Claims
- 1. An apparatus for modifying an exhaust stream of a diesel engine, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a muffler arrangement comprising a cylindrical outer shell and having an exhaust inlet, and exhaust outlet and means for sound attenuation;
- (b) a catalytic converter arrangement positioned within said muffler arrangement between said exhaust inlet and exhaust outlet;
- (i) said catalytic converter arrangement including a porous core member having an upstream face;
- (c) means for directing flow of exhaust gases through said catalytic converter arrangement whenever exhaust gases operably flow through said muffler arrangement from said exhaust inlet to said exhaust outlet;
- (d) a flow distribution arrangement constructed and arranged to direct exhaust flow substantially evenly against said porous core member upstream face;
- (i) said porous core member being positioned within a distance of about 2 to 4 inches from said flow distribution arrangement; and
- (e) said means for sound attenuation comprises downstream acoustic elements including a flow passage tube extending through at least one resonating chamber; said flow passage tube having a re-entry port on an end thereof proximate said catalytic converter arrangement.
- 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for sound attenuation comprises a sonic choke arrangement operably positioned within said muffler arrangement.
- 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said catalytic converter arrangement comprises a metal foil core having an effective amount of catalyst dispersed thereon.
- 4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said catalytic converter arrangement comprises a ceramic core having an effective amount of catalyst dispersed thereon.
- 5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said catalytic converter arrangement includes an insulation mantle wrapped around said ceramic core.
- 6. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said catalytic converter arrangement includes:
- (a) a flexible insulation mantle wrapped around said ceramic core; and,
- (b) a sheet metal casing wrapped around said flexible insulation mantle.
- 7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flow distribution arrangement comprises a perforated inlet tube having an end with a closure crimp therein.
- 8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flow distribution arrangement comprises a domed, perforated baffle member positioned between said exhaust inlet and said porous core member upstream face.
- 9. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flow distribution arrangement comprises a perforated inlet tube with a domed end cap positioned on an end thereof proximal said porous core member.
- 10. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:
- (a) said flow distribution arrangement comprises a domed, perforated baffle member positioned between said exhaust inlet and said porous core member upstream face; said domed baffle member having a convex side thereof directed toward said exhaust inlet; and
- (b) said exhaust inlet includes a bell shaped diffusion element directed toward said domed baffle member.
- 11. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said porous core member is positioned within about 2.0 to 3.0 inches from said flow distribution arrangement.
- 12. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:
- (a) said means for sound attenuation comprises a sonic choke arrangement positioned within said muffler arrangement; and,
- (b) said porous member is also positioned within about 1 inch to 6 inches from said sonic choke arrangement.
- 13. An apparatus for modifying an exhaust stream of a diesel engine, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a muffler arrangement including a cylindrical outer shell and having an exhaust inlet and an exhaust outlet;
- (b) a catalytic converter arrangement positioned within said muffler arrangement; said catalytic converter arrangement comprising a converter core having an upstream surface;
- (c) means for directing flow of exhaust gases through said catalytic converter core whenever exhaust gases operably flow through said muffler arrangement from said exhaust inlet to said exhaust outlet;
- (d) a flow distribution arrangement constructed and arranged to direct exhaust flow substantially evenly against said converter flow upstream surface;
- (i) said converter core being positioned within a distance of about 2 to 4 inches from said flow distribution arrangement; and
- (e) said muffler arrangement including a sound attenuator, said sound attenuator including downstream acoustic elements having a flow passage tube extending through at least one resonating chamber; said flow passage tube having a re-entry port on an end thereof proximate said catalytic converter arrangement.
- 14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said flow distribution arrangement comprises a perforated inlet tube having an end with a closure crimp therein.
- 15. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein:
- (a) said muffler arrangement includes a sonic choke arrangement positioned within said shell; and,
- (b) said converter core is positioned a distance of about 1 inch to 6 inches from said sonic choke arrangement.
- 16. An apparatus for modifying an exhaust stream of a diesel engine; said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a muffler arrangement comprising a cylindrical outer shell and an inlet;
- (b) a catalytic converter arrangement positioned within said muffler arrangement; said catalytic converter arrangement comprising a converter core having an upstream surface oriented directed toward and facing said muffler inlet;
- (c) means for selectively directing flow of exhaust gases from said inlet toward said catalytic converter core upstream surface; and,
- (d) a flow distribution arrangement constructed and arranged to direct exhaust gas flow substantially evenly against said converter core upstream surface;
- (i) said converter core being positioned no greater than about 4 inches from said flow distribution arrangement; and
- (e) said muffler arrangement including a sound attenuator, said sound attenuator including downstream acoustic elements having a flow passage tube extending through at least one resonating chamber; said flow passage tube having a re-entry port on an end thereof proximate said catalytic converter arrangement.
- 17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said flow distribution comprises a perforated inlet tube having an end with a closure crimp therein.
- 18. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said flow distribution arrangement comprises a perforated inlet tube with a domed end cap positioned on an end thereof proximal said converter core.
- 19. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein:
- (a) said flow distribution arrangement comprises a domed, perforated baffle member positioned between said exhaust inlet and said converter core upstream surface.
- 20. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein:
- (a) said flow distribution arrangement comprises a domed, perforated baffle member positioned between said exhaust inlet and said converter core upstream surface; said domed baffle member having a convex side thereof directed toward said exhaust inlet; and
- (b) said exhaust inlet includes a bell-shaped diffusion element directed toward said domed baffle member.
- 21. An apparatus for modifying an exhaust stream of a diesel engine; said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a muffler arrangement comprising a cylindrical outer shell and an inlet;
- (b) a catalytic converter arrangement positioned within said muffler arrangement; said catalytic converter arrangement comprising a converter core having an upstream surface oriented toward and facing said muffler inlet;
- (c) means for selectively directing flow of exhaust gases from said inlet toward said catalytic converter core upstream surface; and,
- (d) a flow distribution arrangement constructed and arranged to direct exhaust gas flow substantially evenly against said converter core upstream surface;
- (i) said converter core being positioned no closer than a distance of about 2 inches to said flow distribution arrangement; and
- (e) said muffler arrangement including a sound attenuator, said sound attenuator including downstream acoustic elements having a flow passage tube extending through at least one resonating chamber; said flow passage tube having a re-entry port on an end thereof proximate said catalytic converter arrangement.
Parent Case Info
This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/294,198, filed Aug. 22, 1994, now abandoned which is a Continuation of Ser. No. 07/889,949, filed Jun. 2, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,973.
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Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
294198 |
Aug 1994 |
|
Parent |
889949 |
Jun 1992 |
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