Aftertreatment mounting system

Abstract

An exhaust aftertreatment module comprising a plurality of mounts for connecting the module to a surface. The mounts are arranged in a radial pattern around a central location of the module. The mounts also have a direction of travel aligned with a radial direction of expansion that passes through the central location.

1 . An exhaust aftertreatment module comprising a plurality of mounts for connecting the module to a surface,
 wherein the mounts are arranged around a central location of the module and the mounts have a direction of travel aligned with a radial direction of expansion that passes through the central location.   
     
     
         2 . The exhaust aftertreatment module of  claim 1 , wherein the mounts are located in a radial pattern about the central location. 
     
     
         3 . The exhaust aftertreatment module of  claim 2 , wherein the mounts are located in a symmetric pattern about the central location. 
     
     
         4 . The exhaust aftertreatment module of  claim 1 , wherein the mounts have only a single direction of travel. 
     
     
         5 . The exhaust aftertreatment module of  claim 1 , wherein components of the mount slide relative to each other to achieve a distance of travel along the direction of travel. 
     
     
         6 . The exhaust aftertreatment module of  claim 5 , wherein the mounts include:
 a module mount fixed to the module;   a machine mount fixed to the surface, wherein a gap is defined between the module mount and machine mount; and   a slide bar fixed to one of the module mount and machine mount and in sliding engagement with the other of the module mount and machine mount, wherein the slide bar is disposed in the direction of travel and the gap defines the distance of travel.   
     
     
         7 . The exhaust aftertreatment module of  claim 1 , wherein an insulating plate is disposed between at least one of the surface and the mount and the module and the mount. 
     
     
         8 . The exhaust aftertreatment module of  claim 1 , wherein the surface is a roof of a machine. 
     
     
         9 . The exhaust aftertreatment module of  claim 8 , wherein the machine is mobile. 
     
     
         10 . The exhaust aftertreatment module of  claim 1 , wherein the mounts are between a roof of a machine and a bottom of the module. 
     
     
         11 . The exhaust aftertreatment module of  claim 1 , wherein the arrangement of mounts prevent the module from dynamic movement. 
     
     
         12 . An exhaust aftertreatment module comprising a plurality of mounts for connecting the module to a surface,
 wherein the mounts are arranged in a radial pattern around a central location of the module.   
     
     
         13 . The exhaust aftertreatment module of  claim 12 , wherein the mounts are located in a symmetric pattern about the central location. 
     
     
         14 . The exhaust aftertreatment module of  claim 12 , wherein the mounts have only a single direction of travel. 
     
     
         15 . The exhaust aftertreatment module of  claim 12 , wherein components of the mounts slide relative to each other to achieve a distance of travel along a direction of travel. 
     
     
         16 . The exhaust aftertreatment module of  claim 15 , wherein the mounts include:
 a module mount fixed to the module;   a machine mount fixed to the surface, wherein a gap is defined between the module mount and machine mount; and   a slide bar fixed to one of the module mount and machine mount and in sliding engagement with the other of the module mount and machine mount, wherein the slide bar is disposed in the direction of travel and the gap defines the distance of travel.   
     
     
         17 . A method of mounting an exhaust aftertreatment module to a surface comprising:
 selecting a central location on the module; and   locating mounts in a radial pattern about the central location.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the mounts are located symmetrically about the central location. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further including:
 aligning a direction of travel of the mounts with a radial direction of expansion that passes through the central location.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further including:
 configuring the mounts to have a distance of travel of at least an expected amount of thermal expansion from the central location.