Diesel Exhaust Fluid Pump Electronics and Tank Unit Cooling

Abstract

A housing for an exhaust fluid pump electronics and tank unit may include a chamber and a deflection flange. The housing may include a removable cover including a vent and a cover flange. The cover flange may be removably coupled to the deflection flange. A duct may be disposed on the housing and capable of fluidly communicating the chamber to a negative pressure source.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A housing for an exhaust fluid pump electronics and tank unit of a vehicle, the housing comprising:
 a chamber formed collectively of a first and a second side wall, an upper wall, a lower wall, an aft wall, and a fore wall, the first and the second side wall, the upper wall, and the fore wall collectively forming an opening;   a deflection flange extending outwardly from each of the first and the second side wall, the upper wall, and the fore wall proximate the opening;   a removable cover including a vent and a cover flange, the cover flange removably coupled to the deflection flange; and   a duct disposed on the first side wall, the duct capable of fluidly communicating the chamber to a negative pressure source.   
     
     
         2 . The housing of  claim 1 , further including a ceramic wool insulating blanket surrounding the first and the second side wall, the upper wall, and the aft wall. 
     
     
         3 . The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the cover flange includes a gasket. 
     
     
         4 . The housing of  claim 1 , further including at least one gland plate disposed on one of the first and the second side wall, the upper wall, and the aft wall. 
     
     
         5 . The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the removable cover includes an aperture for receiving a neck of a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank. 
     
     
         6 . A diesel-fueled vehicle, the vehicle comprising:
 a housing formed collectively of a first and a second side wall, an upper wall, a lower wall, an aft wall, and a fore wall, the first and the second side wall, the upper wall, and the fore wall collectively forming an opening;   a deflection flange extending outwardly from each of the first and the second side wall, the upper wall, and the fore wall proximate the opening;   a removable cover including a vent and a cover flange, the cover flange removably coupled to the deflection flange;   a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) pump electronics and tank unit (PETU) disposed in the housing;   a radiator fan shroud surrounding a radiator fan; and   a duct coupling the housing to the radiator fan shroud at a location wherein the radiator fan creates a negative pressure.   
     
     
         7 . The vehicle of  claim 6 , further including a ceramic wool insulating blanket surrounding the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle of  claim 6 , further including a clean emissions module (CEM) disposed proximate the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of  claim 8 , further including a DEF line disposed through the housing and connecting the DEF PETU in fluid communication with the CEM. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the DEF line is sealed to the housing with at least one gland plate. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 6 , further including a bracket coupled to the housing wherein a channel is defined between the bracket and the deflection flange, the channel receiving a panel. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 6 , further including coolant lines disposed through the housing and connecting the DEF PETU in fluid communication with an engine of the vehicle, the coolant lines sealed to the housing with at least one gland plate. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 6 , further including a wiring disposed through the housing and connecting the DEF PETU in electrical communication with an engine of the vehicle, the wiring sealed to the housing with at least one gland plate. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 6 , further including an elastomeric mat disposed between the lower wall of the housing and the DEF PETU. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the cover flange includes a gasket. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the removable cover includes an aperture for receiving a neck of the DEF PETU, the aperture including a positioning seal. 
     
     
         17 . A method of insulating and cooling a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) pump electronics and tank unit (PETU) from high temperatures of a diesel-fueled vehicle, the method comprising:
 providing an insulated housing to surround the DEF PETU and isolate the DEF PETU from the high temperatures;   providing a vent on a removable cover of the insulated housing; and   providing a duct on the insulated housing to allow fluid communication between the insulated housing and a radiator fan at a location wherein the radiator fan creates a negative pressure that draws ambient air through the vent into the insulated housing and through the duct.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further including providing a ceramic wool insulating blanket around the insulated housing. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further including providing a deflection flange on the insulated housing to redirect a hot air flow away from the insulated housing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further including providing at least one gland plate to seal at least one line to the insulated housing, the at least one line communicating between the DEF PETU and a vehicle component.