Muffler system with pneumatically actuated bypass valve

Abstract

A device may include a first pipe and a second pipe defining a first and second flow path through a muffler body. The second pipe is a muffled flow path and includes a plurality of perforations configured to allow exhaust gasses flowing therethrough to disperse out of the second pipe and into an interior volume of the muffler body. A device may include a valve disposed in the first flow path, wherein when the valve is in an open position exhaust gases flow through the first flow path and when the valve is in a closed position exhaust gases flow through the second flow path. A device may include a controller configured to selectively cause the valve to transition from the open position to the closed position.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a muffler body, including:
 a first pipe defining a first flow path through the muffler body, wherein the first flow path is a non-muffled flow path, and 
 a second pipe defining a second flow path through the muffler body, wherein the second pipe is a muffled flow path and includes a plurality of perforations configured to allow exhaust gasses flowing therethrough to disperse out of the second pipe and into an interior volume of the muffler body, wherein the second pipe includes a 90-degree elbow, and a first end of the first pipe and a first end of the second pipe are in parallel and a second end of the first pipe and a second end of the second pipe are orthogonal; 
   a valve disposed in the first flow path, wherein when the valve is in an open position exhaust gases flow through the first flow path and when the valve is in a closed position exhaust gases flow through the second flow path; and   a controller configured to selectively cause the valve to transition from the open position to the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a baffling material disposed into the interior volume of the muffler body outside the first pipe and the second pipe. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is a remote controller enabling a user to control a position of the valve wirelessly. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the first pipe is equal to a diameter of the second pipe. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is vacuum operated and further comprising a vacuum pump connected to the valve, wherein the controller is configured to control an operation of a vacuum pump to cause the valve to transition from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an output of the second pipe is in fluid connection with the first pipe within the muffler body. 
     
     
         7 . A system, comprising:
 a muffler body, including:
 a first internal baffle, 
 a second internal baffle, wherein the first internal baffle defines a first end volume between the first internal baffle and the muffler body, the second internal baffle defines a second end volume between the second internal baffle and the muffler body, and the first internal baffle and the second internal baffle define a central volume between the first end volume and the second end volume, 
 a first pipe defining a first flow path through the muffler body, wherein the first flow path is a non-muffled flow path, 
 a second pipe extending between the first internal baffle and the second internal baffle, 
 a third pipe extending between the first internal baffle and the second internal baffle, and 
 a second flow path defined through the muffler body, wherein the second flow path extends through the second pipe, the first end volume, the third pipe, and the second end volume, the second flow path is a muffled flow path and at least one of the second pipe and the third pipe includes a plurality of perforations configured to allow exhaust gasses flowing therethrough to disperse out of the at least one of the second pipe and the third pipe and into the central volume of the muffler body; 
   a valve disposed in the first flow path, wherein when the valve is in an open position exhaust gases flow through the first flow path and when the valve is in a closed position exhaust gases flow through the second flow path; and   a controller configured to selectively cause the valve to transition from the open position to the closed position.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a fourth pipe extending between the first internal baffle and the second internal baffle, wherein the second flow path includes the fourth pipe. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a baffling material disposed in the central volume and outside the first pipe, the second pipe, and the third pipe. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first internal baffle includes perforations configured to allow exhaust gasses flowing through the first end volume to disperse out of the first end volume and into the central volume of the muffler body. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second internal baffle includes perforations configured to allow exhaust gasses flowing through the second end volume to disperse out of the second end volume and into the central volume of the muffler body. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein a diameter of the second pipe is from 70 percent to 80 percent of a diameter of the first pipe and a diameter of the third pipe is from 30 percent to 50 percent of the diameter of the second pipe. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein a distance between the first internal baffle and the second internal baffle is between 120 percent and 140 percent of the diameter of the first pipe. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the valve is vacuum operated and further comprising a vacuum pump connected to the valve, wherein the controller is configured to control an operation of a vacuum pump to cause the valve to transition from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         15 . A muffler, comprising:
 a muffler body;   a first internal baffle disposed within the muffler body;   a second internal baffle disposed within the muffler body, wherein the first internal baffle defines a first end volume between the first internal baffle and the muffler body, the second internal baffle defines a second end volume between the second internal baffle and the muffler body, and the first internal baffle and the second internal baffle define a central volume between the first end volume and the second end volume;   a first pipe defining a first flow path through the muffler body, wherein the first flow path is a non-muffled flow path;   a second pipe extending between the first internal baffle and the second internal baffle;   a third pipe extending between the first internal baffle and the second internal baffle; and   a second flow path defined through the muffler body, wherein the second flow path extends through the second pipe, the first end volume, the third pipe, and the second end volume, the second flow path is a muffled flow path and at least one of the second pipe and the third pipe includes a plurality of perforations configured to allow exhaust gasses flowing therethrough to disperse out of the at least one of the second pipe and the third pipe and into the central volume of the muffler body.   
     
     
         16 . The muffler of  claim 15 , further comprising a fourth pipe extending between the first internal baffle and the second internal baffle, wherein the second flow path includes the fourth pipe. 
     
     
         17 . The muffler of  claim 15 , further comprising a baffling material disposed in the central volume and outside the first pipe, the second pipe, and the third pipe. 
     
     
         18 . The muffler of  claim 15 , wherein the first internal baffle includes perforations configured to allow exhaust gasses flowing through the first end volume to disperse out of the first end volume and into the central volume of the muffler body. 
     
     
         19 . The muffler of  claim 18 , wherein the second internal baffle includes perforations configured to allow exhaust gasses flowing through the second end volume to disperse out of the second end volume and into the central volume of the muffler body. 
     
     
         20 . The muffler of  claim 15 , wherein a diameter of the second pipe is from 70 percent to 80 percent of a diameter of the first pipe and a diameter of the third pipe is from 30 percent to 50 percent of the diameter of the second pipe.