Exhaust gas recirculation mixer apparatus and method
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsGordon H. Holze, Keith E. Lawrence, Samuel L. Montooth
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates generally fluid mixer assembly and more particularly to an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) mixer comprising an inlet conduit, an exhaust conduit, and a shielded conduit. The shielded conduit is partially disposed in the inlet conduit and has a fluid diverting portion and fluid passing portion. The fluid diverting portion diverts intake air into a first fluid stream and a second fluid stream. Exhaust gas is passed through fluid passing portion and is mixed with the first fluid stream and second fluid stream generally at a point downstream of the shielded conduit.
Claims20
A fluid mixer assembly, comprising:
- an inlet conduit having a diverting portion, a transition portion and a mixing portion, a connector bore being formed by a cylindrical surface and having a longitudinal axis, said connector bore forming a first cavity having a preestablished volume, and said inlet conduit having a first fluid passing therethrough from said diverting portion toward said mixing portion;
- a shielded conduit being partially positioned within said first cavity having a first surface extending between a pair of ends and defining a first predetermined width, a second surface extending between a pair of ends and defining a second predetermined width, and a third surface connecting a corresponding end of said first and second surfaces, said third surface being at an acute angle with said longitudinal axis, said second predetermined width being greater in length than said first predetermined width, a perimeter at said first surface, said second surface, and said third surface defining a second cavity, said second cavity having a generally triangular configuration forming an apex portion, said apex portion being directed toward said diverting portion, and said shielded conduit having a second fluid passing therethrough and being in communication with said first fluid.
An exhaust gas recirculation system for use with an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- an inlet conduit having a connector bore being formed by a cylindrical surface and having a longitudinal axis, said connector bore forming a first cavity having a preestablished volume, said first cavity defining a diverting portion, a transitional portion, and a mixing portion, and said inlet conduit having a first fluid passing therethrough;
- an exhaust conduit being connected to the internal combustion engine;
- and
- a shielded conduit being partially positioned within said first cavity, said shielded conduit having an inlet portion being connected to said exhaust conduit, a fluid diverting portion being partially positioned within said diverting portion, and a fluid passing portion being partially positioned within said transitional portion, said fluid passing portion having a generally triangular configuration forming an apex portion, said apex portion being directed toward said diverting portion.
A method of mixing exhaust gas with intake air having an exhaust manifold, a shielded conduit, having a generally triangular configuration and an intake conduit, the method comprising the steps of:
- passing inlet air through said inlet conduit;
- passing exhaust gas from said exhaust manifold through said shielded conduit, having a generally triangular configuration and into said inlet conduit;
- diverting said intake air about said shielded conduit into one of a first fluid stream and a second fluid stream;
- and
- re-combining said first fluid stream and said second fluid stream at a point downstream of said shielded conduit with said exhaust gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.