Patent Application
20180045098
The present invention relates to a heating structure, a production method therefor, and a pump module including the same.
In general, an exhaust system for a diesel engine includes an exhaust gas post-processing unit, such as a selective catalyst reduction (SCR) unit, a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) unit, a catalyzed particulate filter (CPF), so as to reduce a nitrogen oxide (NOx) contained in exhaust gas.
Among them, an exhaust gas post-processing unit that applies SCR (hereinafter, referred to as an ‘SCR unit’) performs a function of injecting a reductant, such as an aqueous urea solution, into an inside of an exhaust pipe to reduce NOx in the exhaust gas into nitrogen and oxygen.
That is, in the SCR unit, when the reductant is injected into the inside of the exhaust pipe, the reductant can be changed to ammonia (NH3) by heat of the exhaust gas, and NOx can be reduced into nitrogen gas (N2) and water (H2O) as a catalyst reaction of NOx in the exhaust gas and ammonia using an SCR catalyst.
In this way, a system for supplying the aqueous urea solution to the SCR unit is required to inject the aqueous urea solution into the inside of the exhaust pipe using the SCR unit.
The system for supplying the aqueous urea solution basically includes a urea tank for storing the aqueous urea solution and a pump module that is disposed in the urea tank and supplies the aqueous urea solution to the SCR unit.
In the related art, as specific gravity of the aqueous urea solution increases in the winter season, freezing is sequentially performed from a lower portion of the urea tank, and as the volume of the aqueous urea solution expands due to freezing, great deformation may occur in an upper portion of the urea tank.
In addition, in the related art, a heating device and a pump are installed to be spaced by a predetermined distance apart from each other. Thus, it is not easy to melt the frozen aqueous urea solution that is present in the pump.
The present invention is directed to providing a heating structure for stably pumping a strongly alkaline aqueous urea solution using an injector and melting the frozen aqueous urea solution in the winter season, a production method therefor, and a pump module including the same.
One aspect of the present invention provides a heating structure, which is for heating a pump installed in a tank so as to discharge a liquid stored in the tank to the outside of the tank, including: a flange installed on one surface of the interior of the tank; and a heating member coupled to one surface of the flange and provided on one side thereof with an accommodation groove in which at least a part of the pump is accommodated, wherein a first discharge tube of the pump having at least a part thereof accommodated in the accommodation groove extends toward the flange and is connected to a second discharge tube formed on the other surface of the flange outside the tank, and the heating member is formed to heat at least a part of the pump, at least a part of the first discharge tube, and at least a part of the second discharge tube.
The heating member may include: a body that extends in an inward direction of the tank; and a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device coupled to an outside surface of the body, and the accommodation groove may be formed in an end that opens in the inward direction of the tank of the body.
The heating structure may further include a cover coupled to the body so as to cover and seal the PTC device.
A protrusion may be formed on one side of the PTC device and may protrude toward the flange, and a plug connected to the PTC device may be formed on an end of the protrusion, and a first groove may be recessed in the one surface of the flange so that the protrusion is inserted into the first groove, and a socket corresponding to the plug may be formed in a center of the first groove.
The heating structure may further include a first sealing member formed on an outer circumferential surface of the protrusion.
The heating structure may further include: a mounting groove formed in one side surface of the body so that the PTC device is inserted into the body through the mounting groove; and a wall portion formed at a circumference of the mounting groove, wherein the cover may be coupled to the wall portion to cover and seal the PTC device and to fix the PTC device to the body.
The heating structure may further include a gasket disposed between the wall portion and the cover and sealing a space between the wall portion and the cover.
The heating structure may further include a power cutoff unit that cuts off power supplied to the PTC device when the power cutoff unit is electrically connected to the PTC device and the PTC device is at a Curie temperature or higher.
The heating structure may further include a temperature sensor that is installed on one surface of the flange and detects a temperature of the liquid.
A second groove may be formed in one surface of the flange to accommodate at least a part of the first discharge tube, and one end of the body capable of heating at least a part of the first discharge tube may be accommodated in the second groove together with at least a part of the first discharge tube.
One end of the body may be formed to heat a part of the second discharge tube.
A connection tube may be formed in the second groove of the flange, may protrude from an interior of the second groove of the flange, may extend toward the heating member and may connect the first discharge tube to the second discharge tube.
The heating structure may further include a linear discharge tube coupled to the first discharge tube, wherein the discharge tube may be disposed in the connection tube while being coupled to the first discharge tube.
The heating structure may further include a second sealing member formed at an outer circumferential surface of the discharge tube so as to seal a space between the discharge tube and the connection tube.
The tank may be a storage tank for storing an aqueous urea solution.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a pump module including: a pump installed in a storage tank so as to discharge a liquid stored in the storage tank to an outside of the storage tank; the above-described heating structure disposed to surround an outside surface of the pump; a coupling member coupled to an outside of the pump so as to couple the heating structure to the flange; and a filter coupled to the flange to surround the pump, the coupling member and the heating structure and filtering the liquid supplied to the pump.
Still another aspect of the present invention provides a production method for a heating structure, including: providing a body having a mounting groove formed in one side surface thereof and a wall portion provided at a circumference of the mounting groove; inserting a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device into the mounting groove; installing a gasket at the wall portion and coupling a cover to the wall portion; and injection molding a surface of the body to which the cover is coupled, to form a housing.
In a heating structure according to an embodiment of the present invention and a production method therefor, a frozen aqueous urea solution can be melted using a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device capable of heating the aqueous urea solution, and damage caused by electrical overload can be prevented.
In a pump module according to an embodiment of the present invention, a strongly alkaline aqueous urea solution can be stably pumped using an injector.
In a heating structure according to an embodiment of the present invention and a pump module including the same, a flange mounted on a lower portion of a tank is provided so that installation of the heating structure in the pump module is simple.
In a heating structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, a body is formed to heat a part of a first discharge tube and a part of a second discharge tube so that the frozen aqueous urea solution that is present in the discharge tube of the pump module can be efficiently melted.
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings in order to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to easily embody and practice the invention. The present invention can be implemented in several different forms and is not limited to the exemplary embodiments disclosed below. In order to clearly describe the present invention, portions irrelevant to the description are omitted in the drawings, and like reference numerals throughout the specification denote like elements.
In the present specification, it is to be understood that the terms such as “including” or “having,” etc., are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof may exist or may be added. It will be understood that, when a portion such as a layer, a film, a region or a plate is referred to as being “on” another portion, the portion can be “directly on” another portion or on intervening portions. In contrast, when a portion such as a layer, a film, a region or a plate is referred to as being “under” another portion, the portion can be “directly under” another portion or under intervening portions.
Hereinafter, a heating structure according to an embodiment of the present invention and a pump module including the same will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.
Referring to
In this case, the pump module 3 may be installed in a tank 7 in which a liquid is stored, and may pump the liquid using an injector (not shown) installed outside the tank stably.
In addition, the pump module 3 may perform a function of adjusting the temperature and level of the liquid stored in the tank 7 and filtering the liquid stored in the tank 7 and may melt the frozen liquid using the heating structure 1 installed therein. This enables the frozen liquid to be firstly melted before the pump 9 operates, so that the pump can operate smoothly.
Referring to
A freezing point of the aqueous urea solution 5 that is strongly alkaline is −11.5° C., and a volume of the aqueous urea solution 5 at the freezing point expands by 11%. Thus, when the aqueous urea solution 5 stored in the pump module is frozen, the volume of the aqueous urea solution expands, which may cause damage of the pump module 3.
Thus, the pump module 3 may be installed in the tank 7 in which the aqueous urea solution is stored, and may pump the strongly alkaline aqueous urea solution using the injector (not shown) installed outside the tank stably.
Referring to
Meanwhile, a suction tube 12 and a first discharge tube 11 of the pump 9 may be formed on a lower side surface of the pump while being adjacent to each other. Thus, the aqueous urea solution 5 is sucked into the pump via the suction tube 12 formed on the lower side surface of the pump and is discharged to the outside of the pump via the first discharge tube 11.
The suction tube 12 and the first discharge tube 11 of the pump 9 are installed adjacent to each other so that the aqueous urea solution 5 suctioned via the suction tube 12 does not pass through a motor (not shown) disposed in the pump but is directly discharged via the first discharge tube 11 and thus the motor can be protected.
Meanwhile, the heating structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is disposed to surround an outside surface of the pump 9. In this case, the heating structure 1 may transfer heat to the pump 9 and may melt the frozen aqueous urea solution 5.
Referring to
In this case, the coupling member 13 may be coupled to the outside of the pump 9 to couple the heating structure 1 to a flange 50 so that the heating structure 1 can be fixed to the interior of the tank 7.
Meanwhile, referring to
In this case, the filter 15 filters the aqueous urea solution 5 stored in the tank 7 using the filter media 17 and supplies the filtered aqueous urea solution 5 to the pump 9, as illustrated in
Referring to
Referring to
The heating structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention may transfer heat to the PTC device 41, at least a part of the pump 9, and at least a part of the first discharge tube 11 and the second discharge tube 57 so as to melt the frozen aqueous urea solution 5.
In addition, when electrical overload is applied to the PTC device 41 due to characteristics of the PTC device 41, power is cut off so that damage caused by electrical overload can be prevented.
Meanwhile, referring to
In an embodiment of the present invention, referring to
In addition, referring to
In this case, the pump 9 may be vertically inserted into the accommodation groove 33 formed in the body 32. In addition, a plurality of first inlets 34 may be formed on a lower side surface of the body 32, as illustrated in
In this case, the aqueous urea solution 5 may pass through the first inlets 34 of the body 32 and may be introduced into the inside of the pump via the suction tube 12 of the pump 9.
Referring to
In addition, the body 32 includes the pump 9 disposed therein and thus surrounds the pump so that heat generated in the body can be directly transferred to the pump.
In this case, the PTC device 41 may have a plate shape with rectangular cross-sections, as illustrated in
Meanwhile, referring to
In an embodiment of the present invention, the PTC device 41 may be coupled to the body 32 through a cover 43. In this case, the cover 43 may cover and seal the PTC device 41 and simultaneously may enable the PTC device to be coupled to the body 32.
Referring to
In addition, the cover 43 may include a screw hole 43a formed in a corner of the cover so that the PTC device 41 can be coupled to the body 32 using a bolt 44 through the screw hole 43a.
Meanwhile, referring to
In this case, a gasket 39 may be installed between the wall portion 37 and the cover 43 to seal a space between the wall portion and the cover. The gasket 39 may enable the aqueous urea solution 5 not to be permeated into the PTC device 41.
Meanwhile, the heating structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a power cutoff unit (not shown).
The power cutoff unit may be a power sensor, and the power sensor may be electrically connected to the PTC device 41 so that, when the PTC device is at a Curie temperature or higher, the power sensor may cutoff power supplied to the PTC device. In this case, the Curie temperature is a temperature at which a material loses magnetism.
Referring to
Referring to
An insertion hole 45a may be formed in one end of the protrusion 45, i.e., in a lower surface of the protrusion, as illustrated in
Referring to
Referring to
In addition, a radius of an outer circumferential surface of the protrusion 45 and a radius of the first groove 51 may be formed in such a way that, when the protrusion is inserted into the first groove, the plug 47 and the socket 55 can be sealed at the radius of the outer circumferential surface of the protrusion 45 and the radius of the first groove 51. That is, the radius of the outer circumferential surface of the protrusion 45 may be smaller than the radius of the first groove 51.
In addition, a first sealing member 49 may be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the protrusion 45 so as to seal the first groove and the protrusion when the protrusion is inserted into the first groove 51.
Meanwhile, referring to
In this case, referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Meanwhile, referring to
In this case, the body 32 may protrude in such a way that a part of the lower end of the body 32 can be inserted into the second groove 53. In addition, at least a part of the first discharge tube 11 may be heated by the protruding body 32.
Referring to
That is, the lower end of the protruding body 32 may extend in a horizontal direction to heat a part of the second discharge tube 57.
In this case, the lower end of the protruding body 32 may be formed to correspond to the shape of the second discharge tube so as to heat a part of the second discharge tube 57. As illustrated in
Referring to
In this case, a second inlet 57a of the second discharge tube 57 may be connected to the connection tube 59, and a discharge port 57b of the second discharge tube 57 may extend in the horizontal direction, may pass through side surfaces of the flange 50 and may be exposed to the outside of the flange 50, as illustrated in
Meanwhile, in an embodiment of the present invention, the flange 50 may include the connection tube 59 that is formed in the inside of the second groove 53 and connects the first discharge tube 11 to the second discharge tube 57, as illustrated in
In this case, the connection tube 59 may protrude from the inside of the second groove 53 toward the heating member 30.
Meanwhile, referring to
In this case, a second sealing member 65 may be formed on an outer circumferential surface of the discharge tube 61 so as to seal a space between the discharge tube 61 and the connection tube 59.
Meanwhile, as illustrated in
In an embodiment of the present invention, the first discharge tube 11, the second discharge tube 57, the connection tube 59, and the discharge tube 61 may have a tubular shape with circular cross-sections so that the aqueous urea solution 5 can flow therethrough. However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.
Meanwhile, the heating structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a temperature sensor (not shown) that is installed on one surface of the flange 50 and detects the temperature of the aqueous urea solution 5 that is a liquid.
In this case, in an embodiment of the present invention, the temperature sensor may detect the temperature of the aqueous urea solution 5 inside the tank 7 to control an operation of the heating structure 1 and to maintain a constant temperature of the aqueous urea solution around the pump 9.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the first sealing member 49 and the second sealing member 65 may seal the first groove 51 and the protrusion and the space between the discharge tube 61 and the connection tube 59, respectively, so that the aqueous urea solution 5 does not permeate into the heating structure 1 and the pump module 3 including the same.
In this case, the first sealing member 49 and the second sealing member 65 may be compressed at a set compression ratio, may have set thicknesses, and may be manufactured in the form of an O-ring formed of fluorine silicon, for example.
Referring to
Thus, the PTC device 41 in a sealed state may be installed at the body 32. Also, the surface of the body 32 having the PTC device 41 installed therein may be injection-molded to form the housing 31.
Meanwhile, in providing of the body having the mounting groove formed in one side surface thereof and the wall portion provided at the circumference of the mounting groove (S10), the mounting groove 35 may be formed in one side surface of the body 32, and the wall portion 37 protrudes from the circumference of the mounting groove.
In addition, in inserting of the PTC device into the mounting groove (S20), the PTC device 41 is inserted into and is installed in the mounting groove 35. In this case, the area of the mounting groove 35 may be greater than or the same as the area of the PTC device 41.
Meanwhile, in installing of the gasket at the wall portion and coupling the cover to the wall portion (S30), the gasket 39 is installed at or applied to the protruding wall portion 37, and the cover 43 is coupled to the wall portion having the gasket installed therein, to seal the PTC device 41.
In addition, in injection molding of the surface of the body to which the cover is coupled, to form the housing (S40), the PTC device 41 is installed to inject a molding material into the body 32 to which the cover 43 is coupled, and to manufacture the housing 31.
In this case, the housing 31 may have the same shape as that of the body 32. However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.
Meanwhile, the heating member 30 may include the housing 31, the body 32, and the PTC device 41.
In a heating structure according to an embodiment of the present invention and a production method therefor, a PTC device capable of heating an aqueous urea solution that is easily frozen in the winter season is provided so that the frozen aqueous urea solution can be melted.
In a pump module according to an embodiment of the present invention, a strongly alkaline aqueous urea solution can be stably pumped using an injector.
In a heating structure according to an embodiment of the present invention and a pump module including the same, a flange mounted on a lower portion of a tank is provided so that installation of the heating structure in the pump module is simple.
In a heating structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, a body is formed to heat a part of a first discharge tube and a part of a second discharge tube so that the frozen aqueous urea solution that is present in the discharge tube to be discharged to the outside of the pump module can be efficiently melted.
While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
In a heating structure according to an embodiment of the present invention and a production method therefor, a PTC device capable of heating an aqueous urea solution is provided so that the frozen aqueous urea solution can be melted and damage caused by electrical overload can be prevented.
In a pump module according to an embodiment of the present invention, a strongly alkaline aqueous urea solution can be stably pumped using an injector.
In a heating structure according to an embodiment of the present invention and a pump module including the same, a flange mounted on a lower portion of a tank is provided so that installation of the heating structure in the pump module is simple.
In a heating structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, a body is formed to heat a part of a first discharge tube and a part of a second discharge tube so that the frozen aqueous urea solution that is present in the discharge tube can be efficiently melted.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2015-0027573 | Feb 2015 | KR | national |
This application is the national phase of International Application No. PCT/KR2016/001780, filed on 24 Feb. 2016, which is based upon and claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0027573, filed on 26 Feb. 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/KR2016/001780 | 2/24/2016 | WO | 00 |
