Cross flow diesel particulate trap

A side entry cross flow trap for diesel exhaust particulates, comprising a canister having a general cylindrical side wall closed by end caps at the ends thereof,

• a plurality of stacked porous ceramic generally disc-shaped trap elements received in said canister,
• said elements each having an inlet surface on one side thereof and an outlet surface on the other side thereof in spaced relation to said inlet surface, each said element side having a partially encircling rim formed at the periphery thereof, said rims having exposed surfaces confronting corresponding rim surfaces of an adjacent stacked element,
• each said rim defining a peripheral gap forming a partial opening so that when two of said elements are stacked one on the other, the partial openings mate to form a full opening,
• said elements arranged in said stack to present full openings in alternate alignment at the opposite sides of said stack thereby defining a plurality of peripheral stack inlets leading between pairs of said elements, and a plurality of peripheral outlets leading from one of said elements of said pair and a next adjacent element,
• said canister side wall having inlet and outlet openings therethrough in substantial alignment with respective said inlets and outlets, and
• plenum means on said canister for directing diesel exhaust gases to said inlet openings for cross flow through said canister and for collecting said gas at said outlet openings.

A side entry cross flow ceramic diesel particulate trap, comprising:

• a canister having a metal sheet and containing a plurality of porous ceramic filtering elements,
• each of said elements having the general shape of a disc and defining an inlet surface on one side thereof and an outlet surface on the opposite side thereof,
• each of said elements having a partially surrounding peripheral wall defining upper and lower edges which mate with corresponding edges of another of said elements when stacked one on top of the other,
• said walls extending axially of said elements by an amount which exceeds the thickness between said inlet and outlet surfaces, so that when said elements are stacked, the facing surface of one element is spaced from the corresponding facing surface of the adjacent element,
• means in said wall defining a peripheral gap alignable with corresponding said gaps in superimposed said elements to form partial inlet and outlet side openings,
• a plurality of said elements stacked in alternating manner with pairs of said gaps aligned on opposite sides, defining peripheral gas inlets on one side of said stack and gas outlets on the opposite side of said stack,
• said canister having a cylindrical enclosing wall received about the elements in said stack, means in said canister wall forming canister inlet openings aligned with said stack inlets and outlet openings aligned with said stack outlets,
• end caps at each end of said enclosing wall,
• first plenum means on said canister joining said canister inlet openings and receiving diesel exhaust, and
• second plenum means on said canister joining said canister outlet openings and directing exhaust gases therefrom.

A cross flow canister for a side entry trap for diesel exhaust particulates, comprising:

• a canister having a generally cylindrical side wall closed by end caps at the ends thereof,
• a plurality of stacked porous ceramic disc-shaped filter elements received in said canister,
• said elements each having an inlet surface on one side thereof and an outlet surface on the other side thereof in spaced relation to said inlet surface, each said element side having a partially encircling rim formed at the periphery thereof, said rims having exposed surfaces confronting corresponding rim surfaces of an adjacent stacked element,
• each said rim defining a peripheral gap forming a partial opening so that when two of said elements are stacked one on the other, the partial openings mate to form a full opening,
• said elements arranged in said stack to prevent full openings in alternate alignment at the opposite sides of said stack thereby defining a plurality of stack inlet openings leading between pairs of said elements, and a plurality of outlet openings leading from one of the elements of said pair and a next adjacent element,
• a pad of high temperature resistant intumescent material separating each said element in said stack of elements at said rim surfaces,
• a layer of said intumescent material interposed between said canister wall and said stack,
• said canister wall and end caps maintaining said intumescent material in partial compression to hold said elements in compression,
• said canister wall having inlet and outlet openings therethrough in substantial alignment with corresponding said openings in said stack of elements.