Abstract:
A mounting arrangement for a vertically oriented exhaust system component includes a base member mountable to a vehicle frame with a plurality of upstanding rods fixed to the bas member. At least one clamping band is interconnected with the plurality of rods and can be clamped onto an exhaust component. The arrangement is advantageous for heavy components such as SCR catalyst bodies and diesel particulate filters.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to mounting structures for exhaust components on vehicles, such as heavy trucks, that are mounted in a vertical orientation. More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus for mounting and supporting vertical exhaust components, such as SCR catalyst bodies and diesel particulate filters, in a free-standing manner, that is, without a connection to the vehicle cab. 
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    To conserve space on the frame of a heavy truck, it is desirable to mount some vehicle components vertically, that is, rising from the frame, rather than hanging horizontally along the frame. Of interest are exhaust components, such as diesel particulate filters and selective catalytic reduction catalyst bodies, which can be integrated with the commonly used vertical exhaust stack. A number of conventional arrangements for mounting vertical exhaust components, such as stacks and mufflers, rely on a bracket connecting to the vehicle cab for horizontal support. This connection can transmit vibration from the exhaust component to the cab, becoming a source of noise and vibration to the driver. 
         [0003]    The instant invention provides a mounting support for an exhaust component that eliminates the need for a brace or bracket attaching to the cab. 
         [0004]    The mounting support of the invention provides a framework that integrates with the exhaust component to support it in a vertical orientation. The framework surrounds the exhaust component, and advantageously can react to and accommodate various forces imposed on the exhaust component by movement of the vehicle. In particular, the framework of the invention provides a support that can resist torsional loading on the exhaust component. By comparison, in a support relying on a single vertical support, such as a stanchion, the exhaust component has the tendency to rotate about the stanchion under lateral force loads. 
         [0005]    According to an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for supporting vertically-oriented exhaust components on a vehicle includes a base mountable on a vehicle frame, a plurality of rods fixed to the base and extending upward therefrom, the rods arranged to define an exhaust component mounting position perimeter, and, means for interconnecting the rods to an exhaust component. 
         [0006]    According to one embodiment, means for interconnecting the rods to an exhaust component includes at least one ring interconnected to the plurality of rods and configured for securing an exhaust component. The at least one ring preferably includes means, such as a T-nut, turnbuckle or similar tensioning device, for tensioning the ring to apply a clamping force on an exhaust component. 
         [0007]    According to an alternative embodiment, means for interconnecting the plurality of rods to an exhaust component include an equal plurality of bosses, each having an eye or a sleeve to receive a rod and each being mountable on an exhaust component, by welding or other method. 
         [0008]    According to yet another alternative, the plurality of bosses are mountable on the interior of the exhaust component outer wall and integrated with bulkheads or compartment dividing structures. 
         [0009]    According to another aspect of the invention, the base includes a horizontal support having a central aperture, the plurality of rods being fixed to the horizontal support about the aperture. The central aperture is sufficiently large to allow an exhaust pipe to pass through the base and connect to the exhaust component. 
         [0010]    According to the invention, the base is supported on the vehicle frame, and includes at least one bracket for attachment to the vehicle frame. 
         [0011]    The apparatus of the invention may preferably include two or three rings. The rings each include a band having sleeves to accept the rods. Lugs are fixed, by welding or another suitable method, to each of the rods, the sleeves engaging the lugs so that the at least one ring is vertically supported on the lugs. According to the invention, the sleeves are sized to allow rotation on the rods to accommodate small movements and vibration of the exhaust component. 
         [0012]    To allow for thermal expansion of the exhaust component, an upper ring is interconnected to the plurality of rods by sleeves slidably engaging the rods. The upper ring, supported from beneath by the lugs, may slide upwardly on the rods as the exhaust component expands under heating. 
         [0013]    According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plurality of rods comprises at least two rods, and preferably, four rods, although a greater number may be used. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the at least one ring supports an exhaust component on the rods and above the base. 
         [0015]    According to another embodiment, one or more ribs are fixed to the plurality of rods, the ribs providing supports to which a heat shield may be mounted. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The invention will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a mounting arrangement in accordance with the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the arrangement shown in  FIG. 1  with a heat shield removed; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a portion of the support apparatus shown removed from the supported exhaust component; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a view of a part of a ring device for securing an exhaust component; and, 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a base portion of the mounting arrangement. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a mounting arrangement of the invention. An SCR unit  10  has an exhaust conduit  12  connected at a bottom end to deliver exhaust gas from the engine to the SCR unit for treatment, and has an outlet  14  to direct treated exhaust gas to the atmosphere. Typically, a stack tube is placed on the outlet  14  to carry the exhaust to an acceptable location for dispersion of the exhaust gas to the atmosphere. 
         [0023]    The supporting and mounting structure of the invention includes a base  20  that is mountable on a vehicle frame (not illustrated) and a framework  30  that supports the exhaust component or components. In the illustrated embodiment, by way of example, an SCR unit  10  is shown as the exhaust component. A heat shield  16  is mounted on and surrounds the framework  30 . The base  20  includes two brackets  22  that are mountable on a vehicle frame rail (not shown) and a platform  26  fixed to the brackets that provides a horizontal supporting surface. The base  20  is described in greater detail in connection with  FIG. 5 . 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the framework  30  includes a plurality of rods  32  fixed to the platform  26  and standing vertically upward from the platform. The rods  32  are mutually spaced to define the perimeter of a mounting space for the exhaust component  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, four rods  32  are shown. For exhaust components of lower weight and/or smaller outer diameter, three or two rods may be sufficient if the load forces are properly balanced. Conversely, for large units, five or more rods may be used. 
         [0025]    The rods  32  are interconnected by the rings  50 ,  52 , and  54 , which may be best seen in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . The embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  includes an upper ring  50  and two rings  52  and  54  forming a lower ring assembly. 
         [0026]    The rods  32  each include an upper lug  34  located near a top end of the rod for locating and supporting an upper ring  50 . Each rod  32  also includes a lower lug  36  located a distance above the lower end of the rod for locating the lower ring assembly, shown in the illustrated embodiment as rings  52  and  54 . The rods  32  extend through the base  26  and are fixed to the base  26  by fasteners (not shown). For convenience, the ends of the rods  32  extending through the base  26  are threaded to engage internally threaded fasteners such as nuts. Each rod  32  has a standoff  38  and a foot  40 . The standoff  38  spaces the middle ring  52  from lower ring  54 , and the foot  40  supports lower ring  54  above the platform  26 . When the fastener on the rod  32  is tightened, tension is applied to the foot  40 , standoff  38  and rings  52  and  54  against the lower lug  36  to secure the assembly on the rod. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the rings  50 ,  52 , and  54  may conveniently be formed as bands or straps, which can be positioned in contact with the exhaust component  10  and tightened against it to secure the exhaust component to the framework  30 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , each band is formed in two parts, which can be conveniently placed on the exhaust component  10  and tightened on the component. Alternatively, the band may be formed in a single piece and have loops at the free ends. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  shows a band part  56 , which is exemplary of the bands. The band part  56  terminates in loops  58  which accept the tensioning device  60  (seen in  FIG. 2 ) that connects the band parts and provides tension to the band. Each band part  56  also includes a sleeve  62 , a tubular member fixed to the band in a suitable manner by welding, for example, that receives the rod for positioning the band on the rod. The sleeves  62  have an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the rods  32  so that relative rotation and sliding movement is allowed. 
         [0029]    The tensioning device  60  may be a T-bolt device, a turnbuckle device or other suitable device, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Devices other than bands may be used for the rings, for example, curved rods or other elements capable of applying a clamping tension to the exhaust component. 
         [0030]    Referring again to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , as mentioned, lugs  34 ,  36  are formed or fixed to the rods to locate and support the sleeves  62  and, accordingly, the rings  32  on the rods. The lugs  34 ,  36  are tubular members that are fixed on the rods  32 , by welding or other suitable method, at the desired height position. The lugs  34 ,  36  have an outer diameter equal to or greater than the outer diameter of the sleeves  62  to provide a supporting surface on which the sleeves  62  of the upper ring  50  rest and against which the sleeves  62  of the ring  52  (which is the upper of the lower ring assembly) is compressed. The upper ring  50  may be unconstrained vertically upward and allowed to move upward on the rods  32  to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of the exhaust component  10 . To prevent vertical movement of the exhaust component from vehicle movement induced forces, at least the lower ring assembly is constrained from vertical movement by the assembly of the lower lug  36 , standoff  38  and foot  40 , with the tension provided by the rod fastener. 
         [0031]    The framework  30  may include one or more ribs  70 . The ribs  70  are formed from angled metal sheet curved to follow the outer contour of the exhaust component  10 . Each rib  70  in the embodiment of  FIGS. 2 and 3  extends for about half the circumference of the exhaust component  10  and is connected to two rods. The ribs  70  receive the rods through holes provided in the ribs. The ribs  70  are arranged in pairs, each pair corresponding to a ring band  50 ,  52 , and  54 . In  FIG. 2 , three sets of ribs  70  are illustrated. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the ribs  70  support the heat shield  16 , which may be secured to the ribs by threaded fasteners secured to threaded holes formed in the ribs. 
         [0032]    Turning now to  FIG. 5 , the base  20  includes, as mentioned above, brackets  22  for mounting the base on a vehicle frame rail (not illustrated). The brackets  22  support a platform  26  that provides a horizontal supporting surface. The platform  26  includes a centrally located aperture or hole  24 , that allows passage through the platform  26  of an exhaust pipe  12  (seen in  FIG. 1 ) to connect to the exhaust component  10 . 
         [0033]    If needed to stabilize the base  20 , a stay  28  may be connected between the platform  26  and an opposite frame rail of the vehicle frame (not illustrated). 
         [0034]    In the present application, the use of terms such as “including” is open-ended and is intended to have the same meaning as terms such as “comprising” and not preclude the presence of other structure, material, or acts. Similarly, though the use of terms such as “can” or “may” is intended to be open-ended and to reflect that structure, material, or acts are not necessary, the failure to use such terms is not intended to reflect that structure, material, or acts are essential. To the extent that structure, material, or acts are presently considered to be essential, they are identified as such. 
         [0035]    While this invention has been illustrated and described in accordance with a preferred embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.