Pneumatic hand tool exhaust muffler
OwnerRobert E. Sterlinginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A muffler (30) for quieting exhaust expelled from a pneumatic hand tool (10) having a handle (12), an air intake port, and an exhaust port. The muffler (30) includes an inner tube with a plurality of holes, a number of washers (36) positioned longitudinally about the inner tube (32) at the location of the plurality of holes, and a flexible outer sleeve (34) positioned about the combination of washers (36) and inner tube (32). The inner tube includes a proximal end adapted to connect to the pneumatic hand tool exhaust port. During use, exhaust air pass from the hand tool (10) out the exhaust port, into the inner tube, out the inner tube holes, into the washers, through the washers, and out the flexible outer sleeve.
Claims18
A muffler for quieting exhaust expelled from a pneumatic hand tool, the hand tool having a handle with an exhaust port, the muffler comprising:
- (a) an inner tube having a plurality of holes, the inner tube including a proximal end having exterior threads adapted to connect to mating threads formed in the pneumatic hand tool exhaust port;
- (b) a number of absorptive washers positioned longitudinally about the inner tube at the location of the plurality of holes;
- and
- (c) an outer sleeve positioned about the combination of washers and inner tube, the outer sleeve being formed from a breathable fabric material thus providing a plurality of passages through which air may pass;
- wherein during use, exhaust air passes from the hand tool out the exhaust port, into the inner tube, out the inner tube plurality of holes, through the washers, and out the outer sleeve passages.
A muffler for quieting exhaust expelled from a pneumatic hand tool, the hand tool having a handle with an exhaust port, the muffler comprising:
- (a) an inner tube having a plurality of holes, the inner tube including a proximal end having exterior threads adapted to connect to mating threads formed in the pneumatic hand tool exhaust port;
- (b) a number of absorptive washers positioned longitudinally about the inner tube at the location of the plurality of holes;
- wherein the number of washers are placed side-by-side and are of differing densities;
- and
- (c) an outer sleeve positioned about the combination of washers and inner tube, the outer sleeve being formed from a flexible material and having a plurality of passages through which air may pass;
- wherein during use, exhaust air passes from the hand tool out the exhaust port, into the inner tube, out the inner tube plurality of holes, through the washers, and out the flexible outer sleeve passages.
A muffler for quieting exhaust expelled from a pneumatic hand tool, the hand tool having a handle with an exhaust port, the muffler comprising:
- (a) an inner tube having a plurality of holes, the inner tube including a proximal end having exterior threads adapted to connect to mating threads formed in the pneumatic hand tool exhaust port;
- (b) a number of absorptive washers positioned longitudinally about the inner tube at the location of the plurality of holes;
- wherein the number of washers include washers of differing inner diameters so that a portion of the washers does not contact the inner tube;
- and
- (c) an outer sleeve positioned about the combination of washers and inner tube, the outer sleeve being formed from a flexible material and having a plurality of passages through which air may pass;
- wherein during use, exhaust air passes from the hand tool out the exhaust port, into the inner tube, out the inner tube plurality of holes, through the washers, and out the flexible outer sleeve passages.
In a pneumatic hand tool having a handle with an exhaust port, the improvement comprising a muffler including:
- (a) an inner tube with a plurality of holes extending a first distance, the inner tube including a proximal end adapted to connect to the pneumatic hand tool exhaust port;
- (b) a number of washers positioned about the inner tube, a portion of the number of washers being placed side-by-side and having inner diameters sized to contact the inner tube;
- (c) an outer sleeve positioned about the combination of washers and inner tube, the outer sleeve being formed from a breathable fabric material including at least one of plastic, rubber, and synthetic fiber;
- and
- (d) first and second end caps, the first end cap being attached to the proximal washer, the second end cap being attached to the distal washer;
- wherein during use, exhaust air pass from the hand tool out the exhaust port, into the inner tube, out the inner tube holes directly into the washers, through the washers, and out the outer sleeve.
A muffler for quieting exhaust expelled from a pneumatic hand tool, the hand tool having a handle with an exhaust port that connects to an exhaust passage located within the handle, the muffler comprising:
- (a) an inner tube having proximal and distal ends, the inner tube further including first and second sections and a plurality of holes extending at least along the second section, the first section being adapted to be located within the handle exhaust passage, the second section being adapted to be located outside the handle;
- (b) a number of washers positioned longitudinally about the inner tube at least at the location of the plurality of holes in the inner tube second section;
- (c) an outer sleeve positioned about the combination of washers and inner tube second section, the outer sleeve having a plurality of passages through which air may expel;
- and
- (d) attachment means adapted to connect the muffler with the handle;
- wherein during use, exhaust air passes from the hand tool out the exhaust port, into the inner tube, out the inner tube plurality of holes, through the washers, and out the outer sleeve.
A pneumatic apparatus comprising:
- (a) a pneumatic hand tool having a handle with an exhaust port that connects to an exhaust passage located within the handle;
- and
- (b) a muffler for quieting exhaust expelled from the pneumatic hand tool, the muffler comprising:
- (i) an inner tube having proximal and distal ends, the inner tube further including first and second sections and a plurality of holes extending at least along the second section, the first section being adapted to be located within the handle exhaust passage, the second section being adapted to be located outside the handle;
- (ii) a number of washers positioned longitudinally about the inner tube at least at the location of the plurality of holes in the inner tube second section;
- (iii) an outer sleeve positioned about the combination of washers and inner tube second section, the outer sleeve having a plurality of passages through which air may expel;
- and
- (iv) attachment means adapted to connect the muffler with the handle;
- wherein during use, exhaust air passes from the hand tool out the exhaust port, into the inner tube, out the inner tube plurality of holes, through the washers, and out the outer sleeve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.