PRESSURE SWIRL FLOW INJECTOR WITH REDUCED FLOW VARIABILITY AND RETURN FLOW

• US 20110192140A1
• Filed: 02/09/2011
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Incorporated (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Incorporated (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Olivier, Keith, Lowry, John, Thomas, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,998,114 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/274
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/02 the substance being ammonia or urea
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/11 the substance or part of the dosing system being cooled
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/1453 Sprayers or atomisers; Arrangement thereof in the exhaust apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/1473 Overflow or return means for the substances, e.g. conduits or valves for the return path
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/20 specially adapted for catalytic conversion F01N3/22 takes precedence; Methods of operation or control of catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2066 Selective catalytic reduction [SCR]
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/28 Construction of catalytic reactors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A reagent injector with a cartridge design has a body with a reagent inlet, outlet, and a swirl chamber, which has an exit orifice that may be covered and uncovered by a solid, movable pintle. Reagent flows through the injector when the exit orifice is covered and uncovered to cool the injector. An insulator may be disposed between the injector body and a mounting flange connectable to an exhaust system. A flow path ensures cooling of an electromagnetic actuator. Reagent may bypass an orifice swirl chamber when the pintle blocks the exit orifice. Fluid may flow between an outside diameter of a pole piece and an inside diameter of an electromagnetic actuator, through an orifice chamber and return through a central bore housing a solid pintle, around which fluid may flow. Different inner injector body passages may direct fluid into an orifice distribution chamber and out to the solid pintle.

Claims

1. A method of directing reagent through an injector, the method comprising:

receiving a reagent at a reagent inlet;

directing the reagent to a pole piece passage defined between an outside diameter of a pole piece and an inside diameter of a bobbin;

directing the reagent from the pole piece passage to a collar passage defined between an outside diameter of a collar of an inner lower body and the inside diameter of the bobbin;

directing the reagent from the collar passage to a lower body passage defined between an outside diameter of the inner lower body and an inside diameter of a lower section of the injector;

directing the reagent into a distribution passage defined by the inner lower body, the distribution passage fluidly linking the lower body passage to a distribution chamber defined by the inner lower body and an orifice plate;

directing a first partial volume of the reagent to an orifice in the orifice plate; and

directing a second partial volume of the reagent to a reagent outlet.

2. The method of directing reagent through an atomizing injector according to claim 1, wherein directing a first partial volume of the reagent to an orifice in the orifice plate further comprises:

directing the first partial volume of the reagent through a plurality of slots in the orifice plate.

3. The method of directing reagent through an injector according to claim 1, wherein directing a first partial volume of the reagent to an orifice in the orifice plate further comprises:

moving a pintle and unblocking the orifice in the orifice plate; and

directing the first partial volume of the reagent through a plurality of slots in the orifice plate and through the orifice.

4. The method of directing reagent through an atomizing injector according to claim 1, wherein directing a first partial volume of the reagent to a reagent outlet further comprises:

directing the first partial volume of the reagent to a central bore defined by the inner lower body.

5. The method of directing reagent through an atomizing injector according to claim 1, wherein directing a second partial volume of the reagent to a reagent outlet further comprises:

directing the second partial volume of the reagent through holes defined in a guide plate through which a pintle passes.

6. The method of directing reagent through an atomizing injector according to claim 1, wherein directing a second partial volume of the reagent to a reagent outlet further comprises:

directing the second partial volume of the reagent through holes of a pintle head, the pintle head attaching to and surrounding an end of the pintle.

7. The method of directing reagent through an atomizing injector according to claim 1, wherein directing a second partial volume of the reagent to a reagent outlet further comprises:

directing the second partial volume of the reagent through an interior of a bobbin of a magnetic coil.

8. The method of directing reagent through an atomizing injector according to claim 1, wherein directing a second partial volume of the reagent to a reagent outlet further comprises:

directing the second partial volume of the reagent through a central bore of a pole piece.

9. The method of directing reagent through an atomizing injector according to claim 1, wherein directing a second partial volume of the reagent to a reagent outlet further comprises:

directing the second partial volume of the reagent from the distribution chamber to at least one return passage defined by the inner lower body, wherein the return passage fluidly links the distribution chamber and a central bore defined by the inner lower body.

10. The method of directing reagent through an atomizing injector according to claim 1, wherein directing a second partial volume of the reagent to a reagent outlet further comprises:

directing the second partial volume of the reagent around an outside diameter of a solid pintle residing within a central bore defined by the inner lower body.

50. The method of directing reagent through an atomizing injector according to claim 1, wherein directing a first partial volume of the reagent to an orifice in the orifice plate further comprises:

directing the first partial volume of the reagent through a plurality of slots defined in an orifice plate holder.

51. The method of directing reagent through an atomizing injector according to claim 50, wherein the orifice plate holder and orifice plate are physically separate pieces.

52. The method of directing reagent through an atomizing injector according to claim 1, wherein directing a second partial volume of the reagent to a reagent outlet further comprises:

directing the second partial volume of the reagent from the distribution chamber to at least one return passage defined by an orifice plate holder, wherein the return passage fluidly links the distribution chamber and a central bore defined by the inner lower body.

11. A method of directing reagent through an injector, the method comprising:

pumping a reagent from a reagent tank to an injector reagent inlet;

directing the reagent to a pole piece passage defined between an outside diameter of a pole piece and an inside diameter of an upper section of the injector;

directing the reagent from the pole piece passage to a bobbin passage located between an outside diameter of the pole piece and an inside diameter of the electromagnetic coil bobbin;

directing the reagent from the pole piece passage to a collar passage located between an outside diameter of a collar of an inner lower body and an inside diameter of the electromagnetic coil bobbin;

directing the reagent from the collar passage to a lower body passage located between an outside diameter of the inner lower body and an inside diameter of a lower section of the injector;

directing the reagent into a distribution passage defined by the inner lower body, the distribution passage fluidly linking the lower body passage and a distribution chamber defined by the inner lower body and an orifice plate;

dividing the reagent into a first partial volume and a second partial volume;

directing the first partial volume and second partial volume of the reagent into the distribution chamber;

directing the first partial volume into curved slots defined in the orifice plate;

lifting a pintle from the orifice plate; and

directing the first partial volume of the reagent around an orifice in the orifice plate.

12. The method of directing reagent through an injector according to claim 11, the method further comprising:

directing the first partial volume of the reagent from around the orifice in the orifice plate and into an exhaust tube.

13. The method of directing reagent through an injector according to claim 11, the method further comprising:

directing the second partial volume of the reagent to a reagent outlet.

14. The method of directing reagent through an injector according to claim 13, the method further comprising:

directing the second partial volume of the reagent from the reagent outlet and to the reagent tank.

15. The method of directing reagent through an injector according to claim 13, wherein directing a second partial volume of the reagent to a reagent outlet further comprises:

directing the second partial volume of the reagent to a return passage defined in the inner lower body, the return passage directing the second partial volume from the distribution chamber to a central bore defined by the inner lower body.

16. The method of directing reagent through an atomizing injector according to claim 13, wherein directing the second partial volume of the reagent to a reagent outlet further comprises:

directing the second partial volume around an outside diameter of a solid pintle residing within the central bore.

17. The method of directing reagent through an atomizing injector according to claim 13, wherein directing the second partial volume of the reagent to a reagent outlet further comprises:

directing the second partial volume of the reagent through holes of a guide plate through which the solid pintle passes; and

directing the second partial volume of the reagent through holes of a pintle head to which a pintle is attached.

18. The method of directing reagent through an atomizing injector according to claim 13, wherein directing a second partial volume of the reagent to a reagent outlet further comprises:

directing the second partial volume of the reagent through the inside diameter of the electromagnetic coil bobbin.

19. The method of directing reagent through an atomizing injector according to claim 13, wherein directing a second partial volume of the reagent to a reagent outlet further comprises:

directing the second partial volume of the reagent through a central bore of a pole piece, wherein the pole piece is located through inside diameter of the electromagnetic coil bobbin.

20. The method of directing reagent through an atomizing injector according to claim 13, wherein directing a second partial volume of the reagent to a reagent outlet further comprises:

directing a partial volume of the reagent through a spring residing within a central bore of a pole piece.

21. An injector for injecting reagent, the injector comprising:

an upper injector body;

a lower injector body that is secured to the upper injector body;

a retaining plate defining a circular hole, the retaining plate secured around the lower injector body via the circular hole;

an insulator defining a circular hole, the insulator secured around the lower injector body; and

a mounting flange defining a circular hole, the mounting flange secured around the insulator.

22. The injector of claim 21, wherein the retaining plate is secured directly against the lower injector body.

23. The injector of claim 21, wherein the insulator is secured directly against the lower injector body and the retaining plate.

24. The injector of claim 21, wherein the mounting flange is secured directly against the insulator.

25. The injector of claim 21, wherein the retaining plate defines a plurality of through holes about a retaining plate peripheral edge and the mounting flange defines a plurality of blind holes about a mounting flange peripheral edge.

26. The injector of claim 25, further comprising:

a pin having a first pin end and a second pin end, wherein the first pin end resides within one of the blind holes of the mounting flange and the pin resides completely through one of the plurality of through holes of the retaining plate.

27. The injector of claim 26, further comprising:

a clip having a first clip end and a second clip end, the clip secured over the retaining plate peripheral edge and the mounting flange peripheral edge.

28. The injector of claim 27, wherein the retaining plate peripheral edge defines a peripheral concavity and the plurality of through holes of the retaining plate are located within the peripheral concavity.

29. The injector of claim 28, wherein the mounting flange peripheral edge defines a groove.

30. The injector of claim 29, wherein the first clip end resides within the groove of the mounting flange peripheral edge and the second clip end resides within the peripheral concavity of the retaining plate peripheral edge.

31. The injector of claim 21, wherein the clip is a C-shaped and the second clip end resides on the second pin end.

32. The injector of claim 31, wherein the insulator defines a tubular section with an inside diameter and an outside diameter that each have a series of alternating protrusions and recessions.

33. The injector of claim 21, further comprising:

a heat shield defining a through hole, the mounting flange protruding through the through hole of the heat shield.

34. The injector of claim 33, wherein the heat shield is positioned between the injector upper body and an exhaust pipe.

35. The injector of claim 34, further comprising:

a cover mounted to the heat shield, wherein the cover surrounds the upper injector body, the lower injector body, and the mounting flange.

36. An injector for injecting reagent, the injector comprising:

a cylindrical pole piece defining a pole piece first end, a pole piece second end and a hollow interior from the pole piece first end to the pole piece second end;

a spring pre-loader located within the hollow interior and against a portion of the first end;

a spring located within the hollow interior, the spring the abutting the spring pre-loader; and

an electromagnetic coil secured around a bobbin, the electromagnetic coil surrounding an outside diameter of the cylindrical pole piece, wherein the cylindrical pole piece, spring pre-loader, spring and electromagnetic coil reside only within the upper injector body.

37. The injector of claim 36, further comprising:

a cylindrical inner lower body defining a longitudinal central bore;

an inner lower body first end defining a first end first bore with a diameter larger than a diameter of the longitudinal central bore, the inner lower body first end also defining a first end second bore with a diameter larger than the longitudinal central bore and larger than the first end first bore; and

an inner lower body second end defining a second end bore with a diameter larger than the longitudinal central bore.

38. The injector of claim 37, further comprising:

a solid pintle residing within the longitudinal central bore;

a guide plate attached to an intermediate portion of the pintle, the guide plate residing within the first end first bore;

a pintle head surrounding an end of the pintle, the pintle head residing within the first end second bore; and

an orifice plate residing within the second end bore.

39. The injector of claim 38, wherein the cylindrical pole piece, spring pre-loader, spring, electromagnetic coil, cylindrical inner lower body, pintle, guide plate, pintle head and orifice plate are part of a single cartridge.

40. The injector of claim 39, further comprising:

an injector body upper section defining a chamber, wherein the single cartridge inserts into and resides within the chamber.

41. The injector of claim 38, wherein the guide plate defines at least one through hole for passage of fluid.

42. The injector of claim 38, wherein the guide plate and the pintle define at least one through hole therebetween for passage of fluid.

43. The injector of claim 38, wherein the pintle head defines at least one through hole for passage of fluid.

44. The injector of claim 38, wherein the orifice plate and the inner lower body second end define a chamber therebetween.

45. The injector of claim 38, wherein the orifice plate defines a plurality of grooves for passage of fluid.

46. The injector of claim 42, further comprising:

an injector body lower section, wherein an interior surface of the injector body lower section and an inner lower body exterior surface define a pathway.

47. The injector of claim 46, wherein the inner lower body defines a distribution passage fluidly linked to the pathway defined by an interior surface of the injector body lower section and an exterior surface of the inner lower body.

48. The injector of claim 44, wherein the inner lower body defines a return passage that fluidly links the inner lower body central bore and the chamber defined by the orifice plate and the inner lower body second end.

49. The injector of claim 48, wherein the solid pintle resides within the longitudinal central bore for passage of fluid around the solid pintle.