Exhaust passage deposit mitigation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019344313-A1
Application number	US-201815974618-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 8, 2018
Priority date	May 8, 2018
Publication date	Nov 14, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A self-cleaning duct assembly. The self-cleaning duct assembly includes a hollow member having an inner surface, the inner surface defining a central axis and a flow passage for directing a fluid flow along the central axis. The self-cleaning duct assembly also includes a resilient member including a plurality of arcuate segments disposed along the central axis, each of the arcuate segments spaced from the inner surface. The arcuate segments intermittently contact the inner surface as the resilient member is induced to move within the hollow member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A self-cleaning duct assembly comprising:
a hollow member having an inner surface, the inner surface defining a central axis and a flow passage for directing a fluid flow along the central axis; and a resilient member including a plurality of arcuate segments disposed along the central axis, each of the arcuate segments spaced from the inner surface; wherein the arcuate segments intermittently contact the inner surface as the resilient member is induced to move within the hollow member.

2 . The self-cleaning duct assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow through the hollow member induces the resilient member to move.

3 . The self-cleaning duct assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hollow member is coupled to an engine and operational vibrations from the engine induce the resilient member to move.

4 . A self-cleaning exhaust system comprising:
an exhaust duct connectable to a machine that produces exhaust, the exhaust duct having a longitudinal axis, a first diameter, and an inner wall; and a coil connected to the exhaust duct and disposed inside the exhaust duct along the longitudinal axis, the coil having a pitch and a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter, and wherein the coil is configured to vibrate with an amplitude sufficiently large such that at least part of the coil will repeatedly impact the inner wall when exhaust flows through the exhaust duct.

5 . The self-cleaning exhaust system of claim 4 , wherein the coil and the longitudinal axis are concentric.

6 . The self-cleaning exhaust system of claim 4 , wherein the coil is connected to the exhaust duct solely at one end of the exhaust duct.

7 . The self-cleaning exhaust system of claim 6 , wherein the coil connects to the exhaust duct via a prong of the coil that extends from the coil and into the inner wall.

8 . The self-cleaning exhaust system of claim 7 , wherein the prong is disposed in an exit end of the exhaust duct.

9 . The self-cleaning exhaust system of claim 4 , wherein the coil comprises a helical coil.

10 . The self-cleaning exhaust system of claim 4 , wherein the coil comprises a pitch, and wherein the pitch is selected such that an entire surface of the inner walls is contacted by the coil during vibration and extension of the coil while the exhaust duct is in operational use.

11 . The self-cleaning exhaust system of claim 4 , wherein the second diameter is between about 60% and 98% of the first diameter of the exhaust duct.

12 . The self-cleaning exhaust system of claim 4 , wherein the coil comprises stainless steel.

13 . The self-cleaning exhaust system of claim 4 , wherein the coil has a gauge selected such that a total area of the coil is between about 2% and 20% of an area of the exhaust duct.

14 . The self-cleaning exhaust system of claim 4 , wherein the exhaust duct comprises a muffler.

15 . The self-cleaning exhaust system of claim 14 , wherein the exhaust system is connected to the machine.

16 . The self-cleaning exhaust system of claim 14 further comprising:
a slot disposed in the inner wall of the duct, wherein a prong of the coil is disposed in and slidable along the slot.

17 . A method self-cleaning an exhaust system, the method comprising:
receiving, in an exhaust duct, a flow of exhaust gas; inducing vibrations, using the flow of exhaust gas, in a coil disposed inside the exhaust duct; and impacting, via the vibrations, inner walls of the exhaust duct by the coil with sufficient force such that exhaust residue from the exhaust gas either is removed from the inner walls or prevented from being deposited on the inner walls.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the exhaust gas is produced by a machine connected to the exhaust duct, and wherein the method further comprises:
operating the machine.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein inducing vibrations includes vibrations in both an axial direction of the coil and a radial direction of the coil.

20 . The method of claim 17 further comprising:
allowing a prong of the coil to slide within a slot disposed in the inner walls.

Assignees

• Insitu Inc

Inventors

• Pierz Patrick Malachy

Classifications

• F01N13/08 Primary

  Other arrangements or adaptations of exhaust conduits {(pipes, joints or supports therefor in general F16L; collecting or removing exhaust gases of vehicle engines in workshops B08B15/00, on highways E01C1/005)} · CPC title

• F01N2290/10

  actuated by pressure of exhaust gases, e.g. exhaust pulses · CPC title

• F01N2570/00

  Exhaust treating apparatus eliminating, absorbing or adsorbing specific elements or compounds · CPC title

• F01N1/00

  Silencing apparatus characterised by method of silencing · CPC title

• B08B9/027 Primary

  Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages · CPC title