IP Library Granted Patent US 11,608,762
Granted Patent B2
US 11,608,762 · App. 16/443,123 · Granted Mar 21, 2023

Vehicle exhaust system

Inventors: Michael A Golin (Ann Arbor, MI); Gabriel Ostromecki (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
F01N1/003F01N13/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,608,762
App. No.
16/443,123
Granted
Mar 21, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle exhaust system includes a tubular component defining a primary exhaust gas flow path. At least one opening defined by the tubular component extends through an inner surface and an outer surface of the tubular component. A patch covers the at least one opening. The patch includes a plate disposed on the tubular component. The plate defines at least one flow channel to receive exhaust gases from the at least one opening and impart at least one directional change to the received exhaust gases. The plate further defines at least one outlet opening adapted to receive exhaust gases from the flow channel. A secondary exhaust gas flow path is defined through the at least one opening in the tubular component, the flow channel defined by the plate, and the outlet opening defined by the plate.

Claims (37)

1. A vehicle exhaust system comprising:

a tubular component having an inner surface and an outer surface such that the inner surface defines a primary exhaust gas flow path for directing exhaust gas to an external atmosphere, wherein the tubular component extends along a central axis from an inlet end to an outlet end;

at least one opening defined by the tubular component, wherein the at least one opening extends through the inner surface and the outer surface; and

a patch adapted to cover the at least one opening, the patch including:

a first plate disposed on the tubular component, the first plate comprising at least one slot and at least partially defining at least one flow channel adapted to receive exhaust gases from the at least one opening and impart at least one directional change to the received exhaust gases;

a second plate separate from the first plate and covering the least one slot and comprising at least one outlet opening positioned upstream of the at least one opening in the tubular component and adapted to receive exhaust gases from the flow channel; and

a secondary exhaust gas flow path, separate from the primary exhaust gas flow path, defined through the at least one opening in the tubular component, the flow channel defined by the first plate, and the outlet opening defined by the second plate for directing exhaust gas to an external atmosphere.

2. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening includes a first opening and a second opening.

3. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one flow channel includes a first flow channel fluidly coupled with the first opening and a second flow channel fluidly coupled with the second opening.

4. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust gases flow in an upstream direction due to the at least one directional change.

5. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the flow channel is selected from one or more of a U-shape, an L-shape, a Z-shape, or a V-shape.

6. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one directional change includes two directional changes.

7. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular component is a muffler.

8. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 4 , wherein the primary exhaust flow path is in a first axial direction and the secondary exhaust flow path is in a second axial direction opposite the first axial flow path direction.

9. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust gas exiting the outlet opening is upstream from the at least one opening in the tubular component.

10. A patch adapted to cover at least one opening in a tubular component of a vehicle exhaust system, wherein the tubular component has an inner surface and an outer surface such that the inner surface defines a primary exhaust gas flow path for directing exhaust gas to an external atmosphere, the patch including:

a first plate disposed on the tubular component, the first plate comprising at least one slot and at least partially defining at least one flow channel adapted to receive exhaust gases from the at least one opening and impart at least one directional change to the received exhaust gases;

a second plate covering the at least one slot and comprising at least one outlet opening positioned upstream of the at least one opening tubular component and adapted to receive exhaust gases from the flow channel; and

a secondary exhaust gas flow path, separate from the primary exhaust gas flow path, defined through the at least one opening in the tubular component, the flow channel defined by the first plate, and the outlet opening defined by the second plate for directing exhaust gas to an external atmosphere;

wherein the primary exhaust flow path is in a first axial direction and the secondary exhaust flow path is in a second axial direction opposite the first axial flow path direction and wherein the exhaust gast exiting the outlet opening is upstream from the at least one opening in the tubular component.

11. The patch of claim 10 , wherein the at least one opening includes a first opening and a second opening.

12. The patch of claim 11 , wherein the at least one flow channel includes a first flow channel fluidly coupled with the first opening and a second flow channel fluidly coupled with the second opening.

13. The patch of claim 10 , wherein exhaust gases flow in an upstream direction due to the at least one directional change.

14. The patch of claim 13 , wherein a shape of the flow channel is selected from one or more of a U-shape, an L-shape, a Z-shape, or a V-shape.

15. The patch of claim 10 , wherein at least one directional change includes two directional changes.

16. The patch of claim 10 , wherein the tubular component is a muffler.

17. A vehicle exhaust system comprising:

a tubular component having an inner surface and an outer surface such that the inner surface defines a primary exhaust gasa flow path, wherein the tubular component extends along a central axis from an inlet end to an outlet end;

at least one opening defined by the tubular component, wherein the at least one opening extends through the inner surface and the outer surface; and

a patch adapted to cover the at least one opening, the patch including:

a first plate disposed on the tubular component, the first plate comprising at least one slot adapted to receive exhaust gases from the at least one opening; and

a second plate disposed on the first plate and comprising at least one outlet opening for receiving exhaust gases from the slot; wherein the number of the at least one opening in the tubular component corresponds to the number of the at least one outlet openings in the second plate;

wherein a secondary exhaust gas flow path is defined through the at least one opening in the tubular component, the at least one slot defined by the first plate, and the at least outlet opening defined by the second plate.

18. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 17 , wherein the slot has a first end and a second end.

19. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one opening defined by the tubular component aligns with the first end of the slot and the at least one outlet opening in the second plate aligns with the second end of the slot.

20. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 19 , wherein the at least one outlet opening in the second plate is upstream of the at least one opening defined by the tubular component.

21. The vehicle exhaust system of claim 17 , wherein the primary exhaust gas flow path directs exhaust gas to an external atmosphere and the secondary exhaust gas flow path separately exhausts gas to an external atmosphere.

Assignments (8)
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.; 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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2019
From: GOLIN, MICHAEL A.; OSTROMECKI, GABRIEL
To: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
Reel/Frame 049488/0189 →
Continuity (1)
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