# US 2020/0400060 A1 · Exhaust system and muffler > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0400060 A1 - Document ID: US20200400060A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/445,636 - Filed: 2019-06-19 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-19 - Assignees: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc. - Applicants: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc. - Inventors: Ankit Barot - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200400060A1 ## CPC - F01N 1/084: {the exhaust gases flowing through the silencer two or more times longitudinally in opposite directions, e.g. using parallel or concentric tubes} - F01N 13/04: having two or more silencers in parallel, e.g. having interconnections for multi-cylinder engines - F01N 1/023: {Helmholtz resonators} - F01N 1/06: by using interference effect - F01N 2470/02: Tubes being perforated - F01N 2490/06: the gases flowing longitudinally from inlet to outlet in opposite directions - F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16) ## Abstract A muffler for use with an engine is provided. The muffler includes a first tube defining a first inlet and a first outlet spaced apart from the first inlet. The first tube is configured to receive exhaust at the first inlet. The muffler includes a second tube spaced apart from the first tube. The second tube defines a second inlet and a second outlet spaced apart from the second inlet. The second tube is configured to receive exhaust at the second inlet. The muffler includes a third tube disposed at least partly around the second tube. The third tube defines a third outlet spaced apart from each of the second inlet and the second outlet. The third outlet is in fluid communication with the second outlet of the second tube. The muffler also includes at least one outlet tube in fluid communication with the first outlet and the third outlet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A muffler for use with an engine, the muffler comprising: a first tube defining a first inlet and a first outlet spaced apart from the first inlet, wherein the first tube is configured to receive exhaust from the engine at the first inlet; a second tube spaced apart from the first tube, the second tube defining a second inlet and a second outlet spaced apart from the second inlet, wherein the second tube is configured to receive exhaust from the engine at the second inlet; a third tube disposed at least partly around the second tube, the third tube defining a third outlet spaced apart from each of the second inlet and the second outlet, wherein the third outlet is in fluid communication with the second outlet of the second tube; and at least one outlet tube in fluid communication with the first outlet and the third outlet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The muffler of claim 1, further comprising a connecting member configured to connect the second tube to the third tube. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The muffler of claim 1, further comprising a housing at least partly enclosing the first tube, the second tube and the third tube, the housing defining a common chamber in fluid communication with the first outlet, the third outlet and the at least one outlet tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The muffler of claim 1, wherein the third tube further comprises a closed end opposite to the third outlet, and wherein the second outlet is axially disposed between the closed end and the third outlet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The muffler of claim 1, wherein a sum of a length of the second tube and a length of the third tube is greater than a length of the first tube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The muffler of claim 5, wherein the length of the second tube is greater than the length of the first tube. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The muffler of claim 5, wherein the length of the third tube is greater than the length of the first tube. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The muffler of claim 1, wherein the third tube is concentrically disposed around the second tube. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The muffler of claim 1, wherein the second tube further comprises a closed end axially opposite to the second inlet, wherein the second outlet comprises one or more openings disposed on a wall of the second tube, and wherein the one or more openings are axially disposed between the closed end of the second tube and the third outlet of the third tube. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The muffler of claim 9, wherein the third tube is connected to the second tube adjacent to the closed end. ### Claim 11 An exhaust system for use with an engine having a first row of cylinders and a second row of cylinders, the exhaust system comprising: a first pipe configured to receive exhaust from the first row of cylinders; a second pipe configured to receive exhaust from the second row of cylinders; and a muffler comprising: a first tube defining a first inlet and a first outlet spaced apart from the first inlet, wherein the first inlet is in fluid communication with the first pipe; a second tube spaced apart from the first tube, the second tube defining a second inlet and a second outlet spaced apart from the second inlet, wherein the second tube is in fluid communication with the second pipe; a third tube disposed at least partly around the second tube, the third tube defining a third outlet spaced apart from each of the second inlet and the second outlet, wherein the third outlet is in fluid communication with the second outlet of the second tube; and at least one outlet tube in fluid communication with the first outlet and the third outlet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The exhaust system of claim 11, wherein the muffler further comprises a connecting member configured to connect the second tube to the third tube. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The exhaust system of claim 11, wherein the muffler further comprises a housing at least partly enclosing the first tube, the second tube and the third tube, the housing defining a common chamber in fluid communication with the first outlet, the third outlet and the at least one outlet tube. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The exhaust system of claim 11, wherein the third tube further comprises a closed end opposite to the third outlet, and wherein the second outlet is axially disposed between the closed end and the third outlet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The exhaust system of claim 11, wherein a sum of a length of the second tube and a length of the third tube is greater than a length of the first tube. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The exhaust system of claim 15, wherein the length of the second tube is greater than the length of the first tube. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The exhaust system of claim 15, wherein the length of the third tube is greater than the length of the first tube. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The exhaust system of claim 11, wherein the third tube is concentrically disposed around the second tube. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The exhaust system of claim 11, wherein the second tube further comprises a closed end axially opposite to the second inlet, wherein the second outlet comprises one or more openings disposed on a wall of the second tube, and wherein the one or more openings are axially disposed between the closed end of the second tube and the third outlet of the third tube. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The exhaust system of claim 19, wherein the third tube is connected to the second tube adjacent to the closed end. ### Claim 21 (depends on 11) The exhaust system of claim 11, wherein a length of the first pipe is greater than a length of the second pipe. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The exhaust system of claim 21, wherein a sum of a length of the second tube and a length of the third tube is greater than a length of the first tube such that a half engine order noise downstream of the muffler is decreased. ### Claim 23 (depends on 11) The exhaust system of claim 11, wherein a length of the first pipe is substantially equal to a length of the second pipe. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The exhaust system of claim 23, wherein a sum of a length of the second tube and a length of the third tube is greater than a length of the first tube such that a half engine order noise downstream of the muffler is increased. ### Claim 25 (depends on 11) The exhaust system of claim 11, wherein a sum of a length of the first pipe and a length of the first tube is substantially equal to a sum of a length of the second pipe, a length of the second tube and a length of the third tube. ### Claim 26 (depends on 11) The exhaust system of claim 11, wherein a sum of a length of the first pipe and a length of the first tube is less than a sum of a length of the second pipe, a length of the second tube and a length of the third tube. ### Claim 27 A muffler for use with an engine, the muffler comprising: a first tube defining a first inlet and a first outlet spaced apart from the first inlet, wherein the first tube is configured to receive exhaust from the engine at the first inlet; a second tube spaced apart from the first tube, the second tube defining a second inlet and a second outlet spaced apart from the second inlet, wherein the second tube is configured to receive exhaust from the engine at the second inlet; a third tube disposed at least partly around the second tube, the third tube defining a third outlet spaced apart from each of the second inlet and the second outlet, wherein the third outlet is in fluid communication with the second outlet of the second tube; a housing at least partly enclosing the first tube, the second tube and the third tube, the housing defining a common chamber in fluid communication with the first outlet and the third outlet; and at least one outlet tube in fluid communication with the common chamber. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The muffler of claim 27, wherein the third tube further comprises a closed end opposite to the third outlet, and wherein the second outlet is axially disposed between the closed end and the third outlet. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The muffler of claim 27, wherein the second tube further comprises a closed end axially opposite to the second inlet, wherein the second outlet comprises one or more openings disposed on a wall of the second tube, and wherein the one or more openings are axially disposed between the closed end of the second tube and the third outlet of the third tube. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The muffler of claim 29, wherein the third tube is connected to the second tube adjacent to the closed end.