IP Library Granted Patent US 11,391,195
Granted Patent B2
US 11,391,195 · App. 16/445,636 · Granted Jul 19, 2022

Exhaust system and muffler

Inventor: Ankit Barot (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
F01N13/04F01N1/023F01N1/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,391,195
App. No.
16/445,636
Granted
Jul 19, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A muffler for use with an engine is provided. The muffler includes a first tube defining a first inlet and a first outlet spaced apart from the first inlet. The first tube is configured to receive exhaust at the first inlet. The muffler includes a second tube spaced apart from the first tube. The second tube defines a second inlet and a second outlet spaced apart from the second inlet. The second tube is configured to receive exhaust at the second inlet. The muffler includes a third tube disposed at least partly around the second tube. The third tube defines a third outlet spaced apart from each of the second inlet and the second outlet. The third outlet is in fluid communication with the second outlet of the second tube. The muffler also includes at least one outlet tube in fluid communication with the first outlet and the third outlet.

Claims (47)

1. A muffler for use with an engine, the muffler comprising:

a first tube defining a first inlet and a first outlet spaced apart from the first inlet, wherein the first tube receives exhaust from the engine at the first inlet;

a second tube spaced apart from the first tube, the second tube defining a second inlet and a second outlet spaced apart from the second inlet, wherein the second tube receives exhaust from the engine at the second inlet, the exhaust moving in a first direction from the second inlet to the second outlet;

a third tube disposed at least partly around the second tube, the third tube defining a third outlet spaced apart from each of the second inlet and the second outlet, wherein the third outlet is in fluid communication with the second outlet of the second tube, wherein the third tube receives exhaust gas from the second outlet and redirects the exhaust gas in a second direction opposite the first direction from the second outlet to the third outlet; and

at least one outlet tube in fluid communication with the first outlet and the third outlet.

2. The muffler of claim 1 , further comprising a connecting member configured to connect the second tube to the third tube.

3. The muffler of claim 1 , further comprising a housing at least partly enclosing the first tube, the second tube and the third tube, the housing defining a common chamber in fluid communication with the first outlet, the third outlet and the at least one outlet tube.

4. The muffler of claim 1 , wherein the third tube further comprises a closed end opposite to the third outlet, and wherein the second outlet is axially disposed between the closed end and the third outlet.

5. The muffler of claim 1 , wherein a sum of a length of the second tube and a length of the third tube is greater than a length of the first tube.

6. The muffler of claim 5 , wherein the length of the second tube is greater than the length of the first tube.

7. The muffler of claim 5 , wherein the length of the third tube is greater than the length of the first tube.

8. The muffler of claim 1 , wherein the third tube is concentrically disposed around the second tube.

9. The muffler of claim 1 , wherein the second tube further comprises a closed end axially opposite to the second inlet, wherein the second outlet comprises one or more openings disposed on a wall of the second tube, and wherein the one or more openings are axially disposed between the closed end of the second tube and the third outlet of the third tube.

10. The muffler of claim 9 , wherein the third tube is connected to the second tube adjacent to the closed end.

11. An exhaust system for use with an engine having a first row of cylinders and a second row of cylinders, the exhaust system comprising:

a first pipe configured to receive exhaust from the first row of cylinders;

a second pipe configured to receive exhaust from the second row of cylinders; and

a muffler comprising:

a first tube defining a first inlet and a first outlet spaced apart from the first inlet, wherein the first inlet is in fluid communication with the first pipe and receives exhaust from the first row of cylinders;

a second tube spaced apart from the first tube, the second tube defining a second inlet and a second outlet spaced apart from the second inlet, wherein the second tube is in fluid communication with the second pipe and receives exhaust from the second row of cylinders, the exhaust moving in a first direction from the second inlet to the second outlet;

a third tube disposed at least partly around the second tube, the third tube defining a third outlet spaced apart from each of the second inlet and the second outlet, wherein the third outlet is in fluid communication with the second outlet of the second tube; wherein the third tube receives exhaust gas from the second outlet and redirects the exhaust gas in a second direction opposite the first direction from the second outlet to the third outlet; and

at least one outlet tube in fluid communication with the first outlet and the third outlet.

12. The exhaust system of claim 11 , wherein the muffler further comprises a connecting member configured to connect the second tube to the third tube.

13. The exhaust system of claim 11 , wherein the muffler further comprises a housing at least partly enclosing the first tube, the second tube and the third tube, the housing defining a common chamber in fluid communication with the first outlet, the third outlet and the at least one outlet tube.

14. The exhaust system of claim 11 , wherein the third tube further comprises a closed end opposite to the third outlet, and wherein the second outlet is axially disposed between the closed end and the third outlet.

15. The exhaust system of claim 11 , wherein a sum of a length of the second tube and a length of the third tube is greater than a length of the first tube.

16. The exhaust system of claim 15 , wherein the length of the second tube is greater than the length of the first tube.

17. The exhaust system of claim 15 , wherein the length of the third tube is greater than the length of the first tube.

18. The exhaust system of claim 11 , wherein the third tube is concentrically disposed around the second tube.

19. The exhaust system of claim 11 , wherein the second tube further comprises a closed end axially opposite to the second inlet, wherein the second outlet comprises one or more openings disposed on a wall of the second tube, and wherein the one or more openings are axially disposed between the closed end of the second tube and the third outlet of the third tube.

20. The exhaust system of claim 19 , wherein the third tube is connected to the second tube adjacent to the closed end.

21. The exhaust system of claim 11 , wherein a length of the first pipe is greater than a length of the second pipe.

22. The exhaust system of claim 21 , wherein a sum of a length of the second tube and a length of the third tube is greater than a length of the first tube such that a half engine order noise downstream of the muffler is decreased.

23. The exhaust system of claim 11 , wherein a length of the first pipe is substantially equal to a length of the second pipe.

24. The exhaust system of claim 23 , wherein a sum of a length of the second tube and a length of the third tube is greater than a length of the first tube such that a half engine order noise downstream of the muffler is increased.

25. The exhaust system of claim 11 , wherein a sum of a length of the first pipe and a length of the first tube is substantially equal to a sum of a length of the second pipe, a length of the second tube and a length of the third tube.

26. The exhaust system of claim 11 , wherein a sum of a length of the first pipe and a length of the first tube is less than a sum of a length of the second pipe, a length of the second tube and a length of the third tube.

27. A muffler for use with an engine, the muffler comprising:

a first tube defining a first inlet and a first outlet spaced apart from the first inlet, wherein the first tube receives exhaust from the engine at the first inlet;

a second tube spaced apart from the first tube, the second tube defining a second inlet and a second outlet spaced apart from the second inlet, wherein the second tube receives exhaust from the engine at the second inlet, the exhaust moving in a first direction from the second inlet to the second outlet;

a third tube disposed at least partly around the second tube, the third tube defining a third outlet spaced apart from each of the second inlet and the second outlet, wherein the third outlet is in fluid communication with the second outlet of the second tube, wherein the third tube receives exhaust gas from the second outlet and redirects the exhaust gas in a second direction opposite the first direction from the second outlet to the third outlet;

a housing at least partly enclosing the first tube, the second tube and the third tube, the housing defining a common chamber in fluid communication with the first outlet and the third outlet; and

at least one outlet tube in fluid communication with the common chamber.

28. The muffler of claim 27 , wherein the third tube further comprises a closed end opposite to the third outlet, and wherein the second outlet is axially disposed between the closed end and the third outlet.

29. The muffler of claim 27 , wherein the second tube further comprises a closed end axially opposite to the second inlet, wherein the second outlet comprises one or more openings disposed on a wall of the second tube, and wherein the one or more openings are axially disposed between the closed end of the second tube and the third outlet of the third tube.

30. The muffler of claim 29 , wherein the third tube is connected to the second tube adjacent to the closed end.

31. The muffler of claim 1 , wherein the third tube overlaps the second tube at the outlet end of the second tube.

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 19, 2019
From: BAROT, ANKIT
To: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
Reel/Frame 049518/0613 →
Continuity (1)
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