Compact Exhaust Silencer with External Evacuation Duct

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing exhaust line silencers for combustion engines are difficult to compact while maintaining acoustic performance, especially in hybrid vehicles where additional components are integrated, and their sizing affects engine operation and noise reflection.

Innovation Solution

A compact silencer design with three volumes and strategically positioned evacuation ducts outside the casing, allowing for flexible sizing and orientation, which maintains acoustic performance and mechanical consistency without additional mechanical means.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the exhaust line is shortened and compacted to accommodate additional components in hybrid vehicles, then the silencer becomes more compact and can be positioned under the body, but the acoustic performance deteriorates and engine operation is affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesilencer sizeVSAvoidnoise pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The evacuation duct is positioned outside the silencer casing envelope, utilizing the external space around the silencer rather than internal volume. This dimensional reorganization allows the silencer to maintain compact dimensions while preserving acoustic performance by keeping the evacuation path separate from the acoustic treatment volumes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The silencer is divided into distinct functional volumes (upstream, intermediate, downstream) with the evacuation duct serving as a separate external component. This segmentation allows each volume to be optimized for its specific function while the overall assembly maintains a compact footprint suitable for hybrid vehicle integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Length of stationary object

If the exhaust line is shortened to position the evacuation pipe under the body in front of the rear axle, then the exhaust line becomes more compact, but the acoustic reflection performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexhaust line lengthVSAvoidacoustic reflection
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The evacuation duct is routed externally around the silencer casing rather than through its internal volume. This external positioning maintains the integrity of the internal acoustic volumes and their reflection surfaces, preserving acoustic performance while achieving the required compact length for hybrid vehicle integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the silencer volumes are increased to maintain acoustic performance, then the silencer becomes less compact, but additional mechanical means are required to maintain envelope positioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise reductionVSAvoidmechanical means
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By positioning the evacuation duct outside the silencer casing, the internal volumes can be maximized for acoustic performance without increasing the overall external dimensions. This eliminates the need for additional mechanical positioning means while maintaining both acoustic effectiveness and compactness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution achieves improved acoustic performance and compactness, allowing the silencer to be integrated under vehicle tunnels, accommodating other components while ensuring efficient exhaust gas circulation and noise reduction.

Implementation Method 1

maintain the same type of acoustic reflection for the silencer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

The silencer comprises one or more casing(s) which delimit(s) three volumes, called upstream, intermediate and downstream, arranged successively and traversed by a plurality of ducts

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHelmholtz resonance: Helmholtz Resonance

Data Source

PatentEP3014081B1Muffler intended to be mounted in the exhaust line of a combustion engine
Publication Date: 2018.04.04 TECHNOBOOST
  • EP3014081B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3014081B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP3014081B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a muffler (S) intended to be mounted in an exhaust line (L) of a heat engine (M), said muffler comprising one or more shells defining three volumes (1a, 1b, 2), referred to as upstream (1a), intermediate (1b) and downstream (2), arranged in succession and passed through by a plurality of pipes including: a supply pipe (10) for feeding the exhaust gases from the engine (M) into the intermediate volume (1b) via the upstream volume (1a); a so-called forward path pipe (12) for bringing the exhaust gases from the intermediate volume (1b) into the downstream volume (2); a so-called return path pipe (13) for feeding the exhaust gases from the downstream volume (2) into the upstream volume (1a) via the intermediate volume (1b); and a discharge pipe (14, 14') provided predominantly outside the shell(s) and leading out of the upstream volume (1a).