Patent ID: 8091344

Claim:
An exhaust gas aftertreatment device for an internal combustion engine producing the exhaust gas, the aftertreatment device comprising: a housing defining an inlet configured to receive the exhaust gas and an outlet from which the exhaust gas exits the aftertreatment device, an aftertreatment element positioned within the housing, the aftertreatment element having one end defining a front face that is configured to receive the exhaust gas from the inlet of the housing and an opposite end defining a rear face through which the exhaust gas exits the aftertreatment element, an exhaust gas flow modification device separate from the housing and the aftertreatment element and positioned within the housing adjacent to the rear face of the aftertreatment element, the exhaust gas flow modification device configured to modify exhaust gas flow through the aftertreatment element such that a temperature across the front face of the aftertreatment element resulting solely from exhaust gas flow through the aftertreatment element is maintained uniform, the exhaust gas flow modification device being movable between a first position that maintains uniform temperature across the front face of the aftertreatment element by modifying exhaust gas flow through at least a portion of the aftertreatment element, and a second position that does not maintain uniform temperature across the front face of the aftertreatment element, and a control circuit configured to selectively control the exhaust gas flow modification device between the first and second positions, wherein the exhaust gas flow modification device comprises a flow control valve, and wherein the flow control valve comprises a plate with a number of passageways defined through the plate through which exhaust gas flows when the exhaust gas flow modification device is in the first position.