Filter service system and method

• US 20090000471A1
• Filed: 07/29/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Thaler, David, Crandell, Richard A., Fluga, Eric Charles, Sellers, Cheryl Lynn, Trethewey, Jeremy, Frazier, Bruce, Malhampatti, Hemant Prasad, Hudson, Roger A., Fletcher, Matthew, Fel, Dong, Gasper, Mark Alan, Vanderspiegel, Natalie Noel, Grimm, Mark T., DaCosta, Herbert
• Granted Patent: US 8,252,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 95/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2273/28 Making use of vacuum or underpressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2279/30 for treatment of exhaust gases from IC Engines
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0089 Anti-return means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/68 by means acting on the cake side involving movement with regard to the filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/71 with pressurised gas, e.g. pulsed air
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/023 using means for regenerating the filters, e.g. by burning trapped particles by electrically controlling the supply of combustible mixture or its constituents only F02D41/0235
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0233 periodically cleaning filter by blowing a gas through the filter in a direction opposite to exhaust flow, e.g. exposing filter to engine air intake

Abstract

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a system for removing matter from a filtering device of a work machine includes a gas pressurization assembly. An element of the gas pressurization assembly is removably attachable to a first orifice of the filtering device without removing the filtering device from a work machine to which the filtering device is connected. The system also includes a heat source fluidly connected to the gas pressurization assembly.

Claims

1-44. -44. (canceled)

45. A method of cleaning a diesel particulate filter media, the method comprising:

selectively directing a pulsed flow of gas from a compressed gas source through the filter media;

increasing a temperature of the filter media with a heat source positioned proximate to the filter media; and

transferring heat to the filter media with the pulsed flow of gas passing through the filter media and transferring heat to the filter media without the pulsed flow of gas passing through the filter media.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein increasing the temperature of the filter media includes increasing the temperature of the filter media with the heat source to a temperature greater than about 200 degrees Celsius.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the heat source is an electric heating coil.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein increasing the temperature of the filter media includes increasing the temperature of the filter media with the heat source to a temperature greater than about 500 degrees Celsius.

49. The method of claim 45, further including collecting particulate matter which is removed from the filter media in a receptacle.

50. The method of claim 45, further including:

sensing a characteristic of the filter media; and

controlling the pulsed flow of gas from the compressed gas source based on the sensed characteristic of the filter media.

51. The method of claim 45, wherein the filter media is configured to filter exhaust gas from a diesel engine;

and further including detaching the filter media from a diesel engine before selectively directing the pulsed flow of gas from a compressed gas source through the filter media

52. The method of claim 45, wherein the filter media is configured to filter exhaust gas from a diesel engine of a machine;

and further including removing the filter media from the machine before selectively directing the flow of gas and before increasing the temperature of the filter media.

53. The method of claim 52, further including directing the pulsed flow of gas to the filter media through a sealed connection forming a substantially airtight flow path between the compressed gas source and a housing enclosing the filter media.

54. The method of claim 52, further including regulating the pulsed flow of gas from the compresses gas source with a valve;

and controlling the valve with a controller.

55. A system for cleaning a diesel particulate filter media, comprising:

a gas pressurization assembly configured to direct pulsed gas flow from a compressed gas source through the filter media; and

a heat source positioned proximate the filter media, the heat source configured to transfer heat to the filter media with the pulsed gas flow passing through the filter media and the heat source configured to transfer heat to the filter media without the pulsed gas flow passing through the filter media.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the heat source is an electric heating coil.

57. The system of claim 55, further including a receptacle configured to collect particulate matter which is removed from the filter media.

58. The system of claim 55, further including a sensor configured to sense a characteristic of the filter media, and a controller configured to control the gas pressurization assembly.

59. The system of claim 55, further including a sealed connection between the compressed gas source and a housing enclosing the filter media.

60. The system of claim 55, further including a valve configured to regulate the pulsed gas flow from the compressor gas source;

and a controller configured to control the valve.

61. A method of removing diesel particulate matter from a filter media, the method comprising:

generating a first gas flow through a first end of the filter media with a first flow device;

redirecting the first gas flow by moving the first flow device relative to the filter media;

generating a second gas flow through a second end of the filter media with a second flow device; and

redirecting the second gas flow by moving the second flow device relative the filter media.

64. The method of claim 61, wherein the filter media is configured to filter exhaust gas from a diesel engine of a machine, and further including removing the filter media from the machine before directing the gas flow into the first end of the filter media and out of the second end of the filter media.

62. The method of 61, wherein moving the first flow device relative to the filter media includes moving the first flow device with an actuator.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein moving the first flow device with the actuator includes coordinating movement of the first flow device and the second flow device with the actuator.

65. A service system for removing diesel particulate matter from a filter media, comprising:

a first flow device imparting a first gas flow through the filter media, the first flow device configured to be positioned proximate a first end of the filter media, and the first flow device is movable to redirect the first gas flow through different portions of the filter media; and

a second flow device imparting a second gas flow through the filter media, the second flow device being configured to be positioned proximate a second end of the filter media, and the second flow device is movable to redirect the second gas flow through different portions of the filter media.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein the first flow device is configured to deliver the first gas flow through the filter media, and the second flow device is configured to receive the second gas flow through the filter media.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein the first flow device includes a gas source and the second flow device includes a vacuum source.

68. The system of claim 65, wherein the first flow device is movable by an actuator.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein the actuator is an electric actuator, a hydraulic actuator, or a pneumatic actuator.

70. The system of claim 68, wherein the actuator is configured to coordinate movement of the first flow device and the second flow device.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein the first flow device and the second flow device each move relative to the filter media, and the first flow device moves in unison relative to the second flow device.

72. The system of claim 65, wherein the first flow device is aligned opposite the second flow device and the filter media is configured to be positioned vertically between the first flow device and the second flow device.

73. The system of claim 65, wherein each of the first gas flow and the second gas flow is configured to pass through the filter media when the filter media is removed from a machine generating the particulate matter.

74. The system of claim 65, wherein at least one of the first flow device and the second flow device includes a nozzle for directing compressed air onto an end of the filter.

75. A service system for removing diesel particulate matter from a diesel particulate filter media, the diesel particulate filter media having an exhaust inlet end opposite an exhaust outlet end, the system comprising:

a first flow device imparting a first gas flow through the diesel particulate filter media, the first flow device positioned to direct the first flow of gas through the exhaust outlet end of the diesel particulate filter, the first flow device is movable to redirect the first gas flow through different portions of the exhaust outlet end;

a second flow device imparting a second gas flow through the diesel particulate filter media, the second flow device positioned to direct the second flow of gas through the exhaust inlet end of the diesel particulate filter media, the second flow device is movable to redirect the second gas flow through different portions of the exhaust inlet end of the diesel particulate filter media; and

an actuator configured to coordinate movement of the first flow device and the second flow device relative to the diesel particulate filter media.

76. The system of claim 75, wherein the actuator is configured to move the first flow device in unison relative to the second flow device.

77. The system of claim 75, wherein at least one of the first flow device and the second flow device includes a nozzle for directing compressed air onto the diesel particulate filter media.

78. The system of claim 75, wherein the first flow device includes a gas source and the second flow device includes a vacuum source.

79. The system of claim 75, wherein each of the first gas flow and the second gas flow is configured to pass through the diesel particulate filter media when the diesel particulate filter media is removed from a machine generating the diesel particulate matter.