Apparatus for combusting collected diesel exhaust material from aftertreatment devices and method

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for combusting soot from a diesel engine exhaust aftertreatment device. The apparatus includes a cabinet having a housing, a heating element positioned within the housing of the cabinet, and a mounting arrangement for securing the diesel engine exhaust aftertreatment device above the heating element. The apparatus also includes an ash collection container mounted beneath a floor of the housing for collecting ash that falls from the diesel engine exhaust aftertreatment device during heating.

1 . An apparatus for combusting soot from a diesel engine exhaust aftertreatment device, the apparatus comprising:
 a cabinet having a housing;   a heating element positioned within the housing of the cabinet;   a mounting arrangement for securing the diesel engine exhaust aftertreatment device above the heating element; and   an ash collection container mounted beneath a floor of the housing for collecting ash that falls from the diesel engine exhaust aftertreatment device during heating.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pulse generator for directing pulses of air to a location beneath the heating element. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the pulse generator includes a nozzle positioned between the heating element and the ash collection container that directs the pulse of air downwardly toward the ash collection container. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a porous heat reflector positioned beneath the heating element at a location between the heating element and the ash collection container. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a pulse generator for directing pulses of air to a location beneath the heating element, the pulse generator including a nozzle positioned between the heat reflector and the ash collection container that directs the pulse of air downwardly toward the ash collection container. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a vent for venting products of combustion from the housing. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a blower for facilitating venting the products of combustion through the vent. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a door for inserting the aftertreatment device into the housing and for removing the aftertreatment device from the housing, and wherein the apparatus includes a sensor for detecting if the door is opened. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a controller that prevents the heating element from being heated if the door is open. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a door for inserting the aftertreatment device into the housing and for removing the aftertreatment device from the housing, and wherein the apparatus includes and electronic latch that prevents the door from being opened when the heating element is hot. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a stop button for deactivating the heating element and for deactivating the electronic latch. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cabinet temperature sensor for sensing a temperature within the housing, wherein the heating element is deactivated if a temperature in the housing exceeds a predetermined temperature value. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a heating element temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the heating element. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the apparatus deactivates the heating element of the heating element exceeds a predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a temperature gage for displaying the temperature of the heating element. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising further comprising a fan for facilitating venting the products of combustion through the vent. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an aftertreatment device sensor for sensing whether an aftertreatment device is present above the heating element. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a slide lock arrangement for securing the aftertreatment device above the heating element. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a platform positioned within the housing, wherein the slide lock arrangement includes a plurality of slide bars mounted to the platform, the slide bars being slideable between first positions in which the slide bars are adapted to engage a lower flange of the aftertreatment device to secure the aftertreatment device in place above the heating element, and second positions where the slide bars are spaced from the lower flange. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an insulating component for insulating the aftertreatment device, the insulating component including an insulating layer positioned between inner an outer metal layers. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the insulating component includes first and second half-cylinders. 
   
   
       22 . A method for cleaning a diesel engine exhaust aftertreatment device comprising:
 positioning the aftertreatment device over a heating element;   heating the aftertreatment device with the heating element to burn soot on the aftertreatment device;   providing pulses of air that move upwardly through the aftertreatment device during heating.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising cooling the aftertreatment device by turning off the heating element and increasing the amount of air that flows upwardly through the aftertreatment device. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein no air is pulsed through the aftertreatment device during an initial warming period.