# US 9,435,243 B2 · Metering module featuring air gap insulation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,243 B2 - Document ID: US9435243B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/359,962 - Filed: 2012-11-19 - Published: 2014-10-16 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-11-22 - Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH - Applicants: Robert Bosch GmbH - Inventors: Achim Knittel; Stephan Pohl; Martin Kiontke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435243B2 ## CPC - F01N 3/208: {Control of selective catalytic reduction [SCR], e.g. by adjusting the dosing of reducing agent} - F01N 3/2066: {Selective catalytic reduction [SCR]} - F01N 11/00: Monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus - B05B 9/002: {incorporating means for heating or cooling, e.g. the material to be sprayed} - F01N 2260/024: using a liquid - F01N 2610/02: the substance being ammonia or urea - F01N 2610/11: the substance or part of the dosing system being cooled - F01N 2610/1453: Sprayers or atomisers; Arrangement thereof in the exhaust apparatus - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16) - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract The invention relates to a device for cooling a metering module (10), in particular a module for metering an operating agent/auxiliary agent such as a reducing agent into the exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine. A cooling device comprising a cooling member (17, 20, 24, 28, 29) through which a cooling liquid flows is associated with the metering module (10). The cooling member (17, 20, 24, 28, 29) acts as a housing (12) for the metering module (10). A first group of parts (17, 20, 28) forms an air gap insulation (38; 54, 56, 58) on an electric contact (16, 36), while cooling fluid flows through a second group of parts (28, 29, 40). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for cooling a metering module (10), the apparatus comprising a metering valve (30), wherein the metering module (10) is assigned a cooling device which comprises a heat sink (17, 20, 24, 28, 29) through which a cooling fluid flows, wherein the heat sink (17, 20, 24, 28, 29) forms a housing (12) of the metering valve (30), wherein a first group of parts (17, 20, 28) of the housing forms an air gap insulation (38; 54, 56, 58) at least partially surrounding an electric contact (16, 56) and a second group of parts (28, 29, 40, 64) of the housing defines a cavity (44), the cavity (44) having the cooling fluid flowing therethrough, wherein the cavity (44) at least partially surrounds the air gap insulation (38; 54, 56, 58), wherein the cavity (44) and the air gap insulation (38; 54, 56, 58) share a common wall (64), wherein the air gap insulation (38; 54, 56, 58) is arranged on an interior of the common wall (64), wherein the cavity (44) is arranged on an exterior of the common wall (64), and wherein the heat sink comprises an upper shell (20), a latchable plug-in contact cover (17), a central shell (28), a lower shell (29), and a cup-shaped insert (24) embedded in the lower shell (29). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the upper shell (20) is separated in a media-tight manner from the central shell (28) through which cooling fluid flows at least in some regions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the central shell (28) has the cavity (44) which conducts cooling fluid, and in that the upper shell (20) forms an air gap portion (58) of the air gap insulation (14) together with the latchable plug-in contact cover (17). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the central shell (28) has the cavity (44) through which cooling fluid flows, and comprises first and second air gap portions (54, 56) of the air gap insulation (38), said air gap portions being separated from said cavity (44). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the central shell (28) comprises a cooling fluid return (26) emerging from the cavity (44). ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the central shell (28) contains the common wall (64), and wherein the common wall (64) separates the cavity (44) from the first and second air gap sections (54, 56). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a guide sleeve (32) is accommodated between the central shell (28) and the cup-shaped insert (24) embedded in the lower shell (29). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a cooling fluid inlet (22) leads into the lower shell (29) which contains a lower shell cavity (66) conducting cooling fluid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that passage openings (46) which permit cooling fluid to flow from the lower shell cavity (66) of the cup-shaped insert (24) into the cavity (44) of the central shell (28) are provided in a guide sleeve (32) and in a base of the central shell (28). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the plug cover (17) is manufactured from material having elastic properties in order to compensate for temperature-induced expansions of upper shell (20) and central shell (28). ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the plug cover (17) comprises a first latching means (48) on the upper shell (20) and a further, second latching means (50) on the central shell (28) of the heat sink (17, 20, 24, 28, 29). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first group of parts includes the latchable plug-in contact (17), and wherein the latchable plug-in contact surrounds at least part of the air gap insulation (38, 54, 56, 58). ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first group of parts includes the latchable plug-in contact (17), the upper shell (20), and the central shell (28). ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the second group of parts includes the central shell (28), the lower shell (29), and a receptacle (40). ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the central shell (28) has the cavity (44) through which cooling fluid flows, and wherein the central shell (28) includes first and second air gap portions (54, 56) of the air gap insulation (38), the first and second air gap portions (54, 56) being separated from the cavity (44) by the common wall (64). ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first and second air gap portions (54, 56) separate the cavity (44) from the electric contact (16, 56). ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second group of parts includes the central shell (28), the lower shell (29), and a receptacle (40), wherein the central shell (28) has the cavity (44) through which cooling fluid flows, wherein the central shell (28) includes first and second air gap portions (54, 56) of the air gap insulation (38), the first and second air gap portions (54, 56) being separated from the cavity (44) by the common wall (64), and wherein the first and second air gap portions (54, 56) separate the cavity (44) from the electric contact (16, 56). ### Claim 18 An apparatus for cooling a metering module (10), the apparatus comprising a metering valve (30), wherein the metering module (10) is assigned a cooling device which comprises a heat sink (17, 20, 24, 28, 29) through which a cooling fluid flows, wherein the heat sink (17, 20, 24, 28, 29) forms a housing (12) of the metering valve (30), wherein a first group of parts (17, 20, 28) of the housing forms an air gap insulation (38; 54, 56, 58) on an electric contact (16, 56) and a second group of parts (28, 29, 40, 64) of the housing has the cooling fluid flowing therethrough, wherein the heat sink comprises an upper shell (20), a latchable plug-in contact cover (17), a central shell (28), a lower shell (29) and a cup-shaped insert (24) embedded in the lower shell (29), wherein a cooling fluid inlet (22) leads into the lower shell (29) which contains a lower shell cavity (66) conducting cooling fluid, and wherein passage openings (46) which permit cooling fluid to flow from the lower shell cavity (66) of the cup-shaped insert (24) into a cavity (44) of the central shell (28) are provided in a guide sleeve (32) and in a base of the central shell (28). ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the central shell (28) has the cavity (44) through which cooling fluid flows, and includes first and second air gap portions (54, 56) of the air gap insulation (38), said air gap portions (54, 56) being separated from said cavity (44). ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the cavity (44) and the air gap insulation (38; 54, 56, 58) share a common wall (64), wherein the air gap insulation (38; 54, 56, 58) is arranged on an interior of the common wall (64), wherein the cavity (44) is arranged on an exterior of the common wall (64), and wherein the central shell (28) contains the common wall (64) which separates the cavity (44) from the first and second air gap sections (54, 56).