Diesel vehicle exhaust aftertreatment apparatus and method
View Patent ↗The aftertreatment apparatus and method of the invention concentrate diesel exhaust under low engine load conditions in a motor vehicle, such as idling, before filtering the diesel exhaust. The apparatus has a housing which is in fluid communication with a filter and other components of the diesel exhaust system. The apparatus has an exhaust concentrator to concentrate the low load diesel exhaust. The concentrated exhaust is directed a limited part of the filter and/or the catalytic device, such as the center. The exhaust concentrator is at least partially disposed within the housing.
1. A diesel exhaust aftertreatment apparatus for a diesel exhaust system in a motor vehicle, comprising:
an entrance conduit;
an engine in fluid communication with the entrance conduit;
an exit conduit;
a housing in fluid communication with the entrance conduit and the exit conduit;
a filter disposed within the housing, and having a filter face;
an exhaust concentrator being at least partially disposed within the housing and having a concentrator tube, and an actuator having a modulator, a pivot arm connecting to the concentrator tube and the modulator, and a base pivotally attaching to the pivot arm;
wherein the modulator comprises a spring arm connecting to the pivot arm, and a spring attaching to the spring arm; and
wherein the concentrator tube slides from an open position to a closed position abutting the filter face during low engine loads.
2. The diesel exhaust aftertreatment apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller in communication with the modulator to move the pivot arm.
3. A diesel exhaust aftertreatment apparatus for a diesel exhaust system in a motor vehicle, comprising:
an entrance conduit;
an engine in fluid communication with the entrance conduit;
an exit conduit;
a housing in fluid communication with the entrance conduit and the exit conduit;
a filter disposed within the housing, and having a filter face;
an exhaust concentrator being at least partially disposed within the housing and having a concentrator tube, and an actuator having modulator pivot arm connecting to the concentrator tube and the modulator, and a base pivotally attaching to the pivot arm;
wherein the modulator comprises a spring arm, connecting to the pivot arm, and a spring attaching to the spring arm;
a catalytic device in fluid communication with the filter and entrance conduit, and having a catalyst face; and
wherein the concentrator tube slides from an open position to a closed position abutting the catalyst face during low engine loads.
4. A method of treating diesel exhaust from an engine in a motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
exhausting diesel exhaust from the engine through an entrance conduit in fluid communication with the engine;
allowing the diesel exhaust to flow from the entrance conduit into a housing having an exhaust concentrator being at least partially disposed within the housing and having a concentrator tube;
concentrating the diesel exhaust with the exhaust concentrator under low load conditions;
directing the concentrated diesel exhaust through the concentrator tube to a limited portion of a filter located downstream from the concentrator and in fluid communication with the entrance conduit;
filtering the concentrated diesel exhaust within the filter;
allowing the filtered diesel exhaust to flow from an exit conduit in fluid communication with the filter;
moving the concentrator tube to abut a filter face of the filter with the modulator before concentrating the diesel exhaust; and
wherein the exhaust concentrator comprises an actuator having a pivot arm connecting to the concentrator tube, a base pivotally attaching to the pivot arm, and a modulator connecting to the pivot arm.
5. A method of treating diesel exhaust from an engine in a motor vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the modulator further comprises:
a spring arm connecting to the pivot arm; and
a spring attaching to the spring arm.
6. A method of treating diesel exhaust from an engine in a motor vehicle of claim 4 , further comprising the steps of:
measuring the load on the engine with a controller; and
signaling the modulator from the controller to move the concentrator tube.
7. A method of treating diesel exhaust from an engine in a motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
exhausting diesel exhaust from the engine through an entrance conduit in fluid communication with the engine;
allowing the diesel exhaust to flow from the entrance conduit into a housing having an exhaust concentrator being at least partially disposed within the housing and having a concentrator tube;
concentrating the diesel exhaust with the exhaust concentrator under low load conditions;
directing the concentrated diesel exhaust through the concentrator tube to a limited portion of a filter located downstream from the concentrator and in fluid communication with the entrance conduit;
filtering the concentrated diesel exhaust within the filter;
allowing the filtered diesel exhaust to flow from an exit conduit in fluid communication with the filter;
moving the concentrator tube to abut a catalyst face of a catalytic device with the modulator before concentrating the diesel exhaust; and
wherein the exhaust concentrator comprises an actuator having a pivot arm connecting to the concentrator tube, a base pivotally attaching to the pivot arm, and a modulator connecting to the pivot arm.
8. A method of treating diesel exhaust from an engine in a motor vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the modulator further comprises:
a spring arm connecting to the pivot arm; and
a spring attaching to the spring arm.
9. A method of treating diesel exhaust from an engine in a motor vehicle of claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
measuring the load on the engine with a controller; and
signaling the modulator from the controller to move the concentrator tube.