KR20040013624A - Ball-type variable muffler - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A ball type variable muffler is provided to simplify the configuration by eliminating the valve for opening/shutting the passage of the connecting pipe. CONSTITUTION: A ball type variable muffler comprises a housing(1) having first to third expanded chambers(4,5,6); a plurality of connecting pipes(15) for flow of exhaust gas through the expanded chambers; and an open/shut member(500) embedded in the connecting pipe so as to open/shut the passage of the exhaust gas in accordance with the size of the pressure of the exhaust gas at a predetermined speed. The open/shut member has an end hinge-coupled to the inner wall of the connecting pipe and the other end divided in a lengthwise direction. A plurality of stopper rods are protruded from the inner surfaces of the divided portions of the other end of the open/shut member. Open/shut balls are arranged between the stopper rods in such a manner that the open/shut balls are pushed by the exhaust gas having a pressure higher than the predetermined level so as to open the other end of the open/shut member, thereby allowing for a discharge of the exhaust gas.

Description

Ball-type variable muffler

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle muffler, and more particularly, to a ball type variable muffler which reduces noise in a low speed region and a back pressure in a high speed region.

In general, the exhaust system of automobiles is equipped with a muffler as a device for not only discharging high-temperature, high-pressure gas, which is a product of combustion, into the atmosphere, but also attenuating the combustion noise generated at that time. The functions of the muffler can be divided into two types, namely noise reduction and back pressure reduction. Recently, the muffler has been designed to satisfy the two functions mentioned above by optimizing the shape of the muffler or pipe.

In general, the back pressure and noise in the muffler are inversely related to each other in terms of the degree, which means that the exhaust noise is reduced when the back pressure is increased, and the exhaust noise is increased when the back pressure is decreased. Recently, various types of variable mufflers have been developed and installed in automobiles so as to reduce the back pressure and exhaust noise simultaneously while overcoming the inverse characteristics of the back pressure and exhaust noise. Such a variable muffler is already disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 216155.

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a conventional variable muffler disclosed above, in which a first partition 2 and a second partition 3 are formed at predetermined intervals inside a muffler housing 1 having a predetermined shape. The inner space of the muffler housing 1 is partitioned into a first expansion chamber 4, a second expansion chamber 5, and a third expansion chamber 6, and from the engine side of the muffler housing 1. The inlet pipe 7 penetrates so that the outlet can pass through the first expansion chamber 4, and the exhaust pipe 8 passes through the exhaust side of the muffler housing 1, so that the inlet communicates with the second expansion chamber 5. It is supposed to be. In addition, an inner pipe 9 and a bypass inner pipe are connected to the first partition 2 and the second partition 3 so as to pass through the third expansion chamber 6 and the second expansion chamber 5. (bypass inner pipe; 10) is provided, a plurality of resonance pipes (11) (12) connected to the second partition (3) through the first expansion chamber (4) and the third expansion chamber (6) Is installed.

The opening and closing means 20 according to the related art is installed at the outlet of the bypass inner pipe 10 toward the second expansion chamber 2. The configuration of the opening and closing means 20 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. As described above, the bracket 21 is integrally fixed to a predetermined portion of the bypass inner pipe 10, the valve body 23 coupled to the bracket 21 so as to be rotatable by the fixed shaft 22, and the fixing. It is composed of a spring (24) coupled to the shaft (22) to elastically support the valve body (23).

According to the opening and closing means of the conventional variable muffler configured as described above, the exhaust gas of the automobile engine flows into the first expansion chamber 4 through the inflow pipe 7. As described above, the exhaust gas introduced into the first expansion chamber 4 is once expanded into the first expansion chamber 4, and then introduced into the second expansion chamber 5 through the inner pipe 9 and expanded again. In addition, the resonance pipes 11 and 12 are introduced into the third expansion chamber 6 to be resonated at a predetermined frequency, and the exhaust sound is reduced by interfering with the pressure waves of the first expansion chamber 4. Thus, the pressure fluctuations of the exhaust gas are reduced, and then the exhaust gas of the second expansion chamber 5 in which the noise is reduced is discharged to the outside through the exhaust pipe 8.

At this time, since the internal pressure of the first expansion chamber 4 is small, for example, when the rotation speed of the engine is small, the internal pressure of the first expansion chamber 4 and the internal pressure of the second expansion chamber 5 are not large. Therefore, the force of the spring 24 elastically supporting the valve body 23 of the opening and closing means 20 cannot be overcome, and thus the valve body 23 is closed on the outlet side of the bypass inner pipe 10. By maintaining the state, more emphasis is placed on noise reduction than on back pressure reduction.

On the other hand, when the engine speed increases, the amount of exhaust gas also increases, so that the pressure also increases. Thus, as shown in phantom lines in FIGS. 2 and 3, the valve body 23 rotates clockwise while overcoming the elasticity of the spring 24 by the pressure of the exhaust gas passing through the bypass inner pipe 10. By doing so, the exhaust gas is introduced into the second expansion chamber 5 through the bypass inner pipe 10, and the high-pressure exhaust gas is significantly reduced in back pressure even though a little noise is generated. It is discharged to the outside through 8).

Therefore, a valve, which is a separate opening and closing means 20, is installed inside the muffler to close the valve in the low speed region and open the valve in the high speed region, and the flow of exhaust gas passing through the muffler through the opening and closing of the valve. By changing the paths, two of the above conditions of the low speed region and the high speed region are satisfied.

However, since the conventional variable muffler is a method of changing the flow path of the exhaust gas through opening and closing of the valve body, when the opening and closing operation is repeated for a long time, the durability of the valve body is reduced due to the structural deformation and the life of the valve body is shortened. do. As a result, the operation of the valve is not smooth, there was a problem that the flow of exhaust gas is not smooth.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, it is an object to provide a ball type variable muffler that can be used semi-permanently and simple structure.

1 is a configuration diagram showing the mounting position of the opening and closing means of the conventional variable muffler.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing in detail the open state of the opening and closing means according to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the mounting position of the opening and closing means of the ball type variable muffler according to the present invention.

Figure 4a is a side cross-sectional view showing in detail the closed state of the opening and closing means according to FIG.

Figure 4b is a front view showing the state of Figure 4a, a front view showing in detail the closed state of the opening and closing means.

Figure 5a is a side cross-sectional view showing in detail the open state of the opening and closing means according to Figure 3;

Fig. 5B is a front view showing the state of Fig. 5A, showing a detail of the open state of the opening and closing means.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

1: housing 7: inflow pipe

8: Exhaust Pipe 15: Connection Pipe

15a: inlet 15b: outlet

500: opening and closing means 510: first dividing unit

510a and 520a: bend portion 520: second divider

530: spring member 540: opening and closing ball

560: locking rod

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vehicle muffler comprising a housing in which one or more expansion chambers are formed and a plurality of connection pipes for communicating exhaust gas through the expansion chambers. The connection pipe has a built-in opening and closing means for opening and closing the passage according to the magnitude of the exhaust gas pressure in a constant speed region, the opening and closing means is coupled to one side hinged to the inner wall of the connecting pipe and the other side is divided along the longitudinal direction A plurality of engaging rods facing each other on the inner surface of each divided part are formed to protrude from each other, and an opening / closing ball is installed between the engaging rods so that the opening / closing ball is pushed by an exhaust gas having a predetermined pressure or higher. It is characterized in that the other side is opened so that the exhaust gas can be discharged.

A spring member is provided between the inner wall of the connecting pipe and each divided portion to provide a predetermined elasticity.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 3 is a configuration diagram showing the mounting position of the opening and closing means of the ball type variable muffler according to the present invention, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as the conventional components, new reference numerals for new components It will be described by giving, but the detailed description of the same components will be omitted.

In general, the variable muffler is provided with a housing 1 having a plurality of expansion chambers 4, 5, 6 formed therein as shown in FIG. 3 and an inlet side of the housing 1 to allow exhaust gas to flow therein. An inlet pipe 7 to be provided, an exhaust pipe 8 installed at an outlet side of the housing 1, through which exhaust gas is discharged, and a plurality of connection pipes 15 passing through the expansion chambers 4, 5, and 6. Is made of. The opening and closing means 500 of the ball type variable muffler according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed in at least one connection pipe 15 and opens and closes a passage of the connection pipe 15 according to the exhaust gas pressure. Hereinafter, the opening and closing means 500 of the ball type variable muffler which is the main technical idea of the apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail.

Figure 4a is a side cross-sectional view showing in detail the closed state of the opening and closing means installed in the connection pipe inside the variable muffler, Figure 4b is a front view showing the state of Figure 4a, a front view showing in detail the closed state of the opening and closing means. .

The opening and closing means according to the present invention performs the opening and closing function of the passage in accordance with the magnitude of the exhaust gas pressure in the constant speed region to the at least one connection pipe. The opening and closing means 500 has one side hinged to an inner wall of the connection pipes 510 and 520, and the other side thereof is divided along a longitudinal direction, and is mutually formed on the inner surfaces of the first division part 510 and the second division part 520. A plurality of opposing engaging rods 560 are formed to be spaced apart from each other, the opening and closing ball 540 is installed between the engaging rods 560, the opening and closing ball 540 by the exhaust gas of a predetermined pressure or more While the other side of the opening and closing means 500 is opened while being pushed, the exhaust gas can be discharged.

In addition, the first division part 510 has an arc-shaped cross section having a smaller radius at the outlet 15b side than the inlet 15a side of the exhaust gas, one end of which is hinged to one side of the connecting pipe 15, and the other end thereof. Is spaced apart from the inner wall of the connecting pipe 15. That is, the bent portion 510a is formed in the middle portion so that the other end of the first division part 510 is spaced apart from the connecting pipe 15, and the exhaust gas is well supported while supporting the opening and closing ball 540 having a circular cross section. In order to block the flow of the cross section of the first partition 510 has an arc shape.

The second dividing portion 520 is installed to correspond to the first dividing portion 510, and has an arc-shaped cross section having a smaller radius at the outlet 15b side than the inlet 15a side of the exhaust gas, and one end of the connecting pipe. It is hinged to one side of (15), the other end is provided spaced apart from the inner wall of the connecting pipe (15). Similar to the first division part 510, the bent part 520a is formed in the middle part so that the other end of the first division part 510 can be separated from the connection pipe 15, and the opening and closing ball having a circular cross section. The second partition 520 has a cross-sectional arc shape so as to block the flow of the exhaust gas while supporting the 540 well.

Preferably, the spring member 530 is installed between the inner wall of the connecting pipe 15 and the first division part 510 and the second division part 520, respectively, and the first division part 510 and the second division part. Each installment 520 is supported. That is, a spring member is provided between the inner wall of the connecting pipe and each of the divided portions to provide a predetermined elasticity.

The opening / closing ball 540 is positioned on a passage of the connection pipe 15 installed in the housing 1 of the variable muffler, and the first and second division parts 510 and the second division part installed in the connection pipe 15 are provided. It is inserted into the through hole formed by 520 to block the flow of exhaust gas.

At least one locking rod 560 is installed at the front and rear sides of the first division part 510 and the second division part 520, respectively, so that the opening / closing ball 540 is external to the connection pipe 15. To prevent them from leaving.

In this configuration, the spring member 530 installed in the first division part 510 supports the first division part 510 downwardly through a space between the first division part 510 and the opening / closing ball 540. To block the flow of exhaust gas. Similarly, the spring member 530 installed in the second dividing portion 520 supports the second dividing portion 520 upward to exhaust the gas flowing through the space between the second dividing portion 520 and the opening / closing ball 540. It will block the flow of gas. Therefore, the flow of the exhaust gas to pass through the connecting pipe 15 is blocked.

Therefore, when the flow of the exhaust gas is low and the pressure of the exhaust gas is low (low speed region), the first division part 510 is supported downward by the elastic force of the spring member 530 provided on one side of the connecting pipe 15. The first division part 510 is in close contact with the opening and closing ball 540. In the same manner, the second division part 520 is supported upward by the elastic force of the spring member 530 so that the second division part 520 is in close contact with the opening and closing ball 540. That is, the second division part 520 is in close contact with the opening and closing ball 540 at the same time to prevent the flow of the exhaust gas, the exhaust gas is another connection pipe (opening means 500 of the ball type variable muffler is not installed) 15) is quickly discharged to the outside. This action reduces the back pressure inside the variable muffler in the low speed range so as not to reduce the engine output.

On the contrary, when the flow of the exhaust gas is high and the pressure of the exhaust gas is high (high speed region), the pressure of the exhaust gas is applied to the spring members 530 supporting the first and second divisions 510 and 520. It is designed to exceed the elastic force, and due to this design, the first divided part 510 and the second divided part 520 which are in close contact with the opening / closing ball 540 around the pivoting point are opened upward and downward, respectively. (See Figures 5A, 5B). That is, as the passage of the connecting pipe 15 is opened, the exhaust gas moves to the expansion chamber inside the variable muffler through the connecting pipe 15 to significantly reduce noise and discharge the gas to the outside.

As a result, the flow path of the exhaust gas in the low speed region and the high speed region is different by using the opening / closing means 500 of the ball type variable muffler that has properly designed the elastic force of the spring member 530 through experimental data according to various conditions. It is possible to design a ball type variable muffler that simultaneously satisfies two factors: noise reduction and back pressure reduction of the variable muffler.

The apparatus according to the present invention as described above, by eliminating the complicated valve structure of opening and closing the passage of the connecting pipe in the high speed region and by installing the opening and closing means of the ball type variable muffler in place, the structure is simple and semi-permanent use effect There is.

In the above, the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited only to the above-described embodiments, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may vary without departing from the spirit of the technical idea of the present invention described in the claims below. It will be possible to carry out the change.

Claims (2)

In the vehicle muffler comprising a housing in which at least one expansion chamber is formed therein, and a plurality of connection pipes for communicating exhaust gas through the expansion chamber, At least one connection pipe has a built-in opening and closing means for performing the opening and closing function of the passage in accordance with the magnitude of the exhaust gas pressure in a constant speed region, the opening and closing means is coupled to one side hinged to the inner wall of the connecting pipe and the other side in the longitudinal direction A plurality of locking rods are divided along the inner surface of each of the divided portions to protrude in a spaced apart state, and an opening and closing ball is installed between the locking rods so that the opening and closing ball is pushed by an exhaust gas having a predetermined pressure or more. Ball type variable muffler, characterized in that the other side of the opening and closing means to allow the exhaust gas to be discharged. The ball type variable muffler according to claim 1, wherein a spring member is provided between the inner wall of the connecting pipe and each of the divided parts to provide a predetermined elasticity.