EXHAUST SYSTEM AND MUFFLER WITH REVERSIBLE END-CAPS
An exhaust system is provided with a muffler with reversible end-caps, which allow a tailpipe to be switched over from one side of the muffler to the other before or after it is attached to an engine and mounted on an application.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/982,254 filed Oct. 24, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to exhaust systems, and more particularly to an exhaust system with a muffler with reversible end-caps.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONExhaust systems are generally provided for internal combustion engines to guide waste gases away from the engine. These systems typically direct waste gases through an inlet tube to a muffler to silence the noise of the escaping exhaust gases, before they are expelled from a tailpipe. Standard muffler designs have a fixed tailpipe position that does not allow end users to change the direction that exhaust exits from the muffler. “Reversible” mufflers are known in the art that allow for a user to switch the direction of exhaust flow from the muffler, by changing the manner in which the muffler is mounted to an application. These mufflers may be flipped over before mounting on an application to change which side the tailpipe extends from the muffler. Other prior art reversible mufflers are provided with a tailpipe with two open ends. With these mufflers end users have the choice of sealing one of the ends prior to mounting on an application to direct exhaust flow out the opposing end. While these prior art reversible mufflers provide a slight degree of freedom to end users, they do not provide full flexibility to end users who wish to choose and subsequently alter the direction of exhaust flow from a muffler.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an exhaust system with a reversible muffler that provides a greater degree of flexibility to end users, in an aesthetically pleasing, clean and professional design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is an exhaust system having a muffler with reversible end-caps. The muffler of this invention allows the tailpipe to be removably attached to either side. Unlike previous “reversible” mufflers, the muffler allows for the tailpipe to be switched from one side of the muffler before or after it is attached to an engine and mounted. This provides added flexibility to alter the function of the muffler after it has been attached to an engine. The invention also provides a reversible muffler with bolt-on or screw-on end-caps with an aesthetically pleasing, clean and professional appearance.
According to a first aspect of the invention, an exhaust system is provided for use with an engine, comprising:
a muffler body comprising:
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- a hollow muffler housing having a tubular wall and first and second opposing ends, the first end containing portions defining a first end opening, the second end containing portions defining a second end opening, the tubular wall containing portions defining at least one inlet hole;
- first and second opposing end-cap flanges, the first end-cap flange attached to the portion of the first end of the muffler housing defining a first end opening, the second end-cap flange attached to the portion of the second end of the muffler housing defining a second end opening, the first and second end-cap flanges having portions defining a center opening;
- first and second end-caps having base plates, the base plate of the first end-cap removably attached to the first end-cap flange, the base plate of the second end-cap removably attached to the second end-cap flange, wherein at least one of the first or second end-caps has an element attached to the base plate that communicates with the muffler housing to receive exhaust gases;
one inlet tube for each inlet hole of the tubular wall of the muffler housing, each inlet tube having a first and second end, the first end communicably attached to the muffler body to allow gas to flow into the muffler body through the inlet hole;
one inlet connector for each inlet tube, the inlet connector attached to the second end of the inlet tube allowing the inlet tube to be communicably attached to an engine to allow for the flow of exhaust gas from the engine to the muffler body;
wherein said first and second end-caps may be removed or attached to the end-cap flanges before or after the muffler body is attached to the engine.
The exhaust system may be a single inlet design in which the tubular wall of the muffler housing contains portions defining a single inlet hole or a twin inlet design in which the tubular wall of the muffler housing contains portions defining a first and second inlet hole.
The exhaust system may further comprise a first gasket inserted between the first end-cap flange and the base plate of the first end-cap, and a second gasket inserted between the second end-cap flange and the base plate of the second end-cap.
The exhaust system may have first and second end-cap flanges that contain a plurality of threaded holes for receiving bolts, the base plates of the first and second end-caps may have a corresponding plurality of holes, and the end-caps may be removably attached to the flanges using bolts. Alternatively, the base plates of the first and second end-caps may be attached to the flanges using a twist lock mechanism.
The exhaust system may have an element that communicates with the muffler housing to receive exhaust gases, attached to the base plate of at least one of the first or second end-caps, selected from the group comprising:
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- at least one tubular tailpipe member extending from the base plate;
- a flex tube extending from the base plate;
- a spark arrestor;
- a diffuser element.
The exhaust system may have a first end-cap with at least one tubular tailpipe member extending from the base plate and a second end-cap with a solid base plate sealing the second end opening of the muffler housing preventing the flow of gas.
The exhaust system may have a bent tubular tailpipe member extending from the first end plate of the first end-cap.
The exhaust system may further comprise a removable screen type spark arrestor inserted between the first end-cap flange and the base plate of the first end-cap containing a tubular tailpipe member extending from the first end plate.
Embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the drawings in which:
As shown in the figures, the present invention relates to an exhaust system having a muffler with reversible end-caps.
In the embodiment depicted in
The muffler body 2 is attached to an engine by a first inlet tube 19, which has a first and second end. The first end of the first inlet tube 19 is attached to inlet flange 20 that allows the first inlet tube 19 to be communicably attached to an engine to receive exhaust gases. The second end of the first inlet tube 19 is communicably attached to the muffler housing 3, to allow exhaust gases to enter the muffler housing 3 through a first inlet hole 21 in the tubular wall 8. The location of the first inlet hole 21 and first inlet tube 19 is not limited to that shown in
The first and second end-caps 6 and 7 may be attached to the end-cap flanges 4 and 5 either before or after the muffler body 2 is attached to the engine. Since the first and second end-caps 6 and 7 are removably attached to the flanges 4 and 5 they may also be reversed after the muffler body 2 is attached to the engine to switch the direction that exhaust gases exit the muffler housing 3. The first end-cap 6, containing central tubular tailpipe member 18, may also be switched with another end-cap containing a different tubular tailpipe member, after it is attached to the engine, to alter the size or appearance of the tailpipe or the performance of the muffler.
The central bent tubular tailpipe member 24 of the first end-cap 6 of the embodiment depicted in
The foregoing embodiments are considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, the described embodiments are not desired to limit the invention to the exact components shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention and the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. An exhaust system for an engine comprising:
- a muffler body comprising: a hollow muffler housing having a tubular wall and first and second opposing ends, the first end containing portions defining a first end opening, the second end containing portions defining a second end opening, the tubular wall containing portions defining at least one inlet hole; first and second opposing end-cap flanges, the first end-cap flange attached to the portion of the first end of the muffler housing defining a first end opening, the second end-cap flange attached to the portion of the second end of the muffler housing defining a second end opening, the first and second end-cap flanges having portions defining a center opening; first and second end-caps having base plates, the base plate of the first end-cap removably attached to the first end-cap flange, the base plate of the second end-cap removably attached to the second end-cap flange, wherein at least one of the first or second end-caps has an element attached to the base plate that communicates with the muffler housing to receive exhaust gases;
- one inlet tube for each inlet hole of the tubular wall of the muffler housing, each inlet tube having a first and second end, the first end communicably attached to the muffler body to allow gas to flow into the muffler body through the inlet hole;
- one inlet connector for each inlet tube, the inlet connector attached to the second end of the inlet tube allowing the inlet tube to be communicably attached to an engine to allow for the flow of exhaust gas from the engine to the muffler body;
- wherein said first and second end-caps may be removed or attached to the end-cap flanges before or after the muffler body is attached to the engine.
2. The exhaust system of claim 1 wherein the tubular wall of the muffler housing contains portions defining a single inlet hole.
3. The exhaust system of claim 1 wherein the tubular wall of the muffler housing contains portions defining a first and second inlet hole.
4. The exhaust system of claim 1 further comprising a first gasket inserted between the first end-cap flange and the base plate of the first end-cap, and a second gasket inserted between the second end-cap flange and the base plate of the second end-cap.
5. The exhaust system of claim 1 wherein the first and second end-cap flanges contain a plurality of threaded holes for receiving bolts, the base plates of the first and second end-caps have a corresponding plurality of holes, the end-caps are removably attached to the flanges using bolts.
6. The exhaust system of claim 1 wherein the base plates of the first and second end-caps are attached to the flanges using a twist lock mechanism.
7. The exhaust system of claim 1 wherein the element that communicates with the muffler housing to receive exhaust gases that is attached to the base plate of at least one of the first or second end-caps, is selected from the group comprising:
- at least one tubular tailpipe member extending from the base plate;
- a flex tube extending from the base plate;
- a spark arrestor;
- a diffuser element.
8. The exhaust system of claim 5 wherein the first end-cap has at least one tubular tailpipe member extending from the base plate and the second end-cap has a solid base plate sealing the second end opening of the muffler housing preventing the flow of gas.
9. The exhaust system of claim 6 wherein the tubular tailpipe member of the first end-cap is bent.
10. The exhaust system of claim 8 further comprising a removable screen type spark arrestor inserted between the first end-cap flange and the base plate of the first end-cap.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 24, 2008
Publication Date: Apr 30, 2009
Inventor: Paul H. Sammut ( Oakville)
Application Number: 12/257,692
International Classification: F01N 7/18 (20060101);