EXHAUST TAIL PIPE INSERT/EMISSIONS FILTER

Abstract

An exhaust tailpipe/emissions filter employs a reusable/replaceable insert and is configured to slide into and/or onto the exhaust tailpipe of the automobile to reduce air pollution.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. An emissions exhaust filtering system for an exhaust pipe for an on or off-road engine comprising: a plurality of filter sections (sectionals), wherein the plurality of filter sections includes at least one of a ball filter section, a cone filter section, a grid filter section, and a double cone filter section; and a filter cap.

15. The filtering system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of filter sections are interchangeable (re-arrangeable).

16. The filtering system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of filter sections comprise opposing threads.

17. The filtering system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the plurality of filter sections comprises a screen.

18. The filtering system of claim 17, wherein the screen comprises a wash-coat adapted to react to one or more exhaust vapors.

19. The filtering system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of filter sections comprises the ball filter section and the ball filter section includes a ball filter, wherein the ball filter includes a core and an outer layer.

20. The filtering system of claim 19, wherein the outer layer comprises a surface having a plurality of spherically shaped indentions recessed into the outer layer.

21. The filtering system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of filter sections comprises the cone filter section and the cone filter section includes a cone filter, wherein the cone filter includes a filter stack comprising one or more layers to form a gas permeable layer that allows liquid to traverse the cone filter 92 in a single direction.

22. The filtering system of claim 21, wherein the filter stack comprises an inner cone layer, an outer cone layer, and a membrane therebetween.

23. The filtering system of claim 22, wherein at least one of the inner cone layer and the outer cone layer includes a plurality of openings to expose the membrane

24. The filtering system of claim 21, wherein the cone filter section includes a cone filter section outer housing, and the cone filter section outer housing and the cone filter define a void therebetween, and the void includes a chemical & fluid-based mixture containing a biological absorbent.

25. The filtering system of claim 24, wherein the biological absorbent is at least one an algae and/or a nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

26. The filtering system of claim 21, wherein the cone filter includes an upper filter section and a lower filter section and the upper filter section and the lower filter section have different angles with respect to a center axis of the cone filter.

27. The filtering system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of filter sections comprises the grid filter section and the grid filter section includes a plurality of elongated tubes.

28. The filtering system of claim 27, wherein the elongated tubes have a cross sectional shape of a quadrilateral, a square, or a rectangle.

29. The filtering system of claim 27, wherein one or more of the elongated tubes include a wash-coat on an inside of the one or more elongated tubes.

30. The filtering system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of filter sections comprises the double cone filter section and the double cone filter section includes at least one cone set each having an upper cone and a lower cone, each upper cone including an upper cone wide upper end and an upper cone narrow lower end such that the upper cone wide upper end has a larger radius than the upper cone narrow lower end, each lower cone including a lower cone narrow upper end and a lower end wide lower end such that the lower cone wide lower end has a larger radius than the lower cone narrow lower end.

31. The filtering system of claim 30, wherein the double cone filter section further comprises a screen between the upper cone and the lower cone.

32. The filtering system of claim 31, wherein the screen comprises a wash-coat.

33. The filtering system of claim 30, wherein the double cone filter section comprises a plurality of cone sets.

Description

[0004] FIG. 1 is a transparent section view of an example emissions exhaust filtering system inserted inside an exhaust pipe in accordance with a first design.

[0005] FIG. 2 is an exploded view like FIG. 1; with the 3 filtering components connected. The sectionals can come in any length shape or size and the system can be made to one filter, without cap, rather than 3.

[0006] FIG. 3 is a section view of the cone filter of the system of FIG. 1; all filters and caps designed with option of threaded, magnetic, and/or turn lock connection points on the top and bottom

[0007] FIG. 4 is a section view of the sphere filtering housing/capsule of the system of FIG. 1, which may aid in the creation of turbulent flow.

[0008] FIG. 5 is a section view of the grid filter of the system of FIG. 1, which may aid in the creation of laminar flow.

[0009] FIG. 6 is a view of the magnetic filter cap of the system of FIG. 1; designed with short sleeve

[0010] FIG. 7 is a view of a magnetic filter cap with extended sleeve in accordance with a second design of an example emissions exhaust filtering system; designed with short expansion sleeve

[0011] FIG. 8 is a section view of an example emissions exhaust filtering system with a cone cap, inserted inside an exhaust pipe in accordance with disclosed embodiments

[0012] FIG. 9 is an exploded view like FIG. 8; with connecting thread shown and sectionals connected

[0013] FIG. 10 is a section view of an example emissions exhaust filtering system installed in an exhaust pipe in accordance with disclosed embodiments; with a flat cap displayed.

[0014] FIG. 11 is an exploded view like FIG. 10; with threads shown and different perspective of flat cap.

[0015] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a filter section in accordance with disclosed embodiments.

[0016] FIG. 13 is front view of FIG. 12.

[0017] FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of a transitional flowfilter section in accordance with disclosed embodiments; revealing a special engineered sphere filtering capsule, wash coats on top and bottom of filter, and internal wall layered in foam.

[0018] FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view of a filter section in accordance with disclosed embodiments; displaying nitrogen fixing bacteria, chemical substance, water, semi-permeable membranes, metal, foam, wash coat, fiber entwined screen, and circular air passage.

[0019] FIG. 16A is a cross sectional view of a laminar flow filter section in accordance with disclosed embodiments.

[0020] FIG. 16B is a detail view of FIG. 16A.

[0021] FIG. 17 is a top view of a conical turbulent flow filter section in accordance with disclosed embodiments; displaying a wash coat/screen mid-level, with top wash coat screen removed for perspective

[0022] FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view of the turbulent flow conical filter section of FIG. 17; revealing the top, mid-level, and bottom wash-coat/screen, with voids in between each cone to allow some laminar air flow.

[0023] FIGS. 19 and 20 show perspective views in accordance with disclosed embodiments,

[0024] FIG. 20 shows a perspective view in accordance with disclosed embodiments,

[0025] FIG. 21 shows a filter cap in accordance with the disclosed embodiments.

[0026] Refer now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there being shown a 3 component emissions exhaust filtering system, generally referred to by reference numeral 10, in accordance with a first design. The system 10 is a reusable, recyclable, heat resistant/tolerant, inter-exchangeable, interconnecting, emissions filtering system/insert, designed primarily to filter out the toxins of the exhaust emissions through the tail pipe 50 of any on or off-road engine, including but not limited to automobiles, but also available for industrial/commercial use, in the prevention/reduction of air pollution. The exhaust tailpipe/emissions filter employs a reusable/replaceable insert and is configured to slide into and/or onto the exhaust tailpipe 50 of any on or off road engine, including but not limited to automobiles to reduce air pollution.

[0027] The unique filtering formula of system 10 includes components of reusable and/or disposable, interconnecting (at connection joints 26) and exchangeable sections. Each connecting filter 12, 14, 16, 20 contains its own specialized filtering design, creating different stages, resulting in an effective filtering process.

[0028] The cone filter section 12, also shown in FIG. 3, is stage or step one, designed to increase pressure and maximize air flow. The cone filter 12 contains a cone shaped filter material 13. As shown by the exhaust emission flow arrows 2 in FIG. 1, some of the exhaust flows through the cone material and some of the exhaust flows out the narrow end of the cone. The exhaust then flows from filter 12 past connection joints 26 into the sphere filter section 14.

[0029] The sphere filter section 14, also shown in FIG. 4, is stage or step two. The sphere filter 14 contains a sphere-shaped filter material 15. As shown by the exhaust emission flow arrows in FIG. 1, some of the exhaust flows around the sphere material. The grid filter section 16, also shown in FIG. 5, is stage or step three. The grid filter 16 contains grid shaped filter material extending through it.

[0030] A magnetic filter bubble eye cap with a special absorbent/fabric in each hole 20, also shown in FIG. 6, is the final filtering stage 4. The cap 20 is attached to the filtering inter-exchangeable sections (stages 1 through 3). As shown by the exhaust emission flow arrows in FIG. 1, the exhaust flows through the filter sections to exit from the filter cap 20. The filter cap 20 is designed with small magnetic clamps 23, 22 that attach onto the inside 52 and outside 54 of the exhaust tailpipe 50. However, it should be noted that an external tailpipe gripping thumb screw may also be used in lieu of or in addition to small magnetic clamps 23, 22.

[0031] The system 10 is shown in FIG. 1 fully assembled and inserted inside of the exhaust tail pipe 50 in a full filtering formula. The heat resistant/tolerable tail pipe filter/insert 10 slides up into the exhaust tail pipe 50, excluding the sleeve 22 & 32 in FIG. 7. FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the tail pipe 50, the filter stages one through three (sections 12, 14, 16) attached, and the stage four magnetic filter cap 20.?

[0032] FIG. 7 is a view of an alternate stage four magnetic filter cap 30 that includes extended magnetic bars 32 forming tailpipe sleeve 32 for design two of the filter. The design two is a heat resistant/tolerable tailpipe sleeve that slides onto and around the exhaust tail pipe, with a filter designed as a tail pipe insert. The filter is heat resistance/tolerable in compliance with federal regulations. The extended sleeve 32 for design two of the filter adds cosmetic value. Cosmetically, the exhaust tail pipe sleeve 32 and the vent caps 20 and 30 may be colored, e.g., metallic blue, green, platinum, gold, bronze and red. In both designs one and two, the environmentally friendly tail pipe filter is heat resistant and contains a uniquely designed exhaust multi-stage filtering component configuration. The disposable filter sections are recyclable & reusable.

[0033] FIGS. 8-10 show alternative filter caps 30A and 30B, which may be used similarly as filter cap 30 and, optionally, using extended magnetic sleeve 32 (not shown) or shortened magnetic sleeve/clamps 22, and where like reference numeral connotate similar features. FIG. 8 shows a conically shaped filter cap 30A in which, what would be the tip of the conical shape, is absent and an open-ended hole 60 is defined to allow additional exhaust through the center of the filter cap 30A without passing through filter material 31. The conically shaped filter cap 30A provide the advantages of aiding the creation of turbulent flow while maximizing exhaust flow and, as a secondary consideration may have cosmetic benefits. FIG. 9 shows the filter cap 30A of FIG. 9 connected to filter sections 12, 14, 16 and inserted into exhaust tail pipe 50, similarly to that of FIG. 1. Filter cap 30A can add to the turbulent flow of exhaust gasses to provide better gas/air flow.

[0034] FIGS. 10-11 shows a flat filter cap 30B which provide a lower profile than that of filter cap 30 or 30A, which may be desirable when there is insufficient space behind the exhaust tailpipe 50 for a larger filter cap, e.g., filter caps 30, 30A. In addition, the flat filter cap 30B will aid in the process of laminar air flow.

[0035] FIGS. 12-13 will be discussed with reference to cone filter section 12, However, it should be noted that the features of FIGS. 12-13 are equally applicable and optional for any of the filter sections discussed herein. As discussed above each of the elements of filter system 10, including, filter sections 12,14,16, additional filter sections, discussed below, and filter caps 20, 30, 30A, 30B, may be joined at connection joints 26. Such connection joints 26 may be any known mechanical fastening means known in the art, for example, friction fit, magnetic, using opposing threads. In the example shown in FIGS. 12-13, each of the filter section ends 62, 63 includes a set of opposing threads, for example female or inner threads 64 on end 62 and male or outer threads 66 on end 63. Such opposing threads 64,66 enable the filter sections to be interchanged and replaced using the similar threads between the filter sections. In order to minimize the likelihood that such threads will become undone during operation of vehicle and subsequent vibrations of the exhaust tail pipe 50 (FIG. 2), thread sealant may be added to the threads 64, 66 prior to assembly. Optionally, the threads may be formed using other mechanical means to prevent connected sections from unthreading, for example locking wedge ramps on the female threads 64 to minimize separation. Such wedge ramp threads are available under the Spiralock brand from Stanely and described at https://www.stanleyengineeredfastening.com/brands/optiaispiralock (last accessed Oct. 28, 2020), the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. In use, and with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, one are more filter sections and an endcap may be connected at connection joints 26, for example, threaded together. An assembly of one are more filter section may be threaded together prior to that assembly being threaded into filter cap 30, 30A, 30B and then the entire system 10 may be inserted into the exhaust tail pipe 50.

[0036] With reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, additionally, in order to aid the treatment of the exhaust vapors 2 as they proceed through the system 10, the filter section 12, as well as any other of the other filter sections discussed herein, may include a screen 68 in which the plane of the screen is laid about orthogonal to the direction of flow of the exhaust. For example, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the 68 screen is across the opening at each end 62, 63 of filter section 12. FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of section filter section 12 and FIG. 13 shows a front view of the filter section 12 shown in FIG. 13. The screen 68 may be retained by a mechanical feature, such an indention or retaining hump inside the filter section, or otherwise be friction fit. The screen 68 or mesh size may be varied depending on the balance required for exhaust flow versus flow treatment. The screen 68 may include thereon a wash-coat 70, which is a coating to react with one or more exhaust vapors. The screen may be formed of any suitable material, such as those discussed below, and may also include hollow polymeric fibers and/or other entwined fibers. The wash-coat 70 materials may include one are more inorganic base metal oxides such as Al.sub.2O.sub.3 (aluminum oxide or alumina), SiO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, CeO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2, V.sub.2O.sub.5, La.sub.2O.sub.3 and zeolites. Some of the materials may be used as catalyst carriers, others are added to the wash-coat as promoters or stabilizers, still others exhibit catalytic activity of their own. Durable washcoat materials are characterized by high specific surface area and thermal stability. The specific surface area is typically determined by nitrogen adsorption measurement technique in conjunction with mathematical modeling known as the BET (Brunauer, Emmet, and Teller) method. Other materials used in exhaust gas catalytic converters may also be used, for example as described on https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=8094 (last accessed Oct. 29, 2020) and http://www.thecmmgroup.com/types-catalysts-catalytic-oxidation/(last accessed Oct. 29, 2020), the entirety of each which are incorporated by reference their entirety. The thickness of the wash-coat 70 on the screen 68 can be varied based on the expected lifetime of the filter and desired amount of catalytic conversion balanced against the decrease exhaust flow as the wash-coat becomes thicker.

[0037] FIG. 14 shows a cross section of an alternative ball filter section 74, which may be for example an alternative or addition to ball filter section 14. The outer housing 76 has been cut away to show the inside of the filter section 74 and the ball filter 77 therein. The ball filter, may be retained, for example, by screens 68, which may include, as discussed above a wash-coat 70 (FIG. 12). The ball filter 77, may be a single layer or more than one layer or capsule containing a chemical substance or bacteria. As shown in FIG. 14, the ball filter 77 includes a core 78 and an outer layer 80. The outer layer 80 has a thickness 82, which may be varied depending on the mechanical strength needs of a particular ball filter 77 design and desired flow characteristics of the exhaust. For example, the thickness 82 may be between 0% and 100% the radius R of the ball filter 77. In one particular example, the thickness 82 may be between about 10% and about 20%, or about 15% the radius R of the ball filter 77. The outer layer 80 has a surface 81 having a plurality of spherically shaped indentions 84 recessed into the outer layer 80 having a radius and depth sufficient to create turbulent air flow filtering. Optionally the indentions 84 may include holes in the outer layer 80 containing screens 68 to allow greater permeability of the exhaust gases to core 78. The outer layer 80 may be formed of a filtering material that is permeable to exhaust gases, for example a foam (discussed below) or a foam-covered metal. The core 78 may be formed a carbon dioxide (CO2) absorbent chemical, nitrogen fixing bacteria, or a foam (discussed below).

[0038] FIG. 15 shows a cross section of an alternative cone filter section 90, which may be for example an alternative or addition to cone filter section 12. The outer housing 91 has been cut away to show the inside of the filter section 90. Similar to the above filter sections, cone filter section 90 may include screens 68 and connection joints 26, which may be threads 64, 66. Inside the outer housing 91, a conically shaped cone filter 92 is retained. The cone filter 92 may include one or more layers forming a filter stack 93 to create a gas permeable layer that allows liquid to traverse the cone filter 92 in a single direction, e.g., into the void 110 (discussed below), but not out of the void 110. As shown, the filter stack 93 includes an inner cone layer 94, an outer cone layer 96, and a membrane layer 95 sandwiched therebetween. The inner cone layer 94 and outer cone layer 96 may be made of a semi permeable membrane, foam, metal, ceramic, or foam-covered metal.

[0039] The inner and outer cone layer 94,96 may include a plurality of whole spaced at intervals throughout the cone filter to expose the membrane layer 95. The conically shaped cone filter 92 may include an upper filter section 100 and a lower filter section 102. The upper filter section 100 and the lower filter section 102 may have different angles with respect to the center axis C. For example, the upper filter section 100 may have an angle of θ and the lower filter section 102 may have an angle of co, where, in one example, θ is ≥to φ. The cone filter 92 come generally come to a point, but left open 98 to allow some exhaust gasses to bypass the filter stack 93 in order to allow for sufficient flow rates.

[0040] The filter stack 93 may be extended between the open 98 and the outer housing 91 to form the cone filter base 104. The cone filter base 104, the upper section 100, the lower section 102, and the outer housing 91 together form a void 110 in which exhaust gasses can pass through the filter stack 93 at upper section 100 and lower section 102 into the void 110 and then out of the cone filter base 104. While the void 110 is shown as two parts due to the cross-section view, it should be understood that the void 110 wraps around the cone filter 92. The void 110 may be filled by a chemical & fluid-based mixture 114, which may include an aqueous or non-aqueous solution containing a chemical or biological absorbent 116. For example, the fluid-based mixture 114 may include a combination of water, chemical substance, blue-green algae as the biological absorbent 116 and air or other exhaust gases. For example, the fluid-based mixture 114 may also include sand, ammonia, and or dirt in order to act as a medium for biological absorbent 116. Additional chemical agents may also be included as need to avoid reaching freezing and boiling points, for example, latent heat technology, propylene glycol, and/or sodium carboxymethyl cellulose.

[0041] The biological absorbent 116 may be, for example, a nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as free living (non-symbiotic bacteria) such as blue green algae (cyanobacteria), anabaena, nostoc, and/or genera such as Azotobacter, Beijerinckia, or Clostridium. The biological absorbent 116 aids in fixing/absorbing the nitrogen-based compounds such as nitrogen oxide (NoX), e.g., NO and NO.sub.2. Additional biological absorbents 116 may include the mutualistic (symbiotic) bacteria rhizobium-associated with leguminous plants, frankia, associated with certain dicotyledonous species (actinorhizal plants), and certain azospirillumspecies, associated with cereal grasses.

[0042] As exhaust gas passed into the upper section 100 of the cone filter 92, a portion of the exhaust gases pass through openings 97 and permeate through membrane layer 95 into the void 110. Membrane layer 95 can be any gas permeable/water vapor semi permeable membrane that allows liquid to travel primarily or only in a single direction. For example, the membrane available from SIGA tapes under the brand name Majrex (1 US Perm===57 ng/Pa.Math.s.Math.m2) or as described in US Pub 2015/0354205 “Variable-Humidity Directional Vapour Barrier,” the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. See for example, http://gassystemscorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Membrane-Air-Separation.pdf (last Accessed 10/30/2020), the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein The biological absorbents 116 absorb chemicals from the exhaust. Water from the exhaust is also retained by the biological absorbents 116 in order to keep the biological absorbents 116 hydrated. Treated exhaust may exit through the cone filter base 104 and/or into the lower section 102 of the cone filter 92 for exit from the cone filter section 90.

[0043] FIGS. 16 A & B shows a cross section of an alternative grid filter section 115, which may be for example an alternative or addition to any of the filter sections discussed herein. The outer housing 111 has been cut away to show the inside of the filter section. Similar to the above filter sections, grid filter section 115 may include wash-coats and or fiber entwined screens 68 (not shown for clarity) at either end of the grid filter section 115 and connection joints 26, which may be threads 64, 66. Grid filter section 115 may include a plurality of elongated tubes 112 running the majority, or all, of the length L of the outer housing 111. Each elongated tube 112 may be any shape, but are shown in this example as being generally a quadrilateral, square, or rectangular in shape when viewed from either end. The elongated tubes 112 may be made of a metal material, a foam, and or combination of both. The elongate tubes 112 may include a wash-coat and or fiber entwined screen (excluding top screen/wash-coat) 114, as described above, coating the inside layer of one or more elongated tubes 112 for reacting with exhaust gases passing through the elongated tubes. The elongated tubes 114 function to promote laminar flow of exhaust gases traveling through the grid filter section 115.

[0044] FIGS. 17 and 18 show an end view and cross section, respectively, of an alternative double cone filter section 120, which may be for example an alternative or addition to any of the filter sections discussed herein. The outer housing 121 has been cut away in FIG. 18 to show the inside of the double cone filter section 120. The double cone filter section 120 includes one or more cone sets 124 each having an upper cone 123 and a lower cone 125. Each upper cone 123 includes an upper cone wide upper end 126 and an upper cone narrow lower end 128 such that the upper cone wide upper end 126 has a larger radius than the upper cone narrow lower end 125. Each lower cone 125 includes a lower cone narrow upper end 132 and a lower end wide lower end 130 such that the lower cone wide lower end 130 has a larger radius than the lower cone narrow lower end 125. In between the each of the upper cones 123 and lower cones 125 is a wash-coat and or fiber entwined screen 68, which is similar to those screens discussed above, with or without the described wash-coat. Screen 68 may be a single screen placed on the top 126, bottom 130 and between all of the upper cones 123 and lower cones 125 or smaller individual screens placed inside the respective cone sets 124. Each of the cone sets 124 may be formed of a foam, a metal, and/or a foam coated metal. The number of cone sets 124, and the comparative size of the cone sets 124 to the outer housing 121 can be varied based on the comparative need for filter effectiveness versus total throughput of exhaust gasses and back pressure. Similar to the above filter sections, double cone filter section 120 may also include screens 68 at either end of the double cone filter section 120 and connection joints 26, which may be threads 64, 66.

[0045] FIG. 19 shows alternative features of, filter cap 30, shown installed on exhaust tail pipe 50. As shown the filter cap 30 includes a sleeve 140 for friction fitting (in addition to or lieu of a magnetic fit) on the exhaust tail pipe 50. The sleeve 140 may include a expansion slot 140 to allow for slight movement in the sleeve 140 to ensure a proper fit. The sleeve 140 may also include a tapped boss 144 the mechanically receiving a securing fastener, for example, screw 146 that one inserted into the tapped boss 144 will press against the tail pipe 50 to prevent the inadvertent removal of the filter cap 30. FIG. 20 shows the same filter cap 30 of FIG. 19 without any filter section attached and detached from the tail pipe 50. FIG. 21 shows the same filter cap 30 of FIGS. 19 and 20, but with an elongated sleeve 148 which may be used to provide a stronger friction fit with exhaust tail pipe 50 (not shown).

[0046] All of the references to foam herein may be, for example, a porous filter medium, for example any of those materials or structures described in US publication 2005/0241479 “Filter materials for absorbing hydrocarbons,” (the '479 publication) the entirety of which is incorporate by reference herein in its entirety. In addition, such foams may also include polymer networks of a foam, nonwoven or collection of particles, which in one example have a butane working capacity (W/W %) of 4.0 percent or higher as described in the '479 publication. The foams discussed herein may be of sufficient thickness to promote reactivity with the exhaust gases, but not so thick to promote clogging. In one example, the foams discussed here are between (inclusive) 0.5 mm-2 mm thick, and in another example, about 1 mm thick.

[0047] A routine maintenance interval for the filtering system may be thirty, sixty, or ninety days, determined by the relevant on or off-road engine including but not limited to automobile's, usage, weather, mileage, oil consumption/maintenance, emissions levels and the filtering component selection. Each filter section and component bay be replaceable with a new or refreshed component and custom designed to fit any/all exhaust systems/tailpipes. The component selection may be super duty formula (commercial/industrial use only), heavy duty formula, mild duty formula, or light duty formula. The disclosed filter system 110 may support the following type of catalytic reactions two-way oxidation, three-way oxidation reduction, and diesels oxidation catalyst (DoC).

[0048] The different stages of the filtering process (formula applied) are also designed to maximize the exhaust tail pipe air flow system, preventing/reducing blockage. In a worst-case scenario, if the filter is over used and needs changing, this will block the air flow, preventing the vehicle from starting until changed/cleaned.

[0049] The filter may be made available in any shape and size and color, for all market applications with emission issues, including but not limited to automotive, trucks, forklifts, mining equipment, electrical generators, locomotives, motorcycles, airplanes, and other engine-fitted devices that release hydrocarbons, including those that run on natural gas, propane, or wood, for example wood stoves, to control emissions. In addition, the various sizes of the components and filtering/catalytic capabilities may be customized based on the size and throughput of various exhaust systems. All filter parts are heat resistant/inflammable, and designed to filter out the emission toxins while increasing the air flow, and maximizing air pressure. For example, the filter materials, including any materials discussed herein as being made from metal, ceramic, or foam may also include ceramic monolith or metallic foil monolith materials which have the advantage of low back pressure and reliability under constant high load. The filler forms may include monolith, fluid-bed and particulate filler forms. Both are designed to provide high surface area to support the catalyst wash coat. Such materials may have particular advantages when used in the grid filter section 115 and double cone filter section 120 in place or in addition to the foam material. Other materials for the housings and filter materials may include, for example copper, steel, stainless steel, chromium, cobalt, nickel, aluminum, titanium, vanadium, cerium, platinum, gold, palladium, titanium dioxide, aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, or combination of silica and aluminum, cerium iron, nickel, and manganese, either individually or in combination with each other in alloys or otherwise.

[0050] Additionally, other materials for the housings and filter materials may include materials such as Foil, Iron, aluminum, Chromium, Steel, Titanium, Copper, Intumescent, Platinum (PT), Gold, Palladium (Pd), Rhodium (Rh), Ceramic, Cerium, Vanadium, Manganese, Nickel, Cabolt, Chromium, Clay, ammonia (Nh3), Aluminosilicate, Alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3), Zirconia, CEo2, Sio2, Titania (Tio2), Snot, CuO, Fe2o3, La2o3, MgO, Water, Blue Green Algae, Heptane & Toluene-Hydrocarbons (HC), Phased Change Materials (PCM) such as stone-cast iron & aluminum, Dry Ice, petrogels, hydrogels, polymer absorbent/polyolefin based hydrophobic absorbents, Alaska Crude Oil (ANS), Tantalum Carbide (TaC), Hafnium Carbide (HfC), hafnium Carbide, Hydrogen (H2o), Carbonic Acid/Dry Ice (H2Co3), montmorillonite, zeolites, carbon based materials, Silica Fabric, Fiberglass, Plexiglass. WHIPDX: The oxide CMC WHIPDX (Wound Highly Porous Oxide Ceramic Matrix Composite) has been developed at the Institute of Materials Research. WHIPDX consists of continuous oxide fibers which are embedded in a porous oxide matrix. Compared to non-oxide materials WHIPDX-type CMC exhibits excellent durability in oxidizing atmospheres. Components are manufactured by a relatively simple, cost-efficient filament winding process. Oxide-based ceramic matrix composites (CMC) are developed at the Institute of Materials Research and meet these requirements. Outstanding properties of oxide-based CMC include: high resistance against thermal load and thermal cycling, damage tolerance and non-brittle fracture behavior, full resistance against oxidation and good resistance in many corrosive environments, low specific weight and heat capacity, transparency for electromagnetic waves, and electrical insulation.

[0051] Filter materials for reduction of CO2 may also include absorbent agents applied within a filter to assist in the elimination of Carbon and CO2, including, for example, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and lithium hydroxide.

[0052] Further the disclosed components, may include intumescent coating/insulant & thermal and/or environmental barrier coatings (E/TBC) to helps avoid metal sticking/welding of filter and filter components and to provide protection from hot corrosion, chemical degradation from hot water vapor, and thermal overload. Fiber-reinforced ceramic composites may also be utilized for disclosed components, which often exhibit a pronounced porosity and permeability. Their fabrication also produces irregular structures, i.e., rough surface structures than can be advantageous to the overall filtering effect. Protection can also be applied to the threads of filters, around the top and bottom (or entire) surface area of filters where they make contact, the internal contact points of cap & sleeve.

[0053] The Appendix includes additional information, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.