# US 12,215,615 B2 · Turbine

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- Number: US 12,215,615 B2
- Document ID: US12215615B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/268,183
- Filed: 2021-12-16
- Published: 2024-02-15
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-12-17
- Assignees: Cummins Inc.
- Applicants: Cummins LTD
- Inventors: Matthew Mills; Nicholas Kenneth Sharp; Alan Haigh; Atif Mahmood; David Scott; Thomas Ogilvie
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12215615B2

## CPC

- F01N 3/2066: {Selective catalytic reduction [SCR]}
- F01D 25/24: Casings (modified for heating or cooling F01D25/14); Casing parts, e.g. diaphragms, casing fastenings (casings for rotary machines or engines in general F16M {; special arrangements in stators dealing with breaking-off of part of rotor F01D21/045})
- F01D 25/243: {Flange connections; Bolting arrangements (F01D25/265 takes precedence)}
- F01D 25/30: Exhaust heads, chambers, or the like
- F01D 25/305: {with fluid, e.g. liquid injection}
- F01N 3/20: specially adapted for catalytic conversion (F01N3/22 takes precedence)
- F02C 6/12: Turbochargers, i.e. plants for augmenting mechanical power output of internal-combustion piston engines by increase of charge pressure
- B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing
- B33Y 50/00: Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
- B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing
- F01N 2340/06: Arrangement of the exhaust apparatus relative to the turbine of a turbocharger
- F01N 2610/02: the substance being ammonia or urea
- F01N 2610/1453: Sprayers or atomisers; Arrangement thereof in the exhaust apparatus
- F05D 2220/40: in turbochargers
- F05D 2240/12: Fluid guiding means, e.g. vanes
- F05D 2270/08: to produce clean exhaust gases
- 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)
- F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D)
- F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00)
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

An adapter element for a turbine is disclosed. The adapter element defines a longitudinal axis and comprises a first connection portion, a second connection portion, an outer wall and a dosing structure. The first connection portion is configured to engage the turbine. The second connection portion is configured to engage a conduit. The outer wall extends between the first and second connection portions, the outer wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface. The dosing structure is configured to receive, and expel, reductant.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An adapter element for a turbine, the adapter element defining a longitudinal axis and comprising:
a first connection portion disposed proximate a first, inlet end of the adapter element, configured to engage the turbine;
a second connection portion disposed proximate a second, outlet end of the adapter element, configured to engage a conduit;
an outer wall that extends between the first and second connection portions, the outer wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface; and
a dosing structure configured to receive, and expel, reductant;
wherein a cross-sectional area of a flow passage defined by the adapter element, normal to the longitudinal axis, is greater at the second end than at the first end of the adapter element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The adapter element according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the inner surface of the outer wall is outwardly offset proximate the dosing structure.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The adapter element according to claim 2, wherein the inner surface of the outer wall is offset by an annular recess which extends at least partly circumferentially around the outer wall.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The adapter element according to claim 1, further comprising:
a diffuser attached to the inner surface of the outer wall, the diffuser comprising:
an inlet configured to receive fluid from the turbine;
an outlet, in fluid communication with the inlet, configured to exhaust fluid from the turbine;
an inner wall, which extends between the inlet and the outlet, defining an inner surface and an opposing outer surface, the inner surface defining the flow passage;
wherein a portion of the inner surface of the inner wall is outwardly offset proximate the dosing structure.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The adapter element according to claim 1, wherein the dosing structure comprises:
a strut, proximate the outer wall; and
a dosing outlet pipe, which extends from the strut and defines a fluid outlet.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The adapter element according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of the flow passage increases linearly from the first end to the second end.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The adapter element according to claim 5, wherein the strut projects towards, but not up to, the longitudinal axis defined by the adapter element, and the dosing outlet pipe is angled towards the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The adapter element according to claim 5, wherein the strut projects towards the longitudinal axis defined by the adapter element.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The adapter element according to claim 1, further comprising:
a diffuser attached to the inner surface of the outer wall, the diffuser comprising:
an inlet configured to receive fluid from the turbine;
an outlet, in fluid communication with the inlet, configured to exhaust fluid from the turbine; and
an inner wall, which extends between the inlet and the outlet, defining an inner surface and an opposing outer surface, the inner surface defining the flow passage;
wherein one or more projections extend from the outer surface of the inner wall.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The adapter element according to claim 9, wherein the one or more projections comprises one or more helical projections.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The adapter element according to claim 9, wherein the one or more projections comprises one or more generally circumferential projections.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The adapter element according to claim 1, further comprising:
a diffuser attached to the inner surface of the outer wall, the diffuser comprising:
an inlet configured to receive fluid from the turbine;
an outlet, in fluid communication with the inlet, configured to exhaust fluid from the turbine; and
an inner wall, which extends between the inlet and the outlet, defining an inner surface and an opposing outer surface, the inner surface defining the flow passage;
wherein the outer surface of the inner wall comprises a lattice.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The adapter element according to claim 1, further comprising:
a diffuser attached to the inner surface of the outer wall, the diffuser comprising:
an inlet configured to receive fluid from the turbine;
an outlet, in fluid communication with the inlet, configured to exhaust fluid from the turbine;
an inner wall, which extends between the inlet and the outlet, defining an inner surface and an opposing outer surface, the inner surface defining the flow passage;
wherein an end of the outer wall, distal the turbine, defines an adapter element outlet; and
wherein the outlet of the diffuser is axially recessed within the adapter element outlet.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A turbine assembly comprising:
a turbine; and
the adapter element according to claim 1 coupled to an outlet of the turbine.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

A turbocharger comprising:
a compressor;
a bearing housing; and
the turbine assembly according to claim 14, wherein the turbine and compressor are in power communication.

### Claim 16

A turbine housing for a turbine, the turbine housing comprising:
an inlet configured to receive exhaust gas;
a wheel cavity configured to receive a turbine wheel;
an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet;
an outer wall extending at least partway between the inlet and the outlet; and
a dosing structure configured to receive, and expel, reductant;
wherein at least part of the dosing structure is integrally formed with, and projects from, the outer wall.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The turbine housing according to claim 16, further comprising:
a diffuser attached to the outer wall, the diffuser comprising:
an inlet configured to receive fluid from the turbine;
an outlet, in fluid communication with the inlet, configured to exhaust fluid from the turbine; and
an inner wall, which extends between the inlet and the outlet, defining an inner surface and an opposing outer surface.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The turbine housing according to claim 17, wherein the diffuser is integrally formed with the outer wall.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to control an additive manufacturing apparatus to manufacture an adapter element according to claim 1.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

A method of manufacturing an adapter element according to claim 1, via additive manufacturing, the method comprising:
obtaining an electronic file representing a geometry of the adapter element; and
controlling an additive manufacturing apparatus to manufacture, over one or more additive manufacturing steps, the adapter element according to the geometry specified in the electronic file.

### Claim 21

A turbine assembly comprising:
a turbine, the turbine comprising a turbine housing and a turbine wheel, the turbine housing comprising:
an inlet;
a wheel cavity that receives the turbine wheel, the wheel cavity being disposed downstream of the inlet; and
an outlet, the outlet being disposed downstream of the wheel cavity; and
an adapter element coupled to the outlet of the turbine housing, the adapter element defining a longitudinal axis and comprising:
a first connection portion coupled to the outlet of the turbine;
a second connection portion configured to engage a conduit;
an outer wall that extends between the first and second connection portions, the outer wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface; and
a dosing structure configured to receive, and expel, reductant.