Baffle for Distribution of Exhaust Flow

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an diesel exhaust treatment device including a main body having a central longitudinal axis that extends between first and second ends of the main body. A catalyzed substrate is positioned within an interior of the main body. A side inlet is positioned at a side of the main body for directing exhaust gas into the interior of the main body. A flow distribution element is positioned within the interior of the main body at a location between the side inlet and an upstream face of the substrate. The flow distribution element extends across a direction of exhaust flow through the main body and is mounted at a side of the main body that is opposite the side inlet.

1 . A diesel exhaust treatment device comprising:
 a main body having a central longitudinal axis that extends between first and second ends of the main body;   a catalyzed substrate positioned within an interior of the main body, the substrate having an upstream face;   a side inlet positioned at a side of the main body for directing exhaust gas into the interior of the main body; and   a flow distribution element positioned within the interior of the main body at a location between the inlet and the upstream face of the substrate, the flow distribution element extending across a direction of exhaust flow through the main body, the flow distribution element being positioned at a portion of the main body that is opposite the side inlet, the flow distribution element including a first edge that contacts the main body and a second edge that traverses an interior region of the main body, the flow distribution element having a central portion defining a first dimension measured along a reference plane that bisects the main body and the side inlet, the first dimension being less than 50 percent of a cross-dimension of the main body measured along the reference plane, the flow distribution element also including side portions that define second dimensions that are larger than the first dimension, the second dimensions being measured in an orientation parallel to the reference plane, the second dimensions being measured from a reference line tangent to a location wherein the first edge intersects the reference plane to the second edge.   
   
   
       2 . The diesel exhaust treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the flow distribution element is crescent-shaped. 
   
   
       3 . The diesel exhaust treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the flow distribution element is perforated. 
   
   
       4 . The diesel exhaust treatment deice of  claim 1 , wherein the first edge has a convex curvature that matches a curvature of the side of the main body, and the second edge has a concave curvature. 
   
   
       5 . The diesel exhaust treatment device of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second edges intersect at opposite sides of the reference plane. 
   
   
       6 . The exhaust treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein first dimension is less than 40 percent of the cross-dimension the main body. 
   
   
       7 . The exhaust treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein first dimension is less than 30 percent of the cross-dimension the main body. 
   
   
       8 . The exhaust treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the first dimension is in the range of 10-40 percent of the cross-dimension of the main body. 
   
   
       9 . The exhaust treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the first dimension is in the range of 10-30 percent of the cross-dimension of the main body. 
   
   
       10 . The exhaust treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein a spacing between the flow distribution element and the upstream face of the substrate is less than 1 inch. 
   
   
       11 . The exhaust treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the second dimensions are measured at lateral-most locations of the second edge where the second edge intersects with the first edge. 
   
   
       12 . The exhaust treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the second dimensions are at least 1.25 times as large as the first dimension. 
   
   
       13 . The exhaust treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the second dimensions are at least 1.5 times as large as the first dimension. 
   
   
       14 . The exhaust treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the second dimensions are at least 2 times as large as the first dimension. 
   
   
       15 . A diesel exhaust treatment device comprising:
 a main body having a central longitudinal axis that extends between first and second ends of the main body;   a catalyzed substrate positioned within an interior of the main body, the substrate having an upstream face;   a side inlet positioned at a side of the main body for directing exhaust gas into the interior of the main body; and   a flow distribution element positioned within the interior of the main body at a location between the inlet and the upstream face of the substrate, the flow distribution element extending across a direction of exhaust flow through the main body, the flow distribution element being positioned at a portion of the main body that is opposite the side inlet, wherein no portion of the flow distribution element extends past a mid-line of the main body, and wherein the flow distribution element is shaped such that a central portion of the flow distribution element is spaced farther from the mid-line than side portions of the flow distribution element.