Patent ID: 8220442
Filing Date: 2012-07-17
Classification: F01N,F02M,Y02A,Y02T

Abstract:
1. An exhaust recovery system for an internal combustion engine having an air intake device and an air/fuel mixing device, said exhaust recovery system comprising: a muffler having a housing with a sidewall, a first end cap at a first end of said muffler and a second end cap at a second end of said muffler, said housing defining a chamber within said muffler; an air inlet pipe having a first end pneumatically connected to an exhaust pipe of the internal combustion engine and a second end disposed in said chamber, said air inlet pipe configured to receive exhaust air from the internal combustion engine through the exhaust pipe, said second end of said air inlet pipe configured to circumferentially discharge said exhaust air into said chamber; an outlet pipe at said first end cap, said outlet pipe having a pipe body with a first end extending outside of said muffler and a second end extending into said muffler chamber, said first end of said pipe body defining a return outlet, said second end of said pipe body defining a tube inlet; a return conduit pneumatically connecting said return outlet of said outlet pipe with the air intake device; a discharge pipe at said second end cap, said outlet pipe pneumatically connecting said chamber to the environment; a cone member in said chamber, said cone member having a cone tip directed toward said tube inlet of said outlet pipe; a vortex inducing filter mechanism disposed in said chamber along an inner wall of said housing and generally around said cone member, said vortex inducing filter mechanism shaped so as to facilitate swirling of said exhaust air in said chamber, said cone member positioned in said chamber so as to separate said exhaust air into a cooled gas stream and a hot gas stream; and a filter element disposed in said vortex inducing filter mechanism, said filter element selected to remove particulate matter and/or pollutants from said exhaust air and said hot gas stream, wherein said cooled gas stream is directed toward said tube inlet of said outlet pipe and to the air intake device as return air through said return conduit and said hot gas stream is directed around said cone body and out said discharge pipe as hot exhaust air.