Abstract:
There is provided a process for filling a muffler (10) with fibrous material (24). The process includes feeding fibrous material into a muffler comprising a closed outer shell (12) having an inner cavity (12a) and a perforated pipe having an end portion (18a) that defines a fill opening (18b). There is provided also a muffler with a filling of fibrous material.
Abstract:
Methods of forming compressed preform products formed from continuous fibers substantially evenly coated with a thermoplastic sizing composition are provided. Applying a thermoplastic sizing composition to continuous fibers during the formation of the fibers enables a preform to be formed without applying any additional sizing or binder compositions at later stages of the manufacturing of the preform. The thermoplastic sizing composition includes a thermoplastic material, and, optionally a silane coupling agent. The thermoplastic material in the thermoplastic sizing composition includes chemicals and/or compounds that are thermoplastic or possess thermoplastic properties. One or more preforms may be randomly inserted to a muffler cavity. Upon the application of heat, the preforms decompress and fill the cavity with fibrous material. Due to the ability to decompress the compressed preform product, the preform product can have a shape that is independent of the shape of the muffler cavity.
Abstract:
A method for filling a muffler with a fibrous material (44) is disclosed. The muffler includes partitions which form a first chamber (13) and second chamber (15), and a first muffler pipe (28) having an outlet end (35). A filling aperture (23) at one end of the second muffler pipe (18) is positioned in the first muffler chamber. The second muffler pipe has a filling sleeve (32) therein, the filling sleeve having a filling discharge opening (36) that coordinates with the filling aperture of the second muffler pipe. The first muffler chamber is filled with fibrous material by applying a vacuum source (42) to the first muffler pipe, which draws the fibrous material through the filling aperture. The filling aperture of the second muffler pipe is then positioned into the second muffler chamber, and the second muffler chamber is filled in the same manner as the first muffler chamber. The filling sleeve is then removed from the second muffler pipe.
Abstract:
Methods of forming compressed preform products (74) formed from continuous fibers (24) substantially evenly coated with a thermoplastic sizing composition are provided. Applying a thermoplastic sizing composition to continuous fibers (10) during the formation of the fibers enables a preform to be formed without applying any additional sizing or binder compositions at later stages of the manufacturing of the preform. The thermoplastic sizing composition includes a thermoplastic material, and, optionally a silane coupling agent. The thermoplastic material in the thermoplastic sizing composition includes chemicals and/or compounds that are thermoplastic or possess thermoplastic properties. One or more preforms may be randomly inserted to a muffler cavity. Upon the application of heat, the preforms decompress and fill the cavity with fibrous material. Due to the ability to decompress the compressed preform product, the preform product can have a shape that is independent of the shape of the muffler cavity.
Abstract:
A process is provided for filling a muffler shell with fibrous material. The process involves providing a muffler shell (12) comprising first and second muffler shell outer parts (14,16) which define an internal cavity (17) when coupled together and an internal structure (18) adapted to extend at least part way through the shell internal cavity and having one or more openings communicating with the shell internal cavity. The process further comprises the steps of: providing a perforated tool (52) having opposing first and second surfaces (52b, 52c); providing a vacuum apparatus (50) which is adapted to receive the perforated tool and apply a partial vacuum to the first surface of the tool; placing a sheet (70) adjacent the second surface of the perforated tool; applying a partial vacuum to the first surface of the tool via the vacuum apparatus so as to draw the sheet against the tool second surface; placing the internal structure adjacent the tool; placing the first muffler shell outer part adjacent the tool such that the tool and the fust part define a temporary inner cavity (170); feeding fibrous material (40) into the temporary inner cavity; deactivating the vacuum apparatus; drawing a partial vacuum through the internal structure so as to draw the fibrous material and the sheet toward the internal structure; separating the first muffler shell outer part, the internal structure, the fibrous material and the sheet from the tool; and coupling the second muffler shell part to the first muffler shell part.
Abstract:
A process is provided for filling a muffler shell with fibrous material. It comprises the step of providing a muffler shell (12) comprising one or more muffler shell outer parts (14, 16) which define an internal cavity (17) and an internal structure (18) adapted to extend at least part way through the shell internal cavity and having one or more openings adapted to communicate with the shell internal cavity. The process further comprises the step of providing a bag (40a-40c) filled with fibrous material (60). The bag has a first side (42a) with one or more first perforations (44a) defining a first side total open area (45a) and a second side (42b) with either no perforations or one or more second perforations defining a second side total open area. The first open area is greater than the second open area. The process also comprises the steps of positioning the fibrous material-filled bag adjacent the internal structure such that the first side is nearest to the internal structure, and drawing a partial vacuum through the internal structure, the partial vacuum drawing the fibrous-filled bag inwardly towards the internal structure.
Abstract:
There is provided a process for filling a muffler (10) with fibrous material (24). The process includes feeding fibrous material into a muffler comprising a closed outer shell (12) having an inner cavity (12a) and a perforated pipe having an end portion (18a) that defines a fill opening (18b). There is provided also a muffler with a filling of fibrous material.