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An exhaust gas cooling and particulate scrubbing system for automobiles includes a first stage intercooler for initial, indirect cooling of the exhaust gas and a direct exhaust gas cooling and scrubbing device preferably positioned downstream in the exhaust system therefrom. The intercooler is desi

An exhaust gas cooling and particulate scrubbing system for automobiles includes a first stage intercooler for initial, indirect cooling of the exhaust gas and a direct exhaust gas cooling and scrubbing device preferably positioned downstream in the exhaust system therefrom. The intercooler is designed to provide circulation of a liquid cooling medium by convection and has airflow ducts positioned within a surrounding jacket oriented to permit air to move therethrough during movement of the automobile. The a direct exhaust gas cooling and scrubbing device passes the exhaust gas through a liquid cooling medium whereby the exhaust gas is cooled in an effort to trap suspended particulates in the liquid cooling medium.

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The invention claimed is: 1. In an automotive exhaust system, an exhaust gas cooling and particulate scrubbing system for receiving exhaust gas from an engine and cooling the gases prior to discharge to the atmosphere comprising: an intercooler for indirect cooling of the exhaust gas passing theret

The invention claimed is: 1. In an automotive exhaust system, an exhaust gas cooling and particulate scrubbing system for receiving exhaust gas from an engine and cooling the gases prior to discharge to the atmosphere comprising: an intercooler for indirect cooling of the exhaust gas passing therethrough including a jacket holding a quantity of liquid cooling medium separated from the exhaust gas by a wall defining a channel for the passage of the exhaust gas through the jacket, wherein the intercooler includes a plurality of tubes positioned in the channel and fluidically connected with the holes in the wall to permit circulation of the liquid cooling medium therethrough, said intercooler including at least one airflow duct located in the jacket to permit air to flow through the jacket; and a direct exhaust gas cooling and scrubbing device fluidically connected to the intercooler, the device including a body defining a chamber for holding a quantity of liquid cooling medium and a passage for directing exhaust gas to the chamber for passage through the liquid cooling medium in direct contact with the liquid cooling medium. 2. An automotive exhaust system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one airflow duct is positioned in the jacket whereby liquid cooling medium in the jacket substantially surrounds the airflow duct. 3. An automotive exhaust system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said at least one airflow duct is oriented on a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the axis of the channel. 4. An automotive exhaust system as set forth in claim 3, including a plurality of said airflow ducts circumferentially spaced around said channel. 5. In an automotive exhaust system, an exhaust gas cooling and particulate scrubbing system for receiving exhaust gas from an engine and cooling the gases prior to discharge to the atmosphere comprising: an intercooler for indirect cooling of the exhaust gas passing therethrough including a jacket holding a quantity of liquid cooling medium separated from the exhaust gas by a wall defining a channel for the passage of the exhaust gas through the jacket, wherein the intercooler includes a plurality of tubes positioned in the channel and fluidically connected with the holes in the wall to permit circulation of the liquid cooling medium therethrough wherein said tubes are positioned in upright alignment and transverse to a longitudinal axis of said channel; and a direct exhaust gas cooling and scrubbing device fluidically connected to the intercooler, the device including a body defining a chamber for holding a quantity of liquid cooling medium and a passage for directing exhaust gas to the chamber for passage through the liquid cooling medium in direct contact with the liquid cooling medium. 6. In an automotive exhaust system, an exhaust gas cooling and particulate scrubbing system for receiving exhaust gas from an engine and cooling the gases prior to discharge to the atmosphere comprising: an intercooler for indirect cooling of the exhaust gas passing therethrough including a jacket holding a quantity of liquid cooling medium separated from the exhaust gas by a wall defining a channel for the passage of the exhaust gas through the jacket, wherein the intercooler includes a plurality of tubes positioned in the channel and fluidically connected with the holes in the wall to permit circulation of the liquid cooling medium therethrough, wherein said jacket includes a vent hole in said jacket for permitting the escape of vapor said jacket; a direct exhaust gas cooling and scrubbing device fluidically connected to the intercooler, the device including a body defining a chamber for holding a quantity of liquid cooling medium and a passage for directing exhaust gas to the chamber for passage through the liquid cooling medium in direct contact with the liquid cooling medium; and a flap positioned over said vent hole and including an air dam on said flap. 7. In an automotive exhaust system, an exhaust gas cooling and particulate scrubbing system for receiving exhaust gas from an engine and cooling the gases prior to discharge to the atmosphere comprising: an intercooler for indirect cooling of the exhaust gas passing therethrough including a jacket holding a quantity of liquid cooling medium separated from the exhaust gas by a wall defining a channel for the passage of the exhaust gas through the jacket, wherein the intercooler includes a plurality of tubes positioned in the channel and fluidically connected with the holes in the wall to permit circulation of the liquid cooling medium therethrough, wherein said jacket includes a vent hole in said jacket for permitting the escape of vapor said jacket; and a direct exhaust gas cooling and scrubbing device fluidically connected to the intercooler, the device including a body defining a chamber for holding a quantity of liquid cooling medium and a passage for directing exhaust gas to the chamber for passage through the liquid cooling medium in direct contact with the liquid cooling medium, said direct gas cooling and scrubbing device including at least one sparger for diffusing the flow of exhaust gas as it passes through the liquid cooling medium, said sparger including a wall having a plurality of holes therein and a removable cartridge mounted in said body. 8. An automobile exhaust system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said direct exhaust gas cooling and scrubbing device includes a reservoir adapted for holding a quantity of liquid cooling medium and separated from said chamber by a wall, and having at least one passage fluidically communicating between said reservoir and said chamber for supplying liquid cooling medium from said reservoir to said chamber. 9. An automobile exhaust system as set forth in claim 8, including a flow regulating device for adjusting the flow of liquid cooling medium from said reservoir to said chamber. 10. An automobile exhaust system as set forth in claim 1, including a plurality of said chambers positioned in fluidic communication for enabling the flow of exhaust gas from a first of said chambers to a second of said chambers. 11. An automobile exhaust system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said body includes a top wall and wherein said chambers are separated by a partition having an exit opening therein, said exit opening being positioned proximate said top wall. 12. In an automobile exhaust system the improvement comprising an intercooler for indirect cooling of exhaust gas, the intercooler including a jacket containing a quantity of a liquid cooling medium and a wall defining a channel for separating the liquid cooling medium from exhaust gas passing therethrough, a plurality of holes in said wall having tubes fluidically connecting respective ones of said holes for permitting circulation of said liquid cooling medium therethrough, said plurality of tubes being positioned across said channel for heat exchange between the exhaust gas and the liquid cooling medium, including at least one airflow duct located in the jacket for permitting air to flow through the jacket. 13. An automotive exhaust system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the at least one airflow duct is positioned in the jacket whereby liquid cooling medium in the jacket substantially surrounds the airflow duct. 14. An automotive exhaust system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said at least one airflow duct is oriented on a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the axis of the channel. 15. An automotive exhaust system as set forth in claim 14, including a plurality of said airflow ducts circumferentially spaced around said channel. 16. An automotive exhaust system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said tubes are positioned in upright alignment and transverse to a longitudinal axis of said channel. 17. An automobile exhaust system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said jacket includes a vent hole in said jacket for permitting the escape of vapor from said jacket. 18. In an automobile exhaust system the improvement comprising an intercooler for indirect cooling of exhaust gas, the intercooler including a jacket containing a quantity of a liquid cooling medium and a wall defining a channel for separating the liquid cooling medium from exhaust gas passing therethrough, a plurality of holes in said wall having tubes fluidically connecting respective ones of said holes for permitting circulation of said liquid cooling medium therethrough, said plurality of tubes being positioned across said channel for heat exchange between the exhaust gas and the liquid cooling medium, wherein said jacket includes a vent hole in said jacket for permitting the escape of vapor from said jacket and including a flap positioned over said opening and including an air dam on said flap. 19. In an automobile exhaust system the improvement comprising a direct exhaust gas cooling and scrubbing device comprising a body defining a plurality of chambers for holding a quantity of liquid cooling medium and a passage for directing exhaust gas to the chamber for passage throuah the liquid cooling medium in direct contact with the liquid cooling medium, wherein said direct exhaust gas cooling and scrubbing device includes at least one sparger for diffusing the flow of exhaust gas as it passes through the liquid cooling medium, and wherein said sparger includes a removable cartridge mounted in said body, said chambers being positioned in fluidic communication for enabling the flow of exhaust gas from a first of said chambers to a second of said chambers, and wherein said body includes a top wall and wherein said chambers are separated by a partition having an exit opening therein, said exit opening being positioned proximate said top wall. 20. An automobile exhaust system as set forth in claim 19, wherein said direct exhaust gas cooling and scrubbing device includes a reservoir adapted for holding a quantity of liquid cooling medium and separated from said chamber by a wall, and having at least one passage fluidically communicating between said reservoir and said chamber for supplying liquid cooling medium from said reservoir to said chamber. 21. An automobile exhaust system as set forth in claim 20, including a flow regulating device for adjusting the flow of liquid cooling medium from said reservoir to said chamber. 22. A method of cooling automotive exhaust gas comprising: providing a body including a chamber holding a quantity of liquid cooling medium therein; providing a heat exchanger for indirect cooling of the exhaust gas, wherein the heat exchanger includes a quantity of liquid cooling medium surrounding a channel through which the exhaust gas passes; passing the exhaust gas through the chamber whereby the exhaust gas passes through and in direct contact with the liquid cooling medium; and including the passage of ambient air through an airflow duct in the heat exchanger to provide cooling to the liquid cooling medium in the heat exchanger. 23. A method as set forth in claim 22, wherein the indirect cooling of the exhaust gas is performed prior to the direct cooling of the exhaust gas. 24. A method as set forth in claim 22, including the step of passing the exhaust gas through a sparger immersed in the liquid cooling medium and diffusing the exhaust gas during passage through the sparger. 25. A method as set forth in claim 24, including providing a reservoir in the body and supplying liquid cooling medium to the chamber from the reservoir. 26. A method as set forth in claim 22, wherein the body includes a second chamber containing a quantity of liquid cooling medium therein and including the step of passing the exhaust gas through the liquid cooling medium in the second chamber in direct contact with the liquid cooling medium.