Device for catalytic exhaust treatment with particle separation

Claim 1

A CATALYTIC MUFFLER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN ENCLOSURE HAVING AN INLET FOR EXHAUST GASES CONTAINING FINELY DIVIDED SOLID PARTICULATE MATTER AND AN OUTLET FOR TREATED GASES AT THE DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE END OF SAID ENCLOSURE FROM SAID INLET; PERFORATED PLATES VERTICALLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID ENCLOSURE AND DIVIDING SAID ENCLOSURE INTO A SEPARATION CHAMBER, CATALYST CHAMBER AND EXIT CHAMBER; A SOLID PLATE VERTICALLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID SEPARATION CHAMBER TO FORM A CONVERGING CHANNEL FROM SAID INLET; A CURVED PLATE VERTICALLY DISPOSED AT THE NOZZLE END OF SAID CONVERGING CHANNEL AND ADAPTED TO DIVERT SAID PARTICULATE MATTER AS IT EMERGES FROM SAID NOZZLE; SOLID PLATES VERTICALLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CATALYST CHAMBER BETWEEN AND PERPENDICULAR TO SAID PERFORATED PLATES AND DIVIDING SAID CATALYST CHAMBER INTO A PLURALITY OF CATALYST BEDS, THE CATALYST BED POSITIONED AT THE END OF SAID CURVED PLATE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE PARTICULATE MATTER DIVERTED BY SAID CURVED PLATE AND THEREBY REMOVING SAID PARTICULATE MEMBER FROM SAID EXHAUST GASES PRIOR TO THEIR CONTACT WITH THE OTHER CATALYST BEDS.