JP3360437B2 - Exhaust particulate processing equipment for internal combustion engines - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in an exhaust particulate processing apparatus for collecting particulates contained in exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine and treating the collected exhaust particulates.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, from the viewpoint of environmental protection, particulates such as soot (particulate “P
M: Particulate Matter ") is prevented from being discharged into the atmosphere, and a filter element made of ceramic or the like provided in an exhaust system (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a filter).
There have been proposed various exhaust particulate processing apparatuses which collect and remove the particulates.

However, when the trapped exhaust particulates accumulate on the filter, the filter becomes clogged, the filter has a large passage resistance and the exhaust pressure increases, and the engine performance deteriorates and fuel consumption deteriorates. Conventionally, the filter is regenerated by heating through a heating means such as a heater or a burner to burn the collected exhaust fine particles.

[0004]

However, in the conventional apparatus for treating exhaust fine particles, the regeneration efficiency is reduced due to a shortage of regeneration air during regeneration. Therefore, the applicant of the present application has proposed a device in which secondary air for regeneration is supplied via an air pump at the time of regeneration as shown in FIG. 16 (see Japanese Patent Application No. 6-63994).

However, in such an apparatus, when the filter is regenerated, an expensive air pump is required as a means for supplying the secondary air for regeneration, which complicates the system and the degree of progress of the regeneration ( That is, since the discharge amount of the air pump fluctuates due to the ventilation resistance recovery), the amount of the regenerative heat (combustion heat) carried out when the secondary air for regeneration passes through the filter fluctuates, and the regeneration (combustion) is stable. There was a problem of not being able to do it (not enough).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and has an air pump and the like by providing a plurality of outside air communicating portions in a filter case containing a filter and generating natural convection in the filter case during regeneration. At the very least, it is possible to supply regeneration air satisfactorily to the combustion of exhaust particulates (regeneration of filters), so that the exhaust particulate processing of an internal combustion engine can efficiently regenerate the filter with a simple configuration and at low cost. It is intended to provide a device.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for treating particulate matter of an internal combustion engine, comprising a substantially cylindrical filter element for collecting exhaust particulates in exhaust gas in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine. An exhaust particulate treatment device for an internal combustion engine, comprising an internal filter case, wherein the collected exhaust particulates are heated and burned off via heating means to regenerate the filter element, wherein the filter case and the filter element are provided. Between the filter element and the filter case portion facing the hollow portion, a plurality of communicating portions communicating with the outside air are provided, and among the plurality of communicating portions, At least one introduces outside air from near the lower portion of the filter element during regeneration of the filter element, and at the same time, from at least one of the communicating portions, And an exhaust of a serial hollow portion so as to discharge to the outside.

In the invention according to claim 2, the lower part of the filter element is provided such that at least one of the plurality of communicating portions is provided substantially vertically above the filter case .
In addition, it is configured such that it is on the exhaust upstream side with respect to the installation position of at least one communication portion provided substantially vertically below the filter case and substantially vertically above the filter case.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the vicinity of the lower portion of the filter element, at least one of the plurality of communication portions is provided substantially vertically above the filter case .
It is configured such that it is on the exhaust downstream side with respect to the installation position of at least one communication portion provided substantially vertically below the filter case and substantially vertically above the filter case.

According to the invention described in claim 4, the gap between the outer peripheral portion of the filter element and the filter case is
A heat shield is provided, and an opening is provided at least on the outer surface of the heat shield near a lower portion of the filter element. In the invention described in claim 5, an opening portion provided on the outer surface of the thermal barrier sheath disposed apart substantially vertically up and down direction, the communicating portion located outside the opening of each and the opening The projections in the radial direction of the filter element are overlapped.

[0011]

According to the exhaust gas treatment apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the engine is stopped and the filter element is regenerated, natural convection is caused by the heated gas in the filter case. Is generated, the heated gas rises, moves to the upper part of the filter case, and is discharged from at least one of the plurality of communicating parts, so that the communicating part provided near the lower part of the filter element Outside air is taken into the filter case, and the outside air is supplied to the filter element via the natural convection. As a result, the regeneration air can be efficiently and sequentially supplied to the combustion of the exhaust particulates, so that the combustion of the exhaust particulates can be stably performed without interruption without providing an air pump or the like.

According to the second and third aspects of the present invention, the communication portion provided near the lower portion of the filter element is
At least one communicating portion provided substantially vertically above the filter case is provided substantially vertically below the filter case and offset in the exhaust flow direction, so that natural convection can be provided in a wide range. Since the air is easily generated, the regeneration air can be supplied over a wide range of the filter element, so that the filter element can be satisfactorily regenerated.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the heat shield sheath is provided, and the opening is provided near the communicating portion provided near the lower portion of the filter element on the outer surface of the heat shield sheath. Thus, the filter element can be efficiently regenerated while exhibiting the effects of radiant heat and natural convection. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the projection in the radial direction of the filter element between the opening provided in the heat shielding sheath and the communicating part provided in the filter case overlaps, so that the natural convection is further activated. As a result, the filter element can be more efficiently regenerated in combination with the use of radiant heat by the heat shield.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an exhaust particulate processing apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to a first embodiment (corresponding to the first and second aspects of the present invention). Exhaust passage 101 connected to an exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine (not shown)
A hollow cylindrical shape provided with a heater 105 on the inner peripheral side (however,
A filter case 102 in which a porous filter 104 of not limited to a cylindrical shape but having a hollow portion is provided is interposed substantially horizontally (filter 104).
May be provided in parallel in the case 102, or may be provided in series in the case 102).

The filter 104 introduces exhaust gas from the engine from the open end on the exhaust upstream side into the inner peripheral portion of the hollow cylinder. The end on the exhaust downstream side is closed as described later. Therefore, the exhaust gas introduced into the inner peripheral portion is passed to the outer peripheral side of the hollow cylinder. That is, while the exhaust gas passes from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the hollow cylinder, the exhaust particles in the exhaust are collected by the filter 104. Note that the filter 104 can be formed by winding a ceramic fiber, a ceramic foam, a metal foam, or the like. Of course, the ceramic may be formed into a hollow cylindrical monolith.

A heater 105 provided on the inner peripheral portion of the hollow cylinder of the filter 104 for electrically heating and burning the exhaust fine particles collected by the filter 104 is a SUS system, an Fe—Cr—Al system, or a Ni system. -Cr-Fe
It uses a system of electric heating elements and has a large number of exhaust vents. In FIG. 1, the heater 10
5 is provided in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the hollow cylinder of the filter 104, that is, the inflow surface of the exhaust gas.
04 may be provided inside or on the outer peripheral surface.
As shown in FIG. 1, the exhaust downstream side of the heater 105 is closed by a closing portion 105 b (made of a plate-like member or the like).
5 is provided with an electrode 105a for supplying electricity to
05a is electrically insulated from the filter case 102 and is led out. On the other hand, the exhaust upstream opening 105 c is grounded by the filter case 102. The electrode 105a is connected to the battery via a heater driving device 106 including a regeneration switch, a regeneration timer / relay, a regeneration / warning lamp, and the like. The heating is performed for a predetermined time, for example, 10 minutes.

In the exhaust passage 101 upstream of the filter 104, there is provided an exhaust pressure sensor 111 for detecting the regeneration time of the filter.
The filter regeneration time detecting means is constituted by 1 or the like. In the filter case 102 according to the present embodiment, a communication hole 107 that is located on the downstream side of the exhaust of the filter 104 and on the upstream side of the exhaust port 103 and near the lower part of the filter case 102 in a substantially vertical direction and communicates with the outside air is provided. Is provided. In addition, the communication part referred to in the present invention includes the communication hole 107,
The exhaust port 103 is also included.

Here, the operation and effect of the exhaust particulate processing device for an internal combustion engine according to the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described. When the exhaust particles are collected by the filter 104, the exhaust gas is passed from the inner periphery to the outer periphery of the filter 104, and the exhaust particles are collected by the filter 104 at the time of the passage. Exhaust gas to the outside. At the time of regeneration of the filter 104, the heater driving device 106 is driven after the engine is stopped to supply electricity to the regeneration heater 105,
Start playing. Specifically, for example, when the output value of the exhaust pressure sensor becomes equal to or more than a predetermined value, the heater driving device 106 determines that the regeneration time is reached, and turns on the regeneration / warning lamp,
The driver or the like who sees this can turn on the regeneration switch and turn on the regeneration heater 105 to start regeneration. Further, for example, when the exhaust pressure exceeds a predetermined value, the heater 1 is automatically turned off after the ignition switch is turned off.
05 may be energized.

The power supply time to the heater 105 (for example, 10
The minutes are set by a timer (preferably set to an energizing time confirmed in advance through experiments and the like, in terms of power consumption, durability of the filter / heater, and the like). By the energization and heating of the heater 104, the exhaust fine particles deposited on the filter 104 are ignited and burned (note that the combustion in this embodiment basically spreads from the inner circumference to the outer circumference of the filter 104). And uniformly burns in the direction of the cylinder axis).

Next, the operation and effect of the communication hole 107 in this embodiment will be described. The communication hole 107 is provided for the purpose of supplying regeneration air for burning (regenerating) exhaust particulates accumulated in the filter 104 by utilizing natural convection (the characteristic that warm air rises). ing. Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 16, when the combustion of the exhaust particulates deposited on the filter 104 by the heating of the heater 105 progresses, even the air not yet used for the combustion is heated and moves upward of the filter case 102. To do
Since the oxygen in the atmosphere near the filter 104 becomes lean and the exhaust particles do not burn even if the temperature of the heater 105 rises sufficiently, an air pump 108 or the like is required as secondary air introduction means for regeneration in order to improve this. Was.

However, in this case, there is a problem as described above, that is, a problem that the structure becomes complicated, which leads to an increase in manufacturing cost and a decrease in reliability, or that it is difficult to control a supply amount of the secondary air for regeneration. Therefore, a communication hole 107 is provided,
Due to the communication hole 107, natural convection flows into the filter case 102, that is, in the vicinity of the filter 104 (as the warm air rises, outside air is introduced from the communication hole 107 and unused low-temperature air inside the filter case 102). Is moved below the filter 104, so that the filter 104
Convection occurs around the filter 104 to generate natural air circulation such that regeneration air is supplied to each part of the filter 104) to guide unused air and outside air in the filter case 102 as regeneration air. Thus, the exhaust fine particles deposited on the filter 104 can be satisfactorily burned off without an air pump or the like. In this embodiment, the communication holes 10
Although only one is shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of filters 7 may be provided in a direction parallel to the cylindrical central axis of the filter 104.
A plurality of filters may be provided in the circumferential direction of the filter case 102.

The regeneration timing can be detected by the filter regeneration timing detecting means including the exhaust pressure sensor 111 as described above. By the way, as shown in FIG. 2, the filter case 102 may be arranged in a substantially vertical direction. In this case, FIG.
Since the possibility of entry of rainwater or the like is smaller than the case where the filter case 102 is disposed substantially horizontally as shown in FIG. 2, the communication hole 107 is formed as shown by a broken line in FIG. Since a plurality of openings can be provided in the circumferential direction, natural convection can be more activated, so that regeneration can be performed more favorably. In addition,
As shown by the broken line in FIG. 2, if the flap 107a is provided, it is possible to effectively prevent entry of rainwater or the like.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the operation of the engine is stopped and the filter 104 is regenerated, natural convection is generated by the heated gas near the filter 104, and the heated gas is regenerated. Rises in the filter case 102, and a part of the gas flows out from the exhaust port 103. Therefore, the air (low-temperature air) not yet used for combustion in the filter case 102 rides on the natural convection to form a filter. Since outside air is sequentially taken in from the communication hole 107 while being supplied to the combustion of the exhaust gas 104, the regeneration air can be efficiently and sequentially supplied to the combustion of the exhaust particulates, and the combustion of the exhaust particulates can be stably performed without interruption. Therefore, the regeneration efficiency of the filter 104 can be improved. Next, a second embodiment (corresponding to the first and second aspects of the present invention) will be described.

First, the structure will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the exhaust port 103 of the filter case 102 is different from FIG.
An upper communication hole 108 is added near the upper side in the vertical direction. The other configuration is the same, and the description is omitted. Hereinafter, the upper communication hole 108 in the present embodiment will be described.
Will be described. In contrast to the first embodiment, in order to easily generate natural convection at the time of regeneration of the filter 104, the air heated by combustion is easily discharged to the outside of the filter case 102, and the outside air is more easily discharged from the communication hole 107. Is easy to introduce.
In other words, although the effect of improving the regeneration efficiency by natural convection can be expected to some extent only by the communication hole 107, the air already used for combustion and having a low oxygen concentration can be satisfactorily removed from the filter case 1.
If the exhaust gas cannot be discharged from the filter case 102 (for example, if the ventilation resistance after the exhaust port 103 is large, that is, if a muffler or the like is interposed downstream of the filter case 102), In this case, only the used air (air having a low oxygen concentration) is likely to be present, and the regeneration efficiency is deteriorated. In order to prevent this, the used air is positively discharged through the upper communication hole 108, New outside air is easily introduced from the communication hole 107, and thereby the regeneration efficiency of the filter 104 is improved.

The communication hole 107 is connected to the filter case 1.
02 on the exhaust upstream side (near the front end), and the upper communication hole 1
08 is provided near the exhaust port 103 (near the rear end) of the filter case 102, so that the regeneration air can be uniformly supplied to the entire filter 104, and the filter 1
04 can be played. In the above description, the communication hole 107 and the upper communication hole 108 are provided one by one. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of communication holes may be provided. That is, for example, it may be configured as shown in FIG.
In this way, natural convection is more activated, so that a large amount of air for regeneration can be supplied uniformly to the entire filter 104, and the filter 104 can be efficiently regenerated.

Further, as shown in FIG.
The upper communication hole 108 is omitted, the communication hole 1071 is provided on the exhaust downstream side (near the rear end) of the filter case 102, and the upper communication hole 1081 is provided on the exhaust upstream side (near the front end) of the filter case 102. (Corresponding to the invention described in claim 3 ). Even in this case, the same effect as in FIG. 3 can be obtained. In particular, the discharge position of the high-temperature combustion gas from the filter case 102 can be changed from that in FIG.

Next, a third embodiment ( claims 4 and 5)
Will be described. In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a hollow cylindrical heat-insulating sheath 110 having an open rear end is provided with a predetermined gap from the outer periphery of the filter 104. And the communication hole 10
The upper communication hole 108 and the heat-shielding sheath opening 113 are disposed so as to overlap each other so that the heat-insulating sheath 7 and the heat-shielding sheath opening 112 overlap each other. This makes it possible to perform high-efficiency regeneration and to effectively exert natural convection, so that the filter 104 can be more properly reproduced.

In this case, the heat shield sheath openings 112, 1
Although 13 is provided, the natural convection effect can be exhibited to some extent without providing the heat shield sheath opening 113. Further, the communication hole 107 and the heat shield sheath opening 112, and the upper communication hole 108 and the heat shield sheath opening 113 do not necessarily have to be arranged so as to overlap each other. That can be determined.

By the way, the heat shield sheath 11 having the opening portion
0 can also be applied to the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the like. In this case, in addition to the natural convection effect, a reproduction improvement effect by radiant heat can be expected. For example, FIG.
(When applied to FIG. 1, the device in FIG. 7 may be arranged so that the communication hole 107 is located below).

In each of the above embodiments, the communication hole 107
(1071), the upper communication hole 108 (1081) and the like are described as having a configuration in which a hole is formed in the filter case 102. For example, as shown in FIG. (The upper communication hole 108 can also be configured as an upper communication pipe 115 shown by a broken line). In this way, it is possible to reliably prevent rainwater or the like from entering, and it is possible to prevent, for example, leakage during reproduction. Further, since the direction in which the combustion gas is discharged from the upper communication pipe 114 can be appropriately changed, the direction in which the combustion gas is discharged does not face a fuel tank or the like.

Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 15, the communication holes 107 (or 107) as described in each of the above embodiments are used.
1) or upper communication hole 108 (1081) or heat shield sheath 1
10 and the structure provided with the heat-shielding sheath openings 112 and 113, and the exhaust port 103 is omitted. That is, instead of discharging the exhaust gas from the exhaust port 103 during the operation of the engine, the exhaust gas is discharged through the communication hole 107 and the upper communication hole 108. In addition, the said exhaust port 103 is also a communication part of this invention.

In this way, since the exhaust passage after the exhaust hole 103 can be omitted, the weight can be reduced, and the regeneration efficiency can be improved by natural convection during regeneration. In the apparatus shown in FIG. 12, the opening areas of the heat shield sheath openings 112 and 113 provided in the heat shield sheath 110 are set to be larger than those of the apparatus shown in FIG.
In the gap between the heat shield sheath 110 and the filter 104, the purpose is to reduce the exhaust pressure and supply more air for regeneration, that is, the one in FIG. 11 gives priority to the effective use of radiant heat, FIG. 12 gives priority to good supply of regeneration air and reduction of exhaust pressure, and can be appropriately selected as required.

FIGS. 13 to 15 show an example in which the filter case 102 and the filter 104 are placed vertically. In each of the above embodiments, the communication holes 107 and 1071, the upper communication holes 108 and 1081, or the heat shielding sheath openings 112 and 11 are provided.
The third and the like are described as being arranged substantially vertically in the vertical direction, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be arranged so as to be inclined from the vertical direction when the layout or the like demands.

In each of the above embodiments, the heater 10
5 has been described as being provided on the inner peripheral portion of the filter 104. However, once the combustion of the exhaust particulates is started, the convection similar to the above occurs due to the heat of combustion, and the same effect can be expected. It is only required that the heater can be heated and the exhaust particulates can be reburned. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the heater structure and arrangement of the present embodiment (for example, a burner or the like, or the outer peripheral portion or end portion of the filter 104). May be provided).
In this embodiment, since the regeneration process is performed when the engine is stopped, the heater 105 is not provided. For example, a means (not limited to an electric heater) for heating and burning exhaust particulates from outside during regeneration is provided. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which exhaust particles trapped by the filter 104 are introduced into the filter case 102 and burned and removed.

[0035]

As described above, according to the exhaust particulate processing apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to the first aspect, when the engine is stopped and the filter element is regenerated, the temperature inside the filter case rises. Natural convection is generated by the gas,
Since the heated gas rises and moves to the upper part of the filter case and is discharged from at least one of the plurality of communication parts, the outside air is removed from the communication part provided near the lower part of the filter element. Taken in,
Since the outside air is supplied to the filter element on the natural convection, the regeneration air can be efficiently and sequentially supplied to the combustion of the exhaust particulates, so that the combustion of the exhaust particulates can be performed without an air pump or the like. The reproduction can be performed stably and efficiently without interruption.

According to the second and third aspects of the present invention, the communication portion provided near the lower portion of the filter element is
At least one communicating portion provided substantially vertically above the filter case is provided substantially vertically below the filter case and offset in the exhaust flow direction, so that natural convection can be provided in a wide range. Since the air is easily generated, the air for regeneration can be supplied over a wide range of the filter element, so that the filter element can be favorably regenerated.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the heat shield is provided, and the opening is provided near the communicating portion provided on the outer surface of the heat shield near the lower portion of the filter element. The filter element can be efficiently regenerated while exhibiting the effects of radiant heat by the heat sheath and the natural convection. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the radial projection of the filter element between the opening provided in the heat shield sheath and the communicating part provided in the filter case overlaps, the natural convection becomes more active. The filter element can be more efficiently regenerated in combination with the use of radiant heat by the heat shield sheath.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a device for treating particulate matter of an internal combustion engine according to a first embodiment of the present invention (a filter, a heater, a filter case, and the like are cross-sectional views; the same applies hereinafter);

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example in which a filter case is placed vertically in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram of an exhaust particulate processing apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram showing another example in which a plurality of communication holes are provided in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an overall configuration diagram showing another example in which a plurality of communication holes are provided in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram of an internal combustion engine exhaust particulate processing apparatus according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of a case where the filter case is placed vertically in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of a case where the communication hole is a communication pipe.

FIG. 9 is an overall configuration diagram of an internal combustion engine exhaust particulate processing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an overall configuration diagram showing another example in the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example in which a heat shield is provided in the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an overall configuration diagram showing another example in the case where a heat shield is provided in the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of a case where the filter case is placed vertically in the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an overall configuration diagram showing another example when the filter case is placed vertically in the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example in which the filter case is vertically placed and a heat shield is provided in the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a conventional exhaust particulate processing device for an internal combustion engine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Exhaust passage 102 Filter case 103 Exhaust port 104 Filter 105 Heater 106 Heater driving device 107, 1071 Communication hole 108, 1081 Upper communication hole 110 Heat shield sheath 111 Exhaust pressure sensor 112, 113 Heat shield sheath opening 114 Communication pipe 115 Upper communication pipe

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] An exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine is provided with a filter case containing a substantially cylindrical filter element for trapping exhaust particulates in exhaust gas, and the collected exhaust particulates are heated and heated via heating means. An exhaust particulate processing device for an internal combustion engine, which is configured to regenerate the filter element by removing the filter element, further comprising a hollow portion on the exhaust downstream side of the filter element between the filter case and the filter element; A plurality of communicating portions communicating with the outside air are provided in a filter case portion facing the at least one of the plurality of communicating portions. At least one of the plurality of communicating portions introduces outside air from near a lower portion of the filter element during regeneration of the filter element, and at least the An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, wherein the exhaust system is arranged to exhaust the exhaust gas from the hollow portion to the outside. Particle processing equipment. 2. In the vicinity of a lower portion of the filter element, at least one of the plurality of communicating portions is provided substantially vertically above the filter case, substantially below the filter case, and substantially below the filter case. The exhaust particulate processing apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust gas is located upstream of an installation position of at least one communication portion provided vertically upward. 3. A portion near a lower portion of the filter element, wherein at least one of the plurality of communicating portions is provided substantially vertically above the filter case, substantially below the filter case, and substantially below the filter case. The exhaust particulate processing device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust gas is located downstream of an installation position of at least one communication portion provided vertically upward. 4. A heat insulating sheath is provided in a gap between an outer peripheral portion of the filter element and the filter case, and an opening is provided on an outer surface of the heat insulating sheath at least near a lower portion of the filter element. The exhaust particulate processing device for an internal combustion engine according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: 5. An opening provided on an outer surface of the heat shield sheath,
5. The projection of the filter element in the radial direction of each of the openings and the communication portion located outside the openings is provided so as to be substantially vertically separated from each other in the vertical direction. 2. The exhaust particulate processing device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1.