| 摘要 |
<p>A method and apparatus for preventing flame initiation of the flammable exhaust gas from a small engine involves flowing the exhaust gas through a first flame arrestor stage (10), through a cooling means (11, 32), and then through at least a second flame arrestor stage (34). The flame arrestor stages (10, 34) are capable of catalytically oxidizing the flammable components of the exhaust gas and the cooling means (11, 32) dissipates some of the heat of oxidation between stages so the pollutants in the exhaust gas stream can be oxidized without increasing the temperature of the exhaust gas to its auto-ignition temperature. Each stage (10, 34) has a catalyst member (14, 14') secured in a canister (15, 35) through which the exhaust gas flows. The catalyst members (14, 14') contain catalytic materials effective for the conversion of at least some of the noxious components to innocuous substances. A ceramic fiber fabric (16) formed from fibers having an average diameter of about 10 microns and an average length greater than 10 inches (about 25.4 cm) is wrapped around the catalyst member to facilitate mounting the catalyst member in the canister. Optionally, the ceramic fiber fabric is substantially free of intumescent fibers.</p> |
