Space saving serviceable exhaust aftertreatment assembly

An aftertreatment exhaust assembly comprising an axially extending housing containing an aftertreatment element, said aftertreatment element being selected from the group consisting of at least one of a particulate soot filter and a catalyst element, said housing having an inlet and an outlet communicating respectively with axially distally opposite axial ends of said aftertreatment element, wherein exhaust flows from said inlet then axially through said aftertreatment element then to said outlet, said housing comprising at least first and second sections, one of said sections being selected from the group consisting of an inlet housing section and an outlet housing section, said one section having a sidewall extending axially;

• wherein said first housing section is an outlet housing section, said aftertreatment element extends axially into said outlet housing section along a first axial direction, said aftertreatment element has an outlet axial end within said outlet housing section, said outlet housing section has a sidewall extending axially between first and second end walls and of larger diameter than said aftertreatment element and providing an outlet plenum of reduced restriction;
• wherein said first end wall of said outlet housing section is axially spaced from said outlet axial end of said aftertreatment element along said first axial direction;
• said second end wall of said outlet housing section is axially spaced from said outlet axial end of said aftertreatment element along a second axial direction, said second axial direction being opposite to said first axial direction;
• said sidewall of said outlet housing section has a first span extending from said first end wall axially along said second axial direction to a midpoint radially aligned with said outlet axial end of said aftertreatment element, and has a second span extending from said midpoint axially along said second axial direction to said second end wall, said first span and said first end wall defining an open volume first plenum section at said outlet axial end of said aftertreatment element and extending axially along said first axial direction therefrom, said second span and said second end wall defining an annular volume second plenum section at said outlet axial end of said aftertreatment element and extending axially along said second axial direction therefrom and in circumscribing relation to said aftertreatment element.

A method for saving space in an aftertreatment exhaust assembly having an axially extending housing containing an aftertreatment element, said aftertreatment element being selected from the group consisting of at least one of a particulate soot filter and a catalyst element, said housing having an inlet and an outlet communicating respectively with axially distally opposite axial ends of said aftertreatment element, wherein exhaust flows from said inlet then axially through said aftertreatment element then to said outlet, said housing having at least first and second sections meeting at a joint, said space saving method comprising providing inlet and outlet housing sections wherein said aftertreatment element extends axially into one of said inlet and outlet housing sections, with an axial end of said aftertreatment element being within said one housing section, providing said one housing section with a sidewall extending axially between first and second end walls and of larger diameter than said aftertreatment element and providing a plenum of reduced restriction and reduced axial extension from said axial end of said aftertreatment element;

• providing said first housing section as an outlet housing section wherein said aftertreatment element extends axially into said outlet housing section, with an outlet axial end of said aftertreatment element being within said outlet housing section, providing said outlet housing section with a sidewall extending axially between first and second end walls and of larger diameter than said aftertreatment element and providing an outlet plenum of reduced restriction and reduced axial extension along said axial direction from said outlet axial end of said aftertreatment element;
• providing said first end wall of said outlet housing section axially from said outlet axial end of said aftertreatment element along a first axial direction, spacing said second end wall of said outlet housing section axially from said outlet axial end of said aftertreatment element along a second axial direction, said second axial direction being opposite to said first axial direction, providing said sidewall of said outlet housing section with a first span extending from said first end wall axially along said second axial direction to a midpoint radially aligned with said outlet axial end of said aftertreatment element, and providing said sidewall of said outlet housing section with a second span extending from said midpoint axially along said second axial direction to said second end wall, providing said first span and said first end wall defining an open volume first plenum section at said outlet axial end of said aftertreatment element and extending axially along said first axial direction therefrom, providing said second span and said second end wall defining an annular volume second plenum section at said outlet axial end of said aftertreatment element and extending axially along said second axial direction therefrom and in circumscribing relation to said aftertreatment element.