Residue Burned Patents (Class 55/282.3)
  • Patent number: 7326271
    Abstract: A honeycomb filter 1 includes a cylindrical honeycomb structure 2 having a plurality of cells 4, and plugging members 7 disposed to alternately plug openings 5 of predetermined cells 4a on the side of one end face 6a and the openings 5 of the remaining cells 4b on the side of the other end face 6b of the structure 2 in checkered flag form, and further having second plugging members 8 disposed to plug openings 5 of cells 4 which are not plugged by the first plugging member 7 on either side of two end faces 6a and 6b of the structure 2 corresponding to 0.2 to 2.5% of the area of the cross section perpendicular to the center axis of the structure 2 in a center section occupying at least ? of the area from the center axis of the structure 2 to an outer circumferential surface 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kasai, Tatsuyuki Kuki
  • Patent number: 7326264
    Abstract: A method for reducing the particulate emissions containing carbon of diesel motors uses surface discharges to regenerate a filter. An appropriate wall flow filter is configured from alternately closed longitudinal channels. The electrodes are embedded in the filter material and are thus protected from erosion. Two electrodes are sufficient for selectively generating the surface discharges in the inlet channel of the wall flow filter as a result of a suitable geometric arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Hammer
  • Patent number: 7323030
    Abstract: An internally insulated exhaust aftertreatment device with a converter body, an end cone assembly and a sealing device inserted in an annular area between the external shell and the substrate of the converter body. The sealing device is sealingly engaged between an inner end cone and the insulating material. The sealing device comprises a wire-mesh ring-shaped device conformable to the annulus between the substrate and the shell, and may have a substantially round cross-sectional area, a C-shaped cross-sectional area, or an L-shaped cross-sectional area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Hans Andersen, Ricky Paul Schacher, Alan Gerard Turek
  • Patent number: 7316722
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a honeycomb structural body (filter) which has a low pressure loss upon collecting particulates, makes it possible to deposit a great amount of particulates and ashes, and is less likely to produce cracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ibiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruo Komori, Kazushige Ohno, Sungtae Hong, Yukio Oshimi
  • Patent number: 7314496
    Abstract: A honeycomb structural body which is capable of increasing the limiting collection amount of particulate, reducing the pressure loss in use, and reducing fluctuations in the pressure loss even if the flow rate from an internal combustion engine of exhaust gases fluctuates. The honeycomb structural body is a columnar honeycomb structural body in which a large number of through holes are arranged side by side in the length direction with a partition wall interposed therebetween. The large number of through holes are constituted by a group of large-capacity through holes, with one end thereof sealed to make the total cross-sectional areas perpendicular to the length direction relatively greater, and a group of small-capacity through holes, with the other end thereof sealed to make the total cross-sectional areas relatively smaller. The honeycomb structural body includes a plurality of columnar porous ceramic members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Ibiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sungtae Hong, Teruo Komori, Kazushige Ohno
  • Patent number: 7314501
    Abstract: A method in which all or some of the particles contained in the exhaust gases of a diesel engine are retained on particle filters and burnt due to the action of a combustion catalyst. At least a part of the particle filters are obstructed when the temperature ?g of the exhaust gases for filtration is equal to or less than a threshold temperature ?s, so as to limit or avoid cooling of the obstructed part of the particle filters and to maintain the same at a temperature ?o greater than or equal to ?s up until the time when ?g becomes greater than ?s again and thus permit accelerated regeneration of the obstructed part of the particle filters. Also disclosed is an exhaust gas filtration device which permits the carrying out of the filtration method with continuous and regular regeneration of the particle filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Fayard
  • Publication number: 20070295207
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to an electrostatic collection device and method for extracting impurities from gas. The collection devices includes at least one electrical field for charging particles, where the particles are in a gas, and at least one collection surface for collecting charged particles. The device further includes at least one heating element for heating the at least one collection surface to vaporize the collected particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: SCEPTOR INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: RICHARD R. THOMAS, FREEMAN SWANK, ANDREW FAIRCHILD
  • Patent number: 7311749
    Abstract: A filter block for filtering particles contained in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine includes a plurality of channels for the circulation of the gas, a channel defined by a wall provided with a filtering zone and which opens out towards the outside via an opening, a group of channels including at least two channels with different respective F/P ratios between surface F of the filtering zone and surface P of the wall. One channel of the group of channels includes an opening whose surface O is larger than the surface F of the filtering zone of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Centre de Recherches et d'Etudes European
    Inventors: Sébastien Bardon, Vincent Gleize
  • Patent number: 7311750
    Abstract: Ceramic particles, fine particles having smaller average particle diameter smaller than that of the ceramic particles and a reduction-resistant material are mixed to obtain a puddle. The reduction-resistant material is a material that is reduced by carbon at a higher temperature as compared with a temperature at which an oxide (for example, silica) of an element contained in the ceramic particles is reduced. The average particle diameter of the ceramic particles is preferably about in a range of 5 to 100 ?m and the average particle diameter of the fine particles is preferably about in a range of 0.1 to 10 ?m. The reduction-resistant material is, for example, alumina. This puddle is extrusion molded into a honeycomb filter and the molded object is sintered at about 1600 to 2200° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ibeden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazushige Ohno, Kazutake Ogyu, Masayuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7309371
    Abstract: A diesel particulate filter having a honeycomb body composed of cordierite and exhibiting a CTE (25-800° C.) of less than 13×10?7/° C.; a median pore diameter, d50, of less than 25 ?m; % porosity not less than 53%; and a narrow pore size distribution wherein a value of d50?d10)/d50 is not greater than 0.6; and a value of d90 less than 40 ?m wherein d10, and d90 are pore diameters at 10% and 90% of the pore size distribution on a volumetric basis, and d10<d50<d90. The particulate filter preferably exhibits a plugged, wall-flow honeycomb filter body composed of cordierite and having a plurality of parallel end-plugged cell channels traversing the body from a frontal inlet end to an outlet end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory A. Merkel, Tinghong Tao
  • Patent number: 7309370
    Abstract: A honeycomb filter for purifying exhaust gases, which makes it possible to alleviate a thermal stress generated due to occurrence of a local temperature change, is less likely to generate cracks, and is excellent in strength and durability. The honeycomb filter has a structure in which a plurality of column-shaped porous ceramic members, each having a number of through holes that are placed side by side in the length direction with a partition wall interposed therebetween, are combined with one another through adhesive layers so that the partition wall that separates the through holes are allowed to function as a filter for collecting particulates. A thermal expansion coefficient ?L of the adhesive layer and a thermal expansion coefficient ?F of the porous ceramic member is as follows: 0.01<|?L??F|/?F<1.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Ibiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kudo, Masafumi Kunieda
  • Patent number: 7306642
    Abstract: A porous ceramic support for a gas separation membrane formed by sintering a green body containing grains of a refractory ceramic oxide with a high coefficient of thermal expansion and grains of a reactive binder precursor. Upon sintering, the reactive binder precursor reacts with at least one gaseous, liquid or solid reactant to create a reaction bond that binds the refractory ceramic oxide grains. The support configuration can be a tubular, flat plate, hollow fiber, or multiple-passageway monolith structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: CeraMem Corporation
    Inventors: Peter J. Hayward, Richard Higgins, Robert L. Goldsmith, Bruce A. Bishop
  • Patent number: 7303602
    Abstract: A diesel particulate filter including a microwave-absorbing target within a waveguide cavity. The cavity accepts microwave-frequency electromagnetic radiation through input couplers 90 degrees out of phase with each other to excite circular polarization heating modes. Through excitation of circularly polarized modes, heating patterns are time-averaged azimuthally to smooth out the hot and cold spots, thereby providing greater uniformity relative to heating patterns for corresponding linearly polarized modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Gregoire, Joseph S. Colburn
  • Patent number: 7303603
    Abstract: A diesel particulate filter including a microwave-absorbing target housed within a waveguide cavity lined along the walls with a hard-electromagnetic surface (HES). The HES modifies specific electromagnetic boundary conditions for a given design frequency so as to enable the establishment of electromagnetic field patterns which are more uniform across the cavity thereby causing the target material to undergo enhanced uniformity heating. The heating of the microwave absorbing media causes particulate buildup to be vaporized and removed from the filter by the exhaust stream flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Gregoire, Weldon S. Williamson, Kevin W. Kirby, Amanda Phelps, Daniel F. Sievenpiper
  • Patent number: 7294164
    Abstract: This invention relates to an aluminum titanate body having a narrow pore size distribution as characterized by the relation (d50?d10)/d50 being less than 0.50 corresponding to a high degree of interconnected porosity. The body also preferably exhibits a low coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 15×10?7 C?1, high porosity of at least 38% by volume, and at least 0.10% by weight metal oxide, the metal being either yttrium, calcium, bismuth, a lanthanide metal or combinations of thereof. MOR is preferably at least 450 psi. Median pore diameter is preferably at least 8 microns. The inventive ceramic body is particularly useful as a wall-flow filter for a diesel exhaust. A method of fabrication is provided where the sintering temperature is preferably between 1375°-1550° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Gregory A. Merkel
  • Patent number: 7288137
    Abstract: A particulate trap has a plurality of filters and an air distributor. The air distributor has a first flow member and a second flow member. Each of the first and second flow members have a plurality of openings to allow exhaust flow through the plurality of filters. At least one of the first and second flow members is movable to selectively block exhaust flow to at least one of the plurality of filters at a given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kartik Ganesan Iyer, Kerry Allen Delvecchio, Joanna Louise Costura
  • Patent number: 7276101
    Abstract: A honeycomb structure includes partition walls arranged in an X-direction and intersecting partition walls so as to form a plurality of cells extending to an other-end portion from a one-end portion through an axial direction. There are disclosed a honeycomb structure in which intersecting portions of the partition walls include an intersecting portion (lacking portion) lacking in the one-end portion, a method of manufacturing the honeycomb structure, and a discharge fluid purification system comprising the honeycomb structure. The honeycomb structure is able to inhibit the opening from being blocked and is easily manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukihito Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7273514
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for filtering particulate from an internal combustion engine by use of monolithic particulate trap systems having porous walls (2c, 24c). The porous walls (2c, 24c) filter the particulate. The filtered particulate on inner surfaces of the porous walls is periodically removed or regenerated via back flow of previously filtered exhaust gas. The back flow is caused by creating a pressure difference across the porous walls. The back flow of the previously filtered exhaust gas is simultaneously or sequentially coupled with high velocity through flow of exhaust gas in the channels. In addition, the particulate trap system can be an adsorber-catalyst particulate trap system for filtering particulate and reducing NOx via an adsorber-catalyst trap systems to achieve the EPA 2007 standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Valley Holding Company
    Inventors: John M. Bailey, Marianne F. Waldman, legal representative, Donald J. Waldman, deceased
  • Patent number: 7269942
    Abstract: A wall-flow particulate trap system regenerated by reverse flow of filtered exhaust gas through porous walls of a plurality of tubular passages is disclosed. The system includes a particulate trap having an inlet and an outlet, the particulate trap adapted to receive engine exhaust gas; a mode valve assembly offset from the inlet of the particulate trap; a remote actuated relief valve offset from the outlet of the at least one particulate trap a duct rotor intermediate the particulate trap and the mode valve assembly, the duct rotor having a first end and a second end, the second end of the duct rotor in operative communication with the mode valve assembly and the first end of the duct rotor in fluid communication with the inlet of the particulate trap; and a rotor drive in driving connection with the duct rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Valley Holding Company
    Inventor: John M. Bailey
  • Publication number: 20070209333
    Abstract: A particulate matter accumulation amount detection apparatus includes a filter pressure loss detecting section, an incombustible component amount estimating section, an incombustible component accumulation state estimating section, and a particulate accumulation amount detecting section. The filter pressure loss detecting section is configured to detect an upstream-downstream differential pressure of an exhaust gas purification filter having a plurality of substrate walls. The incombustible component amount estimating section is configured to estimate an amount of an incombustible component. The incombustible component accumulation state estimating section is configured to estimate an accumulation state of the incombustible component on the substrate walls based on the engine operating state and the amount of the incombustible component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Terunori Kondou
  • Patent number: 7267703
    Abstract: An electrically regeneratable filter element comprises at least two flanks, each of these flanks comprising a stiff material layer. Each of these flanks has at least one thermally and electrically insulated side. The filter element comprises further a metal fiber fleece being pleated according to pleating lines providing an edge with pleat openings. The metal fiber fleece is mounted between the flanks, in such a way that the thermally and electrically insulated sides make contact with the edge, meanwhile these sides closing the pleat openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: NV Bekaert SA
    Inventors: Willy Marrecau, Koen Wastijn, Geert Devooght
  • Patent number: 7264643
    Abstract: An electrical connection element for providing an electrical connection to a porous material may include a first electrically conductive plate disposed on at least a portion of a first side of the porous material. A second electrically conductive plate may be disposed on at least a portion of a second side of the porous material, opposite to the first side. An electrically conductive material may impregnate the porous material in a region between the first and second electrically conductive plates, and an electrical connector may be attached to at least one of the first and second electrically conductive plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Earnest Williams, Matthew Thomas Kiser, Michael J. Pollard, Jo L. Costura, Cornelius Nicolae Opris, Hind M. Abi-Akar, Robert L. Meyer
  • Patent number: 7264642
    Abstract: In an exhaust gas cleaning apparatus (30) in which a before and after differential pressure (?P) of a filter (32) used to trap particulates is detected for regeneration of the filter (32), a time at which, during filter regeneration, the temperature of the outlet section of the filter (32) falls below the temperature of the inlet section thereof (?T>M), using a first temperature sensor (36) and a second temperature sensor (37), is determined as being the timing of the completion of the regeneration of the filter (32). The value of the before and after differential pressure (?P) at the time of this regeneration completion is used to estimate the quantity of residual ash in the filter (32), and when this estimated residual ash quantity is the same as, or greater than, a prescribed value (PX), a replacement warning signal (K3) is output urging replacement of the filter (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Hamahata, Shoko Tanida, Toru Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7258723
    Abstract: A particulate filter assembly includes an electrode assembly, a particulate filter positioned in an electrode gap defined between two electrodes of the electrode assembly, a power supply electrically coupled to the electrode assembly, and a controller for controlling operation of the power supply to apply a regenerate-filter signal to the electrode assembly to oxidize particulates collected by the particulate filter. An associated method of regenerating the particulate filter is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilbur H. Crawley, Randall J. Johnson, Stephen P. Goldschmidt
  • Patent number: 7247190
    Abstract: An engine exhaust gas cleaning apparatus is provided to minimize torque shock as during regeneration of an exhaust gas cleaning device. The engine exhaust gas cleaning apparatus comprises a fuel delivery device that delivers fuel to an engine at a lean excess air ratio during normal operation of the engine; a NOx trapping catalytic converter that adsorbs NOx from the exhaust gas during the lean operation; a regeneration control section that adjusts the excess air ratio to a rich target value to regenerate the NOx trapping catalytic converter; a feedback control section that feedback-controls the fuel delivery quantity to hold the excess air ratio at the target value during regeneration; a feedback control restricting section that restricts the feedback control during regeneration until the difference between the target value and the actual excess air ratio is less than a prescribed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Manabu Miura
  • Patent number: 7247185
    Abstract: Device for treatment of a gas flow having at least one body (3) that is adapted to cause a conversion in the composition of the gas. The device is characterized in that the body (3) has a modular construction comprising a plurality of sections (26, 26?, 27, 27?, 36) with different internal structures that allow gas to flow through the section, and that the sections (26, 26?, 27, 27?, 36) are arranged so that at least a portion of the gas flows through at least two sections with different internal structures during operation of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignees: Volvo Technology Corporation, Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Edward Jobson, Anna Holmgren Hägg
  • Patent number: 7208029
    Abstract: An exhaust gas cleaning system is provided that comprises a particulate filter and an NOx trapping catalytic converter disposed upstream of the particulate filter. The exhaust gas cleaning system is configured to determine a combustion amount of the particulate matter accumulated in the particulate filter that are combusted by the NOx in the exhaust gas, and adjust the combustion amount of the particulate matter based on an NOx adsorption condition of the NOx trapping catalytic converter. Then, the exhaust gas cleaning system is configured to estimate a particulate matter accumulation amount in the particulate filter by subtracting the adjusted combustion amount of the particulate matter from a discharge amount of the particulate matter. Thus, the amount of particulate matter accumulated in the particulate filter is estimated more accurately by taking into consideration the combustion of particulate matter by NOx in the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Shirakawa, Yasuhisa Kitahara
  • Patent number: 7192463
    Abstract: An exhaust gas aftertreatment filter system for an internal combustion engine includes an aftertreatment filter disposed in-line with an exhaust gas conduit coupled to an internal combustion engine, a mounting bracket defining a mounting surface and at least one leg extending from the mounting bracket, the at least one leg defining a mounting foot at a distal end thereof with the mounting foot of the at least one leg and the mounting surface of the mounting bracket defining a first air gap therebetween, the mounting foot of the at least one leg secured to the aftertreatment filter, and at least one electrical component secured to the mounting surface of the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: John V. Shutty, Eric B. Andrews
  • Patent number: 7189274
    Abstract: An exhaust gas filter for cleaning an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine includes at least one strip-shaped filter layer made of a material through which a fluid can at least partly flow. The filter layer has a length in a longitudinal direction and a width in a transverse direction. The filter layer has a metallic reinforcing region at least in a partial region. The metallic reinforcing region has a width and a length. The width of the reinforcing region is less than the width of the filter layer and/or the length of the reinforcing region is less than the length of the filter layer. A method for producing a filter layer for an exhaust gas filter is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft für Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brück, Jan Hodgson, Markus Mengelberg
  • Patent number: 7179316
    Abstract: A diesel particulate filter comprising a plugged, wall-flow honeycomb filter body composed of cordierite and having a plurality of parallel end-plugged cell channels traversing the body from a frontal inlet end to an outlet end thereof, wherein the filter exhibits a CTE (25–800° C.) of less than 13×10?7/° C., a bulk filter density of less than 0.60 g/cm3, a median pore diameter, d50, of less than 25 micrometers, a porosity and pore size distribution that satisfy the relationship Pm?3.75, wherein Pm is equal to 10.2474{1/[(d50)2(% porosity/100)]}+0.0366183(d90)?0.00040119(d90)2+0.468815(100/% porosity)2+0.0297715(d50)+1.61639(d50?d10)/d50, wherein d10, and d90 are pore diameters at 10% and 90% of the pore size distribution on a volumetric basis, and d10<d50<d90. A method of making the same is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory A. Merkel, Tinghong Tao
  • Patent number: 7175681
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fine particle removing apparatus which can efficiently burn collected fine particles in exhaust gas, has a simple configuration and can be readily controlled. In this fine particle removing apparatus, a filter unit which collects fine particles in the exhaust gas is arranged in a housing formed of a non-magnetic material through which the exhaust gas passes. By supplying a high-frequency current to a working coil wound around an outer peripheral section of the housing, support plates arranged in this filter unit are subjected to induction heating, and fine particles accumulated in the filter unit are burned with heat generated by this induction heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: National University Corporation, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 7169203
    Abstract: There is disclosed a honeycomb structure comprising a plurality of honeycomb segments (12), bonded into one piece, having an outer peripheral wall (8), cell walls (2) disposed inside the outer peripheral wall, and a large number of cells (3) partitioned by the cell walls and passing through an axial direction. The honeycomb structure (1) comprises the honeycomb segment (12) in which the cell walls (2) have an angle in a range of 25 to 65 degrees to a straight line along an outermost point of the outer peripheral wall (8a) adjacent to another honeycomb segment, in a vertical section to an X-axis direction of the honeycomb structure (1). The honeycomb structure including the honeycomb segment can be used in a filter for trapping particulate in an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, boiler, etc. and can be superior in resistance to cracks by a thermal stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7169200
    Abstract: A particulate trap has a plurality of filters and an air distributor. The air distributor has an inner tube and an outer tube. Each of the inner and outer tubes have a plurality of openings to allow exhaust flow to the plurality of filters. One of the inner and outer tubes is rotatable to selectively block exhaust flow to at least one of the plurality of filters at a given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Owen Charles Kolstad, Kartik Ganesan Iyer, Kerry Allen Delvecchio, Joanna Louise Williams
  • Patent number: 7160355
    Abstract: A method of regenerating at least one diesel particle filter, in which exhaust gas is introduced through a supply line into the at least one diesel particle filter and is discharged from it through a discharge line, while heating of the exhaust gas flowing through the at least one diesel particle filter takes place, a closed circulating air circuit being created through which exhaust gas emerging from the at least one diesel particle filter may be introduced back into the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Dietmar Steiner
  • Patent number: 7153336
    Abstract: This invention relates to an exhaust gas purifying apparatus having a particulate filter for collecting particulates in exhaust gas. This particulate filter (22) contains partition walls defining paths (50, 51) in which exhaust gas flows. This partition wall is formed of porous material. This particulate filter (22) is created by gathering tips of the partition walls and then baking with the adjacent partition walls being in contact with each other. The adjacent partition walls are bonded together at a predetermined bonding strength if the partition walls are baked such that they are in contact. According to this invention, the end portion of the particulate filter (22) has a higher strength than the predetermined bonding strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Itoh, Shinya Hirota, Koichiro Nakatani
  • Patent number: 7153342
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying system of a diesel engine comprises a PM filter installed in an exhaust passage line of the engine to collect particulate matter (PM) in the exhaust gas from the engine; a pressure difference sensor for detecting a pressure difference between upstream and downstream portions of the PM filter; a control unit which comprises a collected PM amount estimating section that estimates an amount of collected PM in the PM filter based on the pressure difference; and a reactivation timing judging section that, based on the estimated amount of the collected PM, judges a reactivation time when the reactivation of the PM filter is needed; and a reactivation carrying out system that, upon judgment of the reactivation time, carries out a predetermined operation to increases the temperature of the PM filter thereby to burn the collected PM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimasa Koga, Junichi Kawashima, Naoya Tsutsumoto, Terunori Kondou, Makoto Otake, Takao Inoue
  • Patent number: 7147688
    Abstract: A map which defines a relationship of an exhaust gas pressure P2 at the outlet of a filter (13) to a load Q and rotation speed Ne of an engine (1) is prepared, and an exhaust gas pressure P1 at the inlet to the filter (13) is determined from a differential pressure ?P between the front and rear of the filter and the outlet pressure P2 obtained by referring to the map. The inlet pressure P1 determined in this manner is used to determine an exhaust gas volumetric flow rate Q1, and thus an accurate particulate accumulation SM, which is required to determine the need for regeneration of the filter (13), can be calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Terunori Kondou, Junichi Kawashima, Naoya Tsutsumoto, Takao Inoue, Toshimasa Koga, Makoto Otake
  • Patent number: 7147693
    Abstract: An engine exhaust gas purification device is disclosed. The purification device has a filter (13) which traps particulate matter contained in the exhaust gas from an engine; a differential pressure detection sensor (16) which detects a differential pressure of the filter; a sensor (14, 15, 21, 31, 33) which detects an engine running state, and a microcomputer (22). The microcomputer (22) is programmed to compute an estimated ash amount ASH_a of the filter based on the detected differential pressure; compute an oil consumption amount OC_total based on the detected engine running state; compute an ash density DENS_ASH from the oil consumption amount OC_total and estimated ash amount ASH_a, and compute an ash amount ASH of the filter based on the oil consumption amount OC_total and ash density DENS_ASH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Inoue, Junichi Kawashima, Naoya Tsutsumoto, Makoto Otake, Terunori Kondou, Toshimasa Koga
  • Patent number: 7144448
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing particulates from a gas stream is described comprising a filter through which gas may be caused to flow, at least one first electrode for producing an atmospheric glow discharge located near to but spaced apart from the filter, and at least one second counter electrode, the electrodes being connected to an AC voltage supply generating an AC voltage in a frequency within the range of 1 kHz to 200 kHz. A method of removal of particulates from a gas stream comprising causing the gas to flow through such an apparatus is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Perkins Engines Company Limited
    Inventors: Colin P. Garner, John E. Harry
  • Patent number: 7141089
    Abstract: A ceramic filter for trapping and combusting diesel exhaust particulates composed of an end-plugged cordierite honeycomb structure exhibiting a pore size distribution as determined by mercury porosimetry in which the quantity d50/(d50+d90) as related to pore size distribution is less than 0.70, a soot loaded permeability factor Sf, as defined by the equation [d50/(d50+d90)]/[% porosity/100], of less than 1.55, and, a coefficient of thermal expansion (25–800° C.) of no greater than 17×10?7/° C. The ceramic filter further exhibits a median pore diameter, d50, of at least 4 micrometers and up to 40 micrometers. A method of making the filter is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas M. Beall, Gregory A. Merkel, Martin J. Murtagh
  • Patent number: 7141087
    Abstract: There is disclosed a honeycomb ceramics filter, wherein an average pore diameter X (?m) and partition wall thickness W (?m) of the filter satisfy a relation of 10?W/X. According to this filter, while a predetermined trapping efficiency is maintained, a pressure loss can be prevented from increasing to be not less than a predetermined pressure loss even with use for a long period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Noguchi, Hideaki Nishi, Hiroyuki Suenobu
  • Patent number: 7138003
    Abstract: A honeycomb structure comprising porous partition walls disposed so as to form a plurality of cells extending in an axial direction. In the honeycomb structure, defining that a porosity and pore diameter of the partition walls in a central portion is (Pi) and (Di), a porosity and pore diameter of the partition walls in an outer peripheral portion is (Po) and (Do), (Pi) and (Po) have a relation of (Pi<Po); or (Pi) and (Po) have a relation of (Pi>Po) and (Di) and (Do) have a relation of (Di<Do).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd
    Inventors: Yukihito Ichikawa, Tatsuyuki Kuki
  • Patent number: 7138002
    Abstract: There is provided a honeycomb structure in which the structure is not segmented, or a smaller number of segments are integrated to suppress a local temperature rise and to reduce breakage by thermal stress at the time of use, and a method of manufacturing the structure. There is disclosed a honeycomb structure 1 comprising: a large number of cells 3 partitioned by cell walls 2 and extending through an axial direction. A flow channel separator 6 is formed in the honeycomb structure 1. There is disclosed a method of manufacturing the honeycomb structure 1 in which the flow channel separator 6 is formed by extrusion. There is disclosed a method of manufacturing the honeycomb structure 1 in which the flow channel separator 6 is formed by clogging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Hamanaka, Tadato Ito
  • Patent number: 7118613
    Abstract: A control unit for controlling operation of a fuel-fired burner includes a housing having an air inlet which is open to an interior chamber of the housing. An air pump is positioned in the interior chamber of the housing and has an air inlet which is open to the interior chamber of the housing. The air pump generates reduced air pressure in the interior chamber which draws air into the housing and into the pump's inlet. This flow of air cools an electronic controller along with other components position in the housing. The air pump may be operated to draw air from the interior chamber of the housing and supplies the air to a combustion chamber of the fuel-fired burner to facilitate operation of the burner. An associated method of advancing air to a fuel-fired burner is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilbur H. Crawley, Randall J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7107763
    Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb filter comprising a ceramic honeycomb structure having porous partition walls defining a plurality of flow paths, and plugs disposed inside the flow paths such that an exhaust gas passes through pores of the porous partition walls, thereby removing particulates from the exhaust gas; a catalyst being carried at least partially on the partition walls and/or the plugs; and at least one of plugs on the side of exhaust gas inlets being disposed at a position separate from the inlet-side opening ends of the flow paths. Particulates are removed from the exhaust gas by injecting unburned fuel and/or hydrocarbon in a gaseous state upstream of the inlet-side plugs to maintain at least part of the inlet-side plugs and their downstream regions at a temperature substantially equal to or higher than the lowest activation temperature of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignees: Hitachi Metals, Ltd., Hino Motors, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirohisa Suwabe, Takashi Takakura, Satoshi Makita, Hiroshi Funabashi
  • Patent number: 7108739
    Abstract: Particle traps are often used to reduce particulate emissions from internal combustion engines to acceptable levels. In order to maintain the particulate traps, they must be periodically regenerated in order to burn off the trapped particles. Strategies for efficiently regenerating the particle traps have been elusive. The present invention separates the exhaust flow into several flow paths. During regeneration, the flow paths are sequentially partially closed, and the particle traps in each of the flow paths are individually regenerated using electrically conductive filter elements. The present invention can be used to effectively filter particles from any combustion process, especially exhaust from internal combustion engines. The particle trap assembly achieves a relatively low pressure loss and efficient regeneration by supplying an oxidizer via a small cross-flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kartik G. Iyer, Cornelius N. Opris, Owen C. Kolstad
  • Patent number: 7090714
    Abstract: The ceramic honeycomb filter having a plurality of honeycomb structures each having an outer wall and a large number of flow paths partitioned by cell walls inside the outer wall, which are bonded to each other in the direction of the flow paths, desired flow paths on exhaust gas inlet and outlet sides being sealed, wherein at least one plug on an exhaust inlet side is disposed at a position inside the filter separate from an inlet end surface of the filter; and wherein inlet-side plugs are formed at desired positions of end portions of at least one honeycomb structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Otsubo, Hirohisa Suwabe
  • Patent number: 7081154
    Abstract: A device for detecting a failure of a filter used to clean a gas stream, in particular an exhaust gas stream, of soot particulates, including a chamber which is insertable into the gas stream to be cleaned in addition to the filter and which is at least partially closed by a filter body and has at least one opening through which gas entering the chamber through the filter body can exit the chamber, at least one gas sensor for determining the concentration of at least one component of the gas to be cleaned being arranged in the chamber, and at least one second gas sensor for determining the concentration of the at least one component of the gas to be cleaned being arranged outside the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Schulte, Bernd Schumann
  • Patent number: 7070728
    Abstract: A method for plugging a subset of cells of a honeycomb structure having a plurality of open-end cells extending therethrough including providing at least one cylindrically-shaped first roller including an engagement surface having a plurality of outwardly-extending teeth spaced along a length and about a circumference of the at least one first roller, wherein the teeth are spaced so as to engage a first subset of a total number of cells exposed on a first end of the honeycomb structure. The method also includes rolling the engagement surface of the at least one first roller across the first end of the honeycomb structure with the teeth extending into the first subset of cells, thereby deforming the first end of the honeycomb structure and plugging a second subset of the total number of cells substantially different from the first subset of cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Thierry Luc Alain Dannoux, Jean-Pierre Henri René Lereboullet, Grégory Emmanuel Guillaume Rossignol, Claude Jacques Julien Vanotti
  • Patent number: 7056365
    Abstract: A honeycomb structure in which a plurality of through-holes 3 extending in the axial direction are formed by a plurality of partition walls 1 and 2, wherein the plurality of partition walls 1 and 2 are constituted by a plurality of partition walls having different thicknesses and, of the plurality of partition walls having different thicknesses, those partition walls 2 having a thickness larger than the average thickness of all partition walls are provided at a higher proportion in a particular portion of the honeycomb structure whole portion having partition walls than in other portion. This honeycomb structure, and a honeycomb filter and a converter system both using the honeycomb structure satisfy recent years' requirements of improvement in warm-up property connected with purification ability and reduction in harmful substance emitted right after engine start, and yet have a sufficient mechanical strength to external pressure, a high erosion resistance and a high thermal shock resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihito Ichikawa, Yasushi Kato, Masato Ogawa