U.S. patent number 3,786,895 [Application Number 05/324,850] was granted by the patent office on 1974-01-22 for silencer for gas discharging devices.
Invention is credited to Walter E. Perrine.
United States Patent |
3,786,895 |
Perrine |
January 22, 1974 |
SILENCER FOR GAS DISCHARGING DEVICES
Abstract
A silencer for muffling of noises in a fluid pressure exhaust
system such as the exhaust systems for air operated power
cylinders, tools and the like, firearms such as hand weapons, as
well as internal combustion engines of the two- and four-cycle type
by the utilization of guiding surfaces for directing the gases
under pressure into chambers where the gases acquire a rotary or
whirling movement about a stationary axis within the silencer and
are expelled after such rotary action has dissipated their
energy.
Inventors: |
Perrine; Walter E. (Navajo,
AZ) |
Family
ID: |
23265376 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/324,850 |
Filed: |
January 18, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
181/223;
89/14.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01N
1/086 (20130101); F41A 21/30 (20130101); F01N
13/0097 (20140603); F01N 1/003 (20130101); F01N
13/1844 (20130101); F01N 13/002 (20130101); F01N
2590/00 (20130101); F01N 2240/20 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F01N
1/00 (20060101); F01N 7/00 (20060101); F01N
7/18 (20060101); F01N 1/08 (20060101); F01N
7/02 (20060101); F01n 001/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;181/41,46,47,49,57,58,66,70 ;89/14D |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Tomsky; Stephen J.
Assistant Examiner: Miska; Vit W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lindsley; Warren F. B.
Claims
I claim:
1. A muffler for receiving gas under pressure from a source
comprising:
a housing adapted to communicate with said source,
said housing having a gas discharge opening extending axially
therethrough for the passage of gas under pressure,
a pair of annular chambers axially aligned in said housing, each
defining sequentially a part of said opening,
each of said chambers comprising a plurality of baffles extending
longitudinally of said housing positioned to define by their
adjacent edges a part of the periphery of said opening in said
first and second chambers,
a first flange having an aperture therethrough forming a part of
said opening at the downstream end of said first chamber and
extending laterally of said housing for separating said
chambers,
said first flange deflecting gas under pressure expanding outwardly
of said opening in said first chamber,
a second flange having an aperture therethrough forming a part of
said opening at the downstream end of said second chamber and
extending laterally of said housing,
said second flange deflecting upstream against the downstream side
of said first flange gas under pressure expanding outwardly of said
opening in said second chamber, and
a plurality of deflecting means loosely mounted around the outer
edges of and in coaxial alignment with the baffles in said first
and second chambers,
said deflecting means each comprising a pocket for receiving the
deflected gases in the chamber aound which they extend for causing
them to acquire a rotary and whirling movement about an annular
axis,
the pockets in said deflection means surrounding said first chamber
opening in the upstream direction of movement of gas under pressure
through said opening and the pockets in said deflection means
surrounding said second chamber opening in the downstream direction
of movement of gas under pressure through said opening.
2. The muffler set forth in claim 1 wherein:
said first flange dividing said housing into two separate chambers
with the only gas communication therebetween being said gas
discharge opening.
3. The muffler set forth in claim 1 wherein:
said first and second flanges divide said housing into two separate
chambers wherein the only gas communication through said first and
second chambers is through said gas discharge opening.
4. The muffler set forth in claim 1 wherein:
said baffles in each of said chambers are arranged on the quadrants
of a circle.
5. The muffler set forth in claim 4 wherein:
said housing comprises a hollow cylindrical configuration,
said first and second flanges comprise discs extending
substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said
opening, and
said baffles comprise planar members extending longitudinally of
said first and second chambers having a width less than the radius
of said housing.
6. The muffler set forth in claim 5 wherein:
said deflection means loosely fitting around the outer edges of
said baffles define a secondary passageway for deflected gas under
pressure along said housing in each of said first and second
chambers.
7. The muffler set forth in claim 6 wherein:
said housing defines an annular opening at one end for receiving a
discharge nozzle of a gas generating device,
said annular opening opening into one end of said first
chamber.
8. The muffler set forth in claim 7 wherein:
said deflection means in said first chamber extend longitudinally
of said housing around said annular opening.
9. The muffler set forth in claim 8 wherein:
said annular opening is adapted to receive the barrel of a gun.
10. The muffler set forth in claim 8 wherein:
said annular opening is adapted to receive the tail pipe of an
engine.
11. The muffler set forth in claim 1 wherein:
said deflection means each comprise a circular, doughnut-shaped
configuration having a turned-over edge forming a scroll-like,
arcuate configuration along its outer periphery for forming said
pocket.
12. A muffler for a device discharging gas under pressure
comprising:
a housing adapted to communicate with the bore of the gas
discharging device,
said housing having an opening extending axially therethrough for
the passage of gas under pressure from the gas discharging
device,
three annular chambers axially aligned in said housing, each
defining sequentially a part of said opening,
the first and second of said chambers each comprising a plurality
of baffles arranged to extend longitudinally of said housing and
arranged to define with their adjacent edges a part of the
periphery of said opening,
a first flange at the downstream end of said first chamber
extending laterally of said housing for deflecting gas under
pressure expanding outwardly of said opening,
a second flange at the downstream end of said second chamber
extending laterally of said housing for deflecting downstream in
said housing against said first flange gas under pressure, said gas
under pressure then deflected upstream and outwardly away from said
opening,
a plurality of first deflection means loosely mounted around the
outer edges of said baffles in said first and second chambers in
axial alignment for receiving the outwardly deflected gases off of
said first and second flanges,
said first deflection means each comprising a pocket for receiving
the deflected gases and causing them to acquire a rotary and
whirling movement about an annular axis,
the pockets in said first deflection means surrounding said first
chamber opening in the upstream direction of movement of gas under
pressure through said opening and the pockets in said deflection
means surrounding said second chamber opening in the downstream
direction of movement of gas under pressure through said
opening,
the third of said chambers arranged for receiving the discharge gas
under pressure from second chamber and comprising a cylindrical
housing surrounding and defining the periphery of a portion of said
opening in said muffler,
said cylindrical member provided with a plurality of slots
spacially arranged along the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical
housing,
a plurality of second deflection means axially arranged along said
cylindrical member and each defining a pocket in communication with
at least one of said slots,
each of said pockets of said second deflection means causing said
gas deflected through said slots and into them acquiring a rotary
and whirling movement about an annular axis to dissipate their
energy,
said gases in said muffler after dissipation of a substantial
amount of their energy in said first and second deflection means
being expelled through said opening to atmosphere.
13. The muffler set forth in claim 12 wherein:
said second deflection means comprises funnel-shaped devices with
one resting within the other when assembled.
14. The muffler set forth in claim 13 wherein:
each of said second deflection means defines an opening axially
thereof of a slightly larger diameter than said cylindrical member
for slidably fitting thereover.
15. The muffler set forth in claim 14 wherein:
said housing defines an annular opening at one end for receiving a
discharge nozzle of a gas generating device,
said annular opening opening into one end of said first
chamber.
16. The muffler set forth in claim 15 wherein:
said first deflection means in said first chamber extend
longitudinally of said housing around said annular opening and said
first deflecting means in said second chamber extend longitudinally
of said housing around said second deflection means.
17. The muffler set forth in claim 16 wherein:
said second deflection means isolate the gas under pressure passing
through said muffler from gases in said first and second
chambers.
18. A muffler for mounting on the barrel of a gun comprising:
a housing adapted to communicate with the barrel of the gun,
said housing having a gas discharge opening extending axially
therethrough for the guidance of a projectile of the gun and the
passage of a pencil-like gas stream following it,
an annular chamber axially aligned in said housing defining a part
of said opening,
said chamber comprising a plurality of baffles extending
longitudinally of said housing positioned to define by their
adjacent edges a part of the periphery of said opening in said
chamber,
the adjacent edges of each of said baffles of said chamber defining
an extension of the bore of the gun for physically keeping a
projectile of the gun axially aligned with the axis of said housing
when passing therethrough,
a flange having an aperture therethrough forming a part of said
opening at the downstream end of said chamber and extending
laterally of said housing,
said flange deflecting gas under pressure expanding outwardly of
said opening in said chamber to break up the pencil-like stream of
gas following the projectile, and
a plurality of deflecting means loosely mounted around the outer
edges of and in coaxial alignment with said baffles in said
chamber,
said deflecting means each comprising a pocket for receiving the
deflected gases in the chamber around which they extend for causing
them to acquire a rotary and whirling movement about an annular
axis,
the pockets in said deflection means surrounding said chamber
opening in the upstream direction of movement of gas under pressure
through said opening.
19. A muffler for mounting on the barrel of a gun comprising:
a housing adapted to communicate with the barrel of the gun,
said housing having a gas discharge opening extending axially
therethrough for the guidance of a projectile of the gun and the
passage of a pencil-like gas stream following it,
a pair of annular chambers axially aligned in said housing, each
defining sequentially a part of said opening,
each of said chambers comprising a plurality of baffles extending
longitudinally of said housing positioned to define by their
adjacent edges a part of the periphery of said opening in said
first and second chambers,
the adjacent edges of each of said baffles of each of said chambers
defining an extension of the bore of the gun for physically keeping
a projectile of the gun axially aligned with the axis of said
housing when passing therethrough,
a first flange having an aperture therethrough forming a part of
said opening at the downstream end of said first chamber and
extending laterally of said housing for separating said
chambers,
said first flange deflecting gas under pressure expanding outwardly
of said opening in said first chamber to break up the pencil-like
stream of gas following the projectile,
a second flange having an aperture therethrough forming a part of
said opening at the downstream end of said second chamber and
extending laterally of said housing,
said second flange deflecting upstream against the downstream side
of said first flange gas under pressure expanding outwardly of said
opening in said second chamber.
20. The muffler set forth in claim 19 in further combination
with:
a plurality of deflecting means loosely mounted around the outer
edges of and in coaxial alignment with said baffles in said first
and second chambers,
said deflecting means each comprising a pocket for receiving the
deflected gases in the chamber around which they extend for causing
them to acquire a rotary and whirling movement about an annular
axis,
the pockets in said deflection means surrounding said first chamber
opening in the upstream direction of movement of gas under pressure
through said opening and the pockets in said deflection means
surrounding said second chamber opening in the downstream direction
of movement of gas under pressure through said opening.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to devices for muffling and silencing of
noises in pressure fluid exhausts such as the exhausts from
compressed air operated power cylinders, tools or the like,
firearms such as hand weapons, as well as internal combustion
engines of the two- and four-cycle type.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is particularly directed to novel and improved
muffling devices for silencing exhaust noises by directing exhaust
gases under pressure into a chamber where they acquire a rotary or
whirling movement about a stationary axis within the chamber and
escape therefrom after their energy is dissipated in such rotary or
whirling movement.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Heretofore mufflers have been used for the dissipation of exhaust
noises wherein the exhaust stream of gases is diverted by fins or
ribs of a spider means within the muffler. Other mufflers have
dissipated exhaust noises of an exhaust system in a silencing
chamber by the utilization of porous walls through which the
exhaust fluid is diffused. These porous walls have been formed of
cellulose fibre sheet material impregnated with a phenolic
resin.
Various attempts have been made to render noiseless the discharge
of firearms by preventing the sudden release of the powder gases at
the muzzle of the firearm.
In firearms, attempts were made to dissipate the energy of the
powder gases by giving them a rotary or whirling movement in a
suitable chamber with the gases gradually escaping from the chamber
to atmosphere.
In all cases, the muffling was only partially effective and the
muffler devices were not effective when used with a constant source
of exhaust gases, since their exhaust to atmosphere after
dissipation of their energy was too slow and applied a back
pressure to the power generating device such as the power cylinder
and internal combustion engine which reduced its efficiency.
Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved muffler or silencer
which may operate on a continuous stream of exhaust gases to
effectively muffle or silence its exhaust gases without destroying
the efficiency of the associated power generating device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention claimed, a new and improved
muffler or silencer is provided for an intermittent or continuous
source of exhaust gases under pressure which dissipates the energy
of the exhaust gases by rotary and whirling movement about a
plurality of stationary axes progressively positioned in a chamber
before the gases are expelled to atmosphere.
It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide a new and
improved muffler or silencer.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved muffler
for silencing the noises of exhaust fluids by giving them a rotary
or whirling movement in a suitable chamber in a new manner.
A further object of this invention is to provide an improved
muffler for silencing the noises of exhaust fluids by giving them a
series of rotary or whirling movements about a series of stationary
axes as they pass through a suitable chamber.
A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved
muffler for silencing the noises of exhaust gases by dissipating
their energy by giving them a rotary or whirling movement in a
suitable chamber about axes coincident with the axis of the
dissipated gases being exhausted to atmosphere.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a muffler or
silencer for exhaust gases under pressure which utilizes a gas
deflecting means which provides the gases with a rotary or whirling
motion which is assembled with a minimum number of interchangeable
parts.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a muffler or
silencer useable on firearms which deflects the gases of explosion
as they pass through the muffler to destroy its pencil-like stream
configuration.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a muffler or
silencer for firearms which provides a guiding surface through the
muffler for the projectile.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of
novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The present invention may be more readily described by reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view partially broken away showing a
muffler embodying the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the line
2--2;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the line
3--3;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial view of the guiding surfaces for the
moving and expanding exhaust gases;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view of one of the gas
guiding means or baffles shown in FIGS. 1-4;
FIG. 6 is a front or end view of the complete guiding means shown
in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is an alternate embodiment of the baffle arrangement shown
in FIGS. 1-7;
FIG. 9 is a modification of the baffles shown in FIGS. 1-7;
FIG. 10 is an end view of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an assembly of the baffles
shown in FIG. 9 mounted on a pin; and
FIG. 12 is a modification of the assembly of the baffles shown in
FIG. 11 mounted without the aid of a pin
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring more particularly to the drawing by characters of
reference, FIGS. 1-7 disclose an improved muffler 15 for fluid
discharge devices such as guns, internal combustion engines, air
motors and the like. As shown in FIG. 1, for purposes of
illustration only, muffler 15 is mounted in the end of a gun barrel
16.
Muffler 15 comprises a hollow cylindrical housing 17 having a pair
of ends 18 and 19. A core member 20 fixedly attached to cylindrical
housing 17 at end 19 and comprises a first, second and third
annular chambers 20, 21 and 22 arranged along its length. Chamber
20 comprises a slotted cylindrical wall 23 defining a passageway 24
therethrough which is axially aligned with the gun barrel 16
extending into the opposite end of the muffler, and a plurality of
deflection devices 25 coaxially arranged around its cylindrical
wall 23.
Annular chamber 21 is defined by a funnel-shaped flange 26 fastened
to the inboard end of the cylindrical wall 23 with a passage 27
extending therethrough, as shown in FIG. 3, of the same diameter as
the diameter of passageway 24 in the annular chamber 20 and in
axial alignment therewith. The opposite end of chamber 21 is
defined by a flange 28 which is of substantially the same diameter
as the inside diameter of housing 17. Extending between the
funnel-shaped flange 26 and flange 28 and affixed thereto are four
fins 29 which are positioned at substantially 90.degree. to each
other but spaced at their inner edges far enough to define between
them a passageway 30, shown in FIG. 2, of the same diameter as
passageway 24 of annular chamber 20 and in alignment therewith.
Annular chamber 22 comprises similar aligned fins 31 spaced in the
same manner as fins 29 to define between their inner edges an
extension of passageway 30. It should be noted that an aperture is
provided in flange 28 of the same diameter as the diameter of
passageway 30 so that it provides in combination with passageways
24 and 30 a common unified bore through the muffler which is in
axial alignment with the rifled bore of barrel 16 of a gun to which
this muffler is attached.
Loosely arranged within housing 17 of muffler 15 between end 19 and
flange 28 and between flange 28 and end 18 thereof are a plurality
of deflection devices 32. As noted from FIG. 1, all of the
deflection devices 32 around annular chambers 20 and 21 are
arranged in one direction with regard to the gas under pressure
moving through the muffler, and all of the deflection devices
around annular chamber 22 and around the outside periphery of
barrel 16 in the muffler extend in the opposite direction with
regard to the flow of gas under pressure through the muffler.
The muffler comprising the annular chambers 20, 21 and 22 together
with the particular arrangement of baffles and deflection devices
such as, inter alia, deflection devices 25 and 32, provide a gas
disseminator between the ends 18 and 19 of the muffler, which
annular chambers and the other parts of the disseminator operate
individually and sequentially upon the exhaust fluid or gases
discharged by a noise producing device such as a firearm, air or
internal combustion engine and the like.
The muffler 15 defines a hollow cavity in its end 18 which may be
used to receive and secure the extremity of a gun barrel 16, as
shown in FIG. 1, or the exhaust conduit of an engine or other noise
producing device in any suitable manner, such as a friction fit,
screw threads, welding, etc., not shown, since such connecting
means are well known in the art.
It is the intent of this disclosure to disclose a method and means
for controlling the gases which escape from the barrel of a gun,
the exhaust conduit of an engine such as an internal combustion
engine or an air expansion engine, and to compel these gases to
acquire within successive cells or chambers formed in the muffler a
continuous, expanding rotary or whirling movement about the axis of
the muffler. As the gases under pressure from the noise producing
device are provided with a rotary or whirling movement they expand
and lose or dissipate their energy.
Usually the blast of a gas under pressure from an internal
combustion or gas expansion type of engine passes out of the noise
producing device in a pencil-like form or core of gas under
pressure. In the case of a gun, this core of gas follows the
projectile. This core of gas, which until this point of expansion
has not been made to dissipate its energy in a rotary or whirling
movement in a silencing device, therefore occasions some noise of
explosion. In the device and method claimed herein, this noise of
explosion or expansion of the explosive gases under pressure are
controlled or substantially eliminated.
In the devices disclosed, the gases of explosion or expansion are
deflected or turned out of a straight line in a sequence of
operations to eliminate or substantially reduce the noise of gas
expansion.
Although the method and devices disclosed and claimed herein
utilize some principles heretofore known, the claimed configuration
is an improvement over the teachings in the following U. S. patents
and others that may appear in the art: U.S. Pat. Nos. 916,885 --
Maxim; 951,770 -- Miller; 958,934 -- Maxim; 958,935 -- Maxim;
1,066,898 -- Gray; 1,554,051 -- Walker; 2,600,236 -- Gibel;
2,815,088 -- Gibel; 3,399,597 -- Perrine.
As shown in FIG. 1, the cylindrical wall 23 forming within it
passageway 24 is slotted along its length to provide vent openings
for the gas under pressure passing through passageway 24. These
slots 33 are arcuate in configuration and extend less than 180
degrees around the circumference of the cylindrical wall 23. Two of
the slots 33 on opposite sides of the circumference of wall 23 may
extend in the same cross-sectional plane or they may be a
continuation of a spiral moving longitudinally along the axis of
the cylindrical wall 23. One requirement of the slots 33 is that
they open into the entrance to the deflection devices 25 arranged
axially along and around the cylindrical wall 23, as will
hereinafter be explained in more detail.
Each deflective device 25, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, may be
formed or molded separately and then assembled around cylindrical
wall 23 to form a part of the annular chamber 20. Each deflection
device 25 is formed with a hole or aperture 34 and when a plurality
of them are assembled axially in like direction around the
cylindrical wall 23 they provide a plurality of passages or pockets
35 in which the gases expanding out of slots 33 may expand to
dissipate their energy.
FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate enlarged views of deflection device 25
and show that it comprises a funnel-shaped surface 36 which tapers
outwardly to a conical opening, passage or pocket 35. The housing
37 forming the pocket 35 lies in planes lateral to the axis of the
deflection device 25 so that a plurality of the devices may be
axially aligned, one fitting into the next as shown in FIGS. 1 and
4.
The gases as they expand out of slots 33 in the cylindrical wall 25
pass into pockets 35 of deflection devices 25 where they expand or
diverge and are directed by the guiding surfaces forming pockets 35
to assume a whirling or rotary movement about a substantially
circular or annular line or axis in each pocket, whereby under the
centrifugal action developed by such rotary movement of the gases
and the expansion thereof during such action, the gases are caused
to dissipate their energy in friction against the inner walls of
these deflection devices forming pockets 35.
The total silencing effect of this type of action, which was
accomplished only to a limited extent by Maxim in his patents above
identified, however, is not enough to silence the exhaust gases of
modern weapons and particularly internal combustion and gas
expansion engines. Therefore, further deflection and expansion of
the expanding gases of these noise producing devices must be
effected in a new, improved and controlled manner.
As disclosed herein, the expanding gases are first expanded and
deflected in a controlled manner before they are transmitted to
annular chamber 20, where they are deflected and expanded by
deflection devices 25.
As the core or pencil of gas under pressure leave the noise
producing device such as, for example, barrel 16 of a gun, a part
of these gases expands between the fins 31 in the annular chamber
22 and strikes sides 38 of flange 28 as these gases move through
the muffler, where they are deflected backwardly and outwardly into
the openings in deflection devices 32, which are axially aligned in
a loose-fitting arrangement with the outer edges of fins 31 and the
outer periphery of barrel 16.
Deflection devices 32, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, comprise an
annular disc having a turned-over, scroll-type outer edge 40
forming a pocket 31 within it for whirling the gases directed into
it. A plurality of these deflection devices are mounted in
alignment around the outer edges of fins 31 and the outer periphery
of barrel 16 between flange 28 and end 18 of the muffler, with
their scroll opening facing side 38 of flange 28 to receive the
gases deflected off of it. It should be recognized that the opening
42 formed in each deflection device 32, as shown, is slightly
larger than the diameter of the fins 31 and the outer periphery of
barrel 16 so that the expanding and deflected gases being
controlled may readily pass rearwardly along the muffler toward end
18 thereof and readily pass into the openings leading into the
pockets 41 of these deflection devices. The clearance between the
apertures or openings 42 in the deflection devices and the outer
edges and surfaces of fins 31 and barrel 16 need only be enough to
permit the passage of gas under pressure, which might be as little
as one-sixteenth inch or so. The pockets in the deflection plates
cause the gases entering each pocket to assume a whirling or rotary
movement about a substantially circular or annular line or axis,
whereby under the centrifugal action developed by such rotary
movement the gases of expansion are caused to dissipate their
energy in friction against the inner walls of these deflection
devices forming the pockets 41.
As shown in the annular chamber 21, the same deflection devices 32
are arranged around the outer edges of fins 29 between the
funnel-shaped flange 26 and the side 43 of flange 28, as shown. The
only difference in this assembly of deflection devices 32 and those
in annular chamber 22 is that the scrolls open in the opposite
direction to those in annular chamber 22.
Gases expanding out of passageway 27 are deflected off of the
surfaces of funnel-shaped flange 26 against side 43 of flange 28
and into the openings of the scrolls of deflection devices 32,
wherein they dissipate their energy as heretofore explained. Since
these deflection devices fit loosely around fins 29 and the outside
circumference of deflection devices 25 between end 19 of muffler 15
and the forward or downstream end of funnel-shaped flange 26, many
pockets are available for the dissipation of the energy of the
expanding gases.
Thus, as the gases of expansion or explosion of a noise producing
device are directed into muffler 10, the core of gases first
partially expands and is directed in a whirling motion in annular
chamber 22 to lose part of its energy of the resulting
expansion-generated noise. Next, the core of gas and its trailing
portion partly expanded in annular chamber 22 moves into annular
chamber 21, where it further expands, and is directed in a whirling
motion to reduce further its energy. Thirdly, the gas and its
trailing expanded portion moves into annular chamber 20, where it
is again expanded and directed to lose or dissipate more of its
energy, after which it moves out of end 19 of the muffler through
passageway 24, substantially reduced in pressure and substantially
noiseless.
FIG. 8 is an alternate arrangement of the slot 33 and associated
openings in the deflection devices 25 as assembled in FIGS. 1 and
4. In FIG. 8 the slots 33 are formed in the slotted cylindrical
wall 23 such that edge 45 of slots 33 is inclined at an angle of
10.degree. with a line extending perpendicularly to the
longitudinal axis of the cylindrical wall 23. As shown also in FIG.
8, the slope of funnel-shaped configurations of deflection devices
25 loosely mounted around the cylindrical wall 23 are substantially
60.degree. to a line extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal
axis of the cylindrical wall 23. This particular arrangement of
cooperating passages aids in direction of the expanding gases into
pockets 35 of the deflection devices for dissipating of the energy
of these gases and the resulting noises of gas expansion.
FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a modification of the deflection devices
25 wherein the funnel-shaped flange 47 forming the deflection
device 48 is provided with shoulders 49 on opposite sides, each of
which are provided with apertures 50 extending therethrough
longitudinally of aperture 51 formed along the device's
longitudinal axis. As noted from FIG. 9, the deflection device
opens into an arcuate-shaped, flared end 52. The other side 53 of
the flared end 52 is also of an arcuate configuration, curving
outwardly in a direction substantially opposite to the flared
surface of end 52. When two similarly shaped deflection devices 48
are axially aligned and held together by rods 54, only one of which
is shown in FIG. 11, they form an assembly as shown in FIG. 11.
This assembly can then be assembled around cylindrical wall 23 to
serve as a gas disseminator in the manner of deflection devices 25
shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 12 shows deflection devices 55 of the same general type shown
in FIG. 11 without the shoulder and rod or pin arrangement for
holding them together. Each of the deflection devices is axially
aligned along and around the cylindrical wall 23, as shown.
Although but a few embodiments of the present invention have been
illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in
the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein
without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *