Loading patent…
AssigneeRypos, Inc.
InventorsKlaus J. Peter, Osama Ibrahim, Peter Willey, Zachary Nardi, Amin Saeid
Estimating the term…
A diesel particulate filter construction, for filtering particulate from a flow of exhaust, includes a first layer of electrically resistive metal filter material in line with the flow of exhaust with particulate therein and a second layer of electrically resistive filter material which is also in line with the flow of exhaust with particulate therein. The layers are pleated cylinders concentrically positioned relative to one another. Current from a power supply is routed through the first layer and the second layer, which are electrically connected in series to one another. The layers are positioned so that exhaust flows through both the layers. Sufficient heat is generated by the flow of current through the layers to generate heat to, in turn, burn off entrapped particulate. The layers may be made of made of different materials of different fiber sizes or coated with different catalysts to generate different amounts of heat from one another to improve the filtration characteristics of the particulate filter construction.
A diesel particulate filter construction for filtering particulate from a flow of exhaust, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO
From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Backward citations are indexed for grants only.
Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filters embodying folded corrugated or wound sheet material: using folded, pleated material
Characterised by the physical shape or structure of the filtering element: filter cartridges
Connected in series: arranged concentrically or coaxially
Chemical processes for the removal of the retained particles, e.g. by burning: by heating only
Term end not estimated
The present invention relates generally to acapsBMcapsBMn electrically regenerable filter assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates to the regenerable self-cleaning filter construction that can be employed in a filter system for removing carbon, lube oil and unburned fuel particulates from the exhaust of internal combustion engines. In addition, the present invention relates to a regenerable filter construction for removing particulates from Diesel engine exhaust gases.
In the automotive industry, there has been a tremendous concern over the introduction of harmful pollutants into the air which have been generated by vehicle exhaust. Due to the negative health effects of such emissions, the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States has expressed a desire to reduce particle emissions from internal combustion engines. In the United States, the majority of particulate emissions come from Diesel engines on trucks and buses, which have not been regulated as closely as vehicles with gasoline engines.
Various attempts have been made to decrease the particulate emissions from Diesel engines. Unlike with gasoline engine vehicles, existing catalytic converters do not work well with Diesel engines since particulates typically clog these devices since the temperatures within them are too low to effectively burn carbon, lube oil and unburned fuel particles. Other efforts have been made to specifically address the Diesel particulate emissions problem. For example, fired burner systems have been employed to heat a combustion chamber, which receives Diesel exhaust for the purpose of burning the particulates within the chamber at very high temperatures. Such combustion chambers suffer from the drawbacks of high initial cost, safety, complexity, high-energy consumption and high maintenance cost.
The novel features which are characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention's preferred embodiments, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the filter construction in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the filter construction of FIG. 1;
Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a multi-layer bifilar filter construction 10 of the present invention is illustrated. By way of example and for ease of discussion and illustration, the filter construction 10 is shown with two layers 12, 14 which are of a pleated configuration. It should be understood that more than two layers can be used or layers that are of configurations other than pleated. In that connection, the preferred embodiment 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be discussed in detail to illustrate the inventive features of the present invention.
Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a perspective and front elevational view is shown to include an inner layer 12 and an outer layer 14 attached to a base support plate 16. Details of the mounting of layers 12, 14 to base 16 are well known in the art and need not be described herein. The layers of are made of a material that is both electrically resistive and capable of filtering particulate matter from a diesel exhaust stream. Thus, the layers 12, 14 can directly serve as heaters to regenerate themselves of particulate matter trapped therein. For this purpose, it is preferred that the filter layers 12, 14 be made of a sintered metal fiber material 15, such as alloy of Iron, Chromium and Aluminum. While this sintered alloy 15 is preferred for the filter layers 12, 14, other suitable materials can be employed to suit the application at hand.
With this selected material, the layers 12, 14 are capable of filtering diesel particulate matter. This material enables the layers to resist oxidation, carburization and sulphidition at temperatures up to 1100 degrees Centigrade. As a result, the first layer 12 and the second layer 14 are regenerable between 30 to 120 seconds depends on the size filter and the application.