Electrical heaters for exhaust aftertreatment systems and assemblies

Abstract

An electrical heater assembly and an exhaust treatment assembly. The electrical heater assembly includes a heater body including an array of intersecting walls that form a plurality of channels extending in an axial direction. The intersecting walls and channels together define a honeycomb pattern of cells. A plurality of slots extend from an outer periphery of the heater body and terminate within the heater body. Each of the plurality of slots disconnects some of the cells of the heater body from each other to define a serpentine current-carrying path through the heater body. Each slot comprises a receptacle portion located between opposing portions of the slot. A plurality of slot separators located respectively in the receptacle portions. Each slot separator has dimensions greater than the opposing portions of the slot to provide support to the heater body in all directions perpendicular to the axial direction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.