Exhaust-gas aftertreatment unit, in particular having an electrically heatable honeycomb body

Abstract

The invention relates to an exhaust-gas aftertreatment unit (1) comprising a casing (2), a support structure (5) and a honeycomb body (3) which is secured to or supported on the support structure (5) by means of a plurality of support pins (4), wherein the support structure (5) has at least one at least partly circumferential frame (6). A plurality of spoke elements (7) are connected to the frame (6) at least in an end region (8), said plurality of spoke elements (7) having a minimum width, and the plurality of spoke elements (7) have a plurality of plateaus (9) which have a width that is at least 50% wider than the minimum width. At least two receptacles (10) are provided on at least one plateau (9) of the plurality of plateaus (9), and the receptacles (10) are designed to receive a pin end (11) of a support pin (4).

Description

[0001] Exhaust aftertreatment unit, in particular with an electrically heatable honeycomb body

[0002] The invention relates to an exhaust gas aftertreatment unit, in particular with an electrically heatable honeycomb body. The exhaust gas aftertreatment unit can be used in particular to treat or purify exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, in particular from a motor vehicle.

[0003] The exhaust aftertreatment unit comprises at least one casing (housing), a support structure, and a honeycomb body attached or supported to the support structure by a plurality of support pins. Exhaust gas can flow through the exhaust aftertreatment unit. The exhaust gas can be heated in the exhaust aftertreatment unit, particularly if it is designed to be electrically heated. The support structure is attached to an inner side of the casing and has spoke elements on which the support pins are mounted.

[0004] Depending on the type of internal combustion engine and / or the arrangement (particularly the distance to the internal combustion engine), the exhaust gases can impact the honeycomb structure under varying flow conditions and thus place different stresses on it. It is advantageous if the exhaust gases can flow through the exhaust gas aftertreatment unit as unhindered as possible, i.e. with a low pressure drop, for example. To this end, the support structure can be designed so that it covers as little of the area in the exhaust gas aftertreatment unit through which the exhaust gases flow. To achieve this, the spoke elements and / or the honeycomb structure are designed with as thin walls as possible, although vibrations and / or deformations may then occur due to the changing ambient conditions or exhaust gas flows. With thin spoke elements, high loads can therefore occur on the support pins, which in particular must be absorbed by the support structure.Excessive loads can cause the connections between the support pins and the support structure, or between the support pins and the honeycomb body, to become loose. Based on this, the object of the invention is to at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art. In particular, a method is to be created that allows for secure, long-lasting support even for large and / or particularly narrow, disc-shaped honeycomb bodies, while reducing the risk of overloading individual support pins. Furthermore, it is desirable to enable simple and / or easily automated production of such an exhaust aftertreatment unit.

[0005] This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. It should be noted that features listed individually in the claims can be combined with one another in any technologically expedient manner and define further embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, the features listed in the claims are further specified and explained in the description, with further preferred embodiments of the inventions being presented.

[0006] An exhaust gas aftertreatment unit contributes to solving this problem. The exhaust gas aftertreatment unit comprises at least one casing, a support structure, and a honeycomb body fastened or supported to the support structure by a plurality of support pins, wherein the support structure has at least one partially circumferential frame. The support structure has a plurality of spoke elements that are connected to the frame at least at one end region. Furthermore, the plurality of spoke elements has a minimum width, wherein the plurality of spoke elements has a plurality of plateaus that have a width that is at least 50% wider than the minimum width. At least two receptacles are provided on at least one plateau of the plurality of plateaus, wherein the receptacles are designed to receive a pin end of a support pin.

[0007] The exhaust gas aftertreatment unit can be used to heat up exhaust gases, adjust the exhaust gas flow and / or clean the exhaust gases. Heating can be achieved, for example, by making the honeycomb body electrically heatable. Setting a rectified flow, for example, can be done by designing the channels in the honeycomb body. Cleaning can be achieved by means of an additional catalyst carrier body and / or a catalytically active coating on the honeycomb body. The exhaust gas aftertreatment unit can be arranged at least partially in or on a (tubular) exhaust tract of a mobile motor vehicle, and exhaust gas can flow through it. Exhaust gases can flow from an internal combustion engine through the exhaust tract into the exhaust gas aftertreatment unit or the casing. In the exhaust gas aftertreatment unit, the exhaust gases can be treated, (pre-)conditioned (to the required oradjusted to the desired conditions) and / or cleaned. In particular, the temperature of the exhaust gas is adjusted and / or pollutants are removed from the exhaust gas using various processes.

[0008] The casing of the exhaust aftertreatment unit can be a pipe, a pipe section, or a cover. The casing (or a part thereof) forms, in particular, a housing for the exhaust gas flow path (or channel). The casing, or the exhaust gas channel defined thereby, usually has a central axis along which the exhaust gas flows through the pipe. The casing can be part of a manifold of an exhaust system downstream of the internal combustion engine.

[0009] The (single-part or multi-part) support structure is particularly designed to hold or support objects, in particular the honeycomb body, in the exhaust gas aftertreatment unit. The support structure is preferably made of a metallic material. In particular, the support structure can serve to align and / or fix individual parts of an assembled honeycomb body with respect to one another. If the honeycomb body is constructed, for example, with (packets of) metallic foils, these can be supported or held against the support structure, even in interior regions of the exhaust duct, to prevent undesired displacement, deformation, vibration, etc. Furthermore, it is possible to hold or align sensors of the honeycomb body and / or the exhaust gas aftertreatment unit (if provided) that protrude into the duct. A support structure can be provided upstream and / or downstream of the honeycomb body, as seen in the flow direction of the exhaust gas.

[0010] The support structure can at least partially fill or cover a radially inner edge region of the casing and / or be arranged resting in / on a shoulder of the casing. The exhaust gas can flow through the support structure. The support structure is designed in particular to have as little (negative) influence on the exhaust gas flow as possible and, in particular, to avoid generating undesirably high back pressure.

[0011] The honeycomb body can be arranged on the center axis of the channel and axially offset from the support structure. A space is thus formed between the honeycomb body and the support structure along the center axis. The support pins can extend into or through the space between the honeycomb body and the support structure, in particular parallel to the center axis. The support pins have two ends. The support pins are connected to the honeycomb body at one pin or fastening end and mounted on / at the support structure at another pin end.

[0012] The honeycomb body can at least partially, preferably (almost) completely fill the channel formed by the casing in the radial direction. The (preferably all) exhaust gas flows through the honeycomb body, which is designed for this purpose with a suitable porosity or channel structure. At least the honeycomb body is arranged in the interior of the casing or in the flow channel for the exhaust gas formed thereby. The honeycomb body can be formed with a plurality of passages, microchannels, etc. through which the exhaust gas can flow through the honeycomb body (in a main flow direction). The honeycomb body can be formed from ceramic and / or metallic material. The honeycomb body can partially or predominantly or even essentially completely cover the flow channel and can be arranged in particular at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the casing or the central axis. The honeycomb body covers at least 75%, if necessary.up to 95%, preferably 85% to 90%, of the (inner) surface of the shell through which the exhaust gas is to flow in the main flow direction. The honeycomb body can be designed with at least one heating path. Honeycomb bodies with at least two (separate, possibly separately controllable) tracks (heating paths) can also be used. Each track of such a heating path represents an electrical power path, which has one end with a positive contact and one end with a negative contact. In honeycomb bodies with at least two tracks, these can be twisted into each other. The tracks can (preferably) be formed with (electrically insulated) stacks of metal foils, for example comprising alternating corrugated and smooth (or less corrugated) metal foils, whereby the corrugations form channels for the exhaust gas to flow through and the metal foils can themselves release heat when electrical current flows through them.The tracks can be twisted into each other or run in a meandering manner, whereby they are kept electrically insulated from each other by means of gaps and / or insulators.

[0013] The frame of the support structure can at least partially follow the geometry of an inner side of the casing. The frame can at least partially be flush with the inner side of the casing. The frame can be partially circumferential or completely closed.

[0014] The support structure can comprise support arms, in particular in the manner of spoke elements, which extend in or along a base plane delimited by the frame of the support structure, starting from the frame / periphery towards or in the direction of the central axis. The support structure can be designed in the manner of a spoked wheel, i.e., comprising an outer frame, an inner hub structure, and support arms extending and connecting therebetween. The support arms can be designed to be substantially straight and / or curved. It is possible for the support arms to be designed with substantially similar and / or (viewed in the circumferential direction) equally oriented radii of curvature. The support structure can be provided in the shape of a disc and / or plate. The support structure can be arranged approximately parallel to an end face of the honeycomb body.

[0015] A plurality of spoke elements can be at least partially connected to the frame and run parallel to the base plane. The plurality of spoke elements can span the base plane. The support pins can be mounted or fastened on the spoke elements. It is thus possible for support pins to be distributed over the entire base plane in a predetermined pattern and / or even even uniformly, in particular to also hold or axially support the inner region of the honeycomb body. At least one spoke element of the plurality of spoke elements can have an at least partially curved, S-shaped and / or meandering course. The at least one spoke element can protrude from one section of an inner side to another, spaced-off or even approximately opposite section of the inner side of the frame and thus partially or completely span the base plane.It is possible for the at least one spoke element to extend from a portion of the inner side of the frame to at least one other spoke element of the plurality of spoke elements. Furthermore, it is possible for at least one bridging element to be provided in the support structure. The at least one bridging element can extend between the plurality of spoke elements. It is also possible for the at least one bridging element to extend from at least one spoke element to at least one other spoke element of the plurality of spoke elements.

[0016] The minimum width of a spoke element can be determined between its (usually two) end regions. The spoke element can be connected to the frame at a radially outer end region. The spoke element can be connected to another spoke element and / or to the frame again at a (different) end region. It is possible for the spoke element to be connected to a hub element (formed within the frame or centrally) at the (other) end region. The hub element can be an element that is arranged in a central region of the casing or the support structure on or around the center axis. The spoke element can have a length (in the direction of extension between the end regions), a width (transverse to the direction of extension) and a thickness (perpendicular to the length and width).To determine the minimum width, the narrowest section of the spoke element along its entire length must be determined; the width value there is the minimum width. It is possible that some or all spoke elements have different minimum widths, so individual considerations for each spoke element are required.

[0017] At least one spoke element, preferably several or even the entire plurality of spoke elements, has at least one plateau. It is preferred that a spoke element itself has several plateaus. The plurality of plateaus, which the plurality of spoke elements can have, can be distributed along the course of the spoke elements, i.e., at an equal and / or different distance from one another. The plateau can be formed as a local widening of the spoke element. A plateau can have a (plateau) width, a (plateau) length, and a (plateau) thickness. The width, length, and thickness of the plateau are measured parallel to the width, length, and thickness of the spoke element. The width of the plateaus is greater than the width of the spoke element in the immediate vicinity. The length of the plateaus is significantly shorter than the length of the spoke element.The thickness of the plateau preferably corresponds at least partially to the thickness of the spoke element. The number of plateaus of the support structure can be smaller or larger than the number of spoke elements. Preferably, the number of spoke elements is smaller than the number of plateaus. The number of plateaus on a single spoke element is preferably 2, 3, 4, 5 or a maximum of 8. The plateaus are preferably distributed along the course of the spoke element such that they do not overlap with another plateau or protrude into an end region of the spoke element towards the frame. The plateaus are particularly preferably arranged such that they lie on the support structure opposite a heating path and / or a metal foil package of the honeycomb body. The plateaus can opaquely conceal parts of the heating paths when the honeycomb body is viewed through the support structure.

[0018] The width of the plateaus is preferably in the range of 50% to 150% greater than the minimum width of the spoke element. Particularly preferably, the width of the plateaus is at least 80% greater than the minimum width. The width of the plateau or plateau width refers to the maximum width in the region of the plateau, which is preferably provided or can be determined approximately in the middle of the plateau length.

[0019] The dimensions of the plateau (length x width) can be approximately 10.0 x 7.0 mm, or larger if necessary. In particular, the dimensions of each plateau (or separately if necessary) must be sufficiently large in relation to the support pin receptacles, while at the same time, the flow resistance of the spoke elements should be as low as possible, possibly depending on the flow conditions during operation. The dimensions of the receptacles, especially if they also serve as a solder reservoir for connecting the support pins, are preferably in the range of approximately 6.0 mm wide and approximately 3.4 mm long.

[0020] At least one plateau, in particular several plateaus of a spoke element, preferably all plateaus of at least one spoke element or even all plateaus, have at least two receptacles for support pins. The number of receptacles per plateau is preferably 2 or (possibly a maximum of) 3. The receptacle can be a pocket or indentation (in the thickness direction) that is incorporated into the plateau. The receptacles are formed in an inner region of the plateau or at a distance from the edge of the plateau. A receptacle can have a closed bottom and a through-opening. It is preferred that all receptacles of a plateau, of at least one spoke element or even of all plateaus of the support structure are formed with essentially the same shape or configuration. The receptacle is preferably arranged on a side of the support structure facing the honeycomb body and is thus formed directly opposite it.The receptacles can be at least an (integral) part of the at least one plateau, and can be, for example, punched, pressed, or recessed into it. The receptacles can be defined by the same material as the plateau and can be manufactured or connected (in one piece) to it.

[0021] The receptacles (on the surface of the support structure facing the honeycomb body) can be arranged on the plateaus opposite (on the surface of the support structure facing away from the honeycomb body) elevations.

[0022] The raised portion is therefore arranged opposite the receptacle in the plateau and, in particular, approximately corresponds to the shape of the receptacle. This can be achieved, for example, by indenting / punching / forming the plateau material. Thus, the plateau can have a thickness essentially the same in the areas of the receptacles as the rest of the spoke element.

[0023] The receptacles can be round and / or have a shape other than circular. The receptacles preferably extend along a straight line. However, it is also possible for the receptacles to be, for example, star-shaped or curved. It is possible for the receptacles of a plateau to have the same shape (e.g., a groove) and to have a constant distance (parallel arrangement) or a different distance (approaching / distancing arrangement) from each other along their length.

[0024] The receptacles are preferably provided or configured to receive a maximum of a single pin end of a support pin. The pin end can be designed with a round, oval and / or at least partially square cross-section. Particularly preferably, a pin end is received in the receptacle. The pin end can be inserted into the receptacle and rest on the closed base or abut a lateral receiving edge. The receptacle preferably has a depth (in the thickness direction) that allows the pin end to be at least partially surrounded or enclosed by the lateral receiving edge of the receptacles. It is preferred that the majority of the receptacles of all plateaus receive a pin end of a support pin. In particular, pin ends are received in all receptacles of the plateaus of at least one spoke element. It is particularly preferred that pin ends are received in all receptacles of all plateaus of the support structure.

[0025] This allows for locally focused, yet reinforced support / holding of the honeycomb body, while simultaneously enabling more elastic deformation and / or improved airflow through the area between them. This also simplifies manufacturing options, particularly when applying the support pins. Furthermore, the use or number of support pins can be reduced and / or made more durable, especially for large-area honeycombs with highly variable thermal deformation behavior.

[0026] The length of the plurality of plateaus is preferably in the range of 120% to 160% of their respective width. This illustrates that the plateaus are designed to be as limited and local as possible, particularly so that the plateaus impede the flow of exhaust gas through the support structure as little as possible. The plateaus are preferably wide enough to accommodate the receptacles. Sufficient space should be provided from the edges of the receptacles to the outer boundaries of the plateaus so that the receptacles do not reduce the structural integrity of the plateaus.

[0027] Adjacent plateaus of a spoke element can be connected by a section of the spoke element with a minimum width. In other words, this means in particular that the spoke element is tapered down to the minimum width between adjacent plateaus. This can apply to all intermediate plateau sections of a spoke element or even the majority of spoke elements. The spoke elements can thus have a jump or a sudden, significant widening from a minimum width to a maximum width in the plateaus. The majority of spoke elements can have a width in sections between plateaus that is a maximum of 20%, in particular a maximum of 10%, greater than the minimum width. In other words, this means that not all intermediate plateau sections of a spoke element are tapered to the minimum width, but a somewhat wider intermediate plateau section can also be formed if necessary.

[0028] At least one of the receptacles is preferably a groove embossed into the plateau. The receptacle can have a (receptacle) width and a (receptacle) length. The length of the receptacle can be measured parallel to the length of the plateau. The width of the receptacle can be measured parallel to the width of the plateau. Preferably, the width of the receptacle is greater than the length of the receptacle. It is possible for the width of the receptacle to be greater than the length of the plateau. The receptacle can have a depth that is measured parallel to the thickness of the plateau. The depth of the receptacle can be predetermined such that the pin end can be at least partially inserted into the receptacle. The depth of the receptacle is preferably smaller than the thickness of the plateau.

[0029] At least one pin end of a support pin of the plurality of support pins can be integrally connected in one of the receptacles. Preferably, all pin ends of all support pins are integrally connected to the receptacles (in particular in the same way). The width and depth of the receptacles are preferably selected such that there is sufficient space on the outer sides of the pin ends to fill a connecting material with which the pin ends are held in the receptacles. The pin ends can be connected to the receptacles by means of a soldered and / or welded connection.

[0030] The support pins are preferably arranged in pairs, with the support pins of a pair having a pair spacing of 2.0 to 11.0 mm, preferably 3.0 to 9.0 mm and particularly preferably 4.0 to 7.0 mm. In other words, this means in particular that, for example, the majority of the support pins or even all of the support pins are arranged in pairs, so that each of these support pins is assigned exactly one further support pin at the specified pair spacing. This further pursues the approach of achieving locally focused, but therefore more intensive support / holding of the honeycomb body and at the same time enabling more elastic deformation and / or improved flow between them. If necessary, the pairs of support pins can also be applied to the receptacles or to the honeycomb structure in a common handling process, because only very small tolerances exist at this small pair spacing.

[0031] A pair of support pins is preferably connected to a layer stack of metal foils or a heating path. The layer stack of metal foils for forming a heating path preferably has a dimension in the radial direction that depends on the heating power applied by the individual heating path. The support pins of a pair are preferably spaced far enough apart that they are arranged within the layer stack of metal foils or the heating path. Thus, two support pins can preferably support a layer stack of metal foils close to each other at two points in parallel across its dimensions.

[0032] The pairwise distribution of the support pins can (also) be specified by a (minimum) distance to the adjacent pair being at least a factor of 3 greater than the pair spacing. The (distance) factor is particularly preferably in the range of 4 to 8. The distance can, in particular, be the distance of one support pin pair from the nearest support pin pair in or parallel to the base plane of the support structure. It is possible that the (minimum) distance is determined, for example, along the course of a spoke element.

[0033] The honeycomb body is preferably designed with heating paths (or layer packages of metal foils) which have a course, wherein the distance of one support pin pair to the adjacent support pin pair, viewed along the direction of the heating path ("heating path-support distance"), is greater than the pair spacing by a factor of 5. The factor can be comparatively smaller in the inner cross-sectional area and in particular lie in the region of the lower limit (e.g. 5 - 8), than in the outer cross-sectional area, where the factor lies in particular in the region of the upper limit, such as in the range greater than 15 or even greater than 20. The heating path-support distance can be approximately the distance from one spoke element to another spoke element. The approach is thus pursued to achieve a locally focused, but therefore intensified fixation of sections of the heating path or the layer packages of metal foils forming the heating path, so that at the same time a possiblydesired locally more elastic deformation and maintenance of electrically isolated, e.g. intertwined and / or meandering, heating paths of a honeycomb body is possible.

[0034] The exhaust aftertreatment unit can be equipped with an electrically heated honeycomb body, so that it is configured for resistance heating and can heat an exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust aftertreatment unit. The heating paths can be electrically connected to a voltage source on the outside and have an electrical / ohmic resistance. By applying an electrical voltage to the heating paths, they can heat up and transfer heat to the exhaust gas flowing through them.

[0035] The invention and the technical environment are explained in more detail below with reference to four figures. The representations are schematic and not intended to illustrate proportions. The explanations given with reference to individual details of the figure are extractable and can be freely combined with facts from the above description, unless something else necessarily follows for a person skilled in the art or such a combination is explicitly excluded. It shows schematically:

[0036] Fig. 1 : a sectional view of an exhaust aftertreatment unit,

[0037] Fig. 2: an exploded view of a plateau on a spoke element with support pins and honeycomb body, Fig. 3: a sectional view of an exhaust aftertreatment unit from a further perspective and

[0038] Fig. 4: a detailed view of the support structure

[0039] Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of an exhaust gas aftertreatment unit 1. The exhaust gas aftertreatment unit 1 has an approximately cylindrical casing 2 as its outer boundary. Two electrical feedthroughs 20 for electrically contacting a honeycomb body 3 extend from the casing 2 or through it. A support structure 5 is arranged in the casing 2. The support structure 5 has a frame 6, which borders on an inner side of the casing 2 and is connected thereto. Spoke elements 7 extend from the frame 6 to a central axis 19 of the exhaust gas aftertreatment unit 1. The spoke elements 7 are connected to the frame 6 at end regions 8. The spoke elements 7 span the honeycomb body 3 and are partially curved and / or meander-shaped. Plateaus 9 are arranged on the spoke elements 7. The plateaus 9 are part of the spoke elements 7 and form local widenings of the spoke elements 7.Along the center axis 19 of the exhaust aftertreatment unit 1, behind the support structure 5, the honeycomb body 3 is equipped with heating paths 12. The heating paths 12 are formed by two layer packages 17 of metal foils 16 (not shown), which are arranged partially spirally, twisted together (electrically insulated from each other by gaps), and extend toward the center axis 19 of the exhaust aftertreatment unit 1. Exhaust gas can flow through the exhaust aftertreatment unit 1, which can flow through the heating paths 12 of the honeycomb body 3 and the support structure 5. The heating paths 12 can be heated using resistance heating (metal foils) and transfer the heat to the exhaust gas. The exhaust gas can be heated as it flows through the exhaust aftertreatment unit 1.

[0040] Fig. 2 shows an exploded view of a plateau 9 on a spoke element 7 with support pins 4 and a heating path 12 of the honeycomb body 3. The heating path is formed with a layer package 17 made of a predetermined number of (corrugated and / or smooth) metal foils 16, wherein the metal foils 16 form (between them) a channel structure 18 through which the exhaust gas can flow and be heated upon contact with the metal foils 16. Pin ends 11 of a pair of support pins 4 can each be arranged in a receptacle 10 in the plateau 9. The support pins 4 protrude into the heating path 12 or the channel structure 18 with an end opposite the pin end 11 and are fastened there to the channel structure 18 or the metal foils 16. The pin ends 11 can be integrally connected in the receptacle 10. The support pins 4 can thus support the heating path 12 of the honeycomb body 3 against the holder 10 of the plateau 9.

[0041] Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of part of an exhaust aftertreatment unit 1. It can be seen how the support pins 4 are arranged in a space between the honeycomb body 3 and the spoke elements 7 of the support structure 5. The support pins 4 are arranged in pairs distributed over a dimension of a respective heating path 12 or layer stack 17.

[0042] Fig. 4 shows a detailed representation of the support structure 5. It can be seen that the plateaus 9 are distributed over the course of the spoke elements 7 and each plateau 9 has two receptacles 10. Furthermore, Fig. 4 shows a heating path support distance 13 which extends between two receptacles 10 located on adjacent spoke elements 7. Likewise, a distance 14 can be seen which extends between two receptacles 10 located on adjacent plateaus 9 on a spoke element 7. Finally, in a detailed section, a pair distance 15 can be seen which extends between two receptacles 10 on a plateau 9 or support pins 4 (not shown here) placed therein.

[0043] Reference symbol

[0044] 1 exhaust aftertreatment unit

[0045] 2 coats

[0046] 3 honeycomb bodies

[0047] 4 support pin

[0048] 5 Support structure

[0049] 6 frames

[0050] 7 spoke element

[0051] 8 End area

[0052] 9 Plateau

[0053] 10 recordings

[0054] 11 donors

[0055] 12 Heating path

[0056] 13 Heating path support distance

[0057] 14 Distance

[0058] 15 pair spacing

[0059] 16 metal foil

[0060] 17 layer package

[0061] 18 Channel structure

[0062] 19 Center axis

[0063] 20 electrical feedthrough

Claims

Claims 1. An exhaust gas aftertreatment unit (1), comprising a casing (2), a support structure (5), and a honeycomb body (3) fastened or supported on the support structure (5) by a plurality of support pins (4), wherein the support structure (5) has at least one at least partially circumferential frame (6), wherein a plurality of spoke elements (7) are connected to the frame (6) at least at one end region (8), wherein the plurality of spoke elements (7) has a minimum width, wherein the plurality of spoke elements (7) has a plurality of plateaus (9) which have a width that is at least 50% wider than the minimum width, wherein at least two receptacles (10) are provided on at least one plateau (9) of the plurality of plateaus (9), wherein the receptacles (10) are designed to receive a pin end (11) of a support pin (4).

2. Exhaust aftertreatment unit (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein a length of the plurality of plateaus (9) is in the range of 120% to 160% of their respective width.

3. Exhaust aftertreatment unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein adjacent plateaus (9) of a spoke element (7) are connected by a portion of the spoke element (7) with a minimum width.

4. Exhaust aftertreatment unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of spoke elements (7) in sections between plateaus (9) have a width that is at most 20% greater than the minimum width.

5. Exhaust aftertreatment unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the receptacles (10) is a groove embossed into the plateau (9).

6. Exhaust gas aftertreatment unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one pin end (11) of a support pin (4) of the plurality of support pins (4) is integrally connected in one of the receptacles (10).

7. Exhaust gas aftertreatment unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support pins (4) are arranged in pairs, wherein the support pins (4) of a pair have a pair spacing of a maximum of 11.0 mm.

8. Exhaust gas aftertreatment unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the honeycomb body (3) is electrically heatable, such that it is configured for resistance heating and can heat an exhaust gas flow flowing through the exhaust gas aftertreatment unit (1).

Images