Apparatus for cleaning exhaust aftertreatment devices and methods

A pulse cleaner for cleaning diesel exhaust treatment devices, after the diesel exhaust treatment devices have been removed from a vehicle, the pulse cleaner comprising:

• an off-vehicle cabinet;
• a diesel exhaust treatment device mount positioned within the cabinet for mounting the diesel exhaust treatment device during pulse cleaning;
• a collection filter positioned within the cabinet for collecting material displaced from the diesel exhaust treatment device during cleaning;
• and
• a pulse generator for generating pulses that are each directed at a majority of a face of the diesel exhaust treatment device when the diesel exhaust treatment device is mounted at the diesel exhaust treatment device mount, the pulse generator including a pressure tank for accumulating pressurized air, and a valve arrangement that flushes the pressurized air from the tank, wherein a pulse of air for cleaning the diesel exhaust treatment device is generated each time the tank is flushed.

A pulse cleaner for cleaning diesel exhaust treatment devices after the diesel exhaust treatment devices have been removed from a vehicle, the pulse cleaner comprising:

• an off-vehicle pulse-cleaning cabinet;
• a diesel exhaust treatment device mount positioned within the cabinet for mounting the diesel exhaust treatment device during pulse cleaning;
• a primary filter positioned within the cabinet for collecting material displaced from the diesel exhaust treatment device during cleaning;
• and
• a pulse generator for generating pulses that are each directed at a majority of a face of the diesel exhaust treatment device when the diesel exhaust treatment device is mounted at the diesel exhaust treatment device mount, the pulse generator including a pressure tank for accumulating pressurized air, and a valve arrangement that flushes the pressurized air from the tank, wherein a pulse of air for cleaning the diesel exhaust treatment device is generated each time the tank is flushed, the pulse generator also including a conduit for carrying pulses from the pulse generator to the diesel exhaust treatment device, the conduit being sealed with respect to the diesel exhaust treatment device to prevent air from pulses from by-passing the diesel exhaust treatment device.

A pulse cleaner for cleaning diesel exhaust treatment devices, the pulse cleaner comprising:

• a cabinet;
• a diesel exhaust treatment device mount positioned within the cabinet for mounting the diesel exhaust treatment device during pulse cleaning;
• a primary filter positioned within the cabinet for collecting material displaced from the diesel exhaust treatment device during cleaning;
• and
• a pulse generator for generating air pulses for cleaning the diesel exhaust treatment device when the diesel exhaust treatment device is mounted at the diesel exhaust treatment device mount, the pulse generator configured to direct air pulses through a conduit toward the diesel exhaust treatment device, the conduit including a cone that is positioned above the diesel exhaust treatment device for directing air pulses toward a face of the diesel exhaust treatment device when the diesel exhaust treatment device is mounted at the diesel exhaust treatment device mount.

A method for cleaning a diesel engine exhaust treatment device comprising:

• positioning the diesel exhaust treatment device within a pulse-cleaning cabinet;
• cleaning the diesel exhaust treatment device by directing pulses of air through the diesel exhaust treatment device while the diesel exhaust treatment device is within the cabinet, the pulses of air each being directed at a majority of a face of the diesel exhaust treatment device, wherein the pulses of air travel in a first direction extending from a first face to a second face of the diesel exhaust treatment device, wherein air is moved in the first direction through the diesel exhaust treatment device between pulses, and wherein a blower is used to blow air in the first direction through the diesel exhaust treatment device between pulses;
• and
• removing the diesel exhaust treatment device from the pulse-cleaning cabinet after cleaning.

A pulse cleaner for cleaning diesel exhaust treatment devices, the pulse cleaner comprising:

• a cabinet;
• a diesel exhaust treatment device mount positioned within the cabinet for mounting the diesel exhaust treatment device during pulse cleaning;
• a collection filter positioned within the cabinet for collecting material displaced from the diesel exhaust treatment device during cleaning;
• and
• a pulse generator for generating pulses that are each directed at a majority of a face of the diesel exhaust treatment device when the diesel exhaust treatment device is mounted at the diesel exhaust treatment device mount, the pulse generator including a pressure tank for accumulating pressurized air, and a valve arrangement that flushes the pressurized air from the tank, wherein a pulse of air for cleaning the diesel exhaust treatment device is generated each time the tank is flushed;
• wherein the diesel exhaust treatment device mount includes first and second sealing cones between which the diesel exhaust treatment device is mounted, and wherein the pulse cleaner includes a first conduit that provides fluid communication between the first cone and the pulse generator, and a second conduit that provides fluid communication between the second cone and the collection filter.

A pulse cleaner for cleaning diesel exhaust treatment devices, the pulse cleaner commprising:

• a cabinet;
• a diesel exhaust treatment device mount positioned within the cabinet for mounting the diesel exhaust treatment device during pulse cleaning;
• a collection filter positioned within the cabinet for collecting material displaced from the diesel exhaust treatment device during cleaning;
• and
• a pulse generator for generating pulses that are each directed at a majority of a face of the diesel exhaust treatment device when the diesel exhaust treatment device is mounted at the diesel exhaust treatment device mount, the pulse generator including a pressure tank for accumulating pressurized air, and a valve arrangement that flushes the pressurized air from the tank, wherein a pulse of air for cleaning the diesel exhaust treatment device is generated each time the tank is flushed;
• wherein the pulses travel through the diesel exhaust treatment device in a direction toward the collection filter, and wherein the pulse cleaner further comprises a blower for forcing air through the diesel exhaust treatment device in a direction toward the primary filter between pulses.

A pulse cleaner for cleaning diesel exhaust treatment devices, the pulse cleaner comprising:

• a cabinet;
• a diesel exhaust treatment device mount positioned within the cabinet for mounting the diesel exhaust treatment device during pulse cleaning;
• collection filter positioned within the cabinet for collecting material displaced from the diesel exhaust treatment device during cleaning;
• a pulse generator for generating pulses that are each directed at a majority of a face of the diesel exhaust treatment device when the diesel exhaust treatment device is mounted at the diesel exhaust treatment device mount, the pulse generator including a pressure tank for accumulating pressurized air, and a valve arrangement that flushes the pressurized air from the tank, wherein a pulse of air for cleaning the diesel exhaust treatment device is generated each time the tank is flushed;
• and
• a conduit that directs the pulses of air from the pulse generator toward the diesel exhaust treatment device mount, the conduit including a cone that is configured to be positioned above the diesel exhaust treatment device for directing pulses of air toward a face of the diesel exhaust treatment device when the diesel exhaust treatment device is mounted at the diesel exhaust treatment device mount.