Swing-arm integrated exhaust silencer

Abstract

A Swing-arm Integrated Exhaust Silencer is disclosed. The Silencer is designed to be incorporated within the conventional swingarm of a motorcycle. One version has a removable silencer cartridge that installs within the inner chamber of the motorcycle's swingarm. Another version allows the exhaust stream to be diverted from the conventional silencer and into the inner chamber of the swingarm. In either version, the swingarm has plurality of apertures formed in it to allow for exhaust gas exit. The invention includes an adapter device that splits the exhaust gas exiting the engine and redirects it into the swingarm-integrated silencer. The exhaust adapter device is somewhat flexible to allow for movement between the swingarm, the engine, and the conventional silencer's exhaust pipe.

1 . A suspension swingarm for motor vehicles, comprising:
 a housing defined by a proximal end and a distal end;   an internal chamber formed by said housing; and   an inlet port in fluid communication with said internal chamber, said inlet port extending from said housing.   
   
   
       2 . The swingarm of  claim 1 , wherein said motor vehicles include an internal combustion engine mounted thereto and further defined by an exhaust port, said swingarm comprising:
 a swingarm exhaust pipe configured to interconnect the engine exhaust port and said inlet port.   
   
   
       3 . The swingarm of  claim 2 , wherein said inlet port extends upwardly from a cross-strut interconnecting right and left swingarm members. 
   
   
       4 . The swingarm of  claim 3 , further comprising a pivot mount associated with a proximal end of said swingarm and a rear axle associated with a distal end of said swingarm, said pivot mount cooperating with a frame of said motor vehicle to allow for rotational movement between said swingarm and the frame about said pivot mount. 
   
   
       5 . The swingarm of  claim 4 , wherein said housing is further defined by a plurality of apertures formed therein to allow for fluid communication between said internal chamber and the exterior of said housing. 
   
   
       6 . A method for changing the path of exhaust gases exiting an external combustion engine of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle comprising at least one exhaust pipe extending from the engine exhaust port, a silencer element extending from the exhaust pipe, and at least one swingarm attached between the motor vehicle frame and a motor vehicle rear wheel, the method comprising the steps of:
 disconnecting said exhaust pipe from said engine exhaust port;   replacing said swingarm with a replacement swingarm defined by:
 a housing defined by a proximal end and a distal end; 
 an internal chamber formed by said housing; and 
 an inlet port in fluid communication with said internal chamber, said inlet port extending from said housing; and 
   interconnecting said engine exhaust port with said inlet port.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said replacing step comprises inserting an adapter element between said engine exhaust port and said inlet port. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said replacing step comprises replacing said swingarm with a replacement swingarm, wherein said replacement swingarm is further defined by a swingarm exhaust pipe interconnecting said adapter element and said inlet port. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said replacing step comprises inserting an adapter element between said engine exhaust port and said inlet port, wherein said adapter element further comprises a swingarm adapter portion connected to said swingarm exhaust pipe. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said replacing step comprises inserting an adapter element between said engine exhaust port and said inlet port, wherein said adapter element further comprises a flexible tubular swingarm adapter portion connected to said swingarm exhaust pipe. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said replacing step comprises inserting an adapter element between said engine exhaust port and said inlet port, wherein said adapter element further comprises legacy outlet port separate from a swingarm adapter portion connected to said swingarm exhaust pipe, said swingarm adapter portion attached to said inlet port and said legacy outlet port attached to said exhaust pipe. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said replacing step comprises inserting an adapter element between said engine exhaust port and said inlet port, wherein said adapter element further comprises a flexible tubular swingarm adapter portion connected to said swingarm exhaust pipe. 
   
   
       13 . A motorcycle exhaust system, comprising:
 a swingarm pivotally attachable to a motorcycle frame and to which a rear wheel is rotatably attachable, said swingarm defined by a housing having by a proximal end for said pivotal attachment and a distal end for said rotatable attachment;   an internal chamber formed by said housing; and   an internal silencer element located within said internal chamber.   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said motorcycle includes an internal combustion engine mounted to the frame and further defined by an exhaust port, said swingarm comprising:
 a swingarm exhaust pipe configured to interconnect the engine exhaust port and said internal silencer element.   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a pivot mount associated with said proximal end of said swingarm and a rear axle associated with said distal end of said swingarm, said pivot mount cooperating with a frame of said motor vehicle to allow for rotational movement between said swingarm and the frame about said pivot mount. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising an adapter element interconnecting said engine exhaust port and said internal silencer. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said housing is further defined by a plurality of apertures formed therein to allow for fluid communication between said internal chamber and the exterior of said housing. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said adapter element interconnects said internal silencer element as well as an exhaust pipe leading to a second silencer element external to said housing. 
   
   
       19 . The swingarm of  claim 1 , further comprising an internal silencer element located within said internal chamber, said internal silencer element in fluid communication with said inlet port. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said replacement swingarm of said replacement step further comprises an internal silencer element located within said internal housing, said internal silencer element in fluid communication with said inlet port.