Apparatus, system, and method for assembly of an exhaust aftertreatment component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9885442-B2
Application number	US-201314442998-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2013
Priority date	Nov 16, 2012
Publication date	Feb 6, 2018
Grant date	Feb 6, 2018

Abstract

An exhaust aftertreatment assembly for treating exhaust gas. According to various embodiments, a first housing has a first end and a second housing has a second end, the second end being coupled to the first end. At least one alignment bracket is coupled to the first housing proximate the first end. An annular gasket is supported on the at least one alignment bracket between the first and second ends. The at least one alignment bracket may comprise a base having a curved surface conforming to the interior surface of the housing, the base having a length that is less than a circumference of the interior surface. A stop arm extends substantially transversely from the base. A support arm extends substantially transversely from the stop arm and substantially parallel to the base. An insulation receiving space is defined between the base, stop arm, and support arm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An exhaust aftertreatment component assembly, comprising:
a first housing having a first end;
a second housing having a second end, the second end being coupled to the first end;
at least one alignment bracket coupled to the first housing proximate the first end, each of the at least one alignment bracket including a base secured to an interior surface of the first housing, and a support tab extending from the base, the support tab stepped inwardly towards an interior of the first housing; and
an annular gasket supported on the at least one alignment bracket between the first and second ends.

2. An alignment bracket configured to be secured to an interior surface of a housing of an exhaust aftertreatment component assembly, comprising:
a base having a curved surface conforming to the interior surface of the housing, the base having a length that is less than a circumference of the interior surface;
a support tab extending from the base, the support tab being configured such that, when the alignment bracket is secured to the interior surface of the housing, the support tap is stepped inwardly towards an interior of the housing;
a stop arm extending substantially transversely from the base;
a support arm extending substantially transversely from the stop arm and substantially parallel to the base; and
an insulation receiving space defined between the base, stop arm, and support arm.

3. An exhaust aftertreatment component assembly, comprising:
a first housing having a first end;
a second housing having a second end, the second end being coupled to the first end;
a plurality of alignment brackets coupled to an interior surface of the first housing proximate the first end, the plurality of alignment brackets being spaced apart from each other, wherein each alignment bracket comprises:
a base secured to an interior surface of the first housing,
a support tab extending from the base axially beyond the first end of the first housing, the support tab stepped inwardly towards an interior of the first housing, and
an insulation aim defining an insulation receiving space radially inwardly of the interior surface, and wherein the second end of the second housing is supported on the support tabs of the plurality of alignment brackets;

an annular gasket supported on the support tabs of the plurality of alignment brackets between the first and second ends; and
an insulation pack positioned within the insulation receiving space and supported by the insulation arm.

4. The exhaust aftertreatment component assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one alignment bracket is coupled to an interior wall of the first housing proximate to the first end.

5. The exhaust aftertreatment component assembly of claim 4 , wherein the base is curved to match a curvature of the interior surface of the first housing.

6. The exhaust aftertreatment component assembly of claim 5 , wherein each of the first end of the first housing and the second end of the second housing include flanges, the gasket positioned between the flanges.

7. The exhaust aftertreatment component assembly of claim 6 , wherein
the support tab is stepped radially inwardly towards a central axis of the first housing, and wherein the support tab supports the gasket in proper position and alignment with respect to the first housing and the flanges.

8. The exhaust aftertreatment component assembly of claim 7 , wherein the support tab extends from the first end of the housing a length at least as long as a combined width of the gasket and the flanges.

9. The exhaust aftertreatment component assembly of claim 5 , further comprising:
an insulation sub-assembly positioned interior of an intersection of the flanges of the first end of the first housing and the second end of the second housing.

10. The exhaust aftertreatment component assembly of claim 9 , wherein the insulation sub-assembly is supported on the at least one alignment bracket between the first end and the second end.

11. The exhaust aftertreatment component assembly of claim 10 , wherein the at least one alignment bracket further comprises:
a stop portion extending transversely away from the base from a fixed end of the base; and
a support portion extending from a radially inward end of the stop portion parallel to the base towards a free end of the base proximate to the first end, the free end opposite the fixed end,
wherein the base, the stop portion and the support portion define an insulation receiving space therebetween for receiving at least a portion of the insulation sub-assembly.

12. The alignment bracket of claim 2 , wherein the exhaust aftertreatment component assembly includes an insulation sub-assembly positioned interiorly of the interior surface of the housing, at least portion of the insulation sub-assembly positioned within the insulation receiving space.

13. The alignment bracket of claim 2 , wherein the base includes a fixed end coupled to the interior surface of the housing, and a free end opposite the fixed end.

14. The alignment bracket of claim 2 ,
wherein the support tab is stepped radially inwardly towards a central axis of the housing.

15. The alignment bracket of claim 14 , wherein the support tab extends axially beyond an end of the housing, the support tab supporting the end of the housing.

16. The alignment bracket of claim 15 , wherein the exhaust aftertreatment component assembly also includes a gasket positioned at the end of the housing, the support tab further supporting the gasket.

17. The exhaust aftertreatment component assembly of claim 3 , wherein the base is curved to match a curvature of the interior surface of the first housing.

18. The exhaust aftertreatment component assembly of claim 17 , wherein each of the first end of the first housing and the second end of the second housing include flanges, the gasket positioned between the flanges.

19. The exhaust aftertreatment component assembly of claim 18 , wherein the support tab of each of the plurality of alignment brackets is stepped radially inwardly towards a central axis of the first housing.

20. The exhaust aftertreatment component assembly of claim 19 , wherein the support tab extends from the first end of the housing a length at least as long as a combined width of the gasket and the respective flanges.

21. The exhaust aftertreatment component assembly of claim 3 , wherein the insulation arm includes:
a stop portion extending transversely away from the base from a fixed end of the base; and
a support portion extending from a radially inward end of the stop portion parallel to the base towards a free end of the base proximate to the first end, the free end opposite the fixed end,
wherein the base, the stop portion and the support portion define the insulation receiving space therebetween.

Assignees

• Cummins Ip Inc

Inventors

• Runde William
• Butler Eric
• Oconnor Shane

Classifications

• F01N2260/26

  for preventing enter of dirt into the device · CPC title

• F01N2260/10

  for avoiding stress caused by expansions or contractions due to temperature variations · CPC title

• F16L59/16 Primary

  Arrangements specially adapted to local requirements at flanges, junctions, valves or the like · CPC title

• F01N13/16

  Selection of particular materials · CPC title

• F01N2450/00

  Methods or apparatus for fitting, inserting or repairing different elements · CPC title