Exhaust processor

A regenerator for an elongated particulate trap having an entry face and an exit fact, the regenerator comprising

• a fuel supply nozzle,
• a fuel ignitor for starting a burning flame,
• means for providing an even distribution of said flame over said entry face to start a burn of the trapped particulate matter entrained in an engine combustion product, and
• control means for advancing burning progressively evenly from the entry face through the particulate trap to the exit face, the control means including means for regulating the flow of combustion product through the particulate trap.

An exhaust processor assembly for treating combustion product emitted by an engine, the combustion product having particulate matter entrained therein, the exhaust processor comprising

• a housing including an inlet for introducing combustion product into the housing and an outlet for exhausting combustion product from the housing,
• substrate means for collecting particulate matter introduced into the housing through the inlet,
• regeneration means for burning particulate matter collected in the substrate means, and
• means for apportioning the heat generated by the regeneration means substantially evenly throughout the substrate means.

A method of treating a combustion product emitted by an engine, the combustion product having particulate matter entrained therein, the method comprising the steps of:

• introducing the combustion product into a particulate trap housing having an inlet and an outlet at a selected flow rate,
• collecting particulate matter introduced into the housing in a particulate trap situated in the housing,
• burning the particulate matter collected in the particulate trap to regnerate the particulate trap,
• varying the flow rate of the combustion product introduced into the housing during the burning step to prevent premature extinguishment of the ignited particulate matter in the trap.

An exhaust processor assembly for treating combustion product emitted by an engine, the combustion product having particulate matter entrained therein, the exhaust processor comprising

• a housing including an inlet for introducing combustion product into the housing and an outlet for exhausting combustion product from the housing,
• substrate means for collecting particulate matter introduced into the housing through the inlet,
• regeneration means for burning particulate matter collected in the substrate means at a selected regeneration rate, and
• variable flow control means responsive to back pressure in the housing for varying intermittently the flow rate of combustion product introduced into the housing during regeneration of the substrate means to regulate the rate of regeneration activity in the substrate means.

A method of treating a combustion product emitted by an engine, the combustion product having particulate matter entrained therein, the method comprising the steps of:

• introducing the combustion product into a particulate trap housing having an inlet and an outlet at a selected flow rate,
• collecting particulate matter introduced into the housing in a particulate trap situated in the housing,
• burning the particulate matter collected in the particulate trap to regenerate the particulate trap,
• sensing the back pressure in the housing, and
• varying the flow rate of the combustion product introduced into the housing during the burning step in proportion to the back pressure in the housing to prevent premature extinguishment of the ignited particulate matter in the trap.