Systems and methods for inspecting particulate filters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11226277-B2
Application number	US-201916725018-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2019
Priority date	Jan 3, 2019
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

A particulate filter inspection system for a particulate filter includes a compressed air source. A primary conduit, a controller, a probe, and a gauge. The compressed air source is configured to draw air from an air source. The primary conduit is configured to receive the air from the compressed air source. The probe is coupled to the primary conduit and communicable with the controller. The probe is configured to interface with a face of the particulate filter to provide the air to only a sector of the particulate filter. The gauge is configured to determine a pressure of a first portion of the air within the primary conduit when the probe is providing a second portion of the air to only a sector of the face of the particulate filter. The controller is configured to receive the pressure from the gauge and compare the pressure to a target upper pressure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A particulate filter inspection system for a particulate filter, the particulate filter inspection system comprising:
a compressed air source configured to draw air from an air source;
a primary conduit configured to receive the air from the compressed air source;
a controller;
a probe coupled to the primary conduit and communicable with the controller, the probe configured to interface with a face of the particulate filter to provide the air to only a sector of the particulate filter; and
a gauge configured to determine a pressure of a first portion of the air within the primary conduit when the probe is providing a second portion of the air to only a sector of the face of the particulate filter;
wherein the controller is configured to receive the pressure from the gauge, compare the pressure to a target upper pressure, and provide an indication that the particulate filter is dirty if the pressure is not lower than the target upper pressure.

2. The particulate filter inspection system of claim 1 , further comprising an orifice plate configured to be selectively coupled to the probe, the orifice plate configured to interface with the particulate filter and to separate the probe from the particulate filter when the orifice plate interfaces with the particulate filter.

3. The particulate filter inspection system of claim 2 , wherein the gauge is further configured to determine a calibration pressure of the air within the primary conduit when the probe is not providing the air to only a sector of the face of the particulate filter and when the orifice plate is coupled to the probe and interfaces with the particulate filter.

4. The particulate filter inspection system of claim 3 , wherein:
the compressed air source is further configured to provide the air into the primary conduit at a target compressed air source pressure; and
the controller is further configured to compare the calibration pressure to a target calibration pressure when the orifice plate is coupled to the probe and interfaces with the particulate filter and to selectively adjust the target compressed air source pressure based on the comparison between the calibration pressure and the target calibration pressure.

5. The particulate filter inspection system of claim 4 , further comprising a mass flow meter positioned along the primary conduit and configured to determine a flow rate of the air flowing through the primary conduit.

6. The particulate filter inspection system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to compare the flow rate to a target flow rate when the orifice plate is coupled to the probe and interfaces with the particulate filter and to selectively adjust the target compressed air source pressure based on the comparison between the flow rate and the target flow rate.

7. The particulate filter inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to compare the pressure to a target lower pressure, and provide an indication that the particulate filter has a leak or fails a test if the pressure is not greater than the target lower pressure.

8. The particulate filter inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the probe comprises a seal member that is configured to interface with the face of the particulate filter and to establish a seal between the probe and the face of the particulate filter.

9. A method of testing a particulate filter using a particulate filter inspection system including a probe and a gauge, the method comprising:
determining a target sector of a face of the particulate filter;
locating the probe on the target sector;
receiving a pressure for the target sector from the gauge;
determining if the pressure is lower than a target upper pressure associated with the target sector; and
increasing a plugged sector count in response to determining that the pressure is not lower than the target upper pressure.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
comparing the plugged sector count to a target plugged sector count associated with the particulate filter; and
indicating that the particulate filter is clean or dirty based on the comparison between the plugged sector count and the target plugged sector count.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
determining if the pressure is greater than a target lower pressure associated with the target sector; and
increasing a leaking sector count in response to determining that the pressure is not greater than the target lower pressure.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the gauge is a gauge coupled to the probe via an auxiliary conduit, the probe receiving air from a primary conduit separate from the auxiliary conduit.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
comparing the plugged sector count to a target plugged sector count associated with the particulate filter; and
indicating that the particulate filter is clean or dirty based on the comparison between the plugged sector count and the target plugged sector count.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
determining if the pressure is greater than a target lower pressure associated with the target sector; and
increasing a leaking sector count in response to determining that the pressure is not greater than the target lower pressure.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
comparing the leaking sector count to a target leaking sector count associated with the particulate filter; and
indicating that the particulate filter has a leak in response to determining that the leaking sector count is greater than the target leaking sector count.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein locating the probe on the target sector comprises causing a seal member of the probe to contact a face of the particulate filter such that a seal is established between the probe and the face of the particulate filter.

17. A method of testing a particulate filter using a particulate filter inspection system including a probe, a gauge, a compressed air source, and a controller communicable with the gauge and the compressed air source, the method comprising:
determining a target sector of a face of the particulate filter;
locating the probe on the target sector;
receiving, by the controller, a pressure for the target sector from the gauge;
determining, by the controller, if the pressure is lower than a target upper pressure associated with the target sector; and
increasing, by the controller, a plugged sector count in response to determining that the pressure is not lower than the target upper pressure.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
comparing, by the controller, the plugged sector count to a target plugged sector count associated with the particulate filter; and
indicating, by the controller, that the particulate filter is clean or dirty based on the comparison between the plugged sector count and the target plugged sector count.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
determining, by the controller, if the pressure is greater than a target lower pressure associated with the target sector; and
increasing, by the controller, a leaking sector count in response to determining that the pressure is not greater than the target lower pressure.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the gauge is a gauge coupled to the probe via an auxiliary conduit and the probe receives air from the compressed air source via a primary conduit separate from the auxiliary conduit.

21. The method of claim 20 , furt

Assignees

• Cummins Inc

Inventors

• Chilumukuru Krishna Pradeep
• Clerc James C
• Allotey Richard Adotey
• Zazueta Luis Fernando Loo
• Wieland Todd M
• Lombardo Rafael Ernesto Vasquez

Classifications

• G01N2015/084

  Testing filters · CPC title

• G01N15/0826 Primary

  and measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. permeation rate or pressure change · CPC title

• G01M15/02 Primary

  Details or accessories of testing apparatus · CPC title

• G01M15/04

  Testing internal-combustion engines · CPC title