Emissions control system for use in conjunction with an ic engine primary emissions control system

Claim 1

Apparatus for removing impurities from exhaust gases emitted by an internal combustion engine having an exhaust manifold into which engine exhaust gases are introduced for disposal, an exhaust pipe fluidically connected at an inlet end thereof to said exhaust manifold and having an outlet end, comprising (A) a primary emissions control system having a housing with an inlet end fluidically connected to said exhaust pipe outlet end, a catalyst material therein through which engine exhaust gases from said exhaust pipe flow, and an outlet end, (B) a tailpipe having an inlet end fluidically connected to said primary emissions control system outlet end; (C) a releasable coupling on said tailpipe adjacent to said tailpipe outlet; (D) an inlet conduit having an inlet end fluidically connected to said tailpipe outlet by said releasable coupling and an outlet; and (E) apparatus which cleans gases exhausted from said primary emissions control system and which includes (1) a tubular housing having an inlet fluidically connected to said inlet conduit outlet and receiving exhaust gases therefrom, (2) a central chamber defined in said tubular housing, said inlet conduit extending into said tubular housing central chamber, (3) exhaust gas treatment means in said central chamber, said exhaust gas treatment means including a cartridge, (4) first coupling means releasably connecting said cartridge to said inlet conduit, (5) a connecting conduit in said central chamber, (6) a second coupling means releasably connecting said cartridge to said connecting conduit, and (7) an exhaust gas flow control means in said central chamber and which is connected to said connecting conduit, said exhaust gas flow control means including (a) a fan having an inlet thereof fluidically connected to said connecting conduit and an outlet, (b) an exhaust conduit extending into said central chamber and having an inlet fluidically connected to said fan outlet and an outlet to atmosphere, (c) a motor mounted on said tubular housing and powering said fan, said motor being connected to an electrical system of the internal combustion engine, and (d) a control system connected to said fan motor and including a pressure sensor located in said engine exhaust manifold, a microprocessor connected to said pressure transducer and to said fan motor and varying fan speed as gas pressure in the engine exhaust manifold varies, said control system maintaining a preset pressure drop between the engine exhaust manifold and atmosphere, and (8) an access door in said tubular housing adjacent to said cartridge, said access door being sized to permit said cartridge to move into and out of said tubular housing via said access door.