IP Library Granted Patent US 9,784,163
Granted Patent B2
US 9,784,163 · App. 15/001,356 · Granted Oct 10, 2017

Exhaust aftertreatment system having mixer assembly

Inventors: Lawrence J. Noren, IV (Springport, MI); Daniel J. Owen (Parma, MI); Jeffrey W. Denton (Jackson, MI); Attila Kovacs (Karlsruhe, DE); Eric A. Hein (Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, DE); Meng-Huang Lu (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
F01N3/2892B01F3/04049B01F5/0057B01F5/0451B01F5/0688F01N3/2066F01N2470/18Y02T10/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,784,163
App. No.
15/001,356
Granted
Oct 10, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

An exhaust aftertreatment system may include an exhaust gas passageway and a mixer assembly. The exhaust gas passageway may receive exhaust gas output from a combustion engine. The mixer assembly may be disposed along the exhaust gas passageway and may receive the exhaust gas. The mixer assembly may include a mixer housing, a mixing bowl and an injector housing. The mixing bowl may be disposed within the mixer housing and may include an outer diametrical surface that engages an inner diametrical surface of a wall of the mixer housing. The injector housing may extend through the wall and into an aperture in the mixing bowl. The aperture may define a flow path through which at least a majority of the exhaust gas entering the mixer assembly flows. The mixing bowl may include an upstream end portion having contours directing the exhaust gas toward the injector housing.

Claims (44)

1. An exhaust aftertreatment system comprising:

an exhaust gas passageway receiving exhaust gas output from a combustion engine; and

a mixer assembly disposed along the exhaust gas passageway and receiving the exhaust gas, the mixer assembly including a mixer housing, a mixing bowl and an injector housing, the mixing bowl disposed within the mixer housing and including an outer diametrical surface that engages an inner diametrical surface of a wall of the mixer housing, the injector housing extending through the wall and into an aperture in the mixing bowl, the aperture defining a flow path through which at least a majority of the exhaust gas entering the mixer assembly flows, the mixing bowl including an upstream end portion having contours directing the exhaust gas toward the injector housing.

2. The exhaust aftertreatment system of claim 1 , wherein the upstream end portion of the mixing bowl includes a pair of recesses that extend along lateral sides of the upstream end portion and diverge away from each other as the recesses extend toward a flange portion of the mixing bowl.

3. The exhaust aftertreatment system of claim 1 , wherein the upstream end portion of the mixing bowl includes a generally U-shaped recess.

4. The exhaust aftertreatment system of claim 1 , wherein all of the exhaust gas entering the mixer assembly flows through the aperture.

5. The exhaust aftertreatment system of claim 1 , wherein the injector housing is an annular member having a plurality of openings through which exhaust gas enters before flowing through the aperture in the mixing bowl.

6. The exhaust aftertreatment system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of openings are defined by a plurality of louvers.

7. The exhaust aftertreatment system of claim 5 , further comprising an injector injecting reagent into a mixing chamber defined by the injector housing and the mixing bowl, wherein the exhaust gas and the reagent mix with each other in the mixing chamber.

8. The exhaust aftertreatment system of claim 7 , further comprising an exhaust aftertreatment component disposed downstream of the mixing bowl and receiving the mixture of reagent and exhaust gas.

9. The exhaust aftertreatment system of claim 8 , wherein the mixer assembly includes a mixing element disposed between the mixing bowl and the exhaust aftertreatment component, the mixing element including a plurality of louvers and openings.

10. The exhaust aftertreatment system of claim 1 , wherein the mixing bowl includes a flange portion and a collar portion, the flange portion disposed between the upstream end portion and the collar portion, the aperture extends through the flange portion and is disposed between the collar portion and an inlet of the mixer housing.

11. The exhaust aftertreatment system of claim 10 , wherein the collar portion is disposed further downstream than the upstream end portion.

12. The exhaust aftertreatment system of claim 1 , wherein the upstream end portion of the mixing bowl includes a through aperture and a louver urging exhaust gas passing through the aperture to flow in a direction away from the injector housing.

13. The exhaust aftertreatment system of claim 1 , wherein the mixing bowl includes a downstream surface shaped to change a direction of the exhaust gas flow exiting the injector housing to a direction entering a downstream exhaust aftertreatment component.

14. A mixer assembly receiving exhaust gas from an engine and mixing the exhaust gas with an injected fluid, the mixer assembly comprising:

a mixer pipe;

a mixing bowl disposed within the mixer pipe and including an outer diametrical surface that engages an inner diametrical surface of a wall of the mixer pipe, the mixing bowl having a diameter that is equal to an inner diameter of the mixer pipe; and

an injector housing receiving the injected fluid and extending through the wall and into an aperture in the mixing bowl, the aperture defining a flow path through which exhaust gas flows, the mixing bowl having contours directing the exhaust gas toward the injector housing.

15. The mixer assembly of claim 14 , wherein an upstream end portion of the mixing bowl includes a pair of recesses that extend along lateral sides of the upstream end portion and diverge away from each other as the recesses extend toward a flange portion of the mixing bowl, and wherein the aperture is formed in the flange portion.

16. The mixer assembly of claim 14 , wherein the mixing bowl includes an upstream end portion having a generally U-shaped recess.

17. The mixer assembly of claim 14 , wherein all of the exhaust gas entering the mixer pipe flows through the aperture.

18. The mixer assembly of claim 14 , wherein an upstream end portion of the mixing bowl includes a through aperture and a louver urging exhaust gas passing through the aperture to flow in a direction away from the injector housing.

19. The mixer assembly of claim 14 , wherein the injector housing is an annular member having a plurality of openings through which exhaust gas enters before flowing through the aperture in the mixing bowl.

20. The mixer assembly of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of openings are defined by a plurality of louvers.

21. The mixer assembly of claim 19 , further comprising an injector injecting the injected fluid into a mixing chamber defined by the injector housing and the mixing bowl, wherein the exhaust gas and the injected fluid mix with each other in the mixing chamber.

22. The mixer assembly of claim 19 , wherein an outlet of the mixer pipe is connected to an inlet of a housing of an exhaust aftertreatment component, the exhaust aftertreatment component receiving the mixture of the injected fluid and exhaust gas.

23. The mixer assembly of claim 22 , further comprising a mixing element disposed between the mixing bowl and the exhaust aftertreatment component, the mixing element including a plurality of louvers and openings.

24. The mixer assembly of claim 14 , wherein the mixing bowl includes a flange portion and a collar portion, the aperture extends through the flange portion and is disposed between the collar portion and an inlet of the mixer pipe.

25. A mixer assembly receiving exhaust gas from an engine, the mixer assembly comprising:

a mixer pipe having an inlet, an outlet and a longitudinal axis extending through the inlet and the outlet, the mixing pipe receiving exhaust gas flowing in a first direction parallel to the longitudinal axis through the inlet, the exhaust gas flowing through the outlet in the first direction;

an injector housing receiving a reagent and extending into the mixer pipe between the inlet and outlet; and

a mixing bowl disposed within the mixer pipe between the inlet and the outlet and including an aperture receiving a portion of the injector housing, the mixing bowl having a first contoured surface directing the exhaust gas downstream of the inlet in a second direction toward the injector housing, the second direction is substantially orthogonal to the first direction, the mixing bowl having a second contoured surface downstream of the first contoured surface directing exhaust gas through the aperture in a third direction opposite the second direction.

26. The mixer assembly of claim 25 , wherein the first contoured surface is defined by an upstream end portion of the mixing bowl having a pair of recesses that extend along lateral sides of the upstream end portion and diverge away from each other as the recesses extend toward a flange portion of the mixing bowl, and wherein the aperture is formed in the flange portion.

27. The mixer assembly of claim 26 , wherein the second contoured surface is defined by a collar portion of the mixing bowl, the aperture extends through the flange portion of the mixing bowl and is disposed between the collar portion and the upstream end portion.

28. The mixer assembly of claim 27 , wherein the mixing bowl includes an outer diametrical surface that engages an inner diametrical surface of a wall of the mixer pipe, the mixing bowl having a diameter that is equal to an inner diameter of the mixer pipe.

29. The mixer assembly of claim 25 , wherein the first contoured surface is defined by an upstream end portion of the mixing bowl having a generally U-shaped recess.

30. The mixer assembly of claim 25 , wherein all of the exhaust gas entering the mixer pipe through the inlet flows through the aperture.

31. The mixer assembly of claim 25 , wherein the injector housing is an annular member having a plurality of openings through which exhaust gas enters before flowing through the aperture in the mixing bowl.

32. The mixer assembly of claim 31 , wherein the plurality of openings are defined by a plurality of louvers.

33. The mixer assembly of claim 31 , further comprising an injector injecting reagent into a mixing chamber defined by the injector housing and the mixing bowl, wherein the exhaust gas and the reagent mix with each other in the mixing chamber.

34. The mixer assembly of claim 33 , wherein the outlet of the mixer pipe is connected to an inlet of a housing of an exhaust aftertreatment component, the exhaust aftertreatment component receiving the mixture of the reagent and exhaust gas.

35. The mixer assembly of claim 34 , further comprising a mixing element disposed between the mixing bowl and the exhaust aftertreatment component, the mixing element including a plurality of louvers and openings.

36. The mixer assembly of claim 25 , further comprising a mixing element positioned downstream from the mixing bowl a predetermined distance to define an orifice therebetween, wherein a portion of the exhaust gas flows through the orifice and apertures extending through the mixing element.

Assignments (12)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 20, 2025
From: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
To: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 072553/0215 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Apr 7, 2023
From: TENNECO INC.; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063268/0506 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Nov 22, 2022
From: DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; TENNECO INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061989/0689 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; TENNECO INTERNATIONAL HOLDING CORP.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; TENNECO GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC.; CLEVITE INDUSTRIES INC.; TMC TEXAS INC.; CARTER AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FELT PRODUCTS MFG. CO. LLC; MUZZY-LYON AUTO PARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN IP LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PISTON RINGS, LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; F-M MOTORPARTS TSC LLC; F-M TSC REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL VALVE TRAIN INTERNATIONAL LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL SEVIERVILLE, LLC; BECK ARNLEY HOLDINGS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL FILTRATION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL FINANCING CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC
Reel/Frame 061975/0218 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 061975/0031 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 061971/0156 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 17, 2021
From: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 055626/0065 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 1, 2020
From: TENNECO INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 054555/0592 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2018
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
Reel/Frame 048099/0716 →
CONFIRMATORY GRANT OF SECURITY INTERESTS IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Oct 9, 2018
From: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; TENNECO INTERNATIONAL HOLDING CORP.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; TENNECO GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC.; CLEVITE INDUSTRIES INC.; TMC TEXAS INC.; CARTER AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FELT PRODUCTS MFG. CO. LLC; MUZZY-LYON AUTO PARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN IP LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PISTON RINGS, LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; F-M MOTORPARTS TSC LLC; F-M TSC REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL VALVETRAIN INTERNATIONAL LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL SEVIERVILLE, LLC; BECK ARNLEY HOLDINGS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL FILTRATION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL FINANCING CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 047223/0001 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Jun 14, 2017
From: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 042809/0515 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2016
From: NOREN, LAWRENCE J., IV; OWEN, DANIEL J.; DENTON, JEFFREY W.; KOVACS, ATTILA; HEIN, ERIC A.; LU, MENG-HUANG
To: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
Reel/Frame 037572/0607 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62106398 · Jan 22, 2015
Related Publication 20160215673A1 · Jul 28, 2016