HOLDER FOR AN ELECTRIC HEATING DISK IN AN EXHAUST GAS AFTERTREATMENT DEVICE

Abstract

An exhaust gas treatment device for arranging in an exhaust gas section of a motor vehicle that includes a heating disk which is assigned to an exhaust gas aftertreatment component. The heating disk is configured by way of a flat heating element and a holder which is coupled to the former. The holder extends over the cross-sectional area of the heating element, and the holder itself is of disk-shaped configuration. The inner face of the heating disk is configured by way of arcuate spokes which are coupled irregularly to one another.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. An exhaust gas treatment device in an exhaust gas section of a vehicle, comprising: a heating disk configured to heat an exhaust gas aftertreatment component, wherein the heating disk comprises a heating element, and a holder coupled to the heating element, the holder extends over a cross-sectional area of the heating element, the holder is disk-shaped, the holder comprises a lattice-like structure, and the lattice-like structure comprises a plurality of arcuate spokes coupled irregularly together.

13. The exhaust gas treatment device according to claim 12, wherein the holder comprises a metallic material.

14. The exhaust gas treatment device according to claim 12, wherein two adjacent spokes among the plurality of spokes have opposed arcuate shapes.

15. The exhaust gas treatment device according to claim 12, wherein each spoke of the plurality of spokes comprises at least one fastening point coupled to the heating element.

16. The exhaust gas treatment device according to claim 12, wherein the heating element is an electric heating element and comprises a honeycomb-like structure.

17. The exhaust gas treatment device according to claim 12, wherein the heating element comprises a corrugated foil material.

18. The exhaust gas treatment device according to claim 12, further comprising a spacer sleeve arranged between the heating element and the holder.

19. The exhaust gas treatment device according to claim 12, wherein the holder comprises two holders, which sandwich the heating element therebetween.

20. The exhaust gas treatment device according to claim 18, further comprising a pin, wherein the pin engages through the spacer sleeve and couples the holder to the heating element.

21. The exhaust gas treatment device according to claim 20, wherein the pin comprises two pins in the spacer sleeve, the two pins point toward one another in opposite directions, each of the two pins having a tip by which the two pins are coupled together.

22. The exhaust gas treatment device according to claim 12, wherein the holder comprises a peripheral portion configured to be coupled to a housing of the exhaust gas aftertreatment component, and the plurality of spokes are integrally connected to the peripheral portion and protrude inwardly in a radial direction from the peripheral portion.

23. The exhaust gas treatment device according to claim 12, wherein the exhaust gas aftertreatment component is a catalytic converter.

24. The exhaust gas treatment device according to claim 12, wherein the holder comprises a punched-out part or a cut-out part.

25. The exhaust gas treatment device according to claim 12, wherein each spoke of the plurality of spokes comprises at least two fastening points for coupling to the heating element.

26. The exhaust gas treatment device according to claim 12, wherein at least one spoke of the plurality of spokes comprises three or more fastening points for coupling to the heating element.

27. The exhaust gas treatment device according to claim 12, wherein the heating element comprises a perforated plate or wire mesh, the perforated plate or wire mesh being wound spirally.

28. The exhaust gas treatment device according to claim 18, wherein the spacer sleeve is ceramic.

29. The exhaust gas treatment device according to claim 18, wherein the spacer sleeve comprises a material that is electrically insulating and thermally resistant.

30. The exhaust gas treatment device according to claim 12, wherein the heating element is flat.

31. The exhaust gas treatment device according to claim 20, wherein the two pins are under tensile stress.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Further advantages, features and properties of the present disclosure are the subject matter of the following description. Advantageous design variants are shown in diagrammatic figures which serve for simple comprehension of the disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 1 shows an exploded illustration of an exhaust gas treatment device according to the disclosure,

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a holder according to the disclosure with a heating disk,

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a top view or end view of a holder according to the disclosure with a heating disk which lies behind the holder,

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of FIG. 3 according to the disclosure,

[0031] FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of FIG. 4 according to the disclosure, and

[0032] FIG. 6 shows an alternative design variant of a heating disk which is arranged between two holders in the exhaust gas flow direction according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] FIG. 1 shows an exhaust gas treatment device 1 according to the disclosure for arranging in an exhaust gas section of a motor vehicle. To this end, a catalytic converter 2 with a heating disk 3 which is positioned upstream in the exhaust gas flow direction A is arranged in a housing 4. There are able to be electrical connectors 5 on the housing 4, with the result that the heating disk 3 which is arranged in the housing 4 are able to be loaded with current.

[0034] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show a perspective view and an end view of the heating disk 3 in the housing 4. A holder 6 according to the disclosure is mounted upstream of the heating disk 3 in the exhaust gas flow direction A.

[0035] The holder 6 is itself of disk-shaped configuration with a lattice-like structure. An outer peripheral frame or an outer peripheral contour 7 of the holder 6 is coupled to an inner shell face 8 of the housing 4. This is able to take place, for example, via soldering or welding. Individual spokes 9 which configure a lattice-like structure then extend inward in relation to the radial direction R from the outer peripheral contour 7 or ring. The spokes 9 themselves run in each case in a curved or arcuate manner. The spokes 9 are distributed irregularly with respect to one another in this design variant. In each case two adjacent or adjoining spokes 9 run in opposite directions.

[0036] The cross-sectional area of the holder 6 therefore substantially covers the cross-sectional area of the inner shell face 8 of the housing 4. Cutouts are provided, however, between the spokes 9 and the lattice-like structure of the holder 6, with the result that more than 80%, more than 85%, more than 90% and more than 95% of the cross-sectional area is provided for throughflow of the exhaust gas. Consequently, the holder 6 has a negligible effect on the flow resistance of the exhaust gas which flows through the exhaust gas treatment device 1.

[0037] The heating disk 3 is at a corresponding spacing 10 from the inner shell face 8 of the housing 4. The thermal expansion of the heating disk 3 therefore does not lead to the heating disk 3 coming into contact with the housing 4 in the radial direction R, with the result that an electrical short circuit would occur.

[0038] Fastening points 11 are then arranged on the individual spokes 9. Said fastening points 11 have a spacer element 12 which is, for example, a ceramic sleeve. The heating disk 3 is then coupled to the holder 6 itself via the spacer element 12. Three fastening points 11 are configured on a spoke 9. Therefore, an optimum compensation relationship of a given holding function and compensation of the thermal expansion is able to be achieved over the entire course of the spoke 9 and with checking of the thermal expansion.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal sectional view according to FIG. 3, which shows that an insert plate 13 is arranged in the housing 4 itself, which insert plate 13 is spaced apart in the radial direction R from the actual inner shell face 8 of the housing 4. Therefore, in this case, the holder 6 is coupled to the inner shell face 8 of the insert plate 13. This results in an air gap 19 for thermal insulation. The insert plate 13 is configured as a sleeve. FIG. 4 shows that the holder 6 itself is configured in three layers and has two holder plates 14 which lie on the outside in the axial direction and a spacer plate 15 which lies in the middle. The following effect according to the disclosure is achieved as a result. The spacer elements 12 in the form of ceramic sleeves comprise a collar 16 which lies at the top. The collar 16 is arranged in a corresponding opening of the spacer plate 15 and is then positionally fixed in a positively locking manner by way of a holding plate mounted upstream and downstream in the exhaust gas flow direction A. In this way, the respective spacer element 12 or the respective ceramic sleeve is positionally fixed in a positively locking manner on the holder 6. The individual layers are able to be coupled among one another in an integrally joined manner. This once again becomes clear in the enlarged view according to FIG. 5. The heating disk 3 is then placed with a fastening pin 17 or a bolt in a positively locking manner onto an axial end of a spacer element 12 and is positionally fixed in a positively locking manner via the fastening pin 17. Here, fastening pins 17 are inserted from two sides, which fastening pins 17 are coupled to one another at a middle coupling point 18, for example by way of resistance spot welding. The fastening pin 16 on the side of the holder 6 has bearing contact exclusively against the spacer element 12 which is electrically insulated. Therefore, no current-conducting connection from the heating disk 3 to the spacer element 12 is brought about.

[0040] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view through a further design variant. Here, a holder 6 is connected upstream of the heating disk 3 in the exhaust gas flow direction 1, and a further holder 6 is connected downstream of the heating disk. The heating disk 3 itself is configured by way of plate layers of corrugated configuration. This therefore results in a honeycomb-like structure in a top view or in a view along the exhaust gas flow. Said honeycomb-shaped structure is also configured with strength in the radial direction R as a result of the holders 6 which are mounted upstream and downstream. Spacer elements 12 are then in turn arranged between the holders 6. The heating disk 3 is then arranged at a respective axial spacing 10 on the spacer elements 12 themselves. A fastening pin 17 engages through the spacer elements 12 and couples the opposite holders 6 in a positively locking manner. The fastening pin 17 is able to be in each case, for example, spot welded or soldered to the holders 6. The spacer elements 12 in each case comprise a collar 16, with the result that the heating disk 3 is positionally fixed in a positively locking manner between the collars 16 and is therefore arranged in the exhaust gas treatment device in a manner which is electrically insulated from the holders 6.

[0041] The foregoing description of some embodiments of the disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The specifically described embodiments explain the principles and practical applications to enable one ordinarily skilled in the art to utilize various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.