EXHAUST GAS SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

An exhaust gas system for a motor vehicle may include an exhaust gas aftertreatment device communicating fluidically with an exhaust gas evaporation device. The exhaust gas aftertreatment device and the exhaust gas evaporation device may be arranged in one or more housings. A connecting line may be provided to fluidically connect the exhaust gas aftertreatment device to the exhaust gas evaporation device. The connecting line may include a fluid inlet connected to the exhaust gas aftertreatment device and a fluid outlet connected to the exhaust gas evaporation device. An evaporation bypass line may branch off from the connection line at a branching-off point. A valve apparatus may be arranged in at least the connecting line and may be adjustable between a first position to fluidly connect the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, and a second position to fluidly connect the fluid inlet to the evaporator bypass line.

Claims

1. An exhaust gas system for a motor vehicle, comprising: an exhaust gas aftertreatment device arranged in a first housing to a portion of the motor vehicle; an exhaust gas evaporation device fluidically communicating with the exhaust gas aftertreatment device and arranged in a second housing; at least one fastening element provided on the first housings and the second housing, the at least one fastening element configured to secure the first housing and the second housing to the portion of the motor vehicle; at least one other fastening element arranged to secure the first housings and the second housing to one another; a connecting line connecting the exhaust gas aftertreatment device fluidically to the exhaust gas evaporation device, the connecting line including a fluid inlet communicating fluidically with the exhaust gas aftertreatment device and a fluid outlet communicating fluidically with the exhaust gas evaporation device, the connecting line being arranged at least partially between the first housing and the second housing; an evaporator bypass line communicating fluidically with a surrounding environment and branching off from the connecting line at a branching point; and a valve apparatus arranged in the connecting line and adjustable between a first position and a second position, wherein the fluid inlet communicates fluidically with the fluid outlet in the first position and the fluid inlet communicates fluidically with the evaporator bypass line in the second position.

2. The exhaust gas system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the branching point is arranged between the first housing of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device and the second housing of the exhaust gas evaporation device.

3. The exhaust gas system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting line and the evaporator bypass line are disposed integrally on the second housing of the exhaust gas evaporation device.

4. The exhaust gas system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve apparatus includes a butterfly valve arranged at the branching point, the butterfly valve including at least two flap sections and a valve spindle arranged rotationally fixed between the at least two flap sections such that the butterfly valve is rotationally adjustable between the first position and the second position.

5. The exhaust gas system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least two flap sections are configured to define a line wall section of the connecting line in the first position of the valve apparatus and define a line wall section of the evaporator bypass line in the second position of the valve apparatus.

6. The exhaust gas system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a common line wall section having a curved configuration disposed integrally between the connecting line and the evaporator bypass line, wherein the common line wall section delimits a transition region between the connecting line and the evaporator bypass line, and wherein at least one flap section of the at least two flap sections is adjustable in the transition region between the first position and the second position to adjust the valve apparatus.

7. An exhaust gas system for a motor vehicle, comprising: an exhaust gas aftertreatment device; an exhaust gas evaporation device communicating fluidically with the exhaust gas aftertreatment device, the exhaust gas aftertreatment device and the exhaust gas evaporation device being arranged in a common housing; at least one fastening element provided on the common housing for securing the common housing to a portion of the motor vehicle, a connecting line fluidically connecting the exhaust gas aftertreatment device to the exhaust gas evaporation device, the connecting line arranged in the common housing, and including a fluid inlet communicating fluidically with the exhaust gas aftertreatment device and a fluid outlet communicating fluidically with the exhaust gas evaporation device; an evaporator bypass line communicating fluidically with a surroundings environment and branching off from the connecting line at a branching point; and the connecting line including a valve apparatus adjustable between a first position and a second position arranged such that the fluid inlet communicates fluidically with the fluid outlet in the first position and the fluid inlet communicates fluidically with the evaporator bypass line in the second position.

8. An exhaust gas system for a motor vehicle, comprising: an exhaust gas aftertreatment device; an exhaust gas evaporation device communicating fluidically with the exhaust gas aftertreatment device, the exhaust gas aftertreatment device and the exhaust gas evaporation device being arranged in a common housing; at least one fastening element provided on the common housing for securing the common housing to a portion of the motor vehicle; a connecting line fluidically connecting the exhaust gas aftertreatment device to the exhaust gas evaporation device, the connecting line including a fluid inlet communicating fluidically with the exhaust gas aftertreatment device and a fluid outlet communicating fluidically with the exhaust gas evaporation device; an evaporator bypass line, wherein the exhaust gas aftertreatment device communicates fluidically via the evaporator bypass line with a surroundings, environment; the connecting line and the evaporator bypass line including a valve apparatus arranged adjustable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position of the valve apparatus the connecting line is released for communicating a flow through of exhaust gas and the evaporator bypass line is closed, and, in the second position the second position of the valve apparatus the connecting line is closed and the evaporator bypass line is released for communicating a flow through of the exhaust gas.

9. The exhaust gas system as claimed in claim 8, comprising: a dividing wall disposed in the common housing, the dividing wall separating the common housing into a first housing interior space and a second housing interior space. the exhaust gas aftertreatment device is arranged in the first housing interior space and the exhaust gas evaporation device is arranged in the second housing interior space; a first aperture receiving the connecting line arranged in the dividing wall; and a second aperture receiving the bypass connecting line arranged in the dividing wall.

10. The exhaust gas system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: a third aperture receiving the evaporator bypass line arranged on a housing wall of the second housing interior space, the housing wall disposed opposite of the dividing wall; wherein the evaporator bypass line extends through the second housing interior space and is separated fluidically from the second housing interior space.

11. The exhaust gas system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising: a through opening disposed on the housing wall, wherein the exhaust gas evaporation device is insertable through the through opening into the housing; and wherein the exhaust gas evaporation device includes a fastening flange configured to be fixed on the housing wall and close the through opening when the exhaust gas evaporation device is inserted into the housing.

12. The exhaust gas system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve apparatus includes a valve spindle mounted adjustably on the connecting line and a valve flap attached on the valve spindle, wherein the valve flap closes the evaporator bypass line and releases the fluid outlet when the valve apparatus is in the first position, and the valve flap releases the evaporator bypass line and closes the fluid outlet when the valve apparatus is in the second position.

13. The exhaust gas system as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the valve apparatus includes a first butterfly valve including at least two flap sections and a valve spindle arranged rotationally fixedly between the at least two flap sections, the first butterfly valve is arranged between the branching point of the evaporator bypass line and the fluid outlet in the connecting line, wherein the first butterfly valve releases the connecting line for communicating a flow through of exhaust gas when the valve apparatus is in the first position and closes the connecting line when the valve apparatus is in the second position; and the valve apparatus further includes a second butterfly valve including at least two flap sections and a valve spindle arranged rotationally fixedly between the at least two flap sections of the second butterfly valve, the second butterfly valve is arranged in the evaporator bypass line, wherein the second butterfly valve closes the evaporator bypass line when the valve apparatus is in the first position and releases the evaporator bypass line for communicating a flow through of exhaust gas when the valve apparatus is in the second position.

14. The exhaust gas system as claimed in claim 8, wherein: the valve apparatus includes a first butterfly valve including at least two flap sections and a valve spindle arranged rotationally fixedly between the at least two flap sections of the first butterfly valve, the first butterfly valve arranged in the connecting line, wherein the first butterfly valve releases the connecting line for communicating a flow through of exhaust gas when the valve apparatus is in the first position and closes the connecting line when the valve apparatus is in the second position; and the valve apparatus further includes a second butterfly valve including at least two flap sections and a valve spindle arranged rotationally fixedly between the at least two flap sections of the second butterfly valve, the second butterfly valve is arranged in the evaporator bypass line, wherein the second butterfly valve closes the evaporator bypass line when the valve apparatus is in the first position and releases the evaporator bypass line for communicating a flow through of exhaust gas when the valve apparatus is in the second position.

15. The exhaust gas system as claimed in claim 8, further comprising an actuator configured to adjust the valve apparatus between the first position and the second position, wherein the actuator is driven at least one of electrically, hydraulically and pneumatically.

16. The exhaust gas system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the valve apparatus further includes a prestressing the presstressing device configured to prestress the valve flap into the second position.

17. A motor vehicle, comprising: an internal combustion engine; and an exhaust gas system interacting with the internal combustion engine, the exhaust gas system including: an exhaust gas aftertreatment device; an exhaust gas evaporation device fluidically communicating with the exhaust gas aftertreatment device, the exhaust gas evaporation device and the exhaust gas aftertreatment device arranged in a housing; a connecting line arranged to fluidically connect the exhaust gas aftertreatement device to the exhaust gas evaporation device, the connecting line including a fluid inlet fluidically communicating with the exhaust gas aftertreatment device and a fluid outlet fluidically communicating with the exhaust gas evaporation device; an evaporator bypass line fluidically communicating with a surrounding environment and branching off from the connecting line at a branching point and a valve apparatus arranged in at least the connecting line and adjustable between a first position and a second position, wherein the valve apparatus is arranged to fluidly connect the fluid inlet of the connecting line with the fluid outlet of the connecting line in the first position, and the valve apparatus is arranged to fluidly connect the fluid inlet with the evaporator bypass line in the second position; wherein the valve apparatus includes a butterfly valve arranged at the branching point, the butterfly valve including at least two flap sections and a valve spindle arranged rotationally fixed between the at least two flap sections such that the butterfly valve is rotationally adjustable between the first position and the second position.

18. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 17, wherein the housing includes a first housing and a second housing, and wherein the exhaust gas aftertreatment device is arranged in the first housing and the exhaust gas evaporation device is arranged in the second housing.

19. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a dividing wall disposed in the housing and separating the housing into a first housing interior space and a second housing interior space, wherein the exhaust gas aftertreatment device is arranged in the first housing interior space and the exhaust gas evaporation device is arranged in the second housing interior space.

20. The exhaust gas system as claimed in claim 7, wherein: the valve apparatus includes a first butterfly valve including at least two flap sections and a valve spindle arranged rotationally fixed between the at least two flap sections of the first butterfly valve, and the first butterfly valve is arranged between the branching point of the evaporator bypass line and the fluid outlet in the connecting line, wherein the first butterfly valve releases the connecting line for communicating a flow through of exhaust gas when the valve apparatus is in the first position and closes the connecting line when the valve apparatus is in the second position; and the valve apparatus further includes a second butterfly valve including at least two flap sections and a valve spindle arranged rotationally fixed between the at least two flap sections of the second butterfly valve, the second butterfly valve arranged in the evaporator bypass line, wherein the second butterfly valve closes the evaporator bypass line when the valve apparatus is in the first position and releases the evaporator bypass line for communicating a flow through of exhaust gas when the valve apparatus is in the second position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] In the drawings, in each case diagrammatically:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows one example of an exhaust gas system according to the invention in accordance with the first aspect in a perspective illustration,

[0037] FIG. 2 shows one example of an exhaust gas system according to the invention in accordance with the second aspect in a perspective illustration,

[0038] FIG. 3 shows one example of an exhaust gas system according to the invention in accordance with the third aspect in a perspective illustration,

[0039] FIG. 4 shows an illustration in the manner of a circuit diagram which illustrates the valve apparatus of the exhaust gas system and in which the valve apparatus is configured as a pivotable valve flap,

[0040] FIG. 5 shows one variant of the valve apparatus from FIG. 4, in which two butterfly valves replaced the pivotable valve flap, and

[0041] FIG. 6 shows one variant of the valve apparatus from FIG. 5 with only a single butterfly valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] FIG. 1 illustrates one example a first example of an exhaust gas system 1 according to the invention in a perspective illustration. Said figure clearly illustrates the modular construction of the exhaust gas system 1 having an exhaust gas aftertreatment device 2 and an exhaust gas evaporation device 3 which is connected downstream of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device 2 fluidically, which devices both have a respectively individual housing 4, 5. The functional components of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device 2 are received within the housing 4 of said exhaust gas aftertreatment device 2, and in contrast the functional components of the exhaust gas evaporation device 3 are received in the housing 5. Said components are not shown more precisely in the illustration of FIG. 1 for the sake of clarity.

[0043] As can be gathered from FIG. 1, the exhaust gas system 1 comprises a connecting line 6, by means of which the exhaust gas which is treated in the exhaust gas aftertreatment device 2 can be transported into the exhaust gas evaporation device 3. To this end, the connecting line 6 has a fluid inlet 7 which communicates fluidically with the exhaust gas aftertreatment device 2 and a fluid outlet 8 which communicates fluidically with the exhaust gas evaporation device 3. An evaporator bypass line 10 which communicates fluidically with the surroundings U of the exhaust gas system 1 branches from the connecting line 6 at a branching point 9. The exhaust gas which is introduced via said evaporator bypass line 10 out of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device 2 into the connecting line 6 can therefore be discharged directly into the surroundings U, without it being necessary for it to flow through the exhaust gas evaporation device 3 for this purpose. This can become necessary in certain operating states of an internal combustion engine which is connected upstream of the exhaust gas system 1, for instance if the exhaust gas which is injected by it reaches temperature values which, if the exhaust gas is introduced into the exhaust gas evaporation device 3, would lead to damage of individual, temperature-sensitive constituent parts.

[0044] In each case at least one fastening element 17 is provided on the two housings 4, 5, by means of which fastening element 17 said housing can be fastened to a frame part 26 of the motor vehicle. For additional stiffening of the arrangement, there is at least one further fastening element 18 according to the invention which fixes the two housings 4, 5 on one another, with the result that they form one structural unit. All fastening element 17, 18 which are shown in the figures can be part of a screw connection. As an alternative, mounting of the housings 4, 5 by way of a cantilever arm which acts as a support and tensioning straps for fixing to the cantilever arm is also conceivable.

[0045] Furthermore, a valve apparatus 11 which is provided in the connecting line 6 and is outlined merely in a roughly diagrammatic manner in FIG. 1 is essential to the invention in this context, the method of operation of which valve apparatus 11 becomes clear, however, using the illustration of FIG. 4 in the manner of a circuit diagram. It is first of all to be noted, however, that, as shown by FIG. 4, the branching point 9 is arranged between the housing 4 of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device 2 and the housing 5 of the exhaust gas evaporation device 3.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 4, the valve apparatus 1 can comprise a valve spindle 12 which is mounted adjustably on the connecting line 6 and a valve flap 13 which is attached fixedly on said valve spindle 12 so as to rotate with it. Here, the valve spindle 12 can be rotationally adjusted between a first position which is shown in FIG. 1, in which the valve flap 13 closes the evaporator bypass line 10 and at the same time releases the fluid outlet 8 in the first position, and a second position. In the second position (indicated by the dashed illustration of the valve flap 13), the evaporator bypass line 10 is released for being flowed through with exhaust gas, whereas the fluid outlet 8 is closed by the valve flap 13.

[0047] In order to adjust the valve apparatus 11 or the valve spindle 12 between the first and the second position, the exhaust gas system 1 can be equipped with an electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically driven actuator 14 which is outlined in FIG. 4 merely in a roughly diagrammatic manner. Moreover, it proves advantageous to provide the valve apparatus 11 with a prestressing device (not shown), by means of which the valve apparatus 11 is prestressed into the second position in the sense of a failsafe function.

[0048] FIG. 5 illustrates one variant of the valve apparatus 11, in which the flap valve of FIG. 4 is replaced by two butterfly valves 15a, 15b. In a butterfly valve 15a, 15b of this type, the respective valve spindle 12a, 12b is arranged in a centered manner with respect to a plan view of the butterfly valve 15a, 15b in the axial direction A of said spindle 12a, 12b between a first flap section 13.1a, 13.1b and a second flap section 13.2a, 13.2b, the two second flap sections 13.2a, 13.2b being configured in each case identically with respect to the associated first flap section 13.1a, 13.1b. The two butterfly valves 15a, 15b are arranged within the connecting line 6 if they are used in the exhaust gas system according to the first and second aspect of the invention. The first butterfly valve 15a is then situated in a position between the branching point 9 and the fluid outlet 8 within the connecting line 6. It releases the connecting line 6 between the branching point 9 and the fluid outlet 8 for being flowed through with exhaust gas in the first position and closes it in the second position. In contrast, the second butterfly valve 15b is arranged in the evaporator bypass line 10. It serves to close the evaporator bypass line 10 in the first position, whereas it releases it for being flowed through with exhaust gas in the second position, with the result that said exhaust gas can be released in the surroundings U.

[0049] A seal element (not shown in the figures for the sake of clarity), in particular in the manner of a seal ring, for sealing the connecting line 6 with respect to the surroundings U of the exhaust gas system 1 can be provided in the connecting line 6 as a constituent part of the valve apparatus 11 which is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, on which seal element the valve flap 13 or the two flap sections 13.1a, 13.1b of the first butterfly valve 15a is/are supported in the second position.

[0050] FIG. 6 shows a variant of the valve apparatus from FIG. 1 with only a single butterfly valve 15. In the exemplary scenario of FIG. 6, the connecting line 6 and the evaporator bypass line 10 can be formed integrally on the second housing 5 of the exhaust gas evaporation device 3. The provision of additional, separate components for realizing the connecting line 6 and the evaporator bypass line 10 is therefore dispensed with, which simplifies the assembly of the exhaust gas evaporation device 3. In the example of FIG. 6, the valve apparatus 11 has precisely one butterfly valve 15 which is arranged at the branching point 9 with two flap sections 13a, 13b and a valve spindle 12a which is arranged fixedly in terms of rotation between the two flap sections 13a, 13b. Here, the butterfly valve 15 can be rotationally adjusted between the first and the second position, FIG. 6 showing the butterfly valve 15 in its second position. The first position of the butterfly valve 15 is indicated using dashed lines in FIG. 6. As FIG. 6 clearly shows, the two flap sections 13a, 13b are configured in such a way that they form a line wall section 28a of the connecting line 6 in the first position. In contrast, they form a line wall section 28b of the evaporator bypass line 10 in the second position. A configuration of this type requires a particularly small amount of installation space. A common line wall section 29 of curved configuration is formed integrally between the connecting line 6 and the bypass line 10. The line wall section 29 delimits a transition region 30 between the connecting line 6 and the evaporator bypass line 10, in which transition region 30 the second flap section 13b is arranged such that it can be moved between the first and the second position for adjusting the valve apparatus 11.

[0051] FIG. 2 shows one example of an exhaust gas system 1 according to the invention in accordance with the second aspect. This differs from that according to FIG. 1 primarily in that the exhaust gas aftertreatment device 2 and the exhaust gas evaporation device 3 are not equipped with respectively separate housings, but rather, as shown in FIG. 2, the exhaust gas evaporation device 3 and, moreover, also the connecting line 6 are arranged in a common housing 4. The exhaust gas system 1 according to the second aspect is equipped with a valve apparatus 11 just like that of the first aspect, as has been explained using FIGS. 4 and 5. As FIG. 2 clearly shows, an aperture 22d can be provided on the housing 4 of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device 3, through which aperture 22d the evaporator bypass line 10 is guided to the outside.

[0052] FIG. 3 finally shows one example of an exhaust gas system 1 according to the third aspect of the invention. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the connecting line 6 does not have a fluid branch 3 between the exhaust gas aftertreatment device 2 and the exhaust gas evaporation device, as is the case in the exhaust gas system 1 according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0053] Instead, the evaporator bypass line 10 is configured in the exemplary scenario of FIG. 3 as a separate line which realizes a fluidic direct connection between the exhaust gas aftertreatment device 2 and the surroundings U of the exhaust gas system 1. The exhaust gas system 1 from FIG. 3 also comprises a valve apparatus (not shown in FIG. 3 for the sake of clarity) which is provided both in the connecting line 6 and in the evaporator bypass line 10 and can be adjusted between a first and a second position. In the first position of the valve apparatus, the connecting line 6 is released for being flowed through with exhaust gas, and the evaporator bypass line 10 is closed in contrast. Conversely, in the second position, the connecting line 6 is closed and the evaporator bypass line 10 is released for being flowed through with exhaust gas. If the butterfly valves 15a, 15b which are discussed above in conjunction with FIG. 5 are used, the first butterfly valve 15a is arranged in the connecting line 6 and the second butterfly valve 15b is arranged in the evaporator bypass line 10 which is separate from said connecting line 6.

[0054] In the exhaust gas system 1 according to FIG. 3, the exhaust gas evaporation device 3 and the connecting line 6 are arranged in a common housing 4 in the same way as in the exhaust gas system 1 according to the second aspect. At least one fastening element 17 is likewise provided on the housing 4 of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device 2, by means of which fastening element 17 said housing 4 can be fastened to the frame part 26 of the motor vehicle. As can be gathered from FIG. 3, furthermore, a dividing wall 20 is provided, moreover, in the housing 4 of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device 2, which dividing wall 20 divides the housing 4 into a first and a second housing interior space 21a, 21b. The first housing interior space 21a accommodates the exhaust gas aftertreatment device 2, and the second housing interior space 21b accommodates the exhaust gas evaporation device 3. A first aperture 22a is provided in the dividing wall 20, which first aperture 22a is reached through by the connecting line 6, with the result that the fluid inlet 7 of the connecting line 6 is arranged in the first housing interior space 21a. Accordingly, a second aperture 22b is provided in the dividing wall 20 for the bypass connecting line 10 which reaches through said second aperture 22b. Finally, a third aperture 22c is realized on a housing wall 23 of the second housing interior space 21a which lies opposite the dividing wall 20, which third aperture 22c is reached through, just like said second aperture 22b, by the evaporator bypass line 10. Therefore, the evaporator bypass line 10 extends in the second housing interior space 21b in a manner which is separated fluidically from the latter between the second and the third aperture 22b, 22c.

[0055] In the following text, attention is once again to be directed to the housing wall 23. It can be seen that a through opening 16 is provided in said housing wall 23, through which through opening 16 the entire exhaust gas evaporation device 3 including a fastening flange 27 which is configured as a fastening plate 25 can be inserted into the second housing interior space 21b of the housing 4, the fastening plate 25 closing said through opening 16 in a state of this type, in which it is introduced into the housing 4. The fastening flange 27 supports the entire exhaust gas evaporation device 3 and is itself fixed on the housing wall 20. FIG. 3 illustrates, furthermore, that an exhaust gas outlet 24 of the exhaust gas evaporator device 3 is also arranged in the fastening plate 25.