(19)

&
(11) EP 1 840 344 B1
(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Date of publication and mention (51) Int Cl.:

of the grant of the patent: F01N 1/00 (2006.01) F01N 1/04 (2006.01)
15.06.2011 Bulletin 2011/24 F01N 1/10 (2006.01) F01N 13/08 (2010.01)
F01N 13/18 (2010.01)
(21) Application number: 07251337.7

(22) Date of filing: 28.03.2007

(54) Exhaust apparatus for straddle-type vehicles and straddle-type vehicle

Auspuff fr Zweiradfahrzeuge und Zweiradfahrzeug
Appareil dchappement pour vhicules de type chariot et vhicule de type chariot

(84) Designated Contracting States: Hagiwara, Itsurou

AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR Iwata-shi
HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE Shizuoka-ken 438-8501 (JP)
SI SK TR
(74) Representative: Schoppe, Fritz et al
(30) Priority: 29.03.2006 JP 2006092334 Schoppe, Zimmermann, Stckeler & Zinkler
09.02.2007 JP 2007031100 Patentanwlte
Postfach 246
(43) Date of publication of application: 82043 Pullach bei Mnchen (DE)
03.10.2007 Bulletin 2007/40
(56) References cited:
(73) Proprietor: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha GB-A- 2 041 083 JP-A- 1 069 709
Shizuoka-ken Shizuoka 438-8501 (JP) JP-A- 8 312 324 JP-A- 53 147 142
JP-A- 63 001 714 US-A- 3 710 891
(72) Inventors: US-A- 5 509 947 US-A1- 2003 136 607
Sakurai, Taisuke
Iwata-shi
Shizuoka-ken 438-8501 (JP)
EP 1 840 344 B1

Note: Within nine months of the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent in the European Patent
Bulletin, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with the
Implementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been
paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).

Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)

 1 EP 1 840 344 B1
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to an exhaust ap-
paratus (or exhaust device) for a straddle-type vehicle
and a straddle-type vehicle.
[0002] A muffler (exhaust apparatus) used in a strad-
dle-type vehicle (for example, a motorcycle) is requested
to meet two demands, that is, an exhaust efficiency, at
which exhaust gases discharged from an engine should
be efficiently discharged, and noise reduction or noise
elimination of exhaust noise, which accompanies dis-
charge of exhaust gases of high pressure and high tem-
perature.
[0003] In particular, a demand for noise reduction or
noise elimination is put forward in these days when reg-
ulations of noise are being made rigorous. Accordingly,
it is increasingly desired that noise reduction or noise
elimination be attained with an exhaust efficiency main-
tained. Mufflers for motorcycles are disclosed in, for ex-
ample, Patent Document JP-A-8-312324 and Patent
Document JP-A-2003-184541
[0004] When design of a muffler is thought only in
terms of exhaust efficiency, a muffler (exhaust system)
is preferably extended straight. However, such muffler is
not accommodated in a vehicle body of a motorcycle.
Accordingly, in order to lessen an exhaust resistance, a
muffler is extended toward the rear of a vehicle body so
as not to be bent suddenly as far as possible, which is
actually difficult in many cases because of association
with a front wheel and a bank angle. Normally, a muffler
having an ideal length in terms of engine performance is
in small cases accommodated intacly in a configuration
of a motorcycle, and as compared with design of a muffler
for four-wheel passenger cars, much troubles are in-
volved in designing a muffler, a length of which is nearly
best in performance, so as to accommodate the same in
a configuration of a motorcycle while maintaining a con-
figuration as smooth as possible.
[0005] Also, not only an exhaust efficiency but also a
weight of a muffler has a great influence on controllability
in motorcycles. That is, since a motorcycle is light in
weight, even a weight of around 1 kg has a great influence
on the motorcycle and a distant position of a center of
gravity of a muffler in addition to a weight of the muffler
has an adverse influence on controllability of the motor-
cycle.
[0006] On the other hand, in spite of any contrivance
on a construction, a muffler volume is needed to some
extent in heightening a noise eliminating effect. In order
to conform to regulations on noise, which are increasingly
made rigorous, a muffler cannot but be made large in
many cases. Besides, when a metallic sheet, of which a
muffler is made, is thin, it vibrates to increase noise, so
that the muffler is by all means liable to be made large
in weight. An increase in muffler weight will worsen con-
trollability of a motorcycle.
2
[0007] While an exhaust apparatus for a motorcycle
can been designed (muffler design) under various restric-
tions, typically a noise reducing effect cannot be pro-
duced unless a muffler is increased in volume, whereby
5 it is not possible to avoid a phenomenon, in which an
increase in volume of a muffler brings about a decrease
in controllability of a motorcycle. In a muffler in, for ex-
ample, present four-stroke motocross motorcycles (in
particular, sports vehicles), a silencer is typically in-
10 creased in volume in order to meet noise reduction and
running performance, so that the muffler is large and
heavy. Current noise regulations are such that current
mufflers cannot be made small and light without disre-
garding noise factors.
15 [0008] Under such situation, the inventors of the
present application have tried to realize an exhaust ap-
paratus (muffler), which is small-sized and light while
meeting a running performance (exhaust property) and
a noise characteristic.
20 [0009] In this manner, since a structure of a muffler for
motorcycles is determined in terms of a variety of recip-
rocal factors, it has been extremely difficult to realize a
muffler, in which miniaturization is achieved and an ex-
haust efficiency and a noise eliminating characteristic are
25 met.
[0010] JP 08-312324 discloses an exhaust apparatus
of the type indicated in the prior art portion of claim 1.
[0011] A similar exhaust apparatus is disclosed by JP
53-17854.
30 [0012] It is the object underlying the invention to pro-
vide an exhaust apparatus in which miniaturization is
achieved while a demand for a noise elimination charac-
teristic is met.
[0013] This object is achieved by an exhaust apparatus
35 in accordance with claim 1.
[0014] An embodiment of the invention can provide an
exhaust apparatus including an exhaust pipe to be con-
nected to an engine a silencer connected to the exhaust
pipe, and a tail pipe inserted into the silencer, the silencer
40 including an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder accom-
modated in the outer cylinder and an air layer being pro-
vided between the tail pipe and the inner cylinder.
[0015] In an embodiment, a sound absorbing material
is filled between an inner wall of the outer cylinder and
45 an outer wall of the inner cylinder in the silencer.
[0016] In an embodiment, an inside diameter of at least
a part of the inner cylinder is gradually increased toward
a position at an upstream end of the tail pipe.
[0017] In an embodiment, an inside diameter of at least
50 a part of the inner cylinder is gradually decreased toward
a position at an upstream end of the tail pipe.
[0018] An assembly can be provided that includes an
engine and the exhaust apparatus.
[0019] A straddle-type vehicle according to the inven-
55 tion comprises a straddle-type vehicle provided with such
an assembly.
[0020] A downstream end of the inner cylinder of the
silencer can be provided forwardly of an axle shaft of a
2
 3 EP 1 840 344 B1
rear wheel provided on the straddle-type vehicle.
[0021] The engine of the straddle-type vehicle can
comprise a four-stroke engine.
[0022] The straddle-type vehicle can be an off road
type motorcycle.
[0023] An embodiment of the invention can include a
tail pipe inserted into a silencer that includes an outer
cylinder and an inner cylinder accommodated in the outer
cylinder. An air layer can be provided between the tail
pipe and the inner cylinder. Also, a sound absorbing ma-
terial can be provided between an inner wall of the outer
cylinder and an outer wall of the inner cylinder in the
silencer.
[0024] The provision of the air layer makes it possible
to appropriately adjust an outer-cylinder effective cross
sectional area (hence, a ratio of extension) while appro-
priately decreasing an amount of a sound absorbing ma-
terial as filled. This combination (balance) can produce
both effects of noise reduction by pipe bulging and noise
reduction by the sound absorbing material. Accordingly,
it is possible to effectively produce an effect (noise re-
ducing effect) for decreasing exhaust noise, thus ena-
bling an improvement in a damping characteristic of a
muffler.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] Embodiments of the invention are described,
by way of example only, with reference to the accompa-
nying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side view showing a motorcycle comprising
a muffler according to an embodiment of the inven-
tion.
Fig. 2(a) is a perspective view showing the muffler
according to the embodiment of the invention, Fig.
2(b) is a view schematically showing an engine 50,
and Fig. 2(c) is a perspective view showing the muf-
fler with a chamber 21.
Fig. 3 is a view schematically showing an example
of the muffler according to the embodiment of the
invention.
Fig. 4 (a) is a cross sectional view schematically
showing an example of the muffler according to the
embodiment of the invention and 4(b) is a cross sec-
tional view schematically showing an example of a
muffler of a comparative example 1.
Fig. 5 is a graph illustrating a comparison between
a damping characteristic of a muffler 100 according
to the embodiment and a damping characteristic of
the muffler of the comparative example 1.
Figs. 6(a) and 6(b) are cross sectional views showing
cross sectional structures of mufflers of an embodi-
ment a and an embodiment b.
Fig. 7 is a graph making a comparison in damping
characteristic between the muffler 100 according to
the embodiment of the invention and the mufflers of
the embodiment a and the embodiment b.
4
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Embodiments of the invention will be described
below, by way of example, with reference to the drawings.
5 The invention is not limited to the following embodiments.
[0027] Fig. 1 shows a motorcycle 1000, on which an
exhaust apparatus according to an embodiment of the
invention is mounted. The exhaust apparatus 100 is con-
nected to an engine 50. The exhaust apparatus 100 in-
10 cludes an exhaust pipe 20 and a silencer 10. In addition,
the exhaust apparatus 100 including the silencer 10 is in
some cases referred to as "muffler" in the specification
of the present application for the sake of convenience.
[0028] The muffler 100 according to the embodiment
15 includes the exhaust pipe 20 connected to the engine 50
of the motorcycle 1000, and the silencer 10 connected
to the exhaust pipe 20. With a construction shown in Fig.
1, a tail pipe 30 is connected to the silencer 10.
[0029] A state, in which the muffler 100 according to
20 the embodiment is removed from the motorcycle 1000,
is shown in Fig. 2(a). The exhaust pipe 20 and the silencer
10 of the muffler 100 shown in Fig. 2(a) are formed with
members for mounting to a vehicle body. The muffler 100
according to the embodiment is one for four-stroke en-
25 gines and the motorcycle 1000 shown in Fig. 1 is an off
road vehicle. In addition, that end of the exhaust pipe 20
shown in Fig. 2 (a), which is connected to the engine 50,
mounts thereto a cylinder head exhaust port portion 22.
[0030] The exhaust pipe 20 connects to an exhaust
30 hole of the engine 50 as shown in Fig. 2 (b) to lead exhaust
gases from the engine 50 to the silencer 10. In an exam-
ple as shown, the cylinder head exhaust port portion 22
of the exhaust pipe 20 is connected to the engine 50.
The silencer 10 has a noise eliminating function to dis-
35 charge exhaust gases led from the exhaust pipe 20 out-
side. In the case where the tail pipe 30 is connected to
the silencer 10, exhaust gases are discharged outside
from the tail pipe 30. In addition, as shown in Fig. 2 (c),
a chamber 21 can be further provided in the exhaust pipe
40 20. In this case, exhaust gases from the engine 50 ex-
pands once in the chamber 21 and is then led to the
silencer 10 to be discharged outside.
[0031] Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view schematically
showing a cross sectional structure of the silencer 10,
45 into which exhaust gases are introduced. The silencer
10 according to the embodiment comprises an outer cyl-
inder 10a and an inner cylinder 10b accommodated in
the outer cylinder 10a.
[0032] The inner cylinder 10b according to the embod-
50 iment is a cylindrical-shaped member made of stainless
steel. The inner cylinder 10b serves to lead exhaust gas-
es, which are introduced into the silencer 10, to the tail
pipe 30. Punched holes 13 are formed in at least a part
(here, region P) of the inner cylinder 10b of the silencer
55 10. The punched holes 13 are small holes formed in the
silencer 10 (here, the inner cylinder 10b) and serve to
enable energy of exhaust gases, which are introduced
from the exhaust pipe 20, to be led to the outer cylinder
3
 5 EP 1 840 344 B1
10a through the small holes.
[0033] A sound absorbing material 15 is filled between
an inner wall of the outer cylinder 10a and an outer wall
of the inner cylinder 10b in a manner to come into close
contact therewith. The sound absorbing material 15 is a
material capable of absorbing sound waves and can use,
for example, glass wool, stainless steel wool (SUS wool),
aluminum wool, ferrite, etc. In this example, glass wool
is used as the sound absorbing material 15. The sound
absorbing material 15 fairly absorbs a high frequency
sound (exhaust noise in a high frequency range).
[0034] Further, a tail pipe 30 is inserted into the silencer
10. The tail pipe 30 according to the embodiment is in-
serted to around a center of the silencer 10 from a down-
stream end side of the silencer 10. The tail pipe 30 is a
cylindrical-shaped member made of stainless steel and
circular in cross sectional shape. The tail pipe 30 serves
to finally discharge exhaust gases, which flow into the
silencer 10, outside.
[0035] With the silencer 10 according to the embodi-
ment, an air layer 17 is formed between the tail pipe 30
and the inner cylinder 10b. Specifically, an outside diam-
eter d of the tail pipe 30 is smaller than an inside diameter
D of the inner cylinder 10b of the silencer 10. Thereby,
exhaust gases introduced from the exhaust pipe can be
led between the tail pipe 30 and the inner cylinder 10b.
Further, the sound absorbing material 15 and punched
holes (region P) are formed to extend to as far as a region
(a region, in which the air layer 17 is positioned), in which
the tail pipe 30 is positioned. Thereby, the sound absorb-
ing material can absorb exhaust gases introduced be-
tween the tail pipe 30 and the inner cylinder 10b.
[0036] With the construction described above, a ratio
of extension (that is, outer-cylinder effective cross sec-
tional area/tail-pipe cross section) of an outer-cylinder
(drum portion) cross section and a tail-pipe cross section
can be appropriately regulated whereby the muffler 100
can be improved in damping characteristic. Here, "outer-
cylinder effective cross sectional area" is not an actual
cross sectional area of the outer cylinder but an effective
cross sectional area of that portion, which takes account
of filling of a sound absorbing material and can function
substantially, and, for example, an outer-cylinder effec-
tive cross sectional area decreases when an apparent
density of the sound absorbing material is high.
[0037] The muffler 100 according to the embodiment
has a combined structure of noise reduction (expansion
type) by expansion in the outer cylinder 10a and noise
reduction (noise absorbing type) by the sound absorbing
material 15. By providing the air layer 17 between the tail
pipe 30 and the inner cylinder 10b, it is possible to ap-
propriately regulate an outer-cylinder effective cross sec-
tional area (hence, ratio of extension) while appropriately
decreasing an amount of a sound absorbing material 15
as filled, thus enabling producing both effects of noise
reduction by pipe bulging and noise reduction by the
sound absorbing material owing to its combination (bal-
ance). Accordingly, it is possible to effectively produce
6
an effect (noise reducing effect) of a decrease in exhaust
noise, thus enabling an improvement in a damping char-
acteristic of the muffler 100.
[0038] In addition, the structure of the muffler 100 can
5 be preferably used in a small-sized muffler, in which typ-
ical miniaturization and lightening are achieved. "Small-
sized muffler" referred to herein is the muffler 100 having
a straight pipe structure arranged forwardly of an axle
shaft 72 of a rear wheel 70 like the motorcycle 1000
10 shown in Fig. 1. In this example, a downstream end 10d
of the silencer 10 is positioned forwardly of a perpendic-
ular A extended from the axle shaft 72 of the rear wheel
70 in a vertical direction. In this manner, a muffler, in
which a downstream end of a silencer is arranged for-
15 wardly of an axle shaft of a rear wheel, involves a problem
that the silencer is short in lengthwise dimension and a
noise reducing effect due to pressure loss cannot be ex-
pected much. In contrast, when the muffler structure ac-
cording to the embodiment is adopted, even the small-
20 sized muffler as shown in Fig. 1 can effectively combine
effects of noise reduction by pipe bulging and noise re-
duction by the sound absorbing material, thus enabling
meeting the damping characteristic.
[0039] The downstream end 10d of the silencer 10
25 more specifically corresponds to a downstream end of
the inner cylinder 10b provided in the silencer. Accord-
ingly, for example, even when a part of the tail pipe 30
connected to the silencer 10 is positioned rearwardly of
the axle shaft 72 of the rear wheel 70, the structure cor-
30 responds to "small-sized muffler" referred herein to. Also,
the muffler structure according to the embodiment is not
limited to the muffler of the type shown in Fig. 1 but can
be appropriately used in a muffler of a so-called "cruiser"
type.
35 [0040] In addition, "upstream" side and "downstream"
side referred to in the specification of the present appli-
cation mean an upstream side and a downstream side,
respectively, in a direction, in which exhaust gases in the
muffler flow. In other words, "upstream" side is that side,
40 on which an engine is arranged, and "downstream" side
is that side, on which exhaust gases are discharged out-
side.
[0041] Further, an internal construction of the silencer
10 according to the embodiment will be described in detail
45 with reference to Figs. 4(a) and 4(b). Fig. 4(a) is a view
showing the internal construction of the silencer 10 ac-
cording to the embodiment and Fig. 4(b) is a view show-
ing an internal construction of a muffler 10 of a compar-
ative example 1.
50 [0042] The silencer 10 according to the embodiment
can produce a noise reducing effect owing not only to
noise reduction by pipe bulging and noise reduction by
the sound absorbing material but also to other various
means as means for an improvement in the damping
55 characteristic of the muffler 100. For example, the exam-
ple shown in Fig. 4(a) adopts a construction, in which a
punched cone 32 is arranged in the silencer 10. The
punched cone 32 has a truncated cone shape. The
4
 7 EP 1 840 344 B1
punched cone 32 comprises a member made of, for ex-
ample, stainless steel and being in the form of a cone,
the member being formed in a region Q on a cone-shaped
side thereof with punched holes 14. The punched cone
32 can also produce a noise reducing effect to reduce
noise (for example, directly transmitting sound) mainly in
a high frequency range. One or plural punched cones 32
can be arranged within the silencer 10. Here, the punched
cones 32 are provided in two locations (32a, 32b) on the
inner cylinder 10b and an upstream end of the tail pipe
30. The construction described above can incorporate
thereinto a noise reducing effect by the punched cones
32 in addition to the noise reducing effect by pipe bulging
and by the sound absorbing material, and such combi-
nation (balance) makes it possible to regulate the damp-
ing characteristic of the muffler 100 according to the em-
bodiment.
[0043] Subsequently, an explanation will be given to
influences (effect), which the structure of the muffler 100
according to the embodiment have on a damping char-
acteristic, making a comparison between the embodi-
ment (Fig. 4(a)) and a comparative example 1 (Fig. 4(b))
(not falling within the scope of the claims).
[0044] A silencer 10 of the comparative example 1
shown in Fig. 4(b) is different only in the structure of the
air layer 17 from the silencer 10 according to the embod-
iment. Specifically, while according to the embodiment
the air layer 17 is provided between the tail pipe 30 and
the inner cylinder 10b, the air layer 17 is not formed in
the silencer 10 of the comparative example 1 and the
inner cylinder 10b is gradually decreased in inside diam-
eter up to a front end of the tail pipe 30.
[0045] Fig. 5 shows a comparison in damping charac-
teristic between the both silencers. In Fig. 5, the axis of
abscissa indicates frequency (Hz), the axis of ordinate
indicates a damping level (dB) (or called sound pressure
level), and a small damping level in the same frequency
means that a damping characteristic becomes favorable
(that is, a noise value lowers). Line "L0" indicates a damp-
ing characteristic in the embodiment and Line "L1" indi-
cates a damping characteristic in the comparative exam-
ple 1.
[0046] When a comparison is made between Line "L0"
and Line "L1", it is found that Line "L0" is wholly smaller
in damping level (sound pressure level) than Line "L1".
In other words, the silencer 10 according to the embod-
iment becomes low in noise value as compared with the
silencer 10 of the comparative example 1. The reason
why the embodiment is small in noise value as compared
with the comparative example 1 is due to that construc-
tion, in which the air layer 17 is provided between the tail
pipe 30 and the inner cylinder 10b. That is, according to
the embodiment, it has been confirmed that by providing
the air layer 17, it is possible to appropriately regulate an
outer-cylinder effective cross sectional area (hence, ratio
of extension) while appropriately decreasing an amount
of a sound absorbing material as filled, thus enabling
improving a damping characteristic of the muffler owing
8
to both effects of noise reduction by pipe bulging and by
the sound absorbing material.
[0047] In addition, while the inner cylinder 10b in the
example described above is shaped such that an inner
5 wall thereof is extended straight, this is not limitative but
it is possible to incorporate a damping characteristic, in
which noise is eliminated by varying a cross sectional
area of the inner cylinder 10b (inside diameter of the inner
cylinder 10b). By varying an inside diameter of the inner
10 cylinder 10b, it is possible to regulate a ratio of the sound
absorbing material 15 and the air layer 17, thereby ena-
bling obtaining a desired damping characteristic. A mat-
ter that a desired damping characteristic is obtained by
a change of the inner cylinder diameter will be described
15 in addition to a further embodiment (Fig. 6) and a graph
of a damping characteristic (Fig. 7). Fig. 6(a) shows an
internal construction of a silencer according to an em-
bodiment a and Fig. 6 (b) shows an internal construction
of a silencer according to an embodiment b. In addition,
20 the silencers according to the embodiment a and the em-
bodiment b are different only in the structure of an inner
cylinder 10b from the silencer 10 according to the em-
bodiment. Accordingly, the same constituent members
are denoted by the same reference numerals and a du-
25 plicate explanation therefor is omitted.
[0048] According to the embodiment a in Fig. 6(a), an
inner diameter "D1" about a center of the inner cylinder
10b is gradually enlarged up to a position at an upstream
end of the tail pipe 30 (that is, there is provided a portion,
30 which is increased in inner diameter "D1" from an up-
stream side to a downstream side). Thereby, the air layer
17 is increased in ratio as compared with the embodiment
while the sound absorbing material 15 is decreased in
ratio. On the other hand, according to the embodiment b
35 in Fig. 6(b), an inner diameter "D2" about a center of the
inner cylinder 10b is gradually decreased up to a position
at an upstream end of the tail pipe 30 (that is, there is
provided a portion, which is increased in inner diameter
"D2" from an upstream side to a downstream side).
40 Thereby, the air layer 17 is decreased in ratio as com-
pared with the embodiment while the sound absorbing
material 15 is increased in ratio.
[0049] Fig. 7 shows a comparison in damping charac-
teristic between these silencers. Line "L0" indicates a
45 damping characteristic in the embodiment, Line "L2" in-
dicates a damping characteristic in the embodiment a,
and Line "L3" indicates a damping characteristic in the
embodiment b. When a comparison is made among Line
"L0", Line "L2", and Line "L3", a phenomenon occurs, in
50 which a damping level (sound pressure level) is reversed
in a specified frequency range. Specifically, while a
damping level (sound pressure level) decreases in the
order (that is, in that order, in which the air layer 17 is
increased in ratio) of Line "L2", Line "L0", and Line "L3"
55 in a frequency range in the vicinity of "Fc(Hz) to Fd(Hz)",
a damping level decreases in a reverse order (that is, in
that order, in which the air layer 17 is decreased in ratio)
to the above order in a frequency range "Fa(Hz) to Fb
5
 9 EP 1 840 344 B1
(Hz)". Such difference in damping characteristic is due
to a difference in shape of the inner cylinder (an inside
diameter is increased, decreased, and not varied), and
hence a difference in ratio between the air layer 17 and
the sound absorbing material 15.
[0050] This phenomenon is made use of to enable se-
lectively decreasing a noise component in a specific fre-
quency range. That is, a damping characteristic in a de-
sired frequency range can be made favorable by appro-
priately adjusting a ratio of the air layer 17 and the sound
absorbing material 15 owing to a change in inner cylinder
diameter. For example, in the case where it is desired
that a noise component in a frequency range "Fc (Hz) to
Fd (Hz) " be decreased, it suffices to increase a ratio of
the air layer 17 through an increase in inner cylinder di-
ameter as in the embodiment a (hence, it suffices to de-
crease an amount of the sound absorbing material 15 as
filled), and in the case where it is desired that a noise
component in a frequency range "Fa(Hz) to Fb(Hz)" be
decreased, it suffices to decrease a ratio of the air layer
17 through a decrease in inner cylinder diameter as in
the embodiment b (hence, it suffices to increase an
amount of the sound absorbing material 15 as filled). In
this manner, a preferred shape of the inner cylinder 10b
can be selected in conformity to a demanded noise elim-
inating performance (a desired frequency range, in which
it is desirable to decrease a damping level) of the muffler.
[0051] In an embodiment of the invention, the exhaust
apparatus comprises the tail pipe 30 inserted into the
silencer 10 and the silencer 10 comprises the outer cyl-
inder 10a and the inner cylinder 10b accommodated in
the outer cylinder 10a. The air layer 17 is provided be-
tween the tail pipe 30 and the inner cylinder 10b. Also,
the sound absorbing material 15 is filled between an inner
wall of the outer cylinder 10a and an outer wall of the
inner cylinder 10b in the silencer 10.
[0052] With the construction described above, the pro-
vision of the air layer 17 makes it possible to appropriately
adjust an outer-cylinder effective cross sectional area
(hence, a ratio of extension) while appropriately decreas-
ing an amount of the sound absorbing material 15 as
filled and its combination (balance) can produce both ef-
fects of noise reduction by pipe bulging and noise reduc-
tion by the sound absorbing material. Accordingly, it is
possible to effectively produce an effect (noise reducing
effect) of decreasing exhaust noise, thus enabling an im-
provement in a damping characteristic of a muffler.
[0053] Further, by making an inside diameter of the
inner cylinder 10b appropriately variable (for example,
the inner diameter "D1" of the inner cylinder 10b is grad-
ually increased toward a position at an upstream end of
the tail pipe 30 as shown in Fig. 6(a), or the inner diameter
"D2" of the inner cylinder 10b is gradually decreased to-
ward a position at the upstream end of the tail pipe 30
as shown in Fig. 6(b)), it is possible to appropriately adjust
a ratio of the air layer 17 and the sound absorbing material
15, thereby enabling making a damping characteristic in
a desired frequency range favorable.
10
[0054] In addition, the construction described above
can be preferably used in a small-sized muffler (for ex-
ample, a muffler arranged forwardly of an axle shaft 72
of a rear wheel 70), in which typical miniaturization and
5 lightening are achieved. Even such small-sized muffler
can effectively combine effects of noise reduction by pipe
bulging and by the sound absorbing material, thus ena-
bling meeting the damping characteristic.
[0055] In addition, while Fig. 1 shows an off road type
10 motorcycle as an example of the motorcycle 1000, the
motorcycle 1000 may be an on road type one. Also, "mo-
torcycle" in the specification of the present application
means a motorcycle and means a vehicle, which includes
a bicycle with a motor (motorbike) and a scooter and can
15 specifically turn with a vehicle body inclined. Accordingly,
a three-wheelerfour-wheeler, at least one of a front
wheel and a rear wheel of which has two or more wheels
and which is three, four (or more) in the number of tires,
can be included in "motorcycle". In addition, applicability
20 is not limited to a motorcycle but to other vehicles capable
of making use of the effect of the invention, for example,
a so-called straddle-type vehicle, which includes a four-
wheeled buggy, ATV (All Terrain Vehicle), and a snow-
mobile, except a motorcycle.
25 [0056] There has been described an exhaust appara-
tus comprising an engine, and an exhaust apparatus in-
cluding an exhaust pipe connected to the engine and a
silencer connected to the exhaust pipe, and wherein the
exhaust apparatus includes a tail pipe inserted into the
30 silencer, the silencer includes an outer cylinder and an
inner cylinder accommodated in the outer cylinder, and
an air layer is provided between the tail pipe and the inner
cylinder.
[0057] While the invention has been described with re-
35 spect to preferred embodiments, such descriptions are
not limitative but various modifications are of course pos-
sible.
[0058] According to embodiments of the invention, it
is possible to provide a muffler for a straddle-type vehicle,
40 which achieves miniaturization while meeting a demand
for a noise eliminating characteristic.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND
SIGNS
45
[0059]
10: silencer
10a: outer cylinder
50 10b: inner cylinder
13: punched hole (inner cylinder)
14: punched hole (punched cone)
15: sound absorbing material
17: air layer
55 20: exhaust pipe
30: tail pipe
32: punched cone
50: engine
6
 11 EP 1 840 344 B1
100: muffler (exhaust apparatus)
1000: motorcycle
D: inside diameter of inner cylinder
d: outside diameter of tail pipe
D1: inside diameter of inner cylinder (increased)
D2: inside diameter of inner cylinder (decreased)
Claims
1. An exhaust apparatus comprising an exhaust pipe
(20) for connection to an engine, a silencer (10) con-
nected to the exhaust pipe and a tail pipe (30), cy-
lindrically shaped along its length, inserted and ex-
tending into the silencer and having a n imperforate
wall, the silencer including an outer cylinder (10a)
and an inner cylinder (10b) accommodated in the
outer cylinder defining a cavity therebetween con-
taining a sound absorbing material (15), and an air
layer (17) being provided between the tail pipe and
the inner cylinder;
wherein the inner cylinder (10b) is perforated along
a portion (P) of its length;
characterized in that the air layer (17) surrounds
and extends along the length of the imperforate tail
pipe (30) within the silencer (10) and longitudinally
overlaps with a portion of the sound absorbing ma-
terial (15) and a perforated portion of the perforated
inner cylinder (10b) along said length; and
the downstream end of the exhaust pipe (20) is con-
nected to and has substantially the same diameter
as the upstream end of the perforated inner cylinder
(10b).
2. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the sound absorbing material (15) is filled between
an inner wall of the outer cylinder (10a) and an outer
wall of the inner cylinder (10b) in the silencer.
3. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 1 or claim
2, wherein an inside diameter (D1) of at least a part
of the inner cylinder (10b) is gradually increased to-
ward a position at an upstream end of the imperforate
tail pipe (30).
4. The exhaust apparatus according to claim 1 or claim
2, wherein an inside diameter (D2) of at least a part
of the inner cylinder (10b) is gradually decreased
toward a position at an upstream end of the imper-
forate tail pipe (30).
5. An assembly comprising an engine (50) and an ex-
haust apparatus according to any preceding claim.
6. A straddle-type vehicle (1000) comprising an engine
(50) and the exhaust apparatus according to any of
claims 1 to 4.
12
7. The straddle-type vehicle (1000) according to claim
6, wherein a downstream end (10d) of the silencer
(10) is provided forwardly of an axle shaft (72) of a
rear wheel (70) provided on the straddle-type vehi-
5 cle.
8. The straddle-type vehicle (1000) according to claim
6 or claim 7, wherein the engine (50) is a four-stroke
engine.
10
9. The straddle-type vehicle (1000) according to any of
claims 6 to 8 comprising an off road motorcycle.
15 Patentansprche
1. Eine Auspuffvorrichtung, die ein Auspuffrohr (20) zur
Verbindung mit einem Motor, einen mit dem Aus-
puffrohr verbundenen Schalldmpfer (10) und ein
20 Endrohr (30) aufweist, das entlang seiner Lnge zy-
lindrisch geformt ist, in den Schalldmpfer eingefgt
ist und sich in denselben hinein erstreckt und eine
nicht-perforierte Wand aufweist, wobei der Schall-
dmpfer einen Auenzylinder (10a) und einen in
25 dem Auenzylinder untergebrachten Innenzylinder
(10b) umfasst, wodurch ein Hohlraum zwischen den-
selben definiert ist, der ein schalldmpfendes Mate-
rial (15) enthlt, und eine Luftschicht (17) zwischen
dem Endrohr und dem Innenzylinder vorgesehen ist;
30 wobei der Innenzylinder (10b) entlang eines Ab-
schnitts (P) seiner Lnge perforiert ist;
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Luftschicht
(17) das nicht-perforierte Endrohr (30) in dem Schall-
dmpfer (10) umgibt und sich entlang der Lnge des-
35 selben erstreckt und sich der Lnge nach mit einem
Abschnitt des schalldmpfenden Materials (15) und
einem perforierten Abschnitt des perforierten Innen-
zylinders (10b) entlang der Lnge berlappt; und
das nachgelagerte Ende des Auspuffrohrs (20) mit
40 dem vorgelagerten Ende des perforierten Innenzy-
linders (10b) verbunden ist und im Wesentlichen
denselben Durchmesser aufweist wie dasselbe.
2. Die Auspuffvorrichtung gem Anspruch 1, bei der
45 das schalldmpfende Material (15) zwischen eine
Innenwand des Auenzylinders (10a) und eine Au-
enwand des Innenzylinders (10b) in dem Schall-
dmpfer eingefllt ist.
50 3. Die Auspuffvorrichtung gem Anspruch 1 oder An-
spruch 2, bei der ein Innendurchmesser (D1) zumin-
dest eines Teils des Innenzylinders (10b) zu einer
Position an einem vorgelagerten Ende des nicht-per-
forierten Endrohrs (30) hin allmhlich erhht wird.
55
4. Die Auspuffvorrichtung gem Anspruch 1 oder An-
spruch 2, bei der ein Innendurchmesser (D2) zumin-
dest eines Teils des Innenzylinders (10b) zu einer
7
 13 EP 1 840 344 B1
Position an einem vorgelagerten Ende des nicht-per-
forierten Endrohrs (30) hin allmhlich verringert wird.
5. Eine Anordnung, die einen Motor (50) und eine Aus-
puffvorrichtung gem einem der vorhergehenden
Ansprche aufweist.
6. Ein Grtsch-Typ-Fahrzeug (1000), das einen Motor
(50) und die Auspuffvorrichtung gem einem der
Ansprche 1 bis 4 aufweist.
7. Das Grtsch-Typ-Fahrzeug (1000) gem An-
spruch 6, bei dem ein nachgelagertes Ende (10d)
des Schalldmpfers (10) in Vorwrtsrichtung vor ei-
ner Achswelle (72) eines Hinterrades (70) vorgese-
hen ist, das an dem Grtsch-Typ-Fahrzeug vorge-
sehen ist.
8. Das Grtsch-Typ-Fahrzeug (1000) gem An-
spruch 6 oder Anspruch 7, bei dem der Motor (50)
ein Viertaktmotor ist.
9. Das Grtsch-Typ-Fahrzeug (1000) gem einem
der Ansprche 6 bis 8, das ein gelndegngiges Mo-
torrad umfasst.
Revendications
1. Appareil dchappement, comprenant un tuyau
dchappement (20) destin tre connect un
moteur, un silencieux (10) connect au tuyau
dchappement et un tuyau arrire (30), de forme
cylindrique sur la longueur, introduit et stendant
dans le silencieux et prsentant une paroi non per-
fore, le silencieux comportant un cylindre extrieur
(10a) et un cylindre intrieur (10b) log dans le cy-
lindre extrieur, dfinissant entre eux une cavit con-
tenant un matriau isolant acoustique (15), et une
couche dair (17) tant prvue entre le tuyau arrire
et le cylindre intrieur;
dans lequel le cylindre intrieur (10b) est perfor sur
une partie (P) de sa longueur;
caractris par le fait que la couche dair (17) en-
toure et stend sur la longueur du tuyau arrire non
perfor (30) lintrieur du silencieux (10) et vient
longitudinalement en recouvrement avec une partie
du matriau isolant acoustique (15) et une partie per-
fore du cylindre intrieur perfor (10b) sur ladite
longueur; et
lextrmit aval du tuyau dchappement (20) est
connecte , et prsente sensiblement le mme dia-
mtre que, lextrmit amont du cylindre intrieur
perfor (10b).
2. Appareil dchappement selon la revendication 1,
dans lequel le matriau isolant acoustique (15) est
rempli entre une paroi intrieure du cylindre extrieur
14
(10a) et une paroi extrieure du cylindre intrieur
(10b) dans le silencieux.
3. Appareil dchappement selon la revendication 1 ou
5 la revendication 2, dans lequel un diamtre intrieur
(D1) dau moins une partie du cylindre intrieur (10b)
est progressivement augment vers une position
une extrmit amont du tuyau arrire non perfor
(30).
10
4. Appareil dchappement selon la revendication 1 ou
la revendication 2, dans lequel un diamtre intrieur
(D2) dau moins une partie du cylindre intrieur (10b)
est progressivement diminu vers une position une
15 extrmit amont du tuyau arrire non perfor (30).
5. Ensemble comprenant un moteur (50) et un appareil
dchappement selon lune ou lautre revendication
prcdente.
20
6. Vhicule du type enfourcher (1000), comprenant
un moteur (50) et lappareil dchappement selon
lune quelconque des revendications 1 4.
25 7. Vhicule du type enfourcher (1000) selon la reven-
dication 6, dans lequel une extrmit aval (10d) du
silencieux (10) est prvu en avant dun essieu (72)
dune roue arrire (70) prvue sur le vhicule du type
enfourcher.
30
8. Vhicule du type enfourcher (1000) selon la reven-
dication 6 ou la revendication 7, dans lequel le mo-
teur (50) est un moteur quatre temps.
35 9. Vhicule du type enfourcher (1000) selon lune
quelconque des revendications 6 8, comprenant
une motocyclette tout terrain.
40
45
50
55
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11
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12
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13
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14
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15
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REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of references cited by the applicant is for the readers convenience only. It does not form part of the European
patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be
excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description

JP 8312324 A [0003] [0010] JP 53017854 A [0011]

JP 2003184541 A [0003]

16