Oxidation catalytic converter system for small spark ignited engines

• US 5,921,080 A
• Filed: 03/07/1997
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ECS Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: The Lubrizol Corporation (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Southgate, William J., Ulmet, Vlad
• Primary Examiner(s): Denion, Thomas E.
• Application Number:
  US08/813,475
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 60/308, 60/322, 60/302, 422/176
• US Class Current: 60/308
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/1805 Fixing exhaust manifolds, exhaust pipes or pipe sections to each other, to engine or to vehicle body pipe joints in general F16L; fixing auxiliaries in motor vehicles in general B60K
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/28 Construction of catalytic reactors
• 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

An oxidation catalytic converter system for small spark ignited engines includes a housing containing a catalyst, an inlet for receiving exhaust gases from the engine, and an outlet for discharge of the exhaust gases from the housing after passing through the catalyst. Attached to the engine exhaust is a jet pipe that extends into the inlet in noncontacting relation to the housing, whereby the catalytic converter is vibrationally isolated from the jet pipe. Surrounding the jet pipe is an annular air gap through which ambient air is drawn into the housing and mixed with the exhaust gases for enhanced cooling and catalyst performance.

Claims

1. An oxidation catalytic converter system for small spark ignited engines comprising a housing containing a catalyst having an inlet and an outlet, a jet pipe extending into said inlet through which exhaust gases pass through said housing and out said outlet, an annular air gap between said inlet and said jet pipe through which ambient air is drawn into said housing by the exhaust gases entering said housing from said jet pipe, and means for mounting said housing directly to an engine chassis independently of the engine, whereby said housing is vibrationally isolated from the engine.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said jet pipe is attached to the engine exhaust and extends into said inlet in noncontacting relation to said housing, whereby said housing is vibrationally isolated from said jet pipe.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising elastic engine mounts for attaching the engine to said chassis.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the engine exhaust includes a muffler portion having a discharge to which said jet pipe is attached.

5. The system of claim 3 further comprising adjustment means for establishing a depth of insertion of said jet pipe through said inlet into said housing.

6. The system of claim 2 further comprising adjustment means for establishing a concentricity of said jet pipe within said inlet.

7. The system of claim 2 further comprising adjustment means for establishing a depth of insertion of said jet pipe through said inlet into said housing and a concentricity of said jet pipe within said inlet.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising means within said jet pipe for causing enhanced turbulence of the exhaust gases passing through said jet pipe into said housing for increased mixing of the exhaust gases with the ambient air within said housing for better cooling and catalyst performance.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said means for causing enhanced turbulence comprises a plate mounted within said jet pipe, said plate having spaced apart end portions at one end bent in opposite directions to cause turbulent flow of the exhaust gases through said jet pipe.

10. An oxidation catalytic converter system for small spark ignited engines comprising a catalytic converter housing containing a catalyst, said housing having an inlet and an outlet, a jet pipe extending into said inlet for introducing exhaust gases from the engine into said catalytic converter, with an annular air gap between said jet pipe and said inlet through which ambient air is drawn by the flow of exhaust gases from said jet pipe into said catalytic converter and adjustment means for establishing a depth of insertion of said jet pipe through said inlet into said housing, said jet pipe extending through said inlet into said housing a predetermined depth to achieve a desired quantity of ambient air dilution for a given size and type of engine.

11. In combination, a small spark ignited engine mounted on an engine chassis, and an oxidation catalytic converter system for said engine, said system comprising a housing containing a catalyst, an inlet for receiving exhaust gases from said engine, an outlet for discharge of the exhaust gases from said housing after passing through said catalyst, jet pipe attached to the engine exhaust, said jet pipe extending into said inlet in noncontacting relation to said housing, and means for mounting said housing directly to said engine chassis independently of said engine, whereby said housing is vibrationally isolated from said engine.

12. The combination of claim 11 further comprising adjustment means for establishing a depth of insertion of said jet pipe through said inlet into said housing.

13. The combination of claim 12 further comprising adjustment means for establishing a concentricity of said jet pipe in said inlet.

14. A method of achieving an established insertion depth and concentricity of a jet pipe within an inlet to a catalytic converter housing comprising the steps of inserting an alignment aid tool through a first pair of keyhole shaped slots through diametrically opposite sides of the catalyst housing, the tool having a round rod that is received in a round opening of said slots and a pair of spaced apart centering tabs extending perpendicularly from the rod that are received in a radial slot portion of the slots extending at an angle away from the inlet, the centering tabs being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the outside dimensions of the end of the jet pipe received within the inlet, the round opening of the slots having a forwardmost edge that is axially spaced from the inlet by a distance corresponding to the established insertion depth of the jet pipe, locating the centering tabs within the housing so that the centering tabs are equally spaced on opposite sides of the axial center of the housing, rotating the rod until the centering tabs face the inlet, and adjusting the position of the housing relative to the jet pipe until the end of the jet pipe touches the rod in between the centering tabs.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of removing the tool from the first pair of keyhole shaped slots and inserting the tool through a second pair of keyhole shaped slots through diametrically opposite sides of the housing in the same transverse plane as the first pair of keyhole shaped slots but oriented 90°

relative to the first pair of keyhole shaped slots, the second pair of keyhole shaped slots having a round opening for receiving the round rod of the tool and a radial slot portion extending at an angle away from the inlet for receiving the centering tabs, locating the centering tabs within the housing so that the centering tabs are equally spaced on opposite sides of the axial center of the housing, rotating the rod until the centering tabs face the inlet, adjusting the position of the housing relative to the jet pipe until the end of the jet pipe rests in between the centering tabs, securing the housing in place, and removing the tool from the second pair of keyhole shaped slots.