Emmission control assembly

Claim 2

A combined acoustical muffler and afterburner device for effecting substantially complete combustion of unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide which may be present in the exhaust gas of an internal-combustion engine, comprising, in combination: an elongate outer housing; an elongate inner housing disposed within said outer housing, said inner and outer housings having tubular sidewalls defining a passageway therebetween; an inlet conduit for exhaust gas projecting through one end of said outer housing and discharging into the corresponding end of the inner housing; an outlet conduit extending from the other end of said inner housing through the corresponding end of said outer housing; flow-reversing passage means within said inner housing including a skirt spaced inwardly from said tubular sidewall of the inner housing and defining a heat exchange passage therewith leading to said outlet conduit; means for introducing air into said outer housing adjacent the other end thereof; means for directing air from said outer housing adjacent said one end thereof into said inner housing for admixture with exhaust gas discharged into the latter, whereby the incoming air is caused to pass through said passageway before such admixtures; means for splitting the incoming air into said inner housing into separate branches introduced at axially spaced regions; and means for igniting the admixture within said inner housing so that the incoming air is preheated within said passageway.

Claim 3

The combined muffler and afterburner device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for igniting is located between said regions.

Claim 4

The combined muffler and afterburner device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for igniting is located upstream from both of said regions.

Claim 5

A combined acoustical muffler and afterburner device for effecting substantially complete combustion of unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide which may be present in the exhaust gas of an internal-combustion engine, comprising, in combination: an elongate outer housing forming an enclosure; an elongate inner housing disposed within said outer housing, said inner and outer housings having respective tubular sidewalls disposed in substantially uniformly spaced relation defining a passageway therebetween extending along the length of the device; an exhaust gas inlet conduit extending axially through said outer housing at one end thereof and discharging into the corresponding one end of said inner housing; means for introducing air into said outer housing at the other end thereof and said passageway having a first branch communicating with said one end of the inner housing adjacent the region at which exhaust gas is discharged thereinto whereby a portion of the incoming air and exhaust gas are intermixed thereat; means forming a burner chamber within said one end of the inner housing and into which the aforesaid mixture of a portion of the incoming air and exhaust gas is introduced; ignition means within said burner chamber for igniting said mixture; said passageway having a second branch communicating with said inner housing adjacent the discharge end of said burner chamber for introducing additional air into the burning mixture; a flow reverser comprising a transverse baffle plate adjacent the other end of said inner housing and a skirt extending from said baffle plate toward said one end of the inner housing and inwardly spaced substantially uniformly with respect to said tubular sidewall of the inner housing so as to direct burning gas first toward said one end of the devicE within said skirt and then in reverse direction outside said skirt in scrubbing contact with said sidewall of the inner housing whereby to so heat the incoming air; and an outlet conduit extending from said other end of the inner housing through the other end of the outer housing.

Claim 6

A combined acoustical muffler and afterburner device for effecting substantially complete combustion of unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide which may be present in the exhaust gas of an internal-combustion engine, comprising, in combination: an elongate outer housing forming an enclosure; an elongate inner housing disposed within said outer housing, said inner and outer housings having respective tubular sidewalls disposed in substantially uniformly spaced relation defining a passageway therebetween extending along the length of the device; an exhaust gas inlet conduit extending axially through said outer housing at one end thereof and discharging into the corresponding one end of said inner housing; means for introducing air into said outer housing at the other end thereof and said passageway having a first branch communicating with said one end of the inner housing adjacent the region at which exhaust gas is discharged thereinto whereby a portion of the incoming air and exhaust gas are intermixed thereat; means forming a burner chamber within said one end of the inner housing and into which the aforesaid mixture of a portion of the incoming air and exhaust gas is introduced; ignition means within said burner chamber for igniting said mixture; said passageway having a second branch communicating with said inner housing adjacent the discharge end of said burner chamber for introducing additional air into the burning mixture; a flow reverser comprising a transverse baffle plate adjacent the other end of said inner housing and a skirt extending from said baffle plate toward said one end of the inner housing and inwardly spaced substantially uniformly with respect to said tubular sidewall of the inner housing so as to direct burning gas first toward said one end of the devicE within said skirt and then in reverse direction outside said skirt in scrubbing contact with said sidewall of the inner housing whereby to so heat the incoming air; and an outlet conduit extending from said other end of the inner housing through the other end of the outer housing.

Claim 7

The combined muffler and afterburner device as defined in claim 4 wherein said means forming a burner chamber is in the form of a cup having its closed end facing said inlet conduit and provided with circumferential openings intermediate its ends into which said mixture is introduced, said ignition means being located within said cup between said openings and said closed end.

Claim 8

The combined muffler and afterburner device as defined in claim 4 wherein said means forming a burner chamber is in the form of a sleeve aligned axially with said inlet conduit, said sleeve being of larger diameter than said inlet conduit and being overlapped therewith to define said first branch for incoming air.

Claim 9

The combined muffler and afterburner device as defined in claim 4 wherein said means forming a burner chamber is in the form of a sleeve forming an extension of said inlet conduit, a hollow body within said sleeve having an inlet communicating with said first branch and an outlet for directing air radially therefrom into said sleeve, said ignition device being located downstream from said body.

Claim 10

A combined acoustical muffler and afterburner device for effecting substantially complete combustion of unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide which may be present in the exhaust gas of an internal-combustion engine, comprising, in combination: an elongate outer housing forming an enclosure; an elongate inner housing disposed within said outer housing, said inner and outer housings having respective tubular sidewalls disposed in substantially uniformly spaced relation defining a passageway therebetween extending along the length of the device; an exhaust gas inlet conduit extending axially through said outer housing at one end thereof and discharging into the corresponding one end of said inner housing; means for introducing air into said outer housing at the other end thereof and into said passageway to flow therein countercurrent to exhaust gas flow; means forming a burner chamber in the form of a sleeve forming an extension of said inlet conduit, within said one end of the inner housing, a hollow body within said sleeve having an inlet communicating with said passageway and an outlet for directing air radially therefrom into said sleeve; ignition means within said burner chamber for igniting said mixture; a flow reverser comprising a transverse baffle plate adjacent the other end of said inner housing and a skirt extending from said baffle plate toward said one end of the inner housing and inwardly spaced substantially uniformly with respect to said tubular sidewall of the inner housing so as to direct burning gas first toward said one end of the device within said skirt and then in reverse direction outside said skirt in scrubbing contact with said sidewall of the inner housing whereby to so heat the incoming air; and an outlet conduit extending from said other end of the inner housing through the other end of the outer housing.

Claim 11

A combined acoustical muffler and afterburner device for effecting substantially complete combustion of unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide which may be present in the exhaust gas of an internal-combustion engine, comprising, in combination: an elongate outer housing forming an enclosure; an elongate inner housing disposed within said outer housing, said inner and outer housings having respective tubular sidewalls disposed in substantially uniformly spaced relation defining a passageway therebetween extending along the length of the device; an exhaust gas inlet conduit extending axially through said outer housing at one end thereof and discharging into the corresponding one end of said inner housing; means for introducing air into said outer housing at the other end thereof and into said passageway to flow therein countercurrent to exhaust gas flow; means forming a burner chamber in the form of a sleeve forming an extension of said inlet conduit, within said one end of the inner housing, a hollow body within said sleeve having an inlet communicating with said passageway and an outlet for directing air radially therefrom into said sleeve; ignition means within said burner chamber for igniting said mixture; a flow reverser comprising a transverse baffle plate adjacent the other end of said inner housing and a skirt extending from said baffle plate toward said one end of the inner housing and inwardly spaced substantially uniformly with respect to said tubular sidewall of the inner housing so as to direct burning gas first toward said one end of the device within said skirt and then in reverse direction outside said skirt in scrubbing contact with said sidewall of the inner housing whereby to so heat the incoming air; and an outlet conduit extending from said other end of the inner housing through the other end of the outer housing.