Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
An exhaust gas cleaning device for collecting and burning particulates contained within exhaust gases discharged from an internal combustion engine, comprising: a housing provided with an exhaust gas inlet port, an exhaust gas outlet port and at least one exhaust gas flowing passage which is formed between said ports so as to be communicated therewith; at least one particulates collecting member for collecting particulates, said member being disposed in said exhaust gas flowing passage and being composed of two filter elements made of heat resistant material and having a large number of small open passages; said two filter elements having different heat capacities, said filter elements being disposed in series within said exhaust gas flowing passage with said filter element having smaller heat capacity being positioned upstream of said filter element having larger heat capacity; and heating means for heating said filter elements and said particulates collected thereby, which is interposed between said filter elements so as to be closely contacted therewith; said filter elements being formed of ceramic foamed bodies of different volumes;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
An exhaust gas cleaning device for collecting and burning particulates contained within exhaust gases discharged from an internal combustion engine, comprising: a housing provided with an exhaust gas inlet port, an exhaust gas outlet port and at least one exhaust gas flowing passage which is formed between said ports so as to be communicated therewith; at least one particulates collecting member for collecting particulates, said member being disposed in said exhaust gas flowing passage and being composed of two filter elements made of heat resistant material and having a large number of small open passages; said two filter elements having different heat capacities, said filter elements being disposed in series within said exhaust gas flowing passage with said filter element having smaller heat capacity being positioned upstream of said filter element having larger heat capacity; and heating means for heating said filter elements and said particulates collected thereby, which is interposed between said filter elements so as to be closely contacted therewith; said filter elements being formed of ceramic foamed bodies of different volumes;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
175 words
An exhaust gas cleaning device for collecting and burning particulates contained within exhaust gases discharged from an internal combustion engine, comprising: a housing provided with an exhaust gas inlet port, an exhaust gas outlet port and at least one exhaust gas flowing passage which is formed between said ports so as to be communicated therewith; at least one particulates collecting member for collecting particulates, said member being disposed in said exhaust gas flowing passage and being composed of two filter elements made of heat resistant material and having a large number of small open passages; said two filter elements having different heat capacities, said filter elements being disposed in series within said exhaust gas flowing passage with said filter element having smaller heat capacity being positioned upstream of said filter element having larger heat capacity; and heating means for heating said filter elements and said particulates collected thereby, which is interposed between said filter elements so as to be closely contacted therewith; said filter elements being formed of stainless steel wool bodies having different densities.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
175 words
An exhaust gas cleaning device for collecting and burning particulates contained within exhaust gases discharged from an internal combustion engine, comprising: a housing provided with an exhaust gas inlet port, an exhaust gas outlet port and at least one exhaust gas flowing passage which is formed between said ports so as to be communicated therewith; at least one particulates collecting member for collecting particulates, said member being disposed in said exhaust gas flowing passage and being composed of two filter elements made of heat resistant material and having a large number of small open passages; said two filter elements having different heat capacities, said filter elements being disposed in series within said exhaust gas flowing passage with said filter element having smaller heat capacity being positioned upstream of said filter element having larger heat capacity; and heating means for heating said filter elements and said particulates collected thereby, which is interposed between said filter elements so as to be closely contacted therewith; said filter elements being formed of stainless steel wool bodies having different densities.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
179 words
An exhaust gas cleaning device for collecting and burning particulates contained within exhaust gases discharged from an internal combustion engine, comprising: a housing provided with an exhaust gas inlet port, an exhaust gas outlet port and at least one exhaust gas flowing passage which is formed between said ports so as to be communicated therewith; at least one particulates collecting member for collecting particulates, said member being disposed in said exhaust gas flowing passage and being composed of two filter elements made of heat resistant material and having a large number of small open passages; said two filter elements having different heat capacities, said filter elements being disposed in series within said exhaust gas flowing passage with said filter element having smaller heat capacity being positioned upstream of said filter element having larger heat capacity; and heating means for heating said filter elements and said particulates collected thereby, which is interposed between said filter elements so as to be closely contacted therewith; said filter elements being formed of bodies made of two kinds of material having different specific heats.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
179 words
An exhaust gas cleaning device for collecting and burning particulates contained within exhaust gases discharged from an internal combustion engine, comprising: a housing provided with an exhaust gas inlet port, an exhaust gas outlet port and at least one exhaust gas flowing passage which is formed between said ports so as to be communicated therewith; at least one particulates collecting member for collecting particulates, said member being disposed in said exhaust gas flowing passage and being composed of two filter elements made of heat resistant material and having a large number of small open passages; said two filter elements having different heat capacities, said filter elements being disposed in series within said exhaust gas flowing passage with said filter element having smaller heat capacity being positioned upstream of said filter element having larger heat capacity; and heating means for heating said filter elements and said particulates collected thereby, which is interposed between said filter elements so as to be closely contacted therewith; said filter elements being formed of bodies made of two kinds of material having different specific heats.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An exhaust gas cleaning device according to claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein: said heating means is composed of an electric heater provided with a resistance wire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
An exhaust gas cleaning device according to claims 1, 2 or 3, further comprising: means for detecting when the amount of the particulates collected by said particulates collecting member reaches a predetermined level and for operating an indicating signal; and means for operating said heating means for a predetermined period of time from the time when said indicating signal is operated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
An exhaust gas cleaning device according to claim 5, wherein: said heating means is composed of an electric heater.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
136 words
An exhaust gas cleaning device according to claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein: said housing is provided with two exhaust gas flowing passages each having therein a particulates collecting member and a heating means; and further comprising: exhaust gas diverter means within said housing for alternately directing the exhaust gases from said exhaust gas inlet port into either one of said two exhaust gas flowing passages; means for detecting when the amount of the particulates collected by each of said two particulates collecting members reaches a predetermined level and for generating a detecting signal; and means operable by said signal for operating said exhaust gas diverter means to direct the exhaust gases into one of said particulates collecting members when the amount of the particulates collected by the other particulates collecting member reaches a predetermined level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
An exhaust gas cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein; said heating means is composed of an electric heater; and timing means for operating said heater from the time when the amount of the particulates collected by said collecting member reaches said predetermined level until the temperature of the filter element having the smaller heat capacity rises above the combustion temperature of the particulates.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
An exhaust gas cleaning device according to claim 8, including: control means for operating said diverter means so as to flow a small amount of exhaust gases into one of said particulates collecting members when said electric heater therein stops operation.