US4355504A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for reducing particles discharged by combustion means
Assignee: University of Minnesota System
•
Filing: 1980-12-11
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Granted: 1982-10-26
•
Expires: 2000-12-11
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for controlling particulate emissions from a combustion apparatus, such as a diesel engine. Diesel engine exhaust particles are electrically charged during the formation of the particles in the engine combustion chambers. A particle collector is used to collect the electrically charged particles on collecting structures connected to a high voltage power supply and ground. The collecting structures of the particle collector can be a plurality of parallel metal plates, spaced cylindrical rods, or concentrically located cylindrical members. A fibrous matrix can be located adjacent the particle collecting structure to collect the charged particles as they move through the matrix. In one embodiment, the collected particles separate from the collecting structures and return to the engine intake. In another embodiment, a removable collecting cartridge has electrically conductive plates for collecting the charged particles. The entire cartridge is removed for cleaning or replacement. The hot exhaust gas from the engine can be used to oxidize the collected particles. The collected particles that are not oxidized can be separated from the collecting structures and re-entrained into the gas. The re-entrained particles are larger than the particles formed in the combustion apparatus. The large particles can be removed by a downstream particle collection device.
Inventors
- 👤 Benjamin Y. H. Liu
- 👤 David B. Kittelson
- 👤 Daniel F. Dolan
- 👤 David Y. H. Pui
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:25
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N3/00; F01N3/02; F01N3/037; F01N13/00; F01N13/009; F01N3/01; F01N3/021; F01N3/0211; F02; F02M; F02M26/00; F02M26/13; F02M26/14; F02M26/15; F01N2250/00; F01N2330/00; F01N2330/10; F01N2330/20; F01N2470/00; F01N2470/18; F02B; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12; Y10; Y10S; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 63
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus for reducing the amount of particles discharged into the atmosphere comprising: first means having at least one combustion chamber for receiving hydrocarbon fuel and air and accommodating combustion of the fuel and air, said combustion imparting electrical charges on at least some of the particles formed during the combustion of the fuel and air, during said imparting of electrical charges on the particles a substantially equal number of particles are positively charged and negatively charged whereby the particles as a whole are a substantially electrical neutral mass of particles, particle collecting means for collecting at least some of the charged particles, second means for directing the charged particles from the combustion chamber directly to the particle collecting means without subjecting the charged particles to a charging step with an intermediate particle charging means whereby the electrical charges on the particles remains substantially the same, and means associated with the particle collecting means to establish an electric field whereby at least some of the charged particles moving into the electric field are collected on the collecting means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus for reducing the amount of particles discharged into the atmosphere comprising: first means having at least one combustion chamber for receiving hydrocarbon fuel and air and accommodating combustion of the fuel and air, said combustion imparting electrical charges on at least some of the particles formed during the combustion of the fuel and air, during said imparting of electrical charges on the particles a substantially equal number of particles are positively charged and negatively charged whereby the particles as a whole are a substantially electrical neutral mass of particles, particle collecting means for collecting at least some of the charged particles, second means for directing the charged particles from the combustion chamber directly to the particle collecting means without subjecting the charged particles to a charging step with an intermediate particle charging means whereby the electrical charges on the particles remains substantially the same, and means associated with the particle collecting means to establish an electric field whereby at least some of the charged particles moving into the electric field are collected on the collecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said first means is a diesel engine having a plurality of combustion chambers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the particle collecting means has first particle collecting elements and second particle collecting elements, and high voltage means connected to the first particle collecting elements to provide an electric field between the first and second particle collecting elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein: the first and second particle collecting elements are generally flat plates located generally parallel to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein: the first and second particle collecting elements are rods located generally parallel to each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein: the first and second particle collecting elements include a plurality of concentrically located cylindrical members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 3 including: filter means associated with the first and second particle collecting elements operable to collect particles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: the filter means comprises a body of non-electrical conductive fibers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the particle collector means is located in close proximity to the exhaust means of the combustion chamber whereby the heat of the exhaust gas oxidizes the particles collected by the particle collecting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including: particle separating means coupled to the particle collecting means operable to collect the collected particles that separate from the particle cellecting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the particle collecting means has a housing having a chamber, first particle collecting elements located in the chamber and mounted on the housing, means connecting the first particle collecting elements to ground, second particle collecting elements located in the chamber adjacent the first particle collecting elements and mounted on the housing, the high voltage means connected to the first particle collecting elements to provide an electric field between the first and second particle collecting elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: said housing includes a cover removable from the housing, and means mounting the second particle collecting elements on the cover.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: the first and second particle collecting elements are generally flat plates located generally parallel to each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: the first and second particle collecting elements are rods located generally parallel to each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: the first and second particle collecting elements inlcude a plurality of concentrically located cylindrical members.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: said housing has passage means for receiving collected particles, and means for carrying the collected particles back to the first means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said first means is a diesel engine having a combustion chamber, said particle collecting means having a housing having a chamber, first particle collecting elements and second particle collecting elements located in the housing chamber and mounted on the housing, means connecting the first particle collecting elements to ground, and high voltage means connected to the second particle collecting elements to provide an electric field between the first and second particle collecting elements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein: said housing includes a cover removable from the housing, and means mounting the second particle collecting elements on the cover.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein: the first and second particle collecting elements are generally flat plates located generally parallel to each other.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein: the first and second particle collecting elements are rods located generally parallel to each other.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein: the first and second particle collecting elements include a plurality of concentrically located cylindrical members.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein: said housing has passage means for receiving collected particles, and means for carrying the collected particles back to the diesel engine.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein: the housing includes a removable cover, said first and second particle collecting elements being mounted on said cover.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein: the first and second particle collecting elements each include plate means mounted on the cover and a plurality of rods mounted on the plate means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 17 including: filter means associated with the first and second particle collecting elements operable to collect particles.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein: the filter means comprise a body of non-electrical conductive fibers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein: the particle collector means is located in close proximity to the exhaust means of the combustion chamber whereby the heat of the exhaust gas oxidizes the particles collected by the particle collecting means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 17 including: particle separating means coupled to the particle collecting means to collect the collected particles that separate from the particle collecting means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein: said particle collecting means has a housing having a chamber, a removable cartridge located in the chamber having first and second particle collecting elements, means connecting the first elements to ground, and high voltage means connecting to the second elements to provide an electric field between the first and second elements.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein: the first and second elements are generally flat plates.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein: the cartridge is a tubular unit surrounding the first and second particle collecting elements.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein: the means connecting the first elements to ground include releasable electrical connecting means mounted on the housing.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 29 including: releasable electrical connecting means mounted on the housing for connecting the second elements to the high voltage means.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for reducing the amount of particles discharged into the atmosphere comprising: a diesel engine having a combustion chamber for receiving hydrocarbon fuel and air and accommodating combustion of the fuel and air, said combustion forming a substantial number of particles which are positively charged and negatively charged whereby the particles as a whole are a substantially electrical neutral mass of particles, a particle collector having particle collecting means for collecting the charged particles, means for directing the charged particles from the diesel engine directly to the particle collecting means without subjecting the charged particles to a charging step with an intermediate particle charging means whereby the electrical charges on the particles remains substantially the same, and means associated with the particle collecting means to establish an electric field whereby the charged particles moving into the electric field are collected on the collecting means.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for reducing the amount of particles discharged into the atmosphere comprising: a diesel engine having a combustion chamber for receiving hydrocarbon fuel and air and accommodating combustion of the fuel and air, said combustion forming a substantial number of particles which are positively charged and negatively charged whereby the particles as a whole are a substantially electrical neutral mass of particles, a particle collector having particle collecting means for collecting the charged particles, means for directing the charged particles from the diesel engine directly to the particle collecting means without subjecting the charged particles to a charging step with an intermediate particle charging means whereby the electrical charges on the particles remains substantially the same, and means associated with the particle collecting means to establish an electric field whereby the charged particles moving into the electric field are collected on the collecting means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 34 wherein: the particle collecting means has first particle collecting elements and second particle collecting elements, and high voltage means connected to the first particle collecting elements to provide an electric field between the first and second particle collecting elements.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 35 wherein: the first and second particle collecting elements are generally flat plates located generally parallel to each other.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 35 wherein: the first and second particle collecting elements are rods located generally parallel to each other.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 35 wherein: the first and second particle collecting elements include a plurality of concentrically located cylindrical members.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 35 including: filter means associated with the first and second particle collecting elements operable to collect particles.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 39 wherein: the filter means comprise a body of non-electrical conductive fibers.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 34 wherein: the particle collector means is located in close proximity to the exhaust means of the combustion chamber whereby the heat of the exhaust gas oxidizes the particles collected by the particle collecting means.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 34 including: particle separating means coupled to the particle collecting means operable to collect the collected particles that separate from the particle collecting means.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 34 wherein: said particle collecting means has a housing having a chamber, a removable cartridge located in the chamber having first and second particle collecting elements, means connecting the first elements to ground, and high voltage means connected to the second elements to provide an electric field between the first and second elements.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 43 wherein: the first and second elements are generally flat plates.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 43 wherein: the cartridge is a tubular unit surrounding the first and particle collecting elements.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 43 wherein: the means connecting the first elements to ground include releasable electrical connecting means mounted on the housing.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 43 including: releasable electrical connecting means mounted on the housing for connecting the second elements to the high voltage means.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
150 words
An apparatus useable with a diesel engine for reducing the amount of particles discharged into the atmosphere by the diesel engine, said diesel engine having combustion chamber means for receiving hydrocarbon fuel and air and accommodating combustion of the fuel and air, said combustion forming a substantial number of particles which are positively charged and negatively charged whereby the particles as a whole are a substantially electrical neutral mass of particles, comprising: particle collecting means or collecting the charged particles, means for directing the charged particles from the diesel engine directly to the particle collecting means without subjecting the charged particles to a charging step with an intermediate particle charging means whereby the electrical charges on the particles remains substantially the same, and means associated with the particle collecting means to establish an electric field whereby the charged particles moving into the electric field are collected on the collecting means.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
150 words
An apparatus useable with a diesel engine for reducing the amount of particles discharged into the atmosphere by the diesel engine, said diesel engine having combustion chamber means for receiving hydrocarbon fuel and air and accommodating combustion of the fuel and air, said combustion forming a substantial number of particles which are positively charged and negatively charged whereby the particles as a whole are a substantially electrical neutral mass of particles, comprising: particle collecting means or collecting the charged particles, means for directing the charged particles from the diesel engine directly to the particle collecting means without subjecting the charged particles to a charging step with an intermediate particle charging means whereby the electrical charges on the particles remains substantially the same, and means associated with the particle collecting means to establish an electric field whereby the charged particles moving into the electric field are collected on the collecting means.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 48 wherein: the particle collecting means has first particle collecting elements and second particle collecting elements, and high voltage means connected to the first particle collecting elements to provide an electric field between the first and second particle collecting elements.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 49 wherein: the first and second particle collecting elements are generally flat plates located generally parallel to each other.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 49 wherein: the first and second particle collecting elements are rods located generally parallel to each other.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 49 wherein: the first and second particle collecting elements include a plurality of concentrically located cylindrical members.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 49 including: filter means associated with the first and second particle collecting elements operable to collect particles.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 53 wherein: the filter means comprise a body of non-electrical conductive fibers.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 48 including: particle separating means coupled to the particle collecting means operable to collect the collected particles that separated from the particle collecting means.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 48 wherein: said particle collecting means has a housing having a chamber, a removable cartridge located in the chamber having first and second particle collecting elements, means connecting the first elements to ground, and high voltage means connected to the second elements to provide an electric field between the first and second elements.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 56 wherein: the first and second elements are generally flat plates.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 56 wherein: the cartridge is a tubular unit surrounding the first and second particle collecting elements.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 56 wherein: the means connecting the first elements to ground include releasable electrical connecting means mounted on the housing.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 56 including: releasable electrical connecting means mounted on the housing for connecting the second elements to the high voltage means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-10-25 | 1986-04-26 | 1986-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-10-25 | 1990-04-26 | 1990-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-10-25 | 1994-04-26 | 1994-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |