Modular Exhaust Aftertreatment Housing for Low-Backpressure Servicing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing exhaust gas aftertreatment systems face challenges in the removable and replaceable aftertreatment components, leading to increased costs and difficulty in repurposing the system for different applications, often resulting in undesirable backpressure during operation.

Innovation Solution

The system incorporates a housing assembly with flanges and fasteners that allow for easy removal, servicing, and replacement of after components, utilizing a distributing housing with staggered panels to facilitate parallel treatment by multiple aftertreatment components, reducing backpressure and enabling efficient repurposing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If the aftertreatment component is made removable and replaceable, then ease of repair is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional flanges and fastening mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of component removal and replacementVSAvoidstructural complexity of housing assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing assembly is segmented into multiple panels (first panel, second panel, third panel) that can be independently accessed and manipulated. This segmentation allows the aftertreatment component to be removed by accessing specific panels rather than disassembling the entire housing, thus improving ease of repair while managing complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flange is positioned to extend through openings in multiple panels simultaneously, creating a multi-dimensional fastening solution. This allows the component to be secured and accessed from different directions and planes, improving repairability without requiring complex internal mechanisms within any single panel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If multiple aftertreatment components are used in parallel, then productivity is improved through increased treatment capacity, but device complexity increases due to additional distributing housing structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexhaust gas treatment capacityVSAvoidcomplexity of distributing housing with multiple panels
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The distributing housing is divided into multiple panels that can be configured to accommodate different numbers and arrangements of aftertreatment components. This segmented approach allows the system to scale from single to multiple components in parallel by simply configuring which panels are present and how they are arranged, rather than requiring a completely different housing structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The panel-based distributing housing design serves multiple functions: it distributes exhaust gas to multiple aftertreatment components, provides structural support, and enables selective access to components. The same basic panel structure can accommodate different numbers of components, making the housing universally adaptable to various productivity requirements without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the aftertreatment system is designed for easy repurposing, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to standardized flange and panel interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to repurpose system for different applicationsVSAvoidprecision of flange to panel opening alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses standardized flange and panel opening interfaces that can be manufactured with consistent precision across different configurations. This segmentation into repeatable, standardized components allows the same manufacturing tolerances to be applied regardless of the specific application or number of aftertreatment components, making repurposing easier without escalating precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flange and panel opening design creates a universal interface that can accommodate different aftertreatment components and configurations. This universal standardization allows the same manufactured parts to be used across various applications, improving adaptability while maintaining consistent, achievable manufacturing precision levels through repetition of the same interface design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4240946B1Exhaust gas aftertreatment system
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 CUMMINS EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC
  • EP4240946B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4240946B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4240946B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An exhaust gas aftertreatment system includes an introduction housing, a transfer housing, a distributing housing, and a first aftertreatment component. The introduction housing is configured to receive an exhaust gas and a treatment fluid. The transfer housing is coupled to the introduction housing and configured to receive the exhaust gas and the treatment fluid from the introduction housing. The distributing housing is coupled to the transfer housing and configured to receive the exhaust gas and the treatment fluid from the transfer housing. The distributing housing includes a distributing housing first panel and a distributing housing first panel opening. The distributing housing first panel opening extends through the distributing housing first panel. The first aftertreatment component is configured to receive at least a portion of the exhaust gas and the treatment fluid from the distributing housing.