Catalytic converter with uniform air distribution and mixing with the exhaust gases

• US 4,238,456 A
• Filed: 04/16/1979
• Issued: 12/09/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Jalbing, John I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garris, Bradley R.
• Application Number:
  US06/030,124
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 422/171, 422/172, 422/176, 422/177, 422/179, 422/180, 60/299, 60/307, 423/213.2, 423/213.7
• US Class Current: 422/172
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/0097 the purifying devices are arranged in a single housing
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/18 Construction facilitating manufacture, assembly, or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2270/04 for afterburning
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2350/06 with means preventing gas flow by-pass or leakage
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2470/10 Tubes having non-circular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2857 the mats or gaskets being at least partially made of intumescent material, e.g. unexpanded vermiculite
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/30 Arrangements for supply of additional air control, e.g. using by-passes or variable air pump drives, F01N3/22
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/34 using air conduits or jet air pumps, e.g. near the engine exhaust port
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

In a catalytic converter, a short closed-end air tube which extends across the path of the exhaust gases ahead of an oxidizing catalyst is provided with three linear circumferentially-spaced rows of holes with the holes in one of the rows facing upstream into the exhaust gases while the holes in the other two rows face in opposite directions transverse to the exhaust gas flow. The holes in each of the rows are equally spaced along the length of the tube and decrease in size toward the closed end so as to deliver substantially equal amounts of air. In addition, the holes in the three rows are sized in relation to each other so that the two rows of transversely directed holes deliver substantially equal and cooperatively greater amounts of air than the row of holes facing into the exhaust gases.

Claims

1. In a catalytic converter for internal combustion engine exhaust gases and of the type having oxidizing catalyst means mounted in a housing wherein a straight or substantially straight air tube with a closed end extends into the housing for injecting air into the exhaust gases for oxidation thereof:

the improvement comprising in combination, a plurality of circumferentially spaced sets of holes in the air tube, one set of said holes facing upstream into the exhaust gases, two other sets of said holes facing in opposite directions transverse to the exhaust gas flow, the holes in each of said three sets being spaced along the length of tube and decreasing in size toward the closed end so as to deliver substantially equal amounts of air, and the holes in all said three sets being sized in relation to each other so that the two sets of transversely facing holes deliver substantially equal and separately greater amounts of air than the upstream facing holes.

2. In a catalytic converter for internal combustion engine exhaust gases and of the type having oxidizing catalyst means mounted in a housing wherein a straight or substantially straight air tube with a closed end extends into the housing for injecting air into the exhaust gases for oxidation thereof:

the improvement comprising in combination, three circumferentially-spaced rows of holes in the air tube, the holes in one of said rows facing upstream into the exhaust gases, the holes in the other two rows facing in opposite directions transverse to the exhaust gas flow, the holes in each of said rows being substantially equally spaced along the length of the air tube and decreasing in size toward the closed end so as to deliver substantially equal amounts of air, and the holes in all said three rows being sized in relation to each other so that the two rows of transversely facing holes deliver substantially equal amounts of air and cooperatively 80-90% of the total air while the one row of upstream facing holes delivers the remaining 10-20%.

3. In a catalytic converter for internal combustion engine exhaust gases and of the type having oxidizing catalyst means mounted in a housing wherein a straight or substantially straight air tube with a closed end extends into the housing for injecting air into the exhaust gases for oxidation thereof:

the improvement comprising in combination, three circumferentially-spaced rows of holes in the air tube, the holes in one of said rows facing upstream into the exhaust gases, the holes in the other tow rows facing in diametrically opposite directions at right angles to the exhaust gas flow, the holes in each of said rows being linearly arranged and equally spaced along the length of tube and decreasing in size toward the closed end either progressively or in groupings of equal hole size so as to deliver substantially equal amounts of air, and the holes in all said three rows being sized in relation to each other so that the one row of upstream facing holes delivers 10-20% of the total air while the other two rows of holes deliver substantially equal amounts of air and cooperatively the remaining 80-90%.