Patent ID: 6063150
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: B01D,F01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A Diesel particulate filter sandwich, comprising:a first sheet of inorganic fiber filter material; said first sheet of inorganic fiber filter material being positioned to serve as a downstream filter;a plurality of electrically resistive metal filter strips affixed to said organic fiber filter sheet in parallel and spaced apart relation to one another and defining gaps therebetween; said plurality of electrically resistive metal filter strips being positioned to serve as upstream filters;a second sheet of inorganic fiber filter material; said second sheet of inorganic fiber filter material affixed to said first sheet of inorganic fiber filter material with said plurality of electrically resistive metal filter strips disposed therebetween;means attached to said plurality of metal filter strips for applying an electrical current through said plurality of electrically resistive metal filter strips to heat said plurality of electrically resistive metal filter strips above the combustion point of entrapped Diesel exhaust particulate, said plurality of electrically resistive metal filter strips being positioned such that when an electrical current applied through said plurality of electrically resistive metal filter strips, sufficient heat is generated to bum off entrapped Diesel exhaust particulate;said first sheet of inorganic fiber filter material including alternating parallel and longitudinal regions of relatively dense weave and relatively open weave; said regions of relatively open weave of said first sheet of inorganic fiber filter material being substantially aligned with said plurality of electrically resistive metal filter strips and said regions of relatively dense weave of said first sheet of inorganic fiber filter material being substantially aligned with said gaps; andsaid second sheet of inorganic fiber filter material including alternating parallel and longitudinal regions of relatively dense weave and relatively open weave; said regions of relatively open weave of said second sheet of inorganic fiber filter material being substantially aligned with said plurality of electrically resistive metal filter strips and said regions of relatively dense weave of said second sheet of inorganic fiber filter material being substantially aligned with said gaps; whereby Diesel particulate collects in said gaps to self-seal said plurality of electrically resistive metal filter strips relative to one another.