Vehicle exhaust dilution and dispersion device

Abstract

In one exemplary embodiment, an exhaust dilution and dispersion device for a vehicle can include a generally elongate tailpipe comprising an inlet section capable of being in exhaust receiving communication with an exhaust system of a vehicle. The tailpipe further comprises an outlet section in exhaust receiving communication with the inlet section. The outlet section can also comprise a downwardly directed exhaust deflection portion and an exhaust outlet in exhaust dispersing communication with the surroundings external to the device. The exhaust outlet can comprise a generally elongate exhaust dispersion opening extending in a lengthwise direction along the tailpipe. At least a portion of the exhaust outlet can be coextensive with the downwardly directed exhaust deflecting portion and a major portion of the exhaust dispersed from the outlet can have a transverse component.

1 . An exhaust dilution and dispersion device for a vehicle, comprising:
 a generally elongate tailpipe comprising:
 (i) an inlet section capable of being in exhaust receiving communication with an exhaust system of a vehicle; and 
 (ii) an outlet section in exhaust receiving communication with the inlet section, the outlet section comprising a downwardly directed exhaust deflection portion and an exhaust outlet in exhaust dispersing communication with the surroundings external to the device, the exhaust outlet comprising a generally elongate opening extending in a lengthwise direction; 
   wherein at least a portion of the exhaust outlet is coextensive with the downwardly directed exhaust deflection portion, and wherein a major portion of the exhaust dispersed from the exhaust outlet has a transverse component.   
     
     
         2 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 1 , wherein the tailpipe comprises a length of pipe having a generally cylindrical shape with a major diameter, and wherein the elongate opening has a width that is at least approximately 75% of the major diameter of the tailpipe. 
     
     
         3 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the elongate opening is at least approximately 1.5 times the height of the elongate opening. 
     
     
         4 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the elongate opening is at least approximately 1.5 times the width of the elongate opening. 
     
     
         5 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 1 , wherein the tailpipe comprises a length of pipe having a generally cylindrical shape with a major diameter, and wherein in profile the elongate opening has a height that is at least approximately 25% of the major diameter of the tailpipe. 
     
     
         6 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 1 , wherein a substantial portion of the perimeter of the elongate opening extends approximately parallel to a central axis of the tailpipe. 
     
     
         7 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate opening has a generally elongate inverted U-shaped side profile. 
     
     
         8 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 1 , wherein the tailpipe comprises an inlet section end and an outlet section end, and wherein the downwardly directed exhaust deflection portion proximate the outlet section end defines an angle of between approximately 130° and approximately 150° with respect to a central axis of the tailpipe. 
     
     
         9 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 1 , wherein the downwardly directed exhaust deflection portion comprises a bifurcated section having at least one inwardly projecting deflector and at least one outwardly projecting exhaust flow guide. 
     
     
         10 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 9 , wherein the bifurcated section has at least one symmetry plane. 
     
     
         11 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 9 , wherein an interior surface of the at least one deflector is generally convex and an interior surface of the at least one exhaust flow guide is generally concave. 
     
     
         12 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 1 , wherein the downwardly directed exhaust deflection portion comprises at least one inwardly projecting deflector having increasing interior surface areas in an exhaust flow direction and at least one outwardly projecting flow guide defining an exhaust flow channel having decreasing cross-sectional areas in the exhaust flow direction. 
     
     
         13 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 1 , wherein the downwardly directed exhaust deflection portion comprises at least two outwardly projecting exhaust flow guides and one inwardly projecting deflector, and wherein the inwardly projecting deflector is disposed intermediate the at least two outwardly projection flow guides. 
     
     
         14 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle having a first inlet end portion connectable to an exhaust system of a vehicle and a second exhaust acceleration end portion generally opposite the first inlet end portion, the second exhaust acceleration end portion comprising reduced cross-sectional areas in an exhaust flow direction, wherein the second exhaust acceleration end portion of the nozzle is at least partially disposed within the inlet section of the tailpipe such that an ambient air passageway is defined between an outer surface of the nozzle and an inner surface of the tailpipe, the air passageway facilitating passage of ambient air from the surroundings into exhaust flowing through the tailpipe. 
     
     
         15 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 14 , wherein the tailpipe has an overall length, and wherein the exhaust outlet has a length that is at least approximately 50% of the length of the tailpipe. 
     
     
         16 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 14 , wherein the inlet section of the tailpipe comprises a diffusion section having increasing cross-sectional areas in the exhaust flow direction. 
     
     
         17 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of connection structures coaxially coupling the nozzle and the tailpipe, the connection structures being generally elongated and extending in a direction generally parallel to a central axis of the nozzle and the tailpipe. 
     
     
         18 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of connection structures coaxially coupling the nozzle and the tailpipe together, at least one of the connection structures being generally elongated and having a turbulence inducing portion that is not parallel to a central axis of the tailpipe. 
     
     
         19 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 14 , wherein the ambient air passageway is generally annularly-shaped. 
     
     
         20 . An exhaust cooling tailpipe for a vehicle, comprising:
 a first generally tubular inlet portion with an exhaust inlet capable of being in exhaust receiving communication with an exhaust system of a vehicle; and   a second outlet portion coupled to the inlet portion and comprising:
 (i) a downwardly directed exhaust deflection portion having at least one inwardly projecting deflector with increasing interior surface areas in an exhaust flow direction and at least one outwardly projecting exhaust flow guide with decreasing cross-sectional areas in the exhaust flow direction; and 
 (ii) an exhaust outlet in exhaust dispersing communication with the environment, the exhaust outlet comprising a generally elongate opening extending longitudinally along the tailpipe, the opening being at least partially coextensive with the downwardly directed exhaust deflection portion such that at least a major portion of the exhaust being dispersed through the opening has a sideways component. 
   
     
     
         21 . The exhaust cooling tailpipe of  claim 20 , wherein a substantial portion of the perimeter of the exhaust outlet opening extends approximately parallel to a central axis of the tailpipe. 
     
     
         22 . The exhaust cooling tailpipe of  claim 20 , wherein an inner surface of the inwardly projecting deflector defines an angle of between approximately 130° and approximately 150° with respect to a central axis of the tailpipe. 
     
     
         23 . The exhaust cooling tailpipe of  claim 20 , wherein the tailpipe comprises a length of pipe having a generally cylindrical shape with a major diameter, and wherein the exhaust outlet opening has a width that is at least approximately 75% of the major diameter of the tailpipe. 
     
     
         24 . The exhaust cooling tailpipe of  claim 20 , wherein the length of the elongate opening is at least approximately 1.5 times the width of the elongate opening. 
     
     
         25 . The exhaust cooling tailpipe of  claim 20 , wherein the tailpipe comprises a length of pipe having a generally cylindrical shape with a major diameter, and wherein in profile the exhaust outlet opening has a height that is at least approximately 25% of the major diameter of the tailpipe. 
     
     
         26 . An exhaust dilution and dispersion device for a vehicle, comprising:
 an exhaust acceleration portion configured for mounting in exhaust receiving communication with a vehicle, the acceleration portion having an exhaust acceleration passage with reduced cross-sectional areas in an exhaust flow direction;   an exhaust diffusion portion in exhaust receiving communication with the exhaust accelerating passage of the exhaust accelerating portion, the exhaust diffusion portion having an exhaust diffusion passage with increased cross-sectional areas in the exhaust flow direction;   an air passageway having an inlet communicating with ambient air and an outlet communicating with the exhaust diffusion portion; and   an exhaust dispersion portion in exhaust receiving communication with the exhaust diffusion passage and having a generally elongate exhaust dispersion opening extending in a lengthwise direction and in exhaust expelling communication with a surrounding environment, the elongate exhaust dispersion opening laterally dispersing at least a major portion of exhaust flowing through the exhaust dispersion portion.   
     
     
         27 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 26 , wherein the exhaust dispersion opening has a generally elongate arcuate-shaped side profile. 
     
     
         28 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 26 , wherein the exhaust acceleration passage is coaxial with and at least partially positioned within the exhaust diffusion passage of the exhaust diffusion portion, and wherein the air passageway comprises a generally annularly-shaped passage formed between the exhaust accelerating portion and the exhaust diffusion portion. 
     
     
         29 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 28 , wherein the exhaust acceleration portion is coupled to the exhaust diffusion portion via a plurality of gussets. 
     
     
         30 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 26 , wherein the exhaust acceleration portion comprises a first generally tubular-shaped pipe and the exhaust diffusion portion comprises a second generally tubular-shaped pipe, and wherein the first generally tubular-shaped pipe is positioned at least partially within the second generally tubular-shaped pipe, wherein the air passageway comprises a space defined between the first pipe and the second pipe. 
     
     
         31 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 30 , wherein the first generally tubular-shaped pipe has an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the inlet end is capable of being placed in exhaust receiving communication with a vehicle exhaust system of a vehicle and the outlet end is in exhaust expelling communication with the second generally tubular-shaped pipe. 
     
     
         32 . The exhaust dilution and dispersion device of  claim 26 , wherein the device further comprises an exhaust mixing portion intermediate the exhaust diffusion portion and the exhaust dispersion portion, the mixing portion having a passageway with a side wall generally parallel to the exhaust flow direction, the mixing portion being in exhaust receiving communication with the diffusion portion and exhaust expelling communication with the exhaust dispersion portion. 
     
     
         33 . A method of cooling exhaust from a vehicle, comprising:
 receiving a flow of exhaust from an exhaust system of a vehicle;   downwardly deflecting at least a portion of the flow of exhaust; and   dispersing the flow of exhaust away from the vehicle, wherein dispersing the flow of exhaust comprises downwardly dispersing the flow of exhaust and laterally dispersing at least a major portion of the flow of exhaust.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising bifurcating at least a portion of the flow of exhaust. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising accelerating the flow of exhaust received from the exhaust system and mixing ambient air with the flow of exhaust prior to dispersing the exhaust. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising decelerating the flow of exhaust after mixing ambient air with the flow of exhaust.