Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Ernest T Martyniuk

Kenneth B Bly

Edward J Chmiel

A particulate trap for removing particulates from the exhaust flow discharged from a diesel engine comprises a trap housing having an inlet connection and an outlet connection for the exhaust flow, an intermediate filter housing with a support plate positioned between one end of the filter housing and the outlet connection. The support plate is provided with a central one way valve controlled bypass passage extending therethrough and a plurality of closely spaced apart internally threaded apertures therethrough located around the bypass passage. A plurality of filter tubes are operatively supported within the filter housing by the support plate. Each of the filter tubes includes a perforated tube having an externally threaded outlet fitting fixed at one end thereof that is releasably threadingly engaged in an associate one of the apertures in the support plate whereby the perforated tube is supported in cantilever fashion. A closure cap is fixed at the opposite end of the tube with each closure cap being of an external diameter relative to the spacing of the threaded apertures whereby the cap will contact the closure caps on adjacent tubes whereby to support the cantilever ends of these tubes while still permitting axial expansion of the tubes. A coating of ceramic fibers is provided on each perforated tube so as to extend between the outlet fitting and the closure cap, the outside diameter of this coating of ceramic fibers being less than the external diameter of said associate closure cap.

Diesel exhaust particulate trap with plural filter tubes

A diesel engine exhaust particulate filter-incinerator comprising an enclosed filter panel having particulate deposition surfaces bordered by electrodes of a high voltage power supply. Periodic incineration is accomplished by the collection on the surfaces of particulates in amounts sufficient to conduct sufficient electric current along paths through the particulates to heat them to incineration temperature. Ignition and burn off of particulates may be automatically accomplished by maintaining a suitable voltage across the electrodes at the edges of the collection surfaces to initiate arc-like current flow before the collected particulates reach a level that would plug the filter. Specific embodiments of exemplary filter constructions are disclosed.

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Troy, MI, United States of America

Ernest T Martyniuk