Filter for vehicle exhaust system

Abstract

A vehicle exhaust system includes a catalytic converter connected to an exhaust pipe. An exhaust filter is connected to the exhaust pipe downstream from the catalytic converter. The exhaust filter is a charcoal filter that filters particulates from the air flow in the exhaust pipe. The exhaust filter is threadingly engaged with the exhaust pipe and is disposable.

1 . A vehicle exhaust system, comprising:
 an exhaust pipe;   a catalytic converter connected to the exhaust pipe; and   a filter connected to the exhaust pipe downstream from the catalytic converter.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is a charcoal filter. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is threaded with the exhaust pipe. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter includes two heat resistant material regions spaced from each other by a charcoal filter region. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter includes first and second exhaust flow paths, the first and second exhaust flow paths being in opposed directions. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter includes filter and heat dissipation members. 
     
     
         7 . A vehicle exhaust system, comprising:
 a catalytic converter;   a disposable filter   an exhaust pipe connected between the catalytic converter and disposable filter, the disposable filter filtering exhaust from the catalytic converter.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the filter includes charcoal. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the charcoal is activated charcoal. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the filter is threadingly engaged with the exhaust pipe. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the filter includes two heat resistant material regions spaced from each other by a charcoal filter region. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the filter includes first and second exhaust flow paths, the first and second exhaust flow paths being in opposed directions. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the filter includes a flow diverter. 
     
     
         14 . A vehicle, comprising:
 a catalytic converter which receives an engine exhaust from a vehicle engine;   an exhaust filter which receives a converter exhaust from the catalytic converter and filters it to provide a filter exhaust.   
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , further including an exhaust pipe which flows a portion of the converter exhaust to an air intake of the vehicle engine. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the catalytic converter removes a first amount of particulates from the engine exhaust and the charcoal filter removes a second amount of particulates from the converter exhaust. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , further including a flow rate adjuster which adjusts the flow rate of the converter exhaust. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the charcoal filter is connected to the exhaust pipe in a repeatably removeable manner. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the exhaust filter includes charcoal. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the charcoal filter includes alternating filter regions and heat dissipation material regions.