DE102017003778B4 - Exhaust filters for automobiles - Google Patents

Abstract

Exhaust gas filter (100) for an internal combustion engine with an attachment device, a fastening device (130), a filter device (110, 410) with a filter medium (120), wherein the exhaust gas filter (100) can be or is arranged as the last component at the end of an exhaust gas line and wherein the fastening device (130) is an expansion device, the expansion device having a self-expanding inflatable sleeve (530) and a detachable attachment of a filter carrier (510, 511) to an exhaust pipe (580, 581) by means of the inflatable sleeve (530).

Description

The present invention relates to an exhaust gas filter for an internal combustion engine and a method for filtering exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine.

Various devices and methods for treating exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine are known from the prior art. Depending on the technical status of the vehicle, the cost calculation and the technical competence of the manufacturer, soot filters, urea injection systems and catalytic converters are used in diesel vehicles. Such permanently installed systems for exhaust gas treatment are specifically tailored to a certain vehicle model, cannot be easily retrofitted because of the installation space required and the technical changes required to the engine, and represent a significant cost factor and additional maintenance effort.

Older diesel vehicles without a soot filter represent a particular problem in inner cities with high levels of particulate matter. But modern high-pressure injection systems with common rail technology are also hazardous to health because of the particularly small particle size, despite the overall lower soot emissions. Therefore, in many inner cities, the entry of diesel vehicles that do not meet certain emission standards is restricted, at least in designated environmental zones. For older diesel vehicles, the vehicle manufacturers often do not provide soot filters for retrofitting because, for example, the necessary installation space in the area of the exhaust system is missing, technical approval is too costly or sufficient sales can no longer be expected.

From a technical point of view, it might be sufficient in such cases to temporarily install additional exhaust filter systems on the vehicle in order to improve the exhaust gas behavior and, in exceptional cases, to be allowed to drive into the environmental zone of an inner city, whereby questions of the technical approval of a correspondingly retrofitted vehicle are not considered here.

There are therefore various proposed solutions for retrofitting or for the temporary use of exhaust filter systems. From the patent specification EP 2 021098 B1 An apparatus for reducing emissions is known comprising a can and a coil, the coil being attached to a downstream end of the can and an upstream end of the can being configured to be releasably attached to an outlet of an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, wherein the spool comprises one or more metal gauzes wrapped around a central point. One embodiment has a fiber cloth which is shaped into a cylinder, the fiber cloth being attached to a conductive mesh fabric and arranged in the sheath. This device is used to filter particles and reduce carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and other gases.

From the patent specification EP 0 236 295 B1 a filter device for temporary connection to an exhaust pipe of a vehicle occasionally operated in closed spaces or the like is known, with a filter in a filter bowl, formed by a sleeve open on both sides, the two ends of which have coupling means, for example in the form of a bayonet coupling. One embodiment has, in the flow direction of the exhaust gas, a first filter section, for example made of microfiberglass, a second filter section made of activated carbon and a third filter section made of soda lime, as well as a support filter layer attached near the cover. This device claims to be easy to assemble, easy to remove and self-supporting so that it only needs to be attached to an exhaust pipe and not to any other part of a vehicle. In addition, the device should be a disposable item that can be manufactured cheaply. Due to its conical shape, the device should fit into exhaust pipes of different diameters and be held in place by clamping rings.

From the utility model DE 20 2004 002 951 U1 a soot particle filter is known as a post-filter to be placed on the normal end piece of an exhaust pipe, which is characterized by a flat, rectangular box shape. The box filter is fitted with filter packs consisting of steel wool, stainless steel wool, mineral wool or a mixture of these different filter materials via a sliding cover, with the filter packs being pushed in in a staggered manner. Such an arrangement should allow the filter packs to be easily replaced and the soot filter to be easy to clean.

JP 2003 - 148 128 A , GB 2 163 969 A , U.S. 3,675,398 A , US 2007/0 084 199 A1 and DE 38 72 186 T2 describe further filter devices. US 6 854 522 B2 describes a system for forming an annular isolator between an expandable pipe and a borehole.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a device and a method with the aid of which the disadvantages of the prior art, in particular the temporary exhaust gas filtering of motor vehicles, are overcome.

This object is achieved by the exhaust gas filter according to the invention for an internal combustion engine with the features according to claim 1 and by the method with the features according to claim 13.

Advantageous further developments result from the dependent subclaims.

The exhaust gas filter according to the invention for an internal combustion engine has a mounting device, a fastening device and a filter device with a filter medium, the exhaust gas filter being able to be or arranged as the last component at the end of an exhaust gas line.

The exhaust gas filter advantageously has a conical shape. This makes it easier to insert the exhaust filter into exhaust pipes of different sizes.

The exhaust gas filter and / or components of the exhaust gas filter, in particular the filter device and / or the filter medium, are advantageously exchangeable. The fact that the exhaust gas filter can be replaced as a whole results in particularly simple handling, while the replacement of components of the exhaust gas filter or the filter medium is more environmentally friendly and less expensive.

The filter device advantageously filters pollutants contained in the exhaust gas flow, in particular fine dust and / or diesel soot and / or nitrogen oxides and / or carbon monoxides and / or hydrocarbons. This not only reduces the diesel soot contained in the exhaust gas flow, but also other environmentally harmful and / or unhealthy components of the exhaust gases.

Fine dust and / or diesel soot are advantageously filtered out of the exhaust gas flow to at least 30% and / or at most 80% or 60% over a distance of 0 to 30 km and / or at least 15% and over a distance of 30 km to 80 km / or a maximum of 60% or 45% and / or from a distance of 80 km to a maximum of 50% or 30%. The exhaust filter is intended for a temporary reduction in pollutants, which is why it can be built compact and inexpensive and used with little effort. The best filter effect is advantageously achieved for diesel soot on short journeys.

Advantageously, nitrogen oxides and / or carbon monoxides and / or hydrocarbons are filtered out of the exhaust gas flow over a distance of 0 to 30 km to at least 10% and / or at most 40% or 20% and / or over a distance of 30 km to 80 km at least 5% and / or at most 30% or 15% and / or from a distance of 80 km to a maximum of 20% or 10%. In addition to filtering diesel soot, the exhaust filter advantageously also temporarily reduces the emission of other pollutants over short operating distances.

The exhaust gas filter advantageously also has a sensor device and / or a display device. Since the exhaust gas filter is designed for temporary exhaust gas filtering in short-distance operation and the filter effect quickly deteriorates, a sensor device for monitoring the filter and a display device for displaying the filter status are advantageous.

A state of consumption of the filter medium and / or an effectiveness of the exhaust gas filter can advantageously be determined by the sensor device and displayed by the display device. One advantage is that the vehicle operator can determine whether the exhaust filter is still effective or has to be replaced, another advantage is that the effectiveness of the exhaust filter can be easily checked or demonstrated by the display device when entering an environmental zone.

The display device can advantageously be arranged on or in the attachment device and / or on or in the filter device and / or in the cockpit and / or on parts of the vehicle chassis and / or on or in the rear bumper. An advantage of mounting in the cockpit is that the driver has the status of the exhaust filter in view, while an advantage of mounting in the outside area of the vehicle, in particular on the rear bumper, makes the filter effect recognizable when entering an environmental zone.

The filter device can advantageously be arranged on or in an exhaust pipe or on or in parts of a vehicle chassis or on or in a rear bumper by means of the attachment device. As a result, the filter device is easy to assemble and replace, but at the same time it is connected sufficiently firmly to the vehicle so that the components of the exhaust gas filter device are not lost while driving.

The attachment device is advantageously designed in one piece or in several pieces with one or more couplings. One advantage is that it can be easily attached to different vehicle models using adjustable and adaptable fastening components.

The attachment device can advantageously be arranged or arranged by means of the fastening device on or in an exhaust pipe or on or in parts of a vehicle chassis or on or in a rear bumper. This is the attachment device is sufficiently firmly connected to the vehicle so that the attachment device and the filter device are securely held while driving.

The fastening device is advantageously a clamping device or a plug-in device or a screwing device or an expansion device or an adhesive device or a magnetic device. One advantage of the fastening devices mentioned is that they are easy to assemble, secure and easy to replace.

The method according to the invention uses an exhaust gas filter in accordance with the present description and figures.

1. 1. Anordnen eines Abgasfilters am Ende eines Abgasstrangs;
2. 2. Betreiben eines Verbrennungsmotors mit dem Abgasfilter über eine vorgegebene maximale Fahrstrecke und/oder bis zum Erreichen eines vorgegebenen minimalen bzw. maximalen Anzeigewertes einer Anzeigevorrichtung;
3. 3. Austauschen des Abgasfilters und/oder von Komponenten des Abgasfilters, insbesondere der Filtervorrichtung und/oder des Filtermediums.

The method according to the invention for filtering exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine consists of the following steps:

1. 1. Arranging an exhaust filter at the end of an exhaust line;
2. 2. Operating an internal combustion engine with the exhaust gas filter over a predetermined maximum driving distance and / or until a predetermined minimum or maximum display value of a display device is reached;
3. 3. Replacing the exhaust gas filter and / or components of the exhaust gas filter, in particular the filter device and / or the filter medium.

Embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings.

• 1 eine schematische Ansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Abgasfilters mit Innenbefestigung.
• 2 eine schematische Ansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Abgasfilters mit Außenbefestigung.
• 3 eine schematische Ansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Abgasfilters mit Verlängerung.
• 4 eine schematische Ansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Abgasfilters in einem Auspuffrohr.
• 5 eine schematische Ansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Abgasfilters mit Blähmanschette.

It shows:

• 1 a schematic view of the exhaust filter according to the invention with internal mounting.
• 2 a schematic view of the exhaust filter according to the invention with external attachment.
• 3 a schematic view of the exhaust filter according to the invention with an extension.
• 4th a schematic view of the exhaust filter according to the invention in an exhaust pipe.
• 5 a schematic view of the exhaust gas filter according to the invention with inflatable cuff.

1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the exhaust gas filter according to the invention 100 . A filter device 110 with a filter medium 120 is by means of a bracing fastening device 130 in an exhaust pipe 180 assembled. When used as intended, it is used to fix the exhaust filter 100 inside the tailpipe 180 the bracing fastening device 130 inserted into the tailpipe and held in this position and the filter device 110 by means of a thread 160 into the fastening device 130 screwed in or by means of a ratchet toothing 161 into the fastening device 130 depressed. The fastening device 130 and the filter device 110 are used for this purpose on the cylinder surfaces with a good grip 170 , 171 held. This is where the conical area 145 the bracing fastening device 130 through the conical area 140 the filter device 110 elastically expanded and by means of the elastic sealing material 150 to the inside surface of the tailpipe 180 pressed on. This creates a largely gas-tight and non-positive connection of the exhaust gas filter 100 with the tailpipe 180 so that the exhaust filter 100 mechanically on the tailpipe 180 recorded and the exhaust gas flow 190 through the filter medium 120 is passed through. Minor leaks, for example as a result of mechanical irregularities or contamination of the tailpipe, are irrelevant in view of the desired or expected degree of filtration of well below 100%.

2 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of the exhaust gas filter according to the invention 100 . The filter device 110 with the filter medium 120 is in this embodiment by means of a bracing fastening device 230 outside on the tailpipe 180 assembled. When used as intended, it is used to fix the exhaust filter 100 on the tailpipe 180 the filter device 110 on the tailpipe 180 pushed on and held in this position and the bracing fastening device 230 from the outside by means of a thread 160 on the filter device 110 untwisted or by means of a ratchet toothing 161 on the filter device 110 pressed on. The bracing fastening device 230 and the filter device 110 are used for this purpose on the cylinder surfaces with a good grip 170 , 171 held. This is where the conical area 245 the filter device 110 through the conical area 240 the bracing fastening device 230 elastically compressed and by means of the elastic sealing material 250 to the outer surface of the tailpipe 180 pressed on. This also creates a largely gas-tight and non-positive connection of the exhaust gas filter 100 with the tailpipe 180 so that the exhaust filter 100 mechanically on the tailpipe 180 attached and the exhaust gas flow 190 through the filter medium 120 is passed through. In this embodiment, too, minor leaks, for example as a result of a not completely smooth, slightly corroded or soiled tailpipe, are irrelevant in view of the desired or expected degree of filtration of well below 100%.

3 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of the exhaust gas filter according to the invention 100 . This embodiment is provided for a tailpipe 180 , which with an exhaust trim 185 provided and / or in a rear body part 186 is recessed. In order to ensure simple assembly of the filter device even with this arrangement 110 and the bracing fastening device 330 and in particular the cylinder surfaces to be retained during assembly 170 , 171 to arrange reachable, has the filter device 110 an elongated cylinder section 111 and the bracing fastener 330 an elongated cylinder section 331 on. Functionally, this embodiment essentially corresponds to that in 1 embodiment shown.

4th shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of the exhaust gas filter according to the invention 100 . In this embodiment the filter device and the filter medium are 420 essentially inside the tailpipe 180 arranged, which in the external view is a much more compact design of the exhaust filter 100 provides. The filter device 410 has a cylinder section which is clearly extended into the tailpipe 411 on. The visually striking and, if necessary, branded end flange 412 who is also a sensor device 421 and / or a display device 422 for the state of consumption of the filter medium 420 can accommodate, serves to the filter medium 420 if necessary from the filter device 410 to be removed and replaced. The bracing fastening device 430 is made correspondingly shorter in this embodiment. Functionally, this embodiment essentially corresponds to that in 1 embodiment shown. In this case, however, a more efficient filter medium must be used and / or a shortening and / or reduction in the filter effect must be accepted due to the reduced filter volume.

5 shows a schematic view of the exhaust filter according to the invention 100 , the releasable attachment of the filter support 510 , 511 with the tailpipe 580 , 581 by means of a self-expanding inflatable cuff 530 he follows. Two variants are available here. According to a first variant, the inflatable cuff 530 on the filter carrier 510 arranged, which with the inflatable cuff 530 into the tailpipe 580 is plugged in or is plugged in. According to a second variant, the inflatable cuff is 530 in the filter carrier 511 arranged, which with the inflatable cuff 530 on the tailpipe 581 is plugged or attached. The inflatable cuff 530 can for example consist of high-temperature-resistant Viton rubber with wall material thicknesses of at least 0.25 mm.

An expansion of the inflatable cuff 530 for mounting the exhaust filter 100 in the tailpipe 580 or on the tailpipe 581 takes place without external supply of a filling medium by chemical reaction of two propellant components A and B within the inflatable cuff 530 . The propellant is activated, for example, by using a thin tear wire 550 a separating membrane 540 between two initially separate propellant chambers 541 and 542 destroyed, which contain the propellant components A and B, which only cause the volume increase on contact through a chemical reaction of the two components.

The tearing open of the separating membrane 540 takes place, for example, by a circular, zigzag vulcanized or otherwise vulcanized into the separating membrane 540 embedded tear wire or a plastic fiber used to tear open the separating membrane 540 and is withdrawn from the outside to activate the propellant. If doing so, the inflatable cuff 530 is perforated, the propellant closes the crack by itself. The separating membrane 540 can also be made permeable by a wireless electromagnetic device, by the action of mechanical pressure or mechanical forces on the cuff or by thermal, electromagnetic, acoustic or chemical triggering to activate the propellant.

Deflation of the inflatable cuff 530 for dismantling the exhaust filter 100 is carried out if necessary by means of another tear wire 551 to tear open the inflatable cuff 530 so that the propellant can escape to the outside.

A particular advantage of this embodiment is that an essentially gas-tight connection between the filter support and the exhaust end pipe can be achieved through the positive fit of the inflatable sleeve even in the case of non-cylindrical exhaust end pipes and in the case of exhaust end pipes with mechanical defects.

Claims (14)

Exhaust gas filter (100) for an internal combustion engine with an attachment device, a fastening device (130), a filter device (110, 410) with a filter medium (120), the Exhaust gas filter (100) can be arranged or arranged as the last component at the end of an exhaust gas line and wherein the fastening device (130) is an expansion device, the expansion device having a self-expanding inflatable sleeve (530) and a detachable attachment of a filter carrier (530) by means of the inflatable sleeve (530). 510, 511) can be produced with an exhaust pipe (580, 581). Exhaust filter (100) Claim 1 , wherein the inflatable cuff (530) is arranged on the filter carrier (510), which with the inflatable cuff (530) can be or is inserted into an exhaust pipe (580). Exhaust filter (100) Claim 1 , wherein the inflatable cuff (530) is arranged in the filter carrier (511), which with the inflatable cuff (530) can be slipped onto an exhaust pipe (581). Exhaust filter (100) according to one of the Claims 2 or 3 , wherein the inflatable cuff (530) has two separate, interconnectable propellant chambers (541, 542) with propellant components (A, B) and an expansion of the inflatable cuff (530) without external supply of a filling medium by chemical reaction of the propellant components (A, B) takes place within the inflatable cuff (530). Exhaust filter (100) Claim 4 , wherein the inflatable cuff (530) between the propellant chambers (541, 542) has a separating membrane (540) and a thin tear wire (550) or a plastic fiber and a reaction of the propellant components (A, B) takes place in that the tear wire ( 550) or the plastic fiber destroys the separating membrane (540) between the propellant chambers (541, 542). Exhaust filter (100) Claim 5 wherein the separating membrane (540) has a circular circumferential zigzag vulcanized or otherwise embedded in the separating membrane (540) tear wire (550) or a plastic fiber and the separating membrane (540) is torn open by the tear wire (550) or the plastic fiber. is withdrawn from the outside. Exhaust filter (100) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6th wherein the inflatable cuff (530) has a tear wire (551) for tearing open the inflatable cuff (530) and deflation of the inflatable cuff (530) for dismantling the exhaust filter (100) takes place by tearing open the inflatable cuff (530) by means of the tear wire (551). Exhaust gas filter (100) according to one of the preceding claims, fine dust and / or diesel soot being filtered out of the exhaust gas flow (190) to at least 30% and / or at most 80%, in particular 60%, over a distance of 0 to 30 km and / or via a Travel distance of 30 km to 80 km at least 15% and / or at most 60%, in particular 45%, are filtered out of the exhaust gas flow (190) and / or from a travel distance of 80 km to a maximum of 50%, in particular 30%, from the exhaust gas flow (190) be filtered out. Exhaust gas filter (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein nitrogen oxides and / or. Carbon monoxides and / or hydrocarbons are filtered out of the exhaust gas flow (190) over a distance of 0 to 30 km to at least 10% and / or at most 40%, in particular 20%, and / or at least 5% over a distance of 30 km to 80 km and / or a maximum of 30%, in particular 15%, are filtered out of the exhaust gas flow (190) and / or a maximum of 20%, in particular 10%, are filtered out of the exhaust gas flow (190) from a distance of 80 km. The exhaust gas filter (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the exhaust gas filter (100) further comprises a sensor device (421) and / or a display device (422). Exhaust filter (100) Claim 10 , wherein a state of the exhaust gas filter (100), in particular a state of consumption of the filter medium (120) and / or an effectiveness of the exhaust gas filter (100) can be determined by the sensor device (421) and can be or is displayed by the display device (422). Exhaust filter (100) Claim 10 or 11 wherein the display device (422) can be or is arranged on or in the attachment device and / or on or in the filter device (410) and / or in a cockpit and / or on parts of a vehicle chassis and / or on or in a rear bumper . Method for filtering exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, wherein an exhaust gas filter (100) is arranged at the end of an exhaust gas line (180) by means of an expansion device, the internal combustion engine with the exhaust gas filter (100) over a predetermined maximum travel distance and / or until a predetermined minimum or maximum display value of a display device (422) is operated and the exhaust gas filter (100) and / or components of the exhaust gas filter (100), in particular a filter device (110, 410) and / or a filter medium (120), are replaced; wherein the expansion device has a self-expanding inflatable sleeve (530) and a detachable fastening by means of the inflatable sleeve (530) a filter support (510, 511) with an exhaust pipe (580, 581) is produced. Vehicle with one or more exhaust pipes (180), in particular with one or more double exhaust pipes or multiple exhaust pipes, with an exhaust gas filter (100) after one of the Claims 1 until 12th by means of an expansion device on the one or on each individual exhaust pipe (180), in particular on each individual exhaust pipe (180) of the one or more double exhaust pipes or multiple exhaust pipes.

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