U.S. patent application number 13/785814 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-11 for system and method for preventing the cleaning of a diesel particulate filter.
This patent application is currently assigned to DEERE & COMPANY. The applicant listed for this patent is DEERE & COMPANY. Invention is credited to MATTHEW G. BRANCH, BRADLEY D. HEINECKE, ANDRZEJ KOZICKI, GREG R. LONG, BRIAN J. MAAS, CHRISTOPHER PEDERSON, LEE W. RANDALL.
Application Number | 20140250864 13/785814 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50179473 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140250864 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HEINECKE; BRADLEY D. ; et
al. |
September 11, 2014 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING THE CLEANING OF A DIESEL
PARTICULATE FILTER
Abstract
A system for preventing the cleaning of the diesel particulate
filter (116) comprises an electronic control unit (200) coupled to
a proximity sensor (122), the electronic control unit (200) being
configured to monitor the proximity sensor (122) and to determine
that there is a predetermined distance between the proximity sensor
and an adjacent structure (124) before the electronic control unit
(200) will regenerate the diesel particulate filter (116). A method
for preventing the cleaning of the diesel particulate filter (116)
comprises the steps of electronically monitoring a proximity sensor
to determine a distance from the proximity sensor to an adjacent
structure, electronically comparing the distance to a threshold
distance, and electronically preventing the cleaning of the diesel
particulate filter (116) when the distances less than the threshold
distance.
Inventors: |
HEINECKE; BRADLEY D.; (EAST
MOLINE, IL) ; MAAS; BRIAN J.; (BETTENDORF, IA)
; RANDALL; LEE W.; (DURANT, IA) ; BRANCH; MATTHEW
G.; (VIOLA, IL) ; LONG; GREG R.; (MORRISON,
IL) ; KOZICKI; ANDRZEJ; (MILAN, IL) ;
PEDERSON; CHRISTOPHER; (GENESEO, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DEERE & COMPANY |
Moline |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
DEERE & COMPANY
Moline
IL
|
Family ID: |
50179473 |
Appl. No.: |
13/785814 |
Filed: |
March 5, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
60/274 ;
60/311 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01N 2590/08 20130101;
F01N 3/021 20130101; Y02T 10/40 20130101; A01D 41/127 20130101;
F01N 3/0253 20130101; Y02T 10/47 20130101; F01N 9/002 20130101;
F01N 2900/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
60/274 ;
60/311 |
International
Class: |
F01N 3/021 20060101
F01N003/021 |
Claims
1. A system for preventing the cleaning of a diesel particulate
filter (116) comprising: an electronic control unit (200); a
proximity sensor (122) a fuel injector (210) coupled to the
electronic control unit (200) and coupled to an exhaust gas conduit
(214) upstream of the diesel particulate filter (116); and wherein
the electronic control unit (200) is configured to read the
proximity sensor (122) and to prevent the fuel injector (210) from
adding fuel to the exhaust gas conduit (214) until the proximity
sensor (122) indicates at least a threshold distance to an adjacent
structure (124).
2. The system for preventing the cleaning of a diesel particulate
filter (116) of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit (200)
comprises a digital microprocessor (202).
3. The system for preventing the cleaning of a diesel particulate
filter (116) of claim 1, wherein the fuel injector (210) is
configured to inject fuel into a flow of exhaust gas upstream of
the diesel particulate filter (116).
4. The system for preventing the cleaning of a diesel particulate
filter of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor (122) comprises an
ultrasonic sensor.
5. The system for preventing the cleaning of a diesel particulate
filter (116) of claim 4, wherein the electronic control unit (200)
is configured to stop an ongoing diesel particulate filter (116)
cleaning process.
6. The system for preventing the cleaning of the diesel particulate
filter (116) of claim 5, wherein the electronic control unit (200)
is configured to stop the ongoing diesel particulate filter (116)
cleaning process by stopping the fuel injector (210) from adding
further fuel to the exhaust gas conduit (214).
7. An agricultural harvester (100), comprising a self-propelled
agricultural harvesting vehicle (106) further comprising a frame
(110), a diesel engine (112) supported on the frame (110), the
agricultural harvester (100) further comprising the system for
preventing the cleaning of the diesel particulate filter of claim
1.
8. The agricultural harvester (100) of claim 7, wherein the
proximity sensor (122) is disposed adjacent to an exhaust pipe
(118) disposed to carry exhaust gas from the diesel engine (112)
away from the agricultural harvester (100).
9. The agricultural harvester (100) of claim 7, wherein the
proximity sensor (122) comprises an ultrasonic sensor.
10. The agricultural harvester (100) of claim 9, wherein the
proximity sensor (122) is disposed at a rear of the agricultural
harvester (100).
11. A method for preventing the cleaning of a diesel particulate
filter (116) on an agricultural vehicle having a proximity sensor
(122) mounted thereon, the method comprising the steps of:
electronically monitoring the proximity sensor (122) to determine a
distance from the proximity sensor (122) to an adjacent structure
(124); electronically comparing the distance to a threshold
distance; and electronically preventing the cleaning of the diesel
particulate filter (116) when the distance is less than the
threshold distance.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of electronically
preventing the cleaning of the diesel particulate filter (116) when
the distance is less than the threshold distance comprises the step
of preventing a fuel injector (210) from injecting fuel into a flow
of exhaust gas into the diesel particulate filter (116).
Description
FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to diesel particulate filters. More
particularly, it relates to systems for preventing the cleaning of
a diesel particulate filter.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Diesel particulate filters are provided on diesel engines to
reduce the emissions of the engines. The diesel particulate filters
filter out soot from the exhaust gas exiting the engine.
[0003] Over time, particulate matter (often called "soot") builds
up inside the diesel particulate filters. It must be periodically
removed or the diesel particulate filter will be plugged. In order
to remove the sort, the diesel particulate filter is operated at an
elevated temperature high enough to combust the soot. This cleaning
process is commonly called "regeneration".
[0004] There are a variety of methods for regenerating or cleaning
a diesel particulate filter, the most common being injecting fuel
into a flow of exhaust gas leading into the diesel particulate
filter then using a catalytic converter to oxidize the fuel and
heat the exhaust gas, or combusting fuel and adding the hot
combustion byproducts to the flow of exhaust gas.
[0005] During normal engine operation the exhaust gas may leave the
vehicle at a relatively low temperature, such as 120.degree. F.
[0006] During regeneration, however, the exhaust gas may be raised
to a temperature from 600-1200.degree. F. in order to completely
combust the soot in the diesel particulate filter.
[0007] There is a risk that the elevated exhaust gas temperature
may cause structures adjacent to the exhaust outlet of the vehicle
to be damaged.
[0008] What is needed, therefore is a system for preventing the
cleaning of a diesel particulate filter of a vehicle when the
vehicle is too close to another structure.
[0009] It is an object of this invention to provide such a
system.
SUMMARY
[0010] In accordance with one arrangement, a vehicle comprises
ground engaging structures for moving the vehicle over the ground,
a frame coupled to the ground engaging structures, a diesel engine
further comprising a diesel particulate filter, wherein the diesel
engine is mounted on the frame, an exhaust pipe coupled to and
extending from the diesel engine, the exhaust pipe having an outlet
configured to released a stream of exhaust gas from the engine into
the environment, an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the
engine to control the regeneration of the diesel particulate
filter, and a proximity sensor coupled to the ECU to indicate a
distance between the vehicle and an adjacent structure, wherein the
ECU is configured to prevent the regeneration of the diesel
particulate filter when the proximity sensor indicates the vehicle
is within a predetermined range of the adjacent structure.
[0011] In accordance with another arrangement, a system for
preventing the cleaning of a diesel particulate filter comprises an
electronic control unit; a proximity sensor; a fuel injector
coupled to the electronic control unit and coupled to an exhaust
gas conduit upstream of the diesel particulate filter; wherein the
electronic control unit is configured to read the proximity sensor
and to prevent the fuel injector from adding fuel to the exhaust
gas conduit until the proximity sensor indicates at least a
threshold distance to an adjacent structure.
[0012] The electronic control unit may comprise a digital
microprocessor.
[0013] The fuel injector may be configured to inject fuel into a
flow of exhaust gas upstream of the diesel particulate filter.
[0014] The proximity sensor may comprise an ultrasonic sensor.
[0015] The electronic control unit may be configured to stop an
ongoing diesel particulate filter cleaning process.
[0016] The electronic control unit may be configured to stop the
ongoing diesel particulate filter cleaning process by stopping the
fuel injector from adding further fuel to the exhaust gas
conduit.
[0017] In accordance with another arrangement, an agricultural
harvester (100 may comprise a self-propelled agricultural
harvesting vehicle further comprising a frame, a diesel engine
supported on the frame and the system described herein for
preventing the cleaning of the diesel particulate filter.
[0018] The proximity sensor may be disposed adjacent to an exhaust
pipe disposed to carry exhaust gas from the diesel engine away from
the agricultural harvester.
[0019] The proximity sensor may comprise an ultrasonic sensor.
[0020] The proximity sensor may be disposed at a rear of the
agricultural harvester.
[0021] In accordance with another arrangement, a method for
preventing the cleaning of a diesel particulate filter on an
agricultural vehicle having a proximity sensor comprises
electronically monitoring the proximity sensor to determine a
distance from the proximity sensor to an adjacent structure;
electronically comparing the distance to a threshold distance;
electronically preventing the cleaning of the diesel particulate
filter when the distance is less than the threshold distance.
[0022] The step of electronically preventing the cleaning of the
diesel particulate filter (116 when the distance is less than the
threshold distance may comprise the step of preventing a fuel
injector from injecting fuel into a flow of exhaust gas into the
diesel particulate filter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 shows an agricultural combine having an engine, a
diesel particulate filter, and an exhaust gas outlet.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the system to control the
regeneration of the diesel particulate filter.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the steps performed by the ECU
of the system to prevent the cleaning of the diesel particulate
filter.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the steps performed by the ECU
of the system to terminate the cleaning of the diesel particulate
filter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] In the discussion below, the terms "front", "forward", "in
front of", and variants thereof refer to the forward direction of
travel of the vehicle as it travels through the field harvesting
crops. This direction of travel as indicated by the letter "V" in
FIG. 1.
[0028] In the discussion below, the terms "rear", "rearward",
"behind", and variants thereof refer to a direction opposite to the
forward direction of travel.
[0029] "Upstream" and "downstream" as those terms are used herein
relate to the flow of exhaust gas from the cylinders of the diesel
engine 112.
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 1, an agricultural harvester 100 is
shown. The agricultural harvester comprises a harvesting head 102
which is mounted on a feederhouse 104 that is supported on the
front of a self-propelled agricultural harvesting vehicle 106.
[0031] The self-propelled agricultural harvesting vehicle 106 is
supported on a plurality of wheels 108 that engage the ground and
support the agricultural harvester 100 for travel over the ground
harvesting crops. The wheels are connected to a frame 110 of the
self-propelled agricultural harvesting vehicle 106. The
agricultural harvester 100 travels through the field in the
direction "V" as it harvests crop.
[0032] A diesel engine 112 is fixed to the frame 110 and is
disposed in an upper rear portion of the self-propelled
agricultural harvesting vehicle 106.
[0033] A diesel particulate filter 116 is disposed to receive
gaseous diesel engine combustion byproducts ("engine exhaust" or
"exhaust gas") that exit the diesel engine 112. The exhaust gas
leaving the diesel particulate filter 116 travels through an
exhaust pipe 118 and through an aperture 120 in the self-propelled
agricultural harvesting vehicle. The outlet of the exhaust pipe 118
extends from the rear of the self-propelled agricultural harvesting
vehicle 106 and conveys the exhaust gas away from the agricultural
harvester 100.
[0034] The diesel particulate filter 116 may comprise a catalytic
converter (such as a diesel oxidizer catalyst or "DOC") that is
disposed upstream of the diesel particulate filter element in order
to oxidize raw fuel in the flow of exhaust gas from the engine to
the filter element of the diesel particulate filter 116. For diesel
particulate filters with a catalytic converter, the un-combusted
fuel in the exhaust gas flow is oxidized in the catalytic converter
with the concomitant release of heat energy, and elevation of the
exhaust gas temperature.
[0035] A proximity sensor 122 is disposed adjacent to the exhaust
pipe of the diesel engine 112 which (in this case) is at the rear
of the self-propelled agricultural harvesting vehicle 106 to sense
the proximity of the self-propelled agricultural harvesting vehicle
106 to any adjacent structure 124. A typical adjacent structure 124
(such as that shown here) is a barn, a shed, hay bales or crop
storage bins.
[0036] The proximity sensor 122 may comprise one or more ultrasonic
sensor transmitters and receivers. These ultrasonic transmitters
and receivers may be pointed in a variety of directions such that
they sense the proximity of the self-propelled agricultural
harvesting vehicle 106 to a plurality of locations on the adjacent
structure 124.
[0037] In FIG. 2, an electronic control unit (ECU) 200 includes a
microprocessor 202, a clock circuit 203, a RAM or random-access
memory 204, a ROM or read-only memory 206, and a driver circuit
208. The microprocessor 202 is configured to execute a series of
digital program statements that are stored in read-only memory 206.
The microprocessor 202 is configured to save working values in
random-access memory 204 that it calculates as it executes the
series of digital program statements.
[0038] In one arrangement, the ECU 200 of FIG. 2 represents a
single ECU. In another arrangement, the ECU 200 of FIG. 2
represents a plurality of ECUs that are networked together, each of
the ECUs in the network providing some of the functions described
herein and communicating the results of those functions to others
ECUs of the network of ECUs.
[0039] The ECU 200 is coupled to a fuel injector 210. The fuel
injector 210 is disposed to inject fuel into a flow of exhaust gas
carried leaving the cylinders of the diesel engine 112 and going to
the diesel particulate filter 116.
[0040] In one arrangement, the fuel injector 210 is disposed to
inject fuel into the exhaust gas in the diesel engine 112
itself.
[0041] In another arrangement the fuel injector 210 is disposed to
inject fuel into an exhaust gas conduit 214 connecting the diesel
engine 112 to the diesel particulate filter 116.
[0042] In another arrangement, the fuel injector 210 is disposed to
inject fuel into the diesel particulate filter 116 either at, or
slightly upstream of the working element of the diesel particulate
filter 116.
[0043] All of these arrangements are expressed schematically in
FIG. 2 which shows the fuel injector 210 located between the engine
and the DPF. In all of these aforementioned arrangements, the fuel
is introduced at a location such that its combustion byproducts can
be combined with the existing exhaust gas to elevate the
temperature of the combined exhaust gas flow prior to the exhaust
gas passing through the diesel particulate filter 116.
[0044] These different locations are expressed schematically in
FIG. 2 by the fuel injector 210 coupled to the exhaust gas conduit
214. In another arrangement, the fuel injector 210 comprises a
means for combusting the fuel such as a burner, combustor, or
oxidizer.
[0045] The ECU 200 is coupled to a pressure sensor 215 that is
disposed to sense an exhaust gas pressure drop across at least a
portion of the filter element of the diesel particulate filter
116.
[0046] In FIG. 3 a flowchart of the process followed by the ECU 200
is shown. This process is defined by a sequence of digital computer
instructions stored in the read-only memory 206.
[0047] In step 300, the process starts.
[0048] In step 302 the ECU 200 is programmed to read the clock
circuit 203 to determine how long the engine has been operating
since the last time the diesel particulate filter 116 has been
thermally recycled and thus how long soot has been accumulating in
the diesel particulate filter 116.
[0049] In step 304, the ECU is programmed to read the pressure
sensor 215 to determine the degree to which soot has obstructed the
diesel particulate filter 116. The pressure drop across the diesel
particulate filter 116 is proportional to the amount of soot
contamination of the diesel particulate filter 116.
[0050] In step 306, the ECU is programmed to compare the elapsed
engine operating time (which the ECU determined in step 302) and
the degree to which the diesel particulate filter 116 is obstructed
(which the ECU determined in step 304 by determining the pressure
difference across the diesel particulate filter 116) against
threshold values of elapsed engine operating time and pressure drop
across the diesel particulate filter 116.
[0051] If the ECU 200 in step 306 determines that neither the
elapsed engine operating time (step 302) nor the pressure drop
across the diesel particulate filter 116 (step 304) have reached a
predetermined threshold, the ECU 200 the process continues to step
307 and terminates.
[0052] If the ECU 200 in step 306 determines that either the
elapsed engine operating time (step 302) or the pressure drop
across the diesel particulate filter 116 (step 304) has reached a
predetermined threshold, the ECU 200 branches to step 308, and
reads the proximity sensor 122.
[0053] After the ECU 200 executes step 308, it then continues to
step 310 in which it compares the distance indicated by the
proximity sensor 122 with a threshold distance previously stored in
ROM 306. The threshold distance previously stored in ROM 306
indicates a minimum distance between the agricultural harvester 100
and the adjacent structure 124 within which the ECU 200 will not
permit the diesel particulate filter 116 to be thermally
recycled.
[0054] If the ECU 200 determines in step 310 that the adjacent
structure 124 is too close to the agricultural harvester 100 (i.e.
the signal generated by the proximity sensor indicates a distance
that is smaller than the threshold distance), the ECU 200 continues
to step 307 and terminates.
[0055] Alternatively, if the ECU 200 determines in step 310 that
the adjacent structure 124 is sufficiently far from the
agricultural harvester 100 (i.e. the signal generated by the
proximity sensor indicates a distance that is greater than the
threshold distance) then the ECU 200 continues to step 312.
[0056] In step 312, the ECU 200 is programmed to command the fuel
injector 210 to inject fuel into the exhaust gas produced in the
engine before the exhaust gas reaches the diesel particulate filter
116, at which point the ECU 200 continues to step 307 and
terminates.
[0057] The steps illustrated in FIG. 3 are performed at regularly
scheduled intervals by the ECU 200.
[0058] FIG. 4 illustrates a process performed by ECU 200 whenever
the DPF is being cleaned.
[0059] In step 400, the process starts.
[0060] In step 402, the ECU 200 reads the proximity sensor 122.
[0061] In step 404, the ECU 200 compares the distance indicated by
the proximity sensor 122 with a second threshold distance
previously stored in ROM 306. The second threshold distance may be
the same as or different from the threshold distance discussed
above.
[0062] If the agricultural harvester 100 is within the second
threshold distance as determined in step 404, the ECU 200 continues
to step 406 and terminates the DPF cleaning process. In step 406,
the ECU 200 turns the fuel injector 210 off and thereby stops the
fuel injector 210 from injecting fuel into the exhaust gas.
[0063] If the agricultural harvester 100 is not within the second
threshold distance, the ECU continues to step 408 and terminates
the DPF cleaning process.
[0064] ECU 200 is programmed to perform the steps illustrated in
FIG. 4 at regularly scheduled intervals during the DPF cleaning
process, and thus to terminate an ongoing DPF cleaning process
whenever the agricultural harvester 100 comes too close to the
adjacent structure 124.
[0065] The description and figures herein are provided to
illustrate at least one concrete example of how the invention can
be practiced. The invention itself, however, is not limited to
being practiced in the particular way always described herein. The
claims (below) define the invention and encompass more than the
specific examples provided herein.
* * * * *