Serviceable aligned exhaust aftertreatment assembly

Abstract

An exhaust aftertreatment system enables maintenance by a single technician and ensures installation and alignment in a single location.

Description

STATE OF THE ART AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0001] The invention relates to exhaust gas aftertreatment systems.

[0002] In various exhaust aftertreatment assemblies, an aftertreatment element, such as a particulate (soot) filter element and / or a catalyst element, must be removed and serviced. In the case of diesel engine emissions, for example, a particulate (soot) filter element must be serviced after a certain amount of ash has accumulated. One system to accomplish this is to design the element to be removable from the exhaust aftertreatment assembly and then to be cleaned in a remote manner. Sections of the assembly are moved away from the filter element portion and manually held by one technician while another technician removes the filter element portion.

[0003] JP H10-141 045 A discloses an exhaust gas aftertreatment arrangement with a housing that extends horizontally along a longitudinal axis and has an aftertreatment element that is designed as a particulate filter element. Mounting parts for mounting the aftertreatment element are located horizontally to the right and left of the aftertreatment element. The mounting part located to the left of the aftertreatment element is suspended from a support structure by means of a bracket. The support structure has a guide rail arrangement with the aid of which the bracket and the mounting part can be displaced horizontally relative to the support structure. As a result, the mounting part is axially movable in the direction of the horizontally extending longitudinal axis between a first position in which the mounting part engages with the aftertreatment element and a second position in which the mounting part is separated from the aftertreatment element.

[0004] With the known exhaust aftertreatment assembly, two technicians are required to replace the aftertreatment element. One technician holds the aftertreatment element, the other moves the mounting part to the second position and then loosens the additional screws between the aftertreatment element and the additional, fixed mounting part located to its right. This known exhaust aftertreatment assembly cannot be used where the longitudinal axis of the housing on a support structure such as a vehicle body is substantially vertical.

[0005] US 5,290,974 A discloses an exhaust system in which two mating exhaust pipes are to be aligned so that proper alignment between these exhaust pipes is maintained after mating. The known exhaust system comprises a tab formed on one of the two exhaust pipes and a groove formed on the other exhaust pipe, which receives the tab.

[0006] The present invention arose from continued development efforts related to the above assemblies. In one aspect, the present system requires only one technician to separate the assembly housing parts and remove an aftertreatment element part for servicing. In another aspect, a system is provided to facilitate the orientation and alignment of sensors and connectors in assembled housing parts with respect to the mounting structure, which is desirable in certain applications, including certain vehicle applications. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] They show: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an exhaust aftertreatment arrangement constructed according to the invention, Fig. 2 an enlarged view of a component of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 an enlarged view of another component of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 an enlarged view of a section of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 a side elevation of a section of Fig. 1, Fig. 6 (as Fig. 5) a representation of a maintenance step, Fig. 7 (as Fig. 6) another representation of a maintenance step, Fig. 8 a side elevation of the structure of Fig. 1 and a representation of a maintenance step, Fig. 9 (as Fig. 8) another representation of a maintenance step, Fig. 10 is an enlarged schematic view of a section of Fig. 5 and a representation of another embodiment, Fig. 11 a schematic view of a section of Fig. 5 and a representation of another embodiment, Fig. 12 (like Fig. 11) a representation of another embodiment, Fig. 13 (as Fig. 11) a representation of another embodiment, Fig. 14 (as Fig. 11) a representation of another embodiment, Fig. 15 (as Fig. 11) a representation of another embodiment, Fig. 16 (as Fig. 11) a representation of another embodiment, Fig. 17 (as Fig. 11) a representation of another embodiment, Fig. 18 (as Fig. 11) a representation of another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] Fig. 1 shows an exhaust aftertreatment assembly 20 having an axially extending housing 22 extending along a longitudinal axis 24 and containing an aftertreatment element 26, such as a particulate (soot) filter element and / or a catalyst element. The housing has several parts, including an aftertreatment element part 28 and an adjacent mounting part 30 separable from part 28 at an intermediate service joint 32, and other housing parts such as 34, 36 connected at 38, 40, as desired for a particular system. The respective housing parts are connected at respective band clamps such as 42 or the like, as is known in the art. A pair of brackets 44 and 46 ( Fig. 1, Fig. 3) supports the housing on the support structure, shown schematically at 48, which may be part of a vehicle, e.g., the rear vertical wall of the cab of a truck. The bracket 44 is mounted on the mounting part 30 on an interface guide rail assembly 50 ( Fig. 3 - 7), which holds the mounting part 30 in a first position ( Fig. 4, Fig. 5) and in engagement with the part 28 at the maintenance joint 32. The interface guide rail assembly supports the mounting part 30 in a second position relative to the part 38 ( Fig. 7 - 9) and separate from Part 28 so that the latter can be serviced ( Fig. 9).

[0009] Clamp 42 is a band clamp, which is known to be attached to a captive circumferential screw such as 52 ( Fig. 4) can be tightened and loosened. The clamp has a tightened state in which the mounting part 30 and the aftertreatment element part 28 are fastened to each other at the maintenance joint 32 in the mentioned first position of the mounting part 30 ( Fig. 1, Fig. 4, Fig. 5). The clamp has a loosened state that allows the separation of the mounting part 30 and the aftertreatment element part 28 at the maintenance joint 32 in the mentioned second position of the mounting part 30 ( Fig. 6 - 9). The mounting part 30 is connected to the mounting plate 30 by a band clamp 56, which is secured by a captive screw 58 ( Fig. 8) can be tightened and loosened, is tightened on the bracket 44. The band clamp 56 is loosened to allow the mounting part 30 to move between the mentioned first and second positions, ie, upwards and downwards in the figures. In the mentioned first position of the mounting part 30, ie, in the downward position of the mounting part 30 ( Fig. 1, Fig. 4, Fig. 5), the mounting bracket 44 supports both the mounting part 30 and the aftertreatment element part 28. In the mentioned second position of the mounting part 30, ie in the upward position ( Fig. 7 - 9), the bracket 44 supports the mounting part 30, but not the aftertreatment element part 28.

[0010] In the loosened state of the clamps 42 and 56, the mounting part 30 can be moved between the mentioned first and second positions. By means of the mentioned first position of the mounting part 30, ie the downward position in Fig. 1, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, the mounting part 30 is arranged longitudinally along the axis 24 and laterally to the axis 24, e.g., in a singular rotated angular position thereto, in order to ensure assembly and alignment of the mounting part 30, particularly its peripheral perimeter, at a singular location relative to the support structure 48 by a single technician without the assistance of a second technician. This is important because the perimeter of the mounting part 30 may include sensors or connectors such as 60, which in some installations must be aligned with a complementary connection or the like of the support structure 48 or a vehicle. The aforementioned second position of the mounting part 30 ( Fig. 7 - 9) supports the mounting part 30 independently of the aftertreatment element part 28 and allows its removal by a single technician without having to hold the mounting part 30 by hand and without the assistance of a second technician.

[0011] In the figures, the mounting part 30 is in the mentioned second position of the mounting part ( Fig. 7 - 9) vertically spaced above the aftertreatment element part 28. The guide rail assembly 50 includes a slot 62 ( Fig. 3) on the bracket 44 and a nose 64 ( Fig. 2) on the mounting part 30. The nose 64 extends laterally to the longitudinal axis 24 and into the slot 62. The slot has an upper segment 66 spaced above a lower segment 68. The upper and lower segments are connected to each other by a bridge 70 therebetween. The lower segment 68 receives the nose 64 in the aforementioned first position of the mounting part 30 ( Fig. 4, Fig. 5). The upper segment 66 receives the nose 64 in the mentioned second position of the mounting part 30 ( Fig. 6, Fig. 7). The lateral height of the tab 64 is preferably less than the lateral thickness of the bracket 44 at the slot 62 to allow the tab 64 to move vertically along the bridge 70 under the band clamp 56, the latter being slightly loosened to allow the mounting portion 30 to move up and down. The bracket 46 and the housing portion 34 may also include a similar slot and tab arrangement, if desired, to allow the portion 34 to move up and down and to be separated from the portion 36. The Fig. The arrangement shown in Figure 1 is typical for an overland diesel truck, namely a vertical exhaust with a lower inlet housing section 34 which receives exhaust gases (see arrow 72) and an upper outlet housing section 30 which discharges the exhaust gases (see arrow 74), although other arrangements may be used.

[0012] Fig. 10 - 18 show different slot designs.

[0013] The slot 80 ( Fig. 10) and the right section of slot 62 ( Fig. 3) have the shape of an inverted L with a longitudinally extending first leg 82, which provides the aforementioned bridging 70, and a laterally extending second leg 84, which provides the aforementioned upper segment 66. The nose 64 is received on the lower part of the leg 82 in the aforementioned first position of the mounting part 30 ( Fig. 1, Fig. 4, Fig. 5), as solid at 64 in Fig. 10. As indicated in Fig. 10 at the dashed nose 64a, the nose is received at the lateral end of the second leg 84, distally opposite the upper part of the first leg 82 in the mentioned second position of the mounting part 30 ( Fig. 7 - 9).

[0014] In Fig. 11, the aforementioned bridge at 86 extends diagonally between the upper and lower segments 88 and 90. The diagonal bridge has a lower end at one corner at 90, thereby providing the aforementioned lower segment which receives the tab in the aforementioned first downward position of the mounting member 30, as shown by the solid tab 64. The diagonal bridge has an upper end from which the upper segment extends laterally along a plane at 88 to receive the tab in the aforementioned second position of the mounting member 30, as shown by the dashed tab 64a.

[0015] Fig. Figure 12 shows the aforementioned diagonal bridge at 92; this bridge has an upper end 94, from which the upper segment extends downward along a second diagonal 96 therefrom, forming an apex therewith at 94. The second diagonal 96 provides the aforementioned upper segment for receiving the tab 64 in the aforementioned second position of the mounting member 30, as shown by the dashed tab 64a. The lower end of the diagonal bridge 92 provides the aforementioned lower segment for receiving the tab in the aforementioned first, downward position of the mounting member 30, as shown by the solid tab 64.

[0016] In Fig. 13, the aforementioned bridge has the shape of an inverted J 98 with a longitudinally vertically extending leg 100 and an upper hook portion 102. The upper hook portion has a first section 104 extending laterally from the upper end of the leg 100 and a second section 106 extending downwardly from the first section 104. The second section 106 provides the aforementioned upper segment for receiving the tab 64 in the aforementioned second position of the mounting portion 30, as shown by the dashed tab 64a. The lower end of the leg 100 provides the aforementioned lower segment for receiving the tab in the aforementioned first, downward position of the mounting portion 30, as shown by the solid tab 64.

[0017] In Fig. 14 has the mentioned bridging from Fig. 13 a lower portion 108 extending laterally from the lower end of the leg 100 and providing the mentioned lower segment.

[0018] In Fig. 15 the mentioned bridging 70 is made of Fig. 3 by a longitudinally vertically extending leg 110 extending between the upper and lower ends 112 and 114. The upper segment 116 extends laterally from the upper end and the lower segment 118 extends laterally from the lower end. In Fig. 3, the upper and lower segments extend from the upper and lower ends of the bridge 70 in opposite lateral directions. In Fig. 15, the upper and lower segments extend from the upper and lower ends of the bridge 110 in the same lateral direction.

[0019] In Fig. 16, the bridge 120 extends along a curved path. The curved path extends between the upper and lower ends 122 and 124. The upper segment 126 extends laterally from the upper end 122 and receives the tab in the noted second, upward position of the mounting member 30, as shown by the dashed tab 64a. The lower end 124 provides the noted lower segment, which receives the tab in the noted first lowered position of the mounting member 30, as shown by the solid tab 64.

[0020] In Fig. 17, the noted curved path is C-shaped at 128 and extends between distally opposite ends 130 and 132. The noted upper segment is provided by the upper end 130 and receives the tab in the noted first, upward position of the mounting member 30, as shown at the dashed tab 64a. The noted lower segment is provided by the lower end 132 and receives the tab in the noted second, lowered position of the mounting member 30, as shown at the solid tab 64.

[0021] In Fig. 18, the upper segment 134 extends laterally from the upper end 130 of the C-shaped curved bridge 128.

Claims

[1] Exhaust aftertreatment arrangement with an axially extending housing (22) which extends along a longitudinal axis (24) and contains an aftertreatment element (26) which is designed as a particle filter element and / or as a catalyst element, wherein the housing (22) has a plurality of housing parts including a post-treatment element part (28) and an adjacent mounting part (30) which is separable from the post-treatment element part (28) at a maintenance joint therebetween, and with a pair of brackets (44, 46) which support the housing (22) on a support structure (48), wherein the pair of brackets (44, 46) comprises a first bracket (44) mounted on the mounting part (30) of the housing (22) and a second bracket (46) supporting the aftertreatment element part (28) on the support structure (48), characterized by , that the first holder (44) has a guide rail arrangement (50), that the guide rail arrangement (50) has a slot (62, 80) on the first bracket (44) or on the mounting part (30) and a nose (64) on the mounting part (30) or on the first bracket (44), that the nose (64) extends laterally to the longitudinal axis (24) and into the slot (62), that the slot (62, 80) has an upper segment (66) which is arranged at a distance above a lower segment (68), wherein the segments (66, 68) are connected to one another via an intermediate bridge (70, 82, 86, 92, 98, 100, 110, 120, 128), that the mounting part (30) is axially movable between a first position and a second position in the direction of the longitudinal axis (24) relative to the aftertreatment element part (28), that in the first position the lower segment (68) receives the nose (64) and the mounting part (30) engages with the after-treatment element part (28) at the maintenance joint and that in the second position the upper segment (66) receives the nose (64) and the mounting part (30) is separated from the aftertreatment element part (28) and the mounting part (30) is supported by the first bracket (44) on the support structure (48). [2] Exhaust gas aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by , that a clamp (42) is provided which has a tightened state in which the mounting part (30) and the aftertreatment element part (28) are fastened to one another at the maintenance joint (32) in the first position of the mounting part (30), and a loosened state which allows the separation of the mounting part (30) and the aftertreatment element part (28) at the maintenance joint (32) in the second position of the mounting part (30), that the first holder (44) supports both the mounting part (30) and the aftertreatment element part (28) in the first position of the mounting part (30) and supports the mounting part (30) but not the aftertreatment element part (28) in the second position of the mounting part (30). [3] Exhaust gas aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 2, characterized by , that the mounting part (30) is movable between the first and second positions when the clamp (42) is loosened, that the mounting part (30) can be arranged by means of the first position in the longitudinal direction along the axis (24) and laterally to the axis (24) in order to ensure mounting and alignment of the mounting part (30) at a singular location with respect to the support structure (48) by a single technician without the assistance of a second technician, and that in the second position the mounting part (30) is supported independently of the aftertreatment element part (28) and allows removal of the aftertreatment element part (28) by a single technician without the latter having to hold the mounting part (30) by hand and without the assistance of a second technician. [4] Exhaust gas aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by that the mounting part (30) or the aftertreatment element part (28) is spaced vertically above the other in the second position of the mounting part (30). [5] Exhaust gas aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 1, characterized bythat the slot (62, 80) is arranged in the first holder (44) and the nose (64) is arranged on the mounting part (30). [6] Exhaust gas aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 5, characterized by , that the slot (80) has the shape of an inverted L and has a longitudinally extending first leg (82) providing the bridging (70) and a laterally extending second leg (84) providing the upper segment (66), and that the nose (64) is received in the first position of the mounting part (30) at the lower part of the first leg (82) and in the second position of the mounting part (30) at the lateral end of the second leg (84), distally opposite the upper part of the first leg (82). [7] Exhaust gas aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by that the bridging (86, 92) extends diagonally between the upper and lower segments (88, 90). [8] Exhaust gas aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 7, characterized by that the diagonal bridging (86) has a lower end at one corner which provides the lower segment (90). [9] Exhaust gas aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 7, characterized by that the diagonal bridging (86) has an upper end from which the upper segment (88) extends laterally along a plane. [10] Exhaust gas aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 7, characterized by that the diagonal bridging (92) has an upper end (94) from which the upper segment extends downwards along a second diagonal and thus forms a vertex. [11] Exhaust aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 1, characterized bythat the bridge (98) has the shape of an inverted J with a longitudinally vertically extending leg (100) and an upper hook part (102), the upper hook part (102) having a first section (104) extending laterally from the upper end of the leg (100) and a second section (106) extending downwardly from the first section (104) and providing the upper segment. [12] Exhaust aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 11, characterized by that the lower end of the leg (100) provides the lower segment. [13] Exhaust gas aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 11, characterized by that the bridge (98) has a lower portion (108) extending laterally from the lower end of the leg (100) and providing the lower segment. [14] Exhaust gas aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 1, characterized byin that the bridge (70, 110) has a longitudinally vertically extending leg (110) which runs between the upper and lower ends (112, 114), the upper segment (116) extending laterally from the upper end (112) and the lower segment (118) extending laterally from the lower end (114). [15] Exhaust gas aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 14, characterized by that the upper and lower segments (116, 118) extend from the respective end of the bridge (70, 110) in opposite lateral directions. [16] Exhaust gas aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 14, characterized by that the upper segment (116) and the lower segment (118) extend from the respective end of the bridge (110) in the same lateral direction. [17] Exhaust gas aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by that the bridging (120) extends along a curved path. [18] Exhaust gas aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 17, characterized by that the curved path extends between the upper and lower ends (122, 124) of the bridge (120) and the upper segment (126) extends laterally from the upper end (122). [19] Exhaust gas aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 17, characterized by that the lower end (124) of the bridge (120) provides the lower segment. [20] Exhaust gas aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 17, characterized by that the curved path (128) is C-shaped and extends between distally opposite ends (130, 132). [21] Exhaust gas aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 20, characterized by that the upper segment is provided by one of the ends (130) and the lower segment is provided by the other of the ends (132). [22] Exhaust gas aftertreatment arrangement according to claim 20, characterized by that the upper segment (134) extends laterally from the upper end (130).

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