Method and apparatus to dispose of particulates separated-off via an exhaust gas filter of an internal combustion engine
AssigneeMAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG
InventorDietmar Henkel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for disposing of particulate matter retained in an exhaust gas filter of an internal combustion engine, using an electric current source. For the purpose of good auxiliary energy utilization and minimization of equipment complexity, ignition and combustion of the particulates are initiated by the flow of current through the particulate matter itself (the particulates themselves serving as an electrical heating conductor). A suitable electrode configuration is provided to supply the ignition energy to the filter element. The electric input for the combustion of the particulates is applied via an impressed power supply.
Claims9
An apparatus for effecting disposal of carbon from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising:
- a metallic filter housing having inlet means for untreated exhaust gas and outlet means for filtered exhaust gas;
- a filter element disposed in said filter housing to separate the latter into an untreated-gas chamber and a filtered-gas chamber, with said filter element including a support member that is provided with perforations and on which is disposed a non-metallic, high-temperature resistance filter medium for separating-off said carbon from said exhaust gases;
- a suitable electrode configuration associated with said filter element for supplying current, as ignition energy, thereto for the controlled burning of said separated-off carbon on said filter medium;
- said electrode configuration is connected to a source of electrical current in such a way that application of electrical power for burning said carbon is effected by a power supply unit that operates in an impressed mode in which apparatus, for the generation of an output which is independent of the load resistance or momentary equivalent particulate resistance, the current supply unit comprises a first inductivity whose periodic charging current rate is controlled by a two-position controller consisting of comparators as well as a bistable multivibrator or flip-flop in cooperation with a transistor means acting as a final control element, whereas the energy recovery required, in the base of an infinitely high equivalent particulate resistance, is made possible by means of a resistor triggered dependent on the voltage and having a negative resistance characteristic in cooperation with a diode means.
An apparatus for effecting disposal of carbon from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising:
- a metallic filter housing having inlet means for untreated exhaust gas and outlet means for filtered exhaust gas;
- a filter element disposed in said filter housing to separate the latter into an untreated-gas chamber and a filtered-gas chamber, with said filter element including a support member that is provided with perforations and on which is disposed a non-metallic, high-temperature resistant filter medium for separating-off said carbon from said exhaust gases;
- a suitable electrode configuration associated with said filter element for supplying current, as ignition energy, thereto for the controlled burning of said separated-off carbon on said filter medium;
- said electrode configuration is connected to a source of electrical current in such a way that application of electrical power for burning said carbon is effected by a power supply unit that operates in an impressed mode;
- said filter medium being in the form of a surface filter of open-pore foamed ceramic;
- and
- a carbon separating-off layer of said foamed ceramic on an elastic support wrapping;
- said electrode configuration including two high-heat resistant steel wires that are wound onto said foamed ceramic layer and are disposed in insertion grooves provided on the periphery of the latter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.