Exhaust mode selector system

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an exhaust system having multiple modes of operation, including:

a first exhaust flow path;

a second exhaust flow path;

a first vehicle emissions control device disposed in the first exhaust flow path;

a second vehicle emissions control device disposed in the second exhaust flow path;

at least one valve for directing exhaust gas between the first exhaust flow path and the second exhaust flow path;

a first valve located downstream of the first vehicle emissions control device and upstream of the second vehicle emission control device;

a second valve located downstream of the first vehicle emissions control device and downstream of the second vehicle emissions control device;

a first cutout connected to the first exhaust flow path and the second exhaust flow path, the first valve being disposed in the first cutout; and

a second cutout connected to the first exhaust flow path and the second exhaust flow path, the second valve being disposed in the second cutout;

wherein the exhaust gas flows through the first vehicle emissions control device when the at least one valve is configured for diverting the exhaust gas through the first exhaust flow path, and the exhaust gas flows through the first vehicle emissions control device and the second vehicle emissions control device when the at least one valve is configured for diverting the exhaust gas through the second exhaust flow path, and the first valve and the second valve are placed in multiple positions to configure the exhaust system to direct exhaust gas through the first exhaust flow path and the second exhaust flow path.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , the first cutout further comprising:

a primary inlet connected to and in fluid communication with the first vehicle emissions control device;

a first outlet for directing exhaust gas through the first exhaust flow path; and

a second outlet for directing exhaust gas through the second exhaust flow path;

wherein the first valve is able to be positioned to direct the exhaust gas through the first exhaust flow path, and is able to be positioned to direct the exhaust gas through the second exhaust flow path, and any position therebetween.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , the second cutout further comprising:

a first inlet for receiving exhaust gas from the first exhaust flow path;

a second inlet for receiving exhaust gas from the second exhaust flow path; and

a primary outlet for receiving exhaust gas from the first inlet and the second inlet;

wherein the second valve is able to be positioned such that the second cutout receives exhaust gas from the first exhaust flow path, and is able to be positioned such that the second cutout receives exhaust gas from the second exhaust flow path, and any position therebetween.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first vehicle emissions control device is a first catalytic converter, and the second vehicle emissions control device is a second catalytic converter.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising:

a first muffler disposed in the first exhaust flow path downstream of the first catalytic converter; and

a second muffler disposed in the second exhaust flow path downstream from the second catalytic converter;

wherein the at least one valve directs exhaust gas through the first exhaust flow path such that the exhaust gas passes through the first catalytic converter and the first muffler, and the at least one valve directs exhaust gas through the second exhaust flow path such that the exhaust gas passes through the first catalytic converter, the second catalytic converter, and the second muffler.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , the first vehicle emissions control device further comprising a first diesel particulate filter (DPF) located upstream of the at least one valve.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , the second vehicle emissions control device further comprising a second diesel particulate filter (DPF) located downstream of the at least one valve.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:

a first selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst located downstream of the at least one valve; and

a second SCR catalyst located downstream of the second DPF;

wherein the exhaust gas flows through the first DPF, the at least one valve, and the first SCR catalyst when the exhaust gas is flowing through the first exhaust flow path, and the exhaust gas flows through the first DPF, the at least one valve, the second DPF, and the second SCR catalyst when the exhaust gas is flowing through the second exhaust flow path.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:

a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank in fluid communication with the first exhaust flow path upstream of the first SCR catalyst and in fluid communication with the second exhaust flow path upstream of the second SCR catalyst;

an SCR valve in fluid communication with the DEF tank;

a first delivery pipe in fluid communication with the SCR valve; and

a second delivery pipe in fluid communication with the SCR valve;

wherein the SCR valve selectively transfers diesel exhaust fluid through the first delivery pipe to a location upstream of the first SCR catalyst when the exhaust gas is directed through the first exhaust flow path, and transfers diesel exhaust fluid through the second delivery pipe to a location upstream of the second SCR catalyst when the exhaust gas is directed through the second exhaust flow path.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a resonator in fluid communication with the first exhaust flow path, and the second exhaust flow path, the resonator reducing the amount of noise produced by the exhaust system.

11. An exhaust system having multiple flow paths, comprising:

a first vehicle emissions control device upstream of a first exhaust flow path and a second exhaust flow path;

a second vehicle emissions control device located along the second exhaust flow path and downstream of the first vehicle emissions control device;

a first cutout having a first valve, the first valve configures the first cutout to direct exhaust gas from the first vehicle emissions control device to the first exhaust flow path, the second exhaust flow path, and combinations thereof;

a second cutout having a second valve, the first valve configures the second cutout to receive exhaust gas from the first exhaust flow path, the second exhaust flow path, and combinations thereof;

a first inlet for receiving exhaust gas from the first exhaust flow path;

a second inlet for receiving exhaust gas from the second exhaust flow path; and

a primary outlet for receiving exhaust gas from the first inlet and the second inlet;

wherein the second cutout directs exhaust gas from the first inlet out of the primary outlet when the second valve is configured to direct exhaust through the first exhaust flow path, and the second cutout directs exhaust gas from the second inlet out of the primary outlet when the when the second valve is configured to direct exhaust gas through the second exhaust flow path.

12. The exhaust system having multiple flow paths of claim 11 , the first cutout further comprising:

a primary inlet connected to and in fluid communication with the first vehicle emissions control device;

a first outlet for directing exhaust gas through the first exhaust flow path; and

a second outlet for directing exhaust gas through the second exhaust flow path;

wherein the first cutout directs exhaust gas from the primary inlet out of the first outlet when the first valve is configured to direct exhaust through the first exhaust flow path, and the first cutout directs exhaust gas from the primary inlet out of the second outlet when the when the first valve is configured to direct exhaust gas through the second exhaust flow path.

13. The exhaust system having multiple flow paths of claim 11 , wherein the first vehicle emissions control device is a first catalytic converter, and the second vehicle emissions control device is a second catalytic converter.

14. The exhaust system having multiple flow paths of claim 13 , further comprising:

a first muffler located downstream of the first cutout, and upstream of the second cutout, the first muffler being part of the first exhaust flow path; and

a second muffler downstream of the second catalytic converter, and upstream of the second cutout, the second muffler being part of the second exhaust flow path;

wherein the first valve and the second valve direct exhaust gas through the first exhaust flow path such that the exhaust gas passes through the first catalytic converter and the first muffler, and the first valve and the second valve direct exhaust gas through the second exhaust flow path such that the exhaust gas passes through the first catalytic converter, the second catalytic converter, and the second muffler.

15. The exhaust system having multiple flow paths of claim 11 , the first vehicle emissions control device further comprising a first diesel particulate filter (DPF), and the second vehicle emissions control device further comprising a second diesel particulate filter (DPF), the second DPF being located downstream of the at least one valve.

16. The exhaust system having multiple flow paths of claim 15 , further comprising:

a first SCR catalyst located downstream of the first cutout and upstream of the second cutout;

a second SCR catalyst located downstream of the second DPF, and upstream of the second cutout;

a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank in fluid communication with the first exhaust flow path upstream of the first SCR catalyst and in fluid communication with the second exhaust flow path upstream of the second SCR catalyst;

an SCR valve in fluid communication with the DEF tank;

a first delivery pipe in fluid communication with the SCR valve; and

a second delivery pipe in fluid communication with the SCR valve;

wherein the SCR valve transfers diesel exhaust fluid through the first delivery pipe to a location upstream of the first SCR catalyst when the exhaust gas is flowing through the first exhaust flow path, and transfers diesel exhaust fluid through the second delivery pipe to a location upstream of the second SCR catalyst when the exhaust gas is flowing through the second exhaust flow path.

17. An exhaust system having multiple modes of operation, comprising:

an engine which generates exhaust gas;

a first vehicle emissions control device which is in fluid communication with the engine, and receives exhaust gas from the engine;

a first cutout having a first valve, a primary inlet connected to the first vehicle emissions control device, a first outlet and a second outlet, the first cutout connected to and in fluid communication with the first vehicle emissions control device;

a second vehicle emissions control device in fluid communication with the first cutout;

a second cutout having a second valve, a first inlet, a second inlet, and a primary outlet, the second cutout connected to and in fluid communication with the first cutout and the second vehicle emission control device;

a controller which controls the operation of the first valve and the second valve; and

a resonator in fluid communication with the primary outlet of the second cutout;

wherein the first valve and the second valve are positioned to direct the exhaust gas from the first vehicle emissions control device into the primary inlet and through the first outlet of the first cutout, and into the first inlet of the second cutout, out of the primary outlet, and through the resonator when the exhaust system is operating in a first mode of operation, and the first valve and the second valve are positioned to direct the exhaust gas from the first vehicle emissions control device into the primary inlet and through the second outlet of the first cutout, through the second vehicle emissions control device, and into the second inlet of the second cutout, out of the primary outlet, and through the resonator when the exhaust system is operating in a second mode of operation.

18. The exhaust system having multiple modes of operation of claim 17 , wherein the first vehicle emissions control device is a first catalytic converter, and the second vehicle emissions control device is a second catalytic converter.

19. The exhaust system having multiple modes of operation of claim 18 , further comprising:

a first muffler in fluid communication with the first outlet of the first cutout and the first inlet of the second cutout; and

a second muffler in fluid communication with the second catalytic converter and the second inlet of the second cutout;

wherein the first valve and the second valve are positioned to direct the exhaust gas from the first catalytic converter into the primary inlet and through the first outlet of the first cutout, through the first muffler, and into the first inlet of the second cutout, out of the primary outlet, and through the resonator when the exhaust system is operating in the first mode of operation, and the first valve and the second valve are positioned to direct the exhaust gas from the first catalytic converter into the primary inlet and through the second outlet of the first cutout, through the second catalytic converter, through the second muffler, and into the second inlet of the second cutout, out of the primary outlet, and through the resonator when the exhaust system is operating in the second mode of operation.

20. The exhaust system having multiple modes of operation of claim 17 , wherein the first vehicle emissions control device is a first diesel particulate filter, and the second vehicle emissions control device is a second diesel particulate filter.

21. The exhaust system having multiple modes of operation of claim 20 , further comprising:

a first SCR catalyst in fluid communication with the first outlet of the first cutout and the first inlet of the second cutout; and

a second SCR catalyst in fluid communication with the second outlet of the first cutout and the second inlet of the second cutout;

wherein the first valve and the second valve are positioned to direct the exhaust gas from the first diesel particulate filter into the primary inlet and through the first outlet of the first cutout, through the first SCR catalyst, and into the first inlet of the second cutout, out of the primary outlet, and through the resonator when the exhaust system is operating in the first mode of operation, and the first valve and the second valve are positioned to direct the exhaust gas from the first diesel particulate filter into the primary inlet and through the second outlet of the first cutout, through the second diesel particulate filter, through the second SCR catalyst, and into the second inlet of the second cutout, out of the primary outlet, and through the resonator when the exhaust system is operating in the second mode of operation.

22. The exhaust system having multiple modes of operation of claim 21 , further comprising:

a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank in fluid communication upstream of the first SCR catalyst and in fluid communication upstream of the second SCR catalyst;

an SCR valve in fluid communication with the DEF tank;

a first delivery pipe in fluid communication with the SCR valve; and

a second delivery pipe in fluid communication with the SCR valve;

wherein the SCR valve transfers diesel exhaust fluid through the first delivery pipe to a location upstream of the first SCR catalyst when the exhaust system is operation the first mode of operation, and transfers diesel exhaust fluid through the second delivery pipe to a location upstream of the second SCR catalyst when the exhaust system is operating in the second mode of operation.