Pollutant treating devices and methods of making the same

Abstract

A pollutant treating device especially adapted for motor vehicles in which a housing containing a catalyst composition for treating pollutants is positioned within the normal flow pattern of ambient air within the motor vehicle and is preferably removably placed within a support, such as a bracket assembly where the housing can be readily removed and replaced and/or reused.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a motor vehicle having an engine compartment, a pollutant treating device within the engine compartment for treating pollutants present in ambient air comprising, at least one pollutant treating component comprising a structure having a pollutant treating composition, said structure positioned in at least one normal flow pattern of the ambient air within the engine compartment and being independent of the normal operation of the motor vehicle while being used solely for the purpose of removing pollutants from the ambient air and for returning the treated air to the atmosphere.  
     
     
         2 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 1  wherein the engine compartment contains a radiator comprising openings therein for the passage of the ambient air therethrough, said structure being positioned in flow communication with the ambient air before or after the ambient air passes through the radiator.  
     
     
         3 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 1  wherein the engine compartment contains an air conditioner condenser comprising openings therein for the passage of the ambient air therethrough, said structure being positioned in flow communication with the ambient air before or after the ambient air passes through the air conditioner condenser.  
     
     
         4 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 1  wherein the engine compartment contains an air charge cooler comprising openings therein for the passage of the ambient air therethrough, said structure being positioned in flow communication with the ambient air before or after the ambient air passes through the air charge cooler.  
     
     
         5 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 1  wherein the engine compartment contains a radiator fan, said structure being positioned in flow communication with the ambient air before or after the ambient air goes past through the radiator fan.  
     
     
         6 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 2  wherein the structure is positioned to the rear of the radiator and in flow communication with the ambient air after passing through the radiator.  
     
     
         7 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 3  wherein the structure is positioned to the rear of the air conditioner condenser and in flow communication with the ambient air after passing through the air conditioner condenser.  
     
     
         8 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 4  wherein the structure is positioned to the rear of the air charge cooler and in flow communication with the ambient air after passing through the air charge cooler.  
     
     
         9 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 5  wherein the structure is positioned to the rear of the radiator fan and in flow communication with the ambient air after passing the radiator fan.  
     
     
         10 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 1  wherein the engine compartment comprises an air conditioner condenser and a radiator, said structure being positioned between the air conditioner condenser and the radiator.  
     
     
         11 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 1  wherein the pollutant treating component further comprises support means for the structure and means enabling the pollutant treating component to be readily removed and replaced or reused.  
     
     
         12 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 10  wherein the support means comprises a bracket assembly having a base and opposed walls defining at least one storage area for housing the pollutant treating component and an open end for enabling the pollutant treating component to be removed or inserted into the bracket assembly.  
     
     
         13 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 12  wherein the storage area is in the shape of a rectangular solid.  
     
     
         14 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 1  wherein the support means comprises a bracket assembly having a base, opposed walls and at least one flange along the opposed walls to thereby define a plurality of storage areas for housing a plurality of pollutant treating components and an open end for enabling the removal or insertion of said pollutant treating components into the bracket assembly.  
     
     
         15 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 11  wherein the pollutant treating device is in the shape of a cylinder, said support means comprising a bracket assembly including at least one arm for releasably engaging at least a portion of the perimeter of the pollutant treating device.  
     
     
         16 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 11  further comprising washing means for washing the pollutant treating component while retained within the support means.  
     
     
         17 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 16  wherein the washing means comprises a source of washing fluid, at least one conduit in fluid flow connection with the source of the washing fluid, pump means for generating a flow of the washing fluid from the source through the at least one conduit and nozzle means associated with the at least one conduit for directing the flow of the washing fluid to the pollutant treating device to thereby clean the pollutant treating device.  
     
     
         18 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 1  further comprising heating means for heating the ambient air before or during the time the ambient air contacts the pollutant treating device.  
     
     
         19 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 18  wherein the heating means comprises a conduit connected at one end to a source of heat and having an opposed end for directing heat toward the ambient air entering the pollutant treating device.  
     
     
         20 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 18  wherein the heating means comprises a source of electrical energy, resistor elements operatively connected to the source of electrical energy and to the pollutant treating composition, said resistor elements converting electrical energy from the source into heat energy to thereby raise the temperature of the ambient air passing into contact with the pollutant treating composition.  
     
     
         21 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 1  wherein the pollutant treating device further comprises a substrate for the pollutant treating composition said substrate being in the form of a monolith, foam, mesh, or spun fiber.  
     
     
         22 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 1  wherein the pollutant treating composition is selected from the group consisting of a catalytic material, an adsorbent material and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 22  wherein the catalytic material is selected from the group consisting of precious metals, base metals, compounds containing the same and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         24 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 23  wherein the base metals are selected from the group consisting of manganese, vanadium, molybdenum, nickel, cobalt, copper and oxides thereof.  
     
     
         25 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 22  wherein the adsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metal oxides, activated carbon, zeolites and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         26 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 1  further comprising gas flow means for providing a flow of ambient air in the direction of said pollutant treating component.  
     
     
         27 . The pollutant treating device of  claim 26  wherein the gas flow means is a fan.