Mounting and cooling device for emissions system electronics

• US 7,966,979 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2009
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Merchant, Jack Albert, Charles, Eric James, Trichirapalli, Muthukumar Chandrasekaran, Olsen, Paul Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, ZACHARY
• Application Number:
  US12/320,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20100186388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 361698-702, 361/679.53, 165 804- 805, 165/104.33, 257714-716, 174/15.1, 174/252, 248121-1259, 248200-3168, 123/165.A, 123/41.31, 602/86
• US Class Current: 123/41.31
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/00 Exhaust or silencing apparatus characterised by constructional features ; Exhaust or silencing apparatus, or parts thereof, having pertinent characteristics not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F01N1/00 - F01N5/00, F01N9/00, F01N11/00

Abstract

A cooling device for emissions system electronics is disclosed. The cooling device may have a mount for an exhaust treatment device. The mount may have a framework comprising a plurality of rigid members. The cooling device may also have a passageway located within at least one rigid member of the plurality of rigid members. The passageway may be configured to transmit a flow of coolant. The cooling device may further have a plate coupled to the at least one rigid member and at least one electronic device coupled to the plate. The at least one electronic device may be associated with the exhaust treatment device.

Claims

1. A cooling device for emissions system electronics, comprising:

a mount for an exhaust treatment device, the mount including a framework comprising a plurality of rigid members;

a passageway located within at least one rigid member of the plurality of rigid members, the passageway being configured to transmit a flow of coolant;

a plate coupled to the at least one rigid member; and

at least one electronic device coupled to the plate, the at least one electronic device being associated with the exhaust treatment device.

2. The cooling device of claim 1, wherein the at least one rigid member is thermally insulated along a length of the at least one rigid member except for a location where the plate couples to the at least one rigid member.

3. The cooling device of claim 1, wherein an inlet of the passageway is fluidly communicated with a fluid outlet of a heat exchanger.

4. The cooling device of claim 1, wherein at least two rigid members of the plurality of rigid members contact the plate but do not contact the exhaust treatment device, the at least two rigid members having passageways configured to transmit the flow of coolant.

5. The cooling device of claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic device includes at least one microprocessor.

6. The cooling device of claim 1, wherein the mount further includes:

a first bracket;

a second bracket;

a first support surface on each of the first and the second brackets, the first support surface of the first bracket and the first support surface of the second bracket being configured to support a first exhaust treatment device; and

a second support surface on each of the first and the second brackets, the second support surface of the first bracket and the second support surface of the second bracket being configured to support a second exhaust treatment device.

7. The cooling device of claim 6, wherein the mount further includes at least one cross member, the at least one cross member coupling the first bracket to the second bracket.

8. The cooling device of claim 7, further including a first aperture in the first bracket and a second aperture in the second bracket, the first and second apertures including a third support surface configured to support a third exhaust treatment device.

9. The cooling device of claim 8, wherein the first and second support surfaces are arcuate in shape.

10. The cooling device of claim 9, wherein an axis of the first support surface, an axis of the second support surface, and an axis of the first and second apertures are all substantially parallel.

11. The cooling device of claim 10, wherein the first exhaust treatment device, the second exhaust treatment device, and the third exhaust treatment device each embody at least one of a diesel oxidation catalyst, a particulate filter, a selective catalytic reduction device, a lean NOx trap, a muffler, a regeneration device, or a reductant mixing device.

12. A mounting device for an emissions system, comprising:

a first bracket;

a second bracket;

a first support surface on each of the first and the second brackets, the first support surface being configured to support a first exhaust treatment device;

a second support surface on each of the first and the second brackets, the second support surface being configured to support a second exhaust treatment device;

a framework including at least one tube, the at least one tube being configured to transmit a flow of coolant;

a plate coupled to the at least one tube; and

an electronic device coupled to the plate, the electronic device being associated with at least one of the first exhaust treatment device and second exhaust treatment device.

13. The mounting device of claim 12, wherein the at least one tube is a rigid tube composed of a thermally conductive material.

14. The mounting device of claim 13, wherein the at least one tube at least partially encircles at least one of the first exhaust treatment device and the second exhaust treatment device.

15. The mounting device of claim 14, wherein the at least one tube is thermally insulated along a length of the at least one tube except for a location where the plate couples to the at least one tube.

16. The mounting device of claim 12, wherein an inlet of the at least one tube is fluidly communicated with a fluid outlet of a heat exchanger.

17. The mounting device of claim 12, wherein the electronic device is a microprocessor.

18. The mounting device of claim 12, further including a plurality of cross members, the plurality of cross members coupling the first bracket to the second bracket.

19. The mounting device of claim 12, further including a first aperture in the first bracket and a second aperture in the second bracket, the first and second apertures including a third support surface configured to support a third exhaust treatment device.

20. A power system, comprising:

a power source;

a heat exchanger configured to transmit coolant through the power source; and

a mount for at least one exhaust treatment device, the mount including;

at least one tube, wherein an inlet of the at least one tube is fluidly communicated with a downstream side of the heat exchanger;

a plate coupled to the at least one tube; and

at least one electronic device coupled to the plate, the at least one electronic device being associated with the at least one exhaust treatment device.