Patent · US Active

Long fiber thermoplastic composite muffler system

US7934580B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by
102References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 12, 2006
Grant dateMay 3, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 18, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF01N2530/20
  • WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to a muffler facia assembly including a muffler with at least one thermoplastic shell formed into a facia assembly on a motor vehicle. The facia may be any suitable body part of a motor vehicle, such as a bumper, a rocker panel, an air dam, a spoiler, a sideboard or a body module. An assembly in accordance with the present invention includes structural members to provide crash management features to increase the strength and impact resistance. In accordance with the present invention, the long fiber thermoplastic material and moldings may also be combined with over-molding of preforms of unidirectional or woven inlays, which provide local structural performance. The use of such preforms is particularly suited to use in the manufacture of high temperature, structural articles such as bumper muffler combinations.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.