Systems and methods for fluid level and quality measurement for reductant storage systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11319852-B2
Application number	US-201916551843-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2019
Priority date	Aug 27, 2019
Publication date	May 3, 2022
Grant date	May 3, 2022

Abstract

A reductant storage system for an internal combustion engine system includes a storage container having a bottom wall, a top wall opposite the bottom wall, an opening extending through the top wall, and a reservoir formed by a hollow interior of the storage container; a filter assembly; and a header assembly. The filter assembly extends through the opening and is configured to seal the opening and includes a filtering material. The header assembly extends through the opening and inside the filter assembly. The header assembly includes: (i) a first sensor configured to measure a quality of the reductant contained within the filter assembly and (ii) a second sensor configured to measure a level of the reductant contained within the filter assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A reductant storage system for an internal combustion engine system, comprising:
a storage container having a bottom wall, a top wall opposite the bottom wall, an opening extending through the top wall, and a reservoir formed by a hollow interior of the storage container;
a filter assembly extending through the opening, wherein the filter assembly is configured to seal the opening and includes a filtering material; and
a header assembly extending through the opening and inside the filter assembly, wherein the header assembly includes: (i) a first sensor configured to measure a quality of the reductant contained within the filter assembly and (ii) a second sensor configured to measure a level of the reductant contained within the filter assembly.

2. The reductant storage system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is an ultrasonic sensor or an infrared sensor, and wherein the second sensor is an ultrasonic sensor.

3. The reductant storage system of claim 1 , wherein the header assembly comprises a reflector positioned at a predetermined distance from the first sensor.

4. The reductant storage system of claim 3 , wherein the first sensor comprises a transceiver configured to: (i) transmit a signal towards the reflector and (ii) receive the signal reflected off of the reflector.

5. The reductant storage system of claim 4 , wherein the header assembly comprises a reductant outlet pipe, and wherein the reflector extends parallel to the reductant outlet pipe.

6. The reductant storage system of claim 1 , wherein the second sensor comprises a transceiver configured to: (i) transmit a signal towards a surface of the reductant contained within the filter assembly and (ii) receive the signal reflected off of the surface of the reductant contained within the filter assembly.

7. The reductant storage system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sensors are disposed at a distal end of the header assembly.

8. The reductant storage system of claim 1 , wherein the header assembly includes a distal casing, and wherein the first and second sensors are received in the distal casing.

9. The reductant storage system of claim 7 , wherein the distal casing includes a lateral extension, and wherein the second sensor is located within the lateral extension.

10. The reductant storage system of claim 7 , wherein the lateral extension extends laterally beyond a lateral edge of the opening in the storage container.

11. A reductant storage system for an internal combustion engine system, comprising:
a storage container having a bottom wall, a top wall opposite the bottom wall, an opening extending through the top wall, and a reservoir formed by a hollow interior of the storage container;
a filter assembly extending through the opening, wherein the filter assembly is configured to seal the opening and includes a filtering material; and
a header assembly extending through the opening and inside the filter assembly, wherein the header assembly includes an ultrasonic sensor configured to measure a quality of the reductant contained within the filter assembly.

12. The reductant storage system of claim 11 , wherein header assembly comprises a reflector positioned at a predetermined distance from the sensor.

13. The reductant storage system of claim 12 , wherein the ultrasonic sensor comprises a transceiver configured to: (i) transmit a signal towards the reflector and (ii) receive the signal reflected off of the reflector.

14. The reductant storage system of claim 12 , wherein the header assembly comprises a reductant outlet pipe, and wherein the reflector extends parallel to the reductant outlet pipe.

15. The reductant storage system of claim 11 , wherein the header assembly includes a distal casing, and wherein the ultrasonic sensor is received in the distal casing.

16. A reductant storage system for an internal combustion engine system, comprising:
a storage container having a bottom wall, a top wall opposite the bottom wall, an opening extending through the top wall, and a reservoir formed by a hollow interior of the storage container;
a filter assembly extending through the opening, wherein the filter assembly is configured to seal the opening and includes a filtering material; and
a header assembly extending through the opening and inside the filter assembly, wherein the header assembly includes a first ultrasonic sensor configured to measure a level of the reductant contained within the filter assembly, and a quality sensor configured to measure a quality of the reductant contained within the filter assembly, the quality sensor being a second ultrasonic sensor or an infrared sensor.

17. The reductant storage system of claim 16 , wherein the first ultrasonic sensor comprises a transceiver configured to: (i) transmit a signal towards a surface of the reductant contained within the filter assembly and (ii) receive the signal reflected off of the surface of the reductant contained within the filter assembly.

18. The reductant storage system of claim 16 , wherein the first ultrasonic sensor is disposed at a distal end of the header assembly.

19. The reductant storage system of claim 16 , wherein the header assembly includes a distal casing, and wherein the first ultrasonic sensor is received in the distal casing.

20. The reductant storage system of claim 19 , wherein the distal casing includes a lateral extension, and wherein the first ultrasonic sensor is located within the lateral extension.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Dea Kevin L

Classifications

• F01N3/2066 Primary

  Selective catalytic reduction [SCR] · CPC title

• B01D29/605 Primary

  by level measuring · CPC title

• B01D35/02

  Filters adapted for location in special places, e.g. pipe-lines, pumps, stop-cocks, (B01D35/05 takes precedence; {water pipe system filters E03B3/18, E03B7/07; dirt catchers in sewers E03F; filters or strainers for pipe-lines in general B08B, E03F; object or dirt catching devices in sinks or the like E03C1/26; suction strainers or filters for pumps F04B53/005, F04D29/70}) · CPC title

• Y02A50/20

  Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters · CPC title

• Y02T10/12

  Improving ICE efficiencies · CPC title