Substrate for an exhaust gas treatment unit

Abstract

A substrate for an exhaust gas treatment unit, particularly for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, includes a substrate body ( 18 ) elongated in the substrate longitudinal direction (S). The substrate body ( 18 ) is flattened in a flattening direction (A) essentially at right angles to the substrate longitudinal direction (S). A plurality of cells ( 24 ), which extend essentially in the substrate longitudinal direction (S) and provide flow ducts, are formed in the substrate body ( 18 ). The cells ( 24 ) are defined by cell walls ( 20, 22 ), which extend essentially in the substrate longitudinal direction (S). The cell walls ( 20, 22 ) are disposed at an angle in relation to the flattening direction (A).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exhaust gas treatment unit substrate comprising a substrate body elongated in a substrate longitudinal direction, wherein:
 the substrate body is flattened in a flattening direction essentially at right angles to the substrate longitudinal direction;   the substrate body comprises a plurality of cells extending essentially in the substrate longitudinal direction;   the cells are defined by cell walls and provide flow ducts, which extend essentially in the substrate longitudinal direction; and   the cell walls are disposed at an angle in relation to the flattening direction.   
     
     
         2 . An exhaust gas treatment unit substrate in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cell walls comprise:
 first cell walls arranged parallel to one another and at spaced locations from one another; and   second cell walls arranged parallel to one another and at spaced locations from one another, wherein the first cell walls are disposed at an angle in relation to the second cell walls such that the cells are each defined by two first cell walls and by two second cell walls.   
     
     
         3 . An exhaust gas treatment unit substrate in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the first cell walls are disposed at an angle of about 90° in relation to the second cell walls. 
     
     
         4 . An exhaust gas treatment unit substrate in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the mutual spacing from one another of directly adjacent first cell walls corresponds essentially to the mutual spacing from one another of directly adjacent second cell walls. 
     
     
         5 . An exhaust gas treatment unit substrate in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein:
 cells adjacent to one another form cell lines; and   the cells of each of the cell lines are defined by two identical first cell walls or by the two identical second cell walls.   
     
     
         6 . An exhaust gas treatment unit substrate in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first cell walls and the second cell walls form a grid-shaped cell wall structure; or   the first cell walls and the second cell walls are essentially unbent; or   the first cell walls and the second cell walls form a grid-shaped cell wall structure, and the first cell walls and the second cell walls are essentially unbent.   
     
     
         7 . An exhaust gas treatment unit substrate in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cells have an essentially rectangular or square cross-sectional contour; or   the cell walls are disposed at an angle in a range from 40° to 50° in relation to the flattening direction; or   the cells have an essentially rectangular or square cross-sectional contour, and the cell walls are disposed at an angle in a range from 40° to 50° in relation to the flattening direction.   
     
     
         8 . An exhaust gas treatment unit substrate in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 the substrate body is configured with an essentially mirror-symmetrical outer circumferential contour in relation to a first longitudinal central plane, which is extended in the flattening direction and in the substrate longitudinal direction; or   the substrate body is configured with an essentially mirror-symmetrical outer circumferential contour in relation to a second longitudinal central plane, which is extended at right angles to the flattening direction and in the substrate longitudinal direction; or   the substrate body is configured with an essentially mirror-symmetrical outer circumferential contour in relation to a first longitudinal central plane, which is extended in the flattening direction and in the substrate longitudinal direction, and the substrate body is configured with an essentially mirror-symmetrical outer circumferential contour in relation to a second longitudinal central plane, which is extended at right angles to the flattening direction and in the substrate longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         9 . An exhaust gas treatment unit substrate in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 the substrate body has a flattened, round, or an elliptical outer circumferential contour; or   the substrate body has an essentially cylindrical configuration in relation to the substrate longitudinal direction; or   the substrate body has a flattened, round, or an elliptical outer circumferential contour, and the substrate body has an essentially cylindrical configuration in relation to the substrate longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         10 . An exhaust gas treatment unit substrate in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 the substrate body is comprised of ceramic material; or   the cell walls are coated with exhaust gas treatment material; or   the substrate body is comprised of ceramic material, and the cell walls are coated with exhaust gas treatment material.   
     
     
         11 . An exhaust gas treatment unit comprising:
 a housing with a tubular circumferential wall, which encloses a housing interior, and   a substrate arranged in the housing interior, the substrate comprising a substrate body elongated in a substrate longitudinal direction, wherein:
 the substrate body is flattened in a flattening direction essentially at right angles to the substrate longitudinal direction; 
 the substrate body comprises a plurality of cells extending essentially in the substrate longitudinal direction; 
 the cells are defined by cell walls and provide flow ducts, which extend essentially in the substrate longitudinal direction; and 
 the cell walls are disposed at an angle in relation to the flattening direction. 
   
     
     
         12 . An exhaust gas treatment unit in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising a layer of support material, wherein the substrate, arranged in the housing interior, is enclosed by at least one layer of support material and is configured to support the substrate in relation to the circumferential wall. 
     
     
         13 . An exhaust gas treatment unit in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein:
 the circumferential wall is flattened in the flattening direction; or   the circumferential wall has a flattened, round, or essentially elliptical outer circumferential contour; or   the circumferential wall is flattened in the flattening direction, and the circumferential wall has a flattened, round, or essentially elliptical outer circumferential contour   
     
     
         14 . An exhaust gas treatment unit substrate in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the cell walls comprise:
 first cell walls arranged parallel to one another and at spaced locations from one another; and   second cell walls arranged parallel to one another and at spaced locations from one another, wherein the first cell walls are disposed at an angle in relation to the second cell walls such that the cells are each defined by two first cell walls and by two second cell walls.   
     
     
         15 . An exhaust gas treatment unit in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the first cell walls are disposed at an angle of about 90° in relation to the second cell walls. 
     
     
         16 . An exhaust gas treatment unit in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the mutual spacing from one another of directly adjacent first cell walls corresponds essentially to the mutual spacing from one another of directly adjacent second cell walls. 
     
     
         17 . An exhaust gas treatment unit in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein:
 cells adjacent to one another form cell lines; and   the cells of each of the cell lines are defined by two identical first cell walls or by the two identical second cell walls.   
     
     
         18 . An exhaust gas treatment unit in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first cell walls and the second cell walls form a grid-shaped cell wall structure; or   the first cell walls and the second cell walls are essentially unbent; or   the first cell walls and the second cell walls form a grid-shaped cell wall structure, and the first cell walls and the second cell walls are essentially unbent.   
     
     
         19 . An exhaust gas treatment unit in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein:
 the cells have an essentially rectangular or square cross-sectional contour; or   the cell walls are disposed at an angle in a range from 40° to 50° in relation to the flattening direction; or   the cells have an essentially rectangular or square cross-sectional contour, and the cell walls are disposed at an angle in a range from 40° to 50° in relation to the flattening direction.   
     
     
         20 . An exhaust gas treatment unit in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein:
 the substrate body is configured with an essentially mirror-symmetrical outer circumferential contour in relation to a first longitudinal central plane, which is extended in the flattening direction and in the substrate longitudinal direction; or   the substrate body is configured with an essentially mirror-symmetrical outer circumferential contour in relation to a second longitudinal central plane, which is extended at right angles to the flattening direction and in the substrate longitudinal direction; or   the substrate body is configured with an essentially mirror-symmetrical outer circumferential contour in relation to a first longitudinal central plane, which is extended in the flattening direction and in the substrate longitudinal direction, and the substrate body is configured with an essentially mirror-symmetrical outer circumferential contour in relation to a second longitudinal central plane, which is extended at right angles to the flattening direction and in the substrate longitudinal direction.