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EP 2 098 697 B2 |
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NEW EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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After opposition procedure |
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Date of publication and mentionof the opposition decision: |
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20.05.2015 Bulletin 2015/21 |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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01.09.2010 Bulletin 2010/35 |
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Date of filing: 12.02.2008 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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Exhaust system of an internal combustion engine
Abgassystem eines Verbrennungsmotors
Système d'échappement d'un moteur à combustion interne
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Designated Contracting States: |
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DE ES FR GB IT |
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Date of publication of application: |
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09.09.2009 Bulletin 2009/37 |
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Proprietor: Magneti Marelli S.p.A. |
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Corbetta (MI) (IT) |
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Inventor: |
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- Gambarotto, Massimiliano
10098 Rivoli (IT)
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Representative: Maccagnan, Matteo et al |
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Studio Torta S.p.A.
Via Viotti, 9 10121 Torino 10121 Torino (IT) |
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References cited: :
EP-A- 1 424 488 WO-A-2006/093594 US-A- 1 182 954
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EP-A- 1 493 482 WO-A-2007/127529
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TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine
provided with an exhaust gas after-treatment arrangement.
[0002] The present invention is advantageously intended for use in an exhaust system of
an internal combustion engine provided with an exhaust gas after-treatment arrangement
to which the following description specifically refers but without loss of generality.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Next generation international standards limiting pollutant emissions by motor vehicles
(the so-called "Euro5" and "Euro6" emission standards) will set very low thresholds
for NO
x emissions.
[0004] Compliance with such limits is particularly critical especially for diesel engines;
for this reason, a solution has been proposed which consists of providing exhaust
systems of diesel engines with an additional NO
x SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) system suitable to convert molecules of NO
x (NO
2 or NO) into nitrogen (N
2), which is an inert gas, and water (H
2O). It is difficult to convert NO
x molecules into nitrogen (N) without the use of an adequate reducing agent. Ammonia
(NH
3) is generally used for this purpose. The reducing agent must be introduced into the
exhaust system and upstream of the SCR catalyst in order to mix with the exhaust gas
before it enters the SCR catalyst.
[0005] However, storing ammonia inside a motor vehicle is not recommended for evident safety
reasons relating to the fact that ammonia is toxic. Consequently, other solutions
have been proposed which consist of storing and introducing an aqueous urea solution,
as the urea is converted into ammonia due to the effect of the heat of the exhaust
gas and also in part due to the catalytic effect.
[0006] A problem associated with introducing an aqueous urea solution into the exhaust system
is that the decomposition of the urea also results in the formation of isocyanic acid
(HNCO), which tends to thicken and polymerize, building up on the inside walls of
the exhaust system and resulting in the formation of solid deposits that are difficult
to remove. To prevent the polymerization of the isocyanic acid generated from the
decomposition of the urea, there have been proposals to arrange a mixer in the exhaust
system close to the point in which the urea is introduced. Said mixer generates turbulence
in the exhaust gas flow which prevents the localized thickening of the isocyanic acid
and thus prevents the polymerization of said isocyanic acid. The presence of a mixer
that generates turbulence in the exhaust gas flow immediately before said exhaust
gas flow enters the SCR catalyst clearly also improves the efficiency of the SCR catalyst
since it results in a more uniform distribution of the reducing agent (i.e. the ammonia)
in the exhaust gas.
[0007] Patent application
EP1514591A1 describes a mixer, which is arranged in an exhaust system of an internal combustion
engine immediately upstream of an SCR catalyst into which the hot exhaust gas mixed
with reducing agents is fed. Similarly, patent applications
EP1022048A1,
DE10060808A1,
WO0107763A1,
WO9913972A1,
WO9905402A1,
WO9905401A1,
EP1748162A1,
DE10248294A1,
WO0009869A1,
WO2005073524A1,
WO0112301A1,
EP0526392A1,
EP0894523A1 describe exhaust systems provided with mixers arranged close to reducing agent feeder
devices.
[0008] However, the known mixers of the type described above have the drawback of not achieving
an ideal balance between the opposing needs for effectiveness (i.e. to guarantee adequate
mixing of the exhaust gas) and efficiency (i.e. to limit loss of pressure in the exhaust
gas). In other words, known mixers of the type described above are either low in effectiveness
(i.e. they do not guarantee adequate mixing of the exhaust gas) or low in efficiency
(i.e. they cause high losses of pressure in the exhaust gas).
[0009] WO2007127529A2 discloses an exhaust aftertreatment system including injection of chemical species;
the system has a mixer provided by a stamped muffler flange and arranged in the exhaust
pipe between the injector and the aftertreatment element.
[0010] DE 102008017395 is the closest prior art and discloses an exaust system according to the pre-characterizing
portion of independent claim 1.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0011] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an exhaust system of an internal
combustion engine, said exhaust system overcoming the drawbacks described above and,
in particular, being easy and inexpensive to produce.
[0012] According to the present invention an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine
is produced according to that set forth in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings,
illustrating some non-limiting embodiments thereon, in which:
- figure 1 is a schematic view of an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine
provided with an exhaust gas after-treatment arrangement and produced according to
the present invention; and
- figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a mixer of the exhaust system of figure
1 that is not part of the present invention;
- figure 3 is a front view of the mixer of figure 2;
- figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view along the line IV-IV of the mixer of figure
2; and
- figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the mixer
of figure 2 according to the present invention;
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0014] In figure 1, number 1 indicates an overall exhaust system of a diesel" cycle internal
combustion engine 2 (i.e. an engine that runs on diesel or similar types of fuel).
[0015] The exhaust system 1 discharges the exhaust gas into the atmosphere and comprises
an exhaust duct 3 which originates from an exhaust manifold 4 of the internal combustion
engine 2. An oxidation catalyst 5 and a particulate filter 6 are arranged on the exhaust
duct 3; in figure 1 the oxidation catalyst 5 and the particulate filter 6 are arranged
in series inside a single common tubular container.
[0016] Moreover, an SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) system 7 for after-treatment of
NO
x (NO and NO
2) molecules is arranged on the exhaust duct 3 and downstream of the oxidation catalyst
5. The SCR catalytic system 7 can comprise a single SCR catalyst 7 as illustrated
in figure 1, or a series of catalysts (usually three) that together optimize the SCR
function for after-treatment of NO
x molecules.
[0017] Immediately upstream of the catalytic system 7, a feeder device 8 is connected to
the exhaust duct 3, said device 8 being suitable to feed a reducing agent and in particular
an aqueous urea solution (i.e. a solution of urea and water) into said exhaust duct
3. In use, due to the effect of the heat of the exhaust gas present in the exhaust
duct 3, the urea fed into said exhaust duct 3 spontaneously decomposes into isocyanic
acid (HNCO) and ammonia (NH
3), said ammonia acting as a reducing agent in the catalytic system 7 to facilitate
the conversion of the NO
x molecules into nitrogen (N
2) and water (H
2O).
[0018] A static mixer 9 is arranged on the exhaust duct 3, in correspondence with the feeder
device 3. The function of said mixer 9 is to generate turbulence in the exhaust gas
in the exhaust duct 3 in order to prevent the localized thickening of the isocyanic
acid (which forms during the decomposition of the urea) and thus prevent the polymerization
of said isocyanic acid and improve the efficiency of the catalytic system 7 by distributing
the ammonia more uniformly in the exhaust gas. In the embodiment illustrated in figure
1, the static mixer 9 is arranged downstream of the feeder device 8 (i.e. between
the feeder device 8 and the catalytic system 7); alternatively, the static mixer 9
could be arranged upstream of the feeder device 8. According to an alternative embodiment
which is not illustrated, two static mixers 9 could be provided and arranged respectively
upstream and downstream of the feeder device 8.
[0019] As illustrated in figures 2, 3 and 4, the static mixer 9 comprises a cylindrical
tubular body 10, which has a central axis of symmetry 11 and two opposing annular
edges 12, and two groups 13 of tabs 14 arranged on opposite sides of the tubular body
10.
[0020] In each group 13, the tabs 14 extend towards the outside of the tubular body 10 starting
from a respective annular edge 12 of said tubular body 10, they are arranged at a
distance from one another so as to leave an empty space 15 between two successive
tabs 14, and slope towards the central axis of symmetry 11 so as to converge towards
said central axis of symmetry 11. Each tab 14 of the static mixer 9 has substantially
the shape of an isosceles trapezium with a longer base 16 arranged over the respective
annular edge 12 of the tubular body 10 and a shorter base 17 which is free.
[0021] The two groups 13 of tabs 14 are staggered so that each tab 14 of one group 13 is
longitudinally aligned along the central axis of symmetry 11 with an empty space 15
between two successive tabs 14 of the other group 13.
[0022] In correspondence with the respective annular edge 12 of the tubular body 10 each
tab 14 extends for the equivalent of the extension of an empty space 15 between two
successive tabs 14; for example in the embodiment that is illustrated there are four
tabs 14 each having an angular extension of 45° and alternating with four empty spaces
15 each having an angular extension of 45°.
[0023] The ratio between the diameter D of the circumference defined by the longer bases
16 of the tabs 14 and the diameter d of the circumference defined by the shorter bases
17 of the tabs 14 is between 2 and 4 and preferably about 3. Moreover, each tab 14
forms an angle α of between 30° and 60° and preferably of approximately 45° with the
tubular body 10. The tubular body 10 preferably extends longitudinally along the central
axis of symmetry 11 by at least 10 mm.
[0024] In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached drawings, each group 13 has
four tabs 14 (and thus four empty spaces 15 arranged alternately with respect to the
tabs 14); more generally, each group 13 is made up of between 3 and 6 tabs 14.
[0025] According to an alternative embodiment which is not illustrated, the static mixer
9 only comprises a single group 13 of tabs 14 arranged along an annular edge 12 of
the tubular body 10.
[0026] According to the alternative embodiment illustrated in figure 5 that is part of the
present invention, the static mixer 9 comprises a number of fastening brackets 18,
which extend parallel to the central axis of symmetry 11 starting from an annular
edge 12 of the tubular body 10 and are arranged in correspondence with the empty space
15 between two successive tabs 14. The fastening brackets 18 are welded or riveted
to a side wall of the exhaust duct 3 so that the static mixer 9 is integral with the
exhaust duct 3; according to the embodiment in figures 2-4 in which the static mixer
9 is not provided with the fastening brackets 18, the static mixer 9 is fastened to
the exhaust duct 3 by welding or riveting the tubular body 10 to the side wall of
the exhaust duct 3.
[0027] The static mixer 9 can be made by die-forming a flat metal sheet to define the tabs
14 (and, where applicable, the brackets 18), and then folding the die-formed sheet
round a cylindrical core to give said die-formed sheet a tubular shape which is stabilized
by means of welding or riveting; the tabs 14 are then folded towards the central axis
of symmetry 11 to give them the shape described above. Alternatively, the static mixer
9 can be made by die-forming a tubular body of sheet metal to define the tabs 14 (and,
where applicable, the brackets 18) and then folding the tabs 14 towards the central
axis of symmetry 11 to give the tabs 14 the shape described above.
[0028] According to an alternative embodiment which is not illustrated, the feeder device
8 is arranged upstream of the oxidation catalyst 5 to feed the fuel (for example diesel)
into the exhaust duct 3, so that said fuel is burnt in the oxidation catalyst 5 to
increase the temperature inside said oxidation catalyst 5 during a regeneration process
of the particulate filter 6. In this case, the static mixer 9 is arranged upstream
of the oxidation catalyst 5.
[0029] The static mixer 9 described above has numerous advantages, in that it is simple
and inexpensive to produce, is particularly robust (and thus has a long working life
and very low risk of breaking) and above all it achieves an ideal balance between
the opposing needs for effectiveness (i.e. to guarantee adequate mixing of the exhaust
gas) and efficiency (i.e. to cause limited loss of pressure in the exhaust gas). In
other words, the static mixer 9 described above achieves high effectiveness (i.e.
it guarantees adequate mixing of the exhaust gas) and high efficiency (i.e. it causes
limited loss of pressure in the exhaust gas).
1. Exhaust system (1) of an internal combustion engine (2); the exhaust system (1) comprises:
an exhaust duct (3) which originates from an exhaust manifold (4) of the internal
combustion engine (2);
at least one catalytic system (7; 5) arranged on the exhaust duct (3);
a feeder device (8), which is connected to the exhaust duct (3) immediately upstream
of the catalytic system (7; 5) to feed an additive into said exhaust duct (3); and
at least one static mixer (9), which is arranged on the exhaust duct (3) in correspondence
with the feeder device (8), is arranged upstream or downstream of the feeder device
(8), and comprises a tubular body (10) which has a central axis of symmetry and two
opposing annular edges (12) and at least one group (13) of tabs (14), which extend
towards the outside of the tubular body (10) starting from a respective annular edge
(12) of said tubular body (10), are arranged at a circumferentially distance from
one another so as to leave a circumferential empty space (15) between two successive
tabs (14), and slope from the annular edge (12) towards the central axis of symmetry
(11) so as to converge towards said central axis of symmetry (11);
wherein the static mixer (9) comprises two groups (13) of tabs (14) arranged along
the two opposing annular edges (12) of the tubular body (10); and
wherein the two groups (13) of tabs (14) are circumferentially staggered so that each
tab (14) of one group (13) is longitudinally aligned along the central axis of symmetry
(11) with an empty space (15) between two successive tabs (14) of the other group
(13);
the exhaust system (1) being characterized in that the static mixer (9) comprises a number of fastening brackets (18), which extend
parallel to the central axis of symmetry (11) starting from an annular edge (12) of
the tubular body (10) and are arranged in correspondence with the empty space (15)
between two successive tabs (14).
2. Exhaust system (1) according to claim 1, wherein each tab (14) of the static mixer
(9) has substantially the shape of an isosceles trapezium having a longer base (16)
arranged over the respective annular edge (12) of the tubular body (10) and a shorter
base (17) which is free.
3. Exhaust system (1) according to claim 2, wherein the ratio between the diameter of
the circumference defined by the longer bases (16) of the tabs (14) and the diameter
of the circumference defined by the shorter bases (17) of the tabs (14) is between
2 and 4.
4. Exhaust system (1) according to claim 3, wherein the ratio between the diameter of
the circumference defined by the longer bases (16) of the tabs (14) and the diameter
of the circumference defined by the shorter bases (17) of the tabs (14) is approximately
3.
5. Exhaust system (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 4, wherein in correspondence
with the respective annular edge (12) of the tubular body (10) each tab (14) extends
for the equivalent of an empty space (15) between two successive tabs (14).
6. Exhaust system (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 5, wherein each tab (14)
forms an angle of between 30° and 60° with the tubular body (10).
7. Exhaust system (1) according to claim 6, wherein each tab (14) forms an angle of approximately
45° with the tubular body (10).
8. Exhaust system (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 7, wherein each group
(13) has between 3 and 6 tabs (14).
9. Exhaust system (1) according to claim 8, wherein each group (13) has 4 tabs (14).
10. Exhaust system (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 9, wherein the tubular
body (10) extends longitudinally along the central axis of symmetry (11) by at least
10 mm.
11. Exhaust system (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 10, wherein the fastening
brackets (18) are welded or riveted to a side wall of the exhaust duct (3).
12. Exhaust system (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 11, wherein the catalytic
system (7; 5) comprises:
an oxidation catalyst (5) arranged on the exhaust duct (3); and
an SCR catalytic system (7) arranged on the exhaust duct (3) downstream of the oxidation
catalyst (5) and downstream of the feeder device (8).
13. Exhaust system (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 12, wherein the catalytic
system (7; 5) comprises an oxidation catalyst (5) arranged on the exhaust duct (3)
downstream of the feeder device (8).
1. Abgassystem (1) einer Brennkraftmaschine (2), wobei das Abgassystem (1) umfasst:
ein Abgasrohr (3), das von einem Abgaskrümmer (4) der Brennkraftmaschine (2) ausgeht;
wenigstens ein katalytisches System (7; 5), das an dem Abgasrohr (3) angeordnet ist;
eine Einleitungsvorrichtung (8), die in Strömungsrichtung direkt vor dem katalytischen
System (7; 5) mit dem Abgasrohr (3) verbunden ist, um in das Abgasrohr (3) ein Additiv
einzuleiten; und
wenigstens einen statischen Mischer (9), der an dem Abgasrohr (3) entsprechend der
Einleitungsvorrichtung (8) angeordnet ist, vor oder hinter der Einleitungsvorrichtung
(8) angeordnet ist und einen rohrförmigen Körper (10) aufweist, der eine mittige Symmetrieachse
und zwei gegenüberliegende ringförmige Kanten (12) und wenigstens eine Gruppe (13)
von Ansätzen (14) besitzt, die sich beginnend bei einer jeweiligen ringförmigen Kante
(12) des rohrförmigen Körpers (10) zur Außenseite des rohrförmigen Körpers (10) erstrecken,
in Umfangsrichtung in einem Abstand voneinander angeordnet sind, um zwischen zwei
aufeinander folgenden Ansätzen (14) einen leeren Raum (15) zu lassen, und von der
ringförmigen Kante (12) zu der mittigen Symmetrieachse (11) so geneigt sind, dass
sie zur mittigen Symmetrieachse (11) zusammenlaufen;
wobei der statische Mischer (9) zwei Gruppen (13) von Ansätzen (14) umfasst, die längs
der zwei gegenüberliegenden ringförmigen Kanten (12) des rohrförmigen Körpers (10)
angeordnet sind; und
wobei die zwei Gruppen (13) von Ansätzen (14) in Umfangsrichtung zueinander versetzt
sind, so dass jeder Ansatz (14) einer Gruppe (13) longitudinal längs der mittigen
Symmetrieachse (11) auf einen leeren Raum (15) zwischen zwei aufeinander folgenden
Ansätzen (14) der anderen Gruppe (13) ausgerichtet ist;
wobei das Abgassystem (1) dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass der statische Mischer (9) eine Anzahl Befestigungsträger (18) umfasst, die sich parallel
zu der mittigen Symmetrieachse (11) erstrecken und von einer ringförmigen Kante (12)
des rohrförmigen Körpers (10) ausgehen und entsprechend dem Leerraum (15) zwischen
zwei aufeinander folgenden Ansätzen (14) angeordnet sind.
2. Abgassystem (1) nach Anspruch 1, wobei jeder Ansatz (14) des statischen Mischers (9)
im Wesentlichen die Form eines gleichschenkligen Trapezes besitzt, dessen längere
Basis (16) über der jeweiligen ringförmigen Kante (12) des rohrförmigen Körpers (10)
angeordnet ist und dessen kürzere Basis (17) frei ist.
3. Abgassystem (1) nach Anspruch 2, wobei das Verhältnis zwischen dem Durchmesser des
durch die längeren Basen (16) der Ansätze (14) definierten Umfangs und dem Durchmesser
des durch die kürzeren Basen (17) der Ansätze (14) definierten Umfangs zwischen 2
und 4 liegt.
4. Abgassystem (1) nach Anspruch 3, wobei das Verhältnis zwischen dem Durchmesser des
durch die längeren Basen (16) der Ansätze (14) definierten Umfangs und dem Durchmesser
des durch die kürzeren Basen (17) der Ansätze (14) definierten Umfangs etwa 3 beträgt.
5. Abgassystem (1) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei entsprechend der jeweiligen
ringförmigen Kante (12) des rohrförmigen Körpers (10) jeder Ansatz (14) sich als Äquivalent
zu einem leeren Raum (15) zwischen zwei aufeinander folgenden Ansätzen (14) erstreckt.
6. Abgassystem (1) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, wobei jeder Ansatz (14) einen Winkel
im Bereich von 30° bis 60° zu dem rohrförmigen Körper (10) bildet.
7. Abgassystem (1) nach Anspruch 6, wobei jeder Ansatz (14) einen Winkel von etwa 45°
zu dem rohrförmigen Körper (10) bildet.
8. Abgassystem (1) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, wobei jede Gruppe (13) zwischen
3 und 6 Ansätzen (14) besitzt.
9. Abgassystem (1) nach Anspruch 8, wobei jede Gruppe (13) 4 Ansätze (14) besitzt.
10. Abgassystem (1) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, wobei sich der ringförmige Körper
(10) in Längsrichtung längs der mittigen Symmetrieachse (11) über wenigstens 10 mm
erstreckt.
11. Abgassystem (1) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10, wobei die Befestigungsträger (18)
mit einer Seitenwand des Abgasrohrs (3) verschweißt oder vernietet sind.
12. Abgassystem (1) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 11, wobei das katalytische System (7;
5) umfasst:
einen Oxidationskatalysator (5), der an dem Abgasrohr (3) angeordnet ist; und
ein katalytisches SCR-System (7), das an dem Abgasrohr (3) in Strömungsrichtung hinter
dem Oxidationskatalysator (5) und hinter der Einleitungsvorrichtung (8) angeordnet
ist.
13. Abgassystem (1) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 12, wobei das katalytische System (7;
5) einen Oxidationskatalysator (5) umfasst, der an dem Abgasrohr (3) in Strömungsrichtung
hinter der Einleitungsvorrichtung (8) angeordnet ist.
1. Système d'échappement (1) d'un moteur à combustion interne (2) ; le système d'échappement
(1) comprenant :
un conduit d'échappement (3) qui a son origine dans un collecteur d'échappement (4)
du moteur à combustion interne (2) ;
au moins un système catalytique (7 ; 5) disposé sur le conduit d'échappement (3) ;
un dispositif de délivrance (8), qui est connecté au conduit d'échappement (3) immédiatement
en amont du système catalytique (7 ; 5) pour délivrer un additif dans ledit conduit
d'échappement (3) ; et
au moins un mélangeur statique (9), qui est disposé sur le conduit d'échappement (3)
en correspondance avec le dispositif d'échappement (8) est disposé en amont ou en
aval du dispositif d'échappement (8), et qui comprend un corps tubulaire (10) qui
a un axe central de symétrie et qui comporte deux bords annulaires opposés (12) et
au moins un groupe (13) de pattes (14), qui s'étendent vers l'extérieur du corps tubulaire
(10) à partir d'un bord annulaire respectif (12) dudit corps tubulaire (10), qui sont
disposées à une certaine distance les unes des autres de façon à laisser un espace
vide (15) entre deux pattes successives (14), et qui sont en pente du bord annulaire
(12) vers l'axe central de symétrie (11) de façon à converger vers ledit axe central
de symétrie (11) ;
le mélangeur statique (9) comprend deux groupes (13) de pattes (14) disposées le long
des deux bords annulaires opposés (12) du corps tubulaire (10) ;
les deux groupes (13) de pattes (14) sont étagés de telle sorte que chaque patte (14)
d'un groupe (13) soit longitudinalement alignée le long de l'axe central de symétrie
(11) avec un espace vide (15) entre deux pattes successives (14) de l'autre groupe
(13) ; et
le système d'échappement (1) étant caractérisé en ce que le mélangeur statique (9) comprend une pluralité d'étriers de fixation (18) qui s'étendent
parallèlement à l'axe central de symétrie (11) à partir d'un bord annulaire (12) du
corps tubulaire (10) et sont disposés en correspondance avec l'espace vide (15) entre
deux pattes successives (14).
2. Système d'échappement (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel chaque patte (14)
du mélangeur statique (9) a sensiblement la forme d'un trapèze isocèle ayant une base
plus longue (16) disposée sur le bord annulaire respectif (12) du corps tubulaire
(10) et une base plus courte (17) qui est libre.
3. Système d'échappement (1) selon la revendication 2, dans lequel le rapport entre le
diamètre de la circonférence définie par les bases plus longues (16) des pattes (14)
et le diamètre de la circonférence définie par les bases plus courtes (17) des pattes
(14) est compris entre 2 et 4.
4. Système d'échappement (1) selon la revendication 3, dans lequel le rapport entre le
diamètre de la circonférence définie par les bases plus longues (16) des pattes (14)
et le diamètre de la circonférence définie par les bases plus courtes (17) des pattes
(14) est d'approximativement 3.
5. Système d'échappement (1) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel, en correspondance
avec le bord annulaire respectif (12) du corps tubulaire (10), chaque patte (14) s'étend
sur l'équivalent d'un espace vide (15) entre deux pattes successives (14).
6. Système d'échappement (1) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel chaque
patte (14) forme un angle compris entre 30° et 60° avec le corps tubulaire (10).
7. Système d'échappement (1) selon la revendication 6, dans lequel chaque patte (14)
forme un angle d'approximativement 45° avec le corps tubulaire (10).
8. Système d'échappement (1) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 7, dans lequel chaque
groupe (13) comporte entre 3 et 6 pattes (14).
9. Système d'échappement (1) selon la revendication 8, dans lequel chaque groupe (13)
comporte 4 pattes (14).
10. Système d'échappement (1) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 9, dans lequel le corps
tubulaire (10) s'étend longitudinalement le long de l'axe central de symétrie (11)
d'au moins 10 mm.
11. Système d'échappement (1) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 10, dans lequel les étriers
de fixation (18) sont soudés ou rivetés à une paroi latérale du conduit d'évacuation
(3).
12. Système d'échappement (1) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 11, dans lequel le système
catalytique (7 ; 5) comprend :
un catalyseur à oxydation (5) disposé sur le conduit d'échappement (3) ; et
un système catalytique à réduction catalytique sélective (7) disposé sur le conduit
d'échappement (3) en aval du catalyseur à oxydation (5) et en aval du dispositif de
délivrance (8).
13. Système d'échappement (1) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 12, dans lequel le système
catalytique (7 ; 5) comprend un catalyseur à oxydation (5) disposé sur le conduit
d'échappement (3) en aval du dispositif de délivrance (8).
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
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It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description