Recirculating Muffler Apparatus and Method

Abstract

A recirculating flow muffler apparatus and method includes a case with an exterior surrounding an interior space, the interior space forming a return area, where the case has a front and a rear. An inlet is provided at the front of the case, the inlet extending into the case interior space. A mixing tube is provided within the interior space, where the return area surrounds the mixing tube. The mixing tube has a first end and a second end where the first end is bigger than the inlet and the first end is located next to the inlet. An outlet is provided at the rear of the case, the outlet extending out of the interior space of the case and the second end of the mixing tube includes an opening between it and the outlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A recirculating flow muffler apparatus comprising:
 a. a case with an exterior surrounding an interior space, said interior space forming a return area, wherein the case has a front and a rear;   b. an inlet at the front of the case, said inlet extending into said case interior space;   c. a mixing tube within said interior space, wherein said return area surrounds said mixing tube, said mixing tube having a first end and a second end wherein said first end is bigger than said inlet and said first end is located next to said inlet; and   d. an outlet at the rear of the case, said outlet extending out of said interior space of said case, and wherein said second end of said mixing tube includes an opening between it and said outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said inlet is tapered and extends into said first end of said mixing tube. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first end of said mixing tube is flared. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said mixing tube is suspended within the interior space by one or more connectors wherein said connectors connect the mixing tube to the case within the interior space. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said connectors only partially block said interior space. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said connectors block said interior space and wherein said connectors include at least one hole providing an opening from one side of the connector to the other side of the connector in said interior space. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said connectors are located at said first end and at said second end of said mixing tube. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said case includes a combination of inlets, outlets and mixing tubes selected from a group consisting of: one or more than one inlet, one or more than one outlet and one or more than one mixing tube. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the length of said mixing tube between said first end and said second end is angled from between zero to three hundred sixty degrees. 
     
     
         10 . A recirculating flow muffler apparatus comprising:
 a. a case with an exterior surrounding an interior space, said interior space forming a return area, wherein the case has a front and a rear;   b. an inlet at the front of the case, said inlet extending into said case interior space and said inlet including a tapered end;   c. a mixing tube within said interior space, wherein said return area surrounds said mixing tube, said mixing tube having a first end and a second end wherein said first end is bigger than said inlet and wherein said tapered end of said inlet is even with or extends at least partially into said first end of said mixing tube;   d. connectors connecting the mixing tube to the case within the interior space such that said mixing tube is suspended within the interior space and surrounded by said return area; and   e. an outlet at the rear of the case, said outlet extending out of said interior space of said case, and wherein said second end of said mixing tube includes an opening between it and said outlet.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said first end of said mixing tube is flared. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said connectors only partially block said interior space. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said connectors block said interior space and wherein said connectors include at least one hole providing an opening from one side of the connector to the other side of the connector in said interior space. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said connectors are located at said first end and at said second end of said mixing tube. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said case includes a combination of inlets, outlets and mixing tubes selected from a group consisting of: one or more than one inlet, one or more than one outlet and one or more than one mixing tube. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the length of said mixing tube between said first end and said second end is angled from between zero to three hundred sixty degrees. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said mixing tube includes an inside that is a smooth surface. 
     
     
         18 . A recirculating flow muffler method comprising:
 a. providing a case with an exterior surrounding an interior space, said interior space forming a return area, wherein the case has a front and a rear; an inlet at the front of the case, said inlet extending into said case interior space; a mixing tube within said interior space, wherein said return area surrounds said mixing tube, said mixing tube having a first end and a second end wherein said first end is bigger than said inlet and said first end is located next to said inlet; and an outlet at the rear of the case, said outlet extending out of said interior space of said case, and wherein said second end of said mixing tube includes an opening between it and said outlet; and   b. connecting the inlet with an engine exhaust such that exhaust passes through the inlet into the mixing tube and out of the outlet while at least some of the exhaust passes into the return area at the second end of the mixing tube and recirculates to the inlet where it again enters the first end of the mixing tube.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said inlet is tapered and extends into said first end of said mixing tube. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said mixing tube is suspended within the interior space by one or more connectors wherein said connectors connect the mixing tube to the case within the interior space.