Muffler and spark arrester

Abstract

A muffler is described with a housing having an input and an output. At least one plate is disposed within the housing to divide it into at least a first and a second internal expansion chamber. At least one tube is disposed through the plate, the tube having first and second ends with a bend therebetween, the bend altering an orientation of the second end of the tube so that the second end faces an interior surface of the housing. The housing, the plate and the tube establish a path for the exhaust between the input and the output. In addition, the first and second internal expansion chambers cooperate to attenuate sound, and the tube assists in sound attenuation and/or affects the path of the exhaust to arrest the discharge of sparks from the output.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A muffler, comprising: 
 a housing having an input and an output, the input adapted to receive exhaust from an internal combustion engine that includes at least one of exhaust gases and sparks;    at least one plate disposed within the housing, dividing the housing into at least a first and a second internal chamber; and    at least one tube disposed through the plate, the tube having first and second ends with a bend therebetween, the bend altering an orientation of the second end of the tube so that the second end faces an interior surface of the housing,    wherein the housing, the plate, and the tube establish a path for the exhaust between the input and the output,    wherein the first and second internal chambers cooperate to attenuate sound,    wherein the tube affects the path of the exhaust to arrest the discharge of sparks from the output.    
     
     
         2 . The muffler of  claim 1 , wherein the tube has a length and a diameter selected to attenuate sound at a predetermined frequency.  
     
     
         3 . The muffler of  claim 1 , further comprising a second plate disposed within the second internal chamber to establish a spark trap within the second internal chamber.  
     
     
         4 . The muffler of  claim 3 , further comprising a plug disposed through the side wall of the housing within the spark trap to permit the removal of carbon particles from the spark trap after a predetermined period muffler operation.  
     
     
         5 . The muffler of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tube comprises three tubes.  
     
     
         6 . The muffler of  claim 5 , wherein the three tubes are arranged generally in the shape of a triangle.  
     
     
         7 . The muffler of  claim 5 , wherein each of the tubes includes a first segment between the first end and the bend with a first axis substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of housing.  
     
     
         8 . The muffler of  claim 7 , wherein each of the three tubes includes a second segment between the bend and the second end that define a second axis disposed at a first predetermined angle to the first axis of the first segment.  
     
     
         9 . The muffler of  claim 8 , wherein the first predetermined angle is between about 5 and 90 degrees.  
     
     
         10 . The muffler of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one plate defines a plate axis parallel thereto, and wherein the second axis is disposed to the plate axis at a second predetermined angle.  
     
     
         11 . The muffler of  claim 10 , wherein the second predetermined angle is between about 0 and 90 degrees.  
     
     
         12 . The muffler of  claim 8 , wherein the first predetermined angle is substantially the same for each of the three tubes.  
     
     
         13 . The muffler of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one plate is disposed a predetermined distance away from the input of the housing.  
     
     
         14 . The muffler of  claim 1 , further comprising a first screen disposed within or adjacent the inlet at least to muffle a first sound type within a first predetermined frequency range.  
     
     
         15 . The muffler of  claim 14 , wherein the inlet is a tubular member with the first type screen disposed therein.  
     
     
         16 . The muffler of  claim 14 , further comprising a second screen disposed within or adjacent the outlet at least to muffle a second predetermined frequency range.  
     
     
         17 . The muffler of  claim 16 , wherein the outlet is a tubular member, and the second screen is positioned within the outlet.  
     
     
         18 . An all terrain vehicle, comprising: 
 a frame;    front and rear wheels suspended from the frame;    an engine including an exhaust outlet mounted on the frame; and    a muffler comprising: 
 a housing having an input and an output, the input adapted to receive exhaust from an internal combustion engine that includes at least one of exhaust gases and sparks;  
 at least one plate disposed within the housing, dividing the housing into at least a first and a second internal chamber; and  
 at least one tube disposed through the plate, the tube having first and second ends with a bend therebetween, the bend altering an orientation of the second end of the tube so that the second end faces an interior surface of the housing,  
 wherein the housing, the plate, and the tube establish a path for the exhaust between the input and the output,  
 wherein the first and second internal chambers cooperate to attenuate sound,  
 wherein the tube affects the path of the exhaust to arrest the discharge of sparks from the output.  
   
     
     
         19 . The all terrain vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the tube has a length and a diameter selected to attenuate sound at a predetermined frequency.  
     
     
         20 . The all terrain vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the muffler further comprises a second plate disposed within the second internal chamber to establish a spark trap within the second internal chamber.  
     
     
         21 . The all terrain vehicle of  claim 20 , wherein the muffler further comprises a plug disposed through the side wall of the housing within the spark trap to permit the removal of carbon particles from the spark trap after a predetermined period muffler operation.  
     
     
         22 . The all terrain vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one tube comprises three tubes.  
     
     
         23 . The all terrain vehicle of  claim 22 , wherein the three tubes are equidistantly spaced generally in the shape of a triangle.  
     
     
         24 . The all terrain vehicle of  claim 22 , wherein each of the three tubes includes a first segment between the first end and the bend with a first axis substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of housing.  
     
     
         25 . The all terrain vehicle of  claim 22 , wherein end of the three tubes includes a second segment between the bend and the second end that define a second axis disposed at a first predetermined angle to the first axis of the first segment.  
     
     
         26 . The all terrain vehicle of  claim 25 , wherein the first predetermined angle is between about 5 and 90 degrees.  
     
     
         27 . The all terrain vehicle of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one plate defines a plate axis parallel thereto, and wherein the second axis is disposed to the plate axis at a second predetermined angle.  
     
     
         28 . The all terrain vehicle of  claim 27 , wherein the second predetermined angle is between about 0 and 90 degrees.  
     
     
         29 . The all terrain vehicle of  claim 25 , wherein the first predetermined angle is substantially the same for each of the three tubes.  
     
     
         30 . The all terrain vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one plate is disposed a predetermined distance away from the input of the housing.  
     
     
         31 . The all terrain vehicle of  claim 18 , further comprising a first screen disposed within or adjacent the inlet at least to muffle a first sound type within a first predetermined frequency range.  
     
     
         32 . The all terrain vehicle of  claim 31 , wherein the inlet is a tubular member with the first type screen disposed therein.  
     
     
         33 . The all terrain vehicle of  claim 31 , further comprising a second screen disposed within or adjacent the outlet at least to muffle second predetermined frequency range.  
     
     
         34 . The all terrain vehicle of  claim 33 , wherein the outlet is tubular and the second screen is positioned within the outlet.  
     
     
         35 . A muffler, comprising: 
 a housing having an input and an output, the input adapted to receive exhaust from an internal combustion engine that includes at least one of exhaust gases and sparks;    at least one plate disposed within the housing, dividing the housing into at least a first and a second internal chamber; and    at least one tube disposed through the plate, the tube having first and second ends with a bend therebetween, the bend altering an orientation of the second end of the tube so that the second end faces an interior surface of the housing, wherein    the tube is dimensioned to attenuate sound at a predetermined frequency and affects the path of the exhaust to arrest the discharge of sparks from the output.    
     
     
         36 . An all terrain vehicle, comprising: 
 a frame;    front and rear wheels suspended from the frame;    an engine including an exhaust outlet mounted on the frame; and    a muffler comprising: 
 a housing having an input and an output, the input adapted to receive exhaust from an internal combustion engine that includes at least one of exhaust gases and sparks;  
 at least one plate disposed within the housing, dividing the housing into at least a first and a second internal chamber; and  
 at least one tube disposed through the plate, the tube having first and second ends with a bend therebetween, the bend altering an orientation of the second end of the tube so that the second end faces an interior surface of the housing, wherein  
 the tube is dimensioned to attenuate sound at a predetermined frequency and affects the path of the exhaust to arrest the discharge of sparks from the output.