초록

An exhaust aftertreatment system and method enables servicing by a single technician and provides singular location mounting and alignment.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An exhaust aftertreatment assembly comprising an axially extending housing extending along a longitudinal axis and containing an aftertreatment element, said aftertreatment element being selected from the group consisting of at least one of a particulate soot filter element a

What is claimed is: 1. An exhaust aftertreatment assembly comprising an axially extending housing extending along a longitudinal axis and containing an aftertreatment element, said aftertreatment element being selected from the group consisting of at least one of a particulate soot filter element and a catalyst element, said housing having a plurality of housing sections including an aftertreatment element section and an adjacent mounting section separable from said aftertreatment element section at a service joint therebetween, a pair of brackets supporting said housing on support structure, a first of said brackets being mounted to said mounting section at an interface guide track assembly supporting said mounting section at a first position relative to said aftertreatment element section and in an engagement with said aftertreatment element section at said service joint, and a second position relative to said aftertreatment element section and separated from said aftertreatment element section to permit servicing of the latter, a first band clamp having a tightened condition securing said mounting section and said aftertreatment element section to each other at said service joint in said first position of said mounting section, and having a loosened condition permitting separation of said mounting section and said aftertreatment element section at said service joint in said second position of said mounting section, wherein said first mounting bracket supports both said mounting section and said aftertreatment element section in said first position of said mounting section, and supports said mounting section but not said aftertreatment element section in said second position of said mounting section, a second band clamp mounting said mounting section to said first bracket. 2. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly according to claim 1 wherein said mounting section is movable between said first and second positions in said loosened condition of said first band clamp, said first position locating said mounting section longitudinally along said axis and also locating said mounting section laterally relative to said axis to provide singular location mounting and alignment of said mounting section relative to said support structure by a single technician without assistance of a second technician, said second position supporting said mounting section independently of said aftertreatment element section and permitting removal of the latter by said technician without holding said mounting section by said single technician and without the assistance of a second technician. 3. An exhaust aftertreatment assembly comprising an axially extending housing extending alone a longitudinal axis and containing an aftertreatment element, said aftertreatment element being selected from the group consisting of at least one of a particulate soot filter element and a catalyst element, said housing having a plurality of housing sections including an aftertreatment element section and an adjacent mounting section separable from said aftertreatment element section at a service joint therebetween, a pair of brackets supporting said housing on support structure, a first of said brackets being mounted to said mounting section at an interface guide track assembly supporting said mounting section at a first position relative to said aftertreatment element section and in an engagement with said aftertreatment element section at said service joint, and a second position relative to said aftertreatment clement section and separated from said aftertreatment element section to permit servicing of the latter, a band clamp mounting said mounting section to said first bracket, wherein: one of said mounting section and said aftertreatment element section is vertically spaced above the other of said mounting section and said aftertreatment element section in said second position of said mounting section; said guide track assembly comprises a slot on one of said first bracket and said mounting section and a tab on the other of said first bracket and said mounting section, said tab extending laterally of said longitudinal axis and into said slot, said slot having an upper segment spaced above a lower segment, said upper and lower segments being joined by a span therebetween, one of said upper and lower segments receiving said tab in said first position of said mounting section, the other of said upper and lower segments receiving said tab in said second position of said mounting section; said slot and said tab arc between said band clamp and said mounting section. 4. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly according to claim 3 wherein said slot is on said first bracket, and said tab is on said mounting section. 5. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly according to claim 4 wherein said slot has an inverted L-shape comprising a longitudinally extending first leg providing said span, and a laterally extending second leg providing said upper segment, and wherein said tab is received at the bottom of said first leg in said first position of said mounting section, and wherein said tab is received at the lateral end of said second leg distally opposite the top of said first leg in said second position of said mounting section. 6. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly according to claim 3 wherein said span extends diagonally between said upper and lower segments. 7. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly according to claim 6 wherein said diagonal span has a lower end at a corner providing said lower segment. 8. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly according to claim 6 wherein said diagonal span has an upper end from which said upper segment extends laterally along a plateau. 9. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly according to claim 6 wherein said diagonal span has an upper end from which said upper segment extends along a second diagonal downwardly therefrom and forming an apex therewith. 10. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly according to claim 3 wherein said span has an inverted J-shape comprising a longitudinally vertically extending leg and an upper hook section, said upper hook section having a first portion extending laterally from the upper end of said leg, and having a second portion extending downwardly from said first portion, said second portion providing said upper segment. 11. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly according to claim 10 wherein the lower end of said leg provides said lower segment. 12. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly according to claim 10 wherein said span has a lower portion extending laterally from the lower end of said leg and providing said lower segment. 13. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly according to claim 3 wherein said span comprises a longitudinally vertically extending leg extending between upper and lower ends, said upper segment extends laterally from said upper end, said lower segment extends laterally from said lower end. 14. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly according to claim 13 wherein said upper and lower segments extend in opposite lateral directions from said upper and lower ends, respectively. 15. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly according to claim 13 wherein said upper and lower segments extend in the same lateral direction from said upper and lower ends, respectively. 16. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly according to claim 3 wherein said span extends along a curvilinear path. 17. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly according to claim 16 wherein said curvilinear path extends between upper and lower ends, and said upper segment extends laterally from said upper end. 18. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly according to claim 16 wherein said lower end provides said lower segment. 19. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly according to claim 16 wherein said curvilinear path has a C-shape extending between distally opposite ends. 20. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly according to claim 19 wherein said upper segment is provided by one of said ends, and said lower segment is provided by the other of said ends. 21. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly according to claim 19 wherein said upper segment extends laterally from said upper end. 22. A method for servicing an exhaust aftertreatment assembly having an axially extending housing extending along a longitudinal axis and containing an aftertreatment element, said aftertreatment element being selected from the group consisting of at least one of a particulate soot filter and a catalyst element, said housing having a plurality of housing sections including an aftertreatment element section and an adjacent mounting section separable from said aftertreatment element section at a service joint therebetween, a pair of brackets supporting said housing on support structure, a first of said brackets being mounted to said mounting section at an interface guide track assembly supporting said mounting section at a first position relative to said aftertreatment element section and in engagement with said aftertreatment element section at said service joint, and a second position relative to said aftertreatment element section and separated from said aftertreatment element section to permit servicing of the latter, a first band clamp having a tightened condition securing said mounting section and said aftertreatment element section to each other at said service joint in said first position of said mounting section, and having a loosened condition permitting separation of said mounting section and said aftertreatment element section at said service joint in said second position of said mounting section, wherein said first mounting bracket supports both said mounting section and said aftertreatment element section in said first position of said mounting section, and supports said mounting section but not said aftertreatment element section in said second position of said mounting section, a second band clamp mounting said mounting section to said first bracket, said method comprising, by a single technician, loosening said first and second band clamps and moving said mounting section from said first position to said second position, and removing said aftertreatment element section for servicing of the latter, all by said single technician. 23. The method according to claim 22 comprising re-installing a serviced aftertreatment element section, and moving said mounting section from said second position to said first position locating said mounting section longitudinally along said axis and also locating said mounting section laterally thereof relative to said axis to provide singular location mounting and alignment of said mounting section relative to said support structure, all by said single technician without assistance of a second technician otherwise holding said mounting section, providing said guide track assembly with a slot on one of said first bracket and said mounting section and a tab on the other of said first bracket and said mounting section, said tab extending laterally of said longitudinal axis and into said slot, said slot having an upper segment spaced above a lower segment, said upper and lower segments being joined by a span therebetween, one of said upper and lower segments receiving said tab in said first position of said mounting section, the other of said upper and lower segments receiving said tab in said second position of said mounting section, said tab having a lateral height less than the lateral thickness of said slot, said method further comprising vertically moving said mounting section upon sufficient loosening of said second band clamp, with said vertical movement being enabled by said lateral height of said tab being less than the lateral thickness of said slot. 24. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly according to claim 3 wherein said tab has a lateral height less than the lateral thickness of said slot, to enable vertical movement of said mounting section upon sufficient loosening of said band clamp.