# US 10,245,563 B2 · Diesel exhaust fluid mixing body using variable cross-section switchback arrangement

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- Number: US 10,245,563 B2
- Document ID: US10245563B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/520,527
- Filed: 2015-10-06
- Published: 2017-10-26
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2014-10-22
- Assignees: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
- Applicants: Cummins Emission Solutions, Inc.
- Inventors: John G. Buechler; Douglas A. Mitchell; Ryan M. Johnson; James Goss
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245563B2

## CPC

- B01F 23/2132: {using nozzles}
- B01F 25/3141: {with additional mixing means other than injector mixers}
- B01F 25/423: {by means of elements placed in the receptacle for moving or guiding the components}
- B01F 25/4231: {using baffles}
- F01N 3/021: by means of filters
- F01N 3/2066: {Selective catalytic reduction [SCR]}
- F01N 3/2892: {Exhaust flow directors or the like, e.g. upstream of catalytic device}
- F01N 13/009: {having two or more separate purifying devices arranged in series}
- F01N 2240/20: a flow director or deflector
- F01N 2610/02: the substance being ammonia or urea
- F01N 2610/1453: Sprayers or atomisers; Arrangement thereof in the exhaust apparatus
- Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies
- B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06)
- F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16)
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

An aftertreatment system includes a filter configured to receive an exhaust gas and a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system configured to treat the exhaust gas. A body mixer is disposed downstream of the filter and upstream of the SCR system. The body mixer includes a housing defining an internal volume and including at least a first passageway, a second passageway, and a third passageway. The first passageway receives a flow of the exhaust gas from the filter and directs the flow of the exhaust gas towards the second passageway. The second passageway redirects the flow in a second direction opposite the first direction towards the third passageway. The third passageway redirects the flow in a third direction opposite the second direction towards the SCR system. An injection port is disposed on a sidewall of the housing and configured to communicate an exhaust reductant into the internal volume.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An aftertreatment system, comprising:
a filter configured to receive an exhaust gas and substantially remove any particulate from the exhaust gas flowing through the filter;
a selective catalytic reduction system positioned downstream of the filter and configured to treat the exhaust gas flowing through the selective catalytic reduction system; and
a body mixer disposed downstream of the filter and upstream of the selective catalytic reduction system, the body mixer comprising:
a housing defining an internal volume, the housing including at least a first passageway, a second passageway, and a third passageway, the first passageway structured to receive a flow of the exhaust gas from the filter and direct the flow in a first direction towards the second passageway, the second passageway structured to redirect the flow in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction towards the third passageway, the third passageway structured to redirect the flow in a third direction substantially opposite the second direction towards the selective catalytic reduction system, the housing further comprising a first partition wall and a second partition wall positioned in the internal volume defined by the housing, the first partition wall and the second partition wall oriented so as to define the first passageway, the second passageway and the third passageway; and
an injection port disposed on a sidewall of the housing and configured to communicate an exhaust reductant into the internal volume,
wherein the first partition wall separates the first passageway from at least one of the second passageway or the third passageway,
wherein the first partition wall and the second partition wall are substantially arcuate, and
wherein a first partition wall first end of the first partition wall is in contact with a first sidewall of the housing, and wherein a second partition wall first end of the second partition wall is in contact with a second sidewall of the housing different than the first sidewall.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The aftertreatment system of claim 1, wherein the body mixer is structured to mix the exhaust reductant with the exhaust gas as the exhaust gas flows through the first passageway, the second passageway, and the third passageway.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The aftertreatment system of claim 1, wherein the first partition wall and the second partition wall are disposed substantially parallel to each other.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The aftertreatment system of claim 3, wherein a first partition wall second end of the first partition wall opposite the first partition wall first end is distal from the second sidewall, the second sidewall positioned opposite the first sidewall, and wherein a second partition wall second end of the second partition wall opposite the second partition wall first end is distal from the first sidewall so that the first partition wall and the second partition wall partially overlap each other so as to define the first passageway, the second passageway and the third passageway.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The aftertreatment system of claim 1, wherein the first partition wall curves away from the first sidewall so that a first partition wall second end of the first partition wall opposite the first partition wall first end is positioned distal from the first sidewall and from the second sidewall, the second sidewall positioned orthogonal to the first sidewall, and wherein the second partition wall curves away from the second sidewall so that a second partition wall second end of the second partition wall opposite the second partition wall first end is positioned distal from the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the first partition wall second end and the second partition wall second end positioned proximate to each other.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The aftertreatment system of claim 5, wherein each of the first partition wall and the second partition wall have an arc length so that at least a portion of the first partition wall and the second partition wall overlap each other so as to define the first passageway and the second passageway.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The aftertreatment system of claim 1, wherein the first partition wall curves away from the first sidewall so that a first partition wall second end of the first partition wall opposite the first partition wall first end is positioned distal from the first sidewall and distal from the second sidewall, the second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, and wherein the second partition wall curves away from the second sidewall so that a second partition wall second end of the second partition wall opposite the second partition wall first end is positioned distal from the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The aftertreatment system of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a third partition wall positioned in the internal volume defined by the housing, the first partition wall first end of the first partition wall, the second partition wall first end of the second partition wall and a third partition wall first end of the third partition wall are in contact with each other proximate to a central axis of the housing, the first partition wall, the second partition wall and the third partition wall extending away from the central axis and each other so that a first partition wall second end of the first partition wall, a second partition wall second end of the second partition wall and a third partition wall second end of the third partition wall are in contact with the housing at different locations, thereby dividing the housing into the first passageway, the second passageway and the third passageway.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The aftertreatment system of claim 8, wherein the housing has circular cross-section, and wherein the first passageway, the second passageway and the third passageway have cross-sections including sectors of the circular cross-section of the housing.

### Claim 10

A mixer for use in an aftertreatment system for mixing a reductant inserted into the aftertreatment system with an exhaust gas flowing through the aftertreatment system, comprising:
a housing defining an internal volume, the housing defining at least a first passageway, a second passageway, and a third passageway, the first passageway structured to receive a flow of the exhaust gas and direct the flow in a first direction towards the second passageway, the second passageway structured to redirect the flow in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction towards the third passageway, the third passageway structured to redirect the flow in a third direction substantially opposite the second direction towards an outlet of the housing, the housing further comprising a first partition wall and a second partition wall are positioned in the internal volume defined by the housing, the first partition wall and the second partition wall oriented so as to define the first passageway, the second passageway and the third passageway; and
an injection port defined on a sidewall of the housing, the injection port structured to allow a reductant to be inserted into the housing,
wherein the first partition wall separates the first passageway from at least one of the second passageway or the third passageway,
wherein the first partition wall and the second partition wall are substantially arcuate, and
wherein a first partition wall first end of the first partition wall is in contact with a first sidewall of the housing, and wherein a second partition wall first end of the second partition wall is in contact with a second sidewall of the housing different than the first sidewall.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The mixer of claim 10, wherein the first partition wall and the second partition wall are positioned parallel to each other.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The mixer of claim 11, wherein a first partition wall second end of the first partition wall opposite the first partition wall first end is distal from the second sidewall, and wherein a second partition wall second end of the second partition wall opposite the second partition wall first end is distal from the first sidewall so that the first partition wall and the second partition wall partially overlap each other so as to define the first passageway, the second passageway and the third passageway.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The mixer of claim 10, wherein the first partition wall curves away from the first sidewall so that a first partition wall second end of the first partition wall opposite the first partition wall first end is positioned distal from the first sidewall and from the second sidewall, the second sidewall positioned orthogonal to the first sidewall, and wherein the second partition wall curves away from the second sidewall so that a second partition wall second end of the second partition wall opposite the second partition wall first end is positioned distal from the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the first partition wall second end and the second partition wall second end positioned proximate to each other.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The mixer of claim 13, wherein each of the first partition wall and the second partition wall have an arc length so that at least a portion of the first partition wall and the second partition wall overlap each other so as to define the first passageway and the second passageway.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The mixer of claim 10, wherein the first partition wall curves away from the first sidewall so that a first partition wall second end of the first partition wall opposite the first partition wall first end is positioned distal from the first sidewall and distal from the second sidewall, the second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, and wherein the second partition wall curves away from the second sidewall so that a second partition wall second end of the second partition wall opposite the second partition wall first end is positioned distal from the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The mixer of claim 10, wherein the housing further comprises a third partition wall positioned in the internal volume defined by the housing, the first partition wall first end of the first partition wall, the second partition wall first end of the second partition wall and a third partition wall first end of the third partition wall are in contact with each other proximate to a central axis of the housing, the first partition wall, the second partition wall and the third partition wall extending away from the central axis and each other so that a first partition wall second end of the first partition wall, a second partition wall second end of the second partition wall and a third partition wall second end of the third partition wall are in contact with the housing at different locations, thereby dividing the housing into the first passageway, the second passageway and the third passageway.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The mixer of claim 16, wherein the housing has circular cross-section, and wherein the first passageway, the second passageway and the third passageway have cross-sections including sectors of the circular cross-section of the housing.

### Claim 18

An aftertreatment system, comprising:
a filter configured to receive an exhaust gas and substantially remove any particulate from the exhaust gas flowing through the filter;
a selective catalytic reduction system positioned downstream of the filter and configured to treat the exhaust gas flowing through the selective catalytic reduction system; and
a body mixer disposed downstream of the filter and upstream of the selective catalytic reduction system, the body mixer comprising:
a housing defining an internal volume, the housing including at least a first passageway, a second passageway, and a third passageway, the first passageway structured to receive a flow of the exhaust gas from the filter and direct the flow in a first direction towards the second passageway, the second passageway structured to redirect the flow in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction towards the third passageway, the third passageway structured to redirect the flow in a third direction substantially opposite the second direction towards the selective catalytic reduction system, the housing further comprising a first partition wall and a second partition wall positioned in the internal volume defined by the housing, the first partition wall and the second partition wall oriented so as to define the first passageway, the second passageway and the third passageway; and
an injection port disposed on a sidewall of the housing and configured to communicate an exhaust reductant into the internal volume,
wherein the first partition wall and the second partition wall are substantially arcuate,
wherein a first partition wall first end of the first partition wall is in contact with a first sidewall of the housing, and wherein a second partition wall first end of the second partition wall is in contact with a second sidewall of the housing different than the first sidewall, and
wherein the first partition wall curves away from the first sidewall so that a first partition wall second end of the first partition wall opposite the first partition wall first end is positioned distal from the first sidewall and from the second sidewall, the second sidewall positioned orthogonal to the first sidewall, and wherein the second partition wall curves away from the second sidewall so that a second partition wall second end of the second partition wall opposite the second partition wall first end is positioned distal from the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the first partition wall second end and the second partition wall second end positioned proximate to each other.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The aftertreatment system of claim 18, wherein each of the first partition wall and the second partition wall have an arc length so that at least a portion of the first partition wall and the second partition wall overlap each other so as to define the first passageway and the second passageway.

### Claim 20

An aftertreatment system, comprising:
a filter configured to receive an exhaust gas and substantially remove any particulate from the exhaust gas flowing through the filter;
a selective catalytic reduction system positioned downstream of the filter and configured to treat the exhaust gas flowing through the selective catalytic reduction system; and
a body mixer disposed downstream of the filter and upstream of the selective catalytic reduction system, the body mixer comprising:
a housing defining an internal volume, the housing including at least a first passageway, a second passageway, and a third passageway, the first passageway structured to receive a flow of the exhaust gas from the filter and direct the flow in a first direction towards the second passageway, the second passageway structured to redirect the flow in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction towards the third passageway, the third passageway structured to redirect the flow in a third direction substantially opposite the second direction towards the selective catalytic reduction system, the housing further comprising a first partition wall and a second partition wall positioned in the internal volume defined by the housing, the first partition wall and the second partition wall oriented so as to define the first passageway, the second passageway and the third passageway; and
an injection port disposed on a sidewall of the housing and configured to communicate an exhaust reductant into the internal volume,
wherein the first partition wall and the second partition wall are substantially arcuate,
wherein a first partition wall first end of the first partition wall is in contact with a first sidewall of the housing, and wherein a second partition wall first end of the second partition wall is in contact with a second sidewall of the housing different than the first sidewall, and
wherein the housing further comprises a third partition wall positioned in the internal volume defined by the housing, the first partition wall first end of the first partition wall, the second partition wall first end of the second partition wall and a third partition wall first end of the third partition wall are in contact with each other proximate to a central axis of the housing, the first partition wall, the second partition wall and the third partition wall extending away from the central axis and each other so that a first partition wall second end of the first partition wall, a second partition wall second end of the second partition wall and a third partition wall second end of the third partition wall are in contact with the housing at different locations, thereby dividing the housing into the first passageway, the second passageway and the third passageway.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The aftertreatment system of claim 20, wherein the housing has circular cross-section, and wherein the first passageway, the second passageway and the third passageway have cross-sections including sectors of the circular cross-section of the housing.

### Claim 22

A mixer for use in an aftertreatment system for mixing a reductant inserted into the aftertreatment system with an exhaust gas flowing through the aftertreatment system, comprising:
a housing defining an internal volume, the housing defining at least a first passageway, a second passageway, and a third passageway, the first passageway structured to receive a flow of the exhaust gas and direct the flow in a first direction towards the second passageway, the second passageway structured to redirect the flow in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction towards the third passageway, the third passageway structured to redirect the flow in a third direction substantially opposite the second direction towards an outlet of the housing, the housing further comprising a first partition wall and a second partition wall are positioned in the internal volume defined by the housing, the first partition wall and the second partition wall oriented so as to define the first passageway, the second passageway and the third passageway; and
an injection port defined on a sidewall of the housing, the injection port structured to allow a reductant to be inserted into the housing,
wherein the first partition wall and the second partition wall are substantially arcuate,
wherein a first partition wall first end of the first partition wall is in contact with a first sidewall of the housing, and wherein a second partition wall first end of the second partition wall is in contact with a second sidewall of the housing different than the first sidewall, and
wherein the first partition wall curves away from the first sidewall so that a first partition wall second end of the first partition wall opposite the first partition wall first end is positioned distal from the first sidewall and from the second sidewall, the second sidewall positioned orthogonal to the first sidewall, and wherein the second partition wall curves away from the second sidewall so that a second partition wall second end of the second partition wall opposite the second partition wall first end is positioned distal from the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the first partition wall second end and the second partition wall second end positioned proximate to each other.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The mixer of claim 22, wherein each of the first partition wall and the second partition wall have an arc length so that at least a portion of the first partition wall and the second partition wall overlap each other so as to define the first passageway and the second passageway.

### Claim 24

A mixer for use in an aftertreatment system for mixing a reductant inserted into the aftertreatment system with an exhaust gas flowing through the aftertreatment system, comprising:
a housing defining an internal volume, the housing defining at least a first passageway, a second passageway, and a third passageway, the first passageway structured to receive a flow of the exhaust gas and direct the flow in a first direction towards the second passageway, the second passageway structured to redirect the flow in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction towards the third passageway, the third passageway structured to redirect the flow in a third direction substantially opposite the second direction towards an outlet of the housing, the housing further comprising a first partition wall and a second partition wall are positioned in the internal volume defined by the housing, the first partition wall and the second partition wall oriented so as to define the first passageway, the second passageway and the third passageway; and
an injection port defined on a sidewall of the housing, the injection port structured to allow a reductant to be inserted into the housing,
wherein the first partition wall and the second partition wall are substantially arcuate,
wherein a first partition wall first end of the first partition wall is in contact with a first sidewall of the housing, and wherein a second partition wall first end of the second partition wall is in contact with a second sidewall of the housing different than the first sidewall, and
wherein the housing further comprises a third partition wall positioned in the internal volume defined by the housing, the first partition wall first end of the first partition wall, the second partition wall first end of the second partition wall and a third partition wall first end of the third partition wall are in contact with each other proximate to a central axis of the housing, the first partition wall, the second partition wall and the third partition wall extending away from the central axis and each other so that a first partition wall second end of the first partition wall, a second partition wall second end of the second partition wall and a third partition wall second end of the third partition wall are in contact with the housing at different locations, thereby dividing the housing into the first passageway, the second passageway and the third passageway.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The mixer of claim 24, wherein the housing has circular cross-section, and wherein the first passageway, the second passageway and the third passageway have cross-sections including sectors of the circular cross-section of the housing.