IP Library Granted Patent US 11,365,658
Granted Patent B2
US 11,365,658 · App. 16/119,011 · Granted Jun 21, 2022

Acoustically tuned muffler

Inventors: Gabriel Ostromecki (Ann Arbor, MI); Keith Bartu (Dexter, MI); Jeremy Popovich (Brooklyn, MI); Brett Herwat (Jackson, MI)
Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
F01N1/083F01N1/003F01N1/006F01N1/02F01N1/023G10K11/161G10K11/172F01N2210/04F01N2470/14F01N2470/18F01N2490/10F01N2490/15
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,365,658
App. No.
16/119,011
Granted
Jun 21, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A muffler may include a shell, first and second baffles, an inlet pipe, first and second outlet pipes, and a communication pipe. The first and second baffles cooperate with the shell to define first, second and third chambers. The first inlet pipe may extend through the shell and may provide exhaust gas to at least one of the first and second chambers. Exhaust gas in the first chamber exits the muffler through the first outlet pipe. Exhaust gas in the second chamber exits the muffler through the second outlet pipe. The communication pipe may include first, second and third openings. The first opening is in communication with the first chamber. The second opening is in communication with the second chamber. The third opening is in communication with the third chamber. The first and second chambers may be in communication with the third chamber through the communication pipe.

Claims (15)

1. A muffler for receiving exhaust gas from a combustion engine, the muffler comprising:

a shell;

a baffle disposed within the shell and cooperating with the shell to define a first chamber and a second chamber;

an inlet pipe extending through the shell and providing exhaust gas to the first chamber; and

a pair of outlet pipes in communication with the first chamber, the outlet pipes extending through the shell and including openings through which exhaust gas exits the muffler, each of the outlet pipes including a Helmholtz neck that is open to the second chamber.

2. The muffler of claim 1 , wherein the second chamber is a dead chamber that is in fluid communication with the first chamber only via the Helmholtz necks.

3. The muffler of claim 1 , further including another baffle disposed within the shell, the another baffle being positioned in the first chamber defining first and second cavities on opposite sides of the another baffle, at least one aperture extends through the another baffle placing the first and second cavities in fluid communication with one another, the inlet pipe extending through the another baffle.

4. The muffler of claim 3 , wherein the inlet pipe is contiguous and enclosed for its entire extent within the first cavity.

5. The muffler of claim 4 , wherein the inlet pipe includes an outlet positioned within the second cavity.

6. The muffler of claim 5 , wherein each of the outlet pipes includes an inlet within the second cavity.

7. The muffler of claim 6 , wherein the outlet of the inlet pipe is not coaxially aligned with either of the inlets of the outlet pipes.

8. The muffler of claim 1 , wherein each of the outlet pipes includes an inlet, each of the Helmholtz necks being spaced apart from the respective outlet pipe inlet the same distance as the other.

9. The muffler of claim 1 , further including another inlet pipe extending through the shell and providing exhaust gas to the first chamber.

10. The muffler of claim 9 , wherein the inlet pipe and the another inlet pipe each include outlets that are not aligned with an inlet of either outlet pipe.

11. The muffler of claim 9 , wherein the inlet pipe and the another inlet pipe each extend parallel to the outlet pipes.

Assignments (10)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 20, 2025
From: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
To: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 072553/0215 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Apr 7, 2023
From: TENNECO INC.; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063268/0506 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Nov 22, 2022
From: DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; TENNECO INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061989/0689 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; TENNECO INTERNATIONAL HOLDING CORP.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; TENNECO GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC.; CLEVITE INDUSTRIES INC.; TMC TEXAS INC.; CARTER AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FELT PRODUCTS MFG. CO. LLC; MUZZY-LYON AUTO PARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN IP LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PISTON RINGS, LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; F-M MOTORPARTS TSC LLC; F-M TSC REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL VALVE TRAIN INTERNATIONAL LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL SEVIERVILLE, LLC; BECK ARNLEY HOLDINGS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL FILTRATION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL FINANCING CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC
Reel/Frame 061975/0218 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 061975/0031 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 061971/0156 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 17, 2021
From: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 055626/0065 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 1, 2020
From: TENNECO INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 054555/0592 →
CONFIRMATORY GRANT OF SECURITY INTERESTS IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Oct 9, 2018
From: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; TENNECO INTERNATIONAL HOLDING CORP.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; TENNECO GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC.; CLEVITE INDUSTRIES INC.; TMC TEXAS INC.; CARTER AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FELT PRODUCTS MFG. CO. LLC; MUZZY-LYON AUTO PARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN IP LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PISTON RINGS, LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; F-M MOTORPARTS TSC LLC; F-M TSC REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL VALVETRAIN INTERNATIONAL LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL SEVIERVILLE, LLC; BECK ARNLEY HOLDINGS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL FILTRATION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL FINANCING CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 047223/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 4, 2018
From: OSTROMECKI, GABRIEL; BARTU, KEITH; POPOVICH, JEREMY; HERWAT, BRETT
To: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
Reel/Frame 046775/0604 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 62598147 · Dec 13, 2017
Provisional Application 62568421 · Oct 5, 2017
Related Publication 20190107019A1 · Apr 11, 2019