Methods of and systems for constraining fibrous material during filling operation

A system for filling a muffler with a fibrous material, the muffler including a muffler shell having an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein the muffler shell comprises a first shell member and a second shell member, wherein at least one partition extends between the first shell member and the second shell member, and wherein at least one slot is formed in the first shell member above the at least one partition, the system comprising:

• means for positioning the first shell member relative to the second shell member to form an open portion, a closed portion, and a space between an upper surface of the at least one partition and the first shell member, the open portion defining a gap sufficient to allow a filling nozzle to fit between the first shell member and the second shell member at the open portion;
• means for holding the first shell member and the second shell member together such that the open portion, the closed portion, and the space are maintained;
• means for inserting a fluid delivery device into the muffler shell through the at least one slot;
• means for inserting the filling nozzle into the muffler shell through the open portion;
• means for introducing a fluid into the space above the at least one partition through the fluid delivery device;
• means for introducing the fibrous material into the muffler shell through the filling nozzle;
• means for removing the fluid delivery device from the muffler shell through the at least one slot;
• means for removing the filling nozzle from the muffler shell through the open portion;
• means for releasing the first shell member and the second shell member from one another;
• means for positioning the first shell member relative to the second shell member to remove the open portion and the space;
• and
• means for affixing the first shell member to the second shell member.

A method of filling a muffler with a fibrous material, the muffler including a muffler shell having an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein the muffler shell comprises a first shell member and a second shell member, wherein at least one partition extends between the first shell member and the second shell member, and wherein at least one slot is formed in the first shell member above the at least one partition, the method comprising:

• affixing the first shell member and the second shell member to one another to define an open portion, a closed portion, and a space between an upper surface of the at least one partition and the first shell member, the open portion defining an opening sufficient to allow a filling nozzle to fit between the first shell member and the second shell member at the open portion;
• inserting the filling nozzle into the muffler shell through the open portion;
• introducing the fibrous material into the muffler shell through the filling nozzle;
• introducing a fluid into the space above the at least one partition through the at least one slot, the fluid preventing the fibrous material from moving over the at least one partition through the space;
• removing the filling nozzle from the muffler shell through the open portion;
• and
• closing the open portion.

A system for filling a muffler with a fibrous material, the muffler including a muffler shell having an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein the muffler shell comprises a first shell member and a second shell member, wherein at least one partition extends between the first shell member and the second shell member, and wherein at least one slot is formed in the first shell member above the at least one partition, the system comprising:

• means for affixing the first shell member and the second shell member to one another to define an open portion, a closed portion, and a space between an upper surface of the at least one partition and the first shell member, the open portion defining an opening sufficient to allow a filling nozzle to fit between the first shell member and the second shell member at the open portion;
• means for inserting the filling nozzle into the muffler shell through the open portion;
• means for introducing the fibrous material into the muffler shell through the filling nozzle;
• means for introducing a fluid into the space above the at least one partition through the at least one slot, the fluid preventing the fibrous material from moving over the at least one partition through the space;
• means for removing the filling nozzle from the muffler shell through the open portion;
• and
• means for closing the open portion.