Patent Grant
11795860
This application claims priority of German patent application nos. 10 2021 102 551.6, filed Feb. 4, 2021, and 10 2021 104 678.5, filed Feb. 26, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure concerns an exhaust gas treatment assembly with a housing and a plurality of exhaust gas treatment units arranged in the housing.
In order to clean exhaust gas emitted by an internal combustion engine, it is known to use various exhaust gas treatment units, such as for example catalytic converter units or particle filter units. These are arranged in a housing through which exhaust gas can flow, wherein for efficient exhaust gas cleaning in such a housing, a plurality of exhaust gas treatment units may be arranged successively in the flow direction.
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an exhaust gas treatment assembly for an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine which, with simple structure, allows the integration of a plurality of exhaust gas treatment units in a housing and the removal of the exhaust gas treatment units from the housing.
According to the disclosure, this object is achieved by an exhaust gas treatment assembly for an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine. This exhaust gas treatment assembly includes:
wherein when the first exhaust gas treatment unit and the second exhaust gas treatment unit are inserted in the housing, the locking arrangement is blocked in the locked state by the second exhaust gas treatment unit.
With the exhaust gas treatment assembly constructed according to the disclosure, the first exhaust gas treatment unit is locked on the housing by the blocked locking arrangement, even when the second exhaust gas treatment unit is inserted in the housing. The second exhaust gas treatment unit thus secures the first exhaust gas treatment unit to the housing, so that an undefined movement of the first exhaust gas treatment unit relative to the housing cannot occur when both exhaust gas treatment units are inserted in the housing. By removing the second exhaust gas treatment unit from the housing, the blocking of the locking arrangement is eliminated and the first exhaust gas treatment unit can also be removed from the housing, for example in order to clean this or replace it with another first exhaust gas treatment unit.
For a reliable locking arrangement functioning by form fit, this may include:
wherein when the first exhaust gas treatment unit is inserted in the housing, in the locked state, the at least one lock engagement element is positioned so as to engage radially outwardly in a lock engagement recess, and when the second exhaust gas treatment unit is inserted in the housing, is blocked against radially inward movement for eliminating the locked state by the second exhaust gas treatment unit.
In an alternative embodiment, it may be provided that the locking arrangement includes:
wherein when the first exhaust gas treatment unit is inserted in the housing, in the locked state, the at least one lock engagement element is positioned with its lock engagement recess surrounding a lock engagement protrusion on the housing, and when the second exhaust gas treatment unit is inserted in the housing, is blocked against radially inward movement for eliminating the locked state by the second exhaust gas treatment unit.
The movement of the first exhaust gas treatment unit in the axial direction when the locked state is created may be suppressed for example in that the at least one lock engagement recess on the housing is provided by an axially delimited bulge of the housing towards the radial outside. Such a bulge may be provided for example in that locally, in the region of a lock engagement recess, the wall thickness of a wall of the housing decreases or a wall of the housing is deformed radially outward.
If a lock engagement recess is provided on the housing, running substantially completely around in the circumferential direction, the process of inserting the first exhaust gas treatment unit in the housing can be performed particularly easily since there is no need to observe a defined rotary positioning of the first exhaust gas treatment unit relative to the housing.
In an alternative embodiment in which, in addition, the first exhaust gas treatment unit can be reliably secured on the housing against rotation about the housing longitudinal axis, a plurality of lock engagement recesses, arranged circumferentially spaced apart from one another and delimited in the circumferential direction, may be provided on the housing.
In order to guarantee an effect of the locking arrangement which is evenly distributed over the circumference, it is proposed that a plurality of lock engagement elements, arranged circumferentially spaced apart from one another, is provided on the first casing.
For a reliably functioning construction which is simple to implement, each lock engagement element includes a fixing portion fixedly provided on the first casing, a blocking portion which, when the second exhaust gas treatment unit is inserted in the housing, in the locked state, is blocked against movement towards the radial inside and/or is loaded towards the radial outside by the second casing, and a locking portion which, in the locked state, engages in a lock engagement recess on the housing.
In the alternative embodiment described above with lock engagement recesses on the lock engagement element and one or more lock engagement protrusions on the housing, each lock engagement element includes a fixing portion fixedly provided on the first casing, a blocking portion which, when the second exhaust gas treatment unit is inserted in the housing, in the locked state, is blocked against movement towards the radial inside and/or is loaded towards the radial outside by the second casing, and a locking portion with a lock engagement recess which, in the locked state, surrounds a lock engagement protrusion on the housing.
The locking effect of the locking arrangement may be improved, with simultaneous avoidance of rattling noises, if in the locked state, the blocking portion, which is loaded towards the radial outside by means of the second casing, of the locking portion is held in contact with the housing, for example, is held in the region of a lock engagement recess receiving a locking portion.
A reliable interaction of the second exhaust gas treatment unit with the locking arrangement for blocking this in the locked state may be guaranteed in that the housing has an insertion opening for receiving the first exhaust gas treatment unit and the second exhaust gas treatment unit into the housing by movement in an insertion direction, wherein the first exhaust gas treatment unit has a first end portion which leads on movement of the first exhaust gas treatment unit in the insertion direction for insertion in the housing, and a second end portion which trails on movement of the first exhaust gas treatment unit in the insertion direction for insertion into the housing, and the at least one lock engagement element is provided on the first casing in the region of the second end portion of the first exhaust gas treatment unit.
Here a defined holding of the first exhaust gas treatment unit in the housing over its entire length can be achieved if, when the first exhaust gas treatment unit is inserted in the housing, the first casing in the region of the first end portion of the first exhaust gas treatment unit is radially supported and/or sealed relative to the housing by a support/sealing arrangement.
For blocking interaction with the locking arrangement, the second exhaust gas treatment unit may have a first end portion which leads on movement of the second gas treatment unit in the insertion direction for insertion in the housing, and a second end portion which trails on movement of the second exhaust gas treatment unit in the insertion direction for insertion into the housing, and in the locked state, the at least one lock engagement element may be blocked in the locked state by the second casing in the region of the first end portion of the second exhaust gas treatment unit.
With a configuration in which the lock engagement elements can be optimally adapted to the locking function they must fulfil, at least one lock engagement element, preferably each lock engagement element, is fixed to the first casing as a separate component, and/or at least one lock engagement element, preferably each lock engagement element, is made of sheet metal material. Alternatively, a plurality of lock engagement elements may be provided on a preferably ring-like lock engagement element carrier fixed to the first casing. In a further alternative embodiment, at least one lock engagement element may be configured as an integral part of the first casing and be arranged extending radially outward therefrom.
For simple insertion of the first exhaust gas treatment unit in the housing and removal thereof from the housing, it is proposed that when the first exhaust gas treatment unit is inserted in the housing, and the second exhaust gas treatment unit is not inserted in the housing, the locking arrangement is not in the locked state, and can be brought into the locked state by insertion of the second exhaust gas treatment unit into the housing. Alternatively, to achieve a holding of the first exhaust gas treatment unit in the housing while the second exhaust gas treatment unit is not yet inserted in the housing, when the first exhaust gas treatment unit is inserted in the housing and the second exhaust gas treatment unit is not inserted in the housing, the locking arrangement may be in the locked state.
To ensure that the exhaust gas treatment assembly remains held together in stable fashion, it is proposed that when the second exhaust gas treatment unit is inserted in the housing, the second exhaust gas treatment unit is or can be fixed relative to the housing by at least one fixing element, preferably screw bolts.
With the exhaust gas treatment assembly according to the disclosure, at least one exhaust gas treatment unit may include a catalytic converter unit, such as for example an oxidation catalytic converter unit or diesel oxidation catalytic converter unit, and/or that at least one exhaust gas treatment unit may include a particle filter unit, such as for example a diesel particulate filter unit. Furthermore, at least one exhaust gas treatment unit may include a preferably electrically operated heater unit.
The disclosure furthermore concerns a method for constructing an exhaust gas treatment assembly according to the disclosure, including the measures:
To ensure that the exhaust gas treatment assembly can be held together in stable fashion, the method may include a measure d) for fixing the second exhaust gas treatment unit relative to the housing in a state blocking the locking arrangement in the locked state after performance of measure c).
In order for example to obtain access to the first exhaust gas treatment unit for maintenance or exchange thereof, the method may furthermore include a measure e) for exchanging the first exhaust gas treatment unit received in the housing. This measure e) includes removing the second exhaust gas treatment unit from the housing, and in so doing, eliminating the state blocking the locking arrangement in the locked state, and removing the first exhaust gas treatment unit from the housing.
The disclosure furthermore concerns an exhaust gas system for an internal combustion engine, in particular in a vehicle, including at least one exhaust gas treatment assembly constructed according to the disclosure.
In such an exhaust gas system, the housing may be fixed to a wall of an exhaust gas-carrying component preferably by welding, and when the second exhaust gas treatment unit is inserted in the housing, the second exhaust gas treatment unit may be fixed to the wall.
The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:
In this end region of the housing 12 shown on the left in
The first exhaust gas treatment unit 24 includes, for example, a tubular first casing 28, formed so as to be substantially cylindrical, in which for example a first exhaust gas treatment element 32 is held by means of a fiber matting 30 or similar. The first exhaust gas treatment element 32 may for example include a monolithic, porous body through which exhaust gas can flow and which may be made from and/or coated with catalytically active material.
Similarly, the second exhaust gas treatment unit 26 includes a substantially tubular or cylindrical second casing 34, which like the first casing 28 may be made from sheet metal material, and in which a second exhaust gas treatment element 38 may be carried, for example with the interposition of a fiber mat 36. The second exhaust gas treatment element 38 may also include a porous, for example monolithic body through which exhaust gas may flow and which may be made from and/or coated with catalytically active material.
The first exhaust gas treatment unit 24 has a first end portion 40 (shown on the right in
In the region of a second end portion 50 of the first exhaust gas treatment unit 24 which trails on insertion of the first exhaust gas treatment unit 24 into the housing 12 in the insertion direction E, this is held in a defined axial position in the housing 12 by means of a locking arrangement, generally designated 52, in the assembled state shown in
Each of the lock engagement elements 54, which are made for example from sheet metal material and hence are fundamentally elastically deformable or flexible, is fixed by a fixing portion 58 to the first casing 28 in the region of the second end portion 50 of the first exhaust gas treatment unit 24. This may be achieved for example by material bonding, such as, for example, soldering or welding, or by a fixing element such as, for example, a fixing rivet or several fixing rivets or similar. Alternatively, at least one or each of the lock engagement elements 54 may form an integral part of the first casing 28, and extend towards the radial outside starting from a region of the integral connection to the first casing 28 which provides the fixing portion 58.
In the embodiment shown in
The lock engagement elements 54 furthermore include a blocking portion 62 which comes into or stands in interaction with the second casing 34 of the second exhaust gas treatment unit 26. In the state shown in
In order, in the assembled state of the exhaust gas treatment assembly 10, to also hold the second exhaust gas treatment unit 26 in a defined position, in particular in a position in which this blocks the locking arrangement 52 against eliminating the locked state, on the second casing 34, in an end portion 66 of the second exhaust gas treatment unit 26 which trails on insertion of the second exhaust gas treatment unit 26 in the insertion direction E, a flange-like, radially outwardly protruding fixing portion 68 is provided, by means of which the second exhaust gas treatment unit 26 may be fixed with respect to the housing 12, for example by the use of generically illustrated fixing element 70, such as, for example, screw bolts. Such fixing elements 70 may be introduced for example into assigned openings of the wall 18.
In order to achieve a gas-tight closure of the second exhaust gas treatment unit 26 relative to the housing 12, a support/sealing arrangement 72 is also assigned to this. This too includes, for example, an O-ring-like sealing element 74, a radial support element 76, and, for example, a ring-like axial support element 78 which is fixed to the outer periphery of the second casing 34, for example by welding or soldering, and which holds the sealing element 74 and radial support element 76 in defined positions relative to the second casing 34 against the insertion direction E on insertion of the second exhaust gas treatment unit 26 into the housing 12.
On assembly of the exhaust gas treatment assembly 10, firstly the first exhaust gas treatment unit 24 is inserted into the housing 12 through the insertion opening 20 in the insertion direction E. The state in which the first exhaust gas treatment unit 24 is inserted into the housing 12, but the second exhaust gas treatment unit 26 is not yet inserted into the housing 12, is shown in
On subsequent insertion of the second exhaust gas treatment unit 26, this, with the second casing 34 in the first end portion 64, comes into contact with blocking portions 62 of the lock engagement elements 54. In order to provide an insertion chamfer of the lock engagement elements 54, the latter may be formed in the region of the blocking portion 62 with oblique insertion end portions 80 extending towards the radial outside opposite the insertion direction E.
In the course of the insertion movement of the second exhaust gas treatment unit 26, this loads the insertion end portions 80 and thus presses the lock engagement elements 54 with their locking portions 60 towards the radial outside, so that they come into engagement in the lock engagement recess 56 and are held in contact with the housing 12 in the region of the lock engagement recess 56. Then the second exhaust gas treatment unit 26 may be fixed by the fixing element 70 to the wall 18, and hence with respect to the housing 12 carried thereon. Since in this state, the lock engagement elements 54 in the region of their blocking portions 62 are blocked against movement towards the radial inside, or are loaded in the direction towards the radial outside for engagement into the lock engagement recess 56, the locking arrangement 52 is blocked in its locked state and hence the first exhaust gas treatment unit 24 is held in a defined axial position on the housing 12. In particular, thereby also in the second end portion 50 of the first exhaust gas treatment unit 24, a defined radial support of the first exhaust gas treatment unit 24 relative to the housing 12 is achieved. In this state, the lock engagement elements 54 can at least support the defined radial holding of the second exhaust gas treatment 26 in its first end portion 64.
Since the lock engagement elements 54 are loaded in contact against the housing 12 by the second exhaust gas treatment unit 26, an interference fit exists between the lock engagement elements 54 and the housing 12, so that, also supported by the interference fit generated in the region of the support/sealing arrangement 42, the first exhaust gas treatment unit 24 is held in the housing 12 securely against rotation about the housing longitudinal axis L. In order to provide an additional rotational security, instead of the lock engagement recess 56 running completely around in the circumferential direction, a plurality of lock engagement recesses may be provided which are arranged spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction, wherein for example then a lock engagement recess limited in the circumferential direction may be assigned for example to each lock engagement element 54, and also a form fit acting in the circumferential direction can be achieved between the lock engagement elements 54, engaging in a respective lock engagement recess, and the housing 12.
An alternative embodiment in particular of the first exhaust gas treatment unit 24 is shown in
With the structure of an exhaust gas treatment assembly 10 according to the disclosure, which structurally simple configuration it is possible to hold several exhaust gas treatment units 24, 26 reliably in defined positions in the housing 12 and have easy access thereto, for example in order to clean or exchange these. In particular, to achieve access to the first exhaust gas treatment unit 24, the second exhaust gas treatment unit 26 may be removed from the housing 12, so that also the first exhaust gas treatment unit 24 can be extracted from the housing 12 when the locking arrangement 52 is no longer blocked in the locked state.
It is pointed out that with such an exhaust gas treatment assembly 10, more than two exhaust gas treatment units may also be used. Thus for example, with a correspondingly longer configuration of the housing 12, a further exhaust gas treatment unit may be positioned to the right of the first exhaust gas treatment unit in
An alternative embodiment of the locking arrangement 52, in particular with respect to the provision of the lock engagement recess 56, is shown in
A further alternative embodiment of the locking arrangement 52 is shown in
It is pointed out that the variants shown in
An alternative embodiment for connecting the locking elements 54 to the first casing 28 is shown in
With the embodiment of an exhaust gas treatment assembly according to the disclosure, a simple and reliable locking or fixing of the exhaust gas treatment unit is achieved, wherein in addition, because of the flexibility in the region of the lock engagement elements, production tolerances and thermal expansions in both the axial and radial directions can be compensated. In addition, the lock engagement elements may also be used as handles when handling the first exhaust gas treatment unit.
In such an exhaust gas treatment assembly, the various exhaust gas treatment units may perform different functions depending on their configuration. Thus for example both exhaust gas treatment units may be formed as catalytic converter units. Alternatively, one of the exhaust gas treatment units may be configured as a catalytic converter unit and the other a particle filter unit. In the further alternative, one of the exhaust gas treatment units may be a heater unit, for example, powered by electrical energy, through which heat can be introduced into the exhaust gas stream or an exhaust gas treatment element, and hence exhaust gas treatment achieved in the form of heating. For example, a combination of an exhaust gas treatment unit configured as a catalytic converter unit and an exhaust gas treatment unit configured as a heating unit may be provided. Alternatively, a combination of an exhaust gas treatment unit configured as a heater unit and an exhaust gas treatment unit configured as a particle filter unit may be implemented. In a further alternative, an exhaust gas treatment unit could contain, as well as an exhaust gas treatment element effective for example as a catalytic converter or particle filter, also a heater element which may be, for example, electrically energized, so that this exhaust gas treatment unit may be active both as a heater unit and also as a catalytic converter unit or particle filter unit. It is evident that for the configuration of an exhaust gas treatment unit as an electrically operated heater unit, a line passage must be provided through the housing for the supply of electrical energy to a heating element, for example a casing heating conductor.
It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2021 102 551.6 | Feb 2021 | DE | national |
| 10 2021 104 678.5 | Feb 2021 | DE | national |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20220243639 A1 | Aug 2022 | US |
