Thermal energy containing arrangement for an exhaust gas purification device

Abstract

A thermal energy thermal energy containing arrangement for an exhaust gas purification device incorporated in an exhaust line of an internal combustion engine is provided. The purification device has an inlet port through which exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine can flow in and an outlet port through which the treated exhaust gas can flow out. The arrangement includes a retractable upstream thermal energy containing arrangement located upstream the purification device and a retractable downstream thermal energy containing arrangement located downstream the purification device and an actuating arrangement for controlling the position of the upstream thermal energy containing arrangement and of the downstream thermal energy containing arrangement within regard to respectively the inlet port and the outlet port of the purification device, the upstream thermal energy containing arrangement and the downstream thermal energy containing arrangement being movable between (i) an engine operating position wherein the upstream thermal energy containing arrangement and the downstream thermal energy containing arrangement are in an at least partially retracted position and allow the flow of exhaust gas in and out of the purification device and (ii) a thermal energy preserving position wherein at least one of the upstream thermal energy containing arrangement and of the downstream thermal energy containing arrangement shut off respectively the inlet port and outlet port of the purification device.

1 . A thermal energy thermal energy containing arrangement for an exhaust gas purification device incorporated in an exhaust line of an internal combustion engine, the purification device having an inlet port through which exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine can flow in and an outlet port through which the treated exhaust gas can flow out, wherein the arrangement includes
 a retractable upstream thermal energy containing means located upstream the purification device and a retractable downstream thermal energy containing means located downstream the purification device and   an actuating means for controlling the position of the upstream thermal energy containing means and of the downstream thermal energy containing means within regard to respectively the inlet port and the outlet port of the purification device,   the upstream thermal energy containing means and the downstream thermal energy containing means being movable between
 (i) an engine operating position wherein the upstream thermal energy containing means and the downstream thermal energy containing means are in an at least partially retracted position and allow the flow of exhaust gas in and out of the purification device and 
 (ii) a thermal energy preserving position wherein at least one of the upstream thermal energy containing means and of the downstream thermal energy containing means shut off respectively the inlet port and outlet port of the purification device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the upstream thermal energy containing means and of the downstream thermal energy containing means includes a circular frame that supports a series of rotatable blades arranged in an iris diaphragm fashion that can close off at least partially the inlet and outlet ports of the purification device. 
     
     
         3 . The arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein the frame supporting the rotatable blades is engaged in one of the inlet or outlet ports. 
     
     
         4 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the upstream thermal energy containing means and of the downstream thermal energy includes a rotating plate having a series of apertures of growing diameter and at least one solid sector having a surface at least equal to the section of the exhaust gas purification device, the said rotating plate being angularly positioned between (i) an engine operating position whereby one of the apertures coincides with one of the inlet or outlet ports and (ii) a thermal energy preserving position whereby the at least one solid sector covers one of the inlet or outlet port of the purification device. 
     
     
         5 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the upstream thermal energy containing means and of the downstream thermal energy includes a solid plate having a surface at least equal to the section of the exhaust gas purification device, the solid plate being transversally movable between (i) an engine operating position whereby the solid plate is in a retracted position and at least partially opens one of the inlet or outlet ports and (ii) a thermal energy preserving position whereby the solid plates covers one of the inlet or outlet port of the purification device. 
     
     
         6 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermal energy containing means are comprised of a metal core coated with a ceramic layer. 
     
     
         7 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust gas purification device include a catalytic converter. 
     
     
         8 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust gas purification device include a diesel particle filter. 
     
     
         9 . The arrangement according to  claim 7 , wherein the arrangement is arranged to restrict an inlet port and an outlet port of the catalytic converter so that flow of exhaust gases is focused on a restricted section of the catalytic converter.