UREA SOLUTION APPARATUS FOR VEHICLES

Abstract

A urea solution apparatus for a vehicle may include a urea solution storage tank installed in a side of a lower part in a rear part of a car body, and a urea solution pipe configured to inject a urea solution into the urea solution storage tank, wherein the urea solution pipe is connected to the urea solution storage tank in such a way that a urea solution injection nozzle of the urea solution pipe is located in a space in which a fuel inlet hole is provided.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0127312 filed on Oct. 24, 2013, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, in general, to a urea solution apparatus for vehicles and, more particularly, to a technology of a urea solution apparatus for vehicles, in which a urea solution storage tank is installed in an outside part of a car body and a urea solution injection nozzle is provided at a location next to a fuel inlet hole.

2. Description of Related Art

Generally, when a vehicle engine is operated, exhaust gas is generated. Particularly, when a diesel engine is operated, exhaust gas impregnated with nitrogen oxides (NOx) is exhausted to the atmosphere.

Here, the amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the exhaust gas increases in proportion to an increase in the combustion temperature of an engine. When exhaust gas containing nitrogen oxides is discharged to the atmosphere, the nitrogen oxides cause serious air pollution. Accordingly, to reduce the amount of nitrogen oxides in exhaust gas, a technology in which the combustion temperature of an engine is controlled or the nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas are reduced using a catalyst installed in an exhaust system has been used in the related art.

To purify exhaust gas of a vehicle by reducing nitrogen oxides, a urea SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) system is used. In the urea SCR system, a urea solution is precisely sprayed into an exhaust pipe using a variety of sensors, such as a nitrogen oxide sensor, and a urea solution spray control device, so the sprayed urea solution is thermally decomposed by heat of exhaust gas, thereby being converted into ammonia.

The ammonia as a reducing agent is added to a stream of exhaust gas and is absorbed onto an SCR catalyst, so the ammonia reacts with nitrogen oxides (NOx) and converts the nitrogen oxides into water (H₂O) and diatomic nitrogen (N₂), thereby reducing the amount of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas.

In a related art urea SCR system, a urea solution storage tank for storing a urea solution therein is typically installed in a trunk room at a location next to a spare tire well or at a location next to a trunk trim, in which the trunk room forms a part of the internal space of a car body. Accordingly, the related art urea SCR system is problematic in that the urea solution storage tank takes up the limited internal space of the car body.

Another problem of the related art urea SCR system resides in that a large capacity urea solution storage tank may not be installed in the limited internal space of the car body, so it is required to frequently charge the urea solution in the urea solution storage tank and this makes use thereof inconvenient.

Further, the internal space of the car body may not be efficiently ventilated, so passengers may feel discomfort due to the odor of the urea solution in the related art urea SCR system.

Further, in the related art urea SCR system, a urea solution injection nozzle through which the urea solution is injected into the urea solution storage tank is provided at a location remote from a fuel inlet hole, so it is required to secure a specified space for installing the urea solution injection nozzle.

The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a urea solution apparatus for vehicles, in which a urea solution storage tank is installed in an outside part of the rear part of a car body, so the present invention prevents the urea solution storage tank from occupying the limited internal space of the car body, thereby enlarging a usable part of the limited internal space of the car body, and, particularly, allows a large capacity urea solution storage tank to be used in the car body, thereby allowing a user to charge the urea solution in the urea solution storage tank less frequently thus making use more convenient, and prevents the odor of the urea solution from infiltrating into the interior space of the car body, thereby increasing the marketability of a vehicle.

Further, the present invention is intended to propose a urea solution apparatus for vehicles, which is installed in a car body in such a way that a urea solution injection nozzle is provided in a space, in which a fuel inlet hole is also provided, at a location next to the fuel inlet hole, so it is not required to secure a separate space for installing the urea solution injection nozzle, thereby realizing a reduction in the manufacturing cost of the urea solution apparatus.

In order to achieve the above objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a urea solution apparatus for vehicles, including, a urea solution storage tank installed in a side of a lower part of a rear part of a car body, a urea solution pipe that functions to inject a urea solution into the urea solution storage tank, the urea solution pipe is connected to the urea solution storage tank in such a way that a urea solution injection nozzle is located in a space in which a fuel inlet hole is provided.

The urea solution storage tank may be installed in the rear part of the car body based on a rear wheel suspension.

The urea solution storage tank may be installed in the rear part of the car body based on a rear wheel suspension at a location next to a spare tire well or at a location next to a spare tire.

The urea solution storage tank may be installed at a location in back of the fuel inlet hole so as to minimize the length of the path of the urea solution pipe.

The urea solution storage tank may be installed in a stably fixed state in which the urea solution storage tank is combined with a rear side member.

The urea solution storage tank may be combined with the rear side member at at least two joints so as to install the urea solution storage tank in the stably fixed state.

The urea solution storage tank may be installed at a height above the ground surface in which the location of the lower surface of the urea solution storage tank is higher than the lower surface of the spare tire well or than the lower surface of the spare tire, thereby preventing the lower surface of the urea solution storage tank from coming into contact with a road surface,

The urea solution apparatus for vehicles may further include, a urea solution pump mounted to the lower surface of the urea solution storage tank.

The urea solution pump may be installed at a height above the ground surface in which the location of the lower surface of the urea solution pump is higher than the lower surface of the spare tire well or than the lower surface of the spare tire, thereby preventing the lower surface of the urea solution pump from coming into contact with a road surface.

The urea solution storage tank may be provided with a pump cover, the pump cover combined with the urea solution storage tank such that the pump cover covers and protects the urea solution pump.

The urea solution injection nozzle may be installed at a location next to the fuel inlet hole on a fuel filler housing.

Both a urea solution pipe nipple and a leveling pipe nipple which are combined with the urea solution storage tank may be installed in a space between a rear side member and a rear side seal, thereby securing the space for installing both the urea solution pipe nipple and the leveling pipe nipple and minimizing the length of the path of each of the urea solution pipe and a leveling pipe.

Both the urea solution pipe and a leveling pipe may be connected to the urea solution storage tank after passing through a space in back of a rear wheel housing so as to avoid an interference of both the urea solution pipe and the leveling pipe with peripheral parts and to minimize the length of the path of each of the urea solution pipe and the leveling pipe.

Both the urea solution pipe nipple and the leveling pipe nipple may be installed to be placed on the uppermost surface of the urea solution storage tank so as to secure a safe injection of the urea solution when the urea solution contained in the urea solution storage tank is in a frozen state.

Both the urea solution injection nozzle and a urea solution filler cap may be detachably engaged with each other by a screw type engagement, thereby realizing an efficient injection of the urea solution.

As described above, the present invention is advantageous in that, due to the structure of the urea solution apparatus in which the urea solution storage tank is installed in an outside part of a car body and the urea solution injection nozzle is provided in the fuel filler housing having the fuel inlet hole thereon, the present invention can enlarge the usable part of the limited internal space of the car body, thereby allowing a user to efficiently use the limited internal space of the car body, and can use a large capacity urea solution storage tank and can minimize the length of the path of the urea solution pipe, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost and weight of the urea solution apparatus.

The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a vehicle provided with a spare tire in a trunk room, in which a urea solution storage tank according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is installed at a location next to a spare tire well.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a vehicle provided with a spare tire at a location below the lower surface of a car body, in which the urea solution storage tank according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is installed at a location next to the spare tire.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line I-I of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a structure for installing the urea solution storage tank, a urea solution pipe and a urea solution injection nozzle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a structure for installing the urea solution storage tank, a urea solution pipe and a urea solution injection nozzle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a structure for installing the urea solution storage tank, a urea solution pipe and a urea solution injection nozzle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a structure for installing the urea solution storage tank, a urea solution pipe and a urea solution injection nozzle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment.

In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Hereinbelow, a urea solution apparatus for vehicles according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention relates to a urea solution apparatus which is installed in a vehicle having a diesel engine and functions to purify exhaust gas by reducing nitrogen oxides impregnated in the exhaust gas, and in which a urea solution storage tank is installed in an outside part of a car body, thereby enlarging the usable part of the limited internal space of the car body and allowing a user to efficiently use the limited internal space of the car body.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the urea solution apparatus for vehicles according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a urea solution storage tank 10 that is installed in a side of a lower part of the rear part of a car body, and a urea solution pipe 20 that functions to inject a urea solution into the urea solution storage tank 10, and is connected to the urea solution storage tank 10 in such a way that a urea solution injection nozzle 21 is located in a space in which a fuel inlet hole 51 is provided.

A fuel pipe 52 extends forward in the car body from the fuel inlet hole 51 to a fuel tank 53 that is placed in front of the urea solution storage tank 10.

Described in detail, in a passenger car having a trunk room and a space defined in the trunk room so as to hold a spare tire, a spare tire well 55 is provided in the lower part of the car body by protruding downward, as shown in FIG. 1. In a vehicle having the spare tire well 55, the urea solution storage tank 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is installed in a rear part of the car body based on a rear wheel suspension 54 at a location next to the spare tire well 55.

In an RV (Recreational Vehicle) or an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle), in which a luggage room instead of the trunk room for loading of freight is provided at a location in back of a rear seat, the spare tire is installed at a location below the lower part of the car body.

In a vehicle in which the spare tire is installed at a location below the lower part of the car body as described above, the urea solution storage tank 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is installed in the rear part of the car body based on the rear wheel suspension 54 at a location next to the spare tire 56, as shown in FIG. 2.

In other words, the urea solution storage tank 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be installed in a space that is defined between the spare tire well 55 and the rear side seal 57 or between the spare tire 56 and the rear side seal 57, so the present invention is advantageous in that it can efficiently use a surplus space of the outside part of the car body without securing a separate space for installing the urea solution storage tank 10.

Further, to minimize the length of the path of the urea solution pipe 20, the urea solution storage tank 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be installed at a location in back of the fuel inlet hole 51.

When the urea solution storage tank 10 is installed at a location in front of the fuel inlet hole 51 or at a location on the same vertical line as of the fuel inlet hole 51, it is required to arrange the urea solution pipe 20 in such a way that the pipe 20 can avoid the fuel pipe 52. The arrangement of the urea solution pipe 20 in which the urea solution pipe 20 is arranged to avoid the fuel pipe 52 is problematic in that it increases the length of the path of the urea solution pipe 20. To solve the problem of increasing the length of the path of the urea solution pipe 20, the urea solution storage tank 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be installed at a location in back of the fuel inlet hole 51.

Further, the urea solution storage tank 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is installed in a stably fixed state in which the tank 10 is combined with the rear side member 58. To install the urea solution storage tank 10 in the stably fixed state, the urea solution storage tank 10 may be combined with the rear side member 58 at at least two joints.

To prevent the lower surface of the urea solution storage tank 10 from coming into contact with a road surface, the urea solution storage tank 10 is installed at a height above the ground surface in which the location of the lower surface of the tank 10 is higher than the lower surface of the spare tire well 55 or than the lower surface of the spare tire 56, thereby avoiding a damage or a breakage of the urea solution storage tank 10 caused by contact with the ground surface.

The urea solution apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may further include a urea solution pump 30 that is mounted to the lower surface of the urea solution storage tank 10.

The urea solution pump 30 pumps the urea solution contained in the urea solution storage tank 10 and supplies the urea solution to the urea solution injection nozzle 21. Here, the urea solution pump 30 is mounted to the lower surface of the urea solution storage tank 10, so it is not required to secure a separate space for installing the urea solution pump 30.

Further, to prevent the lower surface of the urea solution pump 30 from coming into contact with a road surface, the lower surface of the urea solution pump 30 is installed at a height above the ground surface in which the location of the lower surface of the pump 30 is higher than the lower surface of the spare tire well 55 or than the lower surface of the spare tire 56.

Further, a pump cover 31 is combined with the urea solution storage tank 10, and covers the urea solution pump 30, thereby protecting the urea solution pump 30. To reduce the weight of the pump cover 31, the pump cover 31 may be made of a plastic material.

A fuel filler housing 59 is provided on a side surface of the rear part of the car body, and the fuel inlet hole 51 is mounted to the fuel filler housing 59. Here, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the urea solution injection nozzle 21 is installed at a location next to the fuel inlet hole 51 on the fuel filler housing 59.

In other words, the urea solution injection nozzle 21 of the present invention is mounted to the fuel filler housing 59 in which the fuel inlet hole 51 is also mounted. Due to the above-mentioned structure of the present invention, it is not required to secure a separate space for installing the urea solution injection nozzle 21.

Further, both a urea solution pipe nipple 22 and a leveling pipe nipple 41 which are combined with the urea solution storage tank 10 are installed in a space between the rear side member 58 and the rear side seal 57.

Here, the space defined between the rear side member 58 and the rear side seal 57 is a surplus space, and the urea solution storage tank 10 is installed in such a way that both the urea solution pipe nipple 22 and the leveling pipe nipple 41 are located in the surplus space. Accordingly, the present invention is advantageous in that the urea solution apparatus of this invention can efficiently use the surplus space of the outside part of the car body without securing a separate space for installing both the urea solution pipe nipple 22 and the leveling pipe nipple 41.

Further, when both the urea solution pipe nipple 22 and the leveling pipe nipple 41 are mounted to the urea solution storage tank 10 such that the nipples 22 and 41 are located in the space between the rear side member 58 and the rear side seal 57, the distance between the urea solution injection nozzle 21 and the urea solution pipe nipple 22 can be minimized, and this minimizes both the length of the path of the urea solution pipe 20 and the length of the path of a leveling pipe 40.

Further, to avoid an interference of both the urea solution pipe 20 and the leveling pipe 40 with peripheral parts and to minimize the length of the path of each of the urea solution pipe 20 and the leveling pipe 40, both the urea solution pipe 20 and the leveling pipe 40 may be connected to the urea solution storage tank 10 after passing through a space in back of a rear wheel housing 61.

Further, to secure a safe injection of the urea solution when the urea solution contained in the urea solution storage tank 10 is in a frozen state, both the urea solution pipe nipple 22 and the leveling pipe nipple 41 may be installed to be placed on the uppermost surface of the urea solution storage tank 10.

Further, to realize an efficient injection of the urea solution, the urea solution injection nozzle 21 and a urea solution filler cap 23 may be detachably engaged with each other by a screw type engagement.

In other words, threads 21a and 23a are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the urea solution injection nozzle 21 and on the inner circumferential surface of the urea solution filler cap 23, respectively, so the urea solution injection nozzle 21 can be detachably engaged with the urea solution filler cap 23 by the threads 21a and 23a. Due to the threads 21a and 23a, the present invention can increase the locking force of the urea solution filler cap 23 relative to the urea solution injection nozzle 21, and can allow a user to easily tighten or remove the urea solution filler cap 23 to or from the urea solution injection nozzle 21.

As described above, in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the urea solution storage tank 10 is installed in the outside part of the car body, so the present invention prevents the urea solution storage tank 10 from occupying the limited internal space of the car body, thereby enlarging the usable part of the limited internal space of the car body and allowing a user to efficiently use the limited internal space of the car body, and prevents the odor of the urea solution from infiltrating into the interior space of the car body, thereby providing a pleasant atmosphere for passengers and increasing the marketability of the vehicle.

Further, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the urea solution storage tank 10 is installed in a surplus space between the spare tire well 55 and the rear side seal 57 or in a surplus space between the spare tire 56 and the rear side seal 57, so the present invention is advantageous in that it can efficiently use a surplus space of the outside part of the car body without securing a separate space for installing the urea solution storage tank 10. Particularly, the present invention can use a large capacity urea solution storage tank in the car body

Further, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the urea solution injection nozzle 21 is installed on the fuel filler housing 59 in which the fuel inlet hole 51 is also installed, so it is not required to secure a separate space for installing the urea solution injection nozzle 21. Particularly, the present invention can minimize the length of the path of the urea solution pipe 20, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost and weight of the urea solution apparatus.

For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “inner” and “outer” are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures.

The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A urea solution apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a urea solution storage tank installed in a side of a lower part in a rear part of a car body; and

a urea solution pipe configured to inject a urea solution into the urea solution storage tank, wherein the urea solution pipe is connected to the urea solution storage tank in such a way that a urea solution injection nozzle of the urea solution pipe is located in a space in which a fuel inlet hole is provided.

2. The urea solution apparatus for the vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the urea solution storage tank is installed in the rear part of the car body based on a rear wheel suspension.

3. The urea solution apparatus for the vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the urea solution storage tank is installed in the rear part of the car body based on a rear wheel suspension at a location next to a spare tire well or at a location next to a spare tire.

4. The urea solution apparatus for the vehicle as set forth in claim 3, wherein the urea solution storage tank is installed at a location in back of the fuel inlet hole so as to minimize a length of a path of the urea solution pipe.

5. The urea solution apparatus for the vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the urea solution storage tank is installed in a stably fixed state in which the urea solution storage tank is combined with a rear side member.

6. The urea solution apparatus for the vehicle as set forth in claim 5, wherein the urea solution storage tank is combined with the rear side member at at least two joints so as to install the urea solution storage tank in the stably fixed state.

7. The urea solution apparatus for the vehicle as set forth in claim 3, wherein the urea solution storage tank is installed at a height above a ground surface in which a location of a lower surface of the urea solution storage tank is higher than a lower surface of the spare tire well or than a lower surface of the spare tire, thereby preventing the lower surface of the urea solution storage tank from coming into contact with a road surface,

8. The urea solution apparatus for the vehicle as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

a urea solution pump mounted to a lower surface of the urea solution storage tank.

9. The urea solution apparatus for the vehicle as set forth in claim 8, wherein the urea solution pump is installed at a height above a ground surface in which a location of a lower surface of the urea solution pump is higher than a lower surface of the spare tire well or than a lower surface of the spare tire, thereby preventing the lower surface of the urea solution pump from coming into contact with a road surface.

10. The urea solution apparatus for the vehicle as set forth in claim 8, wherein the urea solution storage tank is provided with a pump cover, the pump cover combined with the urea solution storage tank such that the pump cover covers and protects the urea solution pump.

11. The urea solution apparatus for the vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the urea solution injection nozzle is installed at a location next to the fuel inlet hole on a fuel filler housing.

12. The urea solution apparatus for the vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein a urea solution pipe nipple and a leveling pipe nipple which are combined with the urea solution storage tank are installed in a space between a rear side member and a rear side seal, thereby securing the space for installing both the urea solution pipe nipple and the leveling pipe nipple and minimizing a length of a path of each of the urea solution pipe and a leveling pipe.

13. The urea solution apparatus for the vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the urea solution pipe and a leveling pipe are connected to the urea solution storage tank after passing through a space in back of a rear wheel housing so as to avoid an interference of both the urea solution pipe and the leveling pipe with peripheral parts and to minimize a length of a path of each of the urea solution pipe and the leveling pipe.

14. The urea solution apparatus for the vehicle as set forth in claim 12, wherein the urea solution pipe nipple and the leveling pipe nipple are installed to be placed on an uppermost surface of the urea solution storage tank so as to secure a safe injection of the urea solution when the urea solution contained in the urea solution storage tank is in a frozen state.

15. The urea solution apparatus for the vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the urea solution injection nozzle and a urea solution filler cap are detachably engaged with each other by a screw type engagement, thereby realizing an efficient injection of the urea solution.