US4720972A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low energy regeneration system for particulate trap for an internal combustion engine
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1986-10-17
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Granted: 1988-01-26
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Expires: 2006-10-17
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine such as a diesel engine which emits hydrocarbons and particulates is disclosed. The apparatus is for use with an engine having a primary exhaust conduit, a flow divider defining parallel exhaust conduits connected to the primary exhaust conduit, and a pair of particulate traps, one each disposed in each of the parallel exhaust conduits and each of said traps having a frontal face exposed to the exhaust gas flow and one of the parallel exhaust conduits. The apparatus comprises (a) a heat exchange means disposed in the primary exhaust conduit for reducing the temperature of the exhaust gases for promoting partial condensation of hydrocarbons; (b) syphon means to conduct a separate syphoned flow of exhaust gas from the primary exhaust conduit around the heat exchanger to the frontal face of each of the traps; (c) a pair of valves, each responsive to a pressure differential between the primary exhaust conduit and a different parallel exhaust conduit to separately control each flow of the exhaust gas through said syphon means; (d) flow control means for selectively promoting pressure differential between one of the parallel exhaust conduits and a primary exhaust conduit while dissipating any significant pressure difference between the primary exhaust conduit and the other parallel exhaust conduit; and (e) means to augment the heat of the syphoned exhaust gas to facilitate ignition of the collected particles at the frontal face of a trap exposed to such exhaust gas.
Inventors
- 👤 V. Durga N. Rao
- 👤 Wallace R. Wade
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:30
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N5/00; F01N5/02; F01N13/00; F01N13/011; F01N3/00; F01N3/02; F01N3/021; F01N3/023; F01N2410/00; F01N2410/04; F02; F02B; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
An apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine having (i) a primary exhaust conduit, (ii) a flow divider defining parallel exhaust conduits, and (iii) a pair of particulate traps, one disposed in each of the parallel exhaust conduits for collecting exhaust particles, each of said traps having a frontal face exposed to the exhaust gas flow in one of the parallel exhaust conduits, comprising: (a) heat exchange means disposed in said primary exhaust conduit for reducing the temperature of the exhaust gases; (b) separate syphon means to conduct a syphoned flow of said exhaust gas in said primary exhaust conduit around said heat exchanger to the frontal face of each of said traps; (c) separate valves, each responsive to a pressure differential between the primary exhaust conduit and a parallel exhaust conduit to control the flow of exhaust gas through each of said syphon means; (d) flow control means for selectively promoting a pressure differential between one of the parallel exhaust conduits and primary exhaust conduit while dissipating any significant pressure difference between the primary exhaust conduit and the other parallel exhaust conduit; and (e) means to augment the heat of said syphoned exhaust gas to facilitate ignition of said collected particles at the front face of a trap exposed to such exhaust gas.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
215 words
An apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine having (i) a primary exhaust conduit, (ii) a flow divider defining parallel exhaust conduits, and (iii) a pair of particulate traps, one disposed in each of the parallel exhaust conduits for collecting exhaust particles, each of said traps having a frontal face exposed to the exhaust gas flow in one of the parallel exhaust conduits, comprising: (a) heat exchange means disposed in said primary exhaust conduit for reducing the temperature of the exhaust gases; (b) separate syphon means to conduct a syphoned flow of said exhaust gas in said primary exhaust conduit around said heat exchanger to the frontal face of each of said traps; (c) separate valves, each responsive to a pressure differential between the primary exhaust conduit and a parallel exhaust conduit to control the flow of exhaust gas through each of said syphon means; (d) flow control means for selectively promoting a pressure differential between one of the parallel exhaust conduits and primary exhaust conduit while dissipating any significant pressure difference between the primary exhaust conduit and the other parallel exhaust conduit; and (e) means to augment the heat of said syphoned exhaust gas to facilitate ignition of said collected particles at the front face of a trap exposed to such exhaust gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, in which the temperature of said exhaust gas in said primary exhaust conduit is in the range of 300°-900° F. and said heat exchange means is effective to reduce said temperature to the range of 200°-500° F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, in which said means to augment is only utilized when said exhaust gas temperature in said primary exhaust conduit is below 900° F.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, in which said reduced temperature is to a range which encourages condensation of hydrocarbons.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, in which said separate valves each comprise a flap valve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, in which said flow control means is responsive to the back-pressure at a trap face to initiate the pressure differential and establish ignition of said collected particles in that temperature range.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, in which said flow control means comprises a butterfly valve in each of said parallel exhaust conduits.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, in which said syphoned flow is in the range of 3-8 cfm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, in which said flow control means is selectively actuated in response to a timing mechanism having a predetermined interval.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, in which said means to augment is effective to heat the exhaust gas to 1400° F. within three minutes with a low range cfm and to augment the heating of the exhaust gas to 950° F. within three minutes with high range cfm, such as 8 cfm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, in which said means to augment is comprised of an electric heater coup led with a catalytic material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as in claim 11, in which said catalytic material is comprised of a low SO 2 active oxidation catalyst such as palladium, tungsten or platinum-palladium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, in which said means to augment comprises a sheathed resistor type heating element embedded in a catalytically coated matrix of ceramic woven fiber or cellular foam, said resistor having a heating capacity of about 2000 watts.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of regenerating a particulate trap of an internal combustion engine having exhaust gas arranged to pass through said trap for making said collection, the method comprising: (a) reducing the temperature of said exhaust gas received from a primary exhaust conduit to facilitate condensation of hydrocarbons on said particulates; (b) dividing said exhaust flow between parallel exhaust conduits; (c) interposing a trap in each of said parallel exhaust conduits; (d) selectively syphoning a portion of said exhaust gas around said heat exchanger without substantial loss of heat to thereby expose said portion to the frontal face of one trap; and (e) augmenting the temperature of said syphoned exhaust gas, if needed, to ignite the particulates of said one trap.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of regenerating a particulate trap of an internal combustion engine having exhaust gas arranged to pass through said trap for making said collection, the method comprising: (a) reducing the temperature of said exhaust gas received from a primary exhaust conduit to facilitate condensation of hydrocarbons on said particulates; (b) dividing said exhaust flow between parallel exhaust conduits; (c) interposing a trap in each of said parallel exhaust conduits; (d) selectively syphoning a portion of said exhaust gas around said heat exchanger without substantial loss of heat to thereby expose said portion to the frontal face of one trap; and (e) augmenting the temperature of said syphoned exhaust gas, if needed, to ignite the particulates of said one trap.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as in claim 14, in which said reduction of temperature is carried out by use of a heat exchanger and the extracted heat is conveyed for utilization in heating. the cabin of said vehicle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as in claim 14, in which said temperature to which said exhaust gas is reduced is from 300°-1000° F. to the range of 200°-600° F.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as in claim 14, in which each of said traps are comprised of cellular wall flow honeycomb filter design.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as in claim 14, in which said syphoning is initiated in response to a sensing of back-pressure immediately upstream of said trap when it exceeds a predetermined level.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as in claim 14, in which said temperature augmentation is carried out by use of an electric heater accompanied by catalytic material.
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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) | 1991-01-25 | 1991-07-27 | 1992-01-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-01-25 | 1995-07-27 | 1996-01-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-01-25 | 1999-07-27 | 2000-01-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |