EP0356040A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for removing particulate matter from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine
Assignee: Loughborough Consultants Ltd
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Filing: 1989-08-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-08-02
Abstract
Abstract The apparatus for removing particulate matter from exhaust gases includes a filter 6 for trapping particulate matter carried by the gases. A microwave generator 8 is arranged to irradiate the upstream face 10 of the filter 6, heating and oxidising particulate matter trapped in only a region adjacent that face. The heated zone then travels through the filter 6, regenerating the whole filter.
Inventors
- 👤 Colin Peter Garner
- 👤 John Cotton Dent
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 03:30
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N3/00; F01N3/02; F01N3/021; F01N3/023; F01N3/027; F01N3/028; F01N13/00; F01N13/011; F01N3/031; F01N3/032; F01N2290/00; F01N2290/02; F01N2290/04; F01N2290/06; F01N2290/08; F01N2330/00; F01N2330/06; F01N2410/00; F01N2410/04; F01N2530/00; F01N2530/02; F01N2530/04; F01N2530/06; F01N3/022; F01N3/08; F01N3/10; F01N3/24; F01N3/30; F02; F02B; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for removing particulate matter from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, including a chamber having a gas inlet opening towards the upstream end thereof and a gas outlet opening towards the downstream end thereof, a filter mounted within the chamber between the inlet opening and the outlet opening for trapping particulate matter carried by exhaust gases flowing through the chamber, and means for generating electromagnetic radiation of relatively low frequency as herein defined and directing the electromagnetic radiation into the chamber to irradiate the upstream end of the filter to heat and oxidise particulate matter trapped within the filter, the arrangement being such that initially particulate matter in only a region adjacent the upstream end of the filter is exposed to the full heating effect of the electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for removing particulate matter from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, including a chamber having a gas inlet opening towards the upstream end thereof and a gas outlet opening towards the downstream end thereof, a filter mounted within the chamber between the inlet opening and the outlet opening for trapping particulate matter carried by exhaust gases flowing through the chamber, and means for generating electromagnetic radiation of relatively low frequency as herein defined and directing the electromagnetic radiation into the chamber to irradiate the upstream end of the filter to heat and oxidise particulate matter trapped within the filter, the arrangement being such that initially particulate matter in only a region adjacent the upstream end of the filter is exposed to the full heating effect of the electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the chamber and the filter are substantially cylindrical and coaxial with one another.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to any preceding claim, including an exhaust gas by-pass for reducing, in use, the flow of exhaust gases through the filter, and a by-pass valve for regulating the flow of exhaust gases through the by-pass.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, including a control device for controlling operation of the generator means and the by-pass valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, including means for sensing the amount of particulate matter in the filter, an output of said means being connected to an input of the control device.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the flow of exhaust gases through the filter is substantially rectilinear and in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the means for generating electromagnetic radiation is arranged to irradiate the whole of the upstream end of the filter with a substantially uniform intensity.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to any preceding claim, including means for sensing the temperature of the particulate matter trapped in the filter.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to any preceding claim, including an inlet for admitting gas other than exhaust gases to the upstream end of the chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, in which the inlet includes means for urging the other gas into the chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 or claim 10, including valve means for regulating the flow of the other gas into the chamber.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to any preceding claim including means for disrupting the field pattern of the microwave energy in the chamber.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
69 words
An apparatus for removing particulate matter from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, including a filter for trapping particulate matter carried by the exhaust gases, means for generating electromagnetic radiation of relatively low frequency as herein defined and directing the electromagnetic radiation to irradiate the filter, and means for measuring the electrical load on the radiation generator to determine the amount of particulate matter in the filter.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
69 words
An apparatus for removing particulate matter from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, including a filter for trapping particulate matter carried by the exhaust gases, means for generating electromagnetic radiation of relatively low frequency as herein defined and directing the electromagnetic radiation to irradiate the filter, and means for measuring the electrical load on the radiation generator to determine the amount of particulate matter in the filter.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
70 words
An apparatus for removing particulate matter from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, including a filter for trapping particulate matter carried by the exhaust gases, means for generating electromagnetic radiation of relatively low frequency as herein defined and directing the electromagnetic radiation to irradiate the filter, and means for measuring the electrical load on the radiation generator to determine the temperature of the particulate matter in the filter.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
70 words
An apparatus for removing particulate matter from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, including a filter for trapping particulate matter carried by the exhaust gases, means for generating electromagnetic radiation of relatively low frequency as herein defined and directing the electromagnetic radiation to irradiate the filter, and means for measuring the electrical load on the radiation generator to determine the temperature of the particulate matter in the filter.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
69 words
An apparatus for removing particulate matter from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, including a filter for trapping particulate matter carried by the exhaust gases, means for generating electromagnetic radiation of relatively low frequency as herein defined and directing the electromagnetic radiation to irradiate the filter, and means for measuring the electromagnetic field in the chamber to determine the temperature of the particulate matter in the filter.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
69 words
An apparatus for removing particulate matter from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, including a filter for trapping particulate matter carried by the exhaust gases, means for generating electromagnetic radiation of relatively low frequency as herein defined and directing the electromagnetic radiation to irradiate the filter, and means for measuring the electromagnetic field in the chamber to determine the temperature of the particulate matter in the filter.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of removing particulate matter from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, in which the gases are passed through a filter, trapping particulate matter carried by the exhaust gases and periodically an upstream end of the filter is irradiated with electromagnetic radiation of relatively low frequency as herein defined, causing particles trapped in a region of the filter to heat up, the downstream edge of the heated region being initially adjacent the upstream end of the filter and subsequently travelling to the downstream end of the filter.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of removing particulate matter from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, in which the gases are passed through a filter, trapping particulate matter carried by the exhaust gases and periodically an upstream end of the filter is irradiated with electromagnetic radiation of relatively low frequency as herein defined, causing particles trapped in a region of the filter to heat up, the downstream edge of the heated region being initially adjacent the upstream end of the filter and subsequently travelling to the downstream end of the filter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 16, in which the flow of exhaust gases through the filter is reduced for at least part of the time that the filter is irradiated.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 17, in which the full flow of exhaust gases through the filter is restored after an initial heating period.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
41 words
A method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, in which the amount of particulate matter trapped in the filter is sensed and the periodic irradiation of the filter is controlled in dependence on the sensed amount of material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 19 when dependent on claim 17, in which the flow of exhaust gases through the filter is also controlled in dependence on the sensed amount of material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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