Deposition system and method

• US 7,419,532 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Crandell, Richard A., Fei, Dong, Trethewey, Jeremy, Sellers, Cheryl L., Vanderspiegel, Natalie N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Duane
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clemente; Robert A
• Application Number:
  US11/362,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20060144223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 95/8, 95/11, 95/19, 95/20, 952/73, 964/17, 964/21, 552/823, 555/23, 116/264, 116/266, 116/268, 116/DIG.25, 73/38, 738/632.3
• US Class Current: 95/273
• 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 2240/36 an exhaust flap
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2260/14 for modifying or adapting flow area or back-pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2560/00 Exhaust systems with means for detecting or measuring exhaust gas components or characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2560/05 the means being a particulate sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2570/10 Carbon or carbon oxides
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2900/0421 using an increment counter when a predetermined event occurs
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/05 by means of air, e.g. by mixing exhaust with air silencers working by addition of air to exhaust F01N1/14; arrangements for the supply of additional air for the thermal or catalytic conversion of noxious components of exhaust F01N3/30 ; in tailpipes F01N13/082
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2093 Periodically blowing a gas through the converter, e.g. in a direction opposite to exhaust gas flow or by reversing exhaust gas flow direction
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/32 using air pump using jet air pumps F01N3/34; pumps in general F04
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 9/002 of filter regeneration, e.g. detection of clogging
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 9/005 using models instead of sensors to determine operating characteristics of exhaust systems, e.g. calculating catalyst temperature instead of measuring it directly
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/029 the exhaust gas treating apparatus being a particulate filter
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of loading a filtering device includes measuring a metric indicative of an initial loading of the filtering device and desirably positioning a quantity of matter proximate the filtering device. The method also includes applying a negative pressure to the filtering device such that at least a portion of the quantity of matter is drawn into the filtering device. The method further includes measuring a metric indicative of a final loading of the filtering device.

Claims

1. A method of loading a filtering device, comprising:

measuring a metric indicative of an initial loading of the filtering device;

desirably positioning a quantity of matter proximate the filtering device;

applying a negative pressure to the filtering device such that at least a portion of the quantity of matter is drawn into the filtering device;

measuring a metric indicative of a final loading of the filtering device; and

generating a loading model based on at least one of the metric indicative of the initial loading of the filtering device and the metric indicative of the final loading of the filtering device.

2. The method of claim 1, further including processing a quantity of matter to be loaded into the filtering device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein processing the quantity of matter includes at least one of selectively heating the matter, measuring a mass of the matter, selectively removing a portion of the matter, and measuring a volume of the matter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the metric indicative of the initial loading and the metric indicative of the final loading include at least one of filtering device mass, plug length, filtering device diameter, filtering device length, and pressure drop across the filtering device.

5. The method of claim 1, further including desirably heating the portion of the quantity of matter while the portion is within the filtering device.

6. The method of claim 1, further including removing matter from the filtering device.

7. A method of loading a particulate filter with ash, comprising:

measuring a metric indicative of an initial ash level within the particulate filter;

desirably positioning a quantity of ash proximate an inlet of the particulate filter;

applying a negative pressure to the particulate filter such that at least a portion of the quantity of ash is drawn into the particulate filter; and

measuring a metric indicative of a final ash level within the particulate filter.

8. The method of claim 7, further including processing a quantity of ash to be loaded into the particulate filter.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein processing the quantity of ash includes at least one of selectively heating the ash, measuring a mass of the ash, separating impurities from the ash, and measuring a volume of the ash.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the metric indicative of the initial ash level and the metric indicative of the final ash level include at least one of particulate filter mass, plug length, particulate filter diameter, particulate filter length, and pressure drop across the particulate filter.

11. The method of claim 7, further including desirably heating the portion of the quantity of ash while the portion is within the particulate filter.

12. The method of claim 7, further including generating a loading model based on at least one of the metric indicative the initial ash level and the metric indicative of the final ash level.

13. The method of claim 12, further including providing a controller configured to assist in generating the loading model.

14. The method of claim 7, further including removing ash from the filter.

15. The method of claim 14, further including providing a service system configured to assist in removing ash from the particulate filter.

16. The method of claim 7, further including inserting at least one of a probe and a scope into the particulate filter to assist in the measuring.

17. A system for depositing matter into a filtering device, comprising:

a delivery tube;

a mesh connected to the delivery tube and configured to support a predetermined amount of matter;

an access device connected to the delivery tube and configured to accept the filtering device;

a vacuum source fluidly connectable to the filtering device and the delivery tube; and

a diagnostic device configured to measure a metric indicative of an amount of matter contained within the filtering device.

18. The system of claim 17, further including a diffuser connected to the delivery tube and configured to spread mailer substantially evenly across a cross-section of the delivery tube.

19. The system of claim 17, further including a controller connected to at least one of the diagnostic device and the vacuum source.