Exhaust system

Claim 2

An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, said system comprising A. an exhaust pipe, and B. a cyclone-type particulate separator comprising a cyclone housing formed by a side wall and end closures, said housing having an entry port at one end, means for inducing cyclonic circulation of particulate-containing gas entering said cyclone housing through said entry port, and exit tube axially located within said cyclone housing and extending through the end closure nearest said entry port, the opposite end closure being non-perforate, said housing having a substantially circular cross-section having throughout its length an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said exit tube, an opening in said side wall in proximity to said non-perforate end closure, said opening connecting with a closed particulate collection chamber, and having an unobstructed axial flow path from said non-perforate end closure to said exit tube, said exhaust pipe being operatively connected to said engine and to said cyclone separator entry port to form an exhaust flow path from said internal combustion engine to said cyclone separator, and including in said exhaust flow path from said internal combustion engine to said cyclone separator entry port C. an agglomeration unit, said agglomeration unit comprising side walls and end closures forming an agglomeration housing having an exhaust gas entry port connected by said exhaust pipe to said internal combustion engine and an exhaust gas exit port connected by said exhaust pipe to said entry port of said separator, said agglomeration housing containing a pervious mass of metallic bodies having a high surface area to volume ratio, said pervious mass being disposed within said agglomeration housing and across said housing such that the engine exhaust gas passes through said pervious mass while moving from said entry port to said exit port of said agglomeration unit.

Claim 3

An exhaust system of claim 1 wherein said pervious mass of metal bodies is wire mesh.

Claim 4

An exhaust system of claim 1 wherein said pervious mass of metal bodies is expanded metal lath.

Claim 5

An exhaust system of claim 1 wherein said particulate collection chamber contains expanded metal lath.

Claim 6

An exhaust system of claim 4 wherein said pervious mass of metal bodies is expanded metal lath.

Claim 7

An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, said system comprising A. an exhaust pipe, B. a muffler comprising a muffler body having a muffler inlet operatively connected to said exhaust pipe and a muffler outlet, C. a cyclone separator positioned within said muffler body, D. means for conducting exhaust gas within said muffler from said muffler inlet into said cyclone separator, and E. means for conducting purified exhaust gas within said muffler from said cyclone separator out through said muffler outlet, said cyclone separator comprising a cyclone having formed by a side wall and end closures, said housing having an entry port at one end, means for inducing cyclonic circulation of particulate-containing gas entering said cyclone housing through said entry port, an exit tube axially located within said cyclone housing and extending through the end closure nearest said entry port, the opposite end closure being non-perforate, said housing having a substantially circular cross-section having throughout its length an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said exit tube, an opening in said side wall in proximity to said non-perforate end closure, said opening connecting with a closed particulate collection chamber, and having an unobstructed axial flow path from said non-perforate end closure to said exit tube, said exhaust pipe being operatively connected to said engine to form an exhaust flow path from said engine tO said muffler, and including in said exhaust flow path from said engine to said muffler F. an agglomeration unit, said agglomeration unit comprising side walls and end closures forming an agglomeration housing having an exhaust gas entry port connected by said exhaust pipe to said engine and an exhaust gas exit port connected by said exhaust pipe to said muffler inlet, said agglomeration housing containing a pervious mass of metallic bodies having a high surface area to volume ratio, said pervious mass being disposed within said agglomeration housing and across said housing such that the exhaust gas passes through said pervious mass while moving from said entry port to said exit port of said agglomeration unit.

Claim 8

An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, said system comprising A. an exhaust pipe, B. a muffler comprising a muffler body having a muffler inlet operatively connected to said exhaust pipe and a muffler outlet, C. a cyclone separator positioned within said muffler body, D. means for conducting exhaust gas within said muffler from said muffler inlet into said cyclone separator, and E. means for conducting purified exhaust gas within said muffler from said cyclone separator out through said muffler outlet, said cyclone separator comprising a cyclone having formed by a side wall and end closures, said housing having an entry port at one end, means for inducing cyclonic circulation of particulate-containing gas entering said cyclone housing through said entry port, an exit tube axially located within said cyclone housing and extending through the end closure nearest said entry port, the opposite end closure being non-perforate, said housing having a substantially circular cross-section having throughout its length an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said exit tube, an opening in said side wall in proximity to said non-perforate end closure, said opening connecting with a closed particulate collection chamber, and having an unobstructed axial flow path from said non-perforate end closure to said exit tube, said exhaust pipe being operatively connected to said engine to form an exhaust flow path from said engine tO said muffler, and including in said exhaust flow path from said engine to said muffler F. an agglomeration unit, said agglomeration unit comprising side walls and end closures forming an agglomeration housing having an exhaust gas entry port connected by said exhaust pipe to said engine and an exhaust gas exit port connected by said exhaust pipe to said muffler inlet, said agglomeration housing containing a pervious mass of metallic bodies having a high surface area to volume ratio, said pervious mass being disposed within said agglomeration housing and across said housing such that the exhaust gas passes through said pervious mass while moving from said entry port to said exit port of said agglomeration unit.

Claim 9

An exhaust system of claim 6 wherein said pervious mass of metallic bodies is wire mesh.

Claim 10

An exhaust system of claim 6 wherein said pervious mass of metal bodies is expanded metal lath.

Claim 11

An exhaust system of claim 8 wherein said particulate collection chamber contains expanded metal lath.

Claim 12

An exhaust system of claim 9 including a filtration unit in the exhaust flow path downstream from said muffler, said filtration unit comprising a housing formed by side walls and end closures having a filter inlet and outlet and a filter element disposed within said housing in a manner such that said exhaust gas passes through said filter element in passing from said filter inlet to said filter outlet.

Claim 13

An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, said system comprising A. an exhaust pipe, B. a muffler comprising a muffler body having a muffler inlet operatively connected to said exhaust pipe and a muffler outlet, C. a cyclone separator positioned within said muffler body, D. means for conducting exhaust gas within said muffler from said muffler inlet into said cyclone separator, and E. means for conducting purified exhaust gas within said muffler from said cyclone separator out through said muffler outlet, said cyclone separator comprising a cyclone housing formed by a side wall and end closures, said housing having an entry port at one end, means for inducing cyclonic circulation of particulate-containing gas entering said cyclone housing through said entry port, an exit tube axially located within said cyclone housing and extending through the end closure nearest said entry port, the opposite end closure being non-perforate, said housing having a substantially circular cross-section having throughout its length an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said exit tube, an opening in said side wall in proximity to said non-perforate end closure, said opening connecting with a closed particulate collection chamber, and having an unobstructed axial flow path from said non-perforate end closure to said exit tube, said exhaust pipe being operatively connected to said engine to form an exhaust flow path from said engine to said muffler, and including in said exhaust flow path from said engine to said muffler F. an agglomeration unit, said agglomeration unit comprising side walls and end closures forming an agglomeration housing having an exhaust gas entry port connected by said exhaust pipe to said engine and an exhaust gas exit port connected by said exhaust pipe to said muffler inlet, said agglomeration housing containing an alumina, said alumina being disposed within said agglomeration housing and across said housing such that the engine exhaust gas passes through said alumina while moving from said entry port to said exit port of said agglomeration unit.

Claim 14

An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, said system comprising A. an exhaust pipe, B. a muffler comprising a muffler body having a muffler inlet operatively connected to said exhaust pipe and a muffler outlet, C. a cyclone separator positioned within said muffler body, D. means for conducting exhaust gas within said muffler from said muffler inlet into said cyclone separator, and E. means for conducting purified exhaust gas within said muffler from said cyclone separator out through said muffler outlet, said cyclone separator comprising a cyclone housing formed by a side wall and end closures, said housing having an entry port at one end, means for inducing cyclonic circulation of particulate-containing gas entering said cyclone housing through said entry port, an exit tube axially located within said cyclone housing and extending through the end closure nearest said entry port, the opposite end closure being non-perforate, said housing having a substantially circular cross-section having throughout its length an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said exit tube, an opening in said side wall in proximity to said non-perforate end closure, said opening connecting with a closed particulate collection chamber, and having an unobstructed axial flow path from said non-perforate end closure to said exit tube, said exhaust pipe being operatively connected to said engine to form an exhaust flow path from said engine to said muffler, and including in said exhaust flow path from said engine to said muffler F. an agglomeration unit, said agglomeration unit comprising side walls and end closures forming an agglomeration housing having an exhaust gas entry port connected by said exhaust pipe to said engine and an exhaust gas exit port connected by said exhaust pipe to said muffler inlet, said agglomeration housing containing an alumina, said alumina being disposed within said agglomeration housing and across said housing such that the engine exhaust gas passes through said alumina while moving from said entry port to said exit port of said agglomeration unit.