US4909348A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stamp formed exhaust muffler with conformal outer shell
Assignee: AP Parts Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1988-11-07
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Granted: 1990-03-20
•
Expires: 2008-11-07
Abstract
Abstract A stamp formed exhaust muffler for mounting on a vehicle is provided. The muffler comprises a plurality of plates secured in juxtaposed relationship and stamp formed to define an array of tubes therebetween. At least one external shell is secured to the internal plates to define at least one chamber which communicates with the array of tubes. The external shell includes at least one conformal area which permits the muffler to conform to the shape of a structure on the vehicle. The conformal area may be an area of generally arcuate concavity when viewed from the exterior of the muffler or may define an internal corner on the muffler. Thus, a plane or line connecting two locations on the conformal area of the external shell will pass through the interference zone of a structure on the vehicle. The conformal area may be disposed where peripheral edges of the formed components are joined.
Inventors
- 👤 Jon W. Harwood
- 👤 Walter G. Moring, III
- 👤 Paul E. Larkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 07:49
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N13/00; F01N13/18; F01N13/1872; B; B60; B60K; B60K13/00; B60K13/04; F01N1/00; F01N1/02; F01N13/1883; F01N13/1888; F01N2260/00; F01N2260/18; F01N2470/00; F01N2470/06; F01N2470/16; F01N2470/18; F01N2490/00; F01N2490/14; F01N2490/15; F01N2490/155
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
An exhaust muffler for mounting in proximity to a structure on a vehicle having a convex shape, said muffler comprising: a plurality of plates secured in face-to-face relationship, said plates comprising peripheral edges and being formed to define at least one inlet, at least one outlet and at least one tube extending therebetween; and an external shell having peripheral edges secured generally in register with the peripheral edges of said plates, portions of said external shell intermediate said peripheral edges being formed to define at least on chamber in communication with said tube, portions of said peripheral edges of said external shell and said plates defining a generally concave conformal area having a shape conforming to at least a portion of said convex shape of said structure, said conformal area being configured such that at least one line connecting spaced apart locations on the peripheral edges of said conformal area passes through said structure when said muffler is mounted to said vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
An exhaust muffler for mounting in proximity to a structure on a vehicle having a convex shape, said muffler comprising: a plurality of plates secured in face-to-face relationship, said plates comprising peripheral edges and being formed to define at least one inlet, at least one outlet and at least one tube extending therebetween; and an external shell having peripheral edges secured generally in register with the peripheral edges of said plates, portions of said external shell intermediate said peripheral edges being formed to define at least on chamber in communication with said tube, portions of said peripheral edges of said external shell and said plates defining a generally concave conformal area having a shape conforming to at least a portion of said convex shape of said structure, said conformal area being configured such that at least one line connecting spaced apart locations on the peripheral edges of said conformal area passes through said structure when said muffler is mounted to said vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A muffler as in claim 1 wherein the peripheral edges of said generally concave conformal area are of generally arcuate configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
A muffler as in claim 1 wherein the peripheral edges of said conformal area are configured to be approximately uniformly spaced from said structure of said vehicle by a distance approximately equally to a minimum acceptable clearance between said structure and said muffler to define an interference zone between said structure and said muffler.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
A muffler as in claim 1 wherein the concave conformal area defines a first concave conformal area, said muffler further comprising at least a second concave conformal area configured to conform to a second generally convex structure on the vehicle such that a line connecting spaced apart locations on said second concave conformal area passes through the second structure on the vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A muffler as in claim 4 wherein the second concave conformal area is spaced from the peripheral edges.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A muffler as in claim 5 wherein the second concave conformal area is defined by portions of the peripheral edges spaced from the portions of the peripheral edges defining the first concave conformal area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
An exhaust muffler as in claim 1 wherein portions of the peripheral edges defining the conformal area are generally planar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
191 words
An exhaust muffler for mounting in proximity to a generally arcuate structure on a vehicle having a generally convex arcuate shape, said muffler comprising: a pair of plates secured in face-to-face relationship, said plates comprising peripheral edges and being formed to define at least one inlet, at least one outlet and at least one tube extending therebetween; and at least one external shell having peripheral edges secured generally in register with the peripheral edges of said plates, portions of said external shell intermediate said peripheral edges being formed to define at least one chamber in communication with said tube, portions of the peripheral edges of said external shell and of said plates defining an inwardly concave arcuate conformal area having a shape generally conforming to the shape of at least a portion of said arcuate structure of said vehicle and spaced therefrom to define an interference zone between said arcuate structure and said muffler such that chordal lines extending between selected points on said concave conformal area of said peripheral edges of said external shell and said plates pass through said interference zone when said muffler is mounted to said vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
191 words
An exhaust muffler for mounting in proximity to a generally arcuate structure on a vehicle having a generally convex arcuate shape, said muffler comprising: a pair of plates secured in face-to-face relationship, said plates comprising peripheral edges and being formed to define at least one inlet, at least one outlet and at least one tube extending therebetween; and at least one external shell having peripheral edges secured generally in register with the peripheral edges of said plates, portions of said external shell intermediate said peripheral edges being formed to define at least one chamber in communication with said tube, portions of the peripheral edges of said external shell and of said plates defining an inwardly concave arcuate conformal area having a shape generally conforming to the shape of at least a portion of said arcuate structure of said vehicle and spaced therefrom to define an interference zone between said arcuate structure and said muffler such that chordal lines extending between selected points on said concave conformal area of said peripheral edges of said external shell and said plates pass through said interference zone when said muffler is mounted to said vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A muffler as in claim 8 wherein selected ones of said chordal lines extend through said arcuate structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
A muffler as in claim 8 wherein the concave conformal area defines a first concave conformal area, said muffler further comprising at least a second concave conformal area configured to conform to at least a second generally convex arcuate structure on the vehicle and spaced therefrom to define at least a second interference zone, such that lines extending between spaced apart locations on the second conformal area passes through the second interference zone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
A muffler as in claim 10 comprising second and third concave conformal areas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A muffler as in claim 10 wherein said second concave conformal area is defined by portions of the peripheral edges of said muffler spaced from portions of the peripheral edges defining the first conformal area.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
An exhaust muffler as in claim 8 wherein portions of the peripheral edges defining the conformal area are generally planar.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
144 words
An exhaust muffler for mounting on the underside of a vehicle and in proximity to a spare tire well of said vehicle, said spare tire well comprising at least one portion defining an outwardly directed arcuate shape, said muffler comprising: a pair of plates secured in juxtaposed relationship, said plates comprising peripheral edges and being formed to define at least one inlet, at least one outlet and at least one tube extending therebetween; and at least one external shell having peripheral edges secured generally in register with the peripheral edges of at least one of said plates, said external shell being formed to comprise at least one chamber, said peripheral edges of said external shell and said internal plates being formed to define an inwardly directed conformal area substantially conforming to the shape of the outwardly directed arcuate portion of said spare tire well.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
144 words
An exhaust muffler for mounting on the underside of a vehicle and in proximity to a spare tire well of said vehicle, said spare tire well comprising at least one portion defining an outwardly directed arcuate shape, said muffler comprising: a pair of plates secured in juxtaposed relationship, said plates comprising peripheral edges and being formed to define at least one inlet, at least one outlet and at least one tube extending therebetween; and at least one external shell having peripheral edges secured generally in register with the peripheral edges of at least one of said plates, said external shell being formed to comprise at least one chamber, said peripheral edges of said external shell and said internal plates being formed to define an inwardly directed conformal area substantially conforming to the shape of the outwardly directed arcuate portion of said spare tire well.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
An exhaust muffler as in claim 14 wherein said vehicle further comprises a structure spaced from the spare tire well and having a generally convex shape, said external shell comprising a second conformal area conforming to the convex shape of said structure, such that a line connecting spaced apart locations on said second conformal area passes through the structure of said vehicle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
129 words
An exhaust muffler for mounting in proximity to first and second structures on a vehicle having convex shapes, said muffler comprising: an array of tubes comprising at least one inlet and at least one outlet for said muffler; and a pair of external shells having peripheral edges and being secured to one another at said peripheral edges and around said array of tubes, portions of said peripheral edges comprising a first generally concave conformal area conforming to the convex shape of at least a portion of the first structure, said muffler further comprising a second concave conformal area conforming to the convex shape of the second structure, whereby said conformal areas can be disposed in generally nested relationship to said structures when said muffler is mounted to said vehicle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
129 words
An exhaust muffler for mounting in proximity to first and second structures on a vehicle having convex shapes, said muffler comprising: an array of tubes comprising at least one inlet and at least one outlet for said muffler; and a pair of external shells having peripheral edges and being secured to one another at said peripheral edges and around said array of tubes, portions of said peripheral edges comprising a first generally concave conformal area conforming to the convex shape of at least a portion of the first structure, said muffler further comprising a second concave conformal area conforming to the convex shape of the second structure, whereby said conformal areas can be disposed in generally nested relationship to said structures when said muffler is mounted to said vehicle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A muffler as in claim 16 wherein said first conformal area is of generally arcuate concave configuration.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A muffler as in claim 16 wherein said first conformal area is configured to be approximately uniformly spaced from said first structure when said muffler is mounted on said vehicle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-03-19 | 1993-09-18 | 1994-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-03-19 | 1997-09-18 | 1998-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-03-19 | 2001-09-18 | 2002-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |