Systems and methods for operating an engine that includes an exhaust tuning valve in its exhaust system are described. In one example, a position of the exhaust tuning valve may be adjusted to reduce a possibility of the exhaust tuning valve becoming stuck due to freezing water. In particular, the exhaust tuning valve may be cycled as ambient temperature approaches a temperature at which water freezes.

Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust muffler system with multiple inlets of different diameters. In one example, the muffler system may include multiple sets of inlet pipes to a muffler with each set of inlet pipes including pipes of different diameters with valves controlling exhaust flow into the inlet pipes. Exhaust from an engine bank may flow to a distinct set of inlet pipes and a distinct outlet pipe of the muffler via a separate exhaust passage.

An exhaust system for an engine has a volume element such as a muffler or a silencer. First and second exhaust pipes are connected as dual exhaust pipes upstream of or downstream of the volume element. The first exhaust pipe has a first length (L1). A valve is positioned in the second exhaust pipe at a distance (D) from the volume element. The distance D is a fraction of L1 such that the second pipe is a resonator for the first pipe with the valve in a closed position. A method of controlling exhaust noise includes positioning a valve in the first exhaust pipe at a distance (D) from a volume element with D being a specified fraction of a length of the second exhaust pipe, and closing the valve such that the first pipe provides a resonator for the second pipe to counteract standing wave in the second pipe.

Provided is a muffler valve 1 that opens and closes an exhaust passage according to a pressure of an exhaust gas of an engine. A valve body 3 is swingably supported by a support shaft 4 with respect to a valve seat 2 having an opening 22, the valve body 3 is urged in a closing direction by a coil spring 5 externally inserted on the support shaft 4, a valve seat hook portion 23 is provided so as to embrace both ends of the support shaft 4 in a circumferential direction and is fixed to the support shaft 4, and a valve body winding portion 34 is provided so as to embrace the coil spring 5 in the circumferential direction from a direction opposite to the valve seat hook portion 23 and embrace the coil spring 5 over an entire length of the coil spring 5 in the circumferential direction. It is possible to prevent or suppress axial misalignment of the coil spring coaxially externally inserted on the support shaft for opening and closing the valve body as much as possible, and appropriately control the opening and closing of the valve body with high stability.

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a position of an exhaust valve that regulates engine exhaust noise. In one example, the position of the exhaust valve is adjusted according to a distance between a first vehicle and a second vehicle. The exhaust valve may be adjusted to reduce an exhaust noise level when the distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle is less than a threshold distance.

A muffler for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, especially for vehicles with hybrid drive, includes a muffler housing (12), a heat exchanger unit (48), arranged in the muffler housing (12), for transferring heat from combustion exhaust gas to a heat transfer medium, an inlet pipe (38), a first outlet pipe (52) and a second outlet pipe (40). A first exhaust gas flow path (54), in the muffler housing, routs exhaust gas through the heat exchanger unit (48) to the first outlet pipe (52). A second exhaust gas flow path (56), in the muffler housing, routs exhaust gas to a second outlet pipe (40), bypassing the heat exchanger unit (48). A flow path blocking/releasing device (58) for blocking and releasing at least one exhaust gas flow path (54, 56), of the first exhaust gas flow path (54) and of the second exhaust gas flow path (56).

A selectively tunable exhaust noise attenuation device includes a body having an outer surface and an inner surface that defines an exhaust volume. An inlet is coupled to the body and fluidically connected to the exhaust volume. A first outlet is coupled to the body and fluidically connected to the inlet and selectively fluidically connected to the exhaust volume and a second outlet coupled to the body and fluidically connected to the exhaust volume. A first conduit including a primary exhaust gas flow path directly fluidically connects the inlet and the first outlet. A second conduit includes a first end and a second. The second conduit defines a secondary exhaust gas flow path. A valve is fluidically connected to one of the first and second conduits. The valve is arranged laterally off-set of the primary exhaust gas flow path.

A structure of an exhaust pipe may include a first pipe discharging exhaust gas produced in engine cylinders disposed in a first side row, a second pipe discharging exhaust gas produced in engine cylinders disposed in a second side row, a merging pipe having a first end communicatively connected to the first pipe, and a second end communicatively connected to the second pipe, and a valve plate embedded in the merging pipe, and selectively closed or opened.

A muffler for a vehicle, where the muffler comprises a partition wall that divides the interior in a first chamber and a second chamber, where an inlet pipe comprising a perforated section arranged in the first chamber and a closed section arranged in the first chamber, where the outlet opening of the inlet pipe is arranged in the second chamber, a first outlet pipe comprising an inlet opening arranged in the first chamber and an outlet opening arranged outside of the muffler, where the muffler comprises a second outlet pipe having an inlet opening arranged in the second chamber, and where the second outlet pipe is provided with an exhaust valve adapted to open or close the exhaust gas flow through the second outlet pipe. The advantage of the invention is that a muffler with an improved low frequency noise attenuation and low backpressure is provided.

A variable valve may include a housing having hinge support portions protruding from a first side thereof, and an opening at a second side thereof, a first gate rotatably coupled to the hinge support portions so as to open and close a part of the opening, a first spring mounted on the housing to apply elastic force in a direction in which the first gate is closed, a second gate rotatably coupled to the hinge support portions so as to open and close a remaining part of the opening, and a second spring mounted on the housing to apply elastic force in a direction in which the second gate is closed, in which the first spring and the second spring may have different spring constants.