Patent ID: 7748212

Claim:
An exhaust aftertreatment system comprising an exhaust conduit carrying exhaust to an aftertreatment element treating said exhaust, said conduit comprising an L-shaped bend having first and second legs meeting at an L-shaped junction, said second leg extending axially along an axis along an axial direction and directing exhaust to said aftertreatment element, said first leg extending laterally along a lateral direction relative to said axis and directing exhaust to said second leg, a flow distributor at said L-shaped junction and re-distributing exhaust to flow from said first leg to said second leg in an evenly distributed flow pattern to flow axially along said second leg to said aftertreatment element, wherein said flow distributor is a perforated member receiving exhaust flowing laterally from said first leg, and discharging said exhaust axially along said second leg, wherein said flow distributor has an inlet end receiving exhaust flowing laterally thereinto, and a distal end laterally distally oppositely spaced from said inlet end, said flow distributor having a cross-sectional flow area which decreases as exhaust flows from said inlet end toward said distal end, wherein: said flow distributor has a first cross-sectional area at said inlet end lying in a first plane which extends along said axial direction and along a transverse direction, said transverse direction being normal to said axial direction and normal to said lateral direction; said flow distributor has a second cross-sectional area at a point between said inlet end and said distal end, said second cross-sectional area lying in a second plane which extends along said axial direction and along said transverse direction; said second plane is laterally spaced from said first plane; said second cross-sectional area is less than said first cross-sectional area; said flow distributor is tapered along a perforated sidewall extending obliquely relative to each of said axial and lateral directions.