Vacuum-insulated exhaust treatment devices, such as catalytic converters, with passive controls
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B01D-053/34
B01D-053/92
F01N-003/28
F01N-007/14
출원번호
US-0889646
(2000-01-21)
국제출원번호
PCT//US00/01474
(2001-07-19)
§371/§102 date
20010719
(20010719)
국제공개번호
WO00//43104
(2000-07-27)
발명자
/ 주소
Biel, Jr., John P.
Benson, David K.
Burch, Steven D.
Hill, Jr., Frederick B.
Keyser, Matthew A.
Mews, Lance
Rigsby, Donald R.
Tracy, C. Edwin
출원인 / 주소
Benteler Automotive Corporation
대리인 / 주소
Price, Heneveld, Cooper, DeWitt &
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
10인용 특허 :
7
초록▼
A thermally-activated exhaust treatment device, such as a catalytic converter (20); for vehicles includes a core having an inner housing (21) and a catalytic material (27, 27′). A jacket includes an outer housing (22) enclosing the inner housing (21) but characteristically not contacting the inner h
A thermally-activated exhaust treatment device, such as a catalytic converter (20); for vehicles includes a core having an inner housing (21) and a catalytic material (27, 27′). A jacket includes an outer housing (22) enclosing the inner housing (21) but characteristically not contacting the inner housing (21). The inner and outer housings (21, 22) includes walls (30, 31) forming a vacuum-drawn scaled insulation cavity (26) around the inner housing (21). A temperature-activated variable insulator device is positioned within the outer housing (22) and includes a hydrogen source (32) and controls for controlling the variable insulator device. A vacuum-maintenance device is incorporated into the insulation cavity (26), and includes a small container, getter material positioned in the container, a porous member allowing gas in the insulation cavity (26) to communicate with the getter material. A multi-layered radiation shield is position in the vacuum space and is loosely coupled to the inner housing (21). A vacuum detector includes a visible indicator of the vacuum in the insulation cavity (26).
대표청구항▼
1. A thermally-activated exhaust treatment device adapted to control exhaust emissions in a vehicle comprising:an inner housing having a first inlet and a first outlet defining a longitudinal direction and having an exhaust treating device therein chosen to reduce emissions from the exhaust of a com
1. A thermally-activated exhaust treatment device adapted to control exhaust emissions in a vehicle comprising:an inner housing having a first inlet and a first outlet defining a longitudinal direction and having an exhaust treating device therein chosen to reduce emissions from the exhaust of a combustion engine as the exhaust passes from the first inlet to the first outlet; an outer housing enclosing the inner housing but characteristically not contacting the inner housing, the outer housing including a second inlet and a second outlet that align with the first inlet and the first outlet of the inner housing, the inner and outer housings including walls forming a sealed insulation cavity around the inner housing, the insulation cavity having a vacuum drawn therein; and a passive, temperature-activated variable insulator device positioned within the outer housing and in communication with the insulation cavity, the variable insulator device including a hydrogen source that obviates a need for separate electrical wiring and controls for controlling the temperature of the variable insulator device, wherein the insulator device includes a hydride comprising a reversible hydride located in a confined space defined between the first and second outlets, the insulator device including a wire mesh member in the confined space, and further including a containment ring in the confined space configured to hold the wire mesh in the space, the containment ring including holes permitting passage of hydrogen from the hydride to a remaining part of the insulation cavity. 2. A thermally-activated exhaust treatment device adapted to control exhaust emissions in a vehicle comprising:an inner housing having a first inlet and a first outlet defining a longitudinal direction and having an exhaust treating device therein chosen to reduce emissions from the exhaust of a combustion engine as the exhaust passes from the first inlet to the first outlet; an outer housing enclosing the inner housing but characteristically not contacting the inner housing, the outer housing including a second inlet and a second outlet that align with the first inlet and the first outlet of the inner housing, the inner and outer housings including walls forming a sealed insulation cavity around the inner housing, the insulation cavity having a vacuum drawn therein; and a passive, temperature-activated variable insulator device positioned within the outer housing and in communication with the insulation cavity, the variable insulator device including a hydrogen source that obviates a need for separate electrical wiring and controls for controlling the temperature of the variable insulator device, the hydrogen source including a hydride located in a confined space defined inside the outer housing, and further including a wire mesh member in the confined space, and still further including a containment ring in the confined space configured to hold the wire mesh member in the space, the containment ring including holes permitting passage of hydrogen from the hydride to a remaining part of the insulation cavity. 3. The device defined in claim 2, wherein the insulator device includes a getter.4. The device defined in claim 3, wherein the hydride is combined with the getter.5. The device defined in claim 2, including a multi-layered radiation shield comprised of alternating layers of insulation material and radiant energy reflective materials is positioned in the insulation cavity around the inner housing, at least a portion of the radiation shield being spaced away from the inner housing to define a passageway between the shield and the inner housing where the hydrogen is permitted to flow to provide increased heat transfer when the treatment device reaches the predetermined temperature.6. The device defined in claim 2, including:a vacuum detector operably connected to the insulation cavity, the vacuum detector including a visible indicator of the vacuum in the insulation cavity. 7. The device defined in claim 2, wherein the confined space and the containment ring include portions extending circumferentially around the first inlet.8. A device adapted to control exhaust emissions in a vehicle comprising:an inner housing having a first inlet and a first outlet defining a longitudinal direction and having an exhaust treatment device therein chosen to reduce emissions from the exhaust of a combustion engine as the exhaust passes from the first inlet to the first outlet; an outer housing enclosing the inner housing but characteristically not contacting the inner housing, the outer housing including a second inlet and a second outlet that align with the first inlet and the first outlet of the inner housing, the inner and outer housings including walls forming a sealed insulation cavity around the inner housing, the insulation cavity having a vacuum drawn therein; and a vacuum maintenance device incorporated into the insulation cavity, the vacuum maintenance device including a container, getter material positioned in the container, a porous member allowing gas in the insulation cavity to communicate with the getter material, and a gate covers the porous member to prevent the gas in the insulation cavity from communicating with the-getter material, the gate having a high melting point such that the insulation cavity can be pumped-down, baked, and sealed at a lower first temperature and then the gate can be melted away to uncover the porous member at a higher second temperature. 9. The device defined in claim 8, wherein the gate includes material selected from a group consisting of Magnesium and Aluminum.10. The device defined in claim 8, wherein the gate includes a brazing material.11. The device defined in claim 8, including a multi-layered radiation shield comprised of alternating layers of insulation material and radiant energy reflective materials is positioned in the insulation cavity around the inner housing, at least a portion of the radiation shield being spaced away from the inner housing to define a passageway between the shield and the inner housing where hydrogen is permitted to flow to provide increased heat transfer when the treatment device reaches the predetermined temperature.12. The device defined in claim 11, wherein the alternating layers include at least two layers of insulation material.13. The device defined in claim 11, wherein the insulation material is selected from a group consisting of ceramic and fiberglass paper.14. The device defined in claim 11, wherein the reflective material is selected from a group consisting of copper and aluminum foil.15. The device defined in claim 11, wherein the radiation shield includes channels formed to permit flow of hydrogen around the radiation shield and between the radiation shield and the inner housing.16. The device defined in claim 11, including bands loosely attaching the radiation shield to the inner housing.17. The device defined in claim 11, including radially-extending supports extending through the radiation shield between the inner and outer housings.18. The device defined in claim 11, wherein the radiation shield is cut longitudinally into separate parts that are configured to mateably engage and cover opposing portions of the inner housing.19. The device defined in claim 8, including a radiation shield placed in the insulation cavity and includes a center portion, a separated inlet end portion and a separated outlet end portion that overlap the center portion to form a continuous barrier to radiation loss of heat from the inner housing, the center portion being located between the first and second sidewalls, the inlet end portion being located at the first and second inlet end cones, and the outlet end portion being located at the first and second outlet end cones.20. The device defined in claim 19, wherein the radiation shield includes multiple layers, and wherein the center portion has more layers than the inlet end portion and the outlet end portion.21. The device defined in claim 19, wherein the center portion is cylindrically shaped and includes longitudinal edges that overlap inboard edges of the inlet end portion and the outlet end portion.22. The device defined in claim 19, wherein the radiation shield is multi-layered, and includes at least one layer of insulative material and at least one layer of thermal energy reflective material.23. The device defined in claim 19, wherein the radiation shield is cut longitudinally into separate parts that are configured to mateably engage and cover opposing portions of the inner housing.24. The device defined in claim 8, including a radiation shield with gas passages, the radiation shield being extended around the inner housing, the radiation shield including portions spaced away from and defining passageways adjacent the phase change material and the inner housing that are configured to assist with thermal communication between the exhaust treatment device and the outer housing primarily through hydrogen gas conductance.25. The device defined in claim 24, wherein the radiation shield is cut longitudinally into separate parts that are configured to mateably engage and cover opposing portions of the inner housing.26. The device defined in claim 24, wherein the radiation shield surrounds and is loosely coupled to the inner housing.27. The device defined in claim 8, including a vacuum detector operably connected to the insulation cavity, the vacuum detector including a visible indicator of the vacuum in the insulation cavity.28. The device defined in claim 27, wherein the visible indicator includes a member sufficiently flexible to show a vacuum-drawn dimple.29. The device defined in claim 27, wherein the vacuum detector comprises a cap that seals the insulation cavity and that includes a member that responds to the presence of a vacuum to show that the vacuum exists.30. The device defined n claim 27, wherein the exhaust treatment device includes a catalytic material.31. The device defined in claim 8, wherein the porous member includes a porous cover.32. A thermally-activated exhaust treatment device adapted to control exhaust emissions in a vehicle comprising:an inner housing having a first inlet and a first outlet defining a longitudinal direction and having an exhaust treating device therein chosen to reduce emissions from the exhaust of a combustion engine as the exhaust passes from the first inlet to the first outlet; an outer housing enclosing the inner housing but characteristically not contacting the inner housing, the outer housing including a second inlet and a second outlet that align with the first inlet and the first outlet of the inner housing, the inner and outer housings including walls forming a sealed insulation cavity around the inner housing, the insulation cavity having a vacuum drawn therein; and a passive; temperature-activated variable insulator device positioned within the outer housing and in communication with the insulation cavity, the variable insulator device including a hydrogen source that obviates a need for separate electrical wiring and controls for controlling the temperature of the variable insulator device, the hydrogen source including a hydride located in a confined space defined inside the outer housing, and further including a porous cover covering the confined space and configured to hold the hydride in the space, the porous cover including holes permitting passage of hydrogen from the hydride to a remaining part of the insulation cavity. 33. The device defined in claim 32, wherein the porous cover includes a containment ring with holes therein.34. The device defined in claim 32, including a multi-layered radiation shield comprised of alternating layers of insulation material and radiant energy reflective materials is positioned in the insulation cavity around the inner housing, at least a portion of the radiation shield being spaced away from the inner housing to define a passageway between the shield and the inner housing where hydrogen is permitted to flow to provide increased heat transfer when the treatment device reaches the predetermined temperature.35. The device defined in claim 32, including a radiation shield placed in the insulation cavity and includes a center portion, a separated inlet end portion and a separated outlet end portion that overlap the center portion to form a continuous barrier to radiation loss of heat from the inner housing, the center portion being located between the first and second sidewalls, the inlet end portion being located at the first and second inlet end cones, and the outlet end portion being located at the first and second outlet end cones.36. The device defined in claim 32, including a radiation shield with gas passages, the radiation shield being extended around the phase change material and the inner housing, the radiation shield including portions spaced away from and defining passageways adjacent the inner housing that are configured to assist with thermal communication between the exhaust treatment device and the outer housing primarily through hydrogen gas conductance when the emissions treatment device generating an exothermic reaction.37. The device defined in claim 32, including:a vacuum detector operably connected to the insulation cavity, the vacuum detector including a visible indicator of the vacuum in the insulation cavity. 38. The device defined in claim 32, wherein the confined space and the porous cover include portions extending circumferentially around the first inlet.39. A device adapted to control exhaust emissions in a vehicle comprising:an inner housing having a first inlet and a first outlet defining a longitudinal direction and having an exhaust treatment device therein chosen to reduce emissions from the exhaust of a combustion engine as the exhaust passes from the first inlet to the first outlet; an outer housing enclosing the inner housing but characteristically not contacting the inner housing, the outer housing including a second inlet and a second outlet that align with the first inlet and the first outlet of the inner housing, the inner and outer housings including walls forming a sealed insulation cavity around the inner housing, the insulation cavity having a vacuum drawn therein; and a vacuum maintenance device incorporated into the insulation cavity, the vacuum maintenance device including a container, getter material positioned in the container, a porous member allowing gas in the insulation cavity to communicate with the getter material, and a thin sheet that covers the porous cover to prevent the gas in the insulation cavity from communicating with the getter material, the thin sheet having a high melting point such that the insulation cavity can be pumped-down, baked, and sealed at a lower first temperature and then the thin sheet can be melted away to uncover the porous cover when heated to a higher second temperature. 40. The device defined in claim 39, wherein the container is located proximate the first and second outlets in a location where the exhaust exiting the treating device will heat and activate the hydride.41. The device defined in claim 39, including a multi-layered radiation shield comprised of alternating layers of insulation material and radiant energy reflective materials is positioned in the insulation cavity around the inner housing, at least a portion of the radiation shield being spaced away from the inner housing to define a passageway between the shield and the inner housing where hydrogen is permitted to flow to provide increased heat transfer when the treatment device reaches the predetermined temperature.42. The device defined in claim 39, including a radiation shield placed in the insulation cavity and includes a center portion, a separated inlet end portion and a separated outlet end portion that overlap the center portion to form a continuous barrier to radiation loss of heat from the inner housing, the center portion being located between the first and second sidewalls, the inlet end portion being located at the first and second inlet end cones, and the outlet end portion being located at the first and second outlet end cones.43. The device defined in claim 39, including a radiation shield with gas passages, the radiation shield being extended around the inner housing, the radiation shield including portions spaced away from and defining passageways adjacent the phase change material and the inner housing that are configured to assist with thermal communication between the exhaust treatment device and the outer housing primarily through hydrogen gas conductance when the emissions treatment device generating an exothermic reaction.44. The device defined in claim 39, including:a vacuum detector operably connected to the insulation cavity, the vacuum detector including a visible indicator of the vacuum in the insulation cavity. 45. The device defined in claim 39, wherein the container and the thin sheet include portions extending circumferentially around the first inlet.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (7)
Bainbridge David W. (Littleton CO), Automotive exhaust system.
Minami Takashi (Toyota JPX) Nagase Toshimi (Toyota JPX), Exhaust gas purification device in variable combination of absorbent and catalyst according to gas temperature.
Drews, Andrew Robert; Jagner, Mark John; Rhodes, Kevin James, Temperature maintenance and regulation of vehicle exhaust catalyst systems with phase change materials.
Rhodes, Kevin James; Jagner, Mark John; Drews, Andrew Robert, Temperature maintenance and regulation of vehicle exhaust catalyst systems with phase change materials.
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