IP Library Granted Patent US 11,421,568
Granted Patent B2
US 11,421,568 · App. 16/733,546 · Granted Aug 23, 2022

Muffler with internally supported tuner

Inventors: Abdulhadi Madi (East Lansing, MI); Isidro L. Hernandez (Ypsilanti, MI); Prajwal H. Rao (Jackson, MI)
Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
F01N1/023G10K11/162F01N2310/00F01N2470/02F01N2490/04F01N2490/15
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,421,568
App. No.
16/733,546
Granted
Aug 23, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A muffler for receiving exhaust gas from a combustion engine is disclosed. The muffler includes a casing and a pipe. The casing includes a shell coupled to first and second end caps that cooperate to define an internal volume. The pipe is disposed within the internal volume and extends substantially a length of the shell. Each of the first and second end caps includes a circumferentially extending flange engaging an outer surface of the pipe to provide support for the pipe. Each circumferentially extending flange extends at an acute angle relative to a shell axis of the shell. Each circumferentially extending flange is coaxial along a pipe axis of the pipe.

Claims (13)

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

a casing including a shell and first and second end caps that cooperate to define an internal volume, the first end cap defining a first opening and the second end cap defining a second opening; and

a pipe disposed within the internal volume and having first and second ends, the first end extending at least partially through the first opening in the first end cap and the second end extending at least partially through the second opening in the second end cap,

wherein one of the first and second end caps includes a main body and first and second protrusions, the first protrusion protruding from the main body toward the internal volume of the shell and including a first surface, and the second protrusion protruding from the main body away from the internal volume of the shell and including a second surface, wherein the first surface and the second surface extend along a common plane, wherein the one of the first and second end caps includes a tubular flange extending from the first and second surfaces and forms the first or second opening in the one of the first and second end caps, and wherein the pipe extends at least partially through the first or second opening and is in engagement with an inner tubular surface of the tubular flange, the tubular flange extending perpendicular to the common plane, wherein the first surface partially surrounds the tubular flange and the second surface partially surrounds the tubular flange.

2. The muffler of claim 1 , wherein the plane extends at a non-right angle relative to the main body.

3. The muffler of claim 1 , wherein the plane extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pipe.

4. The muffler of claim 1 , wherein the other of the first and second end caps includes another main body and third and fourth protrusions, and wherein the third protrusion protrudes from the another main body and includes a third surface and the fourth protrusion protrudes from the another main body and includes a fourth surface, the third surface and the fourth surface extend along another plane.

5. The muffler of claim 4 , wherein the another plane extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pipe.

6. The muffler of claim 4 , wherein the another plane extends parallel to the plane.

7. The muffler of claim 1 , further comprising a baffle disposed within the shell and including another main body and third and fourth protrusions, the third protrusion protrudes from the another main body and includes a third surface and the fourth protrusion protrudes from the another main body and includes a fourth surface, the third surface and the fourth surface extend along another plane.

8. The muffler of claim 7 , wherein the another plane extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pipe.

9. The muffler of claim 7 , wherein the another plane extends parallel to the plane.

10. The muffler of claim 1 , wherein the shell defines a longitudinal axis and the pipe defines a pipe axis that extends at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

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 Jan 7, 2020
From: MADI, ABDULHADI; HERNANDEZ, ISIDRO L.; RAO, PRAJWAL H.
To: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
Reel/Frame 051439/0180 →