Impact energy absorber with integrated engine exhaust noise muffler

A multifunction noise suppression and energy absorption structure for a vehicle, comprising:

• a muffler including a body, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, a posterior wall, and a plurality of internal walls within the body that bound an array of resonator cells;
• wherein the internal walls are configured to absorb energy by deforming during an impact,
• wherein the resonator cells are concentrated more densely the further their distance from the posterior wall,
• wherein a length of at least one of the walls is aligned within an angle of 0° to 45° (degrees) from a direction parallel to a predicted direction of the impact event,
• wherein the body comprises lateral sides with a longitudinal axis between the lateral sides, and
• wherein an outlet pipe opening is on an upper portion of the muffler and between the lateral sides.

A dual function muffler, comprising:

• a housing;
• an inlet pipe;
• an outlet pipe;
• a posterior surface;
• and
• a plurality of internal walls defining resonator cells, the internal walls being configured to deform during an impact event,
• wherein the resonator cells are concentrated more densely the further their distance from the posterior surface,
• wherein a length of at least one of the walls is aligned within an angle of 0° to 45° (degrees) from a direction parallel to a predicted direction of the impact event,
• wherein the body comprises lateral sides with a longitudinal axis between the lateral sides, and
• wherein an outlet pipe opening is on an upper portion of the muffler and between the lateral sides.