Diesel particulate filter apparatus

Abstract

A diesel particulate filter apparatus comprises filter structures bent in a wavy profile, formed in a tubular form, and comprising ceramic fiber laminate materials formed by randomly laminating a ceramic fiber and wire nets laminated on the ceramic fiber laminate materials. First rigid members and second rigid members are fitted in and on both end portions of the filter structures. Tubular clamping members for clamping the filter structures in the thickness-wise direction thereof are provided on the outer sides of the second rigid members. Woven fabrics may be interposed between nonwoven fabrics of the ceramic fiber and the wire nets constituting the filter structures. Filter members comprise ceramic fiber laminate materials formed by laminating a ceramic fiber, and glass layers covering the outer peripheral surfaces of the ceramic fiber laminate materials and having a low Young's modulus and a coefficient of linear thermal expansion substantially the same as that of the ceramic fiber, whereby breakage of the fiber laminate materials can be prevented while enabling forming thereof.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.