Open end diesel particulate trap

An apparatus for installation in the piping of an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine for removing particulates from an exhaust gas stream, comprising:

• a hollow housing having an inlet opening at a first end, an outlet opening at a second end and a gas outlet at a side;
• a filter means having a central aperture extending between a first end and a second end and being defined by a filter wall, said filter means being disposed in said housing with said central aperture being in communication with said inlet opening and said outlet opening, said central aperture defining a first path portion of an exhaust gas path passing through said housing from said inlet opening to said gas outlet, a second path portion of said exhaust gas path extending at an angle from said first path portion from said central aperture through said filter wall to said gas outlet;
• and
• a particulate reservoir attached to said housing in communication with said outlet opening, whereby when said housing is installed in the piping of an internal combustion engine exhaust system and the exhaust gas flows along said exhaust gas path, particulates in the exhaust gas flowing along the first path portion can fall into said reservoir through said outlet opening and particulates in the exhaust gas flowing along the second path portion can be trapped in said filter wall.