U.S. patent application number 14/658580 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-22 for reductant filling assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to Caterpillar Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Caterpillar Inc.. Invention is credited to Brian Cole, Xiaohui Gong, Dustin Landwehr.
Application Number | 20160273430 14/658580 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56924720 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160273430 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cole; Brian ; et
al. |
September 22, 2016 |
Reductant Filling Assembly
Abstract
A reductant filling assembly includes a first end and a second
end, the first end adapted to connect from an interior side of a
machine to a supply port attached to a receiver extending to an
exterior side of the machine; a housing extending between the first
end and the second end of the reductant filling assembly, the
housing extending from a first housing end to a second housing end;
a reductant supply conduit, a first circulating conduit, and a
second circulating conduit extending through the housing from the
first end to the second end. At least the first circulating conduit
is in thermal communication with a wall of the reductant supply
conduit, such that a heating fluid flowing through the first
circulating conduit in a first direction transfers heat to a
reductant fluid in the reductant supply conduit.
Inventors: |
Cole; Brian; (Peoria,
IL) ; Gong; Xiaohui; (Dunlap, IL) ; Landwehr;
Dustin; (Kewanee, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Caterpillar Inc. |
Peoria |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Caterpillar Inc.
Peoria
IL
|
Family ID: |
56924720 |
Appl. No.: |
14/658580 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01N 2610/1486 20130101;
Y02T 10/24 20130101; F01N 2590/08 20130101; F01N 2610/142 20130101;
F01N 2610/02 20130101; F01N 3/2066 20130101; F01N 2610/1413
20130101; F01N 2610/14 20130101; Y02T 10/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F01N 3/20 20060101
F01N003/20; F01N 5/02 20060101 F01N005/02; F01N 3/28 20060101
F01N003/28 |
Claims
1. A reductant filling assembly comprising: a first end and a
second end, the first end adapted to connect from an interior side
of a machine to a supply port attached to a receiver extending to
an exterior side of the machine; a housing extending between the
first end and the second end of the reductant filling assembly, the
housing extending from a first housing end to a second housing end;
a reductant supply conduit extending through the housing from the
first end to the second end; a first circulating conduit extending
through the housing from the first end to the second end; and a
second circulating conduit extending through the housing from the
first end to the second end, wherein at least the first circulating
conduit is in thermal communication with a wall of the reductant
supply conduit, such that a heating fluid flowing through the first
circulating conduit in a first direction transfers heat to a
reductant fluid in the reductant supply conduit.
2. The reductant filling assembly of claim 1, wherein the heating
fluid flows within the second circulating conduit in a second
direction that is opposite to the first direction.
3. The reductant filling assembly of claim 2, wherein the first
circulating conduit is coaxial with the reductant supply conduit,
and wherein a wall of the first circulating conduit surrounds at
least a portion of a circumference of the reductant supply
conduit.
4. The reductant filling assembly of claim 3, wherein the portion
of the circumference is an entire circumference of the reductant
supply conduit, and wherein the second circulating conduit is
positioned outside of the first circulating conduit and extends
from the first end to the second end parallel to the first
circulating conduit.
5. The reductant filling assembly of claim 4, further comprising a
control valve fluidly coupled to the second circulating conduit
downstream of a portion of the second circulating conduit disposed
within the housing, wherein the reductant supply conduit includes a
flexible conduit, wherein the first circulating conduit is in fluid
communication with the second circulating conduit, and wherein the
heating fluid is supplied to the first circulating conduit, the
control valve is closed and the heating fluid remains upstream of
the control valve in the first circulating conduit and the second
circulating conduit, and the reductant supply conduit is compressed
according to an increased pressure applied by the heating fluid in
the first circulating conduit.
6. The reductant filling assembly of claim 3, further comprising a
partition extending from the first housing end to the second
housing end and positioned adjacently between the first circulating
conduit and the second circulating conduit, wherein the second
circulating conduit is coaxial with the reductant supply conduit
and surrounds a remaining portion of the circumference of the
reductant supply conduit that is not surrounded by the first
circulating conduit, and wherein the second circulating conduit is
in thermal communication with the reductant supply conduit.
7. The reductant filling assembly of claim 2, wherein a wall of the
first circulating conduit is positioned adjacent to the wall of the
reductant supply conduit from the first housing end to the second
housing end, wherein a wall of the second circulating conduit is
positioned adjacent to the wall of the reductant supply conduit
from the first housing end to the second housing end, and wherein
the second circulating conduit is positioned within the housing in
thermal communication with the wall of the reductant supply
conduit, such that the heating fluid flowing through the second
circulating conduit in the second direction transfers heat to the
reductant fluid in the reductant supply conduit.
8. The reductant filling assembly of claim 7, wherein the first
circulating conduit and the second circulating conduit extend
parallel to the reductant supply conduit from the first housing end
to the second housing end.
9. The reductant filling assembly of claim 7, wherein the first
circulating conduit and the second circulating conduit are wrapped
around the reductant supply conduit from the first housing end to
the second housing end.
10. The reductant filling assembly of claim 2, wherein the first
end of the reductant filling assembly is attached to a first
manifold, wherein the first manifold includes: the supply port, a
reductant supply connection connecting the supply port and the
reductant supply conduit, a first channel formed within the first
manifold and extending from a first port that is formed in a
surface of the first manifold and fluidly connected to the first
circulating conduit, a second channel formed within the first
manifold and extending from a second port that is formed in the
surface of the first manifold and fluidly connected to the second
circulating conduit, and a connection channel in fluid
communication with the first channel and the second channel, and
wherein at least one of the first channel, the second channel, and
the connection channel is in thermal communication with the
reductant supply conduit.
11. The reductant filling assembly of claim 10, wherein the second
end of the reductant filling assembly is attached to a second
manifold, wherein the second manifold includes: a reductant outlet
connection connecting a reductant outlet port and the reductant
supply conduit, a first sub-manifold channel formed within a first
sub-manifold of the second manifold and connected to the first
circulating conduit, and a second sub-manifold channel formed
within a second sub-manifold of the second manifold and connected
to the second circulating conduit, and wherein the first
sub-manifold channel and the second sub-manifold channel are in
thermal communication with at least one of the reductant supply
conduit and the reductant outlet connection.
12. The reductant filling assembly of claim 2, wherein the second
end of the reductant filling assembly is attached to a manifold,
wherein the manifold includes: a reductant connection connecting a
reductant outlet port and the reductant supply conduit, a first
sub-manifold channel formed within a first sub-manifold of the
manifold and connected to the first circulating conduit, and a
second sub-manifold channel formed within a second sub-manifold of
the manifold and connected to the second circulating conduit, and
wherein the first sub-manifold channel and the second sub-manifold
channel are in thermal communication with at least one of the
reductant supply conduit and the reductant connection.
13. A machine comprising: an engine including an internal fluid
circuit; an exhaust conduit connected to the engine that receives
exhaust gas from the engine; a heating fluid circuit including a
fluid supply conduit connected to an outlet of the internal fluid
circuit and a fluid return conduit connected to an inlet of the
internal fluid circuit; a receiver that extends to an exterior side
of the machine; a supply port on an interior side of the machine
and fluidly connected to the receiver; an exhaust aftertreatment
system including: a tank that stores a reductant fluid to be
delivered to the exhaust conduit, a reductant output conduit in
fluid communication with a portion of the exhaust conduit, and a
pump in fluid communication with the reductant fluid to be
delivered in the tank and the reductant output conduit; and a
reductant filling assembly including: a first end and a second end,
the first end adapted to connect from the interior side of the
machine to the supply port, a housing extending between the first
end and the second end of the reductant filling assembly, the
housing extending from a first housing end to a second housing end,
a reductant supply conduit extending through the housing from the
first end to the second end, a first circulating conduit extending
through the housing from the first end to the second end, and a
second circulating conduit extending through the housing from the
first end to the second end, wherein the first circulating conduit
and the second circulating conduit are fluidly connected to the
heating fluid circuit downstream of the outlet of the internal
fluid circuit and upstream of a section of the heating fluid
circuit disposed in the tank, wherein at least the first
circulating conduit is positioned within the housing in thermal
communication with a wall of the reductant supply conduit, such
that a heating fluid flowing through the first circulating conduit
in a first direction transfers heat to a reductant fluid in the
reductant supply conduit.
14. The machine of claim 13, wherein the heating fluid flows within
the second circulating conduit in a second direction that is
opposite to the first direction.
15. The machine of claim 14, further comprising a first manifold
attached to the first end of the reductant filling assembly,
wherein the first manifold includes: the supply port, a reductant
supply connection connecting the supply port and the reductant
supply conduit, a first channel formed within the first manifold
and extending from a first port that is formed in a surface of the
first manifold and connected to the first circulating conduit, a
second channel formed within the first manifold and extending from
a second port that is formed in the surface of the first manifold
and connected to the second circulating conduit, and a connection
channel in fluid communication with the first channel and the
second channel, and wherein at least one of the first channel, the
second channel, and the connection channel is in thermal
communication with the reductant supply conduit.
16. The machine of claim 15, further comprising a second manifold
attached to the second end of the reductant filling assembly,
wherein the second manifold includes: a reductant outlet connection
connecting a reductant outlet port and the reductant supply
conduit, a first sub-manifold channel formed within a first
sub-manifold of the second manifold and connected to the first
circulating conduit, and a second sub-manifold channel formed
within a second sub-manifold of the second manifold and connected
to the second circulating conduit, and wherein the first
sub-manifold channel and the second sub-manifold channel are in
thermal communication with at least one of the reductant supply
conduit and the reductant outlet connection.
17. The machine of claim 14, further comprising: a tank fluid
supply conduit fluidly coupled to the second circulating conduit at
the second end of the reductant filling assembly; a control valve
fluidly coupled to the tank fluid supply conduit downstream of the
second circulating conduit; a sensor that detects a parameter
associated with an amount of reductant fluid in the tank; and a
controller that operates the control valve in response to the
sensor detecting the parameter is equal to or greater than a
threshold, wherein the reductant supply conduit includes a flexible
conduit positioned within the first circulating conduit between the
first end and the second end, wherein the first circulating conduit
is in fluid communication with the second circulating conduit,
wherein the controller determines the parameter is equal to or
greater than the threshold and closes the control valve, the
reductant supply conduit is compressed according to an increased
pressure applied by the heating fluid in the first circulating
conduit, and a remaining amount of reductant fluid in the reductant
supply conduit is forced into the tank.
18. The machine of claim 13, further comprising: a reductant supply
connection connecting the supply port and the reductant supply
conduit at the first end of the reductant filling assembly; and a
reductant outlet connection connecting a reductant outlet port and
the reductant supply conduit at the second end of the reductant
filling assembly, the reductant outlet connection being mounted on
the tank, wherein the reductant supply connection is positioned at
a first elevation relative to a portion of the machine configured
to contact a ground level below the machine, wherein the reductant
outlet connection is positioned at a second elevation relative to
the portion of the machine configured to contact the ground level
below the machine, and wherein the second elevation is greater than
the first elevation.
19. The machine of claim 18, wherein a vertical distance separating
the first elevation and the second elevation is in the range of 4
to 6 meters.
20. A method for heating a reductant fluid in a reductant filling
assembly including a first end and a second end, the first end
connected from an interior side of a machine to a supply port
attached to a receiver extending to an exterior side of the
machine, the second end connected to a tank, the method for heating
the reductant fluid comprising: supplying the reductant fluid from
the exterior side through the supply port into a reductant supply
conduit positioned within the reductant filling assembly and into
the tank; supplying a flow of heating fluid to a heating fluid
circuit fluidly coupled to the reductant filling assembly;
supplying the flow of heating fluid from the heating fluid circuit
to the second end of the reductant filling assembly and directing
the flow of heating fluid in a first direction from the second end
to the first end in a first circulating conduit positioned within
the reductant filling assembly; transferring heat from a portion of
the flow of heating fluid within the first circulating conduit to
the reductant fluid in the reductant supply conduit; directing the
flow of heating fluid from the first circulating conduit into a
manifold at the first end and from the manifold into a second
circulating conduit positioned within the reductant filling
assembly; and directing the flow of heating fluid through the
second circulating in a second direction from the first end to the
second end and into the heating fluid circuit, the second direction
being opposite to the first direction.
21. The method of claim 20, further comprising: detecting a value
of a parameter associated with an amount of reductant fluid in the
tank and comparing the value to a threshold; determining the value
is equal to or greater than the threshold; and purging reductant
fluid in the reductant supply conduit from the reductant supply
conduit into the tank, wherein the reductant supply conduit is a
flexible conduit positioned within the first circulating conduit
between the first end and the second end, such that the heating
fluid contacts a wall of the reductant supply conduit, and wherein
the purging includes: closing a control valve connected to the
second circulating conduit at the second end in response to the
determining the value is equal to or greater than the threshold,
stopping the supplying of the reductant fluid, increasing a
pressure applied to the wall of the reductant supply conduit to
compress the reductant supply conduit and force a remaining amount
of reductant in the reductant supply conduit into the tank by
continuing to supply the heating fluid to the first circulating
conduit, and releasing a fluid pressure in the second circulating
conduit by opening the control valve, and expanding the reductant
supply conduit in response to the releasing the fluid pressure.
22. The method of claim 20, further comprising: estimating a first
time to complete an engine operation of an engine of the machine;
monitoring an elapsed time; comparing the elapsed time to the first
time; determining the elapsed time is equal to the first time and
operating the engine in an idle state or a predetermined operating
condition for a second time following a time when the elapsed time
is equal to the first time; purging reductant fluid in the
reductant supply conduit from the reductant supply conduit into the
tank during the second time; and determining the elapsed time is
equal to the first time plus the second time and stopping the
operating the engine in the idle state or the predetermined
operating condition.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the reductant supply conduit is
a flexible conduit positioned within the first circulating conduit
between the first end and the second end, such that the heating
fluid contacts a wall of the reductant supply conduit, and wherein
the purging includes: closing a control valve connected to the
second circulating conduit at the second end in response to the
determining the elapsed time is equal to the first time plus a
predetermined amount of time less than the second time, increasing
a pressure applied to the wall of the reductant supply conduit to
compress the reductant supply conduit and force a remaining amount
of reductant in the reductant supply conduit into the tank by
continuing to supply the heating fluid to the first circulating
conduit, and releasing a fluid pressure in the second circulating
conduit by opening the control valve, and expanding the reductant
supply conduit in response to the releasing the fluid pressure.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to engine exhaust
systems, and more particularly, to exhaust aftertreatment systems
including a ground level access point for introducing reductant to
a machine for storage in, and delivery from, a tank positioned at a
higher elevation than, or more generally, a substantial distance
from, a supply port which is accessible from a ground level.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Various systems for removing or converting exhaust
constituents, such as Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems,
for example, have been incorporated into exhaust aftertreatment
systems to control emissions of regulated exhaust constituents.
These exhaust aftertreatment systems may use a pump electronics and
tank unit (PETU), for example, to deliver a reductant to a flow of
exhaust upstream of a catalyst. Some reductants may be susceptible
to freezing due to their respective compositions, e.g., aqueous
ammonia, an environment where a machine incorporating the exhaust
aftertreatment system is operated, a frequency of operation of the
machine wherein the reductant is stored, and/or a configuration for
supplying the reductant. As a result, reductant being delivered to,
stored in, and delivered from a tank of a PETU or other type of
reductant delivery system, can be at risk of freezing.
[0003] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0000729 (the
729 publication), entitled "DEF Pump and Tank Thawing System and
Method," relates to technology for an exhaust aftertreatment system
that prevents freezing of reductant in a reductant storage tank and
a reductant pump. The '729 publication describes a tank and a pump
of the exhaust aftertreatment system being in thermal communication
with a first coolant circuit and a second coolant circuit,
respectively. Coolant from an engine is routed by the first coolant
circuit and second coolant circuit to respective coolant loops
inside the tank and the pump, to heat reductant in the tank and the
pump.
[0004] While the '729 publication is focused on reductant that is
stored in a tank or delivered from the tank to a flow of exhaust,
reductant in other components of a reductant storage and delivery
system may be susceptible to freezing. Therefore, there is a need
for reductant storage and delivery systems and methods that address
other freezing modes and/or other problems in the art.
SUMMARY
[0005] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a
reductant filling assembly comprises a first end and a second end,
the first end adapted to connect from an interior side of a machine
to a supply port attached to a receiver extending to an exterior
side of the machine; a housing extending between the first end and
the second end of the reductant filling assembly, the housing
extending from a first housing end to a second housing end; a
reductant supply conduit extending through the housing from the
first end to the second end; a first circulating conduit extending
through the housing from the first end to the second end; and a
second circulating conduit extending through the housing from the
first end to the second end. At least the first circulating conduit
is in thermal communication with a wall of the reductant supply
conduit, such that a heating fluid flowing through the first
circulating conduit in a first direction transfers heat to a
reductant fluid in the reductant supply conduit.
[0006] According to another aspect of the disclosure, a machine
comprises an engine including an internal fluid circuit; an exhaust
conduit connected to the engine that receives exhaust gas from the
engine; a heating fluid circuit including a fluid supply conduit
connected to an outlet of the internal fluid circuit and a fluid
return conduit connected to an inlet of the internal fluid circuit;
a receiver that extends to an exterior side of the machine; and a
supply port on an interior side of the machine and fluidly
connected to the receiver. The machine may further comprise an
exhaust aftertreatment system including a tank that stores a
reductant fluid to be delivered, a reductant output conduit in
fluid communication with a portion of the exhaust conduit, and a
pump in fluid communication with the reductant fluid to be
delivered in the tank and the reductant output conduit. The machine
may further comprise a reductant filling assembly including a first
end and a second end, the first end adapted to connect from the
interior side of the machine to the supply port, a housing
extending between the first end and the second end of the reductant
filling assembly, the housing extending from a first housing end to
a second housing end, a reductant supply conduit extending through
the housing from the first end to the second end, a first
circulating conduit extending through the housing from the first
end to the second end, and a second circulating conduit extending
through the housing from the first end to the second end. The first
circulating conduit and the second circulating conduit are fluidly
connected to the heating fluid circuit downstream of the outlet of
the internal fluid circuit and upstream of a section of the heating
fluid circuit disposed in the tank. At least the first circulating
conduit is positioned in thermal communication with a wall of the
reductant supply conduit, such that a heating fluid flowing through
the first circulating conduit in a first direction transfers heat
to a reductant fluid in the reductant supply conduit.
[0007] Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method for
heating a reductant fluid in a reductant filling assembly including
a first end and a second end, the first end connected from an
interior side of a machine to a supply port attached to a receiver
extending to an exterior side of the machine, and the second end
connected to a tank. The method for heating the reductant fluid may
comprise supplying the reductant fluid from the exterior side
through the supply port into a reductant supply conduit positioned
within the reductant filling assembly and into the tank; supplying
a flow of heating fluid to a heating fluid circuit fluidly coupled
to the reductant filling assembly; supplying the flow of heating
fluid from the heating fluid circuit to the second end of the
reductant filling assembly and directing the flow of heating fluid
in a first direction from the second end to the first end in a
first circulating conduit positioned within the reductant filling
assembly; transferring heat from a portion of the flow of heating
fluid within the first circulating conduit to the reductant fluid
in the reductant supply conduit; directing the flow of heating
fluid from the first circulating conduit into a manifold at the
first end and from the manifold into a second circulating conduit
positioned within the reductant filling assembly; and directing the
flow of heating fluid through the second circulating in a second
direction from the first end to the second end and into the heating
fluid circuit, the second direction being opposite to the first
direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a partial cutaway side view of a machine
including an exhaust aftertreatment system, according an aspect of
the present disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic front view of a filling
system, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic top view of a filling system,
according to an aspect of the present disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic side view of a filling system
with a schematic cross sectional view of a filling assembly without
reductant or heating fluid, according to an aspect of the present
disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross sectional view of the filling
assembly of FIG. 4 with reductant and heating fluid added, taken
along section line 5-5.
[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic side view of a filling system
with a schematic cross sectional view of a filling assembly without
reductant or heating fluid, according to an aspect of the present
disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 7 illustrates a cross sectional view of the filling
assembly of FIG. 6 with reductant and heating fluid added, taken
along section line 7-7.
[0015] FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a first manifold,
according to an aspect of the present disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a second manifold,
according to an aspect of the present disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 10 illustrates a partial view of the second manifold of
FIG. 9.
[0018] FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic side view of a filling
system with a schematic cross sectional view of a filling assembly
without reductant or heating fluid, according to an aspect of the
present disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 12 illustrates a cross sectional view of the filling
assembly of FIG. 11 with reductant and hearing fluid added, taken
along section line 12-12.
[0020] FIG. 13 illustrates a schematic front view of a filling
system, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 14 illustrates a schematic top view of a filling
system, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 15 illustrates a schematic side view of a filling
system including a filling assembly and a purge system, with a
schematic cross sectional view of a filling assembly without
reductant or heating fluid, according to an aspect of the present
disclosure.
[0023] FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate cross sectional views of the
filling assembly of FIG. 15 with reductant and heating fluid added,
taken along section line 16-16, according to aspects of the present
disclosure.
[0024] FIG. 17 illustrates a flowchart of a method for filling a
tank and purging a reductant supply conduit of a filling assembly,
according to an aspect of the present disclosure.
[0025] FIG. 18 is a schematic top view of a filling system
including a heating fluid bypass, according to an aspect of the
present disclosure.
[0026] FIG. 19 illustrates a flowchart of a method for filling a
tank and purging a reductant supply conduit of a filling assembly,
according to an aspect of the present disclosure.
[0027] FIG. 20 illustrates a schematic side view of a filling
system with a schematic cross sectional view of a filling assembly
without reductant or heating fluid, according to an aspect of the
present disclosure.
[0028] FIG. 21 illustrates a cross sectional view of the filling
assembly of FIG. 20 with reductant and heating fluid added, taken
along section line 21-21.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] Aspects of the disclosure will now be described in detail
with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals
designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several
views, unless specified otherwise.
[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates a partial cutaway side view of a machine
1 including an exhaust aftertreatment system 30, according an
aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 illustrates the machine 1
including an engine 10 connected to an exhaust conduit 11. The
machine 1 may be a hydraulic shovel (as illustrated), a tractor, an
on-highway truck, an off-highway truck, a material handler, a
logging machine, a compactor, construction equipment, a stationary
power generator, a pump, an aerospace machine, a locomotive, a
marine vehicle or machine, or any other device or application that
produces combustion exhaust during operation. The engine 10 may
include other features not shown, such as controllers, fuel
systems, air systems, cooling systems, peripheries, drive-train
components, turbochargers, exhaust gas recirculation systems,
combinations thereof, or any other engine features or sub-systems
known in the art. The engine 10 may be a reciprocating internal
combustion engine, such as a spark ignition engine or a compression
ignition engine; a turbomachine, such as a gas turbine;
combinations thereof; or any other combustion engine known in the
art. The engine 10 may be of any size, with any number of
cylinders, in any configuration ("V," in-conduit, radial, etc.),
and operate on any cycle, such as a 4-stroke cycle, a 2-stroke
cycle, a Diesel cycle, an Otto cycle, a Miller Cycle, a homogeneous
charge compression ignition cycle, a reactivity controlled
compression cycle ignition, combinations thereof, or any other
internal combustion cycle known in the art.
[0031] Exhaust may flow in the exhaust conduit 11 to the
aftertreatment system 30. Either the exhaust conduit 11 or the
aftertreatment system 30 may include elements not shown, such as a
diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and a diesel particulate filter
(DPF), through which the exhaust may flow through prior to
entering, for example, an SCR system provided in the aftertreatment
system 30. A reductant delivery system 50 may supply reductant to
the aftertreatment system 30 to promote conversion of exhaust
constituents in the aftertreatment system 30. In a non-limiting
aspect of the disclosure, the reductant may consist of or contain a
diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) including urea, which may thermally
decompose into ammonia (NH.sub.3) in admixture with the exhaust
stream, and react with nitrogen oxides (collectively "NO.sub.x") in
the presence of a catalyst to produce nitrogen (N.sub.2) and water
(H.sub.2O). However, the reductant may be any fluid known in the
art that is capable of a reducing reaction with an exhaust
constituent, whether or not in the presence of a catalyst.
[0032] The reductant may be supplied to the reductant delivery
system 50 through a filling assembly 100 of a filling system from a
source of reductant 3 located on a ground level G. The filling
assembly 100 may be attached to a receiver 121, described in detail
later, from an interior side 5 of the machine 1. The receiver 121
may be accessible from an exterior side 7 of the machine 1 by an
operator on the ground level G (e.g., a ground level access point).
For example, the receiver 121 may be attached to an arm 9, or other
type of panel or access door, that the operator may lower to the
ground level G to fluidly couple the filling assembly 100 with the
source of reductant 3 through the receiver 121.
[0033] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a first end 100a of the filling
assembly 100 is separated from the reductant delivery system 50 by
a vertical distance Y, which may be in the range of 4-6 meters,
depending upon the application. The vertical distance Y may
represent a minimum length of a conduit used to supply reductant to
the reductant delivery system 50. Accounting for other portions of
a respective route profile, a total length between the first end
100a and the reductant delivery system 50 could be 8-10 meters
long.
[0034] Combined with a location and frequency of use of the machine
1, after a filling operation, reductant remaining in a conduit that
supplies the reductant may be at risk of freezing. As described in
further detail below, aspects of the filling assembly 100 according
to the present disclosure enable the filling assembly 100 to be
integrated with a heating fluid circuit 200 to prevent freezing of
reductant contained therein, or to thaw the filling assembly 100
should freezing occur.
[0035] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic front view of a filling
system (100, 111, 131), according to an aspect of the present
disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the filling assembly 100
includes a housing 101, the first end 100a connected to a first
manifold 111, and a second end 100b connected to a second manifold
131. The second manifold 131 is attached to a tank 51 of the
reductant delivery system 50. The reductant delivery system 50 may
include a Pump Electronics and Tank Unit (PETU) comprising the tank
51 and a pump 55. The pump 55 may obtain the reductant from the
tank 51 through a pump reductant supply conduit 53, and pump the
reductant through a pump reductant output conduit 57 to an injector
31 of the aftertreatment system 30. According to one aspect of the
disclosure, the injector 31 may inject the reductant through an
injector reductant output conduit 59, into a flow of the exhaust
from the exhaust conduit 11 upstream of a Selective Catalytic
Reduction (SCR) catalyst 33 of the aftertreatment system 30. The
exhaust may then flow through the SCR catalyst 33 and out of the
aftertreatment system 30 through an exhaust outlet 35 illustrated
in FIG. 2.
[0036] Aspects of the heating fluid circuit 200 will now be
described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, where FIG. 3 illustrates
a schematic top view of a filling system (100, 111, 131), according
to an aspect of the present disclosure.
[0037] FIG. 2 illustrates sections of the heating fluid circuit 200
connecting between the engine 10, the second manifold 131, the tank
51, the pump 55, and the injector 31. Beginning with a heating
fluid supply conduit 201, which is in fluid communication with an
outlet 13a of an internal fluid circuit 13 in the engine 10, a
heating fluid, e.g. engine coolant which may be warmed to
212.degree. F. or greater by heat rejection from the engine 10,
flows within the heating fluid supply conduit 201 from the internal
fluid circuit 13 to the second manifold 131. However, it will be
appreciated the heating fluid supply conduit 201 may be connected
to an additional or alternative source of heating fluid. A tank
heating fluid supply conduit 205 fluidly connects the second
manifold 131 with a section of the heating fluid circuit 200
disposed in the tank 51. The section of the heating fluid circuit
200 disposed in the tank 51 and a pump heating fluid supply conduit
207, fluidly connect the tank heating fluid supply conduit 205 and
a housing of the pump 55. The housing of the pump 55 is fluidly
connected to a housing of the injector 31 by an injector heating
fluid supply conduit 209. As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the
injector 31 may be fluidly connected to the engine 10 by a heating
fluid return conduit 203, which is in fluid communication with an
inlet 13b of the internal fluid circuit 13 in the engine 10. The
heating fluid may flow within the heating fluid return conduit 203
from the injector 31 to the internal fluid circuit 13 in the engine
10.
[0038] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the tank heating fluid supply
conduit 205 is connected to a tank circulating conduit 211, which
provides at least a portion of the section of the heating fluid
circuit 200 disposed in the tank 51. The tank circulating conduit
211 may be looped, or otherwise routed within the tank 51, to
effect a desired heat transfer from the heating fluid flowing
within the tank circulating conduit 211 to the reductant in the
tank 51. Accordingly, the heating fluid flowing in the tank
circulating conduit 211 may heat reductant stored in the tank 51
before flowing out of the tank 51 via the pump heating fluid supply
conduit 207. According to an aspect of the disclosure, the heating
fluid within the tank circulating conduit 211 is in thermal
communication but not in fluid communication with reductant
disposed within the tank 51.
[0039] A pump circulating conduit 213 positioned within the pump 55
is in fluid communication with the pump heating fluid supply
conduit 207. The pump circulating conduit 213 may be looped, or
otherwise routed within the pump 55, to effect a desired heat
transfer from the heating fluid flowing within the pump circulating
conduit 213 to the reductant in the pump 55. As illustrated in FIG.
3, the pump circulating conduit 213 may provide a fluid passage
through the housing of the pump 55 to supply heat to an inside of
the pump 55 and reductant pumped thereby. Alternatively, the pump
circulating conduit 213 may be connected in line with a separate
pumping mechanism (not shown), different from a pumping mechanism
55a used to pump reductant, which pumps the heating fluid to flow
within the heating fluid circuit 200. The heating fluid may be
pumped through the heating fluid circuit 200 exclusively by the
separate pumping mechanism or in combination with other pumps
connected to the heating fluid circuit 200, such as a water pump
(not shown) associated with the engine.
[0040] The pump circulating conduit 213 is fluidly connected to an
injector heating fluid supply conduit 209, which is fluidly
connected to an injector circulating conduit 215 positioned within
the injector 31. The injector circulating conduit 215 may be
looped, or otherwise routed within the injector 31 and around the
injector reductant output conduit 59, to effect a desired heat
transfer from the heating fluid flowing within the injector
circulating conduit 215 to the reductant flowing from the injector
31 through the injector reductant output conduit 59. Heating fluid
flowing through the injector circulating conduit 215 heats the
reductant supplied to and from the injector 31, and flows into to
the heating fluid return conduit 203. It will be appreciated that
other series or parallel arrangements of the first assembly
circulating conduit 105, the second assembly circulating conduit
107, the tank circulating conduit 211, the pump circulating conduit
213, and the injector circulating conduit 215 are contemplated to
be within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0041] FIG. 3 further illustrates the filling assembly 100
according to an aspect of the present disclosure. The filling
assembly 100 includes a reductant supply conduit 103, a first
assembly circulating conduit 105, and a second assembly circulating
conduit 107 that may each extend through an intake end 101a and an
outlet end 101b of the housing 101.
[0042] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, where the
first end 100a of the filling assembly 100 is connected to the
first manifold 111, the reductant supply conduit 103 may be
connected to the first manifold 111 outside of the intake end 101a
of the housing 101 by a reductant supply connection 113. The
reductant supply connection 113 is in fluid communication with the
receiver 121. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the
receiver 121 may be connected or mounted to the arm 9, or other
type of panel or access door, of the machine 1 illustrated in FIG.
1. The arm 9 may be lowered for a filling operation so that from
the ground level G, an operator may fluidly couple the source of
reductant 3 to the filling assembly 100 through the receiver 121
and the reductant supply connection 113, and supply reductant to
the reductant delivery system 50 through the filling assembly
100.
[0043] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, where the
second end 100b is connected to the second manifold 131, the
reductant supply conduit 103 may be connected to the second
manifold 131 outside of the outlet end 101b of the housing 101 by a
reductant outlet connection 133. The reductant outlet connection
133 is in fluid communication with a fill valve 141 that is
positioned within the tank 51. The fill valve 141 controls a flow
of reductant into the tank 51. According to one aspect of the
present disclosure, the fill valve 141 may be mounted on an inner
surface of a side wall of the tank 51. In another aspect of the
present disclosure, the fill valve 141 may perform an automatic
closing operation in response to a level of reductant in the tank
51 rising to a level such that a portion or all of the fill valve
141 is covered by the reductant.
[0044] Next, an integration of the heating fluid circuit 200 and
the filling assembly 100 will be described. The heating fluid
supply conduit 201 is in fluid communication with the first
assembly circulating conduit 105 by a first inlet port 137a and a
first outlet port 137b of the second manifold 131. As illustrated
in FIG. 3, the first assembly circulating conduit 105 extends
through the outlet end 101b, the housing 101, and the intake end
101a, and connects to an inlet port 117a of the first manifold 111.
A manifold circulation channel 119 formed within the first manifold
111 connects the inlet port 117a to an outlet port 117b. The second
assembly circulating conduit 107 is connected to the outlet port
117b of the first manifold 111. The second assembly circulating
conduit 107 extends through the intake end 101a, the housing 101,
and the outlet end 101b, and connects to a second inlet port 139a
of the second manifold 131. The second assembly circulating conduit
107 is in fluid communication with the tank heating fluid supply
conduit 205 through the second inlet port 139a and a second outlet
port 139b of the second manifold 131.
[0045] According to the present disclosure, "thermal communication"
refers to an orientation, position, or configuration of elements or
materials that one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize as
facilitating a degree of heat transfer from one element or material
to another element or material that may not occur with a different
orientation, position, or configuration of the elements or
materials. For example, two elements or materials may be considered
in thermal communication if heat is transferred more efficiently
therebetween than if each element was thermally isolated or
thermally insulated. An orientation, position, or configuration in
which elements are in thermal communication may result in the
elements approaching thermal equilibrium or thermal steady state.
According to the present disclosure, elements in thermal
communication may be separated by a space or gap, or a heat
transfer material, or a component. Further, elements in thermal
communication may also be provided in physical contact according to
the present disclosure. Thermal communication may be limited
according to the present disclosure to thermal communication via
conduction and/or convection.
[0046] At the first end 100a, heating fluid may flow from the first
assembly circulating conduit 105 to the second assembly circulating
conduit 107 via the manifold circulation channel 119. Accordingly,
heat from the heating fluid in the manifold circulation channel 119
is transferred to (1) the reductant supply connection 113, and (2)
an end of the reductant supply conduit 103 that may be connected to
the reductant supply connection 113 outside of the intake end 101a
of the housing 101. At the second end 100b, the heating fluid flows
through the second manifold 131 twice so that heat may be
transferred to (1) an end of the reductant supply conduit 103 that
may be connected to the reductant outlet connection 133 outside of
the outlet end 101b of the housing 101, and (2) the reductant
outlet connection 133. Thus, the first manifold 111 and the second
manifold 131 are in thermal communication with, and function to
heat portions of a combined reductant supply conduit (103, 113,
133) at connection points for the first end 100a and the second end
100b of the filling assembly 100 that may not be covered by the
housing 101, and help prevent freezing of reductant being supplied
to the reductant delivery system 50, or to thaw frozen reductant
contained within the reductant delivery system 50.
[0047] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic side view of a filling system
(100, 111, 131) with a schematic cross sectional view of a filling
assembly 100 without reductant or heating fluid, according to an
aspect of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the
reductant supply conduit 103 of the filling assembly 100 extends
through the intake end 101a and the outlet end 101b of the housing
101. Within the housing 101, the first assembly circulating conduit
105 and the second assembly circulating conduit 107 run parallel to
the reductant supply conduit 103 and are in thermal communication
with the reductant supply conduit 103 as will be described with
reference to FIG. 5.
[0048] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross sectional view of the filling
assembly 100 of FIG. 4 with reductant and heating fluid added,
taken along section line 5-5. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the first
assembly circulating conduit 105 and the second assembly
circulating conduit 107 are positioned adjacent to opposite sides
of the reductant supply conduit 103. A gap may be maintained, or
heat transfer material (not shown), having a relatively high
thermal conductivity, may be provided between the reductant supply
conduit 103 and each of the first assembly circulating conduit 105
and the second assembly circulating conduit 107. The heat transfer
material may be adhered to outer walls of the reductant supply
conduit 103, the first assembly circulating conduit 105, and the
second assembly circulating conduit 107, to form a body (e.g., a
bridge) of material across which heat may be transferred. In an
alternative embodiment not illustrated, portions of the outer walls
of the first assembly circulating conduit 105 and the second
assembly circulating conduit 107 may be in direct contact with the
outer wall of the reductant supply conduit 103.
[0049] According to one aspect of the disclosure, heat is
transferred from both the first and second assembly circulating
conduits (105, 107) along the length of the reductant supply
conduit 103 in the filling assembly 100. The housing 101 is formed
with a layer of insulation 101c that insulates the filling assembly
100, and helps facilitate heat transfer from both the first and
second assembly circulating conduits (105, 107) to the reductant
flowing in the reductant supply conduit 103. According to another
aspect of the present disclosure, a thermal conductivity of the
heat transfer material is greater than a thermal conductivity of
the layer of insulation 101c. For example, the layer of insulation
101c could be formed of rubber, fiberglass, or other insulating
materials known in the art, and the heat transfer material may be
formed of a material having a relatively high thermal conductivity,
such as a metal, including aluminum, steel, and copper alloys that
may be adhered (e.g. via welding or other type of adhesion) to the
outer surfaces of the reductant supply conduit 103 and the
circulating conduits (105, 107).
[0050] The layer of insulation 101c may be wrapped around a
combination of the reductant supply conduit 103, first assembly
circulating conduit 105, and the second assembly circulating
conduit 107. Alternatively, the housing 101 may be formed as a
sleeve including a slit along a longitudinal axis that may be
opened to place the combination of the reductant supply conduit
103, first assembly circulating conduit 105, and the second
assembly circulating conduit 107 within the sleeve.
[0051] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic side view of a filling system
(111, 131, 1100) with a schematic cross sectional view of a filling
assembly 1100 without reductant or heating fluid, according to an
aspect of the present disclosure. The filling assembly 1100
includes a reductant supply conduit 1103, a first assembly
circulating conduit 1105, and a second assembly circulating conduit
1107 positioned inside of a housing 1101. Similar to the filling
assembly 100, the reductant supply conduit 1103, the first assembly
circulating conduit 1105, and the second assembly circulating
conduit 1107 of the filling assembly 1100 connect to the first
manifold 111 and the second manifold 131.
[0052] The first assembly circulating conduit 1105 and the second
assembly circulating conduit 1107 are wrapped around the reductant
supply conduit 1103, and along with the reductant supply conduit
1103, extend through an intake end 1101a and an outlet end 1101b of
the housing 1101. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the first assembly
circulating conduit 1105 and the second assembly circulating
conduit 1107 are wrapped around the reductant supply conduit 1103
in an alternating configuration. An advantage of such a
configuration is that substantially all of a surface area of an
outer wall of the reductant supply conduit 1103 within the housing
1101 is in contact with a portion of an assembly circulating
conduit. Accordingly, an amount of heat transferred to reductant
flowing in the reductant supply conduit 1103 may be increased
relative to other configurations.
[0053] FIG. 7 illustrates a cross sectional view of the filling
assembly 1100 of FIG. 6 with reductant and heating fluid added,
taken along section line 7-7. Similar to the housing 101 of the
filling assembly 100, the housing 1101 of the filling assembly 1100
includes a layer of insulation 1100c that surrounds the reductant
supply conduit 1103, the first assembly circulating conduit 1105,
and the second assembly circulating conduit 1107. The housing 1101
may have a structure similar to the housing 101 of the filling
assembly 100 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0054] FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a first manifold
111, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. A first
coupling 123 attached to the reductant supply conduit (103, 1103)
may be connected to the reductant supply connection 113 of the
first manifold 111. The reductant supply connection 113 includes a
reductant supply connector 113a, through which the reductant supply
conduit 103 is in fluid communication with a reductant supply
channel 113b of the reductant supply connection 113. The reductant
supply connector 113a may be fixed on the reductant supply channel
113b or a component of the first coupling 123 that connects the
reductant supply conduit (103, 1103) to the reductant supply
connection 113. The reductant supply channel 113b extends through
the first manifold 111 to a reductant supply port 113c. The
reductant supply port 113c is fluidly connected to the receiver
121. The reductant supply connection 113 may be located on the
interior side 5 of the machine 1 and surrounded by the manifold
circulation channel 119 to facilitate heat transfer to the
reductant flowing to the reductant supply conduit (103, 1103). In
addition, at least a portion of the first manifold 111 between the
circulation channel 119 and a surface of the first manifold 111
that surrounds the reductant supply port 113c and reductant supply
channel 113b may be formed of a material having a relatively high
thermal conductivity, such as a metal, including aluminum, steel,
and copper alloys, for example.
[0055] Vertical sections (119a, 119c) of the manifold circulation
channel 119 may be connected to the inlet port 117a and the outlet
port 117b of the first manifold 111. In addition, a connecting
section 119b of the manifold circulation channel 119 that fluidly
couples the vertical sections (119a, 119c), may extend to an
additional port 119d formed in the first manifold 111. The
additional port 119d may receive a plug 119e or be connected to a
conduit, such as the assembly circulating conduits (105, 107,
1105,1107). According to one aspect of the disclosure, the plug
119e is placed in the additional port 119d, and can be removed to
drain the manifold circulation channel 119, as well as the first
and second assembly circulating conduits (105, 107, 1105,
1107).
[0056] A second coupling 125 is provided at an end of the first
assembly circulating conduit (105, 1105) and the second assembly
circulating conduit (107, 1107). A reducer 125a of the second
coupling 125 is connected to a respective heating assembly conduit,
and a fitting 125b is attached the inlet port 117a and the outlet
port 117b of the first manifold 111. To avoid heating fluid leaking
from the heating fluid circuit 200, the inlet port 117a, outlet
port 117b, and fitting 125b may include corresponding threaded
sections to provide threaded connections between the first and
second assembly circulating conduits (105, 107, 1105, 1107) and the
first manifold 111.
[0057] FIGS. 9 and 10 respectively illustrate a perspective view
and a partial view of a second manifold 131, according to an aspect
of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the second
manifold 131 includes a second manifold mounting plate 135, as well
as a first sub-manifold 137 and a second sub-manifold 139 removably
attached to the second manifold mounting plate 135. The reductant
supply conduit (103, 1103) is connected by a first coupling 123
attached to a reductant outlet connector 133a of the reductant
outlet connection 133. The reductant outlet connector 133a may be
fixed on the reductant outlet channel 133b or a component of the
first coupling 123 that connects the reductant supply conduit (103,
1103) to the reductant outlet connection 133. A reductant outlet
channel 133b extends from the reductant outlet connector 133a to a
reductant outlet port 133c provided in the second manifold mounting
plate 135. The reductant outlet channel 133b is in fluid
communication with the fill valve 141 that is positioned within the
tank 51.
[0058] The first outlet port 137b and the second inlet port 139a of
the second manifold 131 are respectively attached by second
couplings 125 to ends of the first assembly circulating conduit
(105, 1105) and the second assembly circulating conduit (107, 1107)
that extend through the outlet end (101b, 1101b) of the housing
(101, 1101). The first outlet port 137b is provided at an end of a
first sub-manifold channel 137c. The first sub-manifold channel
137c is in fluid communication with the heating fluid supply
conduit 201 through the first inlet port 137a. The second inlet
port 139a is provided at an end of a second sub-manifold channel
139c. The second sub-manifold channel 139c is in fluid
communication with the tank heating fluid supply conduit 205
through the second outlet port 139b.
[0059] Each of the sub-manifolds (137, 139) may be formed of
material having a relatively high thermal conductivity, such as
metals, including aluminum, steel, and copper alloys, for example.
Thus, heat may be absorbed by portions of a sub-manifold
surrounding a respective channel, and transferred via convection,
conduction, or both, from a respective external wall to an area
around the end of the reductant supply conduit (103, 1103)
connected to the reductant outlet connection 133. In the
non-limiting embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, each
sub-manifold channel (137c, 139c) is formed within a respective
sub-manifold (137, 139) with a 90.degree. turn. It will be
understood that different configurations for a path of a
sub-manifold channel may be provided to promote an amount of heat
absorbed and transferred to an area where portions of the reductant
supply conduit (103, 1103) and reductant outlet connection 133 are
located. Additionally, the second manifold mounting plate 135 may
provide a heat sink that absorbs heat from the sub-manifolds (137,
139) and directs the heat to an area surrounding the reductant
outlet port 133c. The sub-manifolds (137, 139) may be attached to
the second manifold mounting plate 135 by bolts or any other
fastening mechanism or structure known in the art.
[0060] FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic side view of a filling
system (2100, 2111, 2131) with a schematic cross sectional view of
a filling assembly 2100 without reductant or heating fluid,
according to an aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 11
illustrates a first manifold 2111 connected to the filling assembly
2100 that is connected to a second manifold 2131, which is in fluid
communication with the fill valve 141 in the tank 51. A reductant
supply conduit 2103 of the filling assembly 2100 is positioned
within a first assembly circulating conduit 2105. The first
assembly circulating conduit 2105 is formed as a hollow tube in
which the reductant supply conduit 2103 is positioned. The housing
2101 may be provided with a layer 2101c of insulation placed around
the reductant supply conduit 2103, first assembly circulating
conduit 2105, and the second assembly circulating conduit 2107.
[0061] Heating fluid flows within the first assembly heating
conduit 2105 from the second manifold 2131 to a first manifold 2111
in direct contact with an outer wall of the reductant supply
conduit 2103. Alternatively, the first assembly circulating conduit
2105 may include two concentric tubes, a smaller concentric tube
engaging the outer wall of the reductant supply conduit 2103 by an
interference fit, a sliding fit, or a slip fit, for example. In
these configurations, an outer surface of the reductant supply
conduit 2103 is in contact with heating fluid, or a wall in contact
with heating fluid, flowing in the first assembly circulating
conduit 2105 for a substantially entire length of the reductant
supply conduit 2103.
[0062] Heating fluid in the first assembly circulating conduit 2105
flows through a manifold circulation channel 2119 of the second
manifold 2131, and into a second assembly circulating conduit 2107.
As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, where FIG. 12 illustrates a
cross sectional view of the filling assembly 2100 of FIG. 11 with
reductant and heating fluid added, taken along section line 12-12,
the second assembly circulating conduit 2107 runs parallel with,
and is adjacent to the first assembly circulating conduit 2105
within the housing 2101.
[0063] FIGS. 13-15 respectively illustrate schematic front, top,
and side views of a filling system (300, 2100, 2111, 2131),
according to various aspects of the present disclosure. As
illustrated in FIGS. 13-15, a purge system 300 includes a
controller 301 that communicates with a purge control valve 303, a
tank reductant sensor 305, and the receiver 121. The purge control
valve 303 is incorporated in the tank heating fluid supply conduit
205 between the second manifold 2131 and the tank 51. The tank
reductant sensor 305 is positioned within the tank 51 and may
detect a parameter related to an amount of reductant or a level of
reductant in the tank 51.
[0064] The controller 301 operates the purge control valve 303 to
be normally open, i.e., the purge control valve 303 is open in a
default state. During a filling operation in which reductant is
supplied to the reductant delivery system 50 through the receiver
121 and the filling assembly 2100, the controller 301 monitors the
parameter associated with the amount or level of reductant entering
the tank 51 with the tank reductant sensor 305. In response to the
reductant reaching a certain amount or level within the tank 51
(e.g., when the tank 51 is substantially full), the controller 301
may receive a signal from the tank reductant sensor 305, close the
receiver 121, and close the purge control valve 303.
[0065] The reductant supply conduit 2103 of the filling assembly
2100, or any other filling assembly described herein, may be formed
of a flexible material such as rubber, a rubber/nylon composite, or
any other flexible material that is resistant to corrosion.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the reductant
supply conduit 2103 is sufficiently flexible to be compressed and
become substantially flat under pressure applied by the heating
fluid according to an operation of the purge control valve 303.
[0066] In an operational mode in which the purge control valve 303
is closed, the heating fluid will not flow within the heating fluid
circuit 200 past the purge control valve 303. Pressure applied to
the outer wall of the reductant supply conduit 2103 will increase
as the heating fluid continues to flow into the filling assembly
2100 without subsequently passing through the purge control valve
303. Due to the flexibility of the reductant supply conduit 2103,
an outer wall thereof will begin compressing under the increase in
pressure applied by an increasing volume of heating fluid flowing
into the first assembly circulating conduit 2105. During this mode,
it may be preferable that reductant is not supplied to the filling
assembly 2100 through the receiver 121 from an external source.
[0067] FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate cross sectional views of the
filling assembly 2100 of FIG. 15 with reductant and heating fluid
added, taken along section line 16-16, according to aspects of the
present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 16A, when the purge
control valve 303 is open, the reductant supply conduit 2103 is
substantially circular in cross-section and not compressed. As
illustrated in FIG. 16B, when the purge control valve 303 is
closed, the reductant supply conduit 2103 can become substantially
flat under the pressure applied by the heating fluid continuing to
flow in the first assembly circulating conduit 2105. As the
reductant supply conduit 2103 becomes increasingly flat, reductant
therein will be forced out of the reductant supply conduit 2103 and
into the tank 51.
[0068] FIG. 17 illustrates a flowchart of a method 1700 for filling
a tank 51 and purging a reductant supply conduit 2103 of a filling
assembly 2100, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. At
step 1701 the method 1700 begins, at which time the source of
reductant 3 located on the ground level G, or another source of
reductant, may be connected to the receiver 121. During step 1703,
reductant from the source of reductant 3 may be supplied through
the receiver 121 and the filling assembly 2100 into the tank 51.
Next, at step 1705, the controller 301 communicates with the tank
reductant sensor 305 to check a level of reductant in the tank 51.
As the level of reductant in the tank 51 rises, a level sensor 305b
illustrated in FIG. 15, may float on a surface of the reductant and
move along a sensor guide rod 305a until reaching a level sensor
detector 305c of the tank reductant sensor 305 located at a
threshold level. The controller 301 continuously monitors the tank
reductant sensor 305 and repeats step 1705 until a communication
with the level sensor detector 305c indicates a detection of the
level sensor 305b has occurred. The method 1700 moves to step 1707
once the controller 301 determines the level sensor 305b has been
detected.
[0069] As illustrated in FIG. 15, the tank reductant sensor 305
includes a float sensor (305a, 305b, 305c). However, the tank
reductant sensor 305 may be any other type of fluid level sensor
known in the art, such as an optical liquid level sensor, for
example. Alternatively, as noted above, the tank reductant sensor
305 may include any type of sensor that detects a parameter
associated with an amount of reductant in the tank 51. For example,
a sensor that measures a volume of reductant may be connected to
the controller 301 and installed in the tank 51 to communicate a
detected volume of reductant in the tank 51 to the controller 301.
The controller 301 could therefore perform step 1703 and maintain
the purge control valve 303 in an open position until the sensor
communicates to the controller 301 that the volume of the reductant
in tank 51 is equal to a predetermined threshold volume referenced
by the controller 301.
[0070] At step 1707, the controller 301 closes the receiver 121,
and a supply of reductant to reductant supply conduit 2103 is
stopped. Next, at step 1709, the controller 301 closes the purge
control valve 303. At this point in the method 1700, the controller
301 may start to track a time that the purge control valve 303 is
closed or initiate a counter. With respect to step 1711, a
monitored variable t may represent an elapsed time or a current
value of the counter. At step 1711, the controller 301 may check
the time or increment a value of the counter until the monitored
variable t is equal to a reference value s representing a
predetermined threshold for an elapsed time or count value.
[0071] When the monitored variable t is greater than or equal to
the reference value s the method 1700 moves on to step 1713 and the
controller 301 opens the purge control valve 303. Thus, the
reductant supply conduit 2103 will expand and the heating fluid
will again flow through the filling assembly 2100, past the purge
control valve 303, and in to the tank 51 and heat the reductant
fluid stored in the tank 51. If the machine 1 continues to operate,
reductant remaining in the reductant supply conduit 2103 may
receive heat transferred from the heating fluid flowing though the
filling assembly 2100 and past the purge control valve 303.
[0072] At step 1715 the method 1700 ends with the purge control
valve 303 in an open state and the heating fluid flowing in series
from the engine 10, through the filling assembly 2100, past the
purge control valve 303 into the tank heating fluid supply conduit
205, and into the tank circulating conduit 211.
[0073] In addition to the method 1700 of FIG. 17, an operation of
the purge control valve 303 may be responsive to an operation of
the engine 10.
[0074] For example, the purge control valve 303 may be closed
according to a shutdown operation, or other type of operation, of
the engine 10 being requested or initiated. Thus, in response to
the request or the initiation of a particular operation of the
engine, the controller 301 may estimate a first time to complete
the operation, or a portion of a shutdown operation, of the engine
10, and monitor an elapsed time after the first time is estimated.
When the first time is estimated, the controller 301 may also
estimate a second time to complete a purging operation, or a
combination of operations including the purging operation.
[0075] In response to the elapsed time being equal to the first
time, either the controller 301, or a central controller (not
shown) for the machine 1 receiving a signal from the controller
301, may operate the engine 10 in an idle state or a predetermined
operating condition for the second time following a point when the
elapsed time is equal to the first time. In response to a start, or
an elapsing of a predetermined period of time after the start of
the engine 10 operating in the idle state or the predetermined
operating condition, the controller 301 may close the purge control
valve 303. The controller 301 may continue to monitor the elapsed
time. In response to the elapsed time being equal to the first time
plus the second time, the controller 301 can open the purge control
valve 303 and either stop, or send a signal to the central
controller to stop the engine 10 operating in the idle state or the
predetermined operating condition.
[0076] Accordingly, the engine 10 may be operated in the idle state
or the predetermined operating condition so that heating fluid is
circulated in the heating fluid circuit 200 for a period of time
sufficient to close the purge control valve 303 and substantially
compress the reductant supply conduit 2103 and purge reductant in
the reductant supply conduit 2103 into the tank 51. As such, the
reductant supply conduit 2103 may be purged at a time corresponding
to immediately before an end of an operating session of the machine
1, reducing the amount of reductant in the reductant supply conduit
2103 that may be at risk of freezing when the machine 1 is not in
use.
[0077] In another operation responsive to a state of the engine 10,
a filling operation may be delayed based on a temperature of the
engine. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, when the
engine 10 operates during a filling operation, reductant in the
reductant supply conduit 2103 is heated by the heating fluid in the
fluid heating circuit 200 which may be heated by the engine 10
(e.g., when the heating fluid is engine coolant). In a situation
where the engine 10 has just been started or is otherwise in a cold
state, and a filling operation is attempted, signals indicating (1)
a temperature of the engine and/or of the heating fluid in the
heating fluid circuit 200, and (2) an attempt to perform the
filling operation, may be sent to the controller 301. As a result,
the controller 301 may close the shut-off mechanism in the receiver
121 and operate the engine 10 at a higher than normal idle so the
temperature of the heating fluid reaches a predetermined
temperature in a shorter period of time. Subsequently, the
controller 301 may open the receiver 121 and a filling operation
may be performed.
[0078] FIG. 18 illustrates a filling system (300, 2100, 2111, 2131)
including a heating fluid bypass (307, 309), according to an aspect
of the disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 18, the purge system 300
includes a bypass conduit 307 and a bypass control valve 309. The
bypass conduit 307 branches off of the heating fluid supply conduit
201 and reconnects with the heating fluid circuit 200 downstream of
the purge control valve 303. A portion of the bypass conduit 307
that is downstream of the bypass control valve 309 connects with a
portion of the tank heating fluid supply conduit 205 that is
downstream of the purge control valve 303. As a result, the bypass
conduit 307 can permit heating fluid to flow through the tank 51
even when the reductant supply conduit 2103 is purged by a closing
operation of the purge control valve 303.
[0079] FIG. 19 illustrates a flowchart of a method 1900 for filling
a tank 51 and purging a reductant supply conduit 2103 of a filling
assembly 2100, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. At
step 1901 the method 1900 begins, at which time the source of
reductant 3 located on the ground level G, or another source of
reductant, may be connected to the receiver 121. During step 1903,
reductant from the source of reductant 3 may be supplied through
the receiver 121 and the filling assembly 2100 into the tank 51.
Next, at step 1905, the controller 301 communicates with the tank
reductant sensor 305 to check a level of reductant in the tank 51.
The controller 301 continuously monitors the tank reductant sensor
305 and repeats step 1905 until a communication with the level
sensor detector 305c indicates a detection of the level sensor 305b
has occurred, and thus an amount of reductant in the tank 51 is
equal or greater than a predetermined threshold. The method 1900
moves to step 1907 once the controller 301 determines the level
sensor 305b has been detected.
[0080] At step 1907, the controller 301 closes the receiver 121,
and a supply of reductant to reductant supply conduit 2103 is
stopped. Next, at step 1909, the controller 301 opens the bypass
control valve 309 and closes the purge control valve 303. As a
result, heating fluid flows through the bypass conduit 307 to the
tank circulating conduit 211 so reductant in the tank 51 continues
to be heated while the reductant supply conduit 2103 is purged. The
controller 301 may start to track a time that the purge control
valve 303 is closed, or initiate a counter. Similar to method 1700,
at step 1911 of the method 1900, the controller 301 may check the
time or increment a value of a counter until a monitored variable t
is equal to a reference value s. When the monitored variable t is
greater than or equal to the reference value s, the method 1900
moves to step 1913.
[0081] At step 1913, the controller 301 opens the purge control
valve 303 and closes the bypass control valve 309. According to
another aspect of the present disclosure, additional sensors that
detect a presence of reductant in the reductant supply conduit 2103
may communicate with controller 301. In response, the controller
301 may close the purge control valve 303 at other times which do
not correspond to a filling operation. Thus, the controller 301 may
perform a purge operation during different times of operation of
the machine 1 in which the heating fluid flows through the filling
assembly 2100, based on different monitored parameters of operation
and reductant delivery. Alternatively, the purge control valve 303
could remain closed and the bypass control valve 309 could remain
open while the machine 1 is operating. This may avoid reductant
flowing back into the reductant supply conduit 2103 from the tank
51, while continuing to heat the reductant in the tank 51, the pump
55, and the injector 31.
[0082] At step 1915 the method 1900 ends with the purge control
valve 303 in an open state and the heating fluid flowing in series
from the engine 10, through the filling assembly 2100, past the
purge control valve 303 in to the tank heating fluid supply conduit
205, and into the tank circulating conduit 211.
[0083] Any of the methods or functions described herein may be
performed by or controlled by the controller 301. Further, any of
the methods or functions described herein may be embodied in a
computer-readable non-transitory medium for causing the controller
301 to perform the methods or functions described herein. Such
computer-readable non-transitory media may include magnetic disks,
optical discs, solid state disk drives, combinations thereof, or
any other computer-readable non-transitory medium known in the art.
Moreover, it will be appreciated that the methods and functions
described herein may be incorporated into larger control schemes
for an engine, a machine, or combinations thereof, including other
methods and functions not described herein.
[0084] FIG. 20 illustrates a schematic side view of a filling
system (3100, 3111, 3131) with a schematic cross sectional view of
a filling assembly 3100 without reductant or heating fluid,
according to an aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 21
illustrates a cross sectional view of the filling assembly 3100 of
FIG. 20 with reductant and heating fluid added, taken along section
line 21-21 in FIG. 20, according to an aspect of the disclosure.
The filling assembly 3100 includes a reductant supply conduit 3103,
a first assembly circulating conduit 3105, and a second assembly
circulating conduit 3107 in a housing 3101. The filling assembly
3100 is connected to a first manifold 3111 and a second manifold
3131. The first assembly circulating conduit 3105 and the second
assembly circulating conduit 3107 are semi-annular in cross-section
as illustrated in FIG. 21. A partition 3109 extends in a radial
direction from an outer surface of the reductant supply conduit
3103 to an inner surface of the housing 3101. The partition 3109
extends on opposite sides of a circumference of the reductant
supply conduit 3103 between the first assembly circulating conduit
3105 and the second assembly circulating conduit 3107 at least from
an intake end 3101a to an outlet end 3101b of the housing 3101.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, heat is
transferred from heating fluid in the first and second assembly
circulating conduits (3105, 3107) to reductant in the reductant
supply conduit 3103 across substantially an entire surface area of
the reductant supply conduit 3103.
[0085] Heat provided by assembly circulating conduits and first and
second manifolds described herein may be supplemented by heat
generated by other heating devices. According to an aspect of the
present disclosure, an electrically powered heating device may be
incorporated with any filling assembly described herein. For
example, an electrical heating wire or wrap (e.g., heat tape) may
be wrapped around a portion, or substantially all, of a reductant
supply conduit prior to being assembled in a filling assembly. Ends
of the electrical heating wire or wrap (e.g., leads) may extend
through an intake end or an outlet end of a housing so as to be
able to connect, disconnect, or reconnect to a power source that
supplies a current passing through the electrical heating wire or
wrap.
[0086] An amount of current required for the electrical heating
wire or wrap to generate a desired heat output is proportional to a
length of the electrical heating wire or wrap. A current required
for a length for an electrical heating wire or wrap provided along
an entire length of a reductant supply conduit may be large and
could require an additional alternator as a power source.
Accordingly, a system that relies solely on an electrical heating
wire or wrap (i.e., a system without assembly circulating conduits
as described herein) to heat a conduit carrying reductant to a
PETU, for example, may require an alternator not provided for in an
original design of a machine. According to one aspect of the
present disclosure, only a portion of a reductant supply conduit
may be provided with the electrical heating wire or wrap, such that
a length of the portion corresponds to a length of an electrical
heating wire or wrap that requires an amount of current which can
be supplied by an existing power source of a machine. The existing
power source preferably not being generally dedicated to supplying
power to electrical heating wires or wraps in the machine.
[0087] An electrical heating wire or wrap that is incorporated,
preferably without an additional alternator, in a filling assembly
according the present disclosure may be utilized at different times
to heat a reductant supply conduit to a desired extent in
combination with operations utilizing heating fluid flowing in a
filling assembly. For example, the electrical heating wire or wrap
may be used to preheat, but not necessarily completely thaw, a
reductant supply conduit during a cold start of an engine or just
before a filling operation begins. Any method or function employing
an electrical heating device described herein may be performed by
or controlled by the controller 301, and/or incorporated into
larger control schemes for an engine, a machine, or combinations
thereof, including other methods and functions not described
herein.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0088] The present disclosure is applicable to diesel emission
treatment systems that enable engine exhaust systems to meet
international emission standards (e.g., Tier 4 Final/EU Stage IV
emission standards). In particular, the present disclosure is
applicable to diesel emission treatment systems that incorporate
Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), which targets nitrogen oxides
(NO.sub.x) in diesel exhaust for reduction to nitrogen (N.sub.2)
and water vapor (H.sub.2O).
[0089] The present disclosure is particularly applicable to
situations where a reductant delivery system is supplied with
reductant conveyed through a fluid carrying conduit attached to a
receiver positioned on a machine at a significantly lower elevation
than the reductant delivery system. Issues of the reductant
freezing in the conduit may arise for several reasons. First, since
the conduit is long, a surface area exposed to a temperature of an
environment surrounding the conduit is large. Thus, if a path of
the conduit in a particular application exposes the conduit to low
ambient temperatures or other components that may absorb heat, the
reductant in the conduit may also be exposed to these temperature
lowering factors across a large surface area due to a length of the
conduit. Second, when reductant is not being supplied, since an
elevation of the reductant delivery system is higher than a
receiver through which reductant is initially supplied, reductant
in the conduit remains in the conduit; it does not flow to the
reductant delivery system and is not drained to another location.
Thus, reductant in the conduit during these periods remains
stagnate and exposed to the temperature of the environment and heat
absorbing characteristics of the components surrounding the
conduit.
[0090] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an
existing heat source (e.g., engine 10) in the machine 1 may be used
to heat a reductant supply conduit (103, 1103, 2103, 3103). This
provides certain benefits over adding an additional heat source,
such as electrically heating the supply conduit (103, 1103, 2103,
3102); for instance there is no requirement for additional
electrical power generation.
[0091] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 13, 14, 18, reductant is supplied
to the reductant delivery system 50 (i.e., an initial supply of
reductant to the machine 1, in general) through the reductant
supply conduit (103, 1103, 2103, 3103). The heating fluid supply
conduit 201 is in fluid communication with the first assembly
circulating conduit (105, 1105, 2105, 3105) through the second
manifold (131, 2131, 3131). The heating fluid is returned through
the heating fluid return conduit 203 after flowing through the
first manifold (111, 2111, 3111) and the second assembly
circulating conduit (107, 1107, 2107, 3107). The heating fluid may
be coolant circulated through the engine 10 that is at a very high
temperature at the outlet 13a of the internal fluid circuit 13
within the engine 10, or some other heating fluid. By flowing
through the assembly circulating conduits (105, 107, 1105, 1107,
2105, 2107, 3105, 3107), which are positioned adjacently or
coaxially relative to the reductant supply conduit (103, 1103,
2103, 3103) to be in thermal communication with the reductant
supply conduit (103, 1103, 2103, 3103), heat is transferred from
the heating fluid to the walls and reductant within the reductant
supply conduit (103, 1103, 2103, 3103). Thus, according to one
aspect of the disclosure, what may be considered waste heat from a
component required by the machine 1 (e.g., the engine 10), is
utilized to efficiently heat reductant before the reductant is
supplied to the reductant delivery system 50.
[0092] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, heat is
transferred to reductant prior to being received by the tank 51 of
the reductant delivery system 50, over substantially an entire
respective path between the tank 51 and the receiver 121.
[0093] Referring to FIGS. 4, 6, 11, 15, and 20, the reductant
supply conduit (103, 1103, 2103, 3103) extends from the first
manifold (111, 2111, 3111), having a substantial length thereof
inside the housing (101, 1101, 2101, 3101). Within the housing
(101, 1101, 2101, 3101), the reductant supply conduit (103, 1103,
2103, 3103) is positioned to be in thermal communication, either by
contact or through a heat transfer material, with an assembly
circulating conduit (105, 107, 1105, 1107, 2105, 2107, 3105, 3107)
within a space that is insulated by the layer of insulation (101c,
1101c, 2101c, 3101c) of the housing (101, 1101, 2101, 3101). The
assembly circulating conduits (105, 107, 1105, 1107, 2105, 2107,
3105, 3107) are positioned to be in close proximity to the
reductant supply conduit (103, 1103, 2103, 3103) from the intake
end (101a, 1101a, 2101a, 3101a) to the first manifold (111, 2111,
3111), and from the outlet end (101b, 1101b, 2101b, 3101b) to the
second manifold (131, 2131, 3131). As a result, heat may be
transferred from heating fluid flowing in the assembly circulating
conduits (105, 107, 1105, 1107, 2105, 2107, 3105, 3107), to
reductant in the reductant supply conduit (103, 1103, 2103, 3103),
over a substantial length of the reductant supply conduit (103,
1103, 2103, 3103) between the first manifold (111, 2111, 3111) and
the second manifold (131, 2131, 3131).
[0094] Referring to FIG. 8, the heating fluid flows in the first
manifold 111 in the manifold circulation channel 119 which
surrounds the reductant supply connection 113. Referring to FIGS. 9
and 10, the heating fluid flows through the sub-manifolds (137,
139) closely positioned to the reductant outlet connection 133 on
the second manifold mounting plate 135. Accordingly, even at
connection points between the reductant supply conduit 103 and the
first and second manifolds (111, 131), heat from the heating fluid
may be transferred to the reductant being supplied to the tank
51.
[0095] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the method
(1700, 1900) may be performed to reduce a risk of reductant
freezing during periods when reductant is not supplied through a
filling assembly, when a machine is operating, and when a machine
is about to stop operating.
[0096] In the method (1700, 1900), reductant in the reductant
supply conduit 2103 being supplied to the reductant delivery system
50 may be discharged from the reductant supply conduit 2103 at the
end of a filling operation. The controller 301 may monitor the tank
reductant sensor 305 and close the purge control valve 303 at the
end of the filling operation when a monitored parameter related to
an amount of reductant in the tank 51 is equal to or greater than a
predetermined threshold. Heating fluid continues to be supplied to
the first assembly circulating conduit 2105, but does not flow
beyond the purge control valve 303. The flexible material of the
reductant supply conduit 2103 enables the reductant supply conduit
2103 to elastically compress under the increased pressure applied
by the heating fluid still flowing into the first assembly
circulating conduit 2105.
[0097] As portions of a wall of the reductant supply conduit 2103
move together under increasing pressure, the reductant is forced
out of the reductant supply conduit 2103 and into the tank 51. This
may continue for a period of time controlled by the controller 301,
until only a very small amount of reductant remains between small
spaces between the flattened portions of the wall of the reductant
supply conduit 2103, as illustrated in FIG. 16B. Essentially,
reductant in the reductant supply conduit 2103 may be squeezed
similar to a tube of toothpaste by pressure exerted by the first
assembly circulating conduit 2105. Thus, after the purging
operation, a very small amount of reductant that could freeze may
remain in the reductant supply conduit 2103, particularly when the
machine 1 is running after the filling operation. The purging
operation may be performed at the end of a run of the machine 1,
just before an operation of the machine 1 is stopped. Accordingly,
only a small amount of reductant capable of freezing in the
reductant supply conduit 2103 will remain during a period when the
machine 1 is idle or not in use.
[0098] The controller 301 may open the purge control valve 303
after the purge operation, and heating fluid may flow past the
purge control valve 303 into the tank 51 and heat the reductant
stored in the tank 51. Alternatively, reductant in the tank 51 may
be heated while the reductant supply conduit 2103 is purged. The
bypass control valve 309 may be provided in the bypass conduit 307,
and operated by the controller 301 to open when the purge control
valve 303 is closed. The heating fluid may then flow through the
bypass conduit 307 into the tank 51 to heat the reductant therein
while the reductant supply conduit 2103 is purged.
[0099] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the
filling assembly (100, 1100, 2100, 3100) can be easily installed or
removed as a single assembly.
[0100] Referring to FIGS. 8-10, each of the reductant supply
conduit (103, 1103), first assembly circulating conduit (105,
1105), and second assembly circulating conduit (107, 1107), are
detachably coupled to the first and second manifolds (111, 131), by
respective first and second couplings (123, 125). The filling
assembly (100, 1100) can be disconnected and repaired or replaced
as a unit. In addition, existing machines may be modified to
include the first and second manifolds (111, 131), or fittings
corresponding to fittings on existing manifolds may be attached to
reductant and circulating conduits of a filling assembly described
herein, and a conduit that supplies reductant to a reductant
delivery system can be replaced with a filling assembly described
herein.
[0101] It will be appreciated that the foregoing description
provides examples of the disclosed systems and techniques. However,
it is contemplated that other implementations of the disclosure may
differ in detail from the foregoing examples. All references to the
disclosure or examples thereof are intended to reference the
particular example being discussed at that point and are not
intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure
more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with
respect to certain features is intended to indicate a lack of
preference for those features, but not to exclude such from the
scope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise indicated.
[0102] It is noted that as used in the specification and the
appending claims the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" can
include plural references unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise.
[0103] Unless specified otherwise, the terms "substantial" or
"substantially" as used herein mean "considerable in extent," or
"largely but not necessarily wholly that which is specified."
[0104] Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to
serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each
separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated
herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the
specification as if it were individually recited herein. All
methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order
unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted
by context.
* * * * *