Insulated shroud for exhaust system
By adopting a layered exhaust plate device in the thermal insulation shield of the vehicle thermal exhaust system, the problems of debris entry and fire risk are solved, effective debris removal and air circulation are achieved, and fire risk is reduced.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202380030203.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-03-25
- Filing Date
- 2023-02-16
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-10
Smart Images
Figure CN119301348A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure are generally directed to a heat shield for protecting a hot exhaust system of an agricultural or industrial vehicle from contact with ambient debris, which could cause a fire, or contact with bystanders, which could cause injury, during use of the vehicle. Background Art
[0002] Typically, such heat shields surround portions of the exhaust system and are provided with vents to allow hot air from the exhaust to escape, but this can result in debris entering the heat shield and becoming trapped, creating a fire risk. This problem is particularly acute when the heat shield encloses an exhaust aftertreatment system that can get very hot in operation. Summary of the invention
[0003] Therefore, the present invention provides a heat shield for protecting part of the exhaust system of an agricultural or industrial vehicle, the heat shield comprising a shell enclosing the part of the exhaust system, wherein the bottom of the shell comprises a layered discharge plate device having at least two vertically spaced plates, the layered discharge plate device having a continuous lower plate and an upper plate vertically spaced above the lower plate, the upper plate having an opening located vertically above the continuous lower plate, a first edge of the lower plate being spaced from an adjacent wall of the shell to define a first gap between the first edge and the adjacent wall, and the upper plate having a second edge overhanging the first edge and closer to the adjacent wall than the first edge.
[0004] Such an arrangement greatly improves the removal of debris within the shroud, whether the vehicle is moving or stationary, while still allowing air to flow through the housing to limit the buildup of heat within the housing. Debris that has entered the housing is able to fall through the openings in the upper plate to the continuous lower plate, from where the debris can fall through the first gap to exit the housing. The overhanging portion of the upper plate at least partially covers the first gap, thereby preventing debris from entering the housing through the edges of the vertically spaced plates.
[0005] The housing may have openings or vents in its upper region to allow air heated by the exhaust gas to escape from the housing.
[0006] The second edge of the upper plate may be spaced from the adjacent wall to define a second gap that is smaller than the first gap. The second gap may be less than 50%, or less than 25%, or less than 12% of the size of the first gap. Alternatively, the second edge of the upper plate may contact the adjacent wall.
[0007] The upper plate may have a continuous outer edge region that surrounds the opening and defines the second edge. The opening may be located above the lower plate inside the first edge so that the continuous outer edge region overhangs the first gap. The opening may extend over 50% or 75% of the cross-sectional area of the upper plate. In one embodiment, the layered discharge plate arrangement is configured so that no portion of the opening extends beyond the first edge of the lower plate toward the adjacent wall. This ensures that there is no direct path in the vertical direction through the first gap and the opening in the upper plate. Therefore, debris will have to enter the housing along a tortuous path through the first gap and the opening of the upper plate.
[0008] There may be three or more layers of vertically spaced apart plates, wherein the lower plate is a continuous plate, and each upper plate has an opening surrounded by a continuous outer edge region defining a respective second edge that overhangs and extends beyond the edge of the plate in the lower layer. The overhanging outer edge region of the upper plate blocks debris from entering the enclosure from below, but allows debris on the upper layer to fall through the second gap and the first gap to exit the enclosure, and allows air to enter upwardly and pass through the enclosure.
[0009] At least the lower plate of the ejection plate arrangement may be inclined downwardly in a direction towards the first edge. This facilitates ejection of debris through the first gap. At least the lower plate of the ejection plate arrangement may be inclined downwardly at an angle in the range of 5 to 45 degrees from the horizontal plane. All vertically spaced plates may be inclined downwardly and may be aligned parallel to each other.
[0010] The vertical spacing of the layers can be configured according to the size and amount of debris expected to be discharged.
[0011] The housing may also enclose the exhaust aftertreatment system.
[0012] Portions of the exhaust aftertreatment system may be located within openings in one or more of the upper panels.
[0013] The end of the lower plate may be provided with an upwardly extending baffle to prevent environmental debris from entering the housing at the end of the discharge plate assembly.
[0014] The discharge plate arrangement may be made of metal and / or plastic material.
[0015] The ejector plate arrangement may be oriented so that the first edge and the second edge are located behind and spaced apart from a forward facing wall of the housing. Alternatively, depending on the layout of the associated vehicle, the ejector plate arrangement may be oriented so that the first and second edges of the ejector plate arrangement are located behind and spaced apart from a side or rear facing wall of the housing. The ejector plate arrangement may be enclosed on two or more sides by a wall of the housing, which wall generally extends in an upward direction and may be vertical or substantially vertical.
[0016] It should be understood that within the scope of the present application, the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives described herein and their respective features may be used independently or in any possible and compatible combination. Where features are described with reference to a single aspect or embodiment, it should be understood that these features apply to all aspects and embodiments unless otherwise specified or these features are incompatible. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] One or more embodiments of the present disclosure are described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0018] Figure 1 An agricultural tractor is shown equipped with a heat shield according to the invention, which closes the lower part of its vertical exhaust chimney;
[0019] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a partially insulated shield according to the present invention showing a double layer of drain plates near the bottom of the shield;
[0020] Figure 3 Shows along Figure 2 A side view of a part of the section in the direction of arrow A;
[0021] Figure 4 Shows Figure 2 A perspective view of a discharge plate in FIG.
[0022] Figure 5 , 6 and 7 show Figure 4 A top view, a bottom view and a side view of the discharge plate in FIG.
[0023] Figure 8 For similar Figure 7 , but showing the discharge plates aligned in their use position with the plates tilted downward;
[0024] Fig. 9 For similar Figure 8 but showing a discharge plate arrangement having three layers; and,
[0025] Fig.10 is a bottom view of the lower portion of the thermal shield showing the exhaust plate near the bottom of the shield. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] See also Figure 1 , Figure 1 An agricultural tractor 10 is shown equipped with a heat shield 11 according to the invention, which has a housing 9 which encloses the lower part of a vertical part of an exhaust system 12. The housing 9 of the heat shield has ventilation holes 15 and encloses a multi-stage exhaust aftertreatment system (EAT) which is Figure 2 and Figure 3 The heat shield housing 9 has a plurality of components, generally designated 13, which may include, for example, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR), a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), and a diesel particulate filter (DPF). Figure 2 , 3 and a forward facing outer wall indicated by 14 in 9 and an inner wall 8 spaced rearwardly from the forward facing outer wall 14. Figure 3 Arrow C in FIG. 1 indicates the forward direction of movement of tractor 10 .
[0027] The vents 15 allow hot air to escape the housing 9 to reduce heat build-up. In alternative embodiments, the housing may not have such dedicated vents, but gaps between components of the housing allow hot air to escape from the upper region.
[0028] According to the present disclosure, the lower end of the outer shell 9 of the heat shield is closed by a layered discharge plate device 16. Figures 4 to 7 As can be seen in detail in FIG. 1 , the stratified discharge plate 16 has a lower layer in the form of a continuous bottom plate 17 and an upper layer or edge plate 18 having a large opening 19 that allows any debris (e.g., crop material and dust) that has entered the enclosure to fall onto the lower layer 17 to be discharged over the first edge 17a of the lower layer via a first gap 17b between the first edge 17a and the rear / inner face of the front wall 14 of the enclosure 9. The discharge flow is Figure 2 The upper plate 18 has a continuous outer edge region 18' surrounding the opening 19, which overhangs the first gap 17b and has a second edge 18a. Figure 3 As shown, the overhanging outer edge region 18' of the upper plate 18 prevents debris 21 (e.g. in the form of stubble) from entering the housing from below. The vertical spacing 20 between the layers is configured according to the size / amount of debris expected to be discharged and may be configured according to the type of crop or relevant environment in which the tractor is used.
[0029] like Figure 3 As best shown, the second edge 18a of the upper layer 18 is closer to the rear of the front wall 14 of the housing than the first edge 17a, so that there is a second gap 18b between the rear of the front wall 14 and the second edge 18a, the second gap 18b being smaller than the first gap. This second gap 18b allows debris on the upper plate 18 to fall through the second gap 18b and the first gap 17b and thus leave the housing. The gaps 17b, 18b ensure that the housing 9 is not completely closed at the lower end, so that an air flow can be formed upwardly through the housing to the vent 15 or other opening, but significantly prevents debris from entering the housing 9 from below, while also allowing debris that may have entered the housing (such as through the vent 15 or other opening) to fall out of the housing. This reduces the risk of debris accumulating in the housing and causing a fire risk.
[0030] Figure 8 It is shown that when the tractor is generally horizontal, the layers of the discharge plate arrangement can be tilted downwardly. This downward tilting helps to discharge debris from the housing when the tractor is stationary or moving. Typically, the downward tilt from the horizontal will be in the range of 5 to 45 degrees, depending on the size and amount of debris that needs to be discharged. When the vehicle is stationary, vibrations from the engine still tend to dislodge debris from the tilted layers. Although it may be advantageous for ease of manufacture for all plates 17, 18 to be tilted at the same angle in a parallel arrangement as shown, this is not necessary.
[0031] In alternative arrangements, the levels may be substantially horizontal (ie, have a downward slope of zero), or only the lower plate 17 may be angled downwardly.
[0032] The shield may have three or more layers, e.g. Fig. 9 1, wherein a third plate 22 is added above the aforementioned plates 17 and 18. The uppermost plate 22 in the third layer again has a large opening 23 which allows any debris that has entered the shield to fall through the opening 19 in the second plate 18 onto the lower plate 17, thereby being discharged from the housing as previously described. The third plate 22 also has an outer edge region 22' with a second edge 22a which overhangs and extends beyond the edge 18a of the lower plate 18 to define a gap 22b through which debris that falls on the upper plate 22 can be discharged from the housing via gaps 22b, 18b and 17b. The upper plates 18 and 22 together limit the ability of environmental debris to enter the housing 9 through the lower outlet gap 17b. The third plate 22 can be constructed in a manner similar to the second plate 18, but is appropriately sized.
[0033] In one embodiment, one end of the lower plate 17 has an upwardly extending baffle 25 to prevent environmental debris from entering the housing at this end of the discharge plate assembly, and two attachment tabs 26 are provided to secure the layered discharge plate assembly to the inner wall 8 of the housing.
[0034] The openings 19, 23 may cover more than 50% or 75% of the cross-sectional area of the respective plate 18, 22, respectively. The or each opening 19, 23 is located above the continuous lower plate 17 and is aligned with each other. In one embodiment, the device is configured so that no part of the opening 19 in the second plate 18 extends beyond the first edge 17a of the lower plate 17 towards the front wall. This ensures that there is no direct path upwards through the first gap 17b and the opening 19 in the upper plate in the vertical direction. Therefore, the debris will have to enter the housing along a tortuous path through the first gap 17b and the opening 19 in the upper plate 18. In the case of two or more upper plates 18, 22, the openings 19, 23 in the upper plates are aligned to form a channel through which the debris can fall onto the lower plate 17.
[0035] The first gap 17b is large enough to allow debris to fall through the gap. The second gap 18b is significantly smaller than the first gap 17b so that larger pieces of debris that can pass through the first gap 17b cannot pass through the second gap 18b. The second gap 18b may be less than 50% of the size of the first gap, or less than 25%, or less than 12%. In a non-limiting embodiment, the gap 17b may be in the range of 17 mm to 27 mm, or in the range of 19 mm to 25 mm, or in the range of 21 mm to 23 mm. In a non-limiting embodiment, the gap 18b may be in the range of 5 mm to 11 mm, or in the range of 6 mm to 10 mm, or in the range of 7 mm to 9 mm.
[0036] Figures 4 to 7 The illustrated layered discharge plate 16 may be made from a single sheet of metal by a pressing and folding operation. After the layered discharge plate device is folded into its desired configuration, the turned down support lugs 27 are welded to the bottom plate 17 at 27a, the end 28 of the upper layer 18 is welded to the baffle 25 at 28a, and the baffle 25 is welded to the end 28 at 29. However, the layered discharge plate 16 may be made using any suitable manufacturing method and may be made by assembling or joining together two or more initially separate components.
[0037] Alternatively, the discharge plate 16 may be made of a suitable plastic material.
[0038] The plan profile of the discharge plate 16, which in the above embodiment is generally wedge-shaped, depends on the shape of the hole at the bottom of the shroud that the discharge plate must close. This will be determined by issues such as whether the shroud covers an EAT system as described above. Thus, the first edge and the second edge may be any shape that complements the shape of the housing.
[0039] In the above arrangement, the exhaust plate 16 is mounted in front of the exhaust aftertreatment system 13, with the first edge 17a and the second edge 18a located behind and spaced from the forward-facing wall 14 of the housing. Alternatively, in different vehicle applications, depending on the layout of the relevant vehicle, the exhaust plate arrangement can be oriented with its first and second edges located behind and spaced from the side or rearward-facing wall 14 of the housing. The first edge 17a and the second edge 18a are located behind and spaced from a wall having portions facing different directions, or are spaced from two adjacent walls facing different directions.
[0040] The design of the discharge plate assembly 16 saves space within the shroud by allowing portions of the EAT system to extend into a portion of the large openings 19 , 23 in one or more upper levels 18 , 22 .
Claims
1. A heat shield for protecting a portion of an exhaust system of an agricultural or industrial vehicle, characterized in that The heat shield includes a shell for enclosing the portion of the exhaust system, wherein the bottom of the shell includes a layered discharge plate device having at least two layers of vertically spaced plates, the layered discharge plate device having a continuous lower plate and an upper plate vertically spaced above the lower plate, the upper plate having an opening located vertically above the continuous lower plate, a first edge of the lower plate being spaced from an adjacent wall of the shell to define a first gap between the first edge and the adjacent wall, and the upper plate having a second edge that overhangs the first edge and is closer to the adjacent wall than the first edge.
2. The heat insulation shield according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second edge of the upper plate is spaced apart from the adjacent wall of the housing to define a second gap smaller than the first gap between the second edge and the adjacent wall.
3. The heat shield according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that: The thermal shield has three or more layers of panels, wherein the lower panel is a continuous panel and each panel in an upper layer has an opening surrounded by a continuous edge region defining a second edge that overhangs and extends beyond an edge of an underlying panel.
4. The heat insulation shield according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: At least the lower plate is inclined downwardly in a direction toward the first edge.
5. The heat insulation shield according to claim 4, characterized in that: At least the lower plate is inclined downward from the horizontal plane at an angle ranging from 5 degrees to 45 degrees.
6. The heat insulation shield according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The vertical spacing of the plates is configured according to the expected size / number of fragments that need to be ejected.
7. The heat shield according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The thermal shield also protects the exhaust aftertreatment system.
8. The heat insulation shield according to claim 7, characterized in that: Portions of the exhaust aftertreatment system are located within the openings in the one or more upper layers.
9. A heat shield according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The end of the lower plate of the stratified discharge plate device has a baffle extending upward to prevent environmental debris from entering the housing at the end of the stratified discharge plate device.
10. A heat shield according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The stratified discharge plate device is made of metal and / or plastic material.
11. A heat shield according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The stratified discharge plate arrangement is oriented such that its first and second edges are located rearwardly and spaced apart from a forward facing wall of the housing.
12. A heat shield according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The housing is configured to enclose a substantially vertically extending portion of the exhaust system.
13. The heat shield according to claim 12, characterized in that: The housing is configured to at least partially enclose an exhaust aftertreatment system (EAT) forming part of the exhaust system.