US4359864A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Burn-out type cleaning means for particulate filter of engine exhaust system
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
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Filing: 1981-02-05
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Granted: 1982-11-23
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Expires: 2001-02-05
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for raising the temperature of internal combustion engine exhaust gases high enough to burn collected particulate material from particulate filter means (27/56) in the exhaust system. An electrical resistance heating element (37/71) which confronts only a small part of the inlet surface of particulate filter means (27/56) is moved relative to said inlet surface so as to progressively and cyclically burn the particulates from the filter means.
Inventors
- 👤 John M. Bailey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:37
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N3/00; F01N3/02; F01N3/021; F01N3/023; F01N3/027; F01N3/0214; F01N3/0215; F01N2310/00; F01N2310/14; F01N2330/00; F01N2330/06; F01N2330/12; F01N2470/00; F01N2470/18; F01N2530/00; F01N2530/26; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
In an engine exhaust particulate filter (10/53) including filter means (27/56) for trapping particulates as exhaust gas passes from an inlet surface (28b-29b/56a) to an opposite surface (28c-29c/56b) thereof, the improvement comprising: electrical heating element means (32/71) for heating the exhaust gas passing to a localized portion of said inlet surface (28b-29b/56a) of said filter means (27/56) to a level at which said gases ignite particulates trapped in the filter means (27/56); and drive means (35/77) for moving said electrical heating element means (37/71) confrontingly in immediate juxtaposition to said entire inlet surface (28b-29b/56a) so the locally heated exhaust gas progressively ignites the particulates trapped in the entire filter means (27/56) as said electrical hating element means (37/71) moves confrontingly over said inlet surface (28b-29b/56a).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
In an engine exhaust particulate filter (10/53) including filter means (27/56) for trapping particulates as exhaust gas passes from an inlet surface (28b-29b/56a) to an opposite surface (28c-29c/56b) thereof, the improvement comprising: electrical heating element means (32/71) for heating the exhaust gas passing to a localized portion of said inlet surface (28b-29b/56a) of said filter means (27/56) to a level at which said gases ignite particulates trapped in the filter means (27/56); and drive means (35/77) for moving said electrical heating element means (37/71) confrontingly in immediate juxtaposition to said entire inlet surface (28b-29b/56a) so the locally heated exhaust gas progressively ignites the particulates trapped in the entire filter means (27/56) as said electrical hating element means (37/71) moves confrontingly over said inlet surface (28b-29b/56a).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
The combination of claim 1 in which the filter means (56) has a circular inlet surface (56a), support means (61) for one end of the electrical heating element means (71) is close to said circular inlet surface (56a) and aligned with the center (70) thereof, said heating element (71) extends radially from said support (61), and the drive (77-78) means rotates the heating element (71) about said support means (61).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination of claim 2 in which the support means (61) is a tube, electrical connections (76) for the electrical heating element means (71) extend through said tube, and there is a rotary electrical contact (63-64) at the end of the tube (61) remote from the electrical heating element means (71).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
The combination of claim 1 in which the particulate filter (10) includes a manifold (13) which has a foraminous wall, the filter means (27) comprises a multiplicity of pairs of filter elements (28-29) extending laterally from said manifold (13) so that exhaust gases pass through the foramina (23) of the manifold (13) and then from the inlet surface (28b-29b) through one or another of said filter elements (28-29), in which the electrical heating element means (37) is within the manifold, and in which the drive means (35) reciprocates the electrical heating element means (37) along the manifold (13) to confront the inlet surfaces (28b-29b) of said multiplicity of pairs of filter elements (28-29) seriatim.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination of claim 4 which includes a support (34) for the electrical heating element means (37) which has a longitudinal axis essentially parallel to the foraminous wall, and the electrical heating element means (37) is in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis, and said electrical heating element means (37) is narrow and confronts only a few of said foramina (23) at any one time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination of claim 5 in which the foraminous manifold wall is a right circular cylinder, the filter elements (28-29) surround said cylinder, the support (34) for the electrical heating element means (37) is a rod effectively on the longitudinal axis of said cylinder, and the electrical heating element means (37) is an annulus effectively concentric with the foraminous wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 6 which includes a shroud (36) operatively associated with the electrical heating element means (37) to limit the flow of gases around said element (37).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination of claim 1 or 2 or 4 or 6 which includes an electrical control circuit for the drive means (35/77) and for the electrical heating element means (37/71) energizing means including a pressure-sensitive switch (39) to initiate operation of the cleaning means responsive to a predetermined pressure drop across the filter means (37/56).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
In an engine exhaust particulate filter (10/53) including filter means (27/56) for trapping particulates as exhaust gas passes from an inlet surface (28b-29b/56a) to an opposite surface (28c-29c/56b) thereof, the improvement comprising: heating means (37/71) for heating the exhaust gas passing to a localized portion of said inlet surface (28b-29b/56a) of said filter means (27/56) to a level at which said gas ignites particulates trapped in the filter means (27/56); and drive means (37/77) for moving said heating means (37/71) confrontingly in immediate juxtaposition to said entire inlet surface (28b-29b/56a) so the locally heated exhaust gas progressively ignites the particulates trapped in the entire filter means (27/56).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
107 words
In an engine exhaust particulate filter (10/53) including filter means (27/56) for trapping particulates as exhaust gas passes from an inlet surface (28b-29b/56a) to an opposite surface (28c-29c/56b) thereof, the improvement comprising: heating means (37/71) for heating the exhaust gas passing to a localized portion of said inlet surface (28b-29b/56a) of said filter means (27/56) to a level at which said gas ignites particulates trapped in the filter means (27/56); and drive means (37/77) for moving said heating means (37/71) confrontingly in immediate juxtaposition to said entire inlet surface (28b-29b/56a) so the locally heated exhaust gas progressively ignites the particulates trapped in the entire filter means (27/56).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-11-22 | 1986-05-24 | 1986-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-11-22 | 1990-05-24 | 1990-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-11-22 | 1994-05-24 | 1994-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |