Pre-converter device for cleaning exhaust gas for an internal combustion engine
View Patent ↗A catalytic converter device for cleansing exhaust gas emitted from an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The catalytic converter device includes an elongated body having a longitudinal axis. An inlet area is located at one end of the elongated body, wherein the exhaust gas enters the elongated body in the inlet area. A sleeve extends from the inlet area. The sleeve has a catalytic material formed thereon. The sleeve has an active surface for reacting with the exhaust gas, wherein the size of the active surface increases as a distance from the inlet area increases. The sleeve includes a plurality of openings formed therein and at least one depression.
1. A catalytic converter device for cleansing exhaust gas emitted from an internal combustion engine, the catalytic converter device comprising:
an elongated body having a longitudinal axis;
an inlet portion located at one end of the elongated body for receiving the exhaust gas;
a sleeve extending generally away from the inlet portion generally along the longitudinal axis;
at least one depression formed in the sleeve, the depression having a depth, the depth of the depression increasing with increasing distance from the inlet portion; and
a catalytic material disposed on the sleeve to form an active surface for reacting with the exhaust gas,
a perimeter defined by the active surface in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the perimeter increasing with increasing distance from the inlet portion, and
a cross-sectional area defined by the active surface in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the cross-sectional area decreasing with increasing distance from the inlet portion.
2. The catalytic converter device according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve has a plurality of openings formed therein.
3. The catalytic converter device according to claim 2 , wherein said plurality of openings extend across the active surface.
4. The catalytic converter device according to claim 2 , wherein the sleeve has an opening formed in an end of the sleeve opposite the inlet portion, the catalytic converter device further comprising a cover plate covering the opening.
5. The catalytic converter device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one depression extends in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.
6. The catalytic converter device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one depression is a plurality of depressions arranged at regular intervals around the sleeve.
7. The catalytic converter device according to claim 1 , wherein at an end of the sleeve opposite the inlet portion:
the cross-sectional area of the sleeve is at least about 5% smaller than an area of a circle having an equally long perimeter, and the circle has a diameter that is larger than a width of the sleeve.
8. An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
an exhaust inlet defining an upstream end of the exhaust system;
an exhaust outlet defining a downstream end of the exhaust system;
the exhaust inlet and the exhaust outlet defining a flow path therebetween;
a primary catalytic converter device disposed along the flow path; and
a preliminary catalytic converter device disposed along the flow path in an upstream direction from the primary catalytic converter device,
the preliminary catalytic converter device comprising:
an elongated body having a longitudinal axis;
an inlet area located at one end of the elongated body for receiving the exhaust gas;
a sleeve extending generally away from the inlet area generally along the longitudinal axis;
at least one depression formed in the sleeve, the depression having a depth, the depth of the depression increasing with increasing distance from the inlet area; and
a catalytic material disposed on the sleeve to form an active surface for reacting with the exhaust gas, a perimeter defined by the active surface in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the perimeter increasing with increasing distance from the inlet area, and
the cross-sectional area of the active surface in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis decreasing with increasing distance from the inlet area.
9. The exhaust system according to claim 8 , further comprising a muffler, the preliminary catalytic converter device being arranged at least partially within the muffler.
10. The exhaust system according to claim 8 , wherein the sleeve has a plurality of openings formed therein.
11. The exhaust system device according to claim 10 , wherein said plurality of openings extend across the active surface.
12. The exhaust system according to claim 8 , wherein each of the at least one depression extends in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.
13. The exhaust system according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one depression is a plurality of depressions arranged at regular intervals around the sleeve.
14. The exhaust system according to claim 8 , wherein the sleeve has an opening formed in an end of the sleeve opposite the inlet portion, the catalytic converter device further comprising a cover plate covering the opening.
15. The catalytic converter device according to claim 8 , wherein at an end of the sleeve opposite the inlet portion:
the cross-sectional area of the sleeve is at least about 5% smaller than an area of a circle having an equally long perimeter, and the circle has a diameter that is larger than a width of the sleeve.