EXHAUST APPARATUS

Abstract

closes an exhaust apparatus for attaching to new or existing engine exhaust systems comprised of a conduit for the ingress of exhaust emissions from an engine, a hollow central body, and a conduit for the egress of exhaust emissions from an engine. The hollow central body is hexagonal in shape, and is comprised of a top panel, a bottom panel, a first wing, and a second wing. The hollow central body is attached to the exhaust system in a manner whereby engine emissions cannot escape while passing through the ingress conduit, hollow central body, or egress conduit. Two or more vanes are internally situated near the point of egress so that engine emissions flowing from the central body must pass through the vanes prior to flowing into the egress conduit.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/022,161, filed on Jan. 18, 2008, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002]The present invention relates to exhaust systems for engines, including but not limited to combustion engines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003]The present invention provides an exhaust apparatus for attaching to existing exhaust systems, or alternatively, for incorporating into the design of exhaust systems of newly built engines.

[0004]Recognizing the current demand for lowering noxious emissions and greenhouse gases that are often associated with combustion engines, it is one object of the present invention to increase the fuel efficiency of an engine incorporating the present invention into its exhaust system.

[0005]Further recognizing that, notwithstanding the current demand to lower noxious emissions and greenhouse gases by increasing an engine's fuel efficiency, there is also a demand to increase fuel efficiency without compromising the engine's performance. Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to increase an engine's fuel efficiency while simultaneously increasing an engine's horsepower rating.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006]The present invention is generally comprised of a conduit for the ingress of exhaust emissions from an engine, a hollow central body, and a conduit for the egress of exhaust emissions from an engine.

[0007]The hollow central body of the present invention is preferably hexagonal in shape, and is generally comprised of a top panel, a bottom panel, a first wing, and a second wing. Preferably, the hollow central body is stamped with ridges to lower, or altogether avoid vibrations produced by the compression of engine exhaust emissions as they pass through the hollow central body.

[0008]The hollow central body is attached to and located between the ingress conduit and egress conduit, respectively, in a manner whereby engine emissions cannot escape from the device while passing through the ingress conduit, hollow central body, or egress conduit.

[0009]Two or more vanes are internally situated at or near the point of attachment between the hollow central body and the egress conduit so that engine emissions flowing from the central body must pass through the plurality of vanes prior to flowing into and through the egress conduit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of the exhaust apparatus.

[0011]FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of the exhaust apparatus.

[0012]FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of the exhaust apparatus with the top panel removed.

[0013]FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the exhaust apparatus.

[0014]FIG. 5 illustrates a view of the ingress conduit entrance and hollow central body entrance of the exhaust apparatus.

[0015]FIG. 6 illustrates a view of the egress conduit exit and hollow central body exit of the exhaust apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016]As illustrated in FIGS. 1 & 2, the present invention is comprised of an ingress conduit 1 having an ingress conduit entrance 2; a hollow central body 3; and an egress conduit 4 having an egress conduit exit 5. A first end of hollow central body 3 is attached to ingress conduit 1 at first attachment point 18, and a second end of hollow central body 3 is attached to egress conduit 4 at second attachment point 30. Hollow central body 3 is situated between ingress conduit 1 and egress conduit 4. Preferably, hollow central body 3 is generally hexagonal in shape and is comprised of a top panel 6; a bottom panel 7; a first wing 8; a first side panel 11; a second side panel 12; a second wing 13; a third side panel 16; and a fourth side panel 17.

[0017]The present invention is preferably constructed of a material capable of withstanding high temperatures and pressures associated with engine exhaust systems known in the art, including but not limited to iron or steel.

[0018]In one embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the ingress conduit entrance 2 and the egress conduit exit 5 is approximately between twenty and forty centimeters, and preferably between twenty five and thirty centimeters.

[0019]As illustrated in FIG. 3, emissions enter the exhaust apparatus via the ingress conduit entrance 2. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of ingress conduit entrance 2 is approximately between two and six centimeters, and preferably between three and five centimeters.

[0020]As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, in one embodiment of the present invention, a first end of ingress conduit 1, is more distal to hollow central body 3, includes ingress conduit entrance 2, and is substantially circular. A second end of ingress conduit 1 is more proximal to hollow central body 3, is substantially rectangular in shape, and forms the hollow central body entrance 19. The cross-sectional area of the ingress conduit 1 decreases from the distal end of ingress conduit 1 to the proximal end of the ingress conduit 1. As illustrated in FIG. 4, ingress conduit 1 retains a substantially uniform shape notwithstanding the transition from a substantially circular first end of ingress conduit 1 to a substantially rectangular second end of ingress conduit 1

[0021]Hollow central body 3 has a substantially rectangular inlet which securely connects with the proximal end of ingress conduit 1 at a first attachment point 18. Ingress conduit 1 is securely attached to hollow central body 3 at first attachment point 18 so that emissions passing through ingress conduit 1 and into hollow central body 3 cannot escape from the device.

[0022]As illustrated in FIG. 5, preferably, hollow central body entrance 19 is substantially rectangular. Hollow central body entrance 19 has a first entrance wall 20 facing first wing 8; a second entrance wall 21 facing second wing 13; a third entrance wall 22 facing top panel 6; and a fourth entrance wall 23 facing bottom panel 7. The distance between third entrance wall 22 and fourth entrance wall 23 of hollow central body entrance 19 is approximately between four centimeters and eight centimeters, and preferably between five and seven centimeters. The distance between first wall 20 and second wall 21 of hollow central body entrance 19 is approximately between two and five centimeters, and preferably between three and four centimeters.

[0023]As illustrated in FIG. 3, in one embodiment of the present invention, first side panel 11 is further comprised of angle B 25; second side panel 12 is further comprised of angle C 26; third side panel 16 is further comprised of angle E 28; and fourth side panel 17 is further comprised of angle F 29. Angles B, C, E, and F 25, 26, 28, and 29 are approximately between 135 and 165 degrees, and preferably between 140 and 155 degrees.

[0024]As further illustrated in FIG. 3, in another embodiment of the present invention, the point of contact between first side panel 11 and second side panel 12 is comprised of angle A 24, and the point of contact between third side panel 16 and fourth side panel 17 is angle D 27. Angle A 24 and angle D 27 are between approximately 120 and 160 degrees, and preferably between 140 and 150 degrees.

[0025]The distance between angle A 24 and angle D 27 of hollow central body 3 is approximately between eight and eleven centimeters, and preferably between nine and ten centimeters. The distance between angle A 24 and angle B 25 is approximately between one and five centimeters, and preferably between two and four centimeters. The distance between angle A 24 and angle F 29 is approximately between one and five centimeters, and preferably between two and four centimeters. The distance between angle D 27 and angle C 26 is approximately between one and five centimeters, and preferably between two and four centimeters. The distance between angle D 27 and angle E 28 is approximately between one and five centimeters, and preferably between two and four centimeters.

[0026]In one embodiment of the present invention, the distance between top panel 6 and top panel 7 of hollow central body 3 is approximately between four centimeters and eight centimeters, and preferably between five and seven centimeters.

[0027]In another embodiment of the present invention, first, second, third, and fourth side panels 11, 12, 16, and 17 of hollow central body 3 are reinforced with additional sheets of metal to lower, or altogether avoid vibrations produced by the compression of emissions as they pass through hollow central body 3. Top panel 6 and bottom panel 7 can also be reinforced with additional sheets of metal to help lower, or altogether avoid vibrations produced by the compression of emissions as they pass through hollow central body 3. In yet another embodiment, the interior surface of top panel 6 and/or bottom panel 7 are stamped with two or more parallel opposing grooves 9 and 10 to help lower, or altogether avoid vibrations produced by the compression of emissions as they pass through hollow central body 3.

[0028]As illustrated in FIG. 3, emissions exit the present invention via a first end of the egress conduit 4, defined herein as the egress conduit exit 5. The diameter of egress conduit exit 5 is approximately between two and six centimeters, and preferably between three and five centimeters.

[0029]As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, in one embodiment of the present invention, the first end of egress conduit 4, is more distal to hollow central body 3, includes egress conduit exit 5, and is substantially circular. A second end of egress conduit 4 is more proximal to hollow central body 3, is substantially rectangular in shape, and forms the hollow central body exit 31. The cross-sectional area of the egress conduit 1 decreases from the distal end of egress conduit 4 to the proximal end of the egress conduit 4. As illustrated in FIG. 4, egress conduit 4 retains a substantially uniform shape notwithstanding the transition from a substantially circular first end of egress conduit 4 to a substantially rectangular second end of ingress conduit 4.

[0030]Hollow central body 3 has a substantially rectangular outlet which securely connects with the proximal end of egress conduit 4 at a second attachment point 30. Egress conduit 4 is securely attached to hollow central body 3 at second attachment point 30 so that emissions passing through hollow central body 3 and into egress conduit 4 cannot escape from the device.

[0031]In another embodiment, the distance between first attachment point 18 and second attachment point 30 is approximately between nine and thirteen centimeters, and preferably between ten and twelve centimeters.

[0032]As illustrated in FIG. 6, hollow central body exit 31 is preferably rectangular in shape having a first exit wall 32 facing first wing 8; a second exit wall 33 facing second wing 13; a third exit wall 34 facing top panel 6; and a fourth exit wall 35 facing bottom panel 7. In one embodiment of the present invention, the distance between third exit wall 34 and fourth exit wall 35 of hollow central body exit 31 is approximately between four centimeters and eight centimeters, and preferably between five and seven centimeters. The distance between first exit wall 32 and second exit wall 33 of hollow central body exit 31 is approximately between two and five centimeters, and preferably between three and four centimeters.

[0033]In one embodiment of the present invention, one or more vanes are situated within the hollow central body 3 near the second attachment point 30, and preferably, securely attached to the proximal end of egress conduit 4 at hollow central body exit 31. As illustrated in FIG. 6, in a preferred embodiment, vane 36 is opposed parallel to vane 37. A first end of vanes 36 and 37 are attached to top panel 6 of hollow central body 3, and a second end of vanes 36 and 37 are to bottom panel 7 of hollow central body 3. Preferably, the distance between vanes 36 and 37 is approximately between zero and three centimeters, and preferably between one and two centimeters. Emissions flowing through the hollow central body 3 must pass through vanes 36 and 37 prior to flowing into and through the egress conduit 4.

[0034]In one embodiment of the present invention, vanes 36 and 37 are approximately between four and eight centimeters in height, and preferably between five and seven centimeters. Vanes 36 and 37 are approximately between one and four centimeters in length, and preferably between two and three centimeters.

[0035]Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.

Claims

1. An exhaust apparatus for an engine comprising:an ingress conduit, an egress conduit, and a hollow central body being situated between said ingress and egress conduits,said ingress conduit having a substantially rectangular end proximal to said hollow central body and a substantially circular second end distal to said hollow central body;said egress conduit having a substantially rectangular end proximal to said hollow central body and a substantially circular second end distal to said hollow central body;said hollow central body further comprising a substantially rectangular inlet connected to said proximal end of said ingress conduit and a substantially rectangular outlet connected to said proximal end of said egress conduit;said hollow central body being substantially hexagonal and comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, first and second side panels forming a first wing, and third and fourth side panels forming a second wing; andtwo or more parallel vanes situated within said hollow central body near said outlet.

2. The exhaust apparatus of claim 1 wherein said exhaust apparatus is situated within an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine.

3. The exhaust apparatus of claim 1 whereby the cross-section area of said ingress conduit decreases from said distal end of said ingress conduit to said proximal end of said ingress conduit.

4. The exhaust apparatus of claim 1 whereby the cross section area of said egress conduit increases from said proximal end of said egress conduit to said distal end of said egress conduit.

5. The exhaust apparatus of claim 1 whereby the interior surface of said upper panel includes two or more parallel grooves.

6. The exhaust apparatus of claim 1 whereby the interior surface of said bottom panel includes two or more parallel grooves.

7. The exhaust apparatus of claim 1 whereby said two or more parallel vanes are attached to said proximal end of said egress conduit.

8. The exhaust apparatus of claim 1 whereby the angle formed by said first and second side panels, and the angle formed by said third and fourth panels, is between 135 and 165 degrees.

9. The exhaust apparatus of claim 8 whereby said angle formed between said first and second panels, and said angle formed between said third and fourth panels is between 120 and 160 degrees.

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