Automotive diesel exhaust HC dosing valve

Abstract

A dosing valve assembly is disclosed for administering a reducing agent into an exhaust stream within an exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine. The dosing valve assembly comprises a control valve coupled to a source of the reducing agent, a reducing agent delivery valve constructed and arranged for coupling to the exhaust manifold to enable a specified quantity of reducing agent to be administered into the exhaust stream, and an elongated conduit disposed between the control valve and reducing agent delivery valve for fluidly communicating reducing agent from the control valve to the reducing agent delivery valve. The disclosed arrangement enables the reducing agent delivery valve to be coupled to the exhaust manifold and the control valve to be displaced from the reducing agent delivery valve and away from the high temperature environment associated with the exhaust manifold.

1 . A dosing valve assembly for administering a reducing agent into an exhaust stream within an exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine, comprising: 
 a control valve coupled to a source of the reducing agent;    a reducing agent delivery valve constructed and arranged for coupling to the exhaust manifold to enable a specified quantity of reducing agent to be administered into the exhaust stream, the reducing agent delivery valve including an inlet communicating with an elongated conduit disposed between the control valve and reducing agent delivery valve for fluidly communicating reducing agent from the control valve to the reducing agent delivery valve,    whereby, the reducing agent delivery valve may coupled to the exhaust manifold and the control valve displaced from the reducing agent delivery valve.    
     
     
         2 . The dosing valve assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein the reducing agent delivery valve is a poppet valve.  
     
     
         3 . The dosing valve assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein the control valve is an electronic fuel injector.  
     
     
         4 . The dosing valve assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein the control valve is coupled to an electronic control unit that signals the control valve to move between an open and closed fluid flow condition in response to feedback of NO x  emissions in the exhaust stream.  
     
     
         5 . The dosing valve assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein the elongated conduit is a connecting tube of a length sufficient to mount the control valve away from a high-temperature environment associated with the exhaust manifold.  
     
     
         6 . The dosing valve assembly recited in  claim 2 , wherein the poppet valve comprises a housing, a valve plate, an axially extending valve stem comprising a flared portion that mates with a valve seat in the housing, and a spring for normally biasing the valve plate such that the flared portion resides in the valve seat to prevent fluid flow from an outlet of the poppet valve.  
     
     
         7 . The dosing valve assembly recited in  claim 3 , wherein the fuel injector comprises an inlet for coupling to the source of the reducing agent, electronic means for opening and closing a fluid flow path through the fuel injector, and an outlet for coupling the fuel injector to the elongated conduit.  
     
     
         9 . A dosing valve assembly for administering a reducing agent into an exhaust stream within an exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine, comprising: 
 an electronic fuel injector coupled to a source of the reducing agent;    a poppet valve constructed and arranged for coupling to the exhaust manifold to enable a specified quantity of reducing agent to be administered into the exhaust stream, the poppet valve including an inlet communicating with an elongated conduit disposed between the electronic fuel injector and poppet valve for fluidly communicating reducing agent from the electronic fuel injector to the poppet valve,    whereby, the poppet valve may coupled to the exhaust manifold and the electronic fuel injector displaced from the poppet valve.    
     
     
         10 . The dosing valve assembly recited in  claim 9 , wherein the electronic fuel injector is coupled to an electronic control unit that signals the electronic fuel injector to move between an open and closed fluid flow condition in response to feedback of NO x  emissions in the exhaust stream.  
     
     
         11 . The dosing valve assembly recited in  claim 9 , wherein the elongated conduit is a connecting tube of a length sufficient to mount the control valve away from a high-temperature environment associated with the exhaust manifold.  
     
     
         12 . The dosing valve assembly recited in  claim 9 , wherein the poppet valve comprises a housing, a valve plate, an axially extending valve stem comprising a flared portion that mates with a valve seat in the housing, and a spring for normally biasing the valve plate such that the flared portion resides in the valve seat to prevent fluid flow from an outlet of the poppet valve.  
     
     
         13 . The dosing valve assembly recited in  claim 9 , wherein the fuel injector comprises an inlet for coupling to the source of the reducing agent, electronic means for opening and closing a fluid flow path through the fuel injector, and an outlet for coupling the fuel injector to the elongated conduit.  
     
     
         14 . A dosing valve assembly for administering a dose of diesel fuel as a reducing agent into an exhaust stream within an exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine, comprising: 
 a control valve coupled to a source of diesel fuel;    a reducing agent delivery valve constructed and arranged for coupling to the exhaust manifold to enable a specified quantity of diesel fuel to be administered into the exhaust stream, the delivery valve including an inlet communicating with an elongated conduit disposed between the control valve and delivery valve for fluidly communicating diesel fuel from the control valve to the delivery valve,    whereby, the delivery valve may coupled to the exhaust manifold and the control valve displaced from the delivery valve.    
     
     
         15 . The dosing valve assembly recited in  claim 14 , wherein the delivery valve is a poppet valve.  
     
     
         16 . The dosing valve assembly recited in  claim 14 , wherein the control valve is an electronic fuel injector.  
     
     
         17 . The dosing valve assembly recited in  claim 14 , wherein the control valve is coupled to an electronic control unit that signals the control valve to move between an open and closed fluid flow condition in response to feedback of NO x  emissions in the exhaust stream.  
     
     
         18 . The dosing valve assembly recited in  claim 14 , wherein the elongated conduit is a connecting tube of a length sufficient to mount the control valve away from a high-temperature environment associated with the exhaust manifold.  
     
     
         19 . The dosing valve assembly recited in  claim 14 , wherein the poppet valve comprises a housing, a valve plate, an axially extending valve stem comprising a flared portion that mates with a valve seat in the housing, and a spring for normally biasing the valve plate such that the flared portion resides in the valve seat to prevent fluid flow from an outlet of the poppet valve.  
     
     
         20 . The dosing valve assembly recited in  claim 16 , wherein the fuel injector comprises an inlet for coupling to the source of diesel fuel, electronic means for opening and closing a fluid flow path through the fuel injector, and an outlet for coupling the fuel injector to the elongated conduit.