Ceramic filter

Claim 1

A cordierite ceramic filter structure having rectangular shaped opposite ends and sides extending intermediate said ends and adjacent thereto, said filter structure having a plurality of clean gas channels forming outlets at one end thereof, said one end including a flange for mounting said ceramic filter structure in a housing, a plurality inlet channels forming inlets on one said side for gas to be filtered, and thin porous sections separating said inlet channels from said outlet channels for removing particulate from said gas to be filtered, said filter structure comprising a plurality of stacked rectangular shaped ceramic filter elements, each of said elements consisting of magnesium aluminum silicate having the composition in weight percent within the range of about 13 to 16 weight percent MgO, 30 to 36 weight percent A1 2 O 3 and 49 to 54 percent SiO 2 , each of said elements comprising a pair of marginal side portions extending lengthwise and a plurality of lengthwise extending ribs intermediate said pair of marginal side portions, said thin porous sections joining and extending between said respective ribs and said marginal side portions, said elements being stacked in an alternating manner whereas said ribs of alternate elements are at right angles whereby said inlet channels cross with said outlet channels, said marginal sections on opposite sides extending lengthwise and having a serrated surface for bonding to an adjacent element of substantially uniform width of greater than about 1 inch, each of said side surfaces having a vertically extending notch forming said flange for mounting said filter structure in a housing whereby a unitary filter structure is formed having said inlets and outlets for respective dirty and clean gases.