US3751914A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and apparatus for improving the removal of harmful components from engine exhaust gases
Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co
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Filing: 1971-09-27
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Granted: 1973-08-14
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Expires: 1991-09-27
Abstract
Abstract In the operation of an internal combustion engine, the catalyst bed of a catalytic muffler can be brought more rapidly to its effective operating temperature during the warmup period by combining, just after the engine start-up, the exhaust gases with air and unburned fuel, igniting the mixture and passing the hot combustion products in direct heat exchange with the cold catalyst bed. The process is interrupted when a period of time has elapsed so that a portion of the catalyst bed has been elevated to a temperature sufficiently high so as to be effective. A catalytic muffler equipped with an interconnected combustion chamber and catalyst-containing chamber may be used for the above purpose. The combustion chamber is provided with an inlet for a mixture of air, supplied by a blower, and exhaust gases, means for injecting unburned fuel as a spray, and means for igniting the combination of air, exhaust gases and unburned fuel. Suitable timing means are provided for initiating and terminating the operation of the blower, injection means and ignition means.
Inventors
- 👤 L Pollock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:08
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N3/00; F01N3/08; F01N3/10; F01N3/18; F01N3/20; F01N3/2006; F01N3/2033; F01N3/24; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A process for rapidly bringing to its operating temperature the catalyst bed of a catalytic muffler, said catalytic muffler being disposed so as to treat the exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps: a. initiating ignition of said internal combustion engine, said ignition automatically initiating a predetermined delay interval before b. automatically mixing the exhaust gases from said internal combustion engine with air and unburned fuel and igniting said mixture for a predetermined period, c. conducting the gaseous combustion products resulting from said ignition and direct heat exchange with said catalyst bed, and d. automatically terminating mixing the exhaust gases from said internal combustion engine with air and unburned fuel and terminating igniting said mixture at the end of said period.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A process for rapidly bringing to its operating temperature the catalyst bed of a catalytic muffler, said catalytic muffler being disposed so as to treat the exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps: a. initiating ignition of said internal combustion engine, said ignition automatically initiating a predetermined delay interval before b. automatically mixing the exhaust gases from said internal combustion engine with air and unburned fuel and igniting said mixture for a predetermined period, c. conducting the gaseous combustion products resulting from said ignition and direct heat exchange with said catalyst bed, and d. automatically terminating mixing the exhaust gases from said internal combustion engine with air and unburned fuel and terminating igniting said mixture at the end of said period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein the mixing of said exhaust gases with air and unburned fuel and subsequent ignition is conducted for a period of from 8 to 30 seconds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the air is combined with said exhaust gases prior to the combination with the unburned fuel.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
197 words
An apparatus for eliminating the products of incomplete combustion in the exhaust stream of an internal combustion engine comprising: a. a catalytic muffler for converting the products of incomplete combustion from said engine to harmless materials, having a combustion chamber and a catalyst containing chamber, b. inlet means to said combustion chamber for introducing exhaust gases from said engine, c. means for compressing air and mixing said air with said exhaust gases prior to said inlet means, d. means for injecting unburned fuel into said combustion chamber as a fine spray, e. means for igniting a mixture of said unburned fuel, air and exhaust gases, f. communication means between said combustion chamber and said catalyst containing chamber, g. exit means for passing gaseous products from said catalyst containing chamber to the atmosphere, h. means for initiating the operation of said air compressing means, said spray injecting means and said igniting means said initiating beginning automatically after a predetermined delay interval after startup of said engine, and i. means for automatically terminating the operation of said air compressing means, said spray injecting means and said igniting means after a predetermined interval of operation after startup of said engine.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
197 words
An apparatus for eliminating the products of incomplete combustion in the exhaust stream of an internal combustion engine comprising: a. a catalytic muffler for converting the products of incomplete combustion from said engine to harmless materials, having a combustion chamber and a catalyst containing chamber, b. inlet means to said combustion chamber for introducing exhaust gases from said engine, c. means for compressing air and mixing said air with said exhaust gases prior to said inlet means, d. means for injecting unburned fuel into said combustion chamber as a fine spray, e. means for igniting a mixture of said unburned fuel, air and exhaust gases, f. communication means between said combustion chamber and said catalyst containing chamber, g. exit means for passing gaseous products from said catalyst containing chamber to the atmosphere, h. means for initiating the operation of said air compressing means, said spray injecting means and said igniting means said initiating beginning automatically after a predetermined delay interval after startup of said engine, and i. means for automatically terminating the operation of said air compressing means, said spray injecting means and said igniting means after a predetermined interval of operation after startup of said engine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said initiating and terminating means are delay switches, said compressing means is a centrifugal blower, said injection means is controlled by a fuel metering valve and said ignition means is a spark plug.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-13 | 1977-02-12 | 1977-08-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-13 | 1981-02-12 | 1981-08-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-13 | 1985-02-12 | 1985-08-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |