# US 5,228,891 A · Regenerable diesel exhaust filter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,228,891 A - Document ID: US5228891A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/817,595 - Filed: 1992-01-07 - Granted: 1993-07-20 - Earliest claimed: 1992-01-07 - Assignees: Pall Corporation - Inventors: Joseph G. Adiletta - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5228891A ## CPC - F01N 3/0215: {the filtering elements having the form of disks or plates} - B32B 5/26: another layer {next to it} also being fibrous or filamentary {(relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12)} - D21H 27/38: at least one of the sheets having a fibrous composition differing from that of other sheets - F01N 3/0211: {Arrangements for mounting filtering elements in housing, e.g. with means for compensating thermal expansion or vibration} - F01N 3/0212: {with one or more perforated tubes surrounded by filtering material, e.g. filter candles} - F01N 3/0217: {the filtering elements having the form of hollow cylindrical bodies} - F01N 3/022: characterised by specially adapted filtering structure, e.g. honeycomb, mesh or fibrous - F01N 3/0226: {the structure being fibrous} - F01N 3/027: using electric or magnetic heating means - F01N 13/1827: {Sealings specially adapted for exhaust systems (sealings in general F16J15/00)} - F01N 13/1894: {the parts being assembled in longitudinal direction} - F01N 2330/00: Structure of catalyst support or particle filter - F01N 2330/10: Fibrous material, e.g. mineral or metallic wool - F01N 2450/24: by bolts, screws, rivets or the like - F01N 2450/30: Removable or rechangeable blocks or cartridges, e.g. for filters - F02B 3/06: with compression ignition (compression ignition engines using air or gas for blowing fuel into compressed air in cylinder F02B13/02) - F02B 2275/14: Direct injection into combustion chamber - Y10S 55/30: Exhaust treatment - F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - D21H: PULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A gas filter assembly for removing particulates from the exhaust gas of a diesel engine comprising a housing having an inlet pipe for coupling to the engine and an outlet pipe open to the atmosphere is disclosed. The inlet pipe and the outlet pipe define an exhaust gas flow path. A self-contained filtering means is disposed within the gas flow path. The filtering means includes a plurality of inlet cells, microporous filter elements, filter support elements, and the outlet cells. The components of the filtering means are disposed such that the exhaust gas flows through the inlet cells, then through the microporous filter elements and filter support elements, and finally through the outlet cells. Each of the components of the self-contained filtering means are highly resistant to excessive temperatures, so that the filtering means may be regenerated by heat, which burns off accumulated, typically hydrocarbon, particulates. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An exhaust gas filter assembly for removing particulates from the exhaust gas of an engine, comprising, in combination: a housing having an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe and defining an exhaust gas flow path between the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe, the inlet pipe being coupled to the engine to receive exhaust gas therefrom and the outlet pipe being opened to the atmosphere and a self-contained filtering means operatively associated with the housing to communicate with the gas flow path, said filtering means including a plurality of inlet cells, each including frame members defining an internal space, at least one of the frame members having an end wall which includes at least one inlet aperture communicating with the internal space, a plurality of outlet cells, each including frame members defining an internal space, at least one of the frame members having an end wall which includes at least one outlet aperture communicating with the internal space, a plurality of generally planar, microporous filter elements for removing particulate contaminants from the exhaust gas, the filter element being able to withstand high temperatures and compressible between the inlet and outlet cells, and a plurality of generally porous planar filter support elements disposed adjacent the microporous filter elements to provide support thereto, said inlet and outlet cells being alternately arranged with at least one filter element and at least one filter support element disposed between each inlet cell and outlet cell, said filtering means further including means for sealingly compressing the filter elements and the filter support elements and the inlet cells and the outlet cells between impervious end means whereby the gas flows from the inlet aperture to the outlet aperture through the filter element and the filter support element and wherein the inlet and outlet cells, the microporous filter elements, the filter support elements, the impervious end means, and the sealing means are of materials that are resistant to high temperatures such that the filtering means may be regenerated by heat. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas filter assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a generally rectangularly shaped parallelpiped and at least one housing closure plate removably coupled thereto, the housing closure plate being removable to provide access to the self-contained filtering means. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas filter assembly of claim 1 wherein the end means includes opposite endplates with corresponding holes, wherein the inlet and outlet cells are generally rectangular and include holes in at least one corner, and wherein the compressing means includes rod means extending through the holes in the endplates, inlet cells, and outlet cells, and through the holes in the filter elements and further includes connector means attached to the rod means for providing the desired compression. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas filter assembly of claim 1 wherein the microporous filter elements comprise graded filter materials. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas filter assembly of claim 1 wherein the microporous filter elements comprise quartz. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The exhaust gas filter assembly of claim 5 wherein the support elements comprise wire mesh. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The exhaust gas filter assembly of claim 6 wherein the wire mesh is sintered. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas filter assembly of claim 1 wherein the filter support elements comprise wire mesh. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The exhaust gas filter assembly of claim 8 wherein the wire mesh is sintered.