US4979364A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Diesel fuel exhaust gas filter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-03-02
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Granted: 1990-12-25
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Expires: 2009-03-02
Abstract
Abstract Soot particles are separated from diesel exhaust gases and burned by passing them in a direction of flow through a cellular filter open at both ends and comprised of honeycomb-shaped cells, and subjecting the soot particles to an electric or magnetic field before the soot particles are burned. The honeycomb-shaped cells are very wide transversely to the direction of flow and very flat in the direction of flow, and the webs of the honeycomb-shaped cells extending in the direction of flow are very thin.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl M. Fleck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:55
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N3/00; F01N3/02; F01N3/021; F01N3/033; B; B03; B03C; B03C1/00; B03C1/02; B03C1/023; B03C3/00; B03C3/017; B03C3/02; B03C3/04; B03C3/06; F01N3/01; B03C2201/00; B03C2201/30; F02; F02B; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12; Y10; Y10S; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of separating soot particles from diesel fuel exhaust gases and burning the separated soot particles, which comprises the step of separating the soot particles by passing them in a direction of flow through a cellular filter open at both ends and comprised of honeycomb-shaped cells, and subjecting the soot particles in the cellular filter to a field extending perpendicularly to said direction before the soot particles are burned.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of separating soot particles from diesel fuel exhaust gases and burning the separated soot particles, which comprises the step of separating the soot particles by passing them in a direction of flow through a cellular filter open at both ends and comprised of honeycomb-shaped cells, and subjecting the soot particles in the cellular filter to a field extending perpendicularly to said direction before the soot particles are burned.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of controlling the amount of soot particles charged into the cellular filter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the amount of soot particles charged into the cellular filter is controlled by measuring the electrical resistance of the filter to the passage of the soot particles transversely to the direction of flow.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the amount of soot particles charged into the cellular filter is controlled by comparing the electrical resistance of the filter to the passage of the soot particles in, and transversely to, the direction of flow.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of separating soot particles from diesel fuel exhaust gases and burning the separated soot particles, which comprises the steps of separating the soot particles by passing them in a direction of flow through a cellular filter open at both ends and comprised of honeycomb-shaped cells, subjecting the soot particles in the cellular filter to an electric field extending perpendicularly to the direction of flow before the soot particles are burned, and delivering ohmic heat to the cellular filter due to the inner resistance of the filter to the electric field applied to the filter.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of separating soot particles from diesel fuel exhaust gases and burning the separated soot particles, which comprises the steps of separating the soot particles by passing them in a direction of flow through a cellular filter open at both ends and comprised of honeycomb-shaped cells, subjecting the soot particles in the cellular filter to an electric field extending perpendicularly to the direction of flow before the soot particles are burned, and delivering ohmic heat to the cellular filter due to the inner resistance of the filter to the electric field applied to the filter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5, comprising the further step of controlling the heat delivered to the filter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the electric field for separating the soot particles delivers the ohmic heat to the filter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the electric field is applied to the filter to deliver ohmic heat only after the filter has been charged with a predetermined amount of soot particles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the electric field is applied to the filter to deliver ohmic heat only after the filter has attained a predetermined operating temperature.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for separating soot particles from diesel fuel exhaust gases, which comprises (a) a cellular filter open at both ends and comprised of honeycomb-shaped cells wherethrough the soot particles are passed in a direction of flow, and (b) means for applying a field extending perpendicularly to the direction of flow to the cellular filter, (1) the honeycomb-shaped cells having a cross section of substantially larger dimension perpendicularly to the direction of flow and to the extension of the field than perpendicularly to the direction of flow and in the direction of the extension of the field, and (2) the webs of the honeycomb-shaped cells extending in the direction of flow being very thin.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for separating soot particles from diesel fuel exhaust gases, which comprises (a) a cellular filter open at both ends and comprised of honeycomb-shaped cells wherethrough the soot particles are passed in a direction of flow, and (b) means for applying a field extending perpendicularly to the direction of flow to the cellular filter, (1) the honeycomb-shaped cells having a cross section of substantially larger dimension perpendicularly to the direction of flow and to the extension of the field than perpendicularly to the direction of flow and in the direction of the extension of the field, and (2) the webs of the honeycomb-shaped cells extending in the direction of flow being very thin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the ratio of the cross sectional dimension of the honeycomb-shaped cells perpendicularly to the direction of flow to that extending in the direction of flow is between 3:1 and 6:1.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the webs have a thickness not exceeding 0.5 mm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the webs of the honeycomb-shaped cells extending in the direction of the field are staggered from each other is superposed rows of the cells whereby the cellular filter in a cross section extending perpendicularly to the direction of flow resembles the structure of a brick wall.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the field is an electric field, further comprising a pair of plate electrodes extending parallel to the direction of flow wherebetween a high voltage is generated to apply the electric field, the cellular filter being arranged between the parallel plate electrodes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the cellular filter is of ceramic material and ceramic material envelops the plate electrodes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the electrode plates are of electrically conductive ceramic material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the cellular filter is of a material exhibiting a high electrical resistance in the direction of the electric field.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the field is an electric field and the filter is substantially annular, further comprising an inner electrode and an outer electrode wherebetween a high voltage is generated to apply the electric field, the electrodes conforming to the filter and the filter being so arranged between the inner and outer electrodes that wider webs of the cells extending parallel to the electrodes define smaller spaces therebetween and are connected by narrower webs of the cells extending in the direction of the field and defining larger spaces therebetween.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a heat-resistant jacket surrounding the outer electrode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a gas discharge path preceding the cellular filter in the direction of flow for electrically charging the soot particles.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the discharge path is defined by parallel wire discharge electrodes and counter-electrodes arranged upstream thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the counter-electrodes are cylindrical.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3558286A
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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) | 1993-12-24 | 1994-06-25 | 1994-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-24 | 1998-06-25 | 1998-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-24 | 2002-06-25 | 2002-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |