With Separated Nongaseous Material Conducting Or Treating Means Patents (Class 55/466)
  • Patent number: 5776416
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor comprises a reaction column, gas inflow means for flowing a gas upwardly from the lower end of the reaction column, particle feed means for feeding particles to a lower part of the reaction column, and a cyclone. The cyclone includes a cyclone body having an inlet, a gas outlet and a particle drop port, and a particle discharge pipe having an upper end communicating with the particle drop port of the cyclone body. A main fluidized bed of particles fed by the particle feed means is formed at the lower part of the reaction column, and a gas, which is to be discharged from the reaction column and which is accompanied by particles, is introduced from the inlet into the cyclone body and discharged from the gas outlet of the cyclone body. The particle discharge pipe of the cyclone communicates with the lower part of the reaction column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Tokuyama Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Oda
  • Patent number: 5769911
    Abstract: A device for the removal of liquids and/or impurities from a gas includes a primary receiver which at an upper area thereof communicates with a space or conduit in which liquid or impurities containing gas is contained and in this primary receiver a secondary receiver that is cut off from the gas is provided, and in the space between both receivers a generally vertically extending connecting conduit is provided which at its bottom communicates with a lower area of the space between both receivers and at its upper end empties through a passage into the secondary receiver. A float controlled valve is provided in the secondary receiver which keeps an outlet normally closed, but which is openable by rising of the float under the influence of liquid in the secondary receiver to drain liquid from the secondary receiver. Impurities remain in the primary receiver from which they can be periodically removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Airpower, n.v.
    Inventor: Luc Van De Vijvere
  • Patent number: 5766320
    Abstract: An integral deaerator for a heat pipe steam condenser has a main steam duct connected to a heat pipe steam condenser duct by a riser. The heat pipe steam condenser duct is inclined slightly toward the riser and a weir is positioned at the connection between the riser and heat pipe steam condenser duct to prevent condensate from draining directly into the riser. The heat pipe steam condenser duct has a drain for draining a condensate from within the heat pipe steam condenser duct to a distribution header for distributing the condensate within the riser. Steam is provided to the main steam duct for condensation in the heat pipe steam condenser and while in transit, the steam heats and deaerates the condensate. At least one drain boot is connected to the bottom of the main steam duct for draining deaerated condensate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Hudson Products Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Strock, Fred G. Russell
  • Patent number: 5746065
    Abstract: An accumulator deflector connection is used in an accumulator including a deep drawn can connected to a puck having an inlet passage and an outlet passage. The outlet passage includes a counterbore having a cylindrical bushing received therein, the deflector has a cylindrical extension received within the passage of the cylindrical bushing and the outlet end of the outlet tube is received within the passage of the cylindrical extension of the deflector and the cylindrical bushing is crimped to create a mechanical lock. In an alternate embodiment, the outlet end of the outlet tube includes knurling thereon and is located in the passage of the cylindrical extension of the thermoplastic deflector and the thermoplastic deflector is melted into the knurling during the welding of the can to the puck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Automotive Fluid Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chhotu Patel, Larry M. Lafer, Steven M. Tossey
  • Patent number: 5730786
    Abstract: A fiber bed mist eliminator system is disclosed that includes a collector vessel having at least one inlet and at least two outlets. The system further includes at least two filter housings removably secured to the collector vessel, in which each filter housing has an inlet and outlet. Each filter housing includes a fiber bed mist eliminator. A valve may optionally be provided between at least one filter housing and the collector vessel. Each fiber bed includes an inner surface defining a first closed space and an outer surface defining a second space. The first closed space is optionally in communication with the collector vessel outlet or the filter housing outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Ceco Filters, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven I. Taub
  • Patent number: 5720787
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying filter for removing carbon particles from combustion exhaust gas, having a honeycomb structural body, flow passages that are sealed alternately at both ends by means of sealing portions to form checkerboard patterns. In the exhaust gas purifying filter according to the invention, lengths of the sealing portions formed in the flow passages of the honeycomb structural body vary randomly. An exhaust gas purifying apparatus utilizing the exhaust gas purifying filter according to the invention is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kasai, Yoshiro Ono, Toshio Yamada
  • Patent number: 5718744
    Abstract: Demisting apparatus for separating oil and air from oil mist supplied thereto and including an enclosed reservoir into which the oil mist may flow; a filter device connected to the reservoir; and a blower having its suction connected to an upper portion of the reservoir for drawing oil mist therefrom and having its discharge connected to the filter device. The filter device includes a filter element through which oil mist discharged from the blower may pass for separating oil and air therein, at least some of the air venting to the atmosphere through a first portion of the filter device, the oil draining through another portion of the filter device for collection in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Lubrication Systems Company of Texas, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles W. Ehlert
  • Patent number: 5701735
    Abstract: A method for regenerating a particulate collection filter by the use of a regenerative gas according to the present invention comprises a step for causing particulate combustion in only the downstream part of said filter in the flow of the regenerative gas by the use of the regenerative gas, and a step for causing the particulate combustion in the downstream part of the filter to propagate toward the upstream part of the filter in the flow of the regenerative gas. Therefore, the direction of propagation of the combustion is opposite to the direction of the flow of the regenerative gas so that only part of the particulate combustion heat in each part of the filter is transferred upstream. Accordingly, each part of the filter will not become too hot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akio Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 5690712
    Abstract: A reverse flow air filter arrangement is provided. The arrangement includes a filter element having first and second end caps, the second end cap having a central drainage aperture. A funnel shape on an interior surface of second end cap is used to direct moisture flow to the drainage aperture. The arrangement includes a housing in which the filter element is positioned, operatively, during use. Certain features in the housing facilitate moisture withdrawal from the filter element while also inhibiting interference with sealing between the filter element and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Francis Engel
  • Patent number: 5683479
    Abstract: An air cleaner construction including a precleaner arrangement, a filter assembly and a scavenger arrangement is provided. In the precleaner arrangement, air directed into the air cleaner assembly is subjected to some particulate removal. The air from the precleaner arrangement is then directed into the filter assembly, for further particulate material. The scavenger arrangement is constructed and arranged to scavenge separated particulate material from both the precleaner arrangement and the filter assembly. A pulse jet cleaner assembly is provided to facilitate removal of particulate material from the filter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R. Gillingham, Peter A. Betts, Daniel T. Risch, James C. Rothman, Fred H. Wahlquist
  • Patent number: 5676719
    Abstract: A universal insert used with a device to drain condensate from a steam system while minimizing the passage of steam. The insert includes an anchor with tapering threads that can be crushed, permitting the insert to be used with radiator steam traps having differing sizes, and of different models. Nozzle or orifice-type constricted passageways can be located within the anchor. A filter device for use with the anchor has an adjustable height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Engineering Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Constantine N. Stavropoulos, Lianquan Liu, Panos N. Stavropoulos
  • Patent number: 5661975
    Abstract: A soot filtration device (1) in the exhaust gas section of a diesel internal-combustion engine comprises a housing with an exhaust gas inlet (2) and an outlet (3) for the filtered exhaust gas, a plurality of soot filter cartridges (4) arranged in the housing, and at least one regeneration apparatus (5). The soot filter cartridges (4) are arranged in at least two separate chambers (6), and each of these chambers (6) has a closable inlet opening (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Friedrich Abel, Hans Erdmannsdoerfer
  • Patent number: 5651248
    Abstract: This DPF apparatus has the main filter and the sub-filter installed in the exhaust gas passage, with an open-close valve provided to the main filter and a bypass valve provided to the sub-filter. A particulate accumulation sensor is also installed in the exhaust gas passage on the inlet side of the main filter. In response to the detection signals from the particulate accumulation sensor and the temperature sensor, the controller operates the open-close valve and the bypass valve and applies electricity to the metal net forming heaters to incinerate collected particulates. The particulate accumulation sensor comprises a detection filter whose ventilation resistance per unit volume is almost equal to that of the filter body, terminals made of a conductive metal and attached to the ends of the detection filter, and a resistance sensor to measure resistance between the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Isuzu Ceramics Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Kawamura
  • Patent number: 5651250
    Abstract: In this DPF apparatus, the filters have large trapping areas and three-dimensionally and efficiently trap particulates contained in the exhaust gas thereby cleaning the gas and reducing the size of the apparatus. The DPF apparatus has the main filter installed in the case incorporated into the exhaust system, the sub-filter arranged in the central portion of the main filter, and the bypass cylinder interposed between these filters. The bypass valve is installed on the exhaust gas inflow side of the sub-filter to open and close the inflow port of the sub-filter. The main filter and the sub-filter are made from ceramics porous sheet filters, or comprise a nonwoven cloth made of silicon carbide fibers and a woven cloth made of ceramics long fibers chosen from Si--C and Si--C--Ti--O long fibers and arranged adjacent to and downstream of the nonwoven cloth. The mesh heaters are laminated over the main filter on the exhaust gas inflow side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Isuzu Ceramics Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Kawamura
  • Patent number: 5632300
    Abstract: An offset steam trap is designed for removing condensed water from a horizontal steam pipe to which the trap is connected. The body of the trap contains a ball valve for permitting limited water flow out of the pipe through an orifice, and the body has an offset portion or flow barrier between its inlet and the orifice. The body is installed with the orifice effectively below the center line of the pipe, to prevent water from collecting in the bottom of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Steamsphere Inc.
    Inventor: C. Loren Isringhausen
  • Patent number: 5628339
    Abstract: An offset steam trap is designed for removing condensed water from a horizontal steam pipe to which the trap is connected. The body of the trap contains a ball valve for permitting limited water flow out of the pipe through an orifice, and the body has an offset portion between its inlet and the orifice. The body is installed with the orifice parallel to but below the center line of the pipe, so that water will not collect in the bottom of the pipe below the level of the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Steamsphere, Inc.
    Inventor: C. Loren Isringhausen
  • Patent number: 5616171
    Abstract: A filter-cleaning apparatus utilizes pulsed air to remove matter collected on a first surface of a filter. Reverse flow loosens the material which is collected in a hopper on the upstream side of the filter. The collected matter may then be combusted in the hopper so that the amount of material collected is minimized. The pulses are directed at the filter with a controlled shape and time to optimize reverse pulsing. Pulsing occurs while the thermal exhaust flow continues so that operation of the engine is not interrupted. A number of valves may be utilized to clean one or more filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Marty A. Barris, Thomas M. Weik, Kelly C. Robertson, Donald R. Monson, Jim C. Rothman, Pete A. Betts
  • Patent number: 5575833
    Abstract: A refrigerant recycling system (10) has a compressor (12) and identical first and second drier/separators (18, 20). Refrigerant material to be reclaimed is drawn into an inlet (22) of the first drier/separator, in which lubricant is separated from refrigerant vapor. After the lubricant is removed, the refrigerant vapor is filtered as it passes through a screen (80), a bed of molecular sieve material (82), and a fibrous pad (84). After passing through the first drier/separator, the refrigerant enters the compressor in which clean lubricant material is introduced to enable the compressor to operate effectively. From the compressor, the refrigerant vapor and clean lubricant passes through the second drier/separator wherein the clean lubricant is removed and the refrigerant vapor is again filtered. The twice filtered vapor is then passed to a condenser (44) in which it is condensed to a liquid. The clean refrigerant liquid is delivered from the reclamation system cleansed of impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Gary E. Griffin
  • Patent number: 5575826
    Abstract: An air cleaner construction including a precleaner arrangement, a filter assembly and a scavenger arrangement is provided. In the precleaner arrangement, air directed into the air cleaner assembly is subjected to some particulate removal. The air from the precleaner arrangement is then directed into the filter assembly, for further particulate material. The scavenger arrangement is constructed and arranged to scavenge separated particulate material from both the precleaner arrangement and the filter assembly. A pulse jet cleaner assembly is provided to facilitate removal of particulate material from the filter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R. Gillingham, Peter A. Betts, Daniel T. Risch, James C. Rothman, Fred H. Wahlquist
  • Patent number: 5557923
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and device for removing particles, in particular soot particles, from exhaust gases produced by internal-combustion engines. The invention calls for the particles to be electrostatically charged by an electrode (4). The particles or particle agglomerates are trapped by a fine-mesh metal filter (5). The conducting material (5a), preferably a sintered ferritic metal, of which the filter (5) is made can also be used as a collecting electrode. A high voltage (6) is applied (7, 10) to the electrodes. At intervals, preferably at regular intervals, an electric current is passed (11, 12) through the filter (5), causing the filter material (5a) to heat up to a temperature above the ignition temperature of the particles. The preferred shape of the filter surface is a cylinder, truncated cone and/or cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignees: Linde Aktiengesellschaft, GST Systeme, Gesellschaft Fur Abscheide-Und Steuertechnik mbH
    Inventors: Heinz Bolt, Franz Walser, Axel Schoneborn
  • Patent number: 5536287
    Abstract: The particulate collector assembly 10 removes solid particulates from a gas stream. The assembly 10 includes an outer housing 12, an intermediate housing 40, and interior housing 54 to form therebetween a clean gas chamber 14, a particulate-laden gas chamber 41, and a particulate chamber. A plurality of cyclone separator units 62 cooperate with the chambers to remove particulates from the gas stream. Each separator unit is fixedly secured to the intermediate housing and extends radially inward through the inner housing 54. A plurality of cyclone supports 82 are secured to a radially inward end of the cyclone housings and are also secured to a center support pipe 90 within the particulate chamber. This arrangement forms a wagon wheel-like structure which provides the desired rigidity to prevent sagging of the cyclone separator units yet allows the assembly components to expand freely and uniformly to minimize stresses to avoid distortions when exposed to high operating temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Inventor: Manfred F. Dehne
  • Patent number: 5525133
    Abstract: Known drips for gas transmission pipelines do not work effectively for two phase liquid-gas flows. Disclosed is a drip having two parts; a flow separator and a receptacle. The flow separator comprises a pipe having circumferential apertures in the wall. Surrounding the pipe and the apertures is a shell that defines an annular passage between the pipe wall and the shell. Annular gas liquid flow entering the separator will be divided. Most of the gas will pass the apertures and continue through the pipe. Most if not all of the liquid and some gas will pass through the aperture. It is then passed to a receptacle where the fluid is removed. The secondary gas flow is then either recombined with the main flow or can be diverted to a secondary system. Periodically the liquid collected in the receptacle can be emptied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: St. Clair Pipelines Ltd.
    Inventor: Miles E. Haukeness
  • Patent number: 5518529
    Abstract: A method of feeding out dust in a dust discharge system in a power plant including feeding out dust pneumatically from a separator via a suction nozzle by using transport gas with a pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure, supplying diluting gas into the transport gas at a location close to the suction nozzle of the dust discharge system, and selecting the flow of diluting gas into the transport gas so that part of the pressure drop (.DELTA.Pgas) of the transport gas across the dust discharge system (.DELTA.p) is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: ABB Carbon AB
    Inventor: Antal Molnar
  • Patent number: 5492461
    Abstract: A flooded compressor system has a compressor unit (10) with intermeshing rotors and a separator (12) for retaining a volume of liquid. The separator (12) is arranged to receive compressed gas and liquid discharged from the compressor unit (10) through an outlet (17) and is formed solely by a single length of pipe of substantially uniform cross section which has a first substantially horizontal portion (19) to retain a liquid pool (18) and a second elevated portion (23) connected to the first portion by a bend in the pipe. A compressed gas outlet (25) leads from the second elevated portion to a separate filter element (14), and a liquid filter element (30) is mounted from, and communicates directly with the first horizontal portion of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Cash Engineering Research Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Kitchener, Michael Hinze
  • Patent number: 5487769
    Abstract: An integral separator and cooling apparatus is provided for removing a lubricant from a heated, compressed lubricant and gas mixture, and for cooling the separated lubricant. The apparatus includes a lubricant reservoir for containing a liquid lubricant. A receiving plenum is made integral with the lubricant reservoir. The receiving plenum has an inlet for receiving the heated, compressed lubricant and gas mixture, a first outlet through which a heated, compressed gas exits, and a second outlet through which the separated lubricant flows from the receiving plenum. An apparatus is provided within the receiving plenum which causes a liquid lubricant to precipitate from the lubricant and gas mixture. A cooling core is made integral with the lubricant reservoir and the receiving plenum. The cooling core fluidly communicates with the lubricant reservoir and with the receiving plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: William R. Hutchinson, Daniel T. Martin
  • Patent number: 5465573
    Abstract: A multi-stage honeycomb heater includes: at least two honeycomb heaters electrically connected with each other and disposed along a stream of fluid; the two honeycomb heaters including furthest upstream honeycomb heater and a an adjacent honeycomb heater which is adjacent to and downstream of the furthest upstream honeycomb heater; each of the two honeycomb heaters having an electrically conductive honeycomb structure the honeycomb structure of the upstream honeycomb heater having slits for adjusting its electrical resistance and/or element for adjusting heat capacity of the honeycomb structure so that the ratio of applied power to heat capacity of the furthest upstream honeycomb heater is larger than the ratio of applied power to heat capacity of the adjacent honeycomb heater. Thus the upstream heater and the downstream heater can give similar temperature increases without a temperature distribution along a flow direction during the engine warm-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Abe, Tadato Ito, Masato Ogawa
  • Patent number: 5429150
    Abstract: The application discloses a continuous flow steam condensate removal device for use in a steam condensate removal system of a type which includes a steam condensate line, a Y-strainer for removing debris from the steam condensate line, and a condensate return line. The condensate removal device is an elongated unitary one-piece body having an entrance end, an entrance passageway, an intermediate passageway, an exit passageway, and an exit end. The intermediate passageway includes a cylindrical venturi tube, which is adjacent an exit of the entrance passageway, and a downstream cylindrical discharge-transition passageway which is adjacent an exit of the venturi tube. The downstream cylindrical discharge-transition passageway has a diameter larger than a diameter of the venturi tube and a length larger than a length of the venturi tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Inventor: H. Kenneth Siefers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5402639
    Abstract: A device and process for cleaning exhaust gases, in particular those from diesel engines, in which the exhaust gases are taken through a channel (36a) of a ceramic body (36) where an electric field is generated substantially transversely to the direction of flow, whereby the soot particles deposited on the walls of the channel (36a) are oxidized by free ions or ions adhering to oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Inventor: Carl M. Fleck
  • Patent number: 5401285
    Abstract: An air cleaner construction including a precleaner arrangement, a filter assembly and a scavenger arrangement is provided. In the precleaner arrangement, air directed into the air cleaner assembly is subjected to some particulate removal. The air from the precleaner arrangement is then directed into the filter assembly, for further particulate material. The scavenger arrangement is constructed and arranged to scavenge separated particulate material from both the precleaner arrangement and the filter assembly. A pulse jet cleaner assembly is provided to facilitate removal of particulate material from the filter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R. Gillingham, Peter A. Betts, Daniel T. Risch, James C. Rothman, Fred H. Wahlquist
  • Patent number: 5394692
    Abstract: A soot filter for diesel engines which is attached to the motor vehicle and has attached to the exhaust pipe a filter casing in which the filters are attached, which can be regenerated by hot gases, the filter casing attached to the motor vehicle having instead of an internal hot gas generator a connection to which an external mobile hot gas generator can be releasably connected, the engine exhaust gas supply being closed when the hot gas generator is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Ernst-Apparatebau GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Hildemarie Teuber-Ernst
  • Patent number: 5357755
    Abstract: Trap muffler apparatus with bypass around a trap core is disclosed. A preferred bypass arrangement utilizing a tubular shutter valve system is described. Forward or reverse regeneration are possible. Bypass to atmosphere without filtration is avoided with dual in-line traps or with the segmented trap and control of exhaust gases to traps not being regenerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R. Gillingham, Marty A. Barris, Charles O. Reinhart, Julian A. Imes, Jr., Erland D. Anderson, Peter A. Betts
  • Patent number: 5347809
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for cleaning exhaust particulate from a contaminated vehicle exhaust gas filter. Regeneration gases, oxygen content, and input heat are controlled in order to efficiently control the heat of regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Moeckel, Donald J. Waldman
  • Patent number: 5305602
    Abstract: A device for removing for particulates a diesel engine having a filter arranged in the flow of the exhaust gas, a heater for heating the filter, and an air pump or obtaining a flow of air for incineration of the particulates trapped by the filter when it is clogged. The amount of the air for the incineration of the filter is calculated in accordance with the amount of the particulates remaining in the filter at the peripheral zone thereof just after the preceding incineration cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Akikazu Kojima, Shinji Miyoshi, Mitsuo Inagaki
  • Patent number: 5293742
    Abstract: A muffler-filter apparatus having a particulate trap using filter tubes with high temperature filter materials, like fiber in the form of yarn, woven yarn mat, or a non-woven, random array fiber mat, or various foams. Filter tubes have various structural configurations and are regenerated by axial propagation using ring heaters or stub rod heaters, by heating the entire length of the filter tube with a rod heater or some other full-length heater configuration. For regeneration, exhaust flow is bypassed using various valve configurations including a poppet valve, a shutter valve, or a tubular valve. Filter tube filters may also be self-regenerated by the heat from the exhaust gases as controlled by a throttle valve or on inclusion of fuel additives which lower particulate ignition temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R. Gillingham, James C. Rothman, Kelly C. Robertson, Marty A. Barris, Peter Betts, Wayne M. Wagner
  • Patent number: 5279630
    Abstract: A soot filter for diesel engines having tubular filter cartridges through the wall of which the exhaust gas passes from without to within and the soot to be burnt off settles on the tube outer wall by a burner, at least some of the filter cartridges are provided with constrictions forming respective first and second areas inside the cartridges and providing the flow resistance through the first areas close to the burner greater than the one through the second areas formed further away from the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: ERNST-Apparatebau GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Friedrich W. Brinkmann
  • Patent number: 5263225
    Abstract: A wet/dry vacuum system for collecting fluids and particular debris is provided. The system includes a collection tank, a removable cover providing a substantially air-tight connection with the tank, and air inlet and outlet apertures. The cover includes a barrier strip integral with the internal surface of the cover. The barrier strip is designed to control the intake of debris and to prevent the system from clogging. The barrier strip is provided with air passage connections to allow proper airflow through the system when the vacuum mode is activated. The wet/dry vacuum system also includes a fluid drainage system for removing fluid from the accumulated debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Inventor: Richard A. Winters
  • Patent number: 5259190
    Abstract: An electrically conductive cellular or honeycomb structure wherein the structure is heated to light off exhaust gases and/or to burn off deposited carbon particulates and thus periodically regenerate the structure. Electrodes attached to the surface of the structure or body pass electrical currents through the body, the currents causing temperature increase by resistance heating. The electrodes are radially or angularly spaced around the outer surface of the structure, near its input end face to thereby achieve a uniform temperature distribution at the input end face for quick light-off and/or for more complete combustion of the carbon particulates. This temperature distribution can also be made more uniform by the distribution of plugs of varying thickness and/or resistivity in selected areas of the input end face of the structure. The structure can be of the porous wall type wherein alternate passageways are plugged at the front and rear faces. The structure may be also formed of an aluminum iron alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Rodney D. Bagley, G. Daniel Lipp
  • Patent number: 5243819
    Abstract: An exhaust gas cleaning device for diesel engines has an exhaust gas soot filter (2) with a filter body (6) that is supported in a housing (4) and is regenerated by combustion of the soot when its temperature rises above the middle operating exhaust gas temperature range. A burner (26) is provided, having a combustion air fan (28) whose hot gas side is in flow communication with the exhaust gas soot filter (2), and the filter body (6) is supported in its housing in such a manner that at least a large part of its outer surface is heated externally during operation of the burner (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: J. Eberspacher
    Inventors: Siegfried Woerner, Peter Reiser, Peter Prinz
  • Patent number: 5212948
    Abstract: Trap muffler apparatus with bypass to a common reactive acoustic element is disclosed. Bypass structure varies from external bypass to a common acoustic element to annular bypass of the ceramic filter to axial bypass through the middle of an annular ceramic filter. Forward or reverse regeneration are possible. Bypass to atmosphere without filtration is avoided with dual in-line traps or with the segmented trap and control of exhaust gases to traps not being regenerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R. Gillingham, Marty A. Barris, Charles O. Reinhart, Julian A. Imes, Jr., Erland D. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5203166
    Abstract: An emission control system for reducing particulates from exhaust gases from a diesel engine includes dual catalyzed diesel particulate filters in joint communication with the exhaust stream and a pair of heater elements each associated with one of the filters, through which exhaust gas is transmitted and uniformly heated. According to predetermined alternating heating sequence, the exhaust gas stream through first one of the pair of filters and then through the other is heated. The differing pressure differentials across the filters, determined by the heating sequence, effectively shift the major portion of the flow of exhaust gas between the filters, so that over the alternating heating sequence the heat generated by the heating elements is sufficient to clean the filters, without the requirement for any auxiliary source of combustion air or any mechanical switching means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Inventor: John W. Miller
  • Patent number: 5195319
    Abstract: In filtering particles such as soot from a flue gas a porous filter body of a particulate material bonded together in the body is employed. The material is a metal or metal-like material having a thermal conductivity in excess of 10 W/mK, and the porous filter body has a porosity of 50-90% and a maximum pore size of 10-40 .mu.m. In accordance with the method, the flue gas is conducted through the porous filter body so as to accumulate the particles in the porous filter body. The particles accumulated in the porous filter body are burned off, whereby heat is generated locally. The heat generated locally by the burning-off of the particles is conducted throughout the porous filter body so that the temperature rise generated by the burning-off heat is reduced. Consequently, the porous filter body is not exposed to fatal thermal stresses. A particular application of the porous filter body of the flue gas filter means is in vehicles comprising combustion engines generating soot, such as in diesel engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Inventor: Per Stobbe
  • Patent number: 5195317
    Abstract: An apparatus for regenerating a filter provided to scavenge particulate which is included in exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a heating room accommodating the filter, a heat-combusting device for heat-combusting the particulate scavenged by the filter, a microwave generating device for generating a microwave to be supplied to the heating room, a slit provided in a wall of the heating room, a microwave detecting device for detecting the energy level of the microwave coupled through the slit, and a control section for controlling the heat-combusting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomotaka Nobue, Shigeru Kusunoki, Koji Yoshino, Takashi Kashimoto
  • Patent number: 5194078
    Abstract: This exhaust filter element has a corrugated honeycomb structure made of the porous fibrous ceramics, of which cells are alternately plugged; and is made of material having a higher dielectric factor at an inflow side or an outer circumference portion than at an inside portion. The filter element can be regenerated by irradiation of micro wave after it is soiled by particulates in an exhausted gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yonemura, Takao Kusuda
  • Patent number: 5183017
    Abstract: An air filter device is disclosed which includes a dry air filter and a dust precipitator for an internal-combustion engine, having a dust extraction blower in a dust exhaust-air line leading away from the dust precipitator. In order to maintain perfect operation of the internal-combustion engine, in addition to the dust exhaust-air line there is provided an additional exhaust-air line which is connected to the intake side of the motor-driven blower and has a shut-off element which opens in the event of failure of the dust extraction blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventor: Stefan Bopp
  • Patent number: 5171337
    Abstract: A filter unit (10) for removing particulates from exhaust gases for example from a diesel engine, includes several filter elements (24) arranged so the gas flows through them are in parallel and that no individual element carries more than a fifth of the total flow. Each element (24) comprises a tubular heating element (50) of high voidage electrically conducting material, with a secondary filter layer (52) adjacent to its upstream surface, and with means (53-63) to ensure the gas flow and particulate deposition are substantially uniform over the upstream surface. At intervals the heating elements (50) are electrically energized, in turn, to burn off deposited particulates. At any one time only a subset of the elements (24) is energized through which at that time no more than a fifth of the total gas flow passes. The unit (10) might have thirteen such elements (24), energized one at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventor: James F. Pollock
  • Patent number: 5161371
    Abstract: An exhaust outlet is disclosed, characterized by the presence of an intermediate expansion chamber (4) situated between a collector tube (3) and an outlet tube (5). The intermediate expansion chamber (4) comprises a first portion (6) with divergent walls and a second portion (7) with convergent walls. A discharge orifice (9) is formed in the central zone (8) of the expansion chamber. The expansion chamber (4) captures the particles brought by the gases and discharges them through the discharge orifice (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Devil, societe anonyme
    Inventor: Paul Deville
  • Patent number: 5154743
    Abstract: A grease extractor includes a fan for forcibly flowing grease laden air to remove grease therefrom in cooperation with a membrane filter and a trap member. The grease extractor comprises a vessel with an inlet for introduction of the grease laden air and an outlet for discharging clear air removed of the grease. The membrane filter is disposed in a flow path between an inlet and an outlet of the extractor to seize the grease while passing the grease laden air therethrough. A trap member is disposed downstream of the membrane filter to deflect the air to cause collision of the grease laden air against the trap member to deposit the grease thereon. The trap member is formed with a recovery line for collecting and draining the deposit grease out of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Kuraco Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Takato, Toshihiro Higashino
  • Patent number: 5144797
    Abstract: An exhaust gas pipe includes a plurality of segments forming at least one angular bend which preferably includes an angle of approximately 90.degree.. The segments include a first segment having a given diameter. An adaptor communicates with the first segment. A second segment communicates with the adaptor and has a diameter larger than the given diameter. A honeycomb body is disposed directly downstream of the adaptor and has a side with an end surface facing towards an exhaust gas flow. The adaptor may have a shape forcing exhaust gas to approach the end surface in a helical and/or spiral path having a curvature and pitch reducing or preventing contact between exhaust gas having already been deflected and exhaust gas newly flowing into the adaptor. The adaptor may have an inside with approximately the shape of a coiled and/or spiral tubing segment approaching the end surface and being cut open in direction toward the end surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft Fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventor: Helmut Swars
  • Patent number: 5145497
    Abstract: An in-line filter device including a partition member, and a lower housing and an upper housing which are held in a fluid communication with each other through at least one intermediate passage formed through the partition member. The lower housing has a radially inner and a radially outer filter having respective packings, for separating vapor and/or liquid particles in compressed air, and accommodates a draining device for discharging the trapped vapor and/or liquid particles. The upper housing has a mist filter of an annular porous structure for further separation of the remaining vapor and/or liquid particles in the compressed air, and an air collector disposed inside the mist filter, for delivering the filtered air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Maeda Shell Service Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sadao Maeda
  • Patent number: RE35433
    Abstract: A coalescer filter is illustrated for removing material from a gas wherein a collection of liquid coalesced by passing a gaseous stream upwardly within a coalescing material packed in an upright cylindrical housing is facilitated by creating a pressure drop in a tube .[.by venturi action.]. .Iadd.in an inlet air stream .Iaddend.and communicating the pressure drop to a canister. The use of a float valve is also illustrated for controlling the discharge of liquid collected in a sealed drainage canister receiving coalesced liquid from a lower portion of an upright column or housing containing coalescing material through which a gaseous stream is passed upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Alexander Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Alexander, III