Exhaust gas flow device

Abstract

A flow device for an exhaust treatment system includes a base and at least one flow deflector tube secured to the base. The flow deflector tube includes a flow inlet, a flow outlet, and a passage that extends through the flow deflector tube from the flow inlet to the flow outlet. The flow outlet is at an angled orientation to the flow inlet. A method of mixing reactants and exhaust in an exhaust treatment system includes the steps of injecting reactants into exhaust gases flowing through an exhaust conduit used to convey the exhaust gases from an engine. Bent tubes are disposed in the exhaust conduit and used to mix the exhaust gases and the reactants.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An exhaust treatment system comprising:
 an exhaust conduit for conveying exhaust gases from an engine of a vehicle;   a NOx reduction aftertreatment device disposed in the exhaust conduit; and   a flow device disposed upstream of the NOx reduction aftertreatment device, the flow device including:
 a base defining an aperture; and 
 a plurality of flow deflectors disposed at the base, circumferentially spaced apart, and facing in a common circumferential direction, each flow deflector extending over a portion of a respective aperture defined through the base, each flow deflector having a concave inner surface facing a portion of the aperture, each flow deflector having connecting sections connected to the base at opposite sides of the respective aperture, the respective aperture extending along the base beyond the connecting sections of each flow deflector. 
   
     
     
         3 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 2 , wherein the flow deflectors are circumferentially spaced in a ring. 
     
     
         4 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of flow deflectors includes five flow deflectors. 
     
     
         5 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 2 , wherein the flow deflectors are spaced less than 180° apart. 
     
     
         6 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the flow deflectors of the plurality is identical. 
     
     
         7 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 2 , wherein each flow deflector is elongated between first and second ends, and wherein each flow deflector is arcuate between the first and second ends. 
     
     
         8 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 2 , wherein the second end of each flow deflector is oriented at an angle relative to the first end, the angle being in a range of about 45 degrees to about 135 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 2 , wherein the base includes an outer ring and a center section; and wherein the aperture defined by the base is disposed between the outer ring and the center section. 
     
     
         10 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 9 , wherein the first flow deflector connects the outer ring and the center section. 
     
     
         11 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 2 , further comprising a doser that injects reactants into the exhaust gases upstream of the NOx reduction aftertreatment device, the reactants being urea or ammonia. 
     
     
         12 . A flow device for use with a NOx reduction aftertreatment device, the flow device comprising:
 a base defining an aperture; and   a plurality of flow deflectors disposed at the base, circumferentially spaced apart, and facing in a common circumferential direction, each flow deflector extending over a portion of a respective aperture defined through the base, each flow deflector having a concave inner surface facing a portion of the aperture, each flow deflector having connecting sections connected to the base at opposite sides of the respective aperture, the respective aperture extending along the base beyond the connecting sections of each flow deflector.   
     
     
         13 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 12 , wherein the flow deflectors are circumferentially spaced in a ring. 
     
     
         14 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of flow deflectors includes five flow deflectors. 
     
     
         15 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 12 , wherein the flow deflectors are spaced less than 180° apart. 
     
     
         16 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the flow deflectors of the plurality is identical. 
     
     
         17 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 12 , wherein each flow deflector is elongated between first and second ends, and wherein each flow deflector is arcuate between the first and second ends. 
     
     
         18 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 12 , wherein the second end of each flow deflector is oriented at an angle relative to the first end, the angle being in a range of about 45 degrees to about 135 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 12 , wherein the base includes an outer ring and a center section; and wherein the aperture defined by the base is disposed between the outer ring and the center section. 
     
     
         20 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 19 , wherein the first flow deflector connects the outer ring and the center section.