DNOx dosing tester and method

1. A method for testing a dosing valve of a dosing device of a dosing system in a vehicle, the method comprising:

connecting an electrical test drive to an electrical connector of the dosing device;

connecting a dosing tester to a liquid inlet of the dosing device;

opening an outlet valve of the dosing tester to provide liquid to the liquid inlet of the dosing device;

after a first given time, operating the electrical test drive to attempt to open the dosing valve of the dosing device; and

upon a reduction in liquid level of liquid within the dosing tester in response to opening of the dosing valve of the dosing device, closing the outlet valve of the dosing tester and/or releasing pressure within a storage tube of the dosing device.

2. The method according to claim 1 , including, after operating the electrical test drive to attempt to open the dosing valve with no reduction in liquid level for a first predetermined time, discontinuing operation of the electrical test drive for a second given time;

after the second given time, operating the electrical test drive to attempt to open the dosing valve of the dosing device; and

upon a reduction in liquid level of liquid within the dosing tester in response to opening of the dosing valve of the dosing device, closing the outlet valve of the dosing tester and/or releasing pressure within a storage tube of the dosing device.

3. The method according to claim 1 , including, after operating the electrical test drive for a first predetermined time to attempt to open the dosing valve with no reduction in liquid level, discontinuing operation of the electrical test drive for a second given time;

after the second given time, operating the electrical test drive for a second predetermined time to attempt to open the dosing valve of the dosing device;

upon no reduction in liquid level of liquid within the dosing tester in response to attempting to open of the dosing valve for the second predetermined time, discontinuing operation of the electrical test drive for a third given time;

after the third given time, operating the electrical test drive for a third predetermined time to attempt to open the dosing valve of the dosing device, upon determining that the dosing valve is not opening; and

closing the outlet valve of the dosing tester.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the first given time, the second given time, and the third given time are each at least about five minutes, and wherein the first predetermined time, the second predetermined time, and the third predetermined time are each at least about 110 seconds.

5. The method according to claim 3 , including replacing the dosing device when the dosing valve does not open during the third predetermined time or earlier.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the dosing valve includes a dosing valve needle and the electrical test drive operates periodically to attempt to generate axial movement of the dosing valve needle.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the electrical test drive provides a pulse at a time period of about 20 milliseconds to repeatedly actuate and attempt to open the dosing valve.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further including

disconnecting an electronic dosing device controller from the dosing device before connecting the electrical test drive; and

disconnecting a urea storage device from the dosing device before connecting the dosing tester to the liquid inlet of the dosing device.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further including preparing the dosing tester by:

filling liquid into the storage tube of the dosing tester via the inlet of the dosing tester to about a liquid fill level mark;

closing the inlet valve of the dosing tester;

providing air into the storage tube via an air valve; and

discontinuing supply of air into the storage tube when a selected pressure is provided in the storage tube of the dosing tester.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the liquid is water.

11. The method according to claim 9 , further including

disconnecting an electronic dosing device controller from the dosing device before connecting the electrical test drive; and

disconnecting a urea storage device from the dosing device before connecting the dosing tester to the liquid inlet of the dosing device.

12. A method for testing a dosing valve of a dosing device of a dosing system provided for reducing mono-nitrogen oxides NOx output by an exhaust pipe of a vehicle, the method comprising:

disconnecting an electronic dosing device controller from the dosing device;

disconnecting a urea storage device from the dosing device;

connecting an electrical test drive to an electrical connector of the dosing device;

connecting a dosing tester to a liquid inlet of the dosing device;

opening an outlet valve of the dosing tester to provide liquid to the liquid inlet of the dosing device;

after a first given time, operating the electrical test drive to attempt to open the dosing valve of the dosing device; and

when a reduction in liquid level of liquid within the dosing tester occurs in response to opening of the dosing valve of the dosing device, closing the outlet valve of the dosing tester and discontinuing operation of the electrical test drive.

13. The method according to claim 12 ,

when the electrical test drive operates for a first predetermined time, discontinuing operation of the electrical test drive for a second given time;

after the second given time, operating the electrical test drive for a second predetermined time to attempt to open the dosing valve of the dosing device; and

upon expiring of the second predetermined time without a decrease in liquid level of liquid within the dosing tester, discontinuing operation of the electrical test drive for a third given time; and

after the third given time, operating the electrical test drive for a third predetermined time, and upon expiring of the third predetermined time without a decrease in liquid level of liquid within the dosing tester, closing the outlet valve of the dosing tester and discontinuing operation of the electrical test drive.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein upon expiring of the third predetermined time without a decrease in liquid level of liquid within the dosing tester, the method including

disconnecting the electrical test drive from the dosing device;

disconnecting the dosing tester from the liquid inlet of the dosing device;

removing the dosing device from the vehicle;

securing a second dosing device to the vehicle in communication with an exhaust pipe for providing liquid therein;

connecting an electronic dosing device controller to the second dosing device; and

connecting a urea storage device to the second dosing device.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein operating the electrical test drive to attempt to open the dosing valve includes providing pulses to an actuator of the dosing valve of the dosing device for axially moving a dosing valve needle.