Patent ID: 7900443

Claim:
An exhaust gas filtering method for an internal combustion engine, the method comprising: (a) positioning a particle filter arrangement along the exhaust gas flow, the particle arrangement comprising: a housing including an inlet and an outlet; a filter section disposed within the housing, wherein the filter section comprises: a first segment possessing a substantially cylindrical cross-section, the first segment being located downstream from and in fluid communication with the inlet, wherein the first segment directs the exhaust gases in a first direction, a second segment possessing a substantially annular cross-section, the second segment being located downstream from and in fluid communication with the first segment, wherein the second segment directs the exhaust gases in a second direction that is opposite the first direction, a third segment possessing a substantially annular cross-section, the third segment being located downstream from and in fluid communication with the second segment, wherein the third segment directs the exhaust gases in a third direction that is opposite the second direction, and a particle filter arranged within a flow path of the exhaust gases, a deflecting section disposed within the housing, and a distributing and deflecting element disposed within the deflecting section, wherein the distributing and deflecting element comprises ducts operable to simultaneously conduct exhaust gases in multiple flow directions, wherein the first, second, and third segments are substantially concentric, the first segment is nested within the second segment, and the second segment is nested within the third segment; (b) receiving the exhaust gases at the inlet of a particle filter arrangement; (c) conducting exhaust gas flow passing from the inlet into the distributing and deflecting element, wherein the distributing and deflecting element distributes the inlet gas flow to the first segment, and wherein the flow direction of the exhaust gases in the first segment is substantially in the direction of the outlet; (d) conducting the exhaust gas flow passing from the first segment into the second segment, wherein the flow direction of the exhaust gases in the second segment is substantially in the direction of the inlet; and (e) conducting the exhaust gas flow passing from the second segment into the distributing and deflecting element, wherein the distributing and deflecting element deflects the second segment gas flow into the third segment, and wherein the flow direction of the exhaust gases in the third segment is substantially in the direction of the outlet.