Thermal reactor with relatively movable internal pipe sections

Claim 2

A thermal reactor having an entrance and a discharge end for use with exhaust systems of internal combustion engines comprising: an internal pipe divided into a plurality of separate sections in communication with each other B1 and disposed adjacently to each other along the longitudinal axis of the reactor; joint means interconnecting two of said internal pipe sections; an external tubular sleeve surrounding at least one of said separate sections of said internal pipe and radially spaced therefrom to form an annular cavity therebetween, the ends of said external sleeve being connected in an air-tight manner to said internal pipe; insulating material inserted in a portion of the annular cavity between said external sleeve and said internal pipe section, the portion of the reactor so insulated defining a reaction zone; and a pressure equalization chamber disposed adjacent and rearwardly of said reaction zone and defined by that portion of the annular cavity between said external sleeve and said internal pipe section in which no insulation is present, said pressure equalization chamber being in flow communication with said internal pipe by way of said joint means.

Claim 3

A thermal reactor as claimed in claim 1 wherein adjacent ends of adjacent pipe sections and slidingly joined together to form a joint permitting relative overlapping movement therebetween to accommodate expansion of the internal pipe sections, the end of each pipe section being slidingly received and supported in the adjacent end of the adjacent pipe section.

Claim 4

The thermal reactor as claimed in claim 2 wherein the exit end of at least one of said pipe sections has concentric wall portions forming an annular recess therebetween, the entrance end of an adjacent pipe section being slidably received in the annular recess with minimum axial gap formed between the entrance end and the end of the annular recess to form a labyrinth type joint between the entrance end and the exit end of the adjacent joined internal pipe sections.

Claim 5

The thermal reactor as claimed in claim 3 wherein the entrance end is received in the annular recess of the adjacent exit end and radially spaced a minimum distance from the concentric portions forming a pocket shaped cavity with the axial gap located between the entrance and exit ends.

Claim 6

The thermal reactor as claimed in claim 2 wherein the internal pipe section located within the reaction zone extends outwardly from the reaction zone toward the discharge end of the reactor, and the entrance end of the adjacent pipe section slidingly received and supported in the exit end of the pipe section in the reaction zone with the sliding contact therebetween located at the discharge end of the reaction zone.

Claim 7

The thermal reactor as claimed in claim 5 wherein the sliding connection between the exit end and entrance end permits the loss of a slight amount of gas from the connection as the gas passes therebetween.

Claim 8

The thermal reactor as claimed in claim 5 wherein the internal pipe has an expanded diameter in the area forming the reaction zone with resPect to the diameter of said entrance end so as to slow the flow of gas therethrough.

Claim 9

The thermal reactor as claimed in claim 5 wherein the exit end of the pipe section has concentric wall portions forming an annular recess therebetween, the entrance end of the adjacent pipe section being slidably received in the annular recess with slight axial and radial gap clearance between the exit and entrance ends.

Claim 10

The thermal reactor as clained in claim 8 wherein the axial and radial gaps formed between the entrance end and the walls of the annular recess form a labyrinth-type joint therebetween so as to require that gases to penetrate the joint must first reverse flow direction to enter the annular recess, and then again reverse direction of flow to exit from the annular recess.

Claim 11

The thermal reactor as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a pipe located forwardly of the internal pipe reaction zone, the forward pipe being subdivided into a plurality of branch pipes, the entry end of each branch pipe adapted for mounting to an exhaust from a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, an external sleeve spaced from and surrounding the branch pipes having one end mounted to the housing of the engine, the length of each branch pipe being a selected multiple of its diameter, and the discharge end of each branch pipe combining at a common connecting point prior to the entrance end of the internal pipe to equalize the different expansions of the branch pipes occurring during the heating of the same.

Claim 12

The thermal reactor as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a forward pipe section located forwardly of the internal pipe, the pipe section being subdivided with each section discharging into the internal pipe, an abutment mounted of the exit end of the forward pipe section, a second abutment mounted on the entrance end of the internal pipe adapted to engage the first abutment and support the entrance end of the internal pipe in an axial direction thereon, whereby in a heated condition the internal pipe may axially expand at the sliding connection in the direction of the flow of gases.

Claim 13

The thermal reactor as claimed in claim 11 wherein the first and second abutments have a minimum line-of-contact therebetween providing the minimal heat transfer between the internal pipe and external sleeve.

Claim 14

A thermal reactor having an entrance and a discharge end for use with exhaust systems of internal combustion engines comprising an internal pipe divided into a plurality of separate sections in communication with each other, an external tubular sleeve surrounding at least one of said separate sections of said internal pipe and radially spaced therefrom to form an annular cavity therebetween, the ends of said external sleeve being connected in an air-tight manner to said internal pipe, insulating material inserted in the annular cavity between said external sleeve and said internal pipe section, the adjacent ends of adjacent pipe sections being slidingly joined together to form a joint permitting relative overlapping movement therebetween, the end of each pipe section being slidingly received and supported in the adjacent end of the adjacent pipe section, a reaction zone defined by the portion of the internal pipe having the insulating material therearound, the internal pipe extending outwardly from the reaction zone toward the discharge end of the reactor, the internal pipe having a pipe section located in the reaction zone, and the entrance end of the adjacent pipe section slidingly received and supported in the exit end of the pipe section in the reaction zone with the sliding contact therebetween located at the discharge end of the reaction zone, the exit end of the pipe section having concentric wall portions forming an annular recess therebetween, the entrance end of the adjacent pipe section being slidably received in the annular recess with slight axial and radial gap clearance between the exit and entrance ends, the axial and radial gaps formed between the entrance enD and the walls of the annular recess forming a labyrinth-type joint therebetween so as to require that gases to penetrate the joint must first reverse flow direction to enter the annular recess, and then again reverse direction of flow to exit from the annular recess, and a chamber disposed rearwardly of the reaction zone between the internal pipe and external sleeve, the chamber being sealed to the atmosphere with the gases exiting from the annular recess directly into the chamber.

Claim 15

A thermal reactor having an entrance and a discharge end for use with exhaust systems of internal combustion engines comprising an internal pipe divided into a plurality of separate sections in communication with each other, an external tubular sleeve surrounding at least one of said separate sections of said internal pipe and radially spaced therefrom to form an annular cavity therebetween, the ends of said external sleeve being connected in an air-tight manner to said internal pipe, insulating material inserted in the annular cavity between said external sleeve and said internal pipe section, the adjacent ends of adjacent pipe sections being slidingly joined together to form a joint permitting relative overlapping movement therebetween, the end of each pipe section being slidingly received and supported in the adjacent end of the adjacent pipe section, a reaction zone defined by the portion of the internal pipe having the insulating material therearound, the internal pipe extending outwardly from the reaction zone toward the discharge end of the reactor, the internal pipe having a pipe section located in the reaction zone, and the entrance end of the adjacent pipe section slidingly received and supported in the exit end of the pipe section in the reaction zone with the sliding contact therebetween located at the discharge end of the reaction zone, the exit end of the pipe section having concentric wall portions forming an annular recess therebetween, the entrance end of the adjacent pipe section being slidably received in the annular recess with slight axial and radial gap clearance between the exit and entrance ends, the axial and radial gaps formed between the entrance enD and the walls of the annular recess forming a labyrinth-type joint therebetween so as to require that gases to penetrate the joint must first reverse flow direction to enter the annular recess, and then again reverse direction of flow to exit from the annular recess, and a chamber disposed rearwardly of the reaction zone between the internal pipe and external sleeve, the chamber being sealed to the atmosphere with the gases exiting from the annular recess directly into the chamber.

Claim 16

The thermal reactor as claimed in claim 13 wherein the chamber is in partial communication with the insulating material located in the area of the reaction zone.

Claim 17

A thermal reactor having an entrance and a discharge end for use with exhaust systems of internal combustion engines comprising an internal pipe divided into a plurality of separate sections in communication with each other, an external tubular sleeve surrounding at least one of said separate sections of said internal pipe and radially spaced therefrom to form an annular cavity therebetween, the ends of said external sleeve being connected in an air-tight manner to said internal pipe, insulating material inserted in the annular cavity between said external sleeve and said internal pipe section, the adjacent ends of adjacent pipe sections being slidingly joined together to form a joint permitting relative overlapping movement therebetween, the end of each pipe section being slidingly received and supported in the adjacent end of the adjacent pipe section, the exit end of at least one of said pipe sections having concentric wall portions forming an annular recess therebetween, the entrance end of an adjacent pipe section being slidably received in the annular recess with minimum axial gap formed between the entrance end and the end of the annular recess to form a labyrinth type joint between the entrance end and the exit end of the adjacent joined internal pipe sections, the entrance end being received in the annular recess of the adjacent exit end and radially spaced a minimum distance from the concentric portions forming a pocket shaped cavity with the axial gap located between the entrance and exit ends, and a pressure equalization chamber defined between a portion of the internal pipe and a portion of the external sleeve, the radial spacing between the outermost wall surface of the entrance end and the innermost wall surface of the outermost concentric wall discharging into the pressure equalization chamber.

Claim 18

A thermal reactor having an entrance and a discharge end for use with exhaust systems of internal combustion engines comprising an internal pipe divided into a plurality of separate sections in communication with each other, an external tubular sleeve surrounding at least one of said separate sections of said internal pipe and radially spaced therefrom to form an annular cavity therebetween, the ends of said external sleeve being connected in an air-tight manner to said internal pipe, insulating material inserted in the annular cavity between said external sleeve and said internal pipe section, the adjacent ends of adjacent pipe sections being slidingly joined together to form a joint permitting relative overlapping movement therebetween, the end of each pipe section being slidingly received and supported in the adjacent end of the adjacent pipe section, the exit end of at least one of said pipe sections having concentric wall portions forming an annular recess therebetween, the entrance end of an adjacent pipe section being slidably received in the annular recess with minimum axial gap formed between the entrance end and the end of the annular recess to form a labyrinth type joint between the entrance end and the exit end of the adjacent joined internal pipe sections, the entrance end being received in the annular recess of the adjacent exit end and radially spaced a minimum distance from the concentric portions forming a pocket shaped cavity with the axial gap located between the entrance and exit ends, and a pressure equalization chamber defined between a portion of the internal pipe and a portion of the external sleeve, the radial spacing between the outermost wall surface of the entrance end and the innermost wall surface of the outermost concentric wall discharging into the pressure equalization chamber.

Claim 19

The thermal reactor as claimed in claim 15 wherein the pressure equalization chamber is located at the discharge end portion of the reactor immediately rearwardly of the end of the insulation material in the annular cavity.

Claim 20

A thermal reactor having an entrance and a discharge end for use with exhaust systems of internal combustion engines comprising an internal pipe divided into a plurality of separate sections in communication with each other, an external tubular sleeve surrounding at least one of said separate sections of said internal pipe and radially spaced therefrom to form an annular cavity therebetween, the ends of said external sleeve being connected in an air-tight manner to said internal pipe, insulating material inserted in the annular cavity between said external sleeve and said internal pipe section, the adjacent ends of adjacent pipe sections being slidingly joined together to form a joint permitting relative overlapping movement therebetween, the end of each pipe section being slidingly received and supported in the adjacent end of the adjacent pipe section, a reaction zone defined by the portion of the internal pipe having the insulating material therearound, the internal pipe extending outwardly from the reaction zone toward the discharge end of the reactor, the internal pipe having a pipe section located in the reaction zone, and the entrance end of the adjacent pipe section slidingly received and supported in the exit end of the pipe section in the reaction zone with the slidiNg contact therebetween located at the discharge end of the reaction zone, a forward pipe section located forwardly of the internal pipe, the pipe section being subdivided with each section discharging into the internal pipe, a first abutment mounted on the exit end of the forward pipe section, a second abutment mounted on the entrance end of the internal pipe adapted to engage the first abutment and support the entrance end of the internal pipe in an axial direction thereon, whereby in a heated condition the internal pipe may axially expand at the sliding connection in the direction of the flow of gases, and the first and second abutments covering only the upper portion of the circumference of the internal pipe and external sleeve.

Claim 21

A thermal reactor having an entrance and a discharge end for use with exhaust systems of internal combustion engines comprising an internal pipe divided into a plurality of separate sections in communication with each other, an external tubular sleeve surrounding at least one of said separate sections of said internal pipe and radially spaced therefrom to form an annular cavity therebetween, the ends of said external sleeve being connected in an air-tight manner to said internal pipe, insulating material inserted in the annular cavity between said external sleeve and said internal pipe section, the adjacent ends of adjacent pipe sections being slidingly joined together to form a joint permitting relative overlapping movement therebetween, the end of each pipe section being slidingly received and supported in the adjacent end of the adjacent pipe section, a reaction zone defined by the portion of the internal pipe having the insulating material therearound, the internal pipe extending outwardly from the reaction zone toward the discharge end of the reactor, the internal pipe having a pipe section located in the reaction zone, and the entrance end of the adjacent pipe section slidingly received and supported in the exit end of the pipe section in the reaction zone with the slidiNg contact therebetween located at the discharge end of the reaction zone, a forward pipe section located forwardly of the internal pipe, the pipe section being subdivided with each section discharging into the internal pipe, a first abutment mounted on the exit end of the forward pipe section, a second abutment mounted on the entrance end of the internal pipe adapted to engage the first abutment and support the entrance end of the internal pipe in an axial direction thereon, whereby in a heated condition the internal pipe may axially expand at the sliding connection in the direction of the flow of gases, and the first and second abutments covering only the upper portion of the circumference of the internal pipe and external sleeve.