EXHAUST GAS REDUCTION UNIT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTIOIN ENGINE

Abstract

Unit for reduction of exhaust gases for an IC engine. The unit has a cylindrical housing with gas inlet and outlet openings and injector for a reducing substance. A helicoid is coaxially arranged inside the housing. A channel conveys the exhaust gases, has a substantially quadrangular cross-section, and helicoidally develops inside the unit. The helix is generated by the intersection between the inner surface of the housing and the helicoid has an inclination angle (β) relative to planes perpendicular to the generatrices of the cylindrical housing ranging from 0° to 30°. The unit includes a coaxial stiffening and stabilization sleeve located at the center of the helicoid passing axially throughout the helicoid and axially over a length at least equal to the axial length of the helicoid. The sleeve cooperates with the inner surface of the housing and with the opposite surfaces of the helicoid to define the helicoidal channel.

Claims

1. Unit (11) for the reduction of exhaust gases for an IC engine, comprising: a cylindrical housing (13) having a gas inlet opening (15), a gas outlet opening (17) and an injector (19) for a reducing substance; a helicoid (21) coaxially arranged inside the housing (13); a channel (25) aimed at conveying the exhaust gases and having a substantially quadrangular cross-section, said channel helicoidally developing inside the unit (11); characterized in that the helix generated by the intersection between the inner surface of the housing (13) and the helicoid (21) has an inclination angle (β) relative to the planes perpendicular to the generatrices of the cylindrical housing ranging from 0° to 30° and in that it comprises a coaxial sleeve (23) for stiffening and stabilization, said sleeve being located at the center of the helicoid and passing axially throughout the helicoid (21) and axially extending over a length at least equal to the axial length of the helicoid (21), said sleeve (23) cooperating with the inner surface of the housing (13) and with the opposite surfaces of the helicoid (21) in order to define the helicoidal channel (25) for conveying the exhaust gases.

2. Unit according to claim 1, wherein said inclination angle (β) is smaller than 20°.

3. Unit according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the helicoid (21) comprises at least one hole (29a,29b).

4. Unit according to claim 3, wherein the surface of the helicoid (21) comprises a plurality of holes (29a,29b).

5. Unit according claim 1, wherein the helicoid (21) has opposite corrugated surfaces.

6. Unit according to claim 1, wherein the injector (19) is radially arranged in the housing (13) and opens into the helicoidally developing channel (25).

7. Unit according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve (23) is open at its both ends and defines a by-pass conduit with respect to the helicoidal channel (25).

8. Unit according to claim 7, wherein the area of the cross-section of the by-pass conduit is approximately 1/25 of the area of the transverse surface of the helicoidally developing channel (25).

9. Unit according to claim 1, wherein the diameter (d) of the sleeve (23) is at least one fifth of the diameter (D) of the helicoid (21).

10. Unit according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve (23) extends on both sides with respect to the axial length of the helicoid (21) over a length at least equal to the pitch (p) of the helicoid (21).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Some preferred embodiments of the invention will be described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which same or functionally equivalent parts are designated with the same reference numerals:

[0016] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the upstream side of the reduction unit in a first embodiment of the invention;

[0017] FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the line II-II of FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the upstream side of the reduction unit in a second embodiment of the invention;

[0019] FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a first embodiment of the unit for the reduction of exhaust gases for an IC engine according to the invention. The unit is identified as a whole with reference numeral 11 and comprises a substantially cylindrical housing 13. In the shown example, the housing 13 is circular in plan, however other shapes such as an oval or quadrangular shape may be provided for the cross-section of the housing 13. The housing 13 has an inlet opening 15 and an outlet opening 17 for the exhaust gases. According to the illustrated embodiment, the inlet opening 15 is oriented approximately radially with respect to the axis X-X of the cylindrical housing 13. More particularly, the inlet opening 15 is oriented in an oblique direction at an angle a comprised between about 0 and 90° relative to the axis X-X of the cylindrical housing 13. The unit 11 further comprises and injector 19 for injecting a reducing substance into the unit 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the injector 19 is arranged axially and off-centered relative to the axis of the cylindrical housing 13. Said housing 13 further comprises a dome-shaped portion 13a which axially closes one of the bases of the housing 13. The inlet opening 15 is preferably provided, as in the shown example, in said dome 13a. The injector 19, too, is preferably attached to the unit 11 at the dome 13a, in a hole 19a provided for this purpose.

[0021] According to the invention, a helicoid 21 is arranged inside the housing 13. The helicoid 21 is coaxially arranged inside the housing and defines a channel 25 for conveying the exhaust gases. The channel 25 has a preferably quadrangular, substantially square or rectangular, cross-section, with a radial extension smaller than the axial one. Preferably, the pitch “p” of the helicoid 21 is constant. In addition, each generatrix of the housing 13 is tangent to the helicoid 21 in at least two points. The helix generated by the intersection between the inner surface of the housing 13 and the helicoid 21 has an inclination angle β with respect to the planes perpendicular to the generatrices of the cylindrical housing preferably ranging from 0° to 30°. Even more preferably, said angle β is smaller than 20°. According to the invention, there is provided a sleeve 23 coaxial to the center of the helicoid 21. The sleeve passes axially throughout the helicoid. The housing 13, the helicoid 21 and the sleeve 23 are preferably coaxial to the axis X-X.

[0022] The sleeve 23 has a function of stiffening and stabilization of the helicoid 21 inside the housing 13 and cooperates with the inner surface of the housing 13 and with the opposite surfaces of the helicoid 21 in order to define said channel 25 with helicoidal development.

[0023] According to the invention, the diameter “d” of the sleeve 23 is preferably at least one fifth of the diameter “D” of the helicoid 21. According to a variant of embodiment of the invention, the sleeve 23 has a length greater than the axial development of the helicoid and said sleeve 23 extends on one side, or even more preferably on both sides, with respect to the axial length of the helicoid 21, over a length at least equal to the pitch “p” of the helicoid 21.

[0024] Preferably, the sleeve 23 is hollow and closed at its upstream end by a plug 27. Alternatively, the sleeve 23 is hollow and open at its both ends and defines an axial by-pass conduit with respect to the helicoidal channel 25. Preferably, the area of the cross-section of the by-pass conduit is approximately 1/25 of the area of the cross-section of the helicoidally developing channel 25.

[0025] According to the invention, the surface of the helicoid 21 has one or both of its faces preferably corrugated, in order to promote passage of the gases and stiffen the structure of the helicoid 21.

[0026] Still according to the invention, the surface of the helicoid 21, which may be smooth or corrugated, preferably comprises at least one hole 29a,29b and more preferably a plurality of holes 29a,29b. The section of the holes 29a,29b can have various shapes, preferably a circular shape, holes numbered 29a, or a rectangular shape, holes numbered 29b. In the illustrated embodiment, both circular holes 29a and rectangular holes 29b are provided. Said holes are advantageously distributed according to a predetermined pattern in order to obtain the desired effects of reducing the pressure drop in the unit 11. Alternatively, the surface of the helicoid 21 may comprise a grid. The holes 29a,29b or the grid advantageously allow(s) passage of the exhaust gases in axial direction through the helicoid 21, thus reducing the pressure drop caused by the presence of the helicoidal channel 25.

[0027] The housing 13, the helicoid 21 and the sleeve 23 are preferably made of metal, preferably of steel sheet or aluminium sheet and joined together by welding along the helices generated by the intersection between the helicoid 21 and the generatrices of the sleeve 23 and the housing 13, respectively.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is illustrated a second embodiment of the reduction unit 11 according to the invention, which differs from the first embodiment mainly in the arrangement of the gas inlet opening 15. This second arrangement further differs in the arrangement of the injector 19. As is particularly visible in FIG. 3, the inlet opening 15 for the exhaust gases is coaxial to the axis X-X of the cylindrical housing 13, of the helicoid 21 and of the sleeve 23. This embodiment is particularly suitable for the making of those reduction units 11 which are to be incorporated in exhaust systems requiring a large surface of communication with the reduction unit.

[0029] In this embodiment of the invention, the injector 19 is arranged radially and protrudes through the housing 13 into the helicoidal channel 25, i.e. between the surfaces of the helicoid 21. This radial arrangement of the injector 19 is further compatible also with the first embodiment. Advantageously, the arrangement of the injector 19 in the channel 25, preferably not beyond half of the length of said channel 25, allows to obtain a more effective mixing action of the reducing substance with the exhaust gases by virtue of the helicoidal motion of the gases themselves. Still according to this second embodiment of the invention, it is also possible to provide the injector 19 arranged axially inside the housing 13, upstream of the helicoid 21, in the area of the housing 13 preceding said helicoid 21 in the direction of passage of the exhaust gases indicated by the arrows 31. This configuration may for instance be obtained by means of a portion of said housing 13 radially protruding inward of the housing.

[0030] The unit as described and illustrated may be subjected to several modifications falling within the same inventive principle.