| 摘要 |
<p>A lightweight muffler and method for muffling a noise component of a stream of gases is disclosed. Prior art mufflers have not attempted to achieve sound dampening through side-by-side flow of exhaust streams within the muffler to produce sound dampening eddy currents. In contrast the muffler of this invention includes a chamber in which gases are directed in side-by-side streams flowing in opposite directions. The side-by-side streams are in contact with each other for the generation of sound dampening eddy currents in the chamber, but such contact does not break down the continuous, low resistance flow of gases through the muffler. The chamber is advantageously formed as an expansion chamber in which gases: enter one end of the chamber as an annular stream concentric with the inlet pipe to the muffler, travel along the inlet pipe to the other end of the chamber, are reversed, and travel as a concentric annular stream of greater diameter in the opposite direction down the length of the chamber for discharge into a passageway leading to the outlet tube of the muffler. A second similarly formed chamber for counterflow of opposed streams and the generation of eddy currents therebetween is preferably formed proximate the outlet tube of the muffler.</p> |
