US7107764B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Exhaust treatment system
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
•
Filing: 2005-06-15
•
Granted: 2006-09-19
•
Expires: 2025-06-15
Abstract
Abstract An exhaust treatment system of a power source includes a filter having a housing with an inlet and an outlet, and a regeneration device disposed outside of the housing of the filter. The regeneration device is fluidly connected to the inlet of the housing. The exhaust treatment system also includes an exhaust line configured to assist in directing a portion of a filtered flow of exhaust from the filter outlet to the power source.
Inventors
- 👤 Cornelius N. Opris
- 👤 John P. Timmons
- 👤 Mari Lou Balmer-Millar
- 👤 Cho Y. Liang
- 👤 Anil Raina
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:59
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N3/00; F01N3/02; F01N3/021; F01M; F01M13/00; F01M13/04; F01N3/023; F01M13/02; F01M13/021; F01M2013/027; F01M2013/0483
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
An exhaust treatment system of a power source, comprising: a filter having a housing with an inlet and an outlet; a regeneration device disposed outside of the housing of the filter and fluidly connected to the inlet of the housing; a supply line configured to assist in directing a flow comprising recirculated exhaust and ambient air to the regeneration device; and an exhaust line configured to assist in directing a portion of a filtered flow of exhaust from the filter outlet to the power source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
An exhaust treatment system of a power source, comprising: a filter having a housing with an inlet and an outlet; a regeneration device disposed outside of the housing of the filter and fluidly connected to the inlet of the housing; a supply line configured to assist in directing a flow comprising recirculated exhaust and ambient air to the regeneration device; and an exhaust line configured to assist in directing a portion of a filtered flow of exhaust from the filter outlet to the power source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the regeneration device is configured to ignite a combustible substance to assist in increasing the temperature of a flow of exhaust gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 , further including a flow cooler configured to receive a portion of the filtered flow from the filter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 , further including an aftercooler configured to cool a flow of gas supplied to the power source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the regeneration device includes an injector and an ignitor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the regeneration device is configured to increase a temperature of at least a portion of an unfiltered flow of exhaust.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the regeneration device is disposed within an engine compartment of a machine to which the power source is attached.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 , further including a catalyst configured to receive at least a portion of the filtered flow from the filter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the catalyst is an oxidation catalyst.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the catalyst is disposed downstream of the exhaust line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the exhaust line is fluidly connected between the filter and the catalyst.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the filter contains a catalyst material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein the catalyst material is a precious metal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 , further including an energy extraction assembly disposed upstream of the regeneration device and configured to reduce the pressure of an exhaust flow from the power source.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 14 , wherein the energy extraction assembly includes at least one turbine.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 , further including a compression assembly configured to supply a pressurized gas flow to the power source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the pressurized gas flow includes ambient intake air and filtered exhaust.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the compression assembly includes at least one compressor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the supply line is fluidly connected to an outlet of the compression assembly.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the regeneration device includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 20 , further including a flow line fluidly connecting the outlet of the regeneration device housing to the inlet of the filter housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 20 , wherein the inlet of the regeneration device housing is configured to receive an entire unfiltered flow of exhaust from the power source.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
83 words
An exhaust treatment system of a combustion engine, comprising: a filter; a regeneration device fluidly connected to the filter and configured to selectively assist in increasing the temperature of an entire exhaust flow of the combustion engine to a desired temperature; a supply line configured to assist in directing a flow comprising recirculated exhaust and ambient air to the regeneration device; and an exhaust line configured to direct a portion of a filtered flow of exhaust from the filter to the combustion engine.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
83 words
An exhaust treatment system of a combustion engine, comprising: a filter; a regeneration device fluidly connected to the filter and configured to selectively assist in increasing the temperature of an entire exhaust flow of the combustion engine to a desired temperature; a supply line configured to assist in directing a flow comprising recirculated exhaust and ambient air to the regeneration device; and an exhaust line configured to direct a portion of a filtered flow of exhaust from the filter to the combustion engine.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein the filter contains a catalyst material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein the catalyst material is a precious metal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein the regeneration device is configured to ignite a combustible substance to assist in increasing the temperature of a flow of exhaust gas.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein the regeneration device further includes an injector and an ignitor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein the regeneration device is disposed within an engine compartment of a machine to which the combustion engine is attached.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 23 , further including a catalyst configured to receive at least a portion of the filtered flow from the filter.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 29 , wherein the catalyst is an oxidation catalyst.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 29 , wherein the catalyst is disposed downstream of the exhaust line.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 29 , wherein the exhaust line is fluidly connected between the filter and the catalyst.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 29 , wherein the at least a portion of the filtered flow of exhaust is directed to a system outlet.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein the regeneration device includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein the inlet of the regeneration device housing is configured to receive an entire unfiltered flow of exhaust from the combustion engine.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 23 , further including a compression assembly configured to supply a pressurized gas flow to the combustion engine.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 36 , wherein the supply line is fluidly connected to an outlet of the compression assembly.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of removing matter from a filter of a combustion engine, comprising: reducing the pressure of an exhaust flow of the engine; injecting a combustible substance into the exhaust flow upstream of the filter; igniting the combustible substance; filtering the exhaust flow and directing at least a first portion of the filtered flow to an inlet of the engine; and directing a supply flow to a regeneration device disposed upstream of the filter, the supply flow comprising a second portion of the filtered flow and ambient air.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of removing matter from a filter of a combustion engine, comprising: reducing the pressure of an exhaust flow of the engine; injecting a combustible substance into the exhaust flow upstream of the filter; igniting the combustible substance; filtering the exhaust flow and directing at least a first portion of the filtered flow to an inlet of the engine; and directing a supply flow to a regeneration device disposed upstream of the filter, the supply flow comprising a second portion of the filtered flow and ambient air.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 38 , wherein reducing the pressure of the exhaust flow includes passing the exhaust flow through a turbine.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 38 , wherein the pressure of the exhaust flow is reduced upstream of the regeneration device.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 38 , wherein the method of removing matter from the filter is triggered by a sensed parameter.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 38 , wherein the method of removing matter from the filter is triggered based on a predetermined schedule.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 38 , wherein the regeneration device is configured to increase a temperature of at least a portion of the unfiltered exhaust flow.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 38 , wherein the regeneration device is configured to assist in injecting the combustible substance and igniting the combustible substance.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 38 , further including increasing the pressure of at least one of the first portion, the second portion, and the ambient air.
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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) | 2009-09-18 | 2010-03-20 | 2010-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-09-18 | 2014-03-20 | 2014-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-09-18 | 2018-03-20 | 2018-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |