Abstract: Apparatus and process for removing particulates from a flow of exhaust gas exhausted from a diesel engine and trapped in a filter including a compressor which produces dry compressed air and transports it into at least one oxygen saturation container provided with an oxygen adsorber adapted to receive the compressed air and adsorb oxygen from it. The oxygen enriched air thus generated is directed through a valve and conduit into a section of the particulate filter wherein the high partial pressure of oxygen causes particulate combustion. Each section of the trap is exposed in turn to the oxygen enriched air thus effecting a complete regeneration of the filter. Oxygen depleted compressed air is directed through the valve and separate conduit to a reservior where it can be used for actuating the air brakes of a vehicle or other compressed air uses.

Abstract: An exhaust emission purifier for a diesel engine has a particulate trap disposed in the exhaust emission passage of the diesel engine for entrapping particulates contained in exhaust gases emitted from the diesel engine, the particulate trap being housed in a canning container. An electric heater is disposed in the canning container upstream of the particulate trap for heating the exhaust gases to a temperature which is high enough to burn particulates entrapped by the particulate trap. A heat conductor/converter device disposed in the canning container upstream of the electric heater for absorbing heat radiated from the electric heater and discharging the absorbed heat into air flowing from a position upstream of the canning container into the particulate trap. The heat generated by the electric heater is efficiently utilized to heat the air introduced into the particulate trap for reliably and quickly igniting and burning the entrapped particulates.

Abstract: A regenerable particulate trap for continuously separating particulates from, for example, the exhaust gas from a diesel engine, is characterized by a rotatable trap member mounted for rotation in the exhaust gas stream. Disposed over the face of the rotatable trap member on the upstream side is an enclosed, stationary chamber which isolates a portion of the rotatable trap member from the exhaust gas stream and directs a regenerating fluid through the rotating trap member, co-currently to the exhaust gas stream, to continuously remove the trapped particles by, e.g. burning in an oxygen-containing gas.

Abstract: Muffler apparatus for reducing both sound and particulates from exhaust gases from an engine. The apparatus includes resonating chambers, flow distribution structure and a cellular ceramic core filter module. Filter regeneration mechanism includes a heating element for heating the carbon on the inlet end of the ceramic core to combustion temperature. Particulate ignition resulting in regeneration occurs when combustion air is provided; in alternate embodiments, combustion air first flows through a preheater system. A processor unit with particular logic controls the apparatus.

Abstract: A soot collector, e.g., for collection of soot from the exhaust gases of a diesel-powered internal combustion engine, having a fluid metering device which makes possible exact metering of a specified quantity of a soot remover by a controlled flow of compressed air onto the filter medium of the soot collector for regeneration of the filter medium, and which works reliably and can be manufactured economically. The fluid metering device of the soot collector includes a reservoir, a metering tank arranged in the vicinity of the reservoir bottom, a line which bypasses the metering tank, and a fluid inlet opening in the metering tank which can be closed in response to a flow of compressed air through the metering tank.

Abstract: An exhaust gas filter for a diesel engine made by winding a composite sheet formed of a corrugated sheet and a flat sheet, the filter being provided with many narrow openings at the entrance or at the entrance and exit of the filter, wherein the area of the upstream side face is increased to deposit carbon soot on this face and on the entrance exhaust gas channels uniformly. By providing many grooves on the cell walls at the upstream direction, more carbon soot deposits in these grooves. Accordingly, the constitution permits reliable carbon soot ignition, complete carbon soot burn out with smaller quantities of carbon deposition as a whole.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purification device for installation in the exhaust line of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, for igniting and vaporizing particulate matter in the exhaust stream. The device includes a canister having a tubular casing with an open end, and an end fitting having a wide mouth which fits against the open end, and thereby closing off the same. The fitting has an inlet port for connection to the exhaust pipe of the engine. Disposed within the casing is a porous filter element which traps small amounts of solid matter such as soot, and keeps it from entering the atmosphere through the vehicle's tailpipe. Igniting devices in the canister adjacent the inlet side of the filter, are located along the exhaust stream flowpath. Upon contact with the igniting devices, at least some of the particulate matter in the stream is vaporized, and passed, as a gas, through the filter.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided in its exhaust system with a particulate filter for trapping combustible particulates contained in exhaust gas. A combustion promoting material injection device is provided for injecting a material for promoting combustion of the combustible particulates into the exhaust system upstream of the particulate filter. Further there are provided a bypass exhaust passage which bypasses the combustion promoting material injection device and the particulate filter, and a flow control valve which controls the amount of exhaust gas flowing through the bypass exhaust passage to control the amount of exhaust gas flowing into the particulate filter when said combustion promoting material is to be injected from the injecting device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a trap for automotive exhaust particulates, with a high trapping efficiency and a low pressure loss for exhaust gas passage. The trap is a honeycomb-type filter with a three-dimensional network skelton. Further, provision of a ceramic incinerator comprising a heater in front of the honeycomb filter makes it easy to incinerate trapped particulates for removal.

Abstract: A burner for cleaning accumulated soot from a soot filter associated with the exhaust of internal combustion engines, the burner is simple from a constructional viewpoint and especially effective with respect to initiation and maintenance of a soot-burning process in the soot filter. The burner includes a fuel nozzle, air nozzle, and glow plug arranged in a predetermined succession in the flow direction of the air introduced into the burner chamber. An especially intensive intermingling of the fuel-air mixture for the burner and/or for the soot filter is obtained by producing a turbulent flow by means of the air nozzle.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for regeneration of clogged solid particle filters, particularly for diesel engines. There is periodically injected upstream from the clogged filter an organic liquid such as C.sub.x H.sub.y O.sub.z, of the ethyl or methyl alcohol type, having a low vaporization temperature, if necessary with water added. The organic liquid, after having been preheated and cracked to give rise to a very flammable mixture consisting essentially of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, is introduced in the path of the incident exhaust gases. The regeneration apparatus comprises two prechambers, each of which contains a glow plug. The burning of the flammable mixture regenerates the clogged filter.

Abstract: An exhaust emission control system for a diesel engine including a trap in the form of a filter formed of heat-resistant material for trapping carbon particulates. The trap has no directionality with respect to air permeability, and combustion gas, for heating the trap or a fuel for activating a catalyst provided to the trap, is supplied to the trap from a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which an exhaust gas flows from the engine to the trap. Upon a blocking of the trap as a result of an accumulation of the trapped carbon particulates, the trapped carbon particulates can be removed by oxidation treatment, to thereby enable regeneration of the trap to be effected with a high degree of efficiency.

Abstract: An exhaust particle cleaning device for a diesel engine includes a trap case provided in a passage way of exhaust gas. A filter material is disposed in the trap case so that carbon particles or other exhaust particles contained in the exhaust gas can be caught within the filter material during the time the exhaust gas is passed through the filter material. A plurality of electric heater elements are spread or dispersed on the upstream end face of the filter material, so that the exhaust gas passes through the areas defined between the plurality of heater elements. The electric heater element may be coated with a ceramic material.

Abstract: An exhaust particle cleaning device for a diesel engine includes a trap case provided in a flow conduit for the exhaust gas. A filter is disposed in the trap case so that carbon particles or other exhaust particles contained in the exhaust gas can be caught in the filter material when the exhaust gas is passed through the filter. A plurality of electric heating wires are spread over the upstream end face of the filter so that the exhaust gas passes through the areas defined between the plurality of heating wires. These heating wires are supported by insulator arms so as to maintain a predetermined small gap between the heating wires and the upstream end face of the filter.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for regenerating a filter trap used to collect particulates from the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus comprises: (a) an assembly providing a flow of a heat transfer medium through the filter trap: (b) an assembly for heating the heat transfer medium to a temperature effective to incinerate the particulates in the filter trap: and (c) a flow mask stationed in the flow of heat transfer medium, upstream from said filter trap, effective to divert the heat transfer medium away from the radially inner zone of the filter trap while guiding the heat transfer medium to engage and ignite the particulates along a radially outer region of the filter trap. The mask is a circular disc and spaced upstream from the filter trap effective to mask a central core area of the flow of heat transfer medium.

Abstract: An exhaust purification apparatus includes a regenerative burner for repetitively regenerating a trap element located in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. The regenerative burner has a combustion chamber adapted to permit flow of exhaust gases from the engine exhaust conduit to the trap element. A cup-shaped member is disposed within the combustion chamber to define therein an evaporation chamber which has an adequate supply of air-fuel mixture. The cup-shaped member has a peripheral wall formed with cutouts to permit air-fuel mixture from said evaporation chamber into said combustion chamber and also with a hole to permit fuel droplets to fall onto a glow plug located below the cup-shaped member within the combustion chamber. A protective cover is provided to cover the path of dropping of fuel droplets onto the glow plug to prevent air from flowing to cool down the glow plug and deviate the fuel droplets away from the glow plug.

Abstract: An exhaust gas cleaning device provided with a filter member for collecting particulates in the exhaust gases, and an electric heater for burning and eliminating the particulates collected by the filter member, is disclosed. The filter member is formed of electrically insulating ceramic and is installed in the exhaust gas passage. The heater is formed of ceramic provided with a large number of open passages and having electric conductivity or electrically insulating property. The heater is closely adhered to the exhaust gas inlet end surface of the filter member. In the case that the electrically conductive ceramic is used, the ceramic itself acts as a heating element which heats and ignites the collected particulates. In the case that the electrically insulating ceramic is used, a metallic film acting as a heating element is formed on the walls of the ceramic defining the open passages by printing, vacuum evaporating or other method.

Abstract: A wall flow monolith, for example, of circular configuration has its outer surface at the inlet end cut on tangents so as to provide four chordal flat surfaces with at least alternate channels next to these surfaces plugged at the inlet end so that exhaust flow is through these chordal surfaces into these channels whereby particulates are collected on the chordal surface. Glow plugs are positioned to ignite particulates on these chordal surfaces and, these glow plugs are energized either individually or in sets as an accumulated time function of engine operation.

Abstract: A ceramic structure including a metallic body such as an electric heater. The metallic body is retained in a retaining portion of the ceramic structure in such a manner that a minute cavity is provided around the metallic body. This ceramic structure is produced by forming an organic film around the metallic body, preparing a ceramic structure including the metallic body surrounded with the organic film in a retaining portion of the ceramic structure, and heating the resultant structure so as to decompose the organic film, whereby a minute cavity is formed around the metallic body.

Abstract: An apparatus controls the operation of a regenerative burner having a glow plug operable to ignite and burn a combustible mixture supplied into the burner to burn the exhaust particles collected in a trap located in the exhaust conduit of an internal combustion engine when a trap regeneration requirement occurs. A control device is provided which detects a broken wire in the glow plug and stops the supply of combustible mixture to the burner in the presence of brokage of the glow plug wire.

Abstract: An exhaust passage extends from an internal combustion engine to conduct exhaust from the engine. A filter is disposed in the exhaust passage to filter particles out of the exhaust. A burner is disposed in the exhaust passage upstream of the filter to burn off the particles deposited on the filter. Fuel is supplied to the burner for a preset time when the filter clogs. The supplied fuel is ignited in the burner. In the case where the fuel supplied to the burner ceases to burn prior to the end of the preset time, the fuel supply to the burner is interrupted.

Abstract: Filter apparatus having a honeycomb structure and a heater for purifying exhaust gases consists of cells or passages defined by porous partition walls. Alternate passages are provided respectively with upstream plugs and downstream plugs. Particulates in exhaust gases are trapped in the honeycomb structure and ignited by the heater. The upstream plugs define spaces upstream thereof in which particulates are trapped in addition to those trapped in the passages having downstream plugs. The heat of burning of the particulates trapped in the spaces facilitates the burning of the particulates trapped in the passages having downstream plugs. Therefore, the exhaust gas particulates trapped and collected in the downstream portion of the structure can also be easily burned to regenerate the structure over its entire length.

Abstract: A carbon particulates cleaning device for collecting carbon particulates in exhaust gases discharged from an internal combustion engine and burning off the collected carbon particulates, is disclosed. The carbon particulates cleaning device comprises a heat resistant filter member, an electric heater which is provided on the upstream end surface of the filter member for regenerating the filter member, and an electric power source for supplying electric current to the electric heater. The electric heater is composed of at least two kinds of heating resistors, each of which applies different electric power to a unit area of the upstream end surface of the filter member. At the filter member regenerating time, electric current is supplied to the heating resistors successively in the order of from one providing the maximum electric power density to one providing the minimum electric power density.

Abstract: A gas extractor for processing crude oil to provide the energy to power an internal combustion engine driving a conventional oil pumping unit. the extractor comprises a vertical tank, an extractor chamber, an exhaust gas pipe passing through the tank with a plurality of baffle pans mounted longitudinally thereon; a crude oil reservoir in the top of the tank, valve means controlling the rate of oil flow from the reservoir to the upper baffle pan; means to vary the amount of exhaust gases passed through the exhaust pipe to control the temperature of the extractor chamber; a gas outlet passage, air inlet passage and oil drain passages in the extractor chamber, each adjacent baffle pan being oppositely tilted and having a drain opening at its lower side whereby the oil passing through the extractor flows across each adjacent oil pan before being drained from the extractor.

Abstract: A method for removing particulates from internal combustion exhaust gases in a system which includes a first gas conduit which connects with an engine exhaust pipe and which communicates with a series of trap chambers containing means for filtering or trapping particulate matter present in the exhaust gas. Means for heating gas passing through said first gas conduit is provided upstream of the first trap chamber. A second gas conduit connects with said first gas conduit at a location upstream of the first trap chamber by virtue of which exhaust gas can be made to flow in a path which by-passes any number of trap chambers in the series but which flows through subsequent trap chambers. Valve means are associated with said second gas conduit to selectively by-pass or direct exhaust gas flow through desired trap chambers.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying device for use with a diesel engine comprising a filter block disposed in an engine exhaust passage for collecting exhaust gas particulates, and a heater for incinerating the collected exhaust gas particulates. The filter block has parallel channels defined therein and separated from one another by porous partition walls, some of the channels being closed at their inlet ends with blind plugs while the other channels are closed at their outlet ends with blind plugs. The heater is supported by the blind plugs.

Abstract: An exhaust emission control device for Diesel engines comprising a trap disposed in an exhaust pipe connected to an exhaust manifold and a trap-heating burner disposed outside the exhaust pipe, whereby a combustion gas from the burner is led to the outer peripheral portion of the trap to heat the same.According to the exhaust emission control device for Diesel engines of the present invention, the stable oxidation of particulates collected on the trap in the exhaust pipe is achieved independently of the flow rate of the exhaust gas, the exhaust pressure and the amount of O.sub.2 in the exhaust gas.

Abstract: In an exhaust gas cleaning apparatus a ceramic heating resistor has a lattice-shaped exhaust gas passage and is formed by extrusion. The ceramic heating resistor is fixed closely to the upper stream side of a filter which catches particulates contained in exhaust gas. This heating resistor is divided into a plurality of sections so that heating current is successively supplied to the divided sections.

Abstract: An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine which burns a hydrocarbon fuel mixture and which produces a carbonaceous particle carrying exhaust gas stream that passes through a filter of the system that retains at least part of the particles therein, the system having a burn-off unit for periodically burning the retained particles in the filter to tend to periodically clean the filter of the retained particles thereof. The burn-off unit is adapted to raise the temperature of the exhaust gas stream intermediate the engine and the filter to raise the temperature of the filter to particle burning temperature thereof, the burn-off unit injecting and burning a certain amount of the hydrocarbon fuel mixture in the exhaust gas stream intermediate the engine and the filter to raise the temperature of the exhaust gas stream intermediate the engine and the filter.

Abstract: An exhaust gas cleaning device provided with a filter member for collecting carbon particulates in exhaust gases discharged from a diesel engine and an electric heater for burning off the particulates collected by the filter member, is disclosed. The filter member is composed of a large number of intersecting porous walls which define a large number of inlet gas passages and outlet gas passages which are adjacent to each other. The electric heater is composed of at least one film-shaped heating resistor which is directly formed on the upstream end surface of the filter member so as to be integral therewith. When the amount of carbon particulates collected by the filter member reaches a predetermined level, electric current is supplied to the electric heater. The carbon particulates adhered to the upstream end surface of the filter member are ignited and burnt off. Then, the combustion of carbon particulates spreads to the other carbon particulates collected in the other portion of the filter member.

Abstract: An exhaust cleaner system for use in the exhaust system of a diesel engine is provided with a particulate filter positioned in a trap housing with an exhaust inlet thereto and an exhaust outlet therefrom. A pair of exhaust ducts are positioned in the inlet end of the exhaust outlet whereby to define, in effect, three separate exhaust flow zones through the filter and a flow limiter valve is operatively positioned to sequentially control flow through the exhaust ducts. Glow plugs are located so as to extend into the zones of the filter associated with the exhaust ducts to initiate incineration of particulates during reduced exhaust flow conditions as controlled by the flow limiter valve.

Abstract: An exhaust cleaner and multi-point burner system for a diesel engine has a burner device with concentric first and second sets of circumferentially spaced apart point igniters facing the inlet end face of a particulate filter to effect multiple points of ignition of the particulates collected thereon, and a central point igniter to serve as a pilot light, supplied with an air/fuel mixture by a first supply conduit and a solenoid valve controlled supply conduit, respectively. The arrangement is such that the air/fuel mixture to the sets of point igniters is ignited using a single central electric igniter, such as a spark plug to ignite the air/fuel mixture supplied to the central igniter. Once all points are ignited, the solenoid valve is closed, thus increasing the flow of the air/fuel mixture to the sets of point igniters. This change in flow reduces heat losses and minimizes air/fuel requirements to effect ignition of the particulates.

Abstract: A filtration system is disclosed which removes particulates from the exhaust gas of a diesel engine. The system has (a) a filter element, (b) oxidation means for conducting a flow of heated gas through at least a portion of the filter element, the heated gas being effective to ignite the particulates in that portion, and (c) a flow control means. The flow control means has walls dividing the filter element into first and second portions, and a flow diverter effective to normally permit full exhaust gas flow through both of said filter portions, and effective to selectively permit exhaust glow through only one of the filter portions while permitting flow of heated gas of the oxidation means through the other of said filter portions.

Abstract: An exhaust gas cleaning device comprises at least one exhaust gas flowing passage, at least one particulates collecting member composed of two filter elements having different heat capacity, which is disposed within the exhaust gas flowing passage and heating means which is interposed between the filter elements so as to be closely contacted therewith. The filter element having smaller heat capacity is disposed on the upper stream side of the heating means and the filter element having larger heat capacity is disposed on the downstream side thereof. The filter element having smaller heat capacity is rapidly heated by the heating means and the heat of the filter element having smaller heat capacity is transmitted to the filter element having larger heat capacity. All of the particulates collected by the particulates collecting member can be burnt off with excellent heat efficiency.

Abstract: An exhaust cleaner and burner system for use with a diesel engine has a housing with an inlet at one end for receiving exhaust gas from an engine and an exhaust outlet at its opposite end with a particulate filter positioned therein intermediate the inlet and the exhaust outlet having an inlet face axially spaced from the inlet. A fuel burner device is operatively positioned in the housing in axial spaced apart relationship to the inlet face of the filter and is adapted to be connected to an air/fuel mixture source and has an igniter for the air/fuel mixture. A rotatable flame distributor is operatively associated with the fuel burner device whereby to direct a flame discharged from the fuel burner device incrementally across the inlet face of the filter so as to sequentially effect complete burning of collected particulates.

Abstract: An exhaust gas cleaning device for collecting carbon particulates in the exhaust gases, is disclosed. The device is provided with a filter member formed of a material having interconnected pores and an electric heater which is buried within the exhaust gas inlet end portion of the filter member. According to the exhaust gas cleaning device of the present invention, the carbon particulates collected in the inlet end portion of the filter member is directly heated by means of the electric heater which is provided in the inlet end portion of the filter member. Therefore, carbon particulates can be ignited by a small amount of electric power.

Abstract: A carbon particulates cleaning device for use in a diesel engine of an automobile or the like comprises an exhaust gas main pipe, an exhaust gas branch pipe diverged from the exhaust main pipe, a carbon particulates catching member which is provided within at least one of the exhaust gas main pipe and the exhaust gas branch pipe, a valve means by which exhaust gas is selectively supplied into the exhaust gas main pipe or the exhaust gas branch pipe, a heating means which heats the carbon particulates catching member, a gas supplying means which supplies gas into the carbon particulates catching member when the carbon particulates catching member is heated and a control means which controls each operation of the valve means, the heating means and the gas supplying means.

Abstract: An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine which burns a hydrocarbon fuel mixture and which produces a carbonaceous particle carrying exhaust gas stream that passes through a filter of the system that retains at least part of the particles therein, the system having a burn-off unit for periodically burning the retained particles in the filter to tend to periodically clean the filter of the retained particles thereof. The burn-off unit is adapted to raise the temperature of the exhaust gas stream intermediate the engine and the filter to raise the temperature of the filter to particle burning temperature thereof, the burn-off unit injecting and burning a certain amount of the hydrocarbon fuel mixture in the exhaust gas stream intermediate the engine and the filter to raise the temperature of the exhaust gas stream intermediate the engine and the filter.

Abstract: A filter system particularly adapted to remove particulate aerosol and vapor contamination from air comprising, an outer shell having a contaminated air inlet cap connected to one end and a clean air outlet cap connected to the other end, and a plurality of filter units mounted axially in the shell, each of said units comprising two containers, one of the containers having a particle/aerosol filter element therein such as paper, and the other of the containers having a vapor filter element therein, such as charcoal, the two containers of each filter unit being positioned in contiguous relation. A vapor passage is provided from one container to the other container of each unit and an annulus is provided between the outer periphery of the containers and the inner surface of the shell.

Abstract: A device for collecting and burning particulates in exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine comprises: a casing having an inlet port and a discharge port for exhaust gases; at least one trapper of porous and heat resistant material disposed within the casing; and a plurality of electric heaters separately disposed a predetermined distance apart from each other on or adjacent to a surface of the trapper which confronts the inlet port and connected to a power source, each of said electric heaters having a predetermined heating area. This device effectively collects and burns particulates in exhaust gases with reduced amount of electric power.

Abstract: An elongated particulate trap to fit the area usually occupied by the vertical cylindrical muffler, as on a large diesel truck, consists of rings of axial flow filter elements and a disc-like axial flow end filter element stacked in a trap housing, having an exhaust inlet and outlet at opposite ends, so as to provide a central flow passage for entry of exhaust gases via the exhaust inlet and so as to define with the trap housing and exhaust passage in flow communication with the exhaust outlet. The filter elements are stacked in spaced apart relationship to each other whereby to provide an axial gap therebetween to allow radial flow on one face of the filter elements. The axial gaps are sealed alternately on inner and outer radial ends to define outlet and inlet passages, respectively and to force axial flow through the filter elements whereby particulates will be removed from the exhaust gases.

Abstract: An air pollution control process employing an improved rotatable collector, which by its position becomes a filtering and adsorbing station and a combustion and desorbing station, and an oxidizer are utilized in an apparatus and process for removing airborne particulate materials and organic vapors from an air stream. The rotatable collector comprises an assembly of alternate layers of refractory microfiber, metal screens, and a thin layer of adsorbent carbon.

Abstract: Particle-laden exhaust gases flow through a first stage consisting of a filter cake so the particles of sizes of the order of microns are trapped over the surface of the filter cake and agglomerated or granulated and the agglomerated or granulated particles are entrained by the flow of exhaust gases into an inertia type particle collector or separator in which they are separated from the exhaust gases and the collected particles are burned out by an electric heating element.

Abstract: An exhaust gas cleaning device for an internal combustion engine comprises a housing provided with an inlet port which is communicated with an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine and an outlet port, two particulates collecting members disposed in two independent exhaust gas flowing passages which are communicated with the inlet port through an inlet chamber and with the outlet port through an outlet chamber, a butterfly valve provided in the inlet chamber for alternately directing the exhaust gases into either one of the exhaust gas flowing passages and a heated air supplying means for burning off the particulates collected by the particulates collecting members, which is provided with a heated air outlet port opening into the inlet chamber so as to be opposed to the inlet port with the butterfly valve therebetween.

Abstract: This invention provides improvements in method of and apparatus for reducing an emitted amount of particulates by collecting the particulates contained in the exhaust gas from a diesel engine by a trapper. According to the invention, firstly, an excess amount of the particulates which have adhered to the trapper is detected, and thereafter, temperature of the trapper being within a range of self-burning temperature of the particulates is detected. When necessity for regenerating the trapper is ascertained based on the both detections described above, the inlet side of the trapper is heated to a range of igniting temperature of the particulates, whereby a large igniting energy required for propagating combustion is accumulated. Thereafter, secondary air is supplied to the trapper to ignite the particulates, and combustion is propagated to the particulates being within the range of self-burning temperature thereof by the secondary air continuously supplied, to thereby regenerate the trapper.

Abstract: Apparatus for purifying an air or gas flow of combustible vaporous or gaseous impurities by passing the air or gas through an adsorption filter and charging the filter to a predetermined level. After the filter is so charged, the air or gas flow is interrupted and the filter is desorbed by passing a heated inert gas generated by stoichiometric burning of hydrocarbons through the filter.