Urea Delivery Tank Module

Abstract

A liquid reductant dosing module for a combustion exhaust treatment system is disclosed comprising: (a) an enclosed reservoir comprising a top, a bottom, one or more sides, an inlet, and an outlet; (b) a heater disposed in the reservoir; (c) a filter element disposed between the outlet and the liquid reductant in the reservoir; and (d) a heat sink member in thermal contact with the heater, disposed between the filter element and the outlet.

1 . A liquid reductant dosing module for a combustion exhaust treatment system comprising:
 (a) an enclosed reservoir comprising a top, a bottom, one or more sides, an inlet, and an outlet;   (b) a heater disposed in said reservoir;   (c) a filter element disposed between said outlet and the liquid reductant in said reservoir; and   (d) a heat sink member in thermal contact with said heater, disposed between said filter element and said outlet.   
     
     
         2 . A liquid reductant dosing module according to  claim 1  wherein said outlet is located proximate to the bottom of said reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . A liquid reductant dosing module according to  claim 1  wherein said outlet comprises a pickup tube extending along a first axis extending between the bottom of said reservoir and the top of said reservoir, said pickup tube having an open end proximate to the bottom of said reservoir. 
     
     
         4 . A liquid reductant dosing module according to  3  wherein said heater is a rod-shaped heater extending along a second axis, which may be the same as or different than said first axis, extending between the bottom of said reservoir and the top of said reservoir. 
     
     
         5 . A liquid reductant dosing module according to  claim 4  wherein said rod-shaped heater is hollow and wherein said pickup tube is disposed inside said rod-shaped heater. 
     
     
         6 . A liquid reductant dosing module according to  claim 5  wherein said pickup tube is disposed adjacent to said rod-shaped heater. 
     
     
         7 . A liquid reductant dosing module according to  claim 6  wherein said heat sink member is in thermal contact with said pickup tube. 
     
     
         8 . A liquid reductant dosing module according to  claim 1  wherein said heater is a rod-shaped heater extending along a second axis extending between the bottom of said reservoir and the top of said reservoir. 
     
     
         9 . A liquid reductant dosing module according to  claim 1  wherein said heat sink element comprises aluminum having an anodized aluminum layer or a polytetrafluoroethylene coating thereon or stainless steel. 
     
     
         10 . A liquid reductant dosing module according to  claim 1  wherein said filter element comprises a stainless steel mesh, acetal, or polyoxymethylene filter media. 
     
     
         11 . A liquid reductant dosing module according to  claim 1  wherein said outlet, heater, filter element, and heat sink member are integrated together in a module that is mounted to the bottom of said reservoir. 
     
     
         12 . A liquid reductant dosing module according to  claim 11  wherein said bottom-mounted module comprises:
 (a) a holder element having a circumferentially-disposed mounting flange for mounting to the bottom of said reservoir, at least one vertical sidewall connected to said mounting flange, and a recessed bottom connected to said at least one vertical sidewall, said recessed bottom having an opening for said outlet opening therein; 
 (b) a screen member disposed above and substantially parallel to said recessed bottom; and 
 (c) a filter medium disposed below said screen member, thereby forming an interstice between said filter medium and the outlet opening in said recessed bottom; 
 
       wherein said heater extends through an opening in said screen and said heat sink member is thermally connected to said heater and extends into said interstice.