Exhaust gas muffler having a spark arrestor screen

Abstract

A muffler for the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine is provided. The muffler has a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet, and surrounds a muffling chamber. In the flow path of the exhaust gas a spark arrestor screen, and on the side of the inlet opening an exhaust gas diffuser, are provided. The muffling chamber is divided by a partition into a first and second partial chamber. The volume of the second partial chamber corresponds at least approximately to the volume of the first partial chamber. The spark arrestor screen is disposed in the partition.

What I claim is:  
     
         1 . A muffler for the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, comprising: 
 a muffler housing that surrounds a muffling chamber, wherein said muffler housing has an inlet opening and an outlet for exhaust gas;    an exhaust gas diffuser disposed in said muffler housing for receiving exhaust gas from said inlet opening;    a partition disposed in said muffler housing to divide said muffling chamber into a first partial chamber and a second partial chamber, wherein said first partial chamber receives exhaust gas from said exhaust gas diffuser, and wherein said second partial chamber has a volume that corresponds at least approximately to a volume of said first partial chamber; and    a spark arrestor screen disposed in said partition in a flow path of exhaust gas from said first partial chamber to said second partial chamber.    
     
     
         2 . A muffler according to    claim 1   , wherein the volume of said second partial chamber corresponds approximately to the sum of the volumes of said first partial chamber and of said exhaust gas diffuser.  
     
     
         3 . A muffler according to    claim 1   , wherein said partition forms a wall portion of said exhaust gas diffuser.  
     
     
         4 . A muffler according to    claim 1   , wherein said muffler housing comprises two housing sections that are connected to one another and with said partition along a circumferential seam or joint.  
     
     
         5 . A muffler according to    claim 4   , wherein said circumferential joint is disposed in a single plane of separation.  
     
     
         6 . A muffler according to    claim 4   , wherein said housing sections and said partition are interconnected via flanged-over means.  
     
     
         7 . A muffler according to    claim 4   , wherein means are provided for positively holding said spark arrestor screen in a flow through direction ( 24 ).  
     
     
         8 . A muffler according to    claim 7   , wherein said means for holding is disposed on said partition and at least partially extends about a circumference of said spark arrestor screen.  
     
     
         9 . A muffler according to    claim 8   , wherein a baffle plate is secured on said partition and delimits an interior of said exhaust gas diffuser, and wherein said means for holding is formed by a first shoulder of said partition and by a second shoulder of said baffle plate.  
     
     
         10 . A muffler according to    claim 7   , wherein said muffler housing is provided with a mounting slot through which said spark arrestor screen is insertable.  
     
     
         11 . A muffler according to    claim 10   , wherein said spark arrestor screen is provided with an angled-off retaining portion that engages about said circumferential joint.  
     
     
         12 . A muffler according to    claim 10   , wherein a screw is provided for securing said spark arrestor screen to said muffler housing.  
     
     
         13 . A muffler according to    claim 12   , wherein said screw is a self-tapping sheet metal screw.