High capacity solid particulate filter apparatus

Abstract

A honeycomb filter having improved particulate capacity is provided by forming the filter from a matrix of thin interconnected porous walls defining a plurality of cells extending between opposing inlet and outlet end faces and closed near the outlet end face and, preferably, a porous outer skin surrounding the matrix of thin walls and extending between the inlet and outlet end faces of the filter. The thin walls and porous skin, if provided, have interconnected open porosity of a volume and size sufficient to enable the fluid to pass into and through the thin walls and skin to and through the outlet end face of the filter and/or to pass across the thickness of the porous skin (if provided) between the interior and exterior of the filter, while entrapping at least a significant portion of the solid particulates present in the fluid. The described filters may be formed from ceramic materials having primarily cordierite crystal phases for moderately high (up to at least 1200.degree. C.) temperature filtering applications.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.