Motorcycle exhaust muffler
The exhaust muffler includes a flat box-shaped body that underlies substantially the width of the motorcycle engine and frame. The rear end of the muffler body has exhaust vents that vent the exhaust downward or laterally from the motorcycle forward of the rear wheel. An inlet neck extending from the front end of the muffle body allows convenient and direct connection of the exhaust pipes from the motor to the muffler body without numerous or complicated bends in the exhaust pipers. The low profile of the muffle body allows the exhaust muffler to be mounted beneath the motorcycle frame without significantly effecting ground clearance.
This invention relates to an exhaust system for a motorcycle and in particular a n pan shaped muffler mountable beneath the motorcycle frame forward of the rear wheel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONHeretofore, motorcycle exhaust systems have included exhaust pipes and mufflers that extend rearward along the sides of the motorcycles. Routing the exhaust pipes and mufflers along the sides of the motorcycle means that the rider's legs must straddle the exhaust pipes and mufflers making the riding platform wider and more difficult to handle as well as placing the rider's legs in close proximity to the hot exhaust pipes and mufflers. For custom chopper and low rider style motorcycles, routing the exhaust pipes and mufflers along the sides of the motorcycle often requires complicated bends and manifolds, which are difficult and expensive to fabricate.
The present invention seeks to provide an improved exhaust muffler for a motorcycle that is mountable beneath the motorcycle frame forward of the rear wheel. The exhaust muffler of this invention includes a flat box-shaped body that underlies substantially the width of the motorcycle engine and frame. The rear end of the muffler body has exhaust vents that vent the exhaust downward or laterally from the motorcycle forward of the rear wheel. An inlet neck extending from the front end of the muffler body allows convenient and direct connection of the exhaust pipes from the motor to the muffler body without numerous or complicated bends in the exhaust pipes. The low profile of the muffle body allows the exhaust muffler to be mounted beneath the motorcycle frame without significantly effecting ground clearance. The design and location of the muffler reduces the possibility of the rider's legs coming into contact with the hot muffler or exhaust pipes. The muffler also provides a sleek, clean aesthetic appearance to the motorcycle.
Theses and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the present invention, in which:
Referring now to the drawings,
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One skilled in the art will note that the low profile of the muffle body allows the exhaust muffler to be mounted beneath the motorcycle frame without significantly effecting ground clearance. The flat bottom of the muffler body also improves the aerodynamics of the motorcycle. The flat box-shaped muffler body allows air to flow smoothly under the motorcycles. The design and location of the muffler reduces the possibility of the rider's legs coming into contact with the hot muffler or exhaust pipes. The muffler also provides a sleek, clean aesthetic appearance to the motorcycle. Also, the flat box-shaped muffler body generates a unique deep “throaty” sound from the motorcycle engine.
The embodiments of the present invention herein described and illustrated are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. They are presented to explain the invention so that others skilled in the art might utilize its teachings. The embodiment of the present invention may be modified within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. In combination, a motorcycle and an exhaust system, the motorcycle including a frame, a motor mounted atop the frame and a rear wheel mounted to the frame aft of the motor, the exhaust system including an exhaust muffler and a exhaust pipe connected between the motor and the exhaust muffler, the exhaust muffler mounted beneath frame forward of the rear wheel and underlying substantially the width of the motor beneath the frame and includes a flat box-shaped body having an interior therein and a front end and rear end, the muffler body also has an exhaust opening therein for venting exhaust beneath of the frame and forward of the rear wheel.
2. The combination of claim 1 wherein exhaust muffler includes plurality of baffles spaced within the muffler interior between the muffler body front end and the muffler body rear end.
3. The combination of claim 1 where the exhaust muffler also includes an inlet port extending upward from the muffler body front end and connected to the manifold.
4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the exhaust opening vents is located along the muffler body rear end exhaust downward from the muffler body.
5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the exhaust opening is located adjacent the muffler body rear end and vents exhaust from the motor laterally from the muffler body.
6. An exhaust muffler for a motorcycle having a frame, a motor mounted to the frame and a rear wheel mounted to the frame, the exhaust muffler comprising:
- a flat box-shaped body mountable to a motorcycle beneath motorcycle frame forward of the rear wheel and underlying substantially the width of the motor beneath the frame, the muffler body defining an interior therein and having a front end and rear end, the muffler body also having an exhaust opening formed therein for venting exhaust beneath of the frame and forward of the rear wheel; and
- an inlet neck extending upward from the muffler front end and connectable to the motor.
7. The exhaust muffler of claim 6 wherein exhaust muffler includes plurality of baffles spaced within the muffler interior between the muffler body front end and the muffler body rear end.
8. The exhaust muffler of claim 6 where the exhaust muffler also includes an inlet port extending upward from the muffler body front end and connected to the manifold.
9. The exhaust muffler of claim 6 wherein the exhaust opening vents is located along the muffler body rear end exhaust downward from the muffler body.
10. The exhaust muffler of claim 6 wherein the exhaust opening is located adjacent the muffler body rear end and vents exhaust from the motor laterally from the muffler body.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 7, 2007
Publication Date: Jun 11, 2009
Inventor: Troy R. Treat (Niles, MI)
Application Number: 12/001,087
International Classification: F01N 7/02 (20060101); F01N 7/00 (20060101); F01N 1/08 (20060101);