The present disclosure relates to a muffler.
A known exhaust system for automobile is provided with a sub-muffler between a catalyst disposed upstream of an exhaust channel and a main muffler disposed downstream of the exhaust channel (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The sub-muffler described in Patent Document 1 has a double-wall pipe including an outer pipe and an inner pipe, and the inner pipe has a plurality of small holes.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-154715
If the inner pipe, provided with the plurality of small holes as described above, is bent, the small holes are easily deformed. There is a a problem of poor processability such that bending can be performed only within a range in which excessive deformation does not occur. Therefore, depending on a degree of bending of a bent portion of an exhaust pipe, it is sometimes difficult to provide the sub-muffler in the bent portion.
Also, since the outer pipe is shaped so as to bulge out largely, a place to arrange the sub-muffler is also limited. In some cases, the sub-muffler cannot be arranged in a desired place.
In view of the circumstances as described above, it is desirable to provide a muffler configured to have good bending processability and easy to downsize.
The muffler to be described below includes an inner pipe and an outer pipe. Each of the inner pipe and the outer pipe has a tubular shape. The inner pipe is disposed on an inner-circumferential side of the outer pipe. The outer pipe forms a double-wall pipe together with the inner pipe. One of a first end which is one end of the double-wall pipe and a second end which is the other end of the double-wall pipe is continuous with a first channel on an upstream side in an exhaust flow direction, and the other is continuous with a second channel on a downstream side in the exhaust flow direction. Thereby, it is possible to form an exhaust channel coupling the first channel and the second channel via the inner pipe. A cavity is provided between the inner pipe and the outer pipe. At least one of the first end and the second end has an opening between the inner pipe and the outer pipe, so that the cavity communicates with the exhaust channel via the opening. The inner pipe has a portion shaped such that a part of an outer-circumferential surface of the inner pipe is positioned on the inner-circumferential side relative to a reference, the reference being a position of an inner-circumferential surface of the outer pipe. The cavity is formed between the portion and the inner-circumferential surface of the outer pipe.
According to the muffler configured as above, a cavity is provided between the inner pipe and the outer pipe forming the double-wall pipe, at least one of the first end and the second end is open between the inner pipe and the outer pipe, and the cavity communicates with the exhaust channel via the opening. If there is such cavity, it is possible to form a Helmholtz resonator, for example, by utilizing the cavity and produce a muffling effect. Alternatively, for example, the cavity can be made to function as a side branch so as to produce a muffling effect.
With the muffler having the above configuration, it is not necessary to provide small holes in the inner pipe, unlike a muffler having a plurality of small holes in an inner pipe. Therefore, the inner pipe of the muffler of the present disclosure can be bent without necessity of considering deformation of the small holes. The muffler of the present disclosure can ensure better bending processability than a muffler utilizing an inner pipe having small holes. The muffler of the present disclosure can be disposed even at a bent portion of the exhaust pipe, so that a place with a higher muffling effect can be selected. Therefore, the muffler of the present disclosure can more appropriately exhibit a muffling effect than a muffler which is difficult to dispose at a bent portion of an exhaust pipe.
In addition, the inner pipe has a portion shaped such that a part of the outer-circumferential surface of the inner pipe is positioned on the inner-circumferential side relative to a reference, the reference being a position of the inner-circumferential surface of the outer pipe. The cavity is formed between the portion and the inner-circumferential surface of the outer pipe. Therefore, according to the muffler of the present disclosure, it is possible to further reduce an outer diameter of the double-wall pipe as compared to a case in which a cavity ensured, for example, only by inflating the outer pipe to an outer-circumferential side. It becomes possible to dispose the muffler even in a narrower arrangement place. The muffler of the present disclosure increases a degree of freedom for determining where to place the muffler so as to allow selection of a place with a higher muffling effect. Therefore, the muffler of the present disclosure can more appropriately exhibit a muffling effect as compared to a large muffler having a limited arrangement place.
If one of the first end and the second end has an opening between the inner pipe and the outer pipe, the other end may have an opening between the inner pipe and the outer pipe, or may be closed between the inner pipe and the outer pipe. If the other end is closed between the inner pipe and the outer pipe, the cavity between the inner pipe and the outer pipe may be closed in any manner. Some of the measures to close the cavity can include, for example, welding the inner pipe and the outer pipe, and inserting an inclusion between the inner pipe and the outer pipe.
Further, the first end of the muffler may or may not be completely sealed, as long as the first end is closed between the inner pipe and the outer pipe to an extent such that a muffling effect due to the cavity is achieved. That is, there is no need for the first end of the muffler to have an airtight sealed configuration between the inner pipe and the outer pipe. Somewhat breathable inclusion (such as, for example, a wire mesh) may be inserted between the inner pipe and the outer pipe to close between the inner pipe and the outer pipe.
1, 31, 41 . . . exhaust system, 3 . . . catalytic converter, 5, 61, 61, 76, 81, 86, 91 . . . sub-muffler, 5A . . . first sub-muffler, 5B . . . second sub-muffler, 7 . . . main muffler, 9, 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D . . . pipe member, 11 . . . inner pipe, 13 . . . outer pipe, 15 . . . double-wall pipe, 15A . . . first end, 15B . . . second end, 17, 63 . . . cavity, 17A . . . resonance chamber, 17B . . . resonance pipe, 19, 78, 88, 95 . . . opening, 21 . . . large diameter portion, 23 . . . small diameter portion, 53, 77 . . . wire mesh.
Hereinafter, the muffler described above will be described with example embodiments.
[Configuration of Exhaust System]
An exhaust system 1 shown in
As shown in
The above-mentioned pipe members 9A and 9B are coupled to the first end 15A and the second end 15B, respectively. As a result, an inner circumferential side of the inner pipe 11 is continuous with a first channel on an upstream side in an exhaust flow direction at the first end 15A. Further, an inner circumferential side of the outer pipe 13 is continuous with a second channel on a downstream side in the exhaust flow direction at the second end 15B. That is, an exhaust channel that couples the first channel and the second channel is configured via the inner pipe 11.
Either of the first end 15A and the second end 15B may be on an upstream side of the exhaust channel. Specifically, the second end 15B may be continuous to the first channel on the upstream side in the exhaust flow direction and the first end 15A may be continuous to the second channel on the downstream side in the exhaust flow direction. In addition, separate bodies of the pipe members 9A, 9B may be joined to the inner pipe 11 and the outer pipe 13, or the inner pipe 11 and the outer pipe 13 themselves may be integrally molded up to portions corresponding to the pipe members 9A, 9B.
A cavity 17 is provided between the inner pipe 11 and the outer pipe 13. More specifically, as shown in
As a result that the inner pipe 11 and the outer pipe 13 are formed in the above-described shape, a resonance chamber 17A, that corresponds to a part of the cavity 17, is formed between an outer-circumferential surface of the small-diameter portion 23 and an inner-circumferential surface of the outer pipe 13. In the large-diameter portion 21, as shown in
That is, in a portion forming the resonance chamber 17A and the resonance pipe 17B, the inner pipe 11 is shaped such that a part of the outer circumferential surface of the inner pipe 11 is disposed on an inner-circumferential side relative to a reference, the reference being a position of the inner-circumferential surface of the outer pipe 13. As a result, the resonance chamber 17A and the resonance pipe 17B as described above are formed between a part of the outer-circumferential surface of the inner pipe 11 and the inner-circumferential surface of the outer pipe 13.
In the present embodiment, a center of curvature of the recess on the outer circumferential surface of the inner pipe 11 provided in a position forming the resonance pipe 17B is on the outer circumference side of the inner pipe 11. Further, a radius of curvature R3 of the recess is approximately the same as a maximum radius R4 of the inner pipe 11 (that is, a radius of a portion without a recess). This can make a circumferential length of a pipe substantially the same before and after processing upon forming a recess by post-processing for a pipe having a circular cross section, so that it is possible to form a recess while substantially maintaining a pipe thickness. However, whether to form such recess by post-processing can be freely selected. A pipe formed into a recessed shape in advance may be used.
At the first end 15A, the inner pipe 11 and the outer pipe 13 are positioned in contact with each other. Thus, a space between the inner pipe 11 and the outer pipe 13 is closed. In the present embodiment, the inner pipe 11 and the outer pipe 13 are welded over the entire circumference at the first end 15A. On the other hand, at the second end 15B, there is an opening 19 between the inner pipe 11 and the outer pipe 13. This opening 19 is located at one end of the resonance pipe 17B described above, and the resonance pipe 17B communicates with the exhaust channel via the opening 19. The other end of the resonance pipe 17B communicates with the resonance chamber 17A, and the resonance chamber 17A communicates with the exhaust channel via the resonance pipe 17B.
The resonance pipe 17B and the resonance chamber 17A provided as described above are configured to function as a Helmholtz resonator. More specifically, as shown in
[Effects]
According to the sub-muffler 5 configured as described above, the cavity 17 is provided between the inner pipe 11 and the outer pipe 13 that form the double-wall pipe 15. At the second end 15B, the opening 19 is provided between the inner pipe 11 and the outer pipe 13, and the cavity communicates with the exhaust channel via the opening 19. Consequently, in the present embodiment, the resonance pipe 17B and the resonance chamber 17A function as a Helmholtz resonator, so that a muffling effect is produced.
With the sub-muffler 5 having such configuration, it is unnecessary to provide small holes in the inner pipe 11. Thus, the inner pipe 11 can be bent without necessity of considering deformation of such small holes. Therefore, better bending processability is ensured as compared to a case of the inner pipe 11 having small holes. Accordingly, the sub-muffler 5 can be arranged even at a bent portion of the exhaust pipe, so that it is possible to select a place with a higher muffling effect. As compared to a sub-muffler 5 which is difficult to dispose at a bent portion of the exhaust pipe, a muffling effect can be more appropriately exhibited.
In addition, the cavity 17 as described above is formed by shaping the inner pipe 11 such that a part of the outer-circumferential surface of the inner pipe 11 is located on the inner-circumferential side relative to a reference, the reference being the position of the inner-circumferential surface of the outer pipe 13. Therefore, for example, the outer diameter of the double-wall pipe 15 can be made smaller as compared to a case in which the cavity 17 is ensured only by inflating the outer pipe 13 toward the outer-circumferential side. The sub-muffler 5 can be disposed even in a narrower arrangement place. Therefore, a degree of freedom in determining where to dispose the sub-muffler 5 is increased and a place with a higher muffling effect can be selected, so that a muffling effect can be more appropriately exhibited as compared to a large sub-muffler 5 with the limited arrangement place.
In the sub-muffler 5 described above, the opening 19 is provided at the second end 15B of the double-wall pipe 15 to form the resonance pipe 17B extending in the same direction as the axial direction of the double-wall pipe 15. Therefore, compared to a case of a through hole penetrating penetrating the inner pipe 11 in a radial direction as a resonance pipe, an axial length of the resonance pipe 17B can be easily lengthened. A resonance frequency f in the Helmholtz resonator can be calculated by a mathematical expression (1) below based on a sound velocity C, a resonance pipe cross-sectional area S, a resonance pipe length L, and a resonance chamber volume V.
Therefore, if the axial length L of the resonance pipe 17B can be increased, the resonance frequency f can be set low. On the other hand, when a through hole penetrating the inner pipe 11 in the radial direction (that is, a thickness direction of the inner pipe 11) is used as a resonance pipe, the resonance pipe length L is at most a wall thickness of the inner pipe 11. Here, as a way to reduce the resonance frequency f, the cross-sectional area S of the resonance pipe may be reduced. However, the reduced cross-sectional area S of the resonance pipe weakens a muffling effect itself even if the resonance frequency f can be reduced. Although it is possible to couple a pipe to the through hole of the inner pipe 11 to extend the resonance pipe length L, a complicated configuration is produced due to the addition of the pipe, leading to reduced productivity and increased size of the whole configuration. In this respect, the configuration like the sub-muffler 5 allows the axial length of the resonance pipe 17B to be easily set to a desired length. Thus, it is possible to easily reduce resonance frequency while ensuring a sufficient noise suppressing effect. Also, it is possible to reduce exhaust noise of target frequency.
In the sub-muffler 5 described above, the outer pipe 13 has a shape such that an outer diameter in the range from the first end 15A to the second end 15B is equal to or smaller than the outer diameter of the outer pipe 13 at the second end 15B. Therefore, the sub-muffler 5 can be also disposed in a narrower arrangement place, as compared to a sub-muffler 5 having a portion with a larger outer diameter of the double-wall pipe 15 than that at the second end 15B.
[Modification Example of Shape of Resonance Pipe 17B]
In the first embodiment,
For example, as shown in
In addition, as shown in
Further, as shown in
Next, a second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment and the subsequent embodiments will be described, focusing on differences from the first embodiment in detail. For components similar to those in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment are used in the figures, and a detailed description thereof will not be repeated.
An exhaust system 31 shown in
Such configuration can reduce exhaust noise by disposing the second sub-muffler 5B at an antinode in sound pressure of a standing wave generated by air column resonance that occurs in the exhaust pipe, even if the first sub-muffler 5A alone cannot handle the air column resonance.
A third embodiment will be described below.
An exhaust system 41 shown in
However, in the third embodiment, one end of the second sub-muffler 5B is directly coupled to the main muffler 7. As above, the pipe members are not always coupled to both ends of the sub-muffler 5 corresponding to the muffler of the present disclosure. Various devices that can be configured as an exhaust channel may be directly coupled to the ends of the sub-muffler 5.
Now, a fourth embodiment will be described.
A sub-muffler 51 shown in
Although not shown, an inclusion such as a wire mesh 53 may be inserted between the inner pipe 11 and the outer pipe 13 also at the second end 15B. At the second end 15B, however, since there is the above-described opening 19 so as to ensure a cavity to become the resonance pipe 17B, no inclusion is disposed in portions corresponding to the opening 19 and the resonance pipe 17B.
A fifth embodiment will be described below.
In a sub-muffler 61 shown in
A sixth embodiment will now be described. The exhaust system 1 shown in
More specifically, in the exhaust system 1 of the sixth embodiment, resonance sound caused by air column resonance is generated in an exhaust channel from a coupling point P1 between the engine 71 and the exhaust manifold 73 to an end P2 of the pipe member 9B (exhaust channel having a length L shown in
Specifically, in the present embodiment, as shown in
Next is a description of a seventh embodiment. The exhaust system 1 shown in
In the exhaust system 1 of the seventh embodiment, resonance sound caused by air column resonance is generated in an exhaust channel from the coupling point P1 between the engine 71 and the exhaust manifold 73 to a coupling point P4 between the pipe member 9B and the main muffler 7 (exhaust channel having the length L shown in
An eighth embodiment will now be described. The exhaust system 1 shown in
Specifically, as shown in
Next is a description of a ninth embodiment. The exhaust system 1 shown in
Next is a description of a tenth embodiment. The exhaust system 1 shown in
In the tenth embodiment, resonance sound caused by air column resonance is generated in an exhaust channel from an end P8 of the pipe member 9B to an open end P9 of the pipe member 9C closer to the downstream side in the exhaust flow direction than the sub-muffler 5 (exhaust channel having the length L shown in
Specifically, as shown in
An eleventh embodiment will now be described. In the exhaust system 1 shown in
Specifically, as shown in
A twelfth embodiment will now be described. In the first embodiment described above, the cavity between the inner pipe 11 and the outer pipe 13 is closed at the first end 15A, and the opening 19 is provided between the inner pipe 11 and the outer pipe 13 at the second end 15B. In a sub-muffler 76 shown in
In the sub-muffler 76 shown in
The size and shape of the opening 78 can be adjusted to an extent that the function of the resonance chamber 17A defined between the inner pipe 11 and the outer pipe 13 is not impaired. Such adjustment enables adjustment of frequency calculated as a characteristic of a Helmholtz resonator. Resonance frequency of a Helmholtz resonator, as described in the first embodiment, can be varied by adjusting a resonance pipe sectional area, a resonance pipe length, and a resonance chamber volume, and the like, and can be also varied by adjusting the size and shape of the opening 78. The adjustable opening 78 increases adjusting means of resonant frequency in a Helmholtz resonator, thereby increasing a degree of freedom in making such adjustments.
If an opening is provided in both the first end 15A and the second end 15B, the exhaust can flow also into the cavity between the inner pipe 11 and the outer pipe 13. Thus, two systems of exhaust channels are formed, one on the outer-circumferential side and the other on the inner-circumferential side of the inner pipe 11. In this case, even if one of the exhaust channels is clogged, it is possible to avoid the exhaust channels from being completely closed by the other exhaust channel if not clogged.
Thus, for example, even if one of the exhaust channels is blocked with ice under a repeated phenomenon of water accumulation and freezing in an exhaust pipe in a cold district or the like, exhaust gas can be discharged through the other exhaust channel. Therefore, the sub-muffler 76 may be disposed in a position where water can easily accumulate due to the curved shape of the exhaust pipe. Then, in addition to a muffling effect, measures against frozen water in the exhaust pipe can also be achieved.
A thirteenth embodiment will now be described. A sub-muffler 81 shown in
A fourteenth embodiment will now be described. A sub-muffler 86 illustrated in the fourteenth embodiment is different from the sub-muffler 81 illustrated in the thirteenth embodiment in that the number of openings 19 provided on the second end 15B, but is configured in the same manner as in the thirteenth embodiment in other respects.
That is, even the sub-muffler 86 shown in
A fifteenth embodiment will now be described. The sub-muffler 91 illustrated in
Although the muffler of the present disclosure has been described by way of example embodiments, the above-described embodiments are merely illustrated as one aspect of the present disclosure. That is, the present disclosure is not limited to the example embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the scope and technical idea of the present disclosure.
For example, the above embodiments illustrate the exhaust system including a single sub-muffler or two sub-mufflers as an example. There may be three or more sub-mufflers.
The above embodiments illustrated some specific examples regarding the cavity to become the resonance pipe 17B. The cavity may have other cross-sectional shapes than those in the above examples if the cavity can function as the resonance pipe 17B.
In the above embodiments, in order to suppress resonance sound due to air column resonance, the opening of the sub-muffler 5 is provided at a position corresponding to the antinode in sound pressure of the standing wave under assumption of a standing wave from the first-order mode to third-order mode. The sub-muffler 5 may be arranged under assumption of a standing wave other than those in the above-described examples. For example, the opening 19 may be provided in a position at a distance of a length 1/6L or 5/6L, from one end of a range of the length L in which a standing wave is generated, under assumption of a standing wave of the third-order mode in the configuration of such as the tenth embodiment and the eleventh embodiment described above. The standing wave may be of the fourth-order mode or more.
Further, the above embodiments show that the catalytic converter 3 and the sub-muffler 5 (or the first sub-muffler 5A and the second sub-muffler 5B) are arranged straight through the pipe member 9. Each of the sub-muffler 5 and the pipe member 9 may be bent. For example,
Among the plurality of components forming the exhaust system, if some components are curved, the pipe line as the whole exhaust system is also curved in some portions. Even in such case, air column resonance can occur in the curved pipe line. Thus, the arrangement position of the sub-muffler 5 may be set so that the opening 19 is provided in the position corresponding to the antinode in sound pressure of the standing wave.
In the above embodiments, a portion made up from a single component may be configured in combination of a plurality of components. A portion made up from a plurality of components may be configured by a single component. Some of the components of the above embodiments may be omitted. Further, at least some of the components of the above embodiments may be added to or substituted for the components of the other of the above embodiments.
Besides the sub-muffler described above, the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms, such as an exhaust system including the above sub-muffler as a component, an exhaust method using the sub-muffler described above, and the like.
As is apparent from the example embodiments described above, the muffler of the present disclosure may further include components as listed below.
First, the muffler of the present disclosure may be configured such that the inner pipe is shaped to have a large diameter portion having a maximum outer diameter as a first diameter, and a small diameter portion having a second diameter as a maximum outer diameter smaller than the first diameter, a resonance chamber which corresponds to a part of the cavity is provided between an outer-circumferential surface of the small diameter portion and an inner-circumferential surface of an outer pipe, the large-diameter portion is disposed at the second end, a resonance pipe corresponding to a part of the cavity is formed between a part of an outer-circumferential surface of the large diameter portion and the inner-circumferential surface of the outer pipe, an opening is provided at one end of the resonance pipe, the resonance pipe leads to the exhaust channel through the opening, the resonance chamber leads to the exhaust channel through the resonance pipe, so that the resonance pipe and the resonance chamber function as a Helmholtz resonator.
According to the muffler configured as above, an opening can be provided at an end of the double-wall pipe to form a resonance pipe extending in the same direction as an axial direction of the double-wall pipe. Therefore, compared to the case of a through hole penetrating the inner pipe in a radial direction as the resonance pipe, an axial length of the resonance pipe can be easily lengthened. Accordingly, while ensuring a sufficient noise suppressing effect, resonance frequency can be easily set lower.
Further, in the muffler of the present disclosure, the outer pipe may be shaped so that an outer diameter in a range from the first end to the second end is equal to or smaller than the outer diameter at the second end.
The muffler configured as above has no portion with a larger outer diameter of the double-wall pipe than that at the second end, and thus can be also disposed in a narrower arrangement place, as compared to a muffler having a portion with a larger outer diameter of the double-wall pipe than that at the second end.
Also, in a case in which air column resonance occurs in an exhaust channel formed by exhaust channel forming components including a muffler, the muffler of the present disclosure may include an opening in a position corresponding to an antinode in sound pressure of a standing wave generated in the exhaust channel.
The muffler configured as such can suppress generation of resonance sound due to air column resonance, and reduce exhaust noise as compared to a muffler arranged in another position.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2016/051710 | Jan 2016 | JP | national |
This international application claims the benefit of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2016/051710 filed on Jan. 21, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2017/001424 | 1/17/2017 | WO | 00 |