Honeycomb structure

Abstract

Provided is a honeycomb structure including a honeycomb substrate having partition walls defining cells extending from an inflow end face to an outflow end face, and plugging portions. The cells include at least one cell group consisting of a both-end plugged cell, an inlet cell adjacent to the both-end plugged cell, and an outlet cell adjacent to the both-end plugged cell. The partition walls defining the both-end plugged cell have a first common partition wall defining both of the inlet cell and the both-end plugged cell, and a second common partition wall defining both of the outlet cell and the both-end plugged cell. A first flow-through hole is formed in an end portion of the first common partition wall on the outflow end face side, and a second flow-through hole is formed in an end portion of the second common partition wall on the inflow end face side.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A honeycomb structure comprising:
 a honeycomb substrate having partition walls defining a plurality of cells which form through channels for a fluid and extend from an inflow end face as one end face where the fluid flows in to an outflow end face as the other end face where the fluid flows out; and   plugging portions disposed at open ends of the cells of the honeycomb substrate,   wherein the cells include at least one cell group consisting of three cells which are a both-end plugged cell in which the plugging portions are disposed at both open ends on the inflow end face side and the outflow end face side, an inlet cell which is adjacent to the both-end plugged cell and in which the plugging portion is only disposed at the open end on the outflow end face side, and an outlet cell which is adjacent to the both-end plugged cell and in which the plugging portion is only disposed at the open end on the inflow end face side,   the partition walls defining the both-end plugged cell constituting the cell group have a first common partition wall which is a common partition wall defining both of the inlet cell and the both-end plugged cell, and a second common partition wall which is a common partition wall defining both of the outlet cell and the both-end plugged cell,   a first flow-through hole is formed in an end portion of the first common partition wall on the outflow end face side, and   a second flow-through hole is formed in an end portion of the second common partition wall on the inflow end face side.   
     
     
         2 . The honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein in a cross section of the honeycomb substrate which is perpendicular to an extending direction of the cells, the inlet cell, the both-end plugged cell and the outlet cell constituting each of the at least one cell group are arranged so that a first center which is the center of the inlet cell, a second center which is the center of the both-end plugged cell and a third center which is the center of the outlet cell are positioned on a same straight line.   
     
     
         3 . The honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein in the cross section of the honeycomb substrate which is perpendicular to the extending direction of the cells, the inlet cell, the both-end plugged cell and the outlet cell constituting each of the at least one cell group are arranged to form an L-shape.   
     
     
         4 . The honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein an open area of the first flow-through hole is from 0.3 to 3.5 times as large as an average value of sectional areas in the direction perpendicular to the cell extending direction of the inlet cell, the both-end plugged cell and the outlet cell constituting the cell group.   
     
     
         5 . The honeycomb structure according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein an open area of the first flow-through hole is from 0.3 to 3.5 times as large as an average value of sectional areas in the direction perpendicular to the cell extending direction of the inlet cell, the both-end plugged cell and the outlet cell constituting the cell group.   
     
     
         6 . The honeycomb structure according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein an open area of the first flow-through hole is from 0.3 to 3.5 times as large as an average value of sectional areas in the direction perpendicular to the cell extending direction of the inlet cell, the both-end plugged cell and the outlet cell constituting the cell group.   
     
     
         7 . The honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein an open area of the second flow-through hole is from 0.3 to 3.5 times as large as the average value of the sectional areas in the direction perpendicular to the cell extending direction of the inlet cell, the both-end plugged cell and the outlet cell constituting the cell group.   
     
     
         8 . The honeycomb structure according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein an open area of the second flow-through hole is from 0.3 to 3.5 times as large as the average value of the sectional areas in the direction perpendicular to the cell extending direction of the inlet cell, the both-end plugged cell and the outlet cell constituting the cell group.   
     
     
         9 . The honeycomb structure according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein an open area of the second flow-through hole is from 0.3 to 3.5 times as large as the average value of the sectional areas in the direction perpendicular to the cell extending direction of the inlet cell, the both-end plugged cell and the outlet cell constituting the cell group.   
     
     
         10 . The honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 ,
 which is made of a porous ceramic material.   
     
     
         11 . The honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the honeycomb substrate is integrally formed.   
     
     
         12 . The honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the honeycomb substrate has a segment structure constituted of a plurality of honeycomb segments.