Toyota Motor North America, Inc.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Stephen E Freeman

Jakin C Wilson

Scott Louis Frederick

Matthew C Tier

Greg Bernas

Jack Ferguson

Apparatuses and methods for tuning a muffler. An apparatus comprises a housing for a muffler, a first inlet pipe, and a second inlet pipe. The housing includes a coupling chamber. The first inlet pipe has a first set of physical features and carries exhaust to the coupling chamber. The second inlet pipe has a second set of physical features and carries the exhaust to the coupling chamber. The first set of physical features varies from the second set of physical features with respect to at least one physical feature such that a first sound waveform passing through the first inlet pipe and a second sound waveform passing through the second inlet pipe are uniquely tuned to thereby tune an overall sound waveform emitted by the muffler.

Tuning a sound profile of a muffler

A system for regulating performance characteristics of a vehicle includes an engine configured to output an exhaust gas. The system further comprises an emissions system in fluid communication with the engine, the emissions system configured to clean the exhaust gas. The system further comprises a valve system in fluid communication with the emissions system, the valve system configured to regulate a flow of the exhaust gas. The valve system comprises a vane movable between a forward open position, a closed position, and a rear open position. The valve system further comprises a biasing member configured to bias the vane in the forward open position. The valve system further comprises a bypass channel configured to provide a bypass flow path for the exhaust gas to control a backpressure on the vane.

Systems and methods for regulating performance characteristics of an exhaust system with a tri-modal valve

Installation of a snorkel on a vehicle can be facilitated by slide-in attachment configurations. A slot can be defined in a vehicle body member (e.g., a fender). The slot includes an insertion portion and a retention portion. A width of the insertion portion is greater than a width of the retention portion. The snorkel has an inlet end portion and an outlet end portion. The outlet end portion can include a flange. The width of the flange is less than a width of the insertion portion but greater than the width of the retention portion. The outlet end portion can be-initially received in the insertion portion. The snorkel and/or the vehicle body member can be manipulated so that the outlet end portion moves into the retention portion. The outlet end portion can be retainably received therein due to the flange being larger than the width of the retention portion.

Snorkel slide-in attachment to vehicle body member

A tethered air intake snorkel for a vehicle includes a snorkel head comprising a head sidewall defining a head air conduit, an air intake comprising an intake opening into the head air conduit on an intake end, and a head attachment flange; a snorkel body comprising a body sidewall defining a body air conduit, an outer attachment flange configured for mating engagement with and attachment to the head attachment flange on an outer end, and an inner attachment flange on an inner end; and a flexible tether that extends between a head attachment end and a body attachment end and is configured to tether the snorkel head to the snorkel body, the head attachment end configured for disposition within the head air conduit and attachment to the head sidewall, the body attachment end configured for disposition within the body air conduit and attachment to the body sidewall.

Tethered air intake snorkel

Described herein are various embodiments associated with a bracket for mounting a snorkel to one or more roof rack attachment points of a vehicle. In one embodiment, the bracket comprises a vehicle mounted portion and a snorkel mount portion. The vehicle mounted portion comprises one or more mounting holes. Additionally, values for one or more characteristics of the mounting holes are selected based, at least in part, on the one or more roof rack attachment points. The snorkel mount portion is coupled to the vehicle mounted portion. The snorkel mount portion comprises one or more snorkel attachment holes.

Growing community of inventors

McKinney, TX, United States of America

Stephen E Freeman