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  Combustion chamberUSPTO Application #: 20070039315Title: Combustion chamber Abstract: A system for treating particulates of an engine's exhaust is provided. The system comprises a filter configured to collect particulate matter and a device for regenerating the filter. The device comprises a housing, a fuel injector configured to inject fuel, an igniter configured to ignite the injected fuel, and a combustion chamber. The device is characterized in that the cross section of the combustion chamber converges from an inlet to an outlet. (end of abstract)
Agent: Caterpillar Inc. 100 N.e. Adams Street - Peoria, IL, US Inventor: Cho Y. Liang USPTO Applicaton #: 20070039315 - Class: 060297000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Power Plants, Internal Combustion Engine With Treatment Or Handling Of Exhaust Gas, By Means Producing A Chemical Reaction Of A Component Of The Exhaust Gas, Reactor Plus A Washer, Sorber Or Mechanical Separator The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070039315. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present disclosure is directed to a burner that comprises a combustion chamber with a converging shape. In one embodiment, the combustion chamber comprises a conical shape that converges in diameter from its inlet to outlet. The disclosed burner may be used for various purposes, including the regeneration of a particulate trap within an internal combustion engine's exhaust system. BACKGROUND [0002] Internal combustion engines, including diesel engines, gasoline engines, and natural gas engines, for example, generally emit air pollutants. These air pollutants are generally composed of both gaseous matters and particulate matters. Particulate matter from a diesel engine typically includes ash and soot. Soot is composed of carbon particles that were not combusted during the combustion process. [0003] Over the past several years, engine emission regulations have become increasingly stringent, driving engine manufacturers toward improving and developing new emissions-reducing technologies. Many of these technologies are aimed at minimizing particulate matters emitted from the engine. [0004] In doing so, some engine manufacturers have developed systems to treat engine exhaust before it enters the environment. Some of these systems employ exhaust treatment devices such as particulate traps to filter particulate matter from the exhaust flow. A particulate trap generally includes a filter material designed to capture particulate matter. After an extended period of use, unfortunately, the filter material may become saturated with particulate matter, thereby hindering the exhaust gas that flows through the particulate trap. [0005] The collected particulate matter may be removed from the filter material through a process called regeneration--burning. Because soot is composed of unburned hydrocarbons, soot has a propensity for combusting when exposed to oxygen and heat. [0006] A particulate trap may be regenerated by increasing the temperature of the filter material and the trapped particulate matter above the combustion temperature of the particulate matter, thereby burning away the collected particulate matter. This increase in temperature may be effectuated by various means. For example, some systems may employ a heating element to directly heat one or more portions of the particulate trap (e.g., the filter material or the external housing). Other systems have been configured to heat exhaust gases upstream of the particulate trap. [0007] Some of these systems that heat the upstream exhaust gases may work by altering one or more engine operating parameters, such as the ratio of air-to-fuel in the combustion chambers. Other systems may heat the exhaust gases upstream of the particulate trap with, for example, a burner disposed within an exhaust conduit leading to the particulate trap. [0008] In systems that heat exhaust gases upstream of the particulate trap, the heated gases then flow through the particulate trap and transfer heat to the filter material and captured particulate matter. The transferred heat promotes regeneration of the filter by burning the accumulated soot. [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,683 to Webb ("Webb") discloses an auxiliary heat source including a cylindrical flame containment chamber. In particular, FIG. 3 of Webb discloses a relatively cylindrical chamber 42a. The efficiency--or completeness--of the combustion within the combustion chamber is effected by how the flame from the combustor mixes with the exhaust gas entering into the combustor housing. Further, the location of the combustion chamber in the cylindrical combustor housing may cause high flow resistance. This high flow resistance causes high backpressure on the turbine exit of the turbocharger. This high back pressure results in reduced fuel efficiency, lessened transient response, increased thermal loading, reduced high-altitude capability, and loss of engine rating capability, to name a few. [0010] The disclosed regeneration assembly is directed toward overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. SUMMARY [0011] In at least one embodiment, a device configured to at least partially regenerate a particulate filter is provided. The device comprises a housing, a fuel injector configured to inject fuel, and a combustion chamber. The device is characterized in that a cross section of the combustion chamber converges from an inlet to an outlet. [0012] In at least another embodiment, a system for treating particulates of an engine's exhaust is provided. The system comprises a filter configured to collect particulate matter and a device configured to at least partially regenerate a particulate filter. The device comprises a housing, a fuel injector configured to inject fuel, and a combustion chamber. The device is characterized in that a cross section of the combustion chamber converges from an inlet to an outlet. [0013] In yet another embodiment, an aftertreatment system for an engine is provided. The system comprises a filter configured to collect particulates from the engine's exhaust and a burner configured to regenerate the filter. In this embodiment, the burner comprising a conical combustion chamber. [0014] In even yet another embodiment, an internal combustion engine is provided. The engine comprises an exhaust system configured to receive engine exhaust, a filter configured to collect particulate matter within the exhaust, a burner configured to regenerate at least some of the particulate matter within the filter, and an engine control module configured to control when the burner regenerates the filter. The engine is characterized in that the burner comprises a conical combustion chamber. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a portion of an embodiment of an internal combustion engine with exhaust system comprising an auxiliary regeneration device; [0016] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of an auxiliary regeneration device comprising a cylindrical combustion chamber in accordance with one particular embodiment; [0017] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an auxiliary regeneration device comprising a partially conical combustion chamber in accordance with another particular embodiment; and [0018] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of an auxiliary regeneration device comprising a fully conical combustion chamber in accordance with yet another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0019] Referring to FIG. 1, an engine 10 connected to an auxiliary regeneration device ("ARD") 20 and particulate filter 30 is shown. Continue reading... Full patent description for Combustion chamber Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Combustion chamber patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Combustion chamber or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Exhaust purifier for diesel engine Next Patent Application: Compact combination exhaust muffler and aftertreatment element and water trap assembly Industry Class: Power plants ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Combustion chamber patent info. 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