CN115807703A

CN115807703A - Exhaust muffler

Info

Publication number: CN115807703A
Application number: CN202211108141.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: G.赖辛格
Original assignee: Remus Innovation Co ltd
Current assignee: Remus Innovation Co ltd
Priority date: 2021-09-13
Filing date: 2022-09-13
Publication date: 2023-03-17
Also published as: GB202212296D0; GB2611178A; DE102021123653A1

Abstract

In an exhaust muffler for an internal combustion engine, a fluid-conducting interior part (E) arranged in a functional space (F) bounded by an outer wall (31) comprises a flap arrangement (32) having a flow guide (14) and an associated flap (16) and a bypass arrangement which is fluidically parallel to the flow guide (14) of the flap arrangement (32). The flow path of the bypass device comprises four spiral-shaped spiral channels (21, 22, 27, 28) which can be traversed in succession and which pass through two deflection zones (23, 34) and a transition zone

Are connected to each other in terms of flow technology and byThe passages (24, 35) arranged adjacent to the flap device (32) are fluidically connected to the inflow tube (4) or the outflow tube (5).

Description

Exhaust muffler

Technical Field

The invention relates to an exhaust muffler for an internal combustion engine, comprising a functional space delimited by an outer wall, having an exhaust gas inlet, an exhaust gas outlet and a fluid-conducting interior part, wherein the fluid-conducting interior part comprises at least one flap arrangement having a flow guide and an adjustable flap assigned to the flow guide for changing the free flow cross-sectional area of the flow guide, which is connected to an inflow pipe which communicates with the exhaust gas inlet and to an outflow pipe which communicates with the exhaust gas outlet, and wherein a bypass arrangement is provided which is fluidically parallel to the flow guide of the flap arrangement and can be flowed through as a function of the current free flow cross-sectional area of the flow guide.

Background

Exhaust mufflers of this type are known and used in various designs, in which the operating characteristics, i.e. the throughflow of the interior components, and thus the sound-damping characteristics can be influenced by means of a flap arrangement. In the case of the flap arrangement, it is possible according to a separate embodiment to close and open the flow guide of the valve arrangement (to different flow cross-sectional areas) by means of a flap, or the flap only changes the flow cross-sectional area of the flow guide depending on its current position, without (completely) closing the flow guide. It should furthermore be distinguished whether the adjustment of the flap is effected passively, i.e. automatically (for example by the pressure conditions prevailing at the flap itself), or actively by means of an actuator acting on the flap, which is operated by external energy and, if appropriate, by a control device.

With regard to the prior art in the field of exhaust mufflers of this type, reference may be made, for example, to documents US 7,896,130 B2, US 8,201,660 B2, WO 2010/135095 A1, US 8,468,813 B2, WO 2016/111326 A1, US 10,518,632 B2, US 10,788,136 B1 and US 2019/0360374 A1.

In practice, various, sometimes conflicting, requirements are placed on exhaust mufflers for internal combustion engines. This generally includes, at least in the defined flap positions, a broad-band, i.e. good sound damping properties over a relatively large operating range of the relevant internal combustion engine, small dimensions, low flow losses and thus low back pressure, low weight, long service life and low production costs. It is often additionally sought that individual acoustic properties which are specific to manufacturing and/or specific to the vehicle can be achieved without additional effort or with only low additional effort.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide an exhaust muffler of the type mentioned above which is particularly practical in the sense mentioned above, wherein among the various requirements (see above) a size as small as possible and a particularly compact design are regarded as particularly important.

The object is achieved by an exhaust gas muffler of the aforementioned type, wherein the bypass device comprises a flow path having a flow passage

A first helical channel in the form of a helix, which is fluidically connected to the inflow tube via a first passage arranged adjacent to the flap arrangement,

a helically shaped second spiral channel which is connected to the first spiral channel in terms of flow technology in the region of the first deflection zone and through which the exhaust gas flow can flow in the opposite direction to the exhaust gas flow in the first spiral channel,

a helically shaped third spiral channel, which is fluidically connected to the second spiral channel in the region of the transition region, and

a helically shaped fourth spiral channel, which is connected to the third spiral channel in terms of flow technology in the region of the second deflection zone and through which the exhaust gas flow in the third spiral channel can flow in an oppositely directed manner, is connected to the outflow line in terms of flow technology by means of a second passage arranged adjacent to the flap device.

In this way, an exhaust gas muffler of the type according to the invention can be realized which, while being efficient, has a particularly small size and is therefore particularly compact. However, the advantages that can be achieved by the present invention are by no means limited thereto. In contrast: the invention has also proved to be very advantageous from various other points of view. For example, the exhaust gas muffler can be produced with particularly low effort when the invention is suitably implemented. The invention also contributes to the fact that the design according to the invention is particularly well suited for modular solutions in the sense that, by changing the individual components, it is already possible to adapt the exhaust muffler to different requirements (for example different engine series of the same vehicle model) when otherwise identical components are used. The invention can furthermore be implemented in a wide range of applications, as long as the solution in question is suitable both for a flap arrangement with a passively adjustable flap and for a flap arrangement with a flap which can be actively adjusted by means of an actuator. In particular, the second variant is particularly advantageous for the requirements relevant to practice, since it allows the sound characteristic to be actively changed independently during operation of the vehicle concerned. As will be explained further below, this applies in a very specific manner to the case in which the actuator is designed for proportional flap adjustment, which may also include, in particular, the feedback of a signal to the control device in terms of control technology, which signal reflects the actual position of the actuator or of the flap operated by the actuator.

In comparative experiments, it was found that a plurality of special flow diversions, i.e. diversions in the flow through the first and second passages in addition to the flow diversions in the first and second diversion regions, in cooperation with the quadruple spiral flow which enables a particularly long flow path, greatly contribute to the particularly advantageous operating characteristics of the exhaust gas muffler according to the invention. Depending on the individual boundary conditions, a special fifth flow diversion (see below) realized between the second and third spiral channels may prove to be advantageous.

In relation to the geometry of the spiral channels, according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention for a typical internal combustion engine, the pitch of the first and second spiral channels is 1 to 6 times the inner diameter of the inlet pipe. The pitch of the third and fourth helical channels is preferably 1 to 6 times the inner diameter of the outflow conduit. The pitch of the first and second spiral channels is particularly preferably 1.5 to 4 times, more preferably 2 to 3 times, the inner diameter of the inflow tube; and the pitch of the third and fourth spiral channels is particularly preferably 1.5 to 4 times, more preferably 2 to 3 times, the inner diameter of the outflow tube.

The aforementioned dimensional rules have proven to be particularly advantageous in combination with other important dimensional rules for the geometry of the interior of the exhaust muffler and the flow behavior. In this sense, the first and second helical channels and/or the third and fourth helical channels each preferably extend at a helix angle of 180 ° to 720 °, particularly preferably 225 ° to 630 °, more preferably 270 ° to 540 °.

In terms of flow conditions which are particularly advantageous with regard to acoustic effects, according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the first passage is delimited by a slanted partial section of the inflow tube and/or the second passage is delimited by a slanted partial section of the outflow tube. In addition, the extension is distinguished by the fact that the corresponding exhaust muffler can be produced particularly simply.

In the context of the present invention, the first and second spiral ducts may be radially offset from one another, i.e. defined by spirals having different diameters, in particular in such a way that one of the two spiral ducts surrounds the other, radially on the outside, inner spiral duct; in other words, in this embodiment, the first and second spiral channels run with different radii in two different annular spaces, for example concentrically around the inflow tube. The same applies to the pair of third and fourth spiral channels. However, from the constructional dimensioning point of view, a further embodiment is particularly advantageous, namely that the first and second spiral channels extend, separated from one another by the primary spiral insert, radially on the outside with the same radius in the same primary annular space formed by the primary sleeve, and/or that the third and fourth spiral channels extend, separated from one another by the secondary spiral insert, radially on the outside with the same radius in the same secondary annular space formed by the secondary sleeve. The first and second spiral flows or the third and fourth spiral flows are twisted with respect to one another in pairs opposite one another to some extent. The first and second spiral flows have a uniform direction of rotation or spiral direction in the sense that they are right-handed or left-handed with reference to their axes and the axial flow component determined along the axes. The same applies to the pair of third and fourth spiral flows. In this way, a flow deflection of 180 ° is produced in the region of the first or second deflection region, respectively, which is particularly efficient with respect to sound damping.

The cross section of the primary annular space is preferably 1.5 to 4.5 times, particularly preferably 2 to 4 times, more preferably 2.5 to 3.5 times, the cross section of the inflow tube; and the cross section of the secondary annular space is accordingly preferably 1.5 to 4.5 times, particularly preferably 2 to 4 times, more preferably 2.5 to 3.5 times, the cross section of the outflow tube. Such a size has proven to be particularly advantageous in respect of very good sound-damping properties even if the exhaust muffler is constructed in a relatively compact manner and has low flow losses, i.e. a relatively low back pressure.

According to a further dimensioning rule, it has proven advantageous if the cross section of the first spiral channel and the second spiral channel, which cross section is taken perpendicular to the respective spiral directrix, i.e. the cross section of the first or second spiral channel in a plane oriented perpendicular to the direction of the spiral at the respective mid-plane point, is 0.2 to 2 times, preferably 0.4 to 1.5 times, more preferably 0.6 to 1.0 times the cross section of the inflow tube. Accordingly, the cross section of the third and fourth spiral channels taken perpendicular to the respective spiral directrix is preferably 0.2 to 2 times, particularly preferably 0.4 to 1.5 times, and more preferably 0.6 to 1.0 times the cross section of the outflow tube.

The aforementioned primary sleeve and/or the secondary sleeve, which delimits the primary annular space and the secondary annular space radially on the outside, form part of an outer wall delimiting the functional space. This applies in particular to the particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, in which the exhaust gas muffler is constructed exclusively from the flap module comprising the flap arrangement and the optionally associated actuator, the inlet and outlet pipes, the primary and secondary sleeves and the primary and secondary screw inserts. However, from an acoustic point of view, it may also prove advantageous to design the respective sleeve not as a part of the outer wall delimiting the functional space, or at most as a part of the outer wall. The latter applies in particular to designs in which the primary and/or secondary jacket is/are designed to be perforated and is surrounded by the associated cladding pipe at a radial distance therefrom, wherein the annular space between the perforated jacket and the cladding pipe is at least partially filled with an absorption material. The relevant cladding tube may here form part of the outer wall bounding the functional space. For both conceptual embodiments, it is suitable that, in addition to the described flow-technical functions, the respective sleeve can also have a significant hydrostatic function as a decisive support element.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the aforementioned primary and/or secondary helical insert is designed as a formed helical tube which, along a helical outer and inner contact line, bears on the outside against the associated sleeve and on the inside against the inflow or outflow tube. A contact line in the above sense is in no way to be regarded here as a line in the mathematical sense, but in particular also a contact strip, i.e. a helical contact surface. Such contact zones are particularly produced when the spiral channel has an approximately trapezoidal cross section, which is also preferred from the point of view of flow technology.

The solution according to the invention can be used very widely, since the exhaust silencer constructed according to said solution can be adapted excellently to the installation conditions existing in the respective vehicle. In particular, a muffler according to the invention can be realized which is optimized for particularly short construction lengths or for particularly small cross sections. In the first-mentioned configuration, the two pairs of first and second spiral channels and of third and fourth spiral channels are arranged one above the other or stacked in such a way that one of the pairs of spiral channels surrounds the other pair of spiral channels on the radial outside; all four spiral channels surround the inflow tube only in a spiral manner or the outflow tube only in a spiral manner, wherein the four spiral channels are preferably distributed in pairs over two annular spaces which are concentric to one another. In the case of the second-mentioned embodiment, the two pairs of first and second spiral channels and third and fourth spiral channels are arranged axially offset from one another, i.e. next to one another. The above-mentioned preferably provided special fifth flow diversion can in this case be achieved by designing the third spiral channel in a spiral direction which points opposite to the second spiral channel.

If the two pairs of first and second screw channels and third and fourth screw channels are offset in the axial direction in the above-described sense, they are positioned on different sides of the flap arrangement according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention. In this case, the first and second spiral channels each surround the inflow tube in a spiral manner, and the third and fourth spiral channels each surround the outflow tube in a spiral manner, wherein the first spiral channel can be traversed in an oppositely directed manner with respect to the exhaust gas flow in the inflow tube, and the fourth spiral channel can be traversed in an oppositely directed manner with respect to the exhaust gas flow in the outflow tube. This is advantageous not only from the point of view of a particularly simple, modular, individual adaptation of the silencer to different requirements, but also in terms of flow technology and lifetime-related statics and ease of manufacture.

From the same constructional point of view, it is also particularly advantageous if the flap arrangement and the flow guide surrounding the bypass of the flap arrangement are designed in the same flap housing. Details of this, such as the connection of the inflow and outflow lines to possible structures on the valve housing, are explained further below. In terms of flow technology, it is particularly advantageous if the flap housing has a first opening which delimits the first passage and which diverts the flow and/or a second opening which delimits the second passage and which diverts the flow.

The solution according to the invention makes it easier to adapt the respective exhaust muffler individually to existing installation and operating conditions (including adaptation to the respective internal combustion engine). For this purpose, in particular, different design features can be used in each case in a preferred embodiment of the invention (possibly in combination with one another). Thereby, the first spiral channel may communicate with the inner space of the inflow tube through a perforation provided in the inflow tube, the perforation provided in the inflow tube having a smaller cross-section than the first passage, and/or the fourth spiral channel may communicate with the inner space of the outflow tube through a perforation provided in the outflow tube, the perforation provided in the outflow tube having a smaller cross-section than the second passage. Likewise, the second spiral channel may communicate with the interior space of the inflow tube through a perforation provided in the inflow tube, the perforation provided in the inflow tube having a smaller cross-section than the first passage, and/or the third spiral channel may communicate with the interior space of the outflow tube through a perforation provided in the outflow tube, the perforation provided in the outflow tube having a smaller cross-section than the second passage.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and second spiral ducts extend, separated from one another by the primary spiral insert, radially on the outside with the same radius in the same primary annular space formed by the primary sleeve, and/or the third and fourth spiral ducts extend, separated from one another by the secondary spiral insert, radially on the outside with the same radius in the same secondary annular space formed by the secondary sleeve. The particular design of the respective screw insert, which is particularly preferably designed as a formed spiral tube, which bears against the associated sleeve and the inflow or outflow tube along a helical outer and inner contact line, in turn leads to an excellent possibility of individual adaptation of the respective exhaust gas muffler to the particular application. The associated screw insert can have an electrically heatable surface and/or a catalytically effective surface coating and/or a porous, flexible or otherwise acoustically effective surface structure for this purpose. The screw inserts may also be perforated so that two screw channels separated from each other by the associated screw insert communicate with each other through the associated perforation. Furthermore, the spiral insert concerned can be of sandwich-like design and has an absorbent layer arranged between two perforated, dimensionally stable outer layers. Furthermore, all possible adaptations, in particular acoustically effective adaptations, which result therefrom do not affect the design and the construction.

The invention can also be advantageously implemented in combination with passive shutter devices, while the particular advantages of the invention are particularly pronounced in combination with active shutter devices. In this sense, the flap arrangement is preferably provided with an actuator, by means of which the flap can be actively adjusted. The actuator can in this case be designed in particular for proportionally adjusting the flap, which makes it possible to influence the sound-damping behavior differently.

Drawings

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of a number of preferred exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. In the drawings:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of an exhaust muffler according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

figure 2 shows a vertical axial section through the exhaust muffler according to figure 1,

figure 3 shows a horizontal axial section through the exhaust muffler according to figures 1 and 2,

figure 4 shows a sectional axial view of a first variant of the exhaust muffler according to figures 1 to 3,

figure 5 shows a second variant of the exhaust muffler according to figures 1 to 3 in axial section,

figure 6 shows an axial section through a third variant of the exhaust muffler according to figures 1 to 3,

figure 7 shows a fourth variant of the exhaust muffler according to figures 1 to 3 in axial section,

FIG. 8 shows a first axial sectional (schematic) view of an exhaust muffler according to a second embodiment of the present invention, an

Fig. 9 shows the exhaust muffler according to fig. 8 in a second axial sectional (schematic) view perpendicular to fig. 7.

Detailed Description

The exhaust gas muffler according to fig. 1 to 3 is structurally composed of a flap module 1, two sleeves which are arranged sealingly on both sides of the flap module and are in the form of a primary sleeve 2 (on the inflow side) and a secondary sleeve 3 (on the outflow side), an inflow pipe 4 and an outflow pipe 5, and a primary screw insert 6 and a secondary screw insert 7. The inlet pipe 4 and the outlet pipe 5, which are located on the longitudinal axis L of the exhaust muffler, are aligned with one another here. In addition to the cylindrical pipe section 8, the primary sleeve 2 here also comprises an end piece 9 connected thereto, which closes off a primary annular space 10 defined and delimited by the inflow pipe 4 and the pipe section 8 surrounding the inflow pipe on the end side. The same applies to the design of the outflow side of the exhaust muffler, in particular to the secondary annular space 11 and the associated secondary screw insert 7.

The shutter module 1 comprises a shutter housing 13 with a through-opening 15 through it, which constitutes a flow guide 14, and an adjustable shutter 16, i.e. pivotable about a pivot axis a, for changing the free flow cross-sectional area of the flow guide 14 and an actuator 17 for changing the pivot position of the shutter 16.

The primary screw insert 6 is designed as a spiral 18 of profiled design, which lies along a spiral-shaped outer contact line 19 on the cylindrical pipe section 8 of the primary sleeve 2 and along a spiral-shaped inner contact line 20 on the inflow pipe 4. In this way, the two spiral channels, i.e. the first spiral channel 21 and the second spiral channel 22, are separated from each other. The primary screw insert 6, i.e. the formed spiral 18 forming the primary screw insert, rests on one of its ends on the end face against the flap housing 13, while the primary screw insert is at the opposite end at a distance from the end piece 9. In this way, a first deflecting region 23 is created which connects the first spiral channel 21 and the second spiral channel 22 to one another in terms of flow technology. In order to fluidically connect the first spiral channel 21 to the inflow tube 4, a first passage 24 is provided, which is delimited by an inclined partial section 25 of the inflow tube 4 and a first flow-deflecting opening 26 formed in the flap housing 13. The same applies to the secondary screw insert 7, which separates the third screw channel 27 and the fourth screw channel 28 from one another, to the outflow tube 5 and to the side of the flap housing 13 assigned to the outflow tube.

In order to connect the third spiral channel 27 to the second spiral channel 22 in a flow-through manner, the flap housing 13 has a through-opening 30 which forms a transition region

As a bypass 29 with respect to the flow guide 14.

In the exhaust muffler according to fig. 1 to 3, the outer wall 31 which delimits the functional space F with the fluid-conducting interior part E is thus formed essentially by the two

sleeves

2, 3. The inlet pipe 4 (also) forms the exhaust gas inlet AE of the exhaust gas muffler, and the outlet pipe (also) forms the exhaust gas outlet AA. The shutter arrangement 32 is defined by the flow guide 14 and the shutter cooperating therewith, the bypass arrangement provided with respect to the flow guide 14 of the shutter arrangement 32 comprising:

a first spiral channel 21 which surrounds the inflow pipe 4 in a spiral-like manner and is connected to the inflow pipe 4 in terms of flow by means of a first passage 24 arranged adjacent to the flap device 32 and through which the exhaust gas flow S in the inflow pipe 4 can flow in a counter-directional manner, which relates to the axial component of the spiral flow,

a second spiral channel 22 which is connected in terms of flow technology to the first spiral channel 21 in the region of the first deflection zone 23, surrounds the inflow pipe 4 in a spiral-like manner and can be flowed through in the same direction as the exhaust gas flow S in the inflow pipe 4,

a bypass 29, which is connected to the second spiral channel 22 in terms of flow and surrounds the flap arrangement 32,

a third spiral channel 27, which is connected to the bypass 29 in terms of flow technology, surrounds the outlet pipe 5 in a spiral manner and can be flowed through in the same direction as the exhaust gas flow T in the outlet pipe 5

A fourth spiral channel 28, which is connected in terms of flow to the third spiral channel 27 in the region of the second deflection zone 34 and which surrounds the outlet pipe 5 in a spiral-like manner and which can be flowed through counter to the exhaust gas flow T in the outlet pipe 5, and which is connected in terms of flow to the outlet pipe 5 via a second passage 35 arranged adjacent to the flap device 32.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cross-sections of the primary annular spaces 10, each of which is defined perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis L, are approximately equal to 2.8 times the cross-section of the inflow pipe 4. The pitch of the first spiral passage 21 and the second spiral passage 22 is about 2.3 times the inner diameter of the inflow pipe 4. And the first helical channel 21 and the second helical channel 22 each extend at a helix angle of about 450 deg.. The cross section of the first spiral channel 21 and the second spiral channel 22, which cross section is determined perpendicularly to the respective spiral directrix, i.e. the cross section of the first or second spiral channel in a plane oriented perpendicularly to the direction of the spiral at the respective mid-plane point, is approximately 0.73 times the cross section of the inflow tube 4. This applies correspondingly to the case of the outflow side.

Fig. 4 shows a variant of the exhaust muffler according to fig. 1 to 3, in which the first spiral channel 21 communicates with the interior of the inflow pipe 4 via a perforation 36 provided in the inflow pipe 4, which perforation has a smaller cross section than the first passage 24.

Fig. 5 shows a variant of the exhaust muffler according to fig. 1 to 3, in which the first spiral channel 21 communicates with the second spiral channel 22 via a perforation 37 provided in the spiral tube 18 forming the primary spiral insert 6.

Fig. 6 shows a variant of the exhaust gas muffler according to fig. 1 to 3, in which the primary shaft 2, in particular the cylindrical pipe section 8 of the primary shaft, is designed to be perforated and is surrounded at a radial distance by a corresponding associated cladding pipe 38, wherein an annular space 39 between the perforated shaft 2 and the cladding pipe 38 is filled with an absorbent material 40.

Fig. 7 shows a variant of the exhaust gas muffler according to fig. 1 to 3, in which the primary screw insert 6 is of a multi-layer sandwich-like design, with an absorption layer 42 arranged between two perforated, dimensionally stable outer layers 41.

The embodiment of the exhaust muffler according to the invention shown in fig. 8 and 9 will be apparent to the person skilled in the art from the above description of the first exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 3. Identical components are provided with the same reference numerals. It can be seen that the primary annular space 10 divided into the first spiral channel 21 and the second spiral channel 22 by the primary spiral insert 6 and the secondary annular space 11 divided into the third spiral channel 27 and the fourth spiral channel 28 by the secondary spiral insert 7 are radially staggered with respect to each other here. The primary and secondary annular spaces are separated from each other by a separation tube 43. The primary annular space 10 concentrically surrounds a secondary annular space 11, which itself surrounds the outflow pipe 5. The flow-technical connection of the third spiral channel 27 to the second spiral channel 22 is realized by a deflection recess 44 formed in the flap housing 13. The exhaust gas flow enters the first spiral channel 21 through a through-opening 45 in the flap housing 13, which is connected downstream of the passage 24 in terms of flow.

The variants and modifications shown in fig. 4 to 7 can obviously be used with similar advantages in the exemplary embodiments according to fig. 8 and 9, with the parts being adapted accordingly.

Claims

1. An exhaust muffler for an internal combustion engine, comprising a functional space (F) delimited by an outer wall (31) and having an exhaust gas inlet (AE), an exhaust gas outlet (AA) and a fluid-conducting interior part (E), wherein the fluid-conducting interior part (E) comprises at least one flap arrangement (32) having a flow guide (14) and an adjustable flap (16) assigned to the flow guide (14) for changing the free flow cross-sectional area of the flow guide (14), the flow guide is connected to an inflow pipe (4) which is connected to the exhaust gas inlet (AE) and to an outflow pipe (5) which is connected to the exhaust gas outlet (AA), and a bypass device which is connected in flow-technical parallel to the flow guide (14) of the flap device (32) and can be flowed through depending on the current free flow cross-sectional area of the flow guide (14), characterized in that the bypass device comprises a flow path having a flow path

-a first helical channel (21) of helical form, which is flow-technically connected to the inflow tube (4) by a first passage (24) arranged adjacent to a shutter device (32),

a helically-shaped second spiral channel (22) which is connected to the first spiral channel (21) in terms of flow technology in the region of the first deflection zone (23) and through which a flow can be passed in an oppositely directed manner with respect to the exhaust gas flow in the first spiral channel (21),

-a third helical channel (27) of helical form, in the transitionZone(s)

In the region of (A) is connected to the second spiral channel (22) in terms of flow, and

-a helically-shaped fourth spiral channel (28) which is connected to the third spiral channel (27) in terms of flow in the region of the second deflection zone (34) and through which the exhaust gas flow in the third spiral channel (27) can flow in an oppositely directed manner, and which is connected to the outflow pipe (5) in terms of flow by means of a second passage (35) arranged adjacent to the flap device (32).

2. The exhaust gas muffler according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second spiral channels (21, 22) each surround the inflow pipe (4) in a spiral-like manner and the third and fourth spiral channels (27, 28) each surround the outflow pipe (5) in a spiral-like manner, wherein the first spiral channel (21) can be traversed in an oppositely directed manner with respect to the exhaust gas flow (S) in the inflow pipe (4) and the fourth spiral channel (28) can be traversed in an oppositely directed manner with respect to the exhaust gas flow (T) in the outflow pipe (5), and the transition region

Comprising a bypass (29) surrounding said shutter means (32).

3. The exhaust muffler according to claim 2, characterized in that the third spiral channel (27) is designed with a spiral direction directed opposite to the second spiral channel (22).

4. The exhaust muffler according to claim 2, characterized in that the flow guide (14) of the flap arrangement (32) and the bypass (29) are designed in the same flap housing (13).

5. The exhaust muffler according to claim 4, characterized in that the flap housing (13) has a first flow-diverting opening (26) delimiting the first passage (24) and/or a second flow-diverting opening delimiting the second passage (35).

6. The exhaust muffler according to claim 1, characterized in that all four spiral channels (21, 22, 27, 28) surround the inflow pipe (4) either only helically or only helically around the outflow pipe (5), wherein the four spiral channels (21, 22, 27, 28) are preferably distributed in pairs over two annular spaces (10, 11) concentric to one another.

7. The exhaust muffler according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first spiral channel (21) communicates with the interior space of the inflow pipe (4) via a perforation (36) provided in the inflow pipe (4), the cross-section of the perforation provided in the inflow pipe (4) preferably being smaller than the first passage (24), and/or the fourth spiral channel (28) communicates with the interior space of the outflow pipe (5) via a perforation provided in the outflow pipe (5), the cross-section of the perforation provided in the outflow pipe (5) preferably being smaller than the second passage (35).

8. The exhaust muffler according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second spiral channel (22) communicates with the interior space of the inflow pipe (4) via a perforation (36) provided in the inflow pipe (4), the cross-section of the perforation provided in the inflow pipe (4) preferably being smaller than the first passage (24), and/or the third spiral channel (27) communicates with the interior space of the outflow pipe (5) via a perforation provided in the outflow pipe (5), the cross-section of the perforation provided in the outflow pipe (5) preferably being smaller than the second passage (35).

9. The exhaust muffler according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first and second spiral channels (21, 22) extend with different radii in two different primary annular spaces (10) concentrically around the inflow pipe (4) and/or the third and fourth spiral channels (27, 28) extend with different radii in two different secondary annular spaces (11) concentrically around the outflow pipe (5).

10. The exhaust muffler according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second spiral channels (21, 22) extend in the same primary annular space (10) which is formed by or bounded by the primary sleeve (2) at the same radius radially outside, separated from each other by the primary spiral insert (6).

11. The exhaust muffler according to claim 1, characterized in that the third and fourth spiral channels (27, 28) extend in the same secondary annular space (11) formed by or delimited by the secondary sleeve (3) radially outside at the same radius, separated from each other by a secondary spiral insert (7).

12. The exhaust muffler according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the wall of the primary spiral insert (6) separating the first spiral channel (21) and the second spiral channel (22) from each other and/or the wall of the secondary spiral insert (7) separating the third spiral channel (27) and the fourth spiral channel (28) from each other has perforations (37) through which the two associated spiral channels (22, 23, 27, 28) communicate with each other.

13. The exhaust gas muffler according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the primary spiral insert (6) and/or the secondary spiral insert (7) are designed as perforated spiral pipes (18) which bear along spiral-shaped outer and inner contact lines (19, 20) against the associated jacket pipe (2;3) and the inflow or outflow pipe (4;5).

14. The exhaust muffler according to claim 13, characterized in that at least one perforated spiral (18) bears against the flap housing (13) according to claim 4 on the end side.

15. The exhaust muffler according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the primary sleeve (2) and/or the secondary sleeve (3) constitute a part of an outer wall (31) bounding a functional space (F).

16. The exhaust muffler, as set forth in claim 15, characterized in that it is structurally composed only of the shutter module (1), including the shutter device (32) and the associated actuator (17), the inlet pipe (4) and the outlet pipe (5), the primary and secondary sleeves (2, 3) and the primary and secondary screw inserts (6, 7).

17. The exhaust muffler according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the primary sleeve (2) and/or the secondary sleeve (3) is/are designed to be perforated and is/are surrounded by an associated cladding tube (38) at a radial distance therefrom, wherein an annular space (39) between the perforated sleeves (2, 3) and the cladding tube (38) is at least partially filled with an absorption material (40).

18. Exhaust muffler according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the first and/or second spiral insert (6, 7) has an electrically heatable surface.

19. The exhaust muffler according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the first and/or the second spiral insert (6, 7) has a catalytically acting surface coating.

20. Exhaust muffler according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the first and/or second screw insert (6, 7) has a porous, bendable or otherwise sound-damping surface structure.

21. The exhaust muffler according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the first and/or second spiral insert (6, 7) is constructed in a sandwich-like manner in layers and has an absorption layer (42) arranged between two perforated, dimensionally stable outer layers (41).

22. The exhaust muffler according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the cross section of the primary annular space (10) is 1.5 to 4.5 times, particularly preferably 2 to 4 times, more preferably 2.5 to 3.5 times, the cross section of the inflow pipe (4) and/or the cross section of the secondary annular space (11) is 1.5 to 4.5 times, particularly preferably 2 to 4 times, more preferably 2.5 to 3.5 times, the cross section of the outflow pipe (5).

23. The exhaust muffler according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cross-sections of the first spiral channel (21) and the second spiral channel (22) taken perpendicular to the respective spiral directrix are 0.2 to 2 times, preferably 0.4 to 1.5 times, particularly preferably 0.6 to 1.0 times, the cross-section of the inflow pipe (4), and/or the cross-sections of the third spiral channel (27) and the fourth spiral channel (28) taken perpendicular to the respective spiral directrix are 0.2 to 2 times, preferably 0.4 to 1.5 times, particularly preferably 0.6 to 1.0 times, the cross-section of the outflow pipe (5).

24. The exhaust muffler according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pitch of the first and second spiral channels (21, 22) is 1 to 6 times, preferably 1.5 to 4 times, particularly preferably 2 to 3 times, the inner diameter of the inflow pipe (4), and/or the pitch of the third and fourth spiral channels (27, 28) is 1 to 6 times, preferably 1.5 to 4 times, particularly preferably 2 to 3 times, the inner diameter of the outflow pipe (5).

25. The exhaust muffler according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first and second spiral channel (21, 22) and/or the third and fourth spiral channel (27, 28) each extend at a helix angle of 180 ° to 720 °, preferably 225 ° to 630 °, particularly preferably 270 ° to 540 °.

26. The exhaust muffler according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first passage (24) is delimited by an inclined partial section (25) of the inflow pipe (4) and/or the second passage (35) is delimited by an inclined partial section of the outflow pipe (5).

27. The exhaust muffler according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the flap arrangement (32) is assigned an actuator (17) by means of which the flap (16) can be actively adjusted.

28. The exhaust muffler according to claim 27, characterized in that the actuator (17) is designed for proportionally adjusting the flap.