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US5363450A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Active control of noise

Assignee: Qinetiq Ltd
•
Filing: 1991-03-18
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Granted: 1994-11-08
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Expires: 2011-03-18
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Abstract

Abstract The control of noise emanating from engines and their exhaust systems is a difficult problem to overcome in a cost effective way. The noise may be reduced by the introduction of a fluid into the exhaust system such that the fluid is heated and expands rapidly producing sound and vibration which is in antiphase to the noise and vibration produced by the engine acting through the exhaust. There is consequent reduction in the sound and vibration produced by the system. The fluid introduced is conveniently a liquid (water) which enhances the damping effect by virtue of possessing a latent heat of vaporisation. The fluid can be added to the exhaust system by a bleed from a turbo charger or super charger or by alternate means. A primary use would be for the reduction of engine noise emanating from exhaust systems in heavy goods vehicles.

Inventors

  • 👤 Martin J. Moody
  • 👤 Alan V. Yorke

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 05:03
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N1/00; F01N1/06; F01N1/065; F01N3/00; F01N3/02; F01N3/04; F02; F02B; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 67 words
A method for reducing the noise produced by an engine's exhaust system which comprises the introduction of a liquid to the exhaust system in addition to that produced by the exhaust output of the engine; wherein the introduction of liquid into the system is suitably timed such that said noise produced by an engine's exhaust system and noise produced by the liquid introduction are of different phase.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 67 words
A method for reducing the noise produced by an engine's exhaust system which comprises the introduction of a liquid to the exhaust system in addition to that produced by the exhaust output of the engine; wherein the introduction of liquid into the system is suitably timed such that said noise produced by an engine's exhaust system and noise produced by the liquid introduction are of different phase.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method of noise reduction as claimed in claim 1 wherein the liquid introduction takes place in the proximity of the outlet manifold of the exhaust.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 48 words
A method of noise reduction as claimed in claim 1 wherein the liquid is water and a final temperature is less than 100° C. where said final temperature is that temperature at which there is no net change in injected fluid volume within the exhaust which yields noise.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method of noise reduction as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid introduced is water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method of noise reduction as claimed in claim 1 wherein the liquid is injected into the exhaust system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 34 words
A method of noise reduction as claimed in claim 1 wherein turbo chargers or super chargers are fitted to pressurize liquid into the exhaust via a bleed from the turbo charger or super charger.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method of noise reduction as claimed in claim 1 wherein the liquid is introduced into the exhaust system as a spray.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method of noise reduction as claimed in claim 1 wherein a fine spray of liquid is injected into the exhaust.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 44 words
A method of noise reduction as claimed in claim 1 wherein, for noise sources of high bandwidth, high Mach number exhaust velocities and high exhaust temperatures are used in combination with a fine spray of liquid and turbulent mixing of liquid and exhaust gases.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 34 words
A method of noise reduction as claimed in claim 8 wherein the bandwidth of the active noise reduction system is increased by ensuring that forced convection occurs for the lifetime of the spray droplets.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method of noise reduction as claimed in claim 10 wherein forced convection is achieved by disturbing the flow up and downstream of the injector or other entry system to the exhaust.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 59 words
An active noise reduction system for reducing periodic exhaust noise in an engine having an exhaust system, said noise reduction system comprising: phase measuring means for measuring the phase of said periodic exhaust noise; and liquid injector means, responsive to said phase measuring means, for injecting liquid into said exhaust system antiphase with respect to said periodic exhaust noise.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 59 words
An active noise reduction system for reducing periodic exhaust noise in an engine having an exhaust system, said noise reduction system comprising: phase measuring means for measuring the phase of said periodic exhaust noise; and liquid injector means, responsive to said phase measuring means, for injecting liquid into said exhaust system antiphase with respect to said periodic exhaust noise.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said liquid injector means is a spray liquid injector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 11 words
The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said liquid is water.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 11 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said liquid is water.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 30 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said exhaust system includes an exhaust manifold with an outlet and said liquid injector means includes means for injecting liquid near said outlet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 11 words
The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said liquid is water.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said injected water is in the form of an injected water spray.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 32 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said engine includes a super charger, and said liquid injector means includes a liquid supply, said super charger comprising a means for pressurizing said liquid supply.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 32 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said engine includes a turbo charger, and said liquid injector means includes a liquid supply, said turbo charger comprising a means for pressurizing said liquid supply.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE747138C Cited
US2692024A Cited
DE2103705A1 Cited
GB1340121A Cited
US3936606A Cited
US4194095A Cited
US4859345A Cited
US5131229A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-11-07 1998-05-09 1998-11-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-11-07 2002-05-09 2002-11-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-11-07 2006-05-09 2006-11-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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