MOTORCYCLE MUFFLER BAFFLE

Abstract

A baffle is provided for a motorcycle muffler to increase the engine horsepower and torque. The baffle includes an elongated pipe with louvered openings, and support members to mount the pipe inside the muffler. The pipe also includes a pair of rods extending spirally along the inner wall of the pipe. The rods are offset 180° from each other. The spiraling rods create an air flow vortex for exhaust gases passing through the baffle, and thereby enhance engine performance.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The exhaust system of a motorcycle is important to engine performance. Conventional motorcycle exhaust systems include header pipes attached to the exhaust manifold of the engine. The header pipes direct exhaust gases toward the exhaust pipe, which leads to the muffler. The muffler helps control the hot gases, as well as the tone and sound from the exhaust.

Motorcycle muffler baffles are well-known in the art and take many forms. The baffles are mounted inside the muffler or exhaust pipe, and affects both sound and performance. More particularly, the purpose of motorcycle exhaust baffles is two-fold: A baffle quiets the exhaust noise produced by the engine, and provides back pressure towards the engine. The exhaust baffle routes the exhaust gas exiting the engine through a chamber that reduces noise and maintains back pressure.

Baffles generally have a series of holes through which the exhaust gas is passed. The holes slow the flow of the exhaust gases and alter the sound waves. The disruption of the gas flow changes the noise tone produced by the engine's release of exhaust. The shape and design of the baffle holes affect the throat roar or rumble of the motorcycle.

Motorcycle engines are normally tuned for back pressure created by the baffles. The baffle back pressure affects the engine performance, including idling, horsepower, torque, throttle response, and acceleration.

Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved baffle for a motorcycle muffler.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a motorcycle muffler baffle which improves performance of the engine.

Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a muffler baffle for motorcycles which increases horsepower and torque of the engine.

A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a baffle for a motorcycle muffler which has spiraling louver openings and a pair of internal spiraling rods to induce a vortex air flow within the baffle.

Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of a baffle for a motorcycle muffler having a pair of air flow members extending in a spiral pattern on the inside wall of the baffle to enhance air flow and improve engine performance.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a motorcycle muffler baffle which is economical to manufacture, easy to install, and improves the engine performance while providing a desirable exhaust sound.

These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The motorcycle muffler baffle of the present invention includes a pipe with a plurality of louvered openings extending in a spiral pattern along the pipe. A pair of spaced apart supports are provided at one end and at the middle of the baffle to mount the baffle in the motorcycle muffler. The baffle also includes a pair of internal rods on the inside wall of the baffle and spaced 180° apart. The rods extend in a spiral pattern along the length of the baffle pipe. The openings and rods create a vortex air flow within the baffle, which improves horsepower and torque for the engine and provides a pleasing sound for the muffler.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the motorcycle muffler baffle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the baffle.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the spiral configuration of the internal air control rods of the baffle, according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view illustrating the spiraling air control rods inside the baffle.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the baffle.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the baffle components.

FIG. 7 is a graph comparing the horsepower and torque performance of the baffle of the present invention compared to two prior art baffles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The exhaust baffle of the present invention is generally designated in the drawings by the reference numeral 10. The baffle 10 includes an elongated pipe 12, which may be one piece, or may be formed from two sections of pipe welded together. The pipe 12 includes a plurality of louvered openings 14, which are preferably formed in a spiral pattern along the length of the pipe 12. The holes 14 are formed in axially extending rows, as best seen in FIG. 2, with each row being offset relative to the adjacent row, so as to create the spiral path of the holes 14. The louvered formation of the openings 14 allow exhaust gas to flow outwardly from the interior of the pipe 12.

A first muffler support 16 is provided at the tail end of the pipe 12, and a second muffler support 18 is provided approximately at the midpoint of the baffle 10. The supports 16, 18 facilitate mounting of the baffle 10 in a motorcycle muffler (not shown) in any convenient manner. The tail support 16 has a tapered wall 17 and an increased diameter outlet which allows exhaust gas to expand as the gas exits the support 16.

A pair of air flow members or rods 20 are welded or otherwise secured on the inside wall of the pipe 12. Preferably, the rods 20 extend in a spiral pattern within the pipe 12, along substantially the full length of the pipe 12. The rods are spaced or offset approximately 180° from one another. The rods function to control air flow through the pipe 12. It is understood that as an alternative to the rods, the air flow member could be a flange or small L-shaped member fixed inside the pipe to induce a vortex air flow for the exhaust gases.

In a preferred embodiment, the pipe 12 is made from 18 gauge milled steel 18 inches in length, with a 2.25 inch outside diameter. The rods 20 are preferably 0.25 inch in diameter. In the preferred method of installation, ⅛ inch holes are drilled or formed in the baffle pipe 12 to allow the rods 20 to be tack welded to the inside wall of the pipe 12. After assembly, the pipes 12 are powder coated to maintain the integrity of the metal, and then bolted inside the muffler body.

The baffle 10 improves performance of the motorcycle engine. The internal spiral rods 20 in the baffle 10 enhance the engine performance by creating a swirling vortex action for the exhaust gases, thereby increasing the horsepower and the torque from the motorcycle engine. In a dynojet performance evaluation test, the baffle 10 had higher horsepower and torque of the engine, compared to a stock motorcycle muffler and a commercially available muffler from Rinehart, as shown in FIG. 7. In FIG. 7, Applicant's torque and horsepower results are represented by the upper lines, while the commercially available baffles are designated by the middle and lower lines. Applicant's maximum horsepower was 74.84 with the baffle 10, compared to 68.28 and 61.25 for the commercial baffles. Applicant's maximum torque in this test was 92.33, compared to the commercial torque of 81.67 and 76.65 for the prior art baffles.

The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

Claims

1. A motorcycle muffler baffle, comprising: a pipe with a plurality of louvered openings extending along the pipe;a first internal rod extending in a spiral pattern within the pipe; anda pair of spaced apart supports for mounting the baffle in a motorcycle muffler.

2. The motorcycle muffler baffle of claim 1 wherein the louvered openings extend in a spiral pattern around the pipe.

3. The motorcycle muffler baffle of claim 1 wherein the spiral patterns of the rod induces a vortex air flow of exhaust gasses within the pipe.

4. The motorcycle muffler baffle of claim 1 wherein the spiral pattern of the rod extends more than 180° along the pipe.

5. The motorcycle muffler baffle of claim 1 further comprising a second internal rod extending in a spiral pattern within the pipe.

6. The motorcycle muffler baffle of claim 5 wherein the first and second rods are offset approximately 180° from one another.

7. The motorcycle muffler baffle of claim 1 wherein the supports have a larger diameter than the pipe.

8. The motorcycle muffler baffle of claim 1 wherein the louvered openings are arranged in a plurality of straight lines along the length of the pipe.

9. The motorcycle muffler baffle of claim 1 wherein the louvered openings are oriented in axial lines.

10. The motorcycle muffler baffle of claim 1 wherein one support is adjacent an end of the pipe and the other support is located at an approximate midpoint between opposite ends of the pipe.

11. A baffle for a motorcycle muffler, comprising: an elongated pipe having opposite ends and opposite inner and outer wall surfaces;at least one support member on the pipe to mount the pipe inside the muffler;a plurality of holes in the pipe extending substantially along the length of the pipe; andfirst and second air flow members extending along the inner wall surface of the pipe to create a vortex air flow for exhaust gases passing through the baffle.

12. The baffle of claim 11 wherein the air flow members extend spirally within the pipe.

13. The baffle of claim 12 wherein the air flow members are offset 180° from one another.

14. The baffle of claim 11 wherein the air flow members are spaced on opposite sides of the pipe.

15. The baffle of claim 11 wherein the holes are louvers.

16. The baffle of claim 11 wherein the pipe has a constant diameter along its full length.

17. The baffle of claim 11 wherein the holes extend in a spiral pattern.

18. The baffle of claim 17 wherein the air flow members extend substantially the full length of the pipe.

19. The baffle of claim 11 wherein the air flow members are rods.

20. The baffle of claim 19 wherein the rods have a diameter of ¼ inch.