Exhaust systems for vehicles

Abstract

An exhaust system for a vehicle having a cab ( 53 ) and an internal combustion engine ( 1 ) located in an engine compartment ( 51 ). The system includes an exhaust gas treatment unit ( 9 ) located outside the engine compartment and having an inlet ( 9 a ) which receives exhaust gases from the engine and an outlet ( 9 e ) which passes treated gases into a final portion (E) of the exhaust system. The treatment unit ( 9 ) is arranged to extend generally vertically with the outlet ( 9 e ) generally vertically above the inlet ( 9 a ) and adjacent a corner post ( 52 ) of the cab of the vehicle to reduce impact on the visibility from the cab. A cage (C) surrounds the exhaust gas treatment unit ( 9 ) and has a support means ( 12 ) for attachment to a chassis of the vehicle and an outlet ( 15 e ) which the outlet ( 9 e ) of the treatment unit is connected. The final portion (E) of the exhaust system is connected with and supported from the cage outlet ( 15 e ) to relieve the treatment unit ( 9 ) from supporting the weight of the final portion of the exhaust system.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . An exhaust for an internal combustion engine for a vehicle, the system including an exhaust gas treatment unit having an inlet and an outlet and a final portion of the exhaust system which receives the exhaust gases from the treatment unit, the system having a cage which surrounds the exhaust gas treatment unit and has a support means for attachment to a chassis of the vehicle and an outlet to which the outlet of the treatment unit is connected, the final portion of the exhaust system being connected with and supported from the cage outlet to relieve the treatment unit from supporting the weight of the final portion of the exhaust system. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 13  in which the cage has an upper portion with the cage outlet and a lower portion with the support means, the upper and lower portion being detachably interconnected to give access to the treatment unit for servicing/replacement. 
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 14  in which the upper and lower portions of the cage are provided with generally vertically extending fingers which extend towards each other and whose adjacent ends are interconnected to support the upper portion of the cage from the lower portion. 
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 14  in which the upper and lower cage portions are of a cast metal construction. 
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 15  in which the gaps between the fingers of the upper and lower portions of the cage are covered by heat shields to prevent accidental contact with the exhaust gas treatment unit. 
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 13  in which he exhaust gas treatment unit includes one or more of the following components namely an oxidation catalyser, a NOx catalyser and/or NOx, HC, NH 3  absorber arranged in series. 
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 18  in which the exhaust gas treatment unit includes a NOx sensor. 
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 19  in which the upper portion of the cage includes an access cover for the NOx sensor on the treatment unit. 
     
     
         21 . A system according to  claim 13  in which the gas treatment unit is secured to the cage via a vibration mount. 
     
     
         22 . An exhaust system according to  claim 13  in which the top of the cage for the treatment unit is located below the top of a cover over the associated engine to reduce impact on visibility from the cab. 
     
     
         23 . An exhaust system for a vehicle having a cab and an internal combustion engine located in an engine compartment, the system including an exhaust gas treatment unit located outside the engine compartment and having an inlet which receives exhaust gases from the engine and an outlet which passes treated gases into a final portion of the exhaust system, the treatment unit extending generally vertically with the outlet generally vertically above the inlet and adjacent a corner post of the cab of the vehicle to reduce impact on the visibility from the cab.