DESC:FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a silencer of a vehicle.

Particularly, the present disclosure relates to a silencer used with an internal combustion engine of a vehicle.

DEFINITION(S):

Vehicle - A thing powered by an engine and used for transporting people or goods, especially on land and is not limited to two-wheelers such as scooters, motor-cycles and straddle type scooters and also includes a three wheeler, car, lorry, or cart.

BACKGROUND

An exhaust silencer is used primarily for reducing noise from a vehicle. Further, the exhaust silencer is used for reducing pressure of exhaust gases from a higher pressure to a low pressure and releasing the exhaust gases in a desired direction. The exhaust silencer releases the exhaust gases at a limited velocity in to the atmosphere. Performance of an engine depends on several parameters including various silencer parameters such as volume of a chamber of the silencer from where the exhaust gases are intermittently released and length of exhaust path through which exhaust gases has to pass through before release thereof from the silencer. Such parameters mainly affect engine performance such as power and torque at a predermined engine speed. Typically, the development of power and torque at a pre-determined engine speed is carried out by tuning the pressure pulse in the exhaust path of the exhaust gases. Control on the pressure pulse of the exhaust gases is achieved by providing an appropriate length of the exhaust path, i.e. the path through which exhaust gases pass before release thereof from the silencer.

The size of the silencer depends upon various factors including length of the exhaust path through which exhaust gases have to pass before release thereof from the silencer. The accommodation of the silencer on vehicle, particularly, a two-wheeler vehicle is difficult and depends on the size of the silencer. For instance, accommodation of the silencer of larger length is comparatively easy in case of motorcycle type vehicles than accommodation thereof in scooter type vehicles. The internal construction of piping inside the silencer in case of comparatively large length silencers is such that the exhaust gases flow substantially in one direction, whereas in case of shorter length silencers the internal construction of piping inside the silencer is such that the direction of flow of exhaust gases is intermittently reversed in order to increase the flow path of the exhaust gases.

In case of shorter length silencers, the reversal of direction of flow of the gases is required to achieve the required length of the exhaust path that is normally achieved by bending the pipe. Particularly, the pipe is bent by approximately 180 degrees to maintain continuity of flow of the exhaust gases there-through. Such bending of the pipe is a specialized operation that needs specific type of machines. Further, operation of bending of the pipe needs specific process control to avoid defects such as thinning of pipe and formation of wrinkles. The length of the pipe between the start point of a bend and end point of the bend is specifically used for accommodating exhaust gases, wherein the bends are provided for changing the direction of exhaust gases only. Such length of the pipe between the start point of bend and end point of the bend do not serve any specific purpose such as noise reduction. Due to bending of the pipe, manufacturing of such silencer is difficult and complex.
There is thus felt a need to eliminate the drawbacks associated with the bending of the pipe in conventional silencers in which it is required to intermittently reverse the direction of flow of the gases to increase the flow path of the exhaust gases by bending the pipe. Furthermore, there is a need to provide an exhaust silencer that does not affect the performance of an engine. Still, there is a need for an exhaust silencer that is simple in construction, economical and effective. Further, there is a need for an exhaust silencer that is reliable and that can be easily retrofitted to a conventional two wheeler without requiring much modification.

OBJECTS

Some of the objects of the present disclosure aimed to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative are described herein below:

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an exhaust silencer that provide extended flow path to exhaust gases before release thereof from the silencer without requiring any bending of the pipes.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an exhaust silencer that does not affect the performance of an engine.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an exhaust silencer that is simple in construction.

Further object of the present disclosure is to provide an exhaust silencer that is reliable.

One more object of the present disclosure is to provide an exhaust silencer that provides a path of desired length for the gases without bending the pipe.

An additional object of the present disclosure is to provide a cost effective exhaust silencer.

Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures, which are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

An exhaust silencer for a vehicle is disclosed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The exhaust silencer includes a chamber, an exhaust gas treatment module, a tubular arrangement of a plurality of tubular elements and a tail pipe. The chamber is functionally coupled to an exhaust port of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, wherein an interior of the chamber is divided by partition walls to configure a first proximal end portion of the chamber, a second distal end portion of the chamber and an intermediate portion. The exhaust gas treatment module is disposed within the chamber and is supported between the partition walls. The exhaust gas treatment module receives exhaust gas from the exhaust port and treats the exhaust gas. The tubular arrangement of the plurality of tubular elements configures fluid connection between the exhaust gas treatment module and the second distal end portion of the chamber, the first proximal end portion of the chamber and the intermediate portion of the chamber such that treated exhaust gases from the exhaust gas treatment module sequentially passes through the second distal end portion of the chamber, the first proximal end portion of the chamber and the intermediate portion of the chamber, thereby configuring an extended to and fro flow path for treated gases to pass through before evacuation thereof from the chamber without requiring any bends to be configured on the tubular elements. The tail pipe is in fluid communication with the intermediate portion of the chamber and facilitates evacuation of treated exhaust gases from the intermediate portion of the chamber.

Typically, the exhaust gas treatment module is a catalytic converter.

Generally, the tubular arrangement includes a first tubular element that configures fluid connection between the exhaust gas treatment module and the second distal end portion of the chamber, a second tubular element that configures fluid connection between the second distal end portion of the chamber and the proximal end portion of the chamber and a third tubular element that configures fluid connection between the first proximal end portion of chamber and the intermediate portion of the chamber, thereby causing treated exhaust gas from said exhaust gas treatment module to sequentially pass through the second distal end portion of the chamber, the first proximal end portion of the chamber and the intermediate portion of the chamber, thereby configuring an extended to and fro flow path for treated gas to pass through before evacuation thereof from the chamber.

In accordance with an embodiment, the first tubular element has a first aperture configured thereon to facilitate fluid communication between the first tubular element and the intermediate portion of the chamber.

In accordance with another embodiment, the second tubular element has a second aperture configured thereon to facilitate fluid communication between the second tubular element and the proximal end portion of the chamber.
Further, the exhaust silencer includes a support element disposed within the chamber to provide support to the exhaust gas treatment module and guide the tubular elements of the tubular arrangement.
Typically, the support element has ring like configuration.
Further, the support element further supports sheet with a noise attenuating material disposed thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The exhaust silencer of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a schematic representation of a typical prior art exhaust silencer fitted to a two wheeled vehicle;

FIGURE 2(A) illustrates a front view of a muffler of the exhaust silencer of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 2(B) illustrates a side sectional view of the prior art exhaust silencer along section line X-X of Figure 2(A);

FIGURE 2(C) illustrates another sectional view of the prior art exhaust silencer along sectional line Y-Y of Figure 2(B);

FIGURE 3(A) illustrates a front view of a muffler of an exhaust silencer in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIGURE 3(B) illustrates a side sectional view of the muffler of the exhaust silencer along section line A-A of FIGURE 3(A);

FIGURE 3(C) illustrates a front perspective view of the muffler of the exhaust silencer of the present disclosure clearly showing internal details such as partition walls thereof; and

FIGURE 3(D) illustrates a rear perspective view of the muffler of the exhaust silencer of the present disclosure clearly showing internal details such as partition walls thereof.

DETAILED DISCRIPTION

An exhaust silencer of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.

The embodiment herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiment in the following description. Description of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiment herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiment herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiment herein. Accordingly, the example should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiment herein.

The following description of the specific embodiment will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiment herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and / or adapt for various applications, such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiment. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiment herein has been described in terms of the preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiment herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiment as described herein.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a conventional exhaust silencer 100 fitted to a two wheeled vehicle 104. The conventional exhaust silencer 100 is connected to an exhaust port of the vehicle, particularly a two-wheeled vehicle via an exhaust header pipe 102 and releases exhaust gases into the atmosphere via an exhaust gas tail pipe 108.

FIGURE 2(A) illustrates a front view of a muffler 106 of the exhaust silencer 100. The conventional muffler 106 has a cylindrical configuration.

FIGURE 2(B) and FIGURE 2(C) illustrates a side sectional view of the conventional exhaust silencer 100 along sectional lines X-X illustrated in Figure 2(A) and along sectional lines Y-Y illustrated in Figure 2(B) respectively. The conventional exhaust silencer 100 includes a chamber 124. The conventional exhaust silencer 100 also includes a catalytic converter 114 disposed inside the chamber 124. A tubular arrangement that includes a plurality of pipe sections or tubular elements 112, 110, 116, 118, 120 and 122 is disposed within the chamber 124 downstream of the catalytic converter 114. The tubular elements are connected to each other and form a continuous flow path for the exhaust gases. The plurality of sections 112, 110, 116 and 118 forms an exhaust gas flow-path for the exhaust gases. The exhaust gases are released to the environment through a section 108 outside the chamber 124. The path for the exhaust gases is typically through a pipe. The pipe has a plurality of bends such as 122 and 116 for increasing the length of the flow path of the exhaust gases. Also, the silencer 100 using such pipe configuration having bends and is difficult to assemble and manufacture.

Figure 3(A) illustrates a front view of a muffler 202 of an exhaust silencer 200 in accordance with the present disclosure. The muffler 202 typically has an elliptical cross section. However, the muffler 202 can assume any other suitable geometrical shape and configuration. The exhaust silencer 200 includes a chamber 220 and a tail pipe 204 for releasing the exhaust gases from the chamber. Referring to Figures 3(A), 3(B), 3(C) and 3(D), the different views of the muffler 202 of an exhaust silencer 200 are illustrated. The chamber 220 is functionally coupled to an exhaust port of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, wherein an interior of the chamber 220 is divided by partition walls W1 and W2 to configure a first proximal end portion of the chamber or first chamber portion 216 and a second distal end portion of the chamber or a second chamber portion 206 and an intermediate chamber portion 209. The muffler 202 further includes a support element “S” disposed within the chamber 220. The exhaust silencer 200 also includes an exhaust gas treatment module, particularly, a catalytic converter 212 disposed inside the chamber 220. The exhaust gas treatment module or the catalytic converter 212 is disposed within the chamber 220 and is supported by the partition wall W1 and the support member “S”. The catalytic converter 212 receives exhaust gas from the exhaust port and treats the exhaust gas, particularly, the catalytic converter 212 converts the toxic pollutants in exhaust gases to less toxic pollutants by catalyzing a redox reaction (oxidation or reduction). The exhaust silencer 200 further includes a tubular arrangement that in turn includes plurality of pipe sections 210, 208, 218 and 214 disposed within the chamber 220 downstream of the catalytic converter 212. The plurality of pipe sections 210, 208, 218 and 214 form a flow path for the exhaust gases. More specifically, the plurality of pipe sections or tubular elements 210, 208, 218 and 214 connect the catalytic converter 212 to the first chamber portion 216 and the second chamber portion 206 disposed within the chamber 220. The support member “S” acts as a guide to the tubular elements 208, 218 and 214. The support member “S” serves to also support a sheet (not indicated in figures) which houses a noise attenuating material. The support element “S” has a ring like configuration and not a disk like configuration. Therefore, the portions of the chamber 220 on the left and right hand side of the support member “S” are in direct fluid communication with each other and the support member does not cause hindrance to the tubular elements of the tubular arrangement. The tubular elements 210, 208, 218 and 214 configure fluid connection between the catalytic converter 212 and the second distal end portion of the chamber or the second chamber portion 206, the first proximal end portion of the chamber or the first chamber portion 216 and the intermediate portion 209 of the chamber such that treated exhaust gases from the catalytic converter 212 sequentially passes through the second distal end portion of the chamber or the second chamber portion 206, the first proximal end portion of the chamber or the first chamber portion 216 and the intermediate portion 209 of the chamber, thereby configuring an extended to and fro flow path for treated gas to pass through before evacuation thereof from the chamber 220 without requiring any bends to be configured on the tubular elements. More specifically, the first tubular element 208 of the tubular arrangement configures fluid connection between the catalytic converter 212 and the second distal end portion of the chamber or the second chamber portion 206, the second tubular element 218 configures fluid connection between the second distal end portion of the chamber or the second chamber portion 206 and the first proximal end portion of the chamber or the first chamber portion 216 and the third tubular element 214 configures fluid connection between the first proximal end portion of the chamber or the first chamber portion 216 and the intermediate portion 209 of the chamber 220, thereby causing treated exhaust gas from the catalytic converter 212 to sequentially pass through the second distal end portion of the chamber or the second chamber portion 206, the first proximal end portion of the chamber or the first chamber portion 216 and the intermediate portion 209 of the chamber, thereby configuring an extended to and fro flow path for treated gas to pass through before evacuation thereof from the chamber 220. The proportion of volume of the bend sections 116 and 122 of the conventional exhaust silencer 100 to the volume of the first chamber 216 and the second chamber 206 of the exhaust silencer 200 in accordance with the present disclosure is predefined. The locations of the baffles or partition walls W1 and W2 are maintained such that the volume inside the first chamber 216 and the second chamber 206 has pre-defined proportionality to the volume of the bend sections 116 and 122 of the conventional exhaust silencer 100. Perforations 222 and 224 are provided at predefined locations within the chamber 220 to retain the performance of the engine.

FIGURE 3(A) illustrates a front view of the muffler 202 of the exhaust silencer 200. FIGURE 3(B) illustrates a side sectional view of the muffler 202 of the exhaust silencer 200 along section line A-A. FIGURE 3(C) illustrates a front perspective view of the muffler 202 of the exhaust silencer 200 clearly showing internal details such as partition walls W1 and W2 thereof. FIGURE 3(D) illustrates a rear perspective view of the muffler 202 of the exhaust silencer 200 clearly showing internal details such as partition walls W1 and W2 thereof.

TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

The technical advancements offered by the present disclosure include the realization of:

? an exhaust silencer that provide extended flow path to exhaust gases before release thereof from the silencer without requiring any bending of the pipes;
? an exhaust silencer that has compact configuration and appeal as compared to conventional silencers;
? an exhaust silencer that does not affect the performance of the engine;

? an exhaust silencer that is simple in construction;

? an exhaust silencer that is reliable;

? an exhaust silencer that provides a path of desired for the gases without bending the pipe; and

? a cost effective exhaust silencer.

Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiment will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiment without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiment. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiment herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiment herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiment as described herein. ,CLAIMS:1. An exhaust silencer for a vehicle, said exhaust silencer comprising:
• a chamber functionally coupled to an exhaust port of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, wherein an interior of said chamber is divided by partition walls to configure a first proximal end portion of said chamber, a second distal end portion of said chamber and an intermediate portion;
• an exhaust gas treatment module disposed within said chamber and supported between said partition walls, said exhaust gas treatment module adapted to receive exhaust gas from said exhaust port and treat said exhaust gas;
• a tubular arrangement of a plurality of tubular elements adapted to configure fluid connection between said exhaust gas treatment module and said second distal end portion of said chamber, said first proximal end portion of said chamber and said intermediate portion of said chamber such that treated exhaust gases from said exhaust gas treatment module sequentially passes through said second distal end portion of said chamber, said first proximal end portion of said chamber and said intermediate portion of said chamber, thereby configuring an extended to and fro flow path for treated gas to pass through before evacuation thereof from said chamber; and
• a tail pipe in fluid communication with said intermediate portion of said chamber and adapted to facilitate evacuation of treated exhaust gases from said intermediate portion of said chamber.

2. The exhaust silencer as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the exhaust gas treatment module is a catalytic converter.

3. The exhaust silencer as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said tubular arrangement includes a first tubular element adapted to configure fluid connection between said exhaust gas treatment module and said second distal end portion of said chamber, a second tubular element adapted to configure fluid connection between said second distal end portion of said chamber and said first proximal end portion of said chamber and a third tubular element adapted to configure fluid connection between said first proximal end portion of said chamber and said intermediate portion of said chamber, thereby causing treated exhaust gas from said exhaust gas treatment module to sequentially pass through said second distal end portion of said chamber, said first proximal end portion of said chamber and said intermediate portion of said chamber, thereby configuring an extended to and fro flow path for treated gas to pass through before evacuation thereof from said chamber.

4. The exhaust silencer as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said first tubular element has a first aperture configured thereon to facilitate fluid communication between said first tubular element and said intermediate portion of said chamber.

5. The exhaust silencer as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said second tubular element has a second aperture configured thereon to facilitate fluid communication between said second tubular element and said proximal end portion of said chamber.

6. The exhaust silencer as claimed in Claim 1, further comprises a support element disposed within the chamber and adapted to provide support to said exhaust gas treatment module and guide said tubular elements of said tubular arrangement.

7. The exhaust silencer as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said support element has ring like configuration.

8. The exhaust silencer as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said support element further supports sheet with a noise attenuating material disposed thereon.