Onboard device and method for checking diesel exhaust fluid quality

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12467395-B2
Application number	US-202217892497-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2022
Priority date	Aug 20, 2021
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

Abstract

The present invention pertains an onboard device for checking the quality of DEF in a work machine, comprising a flow channel configured to fluidly connect a DEF inlet with a DEF tank. The flow channel comprises a DQS configured to be brought into contact with DEF passing through the flow channel. The present invention also pertains to a method of checking the quality of DEF comprising the steps of tilling DEF into a flow channel configured to fluidly connect a DEF inlet with a DEF tank; and checking, by means of a DQS, the quality of the DEF in the flow channel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An onboard device for checking the quality of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in a work machine, the onboard device comprising a flow channel configured to fluidly connect a DEF inlet with a DEF tank, characterized in that the flow channel comprises:
a DEF quality sensor (DQS) configured to be brought into contact with DEF passing through the flow channel; and a flow channel bypass comprising a bypass valve and a bypass reservoir, the bypass valve being connected downstream of the bypass reservoir, relative to a direction of flow of the DEF, wherein the DQS is provided in the flow channel bypass, wherein the bypass valve is a standard-off valve.

2 . The onboard device according to claim 1 , wherein the flow channel bypass comprises an upstream bypass section and a downstream bypass section.

3 . The onboard device according to claim 1 , wherein the DQS is provided downstream of the bypass valve.

4 . The onboard device according to claim 1 , wherein the DQS is provided inside of the bypass reservoir and upstream of the bypass valve.

5 . The onboard device according to claim 1 , wherein the DQS is a time-of-flight sensor.

6 . The onboard device according to claim 1 , wherein the flow channel further comprises a heating device.

7 . The onboard device according to claim 1 , further comprising a sensor overflow reservoir downstream of the bypass valve, wherein the DQS is provided in the sensor overflow reservoir.

8 . The onboard device according to claim 1 , wherein the DQS is connected upstream of the bypass valve.

9 . A method of checking the quality of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) using an onboard device of a work machine, the method comprising:
receiving DEF with a flow channel of the onboard device, the flow channel being configured to fluidly connect a DEF inlet of the onboard device with a DEF tank of the work machine and the flow channel having a flow channel bypass and a bypass valve provided in the flow channel bypass, including filling the flow channel bypass with a portion of the DEF, as retained DEF; checking, using a DEF quality sensor (DQS) provided in the flow channel bypass, a quality of the retained DEF in the flow channel bypass; and opening the bypass valve to drain the retained DEF from the flow channel bypass into the DEF tank, wherein the DQS is provided downstream of the bypass valve, relative to a direction of flow of the DEF, and wherein the checking the quality of the retained DEF is performed after the step of opening the bypass valve.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the DQS is provided inside of a DEF reservoir provided in the flow channel bypass, and wherein the checking the quality of the retained DEF is performed before the step of opening the bypass valve.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the checking the quality of the retained DEF is performed after a key-on event for the work machine.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the bypass valve is a standard-off type valve, and wherein the checking the quality of the retained DEF and opening the bypass valve are performed after a key-on event for the work machine.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the flow channel bypass comprises an upstream bypass section and a downstream bypass section.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the DQS is a time-of-flight sensor.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the flow channel further comprises a heating device.

16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the onboard device further includes a sensor overflow reservoir downstream of the bypass valve, wherein the DQS is provided in the sensor overflow reservoir.

Assignees

• Perkins Engines Co Ltd

Inventors

• Fitch Daniel
• Aldred Mark Philip
• Rogers Ivan

Classifications

• F01N2900/1806

  Properties of reducing agent or dosing system · CPC title

• F01N2610/1406

  Storage means for substances, e.g. tanks or reservoirs · CPC title

• F01N2610/10

  the substance being heated, e.g. by heating tank or supply line of the added substance · CPC title

• F01N2900/1818

  Concentration of the reducing agent · CPC title

• F01N2610/148

  Arrangement of sensors · CPC title