# US 11,306,637 B1 · Heat transfer device, system and method to boost fuel economy in diesel powered vehicles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,306,637 B1 - Document ID: US11306637B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/091,558 - Filed: 2020-11-06 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2020-11-06 - Applicants: Kenneth Lee Demmith; Nathan Timothy Zeitler - Inventors: Kenneth Lee Demmith; Nathan Timothy Zeitler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306637B1 ## CPC - F01N 3/2066: {Selective catalytic reduction [SCR]} - F02M 31/16: Other apparatus for heating fuel - F01N 3/0234: {using heat exchange means in the exhaust line} - F01N 3/0821: {combined with particulate filter} - F01N 3/2006: {Periodically heating or cooling catalytic reactors, e.g. at cold starting or overheating (by electrically controlling the supply of combustible mixture or its constituents only F02D41/0235)} - F01N 2240/02: a heat exchanger - F01N 2610/02: the substance being ammonia or urea - F01N 2610/10: the substance being heated, e.g. by heating tank or supply line of the added substance - Y02A 50/20: Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - 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) - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A heat exchanging device uses a shell and tube structure whereby a portion of a diesel fuel line with or without a portion of a diesel exhaust fluid line, is placed in heat-exchanging relationship with a portion of the shell. Hot fluid flowing through the shell in a vortex-like fashion heats the diesel fuel line and the diesel exhaust fluid line to improve diesel fuel mileage and diesel exhaust efficiency. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a diesel engine; a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) reservoir; a diesel fuel reservoir; and a heat transfer device, the heat transfer device further comprising: a shell, wherein the shell further comprises: an inflow port; a void; and an outflow port such that hot fluid can pass into the shell via the inflow port, through the shell in a vortex-type flow, and out of the shell via the outflow port; a first diesel fuel line portion disposed between the diesel fuel reservoir and the shell such that the diesel fuel line is in a heat-exchanging relationship with the shell; a second diesel fuel line portion disposed within the shell, wherein the second diesel fuel line portion is constructed from a heat conductive material such that hot fluid flowing within the shelf transfers heat to the second diesel line portion; a third diesel fuel line portion disposed between the shell and fuel injection ports of the diesel engine; a first DEF line portion disposed between the DEF reservoir and the shell; a second DEF line portion disposed within the shell, wherein the second DEF line portion is constructed of a heat conductive material such that hot fluid flowing within the shell transfers heat to the second DEF line portion; and a third DEF line portion disposed between the shell and an exhaust subassembly of the diesel engine. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the exhaust subassembly comprises: a diesel particulate filter (DPF); a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst; a downstream portion of an exhaust pipe extending from the DPF, wherein a portion of the third DEF line intersects the downstream portion of the exhaust pipe; and an upstream portion of an exhaust pipe extending from the SCR, wherein a portion of the third DEF line intersects the upstream portion of the exhaust pipe. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the shell further comprises a cylindrical portion having dome-like ends. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the shell further comprises a unitary structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the shell is comprised of a heat-conductive metal material. ### Claim 6 A system, comprising: a diesel engine; a diesel fuel reservoir; a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) reservoir, and a heat transfer system disposed in a heat-exchanging relationship with the diesel fuel reservoir, wherein the heat transfer system further comprises: a shell, wherein the shell further comprises: an inflow port; a continuous and closed wall; a void created by the continuous and closed wall; and an outflow port such that hot fluid can pass into, through and out of the shell; a diesel fuel line extending between the diesel fuel reservoir and fuel injection ports of the diesel engine, wherein the diesel fuel line further comprises a portion that passes through the shell and heats the diesel fuel therein; and a DEF line extending between the DEF reservoir and an exhaust subassembly, wherein: the DEF line comprising a portion that passes through the shell and heats the DEF therein; and the exhaust subassembly further comprises: a diesel particulate filter (DPF); a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst; and an exhaust pipe portion extending between the DPF and the SCR; wherein the shape of the shell creates a vortex flow-like passage of fluid through the shell and around the portion of the diesel fuel line that passes through the shell and around the portion of the DEF line that passes through the shell. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the shell further comprises a cylindrical portion having dome-like ends. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the shell is comprised of a heat-conductive metal material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the shell further comprises a unitary structure consisting of a fluid inflow port, a fluid outflow port, the portion of the diesel fuel line that passes through the shell and the portion of the diesel exhaust fluid line that passes through the shell. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein: the portion of the DEF line that passes through the shell and adds heat to the DEF further comprises: an outflow port; and an additional portion of the DEF line that extends to a point of intersection with a portion of an exhaust pipe portion extending between the DPF and the SCR, wherein: the outlet of the additional portion of the DEF line and the heated DEF taps into the exhaust pipe portion such that exhaust gases are injected into the heated DEF passing from the DPF and upstream of the SCR; the exhaust gases comprise nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide; and the exhaust gases are converted to nitrogen and water as they pass through the SCR and exit the system.