Plugged Honeycomb Structure Corner Reinforcement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional plugged honeycomb structures used in diesel particulate filters face challenges in maintaining filtration efficiency and durability due to excessive pressure loss and reduced passage capacity caused by reinforcing features, which also increase fuel consumption and impair purification performance.

Innovation Solution

A plugged honeycomb structure design where only outflow cells are selectively reinforced in specific corner portions, maintaining passage capacity and reducing pressure loss, while enhancing mechanical strength and preventing end face cracks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If reinforcing portions are formed in corner portions of all cells to improve strength, then durability is improved, but passage capacity is remarkably reduced and pressure loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestrengthVSAvoidpassage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by forming reinforcing portions only in corner portions of outflow cells, not in inflow cells. This localized reinforcement approach provides structural strength where thermal stress is most severe (outflow cells) while preserving passage capacity in inflow cells where reinforcement is not needed, thereby resolving the contradiction between strength improvement and productivity maintenance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If reinforcing portions are formed in inflow cells to improve strength, then durability is improved, but pressure loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestrengthVSAvoidpressure loss
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by differentiating the treatment of inflow cells and outflow cells. Reinforcing portions are formed only in outflow cells where thermal stress is highest, while inflow cells remain unreinforced to maintain low pressure loss. This selective approach resolves the contradiction by providing strength improvement only where necessary

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If the mass of the honeycomb structure is increased by forming reinforcing portions, then strength is improved, but purification performance is impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestrengthVSAvoidpurification performance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by limiting reinforcing portions to only outflow cells, thereby minimizing the total mass increase of the honeycomb structure. This selective reinforcement provides necessary strength improvement while avoiding excessive mass accumulation that would impair purification performance, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Strength

If arc-shaped R portions are formed in corner portions of all cells to inhibit breakage, then durability is improved, but passage capacity is remarkably reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidpassage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent improves upon conventional designs by applying local quality - forming reinforcing portions only in outflow cells rather than all cells. This selective approach maintains the durability benefit of corner reinforcement while avoiding the excessive passage capacity reduction that would result from reinforcing every cell in the honeycomb structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2508242B1Plugged honeycomb structure
Publication Date: 2014.06.11 NGK INSULATORS LTD
  • EP2508242B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2508242B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2508242B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a plugged honeycomb structure 100 having: a honeycomb structure 4 having plural columnar honeycomb segments 8 having porous partition walls 1 separating and forming plurality of cells 2, outflow side plugging portions 5b, and inflow side plugging portions. The honeycomb segment 8 located in a 45° direction with respect to one side of the quadrangular cross section of the honeycomb segment 8 constituting the central portion from the centroid O of the cross section of the honeycomb structure 4 among the honeycomb segments 8 constituting the outer peripheral portion of the honeycomb structure 4 is a reinforced segment 8x having a reinforcing portion 6 for reinforcing the specified outflow cell 2b.