe 29 is depicted in FIG. 12. Since an entrance diameter of the tapered multi-punctured pipe 29 is greater than the exit diameter, the exhaust gas introduced to the entrance receives the more pressure than the untapered conventional pipe, during passing the exhaust gas passing channel. Therefore, the tapered multi-punctured pipe 29 performs operation similar to the exhaust pressure control plate 21. That is, the tapered multi-punctured pipe 29 controls the pressure of the exiting exhaust gas, such that the engine room temperature is not decreased under the influence of the atmospheric temperature. According to the experiment, without the exhaust pressure control part 20, the temperature of the engine room was not decreased. In the experiment, the length of the tapered multi-punctured pipe 29 was set by around ⅓ of the mesh pipe 22. However, the length is not limited to that. It is preferable that the tapered multi-punctured pipe 29 is located at the endpoint of the engine, but this is not limited to the position.
While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments to carry out this invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A muffler for vehicle comprising

exhaust pressure control means connected to an exhaust manifold of an vehicle engine, for controlling pressure of the exhaust gas,

noise elimination means, which shapes generally a hollow pipe and is connected to the exhaust pressure control means part 20,

the noise elimination means comprising a mesh pipe, through which the exhaust gas passes; a sound absorber enveloping the mesh pipe; and a casing enclosing the sound absorber, whose one end is connected to the exhaust pressure control means and the other end is connected to an outlet.

2. A muffler for vehicle of claim 1, wherein the sound absorber is formed by piling at least two different sound absorbing materials.

3. A muffler for vehicle of claim 1, wherein the exhaust pressure control means comprises an exhaust pressure control plate, which is pivotally attached to a predetermined position of the exhaust pressure control part, and prevents the temperature drop in the engine's combustion room by screen an open shape of the exhaust gas passing channel from the atmosphere.

4. A muffler for vehicle of claim 1, wherein the exhaust pressure control means comprises a tapered multi-punctured pipe inserted in the mesh pipe, whose entrance diameter is greater than an exit diameter, so that the exhaust gas introduced to the entrance receives the more pressure than the untapered pipe, during passing an exhaust gas passing channel.

5. A muffler for vehicle of claim 1, further comprises at least one second noise elimination means connected to said noise elimination means, the second noise elimination means having the same construction as said noise elimination means.

6. A muffler for vehicle of claim 5, further comprises a second exhaust pressure control means connected between the noise elimination means and the second noise elimination means, the second exhaust pressure control means having the same construction as said noise elimination means.

7. A muffler for vehicle of claim 2, further comprises at least one second noise elimination means connected to said noise elimination means, the second noise elimination means having the same construction as said noise elimination means.

8. A muffler for vehicle of claim 3, further comprises at least one second noise elimination means connected to said noise elimination means, the second noise elimination means having the same construction as said noise elimination means.

9. A muffler for vehicle of claim 4, further comprises at least one second noise elimination means connected to said noise elimination means, the second noise elimination means having the same construction as said noise elimination means.