Muffler exhaust stack

#The present invention relates to exhaust stack pipe systems used to remove exhaust fumes from the muffler of an engine and in particular to vertical exhaust stack pipes and connections for use in agricultural or construction vehicles.

#The exhaust systems of agricultural and construction vehicles include mufflers to reduce noise and emissions. The exhaust system also includes exhaust pipes to remove exhaust fumes away from the vehicle operator. For front engine vehicles, the exhaust system is typically located in the front of the vehicle. For most agricultural or construction vehicle having front engines, the exhaust system usually can not be routed to the rear of the vehicle because work attachments and other implements are often located at the rear of the vehicle. For rear engine agricultural and construction vehicles, the exhaust system usually exits above or on the side of the engine compartment rather than from the back or bottom of the engine. Thus, for an agricultural or construction vehicle it is common for a vertical exhaust stack system to be located on the top or the side of the front hood or on the top or the side of the rear engine compartment.

#The muffler for the vehicle is often positioned in a horizontal or vertical orientation along the side or the top of the engine. The exhaust stack pipe extends vertically upward from the exhaust outlet stub pipe of the muffler to emit exhaust from the engine at a sufficient distance above and away from the operator or cab of the vehicle. The exhaust fumes will be dissipated quickly without being drawn into the cab, for example.

#FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a known exhaust stack system including a muffler, an exhaust stack pipe and a compression clamp;

#FIG. 2 shows a similar view of an exhaust stack system according to one embodiment of the present invention including a muffler outlet stub pipe and an exhaust stack pipe both having matching self-holding taper portions;

#FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the exhaust stack system of the present invention according to a preferred embodiment including the tapered muffler outlet stub pipe, the tapered exhaust stack pipe and a spring clip;

#As previously discussed, in many agricultural and construction vehicles, a horizontally or vertically orientated muffler is positioned along the top or side of the vehicle engine. For some vehicles, such as agricultural tractors and loader backhoes, the engine is located in the front of the vehicle. For other vehicles, such as skid steers and wheel loaders, the engine may be located in the rear of the vehicle.

#Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, the exhaust stack system of the present invention will now be described. The horizontal or vertical orientated muffler 22 includes an integrally attached, vertically projecting, exhaust outlet stub pipe 30 that extends about 3 to 9 inches upward from the muffler. The exhaust outlet stub pipe 30 typically extends vertically from the muffler to a position near or through the hood of the engine compartment of the vehicle. The exhaust outlet stub pipe 30 of the present invention is manufactured with a tapered outer diameter portion 32 having a self-holding taper, designated A, near or approximate the end of the outlet stub pipe. The self-holding or Morse taper preferably has a profile of about 1 or 2 degrees of taper. Preferably the tapered portion 32 on the stub pipe 30 is longitudinally offset a suitable distance away from and above the body of the muffler 22, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

#The exhaust stack pipe 36 is made of a suitable material such as carbon steel and has a proximal end 38 and a distal end 40. The exhaust stack pipe has a predetermined length so that the exhaust fumes from the engine are discharged above the operator or cab of the vehicle. The distal end 40 of the exhaust stack pipe may have an integral or attached elbow 42 to further direct the exhaust fumes and to prevent foreign material from entering the exhaust stack pipe.