Exhaust purification apparatus

An exhaust purification apparatus for use in an internal combustion engine having an exhaust conduit through which exhaust particles are discharged together with exhaust gas to the atmosphere, including a casing having an inlet connected to said exhaust conduit and an outlet connected to the atmosphere, said casing containing a trap element and a regenerative burner located upstream of said trap element, said regenerative burner comprising:

• a liner located in said casing to define therein a combustion chamber opening toward said trap element, said liner being adapted to permit flow of exhaust gas from said exhaust conduit to said trap element;
• a cup-shaped member located in said combustion chamber to define therein an evaporation chamber, said cup-shaped member being adapted to permit an air-fuel mixture from said evaporation chamber into said combustion chamber, said cup-shaped member being adapted to permit fuel droplets to fall downward;
• a mixture conduit having an end terminating in a discharge outlet for supplying an air-fuel mixture into said evaporation chamber;
• a glow plug having a portion located below said cup-shaped member within said combustion chamber for igniting the fuel droplets falling thereon when actuated;
• a protective cover for covering the path of dropping of fuel droplets onto said glow plug to prevent fluid from flowing to cool down said glow plug and deviate fuel droplets away from said glow plug;
• and
• a control unit responsive to a regeneration requirement for actuating said glow plug and supplying an air-fuel mixture into said evaporation chamber through said mixture conduit.