SOUND-REDUCING BAFFLE
An accessory to an exhaust system is disclosed which reduces the decibel output from the engine of a vehicle while negligibly affecting the horsepower produced by the engine. The accessory can be built directly into an exhaust system by the manufacturer or added as an after-market enhancement by the consumer. The key elements to the device include a sound-funneling housing which circumscribes a diffusing element, both of which are removably or permanently capped on one side. The uncapped end of the housing is formed to engage a portion of the actual exhaust system. The overall result of this device reduces the total amount of noise produced, without noticeably affecting engine performance, while simultaneously inhibiting harmonic sound waves that can create an annoying rattling sound for the driver or passenger.
The present invention relates to the field of automotive engines. More specifically, the invention relates to exhaust augmentations for automotive engines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAs cities and streets become more populated, the number of vehicles on the road constantly increases. Streets grow closer and closer to populated areas, including business districts and residential areas with homes and schools. The pervasiveness of accumulating traffic from cars, trucks and motorcycles on these streets not only impacts the chemical makeup of our environment but also the total amount of ambient noise as well. Gasoline-powered vehicles, in particular, produce a substantial amount of noise and greatly contribute to this type of pollution. In fact, the amount of noise generated from these vehicles accounts for the number one source of noise pollution today.
The noise pollution due to the expanding public and increased number of vehicles interferes with our daily lives and slowly impinges upon our privacy and personal freedoms. But in addition to population growth, and especially in the United States, there exists a particular type of consumer of the automotive industry that demands the greatest amount of power from their ride. Motorcycle and scooter enthusiasts are no exception to this urge to command a powerful engine. In most cases, an increase in horsepower is accompanied by an increase in the decibel level that is produced from an engine. This means that population growth not only affects the total number of vehicles on the road, but also increases the quantity of noise from each vehicle to create a multiplicity effect on the environment and our personal space.
Currently, cars are equipped with mufflers and motorcycles are equipped with exhaust pipes that are regulated by law. For example, many states such as California began requiring each municipality and county to have a Noise Element of the General Plan. But for the most part, noise regulation is enforced by city ordinances, meaning fines. Smog checks are required to be performed to renew any vehicle registration but the level of noise output from a vehicle is not and can not be regularly checked. Testing and enforcement of noise level only occurs in the form of random spot checks and citations from police officers, who in the course of normal business do not carry sound meters.
A few previous solutions have been suggested to alleviate this problem. However, most sound reducing equipment on the market today uses some sort of dampening material in order to muffle sound. For example, U.S. Patent Application No. 20070227811 discloses a vehicle exhaust system containing a sound absorbing material on the outer surface of a side wall of an inner core. Other solutions have involved using devices that actually reduce the amount of horsepower from an engine in order to dampen the sound. Unlike these applications, the presently disclosed device actually obstructs sound in a blocking fashion based on the particular shape and construction of the baffle. It should be noted however that the exact shape of the presently disclosed device varies as it is uniquely created to fit certain size engines and specific model exhaust pipes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn accessory to an exhaust system is disclosed which reduces the decibel output from the engine of a vehicle without noticeably affecting the horsepower produced by the engine. The accessory can be built directly into an exhaust system by the manufacturer or added as an after-market enhancement by the consumer. The key elements to the device include a sound-funneling housing which circumscribes a diffusing element, both of which are removably or permanently capped on one side. The uncapped end of the housing is formed to engage a portion of the actual exhaust system. The overall result of this device reduces the total amount of noise produced, without noticeably affecting engine performance, while simultaneously inhibiting harmonic sound waves that can create an annoying rattling sound for the driver and passenger.
These and other objectives of the claimed invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
In the following description of the various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, various embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may still be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
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The present invention includes any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or any generalization thereof. While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described apparatus. Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as set forth in the previous specification or appended claims.
Claims
1. A sound-reducing baffle for a gasoline-powered engine comprising:
- a cylindrical, hollow core with a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end containing a plurality of perforations and constructed to be engaged within an exhaust system;
- an end cap fixed around said proximal end, said end cap capable of being joined to said exhaust system; and
- a diffuser inserted within said core and mounted to either said core or said end cap.
2. The baffle of claim 1, wherein said core is comprised at least partially of one or more materials of the group consisting of metal, metal alloy, polymer, vulcanized rubber and ceramic.
3. The baffle of claim 2, wherein said core varies in diameter between said proximal end and said distal end.
4. The baffle of claim 3, wherein said core contains locking mechanisms which removably affix said end cap, said proximal end or said distal end to said exhaust system.
5. The baffle of claim 4, wherein said end cap is affixed to said exhaust system by means of a locking tab, nail, screw, pin, tack, staple, bolt, catch, clamp, clasp, collar, pressure, adhesive, cement, plaster or solder.
6. The baffle of claim 1, wherein said proximal end of said core has a diameter greater than the width of said diffuser and less than or equal to the width of said exhaust system.
7. The baffle of claim 6, wherein said proximal end comprises a flange that juts inward, said flange creating a barrier that reduces any gap between said core and said diffuser.
8. The baffle of claim 1, wherein said perforations are uniform or non-uniform in size or shape.
9. The baffle of claim 8, wherein said perforations are located in a regular or randomized pattern.
10. The baffle of claim 1, wherein said diffuser comprises a rectangular sheet of material which is kinked to form a plurality of bends.
11. The baffle of claim 10, wherein at least one of said bends alternates in direction from another of said bends.
12. The baffle of claim 10, wherein said diffuser is mounted to said core or said end cap by means of a central rod that runs through said diffuser.
13. A sound-reducing baffle to be used in conjunction with a motorcycle exhaust pipe comprising:
- an obstructing core with a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end containing a plurality of perforations and constructed to be engaged within said exhaust pipe;
- an end cap fixed around said proximal end, said end cap capable of being joined to said exhaust pipe;
- a diffuser located within said core and mounted to either said core or said end cap; and
- a locking tab capable of joining said baffle to said exhaust pipe.
14. The baffle of claim 13, wherein said obstructing core is hollow.
15. The baffle of claim 13, wherein said distal end of said core is shaped in a manner that alters the frequency of sound waves traveling through said tailpipe.
16. The baffle of claim 13, wherein said distal end comprises perforations that are non-uniform in size or shape, said perforations being located in a regular or randomized pattern.
17. The baffle of claim 13, wherein said distal end of said core is shaped in a manner that reduces the decibel output of sound waves traveling through said exhaust pipe, while negligibly affecting the total horsepower of any vehicle used in conjunction with said exhaust pipe.
18. The baffle of claim 13, wherein said proximal end, said distal end or said end cap comprises a flange that juts outward, said flange creating a barrier that reduces any gap between said core and said exhaust pipe.
19. The baffle of claim 13, wherein said diffuser comprises a rectangular sheet of material which is kinked to form a plurality of bends, at least one of said bends alternating in direction from another of said bends.
20. The baffle of claim 14, wherein said locking tab removably or permanently affixes said end cap, said proximal end or said distal end to said exhaust pipe by means using one or more of the group consisting of: nail, screw, pin, tack, staple, bolt, catch, clamp, clasp, collar, pressure, adhesive, cement, plaster or solder.
Type: Application
Filed: May 15, 2008
Publication Date: Nov 19, 2009
Inventor: Christopher HUGHEY (Anaheim Hills, CA)
Application Number: 12/121,511
International Classification: F01N 1/08 (20060101);