Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Terrence L Stark

Otto A Ludecke

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.

Diesel exhaust cleaner with alternating glow plug burner system

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.

Diesel exhaust cleaner with glow plug igniters and flow limiting valve

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.

Diesel exhaust cleaner and burner system with multi-point igniters

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.

Diesel exhaust cleaner and burner system with flame distributor

An exhaust cleaner and burner system for diesel engines provides for the trapping of particulates in the engine exhaust gases by their passage through a filter element. Collected particulates on the filter element are incinerated by the use of a heater means with the necessary air required for combustion of the particulates being drawn through the filter element by engine vacuum in the intake manifold of the engine. By throttling the air flow into the intake manifold so as to maintain a substantially constant depression therein, the required fuel burner mixture air flow needed for the combustion of carbonaceous particulates collected on a filter element is obtained during engine operation.

Diesel exhaust cleaner and burner system with constant burner air

A dual filter element exhaust cleaner and burner system for diesel engines provides for the trapping of particulates in the engine exhaust gases by their passage through filter elements, as selectively controlled by means of a four-way valve. Collected particulates in a non-active particulate filter element are incinerated by means of a heater, with this filter element, during incineration, being supplied with exhaust gases through a constant flow exhaust gas regulator whereby incineration of the particulates will occur at a controlled rate independent of engine speed.

Diesel engine dual path exhaust cleaner and burner system

Constructions for fabricated sheet metal engine main bearing caps are disclosed having certain common features including provision of a bearing flange member formed from a single sheet and a supporting base member which is fabricated from at least one formed metal sheet, with in an alternative embodiment the addition of separate pieces, to define spaced columns connected by dual webs and an end plate comprising a strong relatively light structure.

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Washington, MI, United States of America

Terrence L Stark