Methods of and systems for constraining fibrous material during filling operation
AssigneeOCV Intellectual Capital, LLC
InventorLuc Brandt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods of and systems for filling a muffler body with a fibrous material prior to completing assembly of the muffler body are disclosed. The methods and systems prevent or otherwise reduce undesired migration of the fibrous material within the muffler body.
Claims29
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 partition, the method comprising:
- 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 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;
- holding the first shell member and the second shell member together such that the open portion, the closed portion, and the space are maintained;
- inserting a fluid delivery device into the muffler shell through the slot;
- inserting the filling nozzle into the muffler shell through the open portion;
- introducing a fluid into the space above the partition through the fluid delivery device;
- introducing the fibrous material into the muffler shell through the filling nozzle;
- removing the fluid delivery device from the muffler shell through the slot;
- removing the filling nozzle from the muffler shell through the open portion;
- releasing the first shell member and the second shell member;
- positioning the first shell member relative to the second shell member to remove the open portion and the space;
- and
- affixing the first shell member to the second shell member.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 partition through the slot, the fluid preventing the fibrous material from moving over the 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 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 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 partition through the slot, the fluid preventing the fibrous material from moving over the 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.