Device for heating

• US 7,398,771 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Theorell, Gunnar, Sonderegger, Sigurd
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh; Hai H
• Application Number:
  US11/421,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20060213473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 123/196.AB, 123/542, 123/556, 123/546, 123/557, 123/545, 123/1.A, 123/198.A, 602/86, 602/95, 603/03
• US Class Current: 123/557
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/2067 Urea
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/404 Nitrogen oxides other than dinitrogen oxide
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/02 the substance being ammonia or urea
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/10 the substance being heated, e.g. by heating tank or supply line of the added substance
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/1406 Storage means for substances, e.g. tanks or reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/1486 Means to prevent the substance from freezing
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2066 Selective catalytic reduction [SCR]
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/10 Fuel manifold
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/16 Outlet manifold
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A device for heating a first medium which is in liquid state and/or frozen state includes a reservoir disposed on an engine-driven vehicle and an element for heating the first medium present in the reservoir. The heating element is disposed inside the reservoir for direct heating of the first medium.

Claims

1. A device for heating a first medium which is in at least one of a liquid state and a frozen state, comprising a reservoir disposed on an engine-driven vehicle and an element for heating the first medium present in the reservoir, wherein the heating element is disposed inside the reservoir for direct heating of the first medium, the reservoir is provided with an outlet and a line for evacuating the first medium from the reservoir to an additional unit in which the first medium is used, and the heating element is disposed, for heating of the first medium, close to the outlet for evacuation of the first medium, wherein the heating element and the line for evacuating the first medium from the reservoir have substantially the same fastening position in the reservoir.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating element is configured as a coil for accommodation of a second medium to allow transfer of heat from the second medium to the first medium.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second medium is a liquid which is additionally used to cool the engine of the vehicle.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating element is disposed in the lower part of the reservoir.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the heating element is disposed substantially proximate to the bottom of the reservoir.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first medium is a solution containing urea.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the additional unit is a catalyzer and/or a muffler connected to the engine of the vehicle.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the additional unit is a catalyzer and/or a muffler connected to the engine of the vehicle.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the additional unit and the reservoir are disposed directly adjacent to one another.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating element and the line for evacuating the first medium from the reservoir have substantially the same fastening position in the reservoir.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is provided with a cover, which, together with an outer face of the reservoir, encloses a part of the line disposed between the reservoir and a pump for evacuating the first medium from the reservoir via the outlet to the additional unit, such that the first medium maintains substantially the same temperature in this line part as in the reservoir.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cover is arranged so as, together with the outer limit face of the reservoir, to enclose the pump.

13. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cover is arranged so as, together with the outer limit face of the reservoir, to enclose the fastening position.

14. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is provided with means for inhibiting the effect upon the heating element resulting from unwelcome movement of frozen matter close to the heating element.

15. The device as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least one offset inside the reservoir for inhibiting the effect upon the heating element resulting from unwelcome movement of frozen matter close to the heating element.

16. The device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the at least one offset is disposed on at least one side wall of the reservoir, and is adapted to keep frozen matter below the at least one offset such that, in at least one direction, frozen matter is prevented from moving in the reservoir.

17. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reservoir is provided with one or more openings in an upper part of the reservoir such that pressure of the atmosphere in an unfilled upper part of the reservoir is substantially equal to atmospheric pressure prevailing immediately outside the reservoir.

18. The device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a transducer, disposed in the reservoir, for measuring pressure in the reservoir in order, based on such a pressure measurement, to establish a level of the first medium in the reservoir.

19. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the pressure transducer is disposed in a lower part of the reservoir.

20. The device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the pressure transducer is disposed substantially proximate to a bottom of the reservoir.

21. A device for heating a first medium which is in at least one of a liquid state and a frozen state, comprising a reservoir disposed on an engine-driven vehicle and an element for heating the first medium present in the reservoir, wherein the heating element is disposed inside the reservoir for direct heating of the first medium, the reservoir is provided with an outlet and a line for evacuating the first medium from the reservoir to an additional unit in which the first medium is used, and the heating element is disposed, for heating of the first medium, close to the outlet for evacuation of the first medium, and a connecting component, the connecting component being disposed in an opening in the reservoir and having greater flexibility than the reservoir proximate to the opening, the heating element being suspended in the reservoir by the component.

22. The device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the connecting component is made of rubber.

23. A device for heating a first medium which is in at least one of a liquid state and a frozen state, comprising a reservoir disposed on an engine-driven vehicle and an element for heating the first medium present in the reservoir, wherein the heating element is disposed inside the reservoir for direct heating of the first medium, the reservoir is provided with an outlet and a line for evacuating the first medium from the reservoir to an additional unit in which the first medium is used, and the heating element is disposed, for heating of the first medium, close to the outlet for evacuation of the first medium, wherein an inner limit face in the upper part of the reservoir has a shape which is matched to the expansion experienced by the first medium when it freezes in order to minimize the unfilled space in the reservoir, which space is required prior to freezing in order, when freezing takes place, to receive a thereby increased volume of the first medium and save the walls of the reservoir from load.

24. The device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the inner limit face has a shape which substantially corresponds to a shape assumed by a frozen part at a top of the first medium when the first medium freezes.

25. The device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the inner limit face has a substantially convex shape.

26. The device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the inner limit face has a substantially convex shape.