Abstract: A container for releasing a chemical additive into a coolant composition comprises a coolant-impermeable casing having a hollow interior and an additive composition comprising at least one coolant soluble additive. The additive is held within the container by at least one coolant-permeable element provided at or near an opening in the casing and is effective to provide for release of additive(s) into the coolant composition. Methods of releasing additives into coolant compositions are also provided.

Abstract: In general, this invention relates to supplemental coolant additive for use in cooling systems, for example, in diesel engine cooling systems. The supplemental coolant additive includes a C4-C6 dicarboxylic acid, preferably adipic acid, and optionally a C9-C12 aliphatic dicarboxylic acid an aromatic monocarboxylic acid, an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and salts of these acids. The supplemental coolant additive also can include a variety of other additives including molybdate salts, nitrate salts, nitrite salts, silicate salts and buffering agents. The supplemental coolant additive is preferably provided as a solid additive or a liquid concentrate. The supplemental coolant additive is preferably added to the liquid coolant over time to provide increased coolant life. Further the supplemental coolant additive provides enhanced anti-corrosion protection in cooling systems that include hard water.

Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment device (10) includes an aftertreatment element (24) for treating internal combustion engine exhaust, an injector (26) for injecting chemical species mixing with the exhaust prior to reaching the aftertreatment element, and a turbulator (36) turbulating the exhaust to enhance the noted mixing. In a desired combination, a two-stage integrated perforated tube combination structure includes a turbulent mixing tube (38) disposed in an acoustic tube (40) and concentrically surrounded thereby.

Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment device has a diffuser upstream of an aftertreatment element such as a catalyst element or a filter element such as a diesel particulate filter. The diffuser de-focuses centralized velocity force flow against the aftertreatment element from the inlet in a space efficient and flow efficient construction.

Abstract: A combination catalytic converter and filter (10) for internal combustion engine exhaust is provided by a single unitary flow member having an upstream frontside (14) and a downstream backside (16). The member has a plurality of flow channels (18) extending axially from the upstream frontside to the downstream backside. Each channel has left and right sidewalls (20 and 22) formed by pleated filter media (24), and top and bottom walls formed by respective upper and lower boundary layers (26 and 28). The left and right sidewalls (20 and 22) extend axially continuously from the upstream frontside to the downstream backside. The sidewalls (20 and 22) have first upstream sections (30, 32) proximate the upstream frontside (14), and second downstream sections (34, 36) proximate the downstream backside (16). One of the sections is a catalytic section (33) treated with a catalyst for the exhaust.

Abstract: A self-driven centrifuge for separating particulate matter out of a circulating liquid includes a base plate and a rotor shell. The base plate has a center tube extending therefrom along a longitudinal axis. The center tube is constructed and arranged to deliver fluid containing particulate matter. A rotor shell has an inner cavity and a plurality of spiral vanes extending along the longitudinal axis within the inner cavity. The spiral vanes extend spirally around the center tube and the spiral vanes are integrally formed with the rotor shell. In one form, spiral vanes are also formed on the base plate and are nested in between the spiral vanes of the rotor shell.

Abstract: A coalescing filter assembly and a corresponding cover are disclosed. The assembly is mounted to a rotating component substantially within an engine crankcase, and is synchronously rotated with the rotating component about an axis. Vent gas of the engine crankcase is in fluid communication with the coalescing filter assembly through one or more inlet ports. The coalescing filter assembly is preferably mounted to a gear and includes a filter located within a cavity formed between a first housing element and a second housing element. The coalescing filter assembly components are substantially concentric with the axis about which the gear rotates, and the assembly and gear synchronously rotate with one another. The cover preferably includes a diaphragm to control the rate of flow of vent gas from the engine crankcase through the coalescing filter assembly into the outlet conduit of the cover.

Abstract: An annular space or inlet chamber 24 between the filter element 16 and housing of a liquid filter is viewable such that an operator can see the level of liquid in the inlet chamber as an indication of when to replace the filter element: the higher the liquid level, the greater the pressure drop across the filter element. A change interval plugging indicator includes a porous outer wrap 50 that traps gas in an upper section 23 of the inlet chamber below a designated release pressure and releases trapped gas upon attainment of the release pressure causing a rapid rise in liquid level within the housing and corresponding to a desired terminal pressure. The indicator prevents premature plugging indication otherwise indicated by a slowly rising liquid in the chamber. Accurate and reliable calibration is enabled by separating the filtering and indicating functions.

Abstract: A filter (10), including an inside-out reverse flow air filter, has an annular filter element (20) with an upper end cap (24) provided by a resiliently compressible trifunctional member having: (a) a wall (50) deflecting debris radially outwardly within the housing away from the central opening (26) of the hollow filter interior (22); (b) an air entrance guide throat (52) directing air to the central opening (26) with reduced restriction; and (c) a sealing surface (54) sealed to the housing and blocking air flow from the inlet (28) to the outlet (34) otherwise bypassing the filter element. In further embodiments, simplified and cost reduced sealing is provided by a configured end cap.

Abstract: An improved, spin-on, bead-lock filter which is particularly adapted for use in a high-pressure oil filter in a diesel engine is provided. The filter includes a housing containing a filter medium and having an inwardly deformed periphery, and a cover assembly including a cover plate and a retainer plate having mutually spaced apart outer edges for forming a recess that receives the inwardly deformed portion of the housing. A gasket whose outer diameter is less than the inner diameter of the undeformed housing is seated in the recess. The smaller outer diameter of the gasket relative to the inner diameter of the housing allows the cover assembly to be easily positioned in place over the top of the housing during manufacture. Both a mechanical connection and a seal is formed between the cover assembly and the housing when the periphery of the housing is inwardly deformed pursuant to a bead rolling step in conformance with the assembly method of the invention.

Abstract: A liquid filter (10) housing an annular filter element (16) has an annular space (24) between the filter element and the housing and viewable through the housing such that an operator can see the level of liquid in the annular space as an indication of when to replace the filter element, the higher the level of liquid in the annular space the greater the pressure drop across the filter element. The rise in liquid level in the annular space is delayed for applications where the filter element is otherwise changed prematurely and has a longer life than otherwise indicated by the rising liquid level in the annular space. The delay is provided by a liquid and vapor impermeable sleeve (50) trapping vapor. In a further aspect, the sleeve is provided with apertures (70, 72, 74, 90, 92) filled by liquid-soluble buttons (76, 78, 80, 94, 96) providing filter element change interval indication, including advance sequential indication.

Abstract: A catalytic muffler includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of catalyst coated serially stacked perforated cups through which exhaust flows and is acoustically attenuated and catalyzed.

Abstract: A self-driven centrifuge for separating particulate matter out of a circulating liquid includes a base having a pair of tangential jet nozzles for generating the self-driven force for the centrifuge. Connected to the base is a centrifuge shell which defines a hollow interior space. A hollow rotor hub having a central axis of rotation is assembled to the base and extends through the hollow interior space. A support plate is positioned within the hollow interior space and, in cooperation with the rotor hub, defines an annular flow exit opening for the circulating liquid. Positioned within the hollow interior space is a separation vane module which is constructed and arranged so as to extend around the rotor hub and positioned so as to be supported by the support plate. The separation vane module includes a plurality of axially-extending and spaced-apart separation vanes.

Abstract: A selective catalytic reduction system for engine exhaust injects a solution comprising a source of ammonia, preferably an aqueous urea solution, or other ammonia solution, to preferably evaporate, decompose and hydrolyze to produce ammonia to react with and reduce NOx in the exhaust. An inertial impactor in the housing between the injector and the catalyst is impacted by the solution droplets and holds same until evaporated, decomposed and hydrolyzed to ammonia.

Abstract: A centrifuge assembly for processing a flow of oil so as to separate out particulate matter includes a centrifuge, a housing base, and a flow-control piston which is assembled into the housing base. The centrifuge includes a housing which defines a hollow interior with a centrifugal separator positioned within the hollow interior for separation of particulate matter from the flow of oil. The housing base defines an incoming oil conduit, a drain conduit, an air-in passageway, and air-out passageway. The flow-control piston is movable between a normally-closed position and an open position in response to incoming oil pressure. When in the closed position, neither oil nor air are able to flow into the centrifuge assembly. In the open position, both oil and air are able to flow into the centrifuge assembly. The air which is introduced is under pressure and provides air-assisted drainage of the oil from the centrifuge housing back to sump.

Abstract: A process for enhancing the pleatability of a meltblown web uses ultrasonic bonding wheels to create bond lines in the machine direction as the web is being produced. In addition to, or in place of, the bond lines, ribbons made of the web material, a thermoplastic polymer, string saturated with a phenolic or ultraviolet curing resin, or beads of an ultraviolet curing resin may be ultrasonically bonded to the web to enhance its stiffness. A heated scoring bar or ultrasonic horn forms pleats in the web by heating the web above its glass transition temperature and deforming the web into the pleated configuration. Cooling of the web locks the pleats into position.

Abstract: A green uncured pre-form (10) for an exhaust aftertreatment filter includes first and second sheets (12 and 14) of regenerable filter material, the second sheet being pleated and forming with the first sheet a plurality of axially extending flow channels (32, 80, 81) having lateral cross-sectional shapes with two adjacent included angles (34 and 36, 56 and 58) each greater than 45° and less than 75° and having wall segments (18 and 20, 68 and 70) with a thickness less than 0.8 mm, a porosity greater than 80%, and an extension height (b) between pleat tips less than 10 mm. Forming apparatus (83, 84) and methods are provided.

Abstract: A disposable, cone-stack, self-driven centrifuge rotor assembly for separating particulate matter out of a circulating flow of oil includes first and second rotor shell portions which are injection molded out of plastic and joined together by induction welding engaging edges so as to create an enclosing shell with a hollow interior. An injection molded, plastic support hub is assembled into a central opening in the lower half of the rotor shell and extends upwardly into the hollow interior. An injection molded, plastic alignment spool is assembled into a central opening in the upper portion of the rotor shell and extends downwardly into the hollow interior. A cone-stack subassembly, including a plurality of individual separation cones which are injection molded out of plastic, are arranged into an aligned stack and positioned within the hollow interior and cooperatively assembled between the support hub and the alignment spool.

Abstract: A diesel particulate collector (10) based on the principles of inertial impaction, virtual impaction, and filtration, for controlling exhaust emissions (12) from a diesel internal combustion engine (14) includes a housing (16) having a first plate (24) with a plurality of nozzles (26) directing exhaust flow therethrough, a first impactor (28) causing particle separation and a change of flow direction, a second plate (30) having a second set of nozzles (32) directing exhaust flow therethrough, and a second impactor (34) causing particle separation and a change of flow direction, in a first of multiple stages in a sequential cascaded separation and collection system.