Internal Swirler Tube For Exhaust Catalyst

An exhaust system assembly comprising:

• a catalyst housing including an exhaust inlet and an exhaust outlet;
• said exhaust inlet having an exhaust inlet axis and said exhaust outlet having an exhaust outlet axis;
• at least one catalyst core positioned inside said catalyst housing;
• an emissions sensor positioned in said exhaust outlet for detecting NOx emissions;
• and
• a swirler tube positioned inside said catalyst housing, said swirler tube extending about a swirler tube axis that is co-axially aligned with said exhaust outlet axis and that is not co-axially aligned with said exhaust inlet axis;
• said swirler tube including a first swirler tube end, a second swirler tube end opposite said first swirler tube end, a tube wall that extends axially between said first and second swirler tube ends and defines an inner volume of said swirler tube, and a plurality of openings in said tube wall that permit exhaust flow into said inner volume of said swirler tube from said catalyst housing;
• said first swirler tube end including an inner circumference and a plurality of blades that extend inward relative to said inner circumference of said first swirler tube end;
• and
• each of said blades including an oblique surface that is arranged at an oblique angle relative to said swirler tube axis to induce a vortex in exhaust exiting said first swirler tube end,
• wherein said first swirler tube end is configured as an open tube end, said second swirler tube end is configured as a closed tube end, and said swirler tube is arranged inside said catalyst housing such that a sequential flow path is created where all exhaust flowing through said catalyst housing must first pass through said plurality of openings in said swirler tube, through said inner volume of said swirler tube, and then by said plurality of blades at said first swirler tube end upon exit through said exhaust outlet.

An exhaust system assembly comprising:

• a catalyst housing including an exhaust inlet and an exhaust outlet;
• at least one catalyst core positioned inside said catalyst housing;
• a reductant injector extending into said catalyst housing along an injector axis;
• and
• a swirler tube positioned inside said catalyst housing, said swirler tube extending about a swirler tube axis that is not co-axially aligned with said reductant injector axis;
• said swirler tube including a first swirler tube end, a second swirler tube end opposite said first swirler tube end, a tube wall that extends axially between said first and second swirler tube ends and defines an inner volume of said swirler tube, and a plurality of openings in said tube wall that permit exhaust flow into said inner volume of said swirler tube from said catalyst housing;
• said first swirler tube end including an inner circumference and a plurality of blades that extend inward relative to said inner circumference of said first swirler tube end;
• and
• each of said blades including an oblique surface that is arranged at an oblique angle relative to said swirler tube axis to induce a vortex in exhaust exiting said first swirler tube end,
• wherein said first swirler tube end is configured as an open tube end, said second swirler tube end is configured as a closed tube end, and said swirler tube is arranged inside said catalyst housing such that a sequential flow path is created where exhaust flowing through said catalyst housing must first pass through said plurality of openings in said swirler tube, through said inner volume of said swirler tube, and then by said plurality of blades at said first swirler tube end upon exit through said exhaust outlet.