Device for burning the unburnt residue in the exhaust gases of internal combustion engines

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1, wherein the restriction of the annular outlet channel is formed between the wider downstream portion of the inner electrode and an internally thicker downstream portion of the outer wall followed by an internal widening, wherein the said internally thicker portion extends in the downstream direction over a sufficiently short distance that the sparks formed in the restriction and carried by the exhaust gases in the downstream direction are struck between the wider downstream portion of the inner electrode and the internal widening of the downstream portion of the outer wall.

Claim 4

A device according to claim 1, comprising a rod of an electrically conducting material, mounted axially and extending the inner electrode in a downstream direction beyond the wider portion and electrically connected to the inner electrode.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 1, comprising a flame stabilizer in the combustion chamber, downstream of the inner electrode.

Claim 6

A device according to claim 1, comprising in addition a passage within the inner electrode, adapted to receive a part of the exhaust gases upstream of the annular channel and discharging into the combustion chamber near the outlet restriction of the said annular channel.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 5, comprising meanS for imparting a rotational movement to the gases leaving the said passage.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 5, comprising means for imparting to the gases leaving the said passage a rotaTional movement in the opposite sense to the rotational movement imparted to the gases flowing through the annular channel.

Claim 9

A device according to claim 5, wherein the said passage leads into the combustion chamber at the outlet of the restriction formed at the outlet of the annular channel.

Claim 10

A device according to claim 8, wherein the inner electrode comprises a structure having the general form of a funnel with its expanding portion pointing in the downward direction and forming the wider portion of the inner electrode, wherein a deflecting element is located downstream of the said wider portion so as to define an annular outlet from the passage, and arms connecting the wider portion with the deflecting element to fix and center the same within the said structure.

Claim 11

A device according to claim 9 in which the said arms are vanes adapted to impart a rotational movement to the gases in the annular outlet of the passage.

Claim 12

A device according to claim 9, wherein the said arms are vanes adapted to impart to the gases within the annular outlet of the passage a rotational movement in the opposite sense to the rotational movement of the gases within the annular channel. 12, A device for mounting on the exhaust system of a heat engine for burning the unburnt constituents in the exhaust gases of the engine which may contain additional air, comprising an outer wall of an electrically conducting material defining a conduit for the exhaust gases, and having an upstream portion and a downstream portion electrically insulated from the upstream portion and surrounding a combustion chamber; an auxiliary electrode in the general form of a sleeve or collar defining an annular channel inside the upstream portion of the wall; vanes of an electrically conducting material and forming part of the auxiliary electrode to fix and center the same within the upstream portion of the wall, wherein the vanes are inclined to impart a rotational movement to the exhaust gases in the annular channel; an internal electrode having an upstream portion which defines an annular passage inside the auxiliary electrode and a wider downstream portion which defines with a downstream end of the auxiliary electrode a restricted annular outlet for the passage, leading radially into the outlet of the annular channel; connecting elements for fixing and centering the inner electrode in the auxiliary electrode and for insulating these electrically against each other; means producing an electrical differential voltage between the vanes and the auxiliary electrode to form sparks between the downstream end of the auxiliary electrode and the wider downstream end of the inner electrode; and means for applying to the downstream part of the wall a potential adapted to produce sparking between the said downstream wall part and the said electrodes.

Claim 13

A device according to claim 12, comprising means for imparting a rotational movement to the gases within the said annular passage.

Claim 14

A device according to claim 12, comprising means for imparting to the gases in the annular passage a rotational movement in the opposite direction to the rotational movement imparted to the gases in the annular channel.