Reductant Delivery Diagnostic System for Exhaust Aftertreatment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems for determining reductant delivery performance in exhaust aftertreatment systems are inaccurate due to sensitivity to vehicle operation cycles, installation variations, and manufacturing tolerances, leading to unreliable diagnostic separation between healthy and failed systems.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilize signal processing to interpret pump parameters and dosing parameters at multiple positions, allowing for a more accurate determination of reductant delivery performance by distinguishing between under-restricted and over-restricted delivery mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional systems are used to determine reductant delivery performance, then the system is simpler to implement, but the measurement precision is poor due to sensitivity to vehicle operation cycles, installation variations, and manufacturing tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereductant delivery performance determination accuracyVSAvoidsignal processing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the reductant delivery system into multiple measurement positions along the delivery path. By measuring at multiple positions and processing the signals from each position, the system achieves more accurate delivery performance determination while compensating for variations and tolerances in the system components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from single-point measurement to multi-position measurement along the reductant delivery path. This dimensional expansion from one position to multiple positions enables more comprehensive signal processing and more accurate determination of delivery performance, reducing sensitivity to local variations.

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

2Reliability

If multiple measurement positions are used to improve diagnostic accuracy, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic reliabilityVSAvoidmulti-position measurement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the measurement system into multiple segments corresponding to different positions in the reductant delivery path. Each position has its own measurement capability, and the combined signals from all segments provide more reliable diagnostic information about system health and performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements signal processing that compares measured values from multiple positions against expected values or thresholds. This feedback mechanism enables the system to reliably diagnose delivery mechanism status and alert operators to potential issues, improving overall diagnostic reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4170141B1System and method for determining reductant delivery performance
Publication Date: 2025.03.05 CUMMINS INC
  • EP4170141B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4170141B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4170141B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus includes a pump, a delivery mechanism in fluid communication with the pump, and a controller communicatively coupled to the pump and the delivery mechanism. The controller is structured to interpret, via a pump diagnostic circuit, first and second pump parameters indicative of first and second pump rates, interpret, via a dosing diagnostic circuit, first and second dosing parameters indicative of at least one of (i) first and second reductant flows or (ii) first and second injector characteristics, determine, via a delivery diagnostic circuit, a delivery status based, at least in part, on the interpretation of the first and second pump parameters and the first and second dosing parameters, and generate, via the delivery diagnostic circuit, a status command indicative at least one of an under-restricted delivery mechanism or an over-restricted delivery mechanism in response to the determination of the delivery status.