System for modifying exhaust gas flow through an aftertreatment device

1. An exhaust gas aftertreatment device for an internal combustion engine producing the exhaust gas, the aftertreatment device comprising:

a housing defining an inlet configured to receive the exhaust gas and an outlet from which the exhaust gas exits the aftertreatment device,

an aftertreatment element positioned within the housing, the aftertreatment element having one end defining a front face that is configured to receive the exhaust gas from the inlet of the housing and an opposite end defining a rear face through which the exhaust gas exits the aftertreatment element,

an exhaust gas flow modification device separate from the housing and the aftertreatment element and positioned within the housing adjacent to the rear face of the aftertreatment element, the exhaust gas flow modification device configured to modify exhaust gas flow through the aftertreatment element such that a temperature across the front face of the aftertreatment element resulting solely from exhaust gas flow through the aftertreatment element is maintained uniform, the exhaust gas flow modification device being movable between a first position that maintains uniform temperature across the front face of the aftertreatment element by modifying exhaust gas flow through at least a portion of the aftertreatment element, and a second position that does not maintain uniform temperature across the front face of the aftertreatment element, and

a control circuit configured to selectively control the exhaust gas flow modification device between the first and second positions,

wherein the exhaust gas flow modification device comprises a flow control valve, and wherein the flow control valve comprises a plate with a number of passageways defined through the plate through which exhaust gas flows when the exhaust gas flow modification device is in the first position.

2. The aftertreatment device of claim 1 wherein the plate is juxtaposed over a center portion of the rear face of the aftertreatment element when the exhaust gas flow modification device is in the first position.

3. The aftertreatment device of claim 1 wherein the number of passageways defined through the plate increase in cross-sectional flow area radially outwardly from a center of the plate toward an outer periphery of the plate to provide for incrementally increased exhaust gas flow through the plate from the center of the plate toward the outer periphery of the plate.

4. The aftertreatment device of claim 1 wherein the control circuit is configured to control the exhaust gas flow modification device to the first position prior to regeneration of the aftertreatment element, and to otherwise control the exhaust gas flow modification device to the second position.

5. The aftertreatment device of claim 1 further comprising means for determining a rotational speed of the engine, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the exhaust gas flow modification device to the first position if the rotational speed of the engine is at or near an idle speed.

6. An exhaust gas aftertreatment device for an internal combustion engine producing the exhaust gas, the aftertreatment device comprising:

an inlet configured to receive the exhaust gas,

an outlet from which the exhaust gas exits the aftertreatment device,

an aftertreatment element positioned between the inlet and the outlet, the aftertreatment element having a front face that is configured to receive the exhaust gas from the inlet and a rear face through which the exhaust gas exits the aftertreatment element, and

a flow control valve positioned between the rear face of the aftertreatment element and the outlet of the aftertreatment device, the flow control valve configured to modify exhaust gas flow through the aftertreatment element such that a temperature across the front face of the aftertreatment element resulting solely from exhaust gas flow through the aftertreatment element is maintained uniform, wherein the flow control valve comprises a plate with a number of passageways defined through the plate through which exhaust gas flows.

7. The aftertreatment device of claim 6 wherein the number of passageways defined through the plate increase in cross-sectional flow area radially outwardly from a center of the plate toward an outer periphery of the plate to provide for incrementally increased exhaust gas flow through the plate from the center of the plate toward the outer periphery of the plate.

8. The aftertreatment device of claim 6 wherein the plate is juxtaposed over a center portion of the rear face of the aftertreatment element.

9. The aftertreatment device of claim 8 wherein the flow modification mechanism is movable between a first position in which the plate is juxtaposed over the center portion of the rear face of the aftertreatment element such that the temperature across the front face of the aftertreatment element is maintained uniform, and a second position in which the plate is not juxtaposed over the center portion of the rear face of the aftertreatment element,

and further comprising a control circuit configured to control the flow modification mechanisms between the first and second positions.

10. An exhaust gas aftertreatment device for an internal combustion engine producing the exhaust gas, the aftertreatment device comprising:

a housing defining an inlet configured to receive the exhaust gas and an outlet from which the exhaust gas exits the aftertreatment device,

an aftertreatment element positioned within the housing, the aftertreatment element having one end defining a front face that is configured to receive the exhaust gas from the inlet of the housing and an opposite end defining a rear face through which the exhaust gas exits the aftertreatment element, and

an exhaust gas flow modification device separate from the housing and the aftertreatment element and positioned within the housing adjacent to one of the front face and the rear face of the aftertreatment element, the exhaust gas flow modification device controllable between a first position in which the exhaust gas flow modification device permits generally unobstructed exhaust gas flow to an entirety of the front face of the aftertreatment element and a second position in which the exhaust gas flow modification device at least partially restricts exhaust gas flow to a first area of the front face of aftertreatment element while permitting unobstructed exhaust gas flow to a second remaining area of the front face of the aftertreatment element,

wherein the exhaust gas flow modification device comprises a flow control valve, and wherein the flow control valve comprises a plate with a number of passageways defined through the plate through which exhaust gas flows when the exhaust gas flow modification device is in the second position.

11. The aftertreatment device of claim 10 wherein the plate is juxtaposed over a center portion of the one of the front face and the rear face of the aftertreatment element when the exhaust gas flow modification device is in the second position.

12. The aftertreatment device of claim 10 wherein the number of passageways defined through the plate increase in cross-sectional flow area radially outwardly from a center of the plate toward an outer periphery of the plate to provide for incrementally increased exhaust gas flow through the plate from the center of the plate toward the outer periphery of the plate.