Heated cellular structures

摘要

An electrically conductive cellular or honeycomb structure wherein the structure is heated to light off exhaust gases and/or to burn off deposited carbon particulates and thus periodically regenerate the structure. Electrodes attached to the surface of the structure or body pass electrical currents through the body, the currents causing temperature increase by resistance heating. The electrodes are radially or angularly spaced around the outer surface of the structure, near its input end face to thereby achieve a uniform temperature distribution at the input end face for quick light-off and/or for more complete combustion of the carbon particulates. This temperature distribution can also be made more uniform by the distribution of plugs of varying thickness and/or resistivity in selected areas of the input end face of the structure. The structure can be of the porous wall type wherein alternate passageways are plugged at the front and rear faces. The structure may be also formed of an aluminum iron alloy.