The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 27, 2019
Filed:
Feb. 09, 2017
Ford Global Technologies, Llc, Dearborn, MI (US);
Erich James Nowka, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Shawn D. Norman, Jackson, MI (US);
Kerry Timothy Havener, Canton, MI (US);
Steven A. Hornby, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A two-piece, stamped muffler having an integrally-attached aerodynamic shield having a flat bottom shape is disclosed. The muffler may be formed with a substantially flat lower surface. The aerodynamically-improved muffler set forth herein is provided as an aerodynamic shield that is incorporated into an extended flange provided in the shell blank, as a deflector that is attached to a muffler lower shell body and the clamshell flange such as by welding, that is separately attached to the clamshell flange only such as by welding, or that is separately attached to the lower shell only, again possibly by welding. For dual stamped mufflers, the shield may be used jointly with an incremental shield separate from, or integrated into, the spare tire well to connect the twin dual muffler shields to achieve vehicle aerodynamic requirements. A muffler having the aerodynamic shield deflects underbody air flow outside of the rear fascia cavity.