Automobile muffler with high flow rate

Abstract

A sound attenuating exhaust muffler for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The muffler has a body casing with an exhaust inlet at one end and an exhaust exit at the other end. Internally, three partitions define four serial chambers with a sound absorbing column located in the third chamber. The first and third partition fit closely to the body casing around their edges with apertures through the partitions, while the second partition fits closely in the height dimension but has gaps around each end in the width dimension. The second partition is bent at its middle to present two oblique surfaces towards the first partition.

1 . A sound attenuating exhaust muffler for an internal combustion engine, comprising: 
 a) an elongated casing body having a first end and a second end with a first inlet opening in said first end and an first exit opening in said second end;    b) a first internal chamber defined by said first end and a first partition, said first partition essentially matching the dimensions of said casing body and having a first centrally located aperture therethrough;    c) a second chamber defined by said first partition and a second partition, said second chamber being in communication with said first chamber via said first centrally located aperture, and said second partition having the height of said casing body but not the full width of said casing body, leaving a gap at each end of said second partition;    d) a third chamber defined by said second partition and a third partition, said third chamber being in communication with said second chamber around the ends of said second partition and said third partition essentially matching the dimensions of said casing body and having a second centrally located aperture therethrough, and an auxiliary aperture between said second centrally located aperture and each end of said third partition,    e) a column located centrally within said third chamber, and    f) a fourth chamber defined by said third partition and said second end of said elongated body casing, wherein said fourth chamber is in communication with said third chamber via said second central aperture and said auxiliary apertures.    
   
   
       2 . The sound attenuating exhaust muffler of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said second partition is divided into two panels by a central crease parallel to the unattached ends of said second partition, and each said panel recedes away from said first partition as they extend towards their respective sides of said body casing.    
   
   
       3 . The sound attenuating exhaust muffler of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said column has four sides.    
   
   
       4 . The sound attenuating exhaust muffler of  claim 3  wherein: 
 said column is so oriented and so shaped that two sides of said column are essentially parallel to the two panels of said second partition.    
   
   
       5 . The sound attenuating exhaust muffler of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said exit opening in said second end is located at nearer one side of said casing body.    
   
   
       6 . A sound attenuating exhaust muffler for an internal combustion engine, comprising: 
 a) an elongated casing body having a first end and a second end with a first inlet opening in said first end and a first exit opening in said second end;    b) a first partition, said first partition essentially matching the dimensions of said casing body and having a first centrally located aperture therethrough;    c) a second partition, said second partition having the height of said casing body but not the full width of said casing body, leaving a gap at each end of said second partition;    d) a third partition essentially matching the dimensions of said casing body and having a second centrally located aperture therethrough, and an auxiliary aperture between said second centrally located aperture and each end of said third partition,    e) a column located centrally between said second partition and said third partition.    
   
   
       7 . The sound attenuating exhaust muffler of  claim 6  wherein: 
 said second partition is divided into two panels by a central crease parallel to the unattached ends of said second partition, and each said panel recedes away from said first partition as they extend towards their respective sides of said body casing.    
   
   
       8 . The sound attenuating exhaust muffler of  claim 6  wherein: 
 said column has four sides.    
   
   
       9 . The sound attenuating exhaust muffler of  claim 8  wherein: 
 said column is so oriented and so shaped that two sides of said column are essentially parallel to the two panels of said second partition.    
   
   
       10 . The sound attenuating exhaust muffler of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said first end has a second inlet opening in addition to said first inlet opening, said second inlet opening conducting exhaust into said first internal chamber.    
   
   
       11 . The sound attenuating exhaust muffler of  claim 10  wherein: 
 said first inlet opening and said second inlet opening each conduct exhaust from separate cylinder banks of said internal combustion engine to said muffler.    
   
   
       12 . The sound attenuating exhaust muffler of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said second end has a second exit opening.    
   
   
       13 . The sound attenuating exhaust muffler of  claim 6  wherein: 
 said first end has a second inlet opening in addition to said first inlet opening, said second inlet opening conducting exhaust into said first internal chamber.    
   
   
       14 . The sound attenuating exhaust muffler of  claim 13  wherein: 
 said first inlet opening and said second inlet opening each conduct exhaust from separate cylinder banks of said internal combustion engine to said muffler.    
   
   
       15 . The sound attenuating exhaust muffler of  claim 6  wherein: 
 said second end has a second exit opening.    
   
   
       16 . The sound attenuating exhaust muffler of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said column is round.    
   
   
       17 . The sound attenuating exhaust muffler of  claim 6  wherein: 
 said column is round.