Support system for an exhaust aftertreatment system for a locomotive having a two-stroke locomotive diesel engine

A support system for mounting the components of an exhaust aftertreatment system for reducing pollutants in exhaust gas expelled from a locomotive diesel engine to the locomotive structure, said components include a turbocharger mixing manifold and a plurality of discrete exhaust aftertreatment line assemblies, the support system comprising:

• a primary support structure, including an aftertreatment tray module and a plurality of locomotive body frame panels;
• and
• a secondary support structure, including a plurality of support link assemblies mounted to said aftertreatment tray module of said primary support structure, and adapted to carry said exhaust aftertreatment line assemblies,
• wherein said primary and secondary support structures (a) carry a physical mass load of said exhaust aftertreatment system, (b) isolate said exhaust aftertreatment system from external loads and forces, and (c) allow for the physical translation resulting from thermal expansion of certain components of said exhaust aftertreatment system;
• wherein each one of said plurality of support link assemblies comprises:
• a rigid upper link member having two opposite end sections, whereby one end section is movably secured to said aftertreatment tray module via a first spherical bearing and the opposite end section is movably secured to a first flange adaptor via a second spherical bearing so as to allow translational movement of said first flange adaptor only substantially along the vertical and longitudinal axis of said exhaust aftertreatment system;
• a rigid lower link member having two opposite end sections, whereby one end section is movably secured to said aftertreatment tray module via a third spherical bearing and the opposite end section is movably secured to a second flange adaptor via a fourth spherical bearing so as to allow translational movement of said second flange adaptor only substantially along the vertical and longitudinal axis of said exhaust aftertreatment system to allow for thermal expansion of said exhaust aftertreatment line assembly;
• a rigid center link member having two opposite end sections, whereby one end section is movably secured to said aftertreatment tray module via a fifth spherical bearing and the opposite end section is movably secured to a third flange adaptor via a sixth spherical bearing so as to allow translational movement of said third flange adaptor only substantially along the longitudinal axis and very limited translation substantially along the lateral axis of said exhaust aftertreatment system in order to allow for limited radial thermal expansion of a line assembly flange connected to said third flange adaptor;
• and
• whereby all of said line flange adaptors connect to the same line assembly flange which is adapted to receive and secure one of said plurality of exhaust aftertreatment line assemblies;
• and
• wherein said plurality of support link assemblies are mounted at a plurality of discrete support linkage stations located on said aftertreatment tray module along the length of each one of said plurality of exhaust aftertreatment line assemblies.