초록 ▼

An exhaust system comprising: an exhaust chamber having a longitudinal axis and an outer wall defining alternating longitudinally-extending ribs and grooves; and an insert within the exhaust chamber, the insert including a plurality of fins extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis,

An exhaust system comprising: an exhaust chamber having a longitudinal axis and an outer wall defining alternating longitudinally-extending ribs and grooves; and an insert within the exhaust chamber, the insert including a plurality of fins extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, each fin including a distal edge extending substantially close to the plurality of ribs, the insert defining expansion chambers between adjacent fins. Pressurized gas flowing through the exhaust chamber flows along the grooves and expands within the expansion chambers to reduce the pressure of the pressurized gas prior to the gas exiting the exhaust chamber. The fins may in some embodiments be sufficiently stiff to resist substantial deflection under the influence of the gas.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An exhaust system comprising: an exhaust chamber having a longitudinal axis and an outer wall defining alternating longitudinally-extending ribs and grooves; and an insert within the exhaust chamber, the insert including a plurality of fins extending generally perpendicular t

What is claimed is: 1. An exhaust system comprising: an exhaust chamber having a longitudinal axis and an outer wall defining alternating longitudinally-extending ribs and grooves; and an insert within the exhaust chamber, the insert including a plurality of fins extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, each fin including a distal edge extending substantially close to the plurality of ribs, the insert defining expansion chambers between adjacent fins; wherein pressurized gas flowing through the exhaust chamber flows along the grooves and expands within the expansion chambers to reduce the pressure of the pressurized gas prior to the gas exiting the exhaust chamber. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the insert is integrally formed as a single part. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the insert includes a flange for rigidly mounting the insert to the exhaust chamber outer wall. 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an exhaust fluid inlet for the delivery of pressurized gas to the exhaust chamber, and an exhaust fluid outlet defined by the insert through which the gas exits the exhaust chamber. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the insert includes a resonator stem extending into the exhaust fluid outlet, the resonator stem adapted to facilitate a change in direction of the flow of gas as the gas flows through the exhaust fluid outlet. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the resonator stem includes a longitudinal extent that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the exhaust chamber. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the longitudinal extent of the resonator stem is substantially collinear with the longitudinal axis of the exhaust chamber. 8. The system of claim 6, wherein the resonator stem is adapted to facilitate a change in direction of the pressurized gas from flowing generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, to flowing generally parallel to the longitudinal axis. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the fins are sufficiently stiff to not substantially deflect under the influence of the gas. 10. An exhaust system comprising: an exhaust chamber adapted to reduce the pressure of a pressurized gas flowing through the exhaust chamber; the exhaust chamber including a longitudinal axis and defining at least one rib and one groove extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; an exhaust fluid inlet adapted to admit the pressurized gas into the exhaust chamber; an exhaust fluid outlet adapted to vent the pressurized gas out of the exhaust chamber; and a resonator stem within the exhaust fluid outlet and adapted to facilitate a change in direction of the pressurized gas as the gas flows through the exhaust fluid outlet. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the resonator stem includes a longitudinal extent that is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the longitudinal extent of the resonator stem is substantially collinear with the longitudinal axis of the exhaust chamber. 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the resonator stem is adapted to facilitate a change in direction of the pressurized gas from flowing generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, to flowing generally parallel to the longitudinal axis. 14. The system of claim 10, further comprising an insert within the exhaust chamber, the resonator stem extending from the unitary insert; and a plurality of expansion chambers defined by the insert. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the insert is a unitary object formed via a single step method such as casting or molding. 16. The system of claim 14, wherein the insert includes a plurality of fins extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the expansion chambers are defined between the fins. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the exhaust chamber includes a wall defining a plurality of alternating ribs and grooves; wherein each fin includes a distal edge extending substantially close to the plurality of ribs and grooves; and wherein pressurized gas flowing through the exhaust chamber flows along the grooves and expands within the expansion chambers to reduce the pressure of the pressurized gas prior to the gas exiting the exhaust chamber. 18. The system of claim 16, wherein the fins are sufficiently stiff to not substantially deflect under the influence of the gas. 19. A method for constructing an exhaust system, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an exhaust chamber that defines a longitudinal axis and that includes a wall defining a plurality of alternating ribs and grooves extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; (b) providing a unitary insert that includes a flange, an outlet, a resonator stem within the outlet and having a longitudinal extent, and a plurality of substantially rigid fins having distal ends and defining expansion chambers between the fins; (c) inserting the unitary insert into the exhaust chamber with the longitudinal extent of the resonator stem being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and with the fins extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the exhaust chamber with the distal ends proximate the ribs and grooves of the exhaust chamber wall; and (d) fastening the flange of the insert to the exhaust chamber wall.