JP2020183742A - Filter drying system - Google Patents

Abstract

To dry a filter efficiently in a short time.SOLUTION: A filter drying system 20 for drying a filter 1300 for collecting particulate matters contained in an exhaust gas of a diesel engine, after the filter is washed and then rinsed, includes: a housing device 21 for housing the filter 1300; a heating device 22 for raising internal temperature of the housing device 21; and an exhaust device 23 with a suction part 231 for sucking internal air from the filter 1300 and discharging it to the outside the housing device 21.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

The present invention relates to a filter drying system, a filter drying method and a filter assembly regeneration method, and more particularly, a filter drying system for cleaning and then drying a filter that collects particulate matter contained in the exhaust gas of a diesel engine. And a filter drying method, and a filter assembly regeneration method for regenerating a filter assembly having the filter.

Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, a ceramic filter partitioned by a porous partition wall, a converter (oxidation catalyst) arranged on the upstream side of the filter, a filter, and a converter are housed. A filter assembly (exhaust gas purification device) including a tubular housing (case) is known.

The filter is called a DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) or the like, and collects particulate matter (PM: Particulate Matter) contained in the exhaust gas of a diesel engine.

Further, a DPR (Diesel Particulate active-reduction) having a function of burning the particulate matter in order to avoid clogging of the filter by the collected particulate matter is also known.

However, even when the particulate matter is burned, soot and burnt residue (ash) gradually accumulate in the filter, which eventually causes clogging of the filter.

Since the filter is an expensive component, there is a great need for regeneration. Therefore, the used filter assembly is removed from the vehicle, the filter is cleaned, and the filter assembly is regenerated.

JP-A-2016-186234

When regenerating the filter assembly, it is preferable that the filter be washed with a cleaning solution and then sufficiently dried. However, conventionally, it has taken a long time to dry the ceramic filter.

In order to regenerate the filter assembly in a short time, it is conceivable to clean the filter and then attach it to the vehicle as it is without drying it. In this case, the filter dries as the hot exhaust gas passes through the filter while the vehicle is running.

However, it is usually necessary to inspect the filter for clogging by measuring the differential pressure after cleaning the filter. When the filter is undried, the pores of the partition wall of the filter are clogged with water, and differential pressure measurement cannot be performed. In this case, a filter failure may be discovered after the filter assembly is mounted on the vehicle. Therefore, it is required that the washed filter be thoroughly dried and then inspected.

The present invention has been made based on the above technical recognition, and is a filter that collects particulate matter contained in the exhaust gas of a diesel engine, and the washed one is efficiently dried in a short time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a filter drying system and a filter drying method which can be used.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a filter assembly regeneration method capable of efficiently providing a highly reliable regeneration filter assembly.

The filter drying system according to the present invention is
A filter drying system that collects particulate matter contained in the exhaust gas of a diesel engine and dries the washed one.
An accommodating device accommodating the filter and
A heating device that raises the temperature inside the accommodation device, and
A discharge device having a suction unit that sucks air in the filter and discharges it to the outside of the accommodating device.
It is characterized by having.

Further, in the filter drying system,
The heating device supplies warm air to one of the exhaust gas outflow surface and the exhaust gas inflow surface of the filter.
The suction unit may suck the air in the filter from the other surface side of the exhaust gas outflow surface and the exhaust gas inflow surface of the filter.

Further, in the filter drying system,
The accommodating device has a tubular main body portion on which the filter is arranged and a lid portion attached to an open end of the main body portion.
The filter is arranged in the main body portion so that the first end surface of one of the exhaust gas outflow surface and the exhaust gas inflow surface faces the inner surface of the lid portion.
The suction portion of the discharge device may suck the air in the filter from the first end face side.

Further, in the filter drying system,
The tubular main body is arranged so that the central axis is along the vertical direction, and the opening end is opened upward.
The filter is arranged in the main body so that the second end face opposite to the first end face faces downward.
The heating device may supply warm air to the second end face.

Further, in the filter drying system,
The heating device may be arranged outside the accommodating device, and warm air may be supplied to the inside of the accommodating device through a side opening provided in the main body portion.

Further, in the filter drying system,
The accommodating device may further include a wind direction changing portion that changes the direction of the warm air supplied from the side opening to the inside of the accommodating device upward.

Further, in the filter drying system,
The tubular main body is arranged so that the central axis is along the horizontal direction, and the opening end opens laterally.
The filter is arranged in the main body so that the second end face opposite to the first end face faces the opposite side to the side.
The heating device may supply warm air to the second end face.

Further, in the filter drying system,
The discharge device may further include a bowl-shaped adapter attached to the outer surface of the lid portion, and a connecting pipe connecting the adapter and the suction portion.

Further, in the filter drying system,
The accommodating device may have a constant temperature bath in which the filter is arranged inside and the internal temperature is maintained at a predetermined temperature by the heating device.

Further, in the filter drying system,
The predetermined temperature may be 160 ° C. to 180 ° C.

Further, in the filter drying system,
The suction unit may be an ejector that sucks the air in the filter by using a driving gas.

Further, in the filter drying system,
A first temperature sensor that measures the first temperature of the air sucked by the suction unit may be further provided.

Further, in the filter drying system,
A determination unit for determining that the drying of the filter is completed when the first temperature almost reaches a predetermined temperature may be further provided.

Further, in the filter drying system,
A second temperature sensor that measures the second temperature of the air inside the accommodating device may be further provided.

Further, in the filter drying system,
A determination unit for determining that the drying of the filter is completed when the first temperature almost reaches the second temperature may be further provided.

The filter drying method according to the present invention
A filter drying method that collects particulate matter contained in the exhaust gas of a diesel engine and dries the washed one.
A step of raising the temperature inside the accommodating device accommodating the filter and
A step of sucking air in the filter and discharging it to the outside of the accommodating device.
It is characterized by having.

The filter assembly reproduction method according to the present invention
A filter assembly regeneration method for regenerating a filter assembly having a filter for collecting particulate matter contained in the exhaust gas of a diesel engine.
Pre-cleaning inspection process to inspect filters in used filter assemblies,
If the result of the inspection in the pre-cleaning inspection step is good, the step of cleaning the filter and the step of cleaning the filter
The step of rinsing the washed filter and
A drying step of drying the rinsed filter and
A post-cleaning inspection step for inspecting the dried filter and
With
The drying step is
A step of raising the temperature inside the accommodating device accommodating the filter and
A step of sucking air in the filter and discharging it to the outside of the accommodating device.
It is characterized by including.

According to the present invention, a filter that collects particulate matter contained in the exhaust gas of a diesel engine and has been washed can be efficiently dried in a short time.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently provide a highly reliable reproduction filter assembly.

It is an overall flowchart for demonstrating the reproduction method of the filter assembly which concerns on embodiment. FIG. 1 is an overall flowchart for explaining a method of reproducing the filter assembly according to the embodiment, following FIG. It is sectional drawing of the used filter assembly removed from a vehicle. It is an enlarged sectional view of the filter of the filter assembly shown in FIG. (A) is a diagram showing an exhaust gas inflow surface of a converter of a filter assembly, and (b) is a diagram showing an exhaust gas outflow surface of a filter of a filter assembly. It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the filter inspection system which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the temperature distribution of the exhaust gas outflow surface of a normal filter, which was displayed on the display part of the measuring apparatus. It is a figure which shows the temperature distribution of the exhaust gas outflow surface of an abnormal filter displayed on the display part of a measuring apparatus. It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the filter inspection system which concerns on the modification of embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the filter inspection method which concerns on embodiment. It is a side sectional view which shows the schematic structure of the filter drying system which concerns on embodiment. It is a top view of the lid part of the accommodating device in the filter drying system which concerns on embodiment. It is a side sectional view which shows the schematic structure of the filter drying system which concerns on modification 1 of embodiment. It is a side sectional view which shows the schematic structure of the filter drying system which concerns on modification 2 of embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the filter drying method which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the filter drying method which concerns on embodiment, following FIG. 14A. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the stepner arrangement method which concerns on embodiment. It is a top view of the stepner before being divided into partial stepners. It is a top view of the partial stepner formed by dividing a stepner. (A) is a plan view of the upper sandwiching portion of the jig, and (b) is a side view of the upper sandwiching portion. (A) is a plan view of the lower sandwiching portion of the jig, and (b) is a side view of the lower sandwiching portion. (A) is a plan view showing a state in which two partial stepners are temporarily connected to each other via a jig, and (b) is a side view showing the state. It is a side view which shows the state which welded between two partial stepners. It is a top view of the coupling stepner which concerns on embodiment, which was arranged so as to surround the outer peripheral surface of a tubular housing. It is sectional drawing of the regenerated filter assembly.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same reference numerals are given to the components having the same functions.

<Structure of filter assembly>
First, the configuration of the filter assembly to be reproduced will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the used filter assembly 1000. FIG. 4 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the filter 1300 of the filter assembly 1000. FIG. 5A shows the exhaust gas inflow surface 1300a of the converter 1200, and FIG. 5B shows the exhaust gas outflow surface 1300b of the filter 1300.

As shown in FIG. 3, the filter assembly 1000 includes a tubular housing 1100, a converter 1200, a filter 1300, annular stepners 1410, 1420, and a tubular insulator (insulation cover) 1500.

The tubular housing 1100 is a metal tubular member made of stainless steel or the like. The tubular housing 1100 houses the converter 1200 and the filter 1300.

As shown in FIG. 3, an annular flange portion 1110 and a flange portion 1120 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular housing 1100 along the central axis direction. Specifically, the flange portion 1110 and the flange portion 1120 are welded to the outer peripheral surface of the tubular housing 1100. A stepner 1410 is arranged inside the flange portion 1110 (that is, on the flange portion 1120 side), and a stepner 1420 is arranged inside the flange portion 1120 (that is, on the flange portion 1110 side).

The flange portion 1110 and the stepner 1410 are made of a metal such as iron or stainless steel, and are provided with a plurality of bolt holes (not shown) at corresponding positions. Similarly, the flange portion 1120 and the stepner 1420 are provided with a plurality of bolt holes (not shown) at corresponding positions. When the filter assembly 1000 is attached to the vehicle, the flange portion 1110 and the stepner 1410 are fastened together with the flange portion and the gasket on the vehicle side by bolts inserted into the bolt holes. The flange portion 1120 and the stepner 1420 are also fastened together with a member (not shown) on the exhaust side by a bolt inserted into the bolt hole.

By providing the stepners 1410 and 1420, the bolt fastening pressure is evenly applied to the flange portions 1110 and 1120, and airtightness is ensured. This prevents or suppresses the exhaust gas that has not passed through the filter from leaking to the outside when the filter assembly is attached to the vehicle.

A tubular insulator 1500 is provided between the stepner 1410 and the stepner 1420 so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the tubular housing 1100.

The insulator 1500 is made of a metal such as stainless steel, and a heat insulating material (not shown) is provided on at least a part of the inner peripheral surface thereof, and functions as a heat insulating cover. In the insulator 1500, a half-split member obtained by dividing a cylindrical member along the axial direction is arranged so as to surround the tubular housing 1100, and the two half-split members are connected to each other by bolts and nuts. There is. The insulator 1500 is provided so as not to slide on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular housing 1100 due to the frictional force between the insulator 1500 and the tubular housing 1100.

By the way, when manufacturing a new filter assembly, the stepners 1410 and 1420 are set in the tubular housing 1100. Then, the flange portion 1110 and the flange portion 1120 are welded to the outer peripheral surface of the tubular housing 1100 so as to sandwich the set stepners 1410 and 1420.

Next, the converter 1200 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5A, the converter 1200 has a plurality of catalyst-supporting walls 1210 that support an oxidation catalyst, and the plurality of catalyst-supporting walls 1210 form a plurality of flow path FCs. ing. Hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide contained in the exhaust gas passing through the flow path FC are converted into harmless carbon dioxide and water by the oxidation catalyst supported on the catalyst supporting wall 1210. As the oxidation catalyst, a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) or the like is used.

Next, the filter 1300 will be described. The filter 1300 is configured to collect particulate matter (PM) contained in the exhaust gas of a diesel engine. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the filter 1300 has a plurality of flow paths formed by a plurality of cell walls 1310 made of ceramic. These plurality of flow paths include a sealing flow path SFC1 and a sealing flow path SFC2. The exhaust gas inflow side of the sealing flow path SFC1 is open, and the exhaust gas outflow side is sealed by the sealing portion 1330. On the contrary, in the sealing flow path SFC2, the exhaust gas outflow side is opened and the exhaust gas inflow side is sealed by the sealing portion 1320.

The sealing flow path SFC1 and the sealing flow path SFC2 are communicated with each other by pores (not shown) of the cell wall 1310. As shown in FIG. 4, the particulate matter PM cannot pass through the cell wall 1310 and therefore does not leak to the outside. The filter assembly 1000 may have a function of burning the particulate matter PM. However, the unburned residue of the particulate matter PM is deposited as ash (ash) A in the back of the sealing flow path SFC1. The exhaust gas from which the particulate matter PM has been removed passes through the cell wall 1310 and flows out from the open end of the sealing flow path SFC2.

As shown in FIG. 4, the filter 1300 has an exhaust gas inflow surface 1300a into which the exhaust gas discharged from the diesel engine flows in, and an exhaust gas outflow surface 1300b in which the exhaust gas from which the particulate matter has been removed flows out. FIG. 5B shows a part of the exhaust gas outflow surface 1300b. In the following description, the exhaust gas inflow surface 1300a and the exhaust gas outflow surface 1300b are collectively referred to as an "exhaust gas passage surface".

As shown in FIG. 3, in the filter assembly 1000, the converter 1200 described above is provided adjacent to the filter 1300 on the exhaust gas inflow surface 1300a side.

The configuration of the filter assembly 1000 described above is only an example, and a filter assembly having another configuration (for example, one having no converter) may be a reproduction target.

<< How to regenerate the filter assembly >>
Next, a method of regenerating the filter assembly 1000 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 1 and 2.

First, the used filter assembly 1000 is removed from a vehicle such as a truck equipped with a diesel engine (step S1).

After step S1, the filter 1300 is inspected by temperature distribution measurement (step S2). Hereinafter, this step is also referred to as a first inspection step or a pre-cleaning inspection step. In this step, the filter 1300 of the used filter assembly 1000 is inspected based on the temperature distribution of the exhaust gas passing surface (exhaust gas inflow surface 1300a or exhaust gas outflow surface 1300b) of the filter 1300. By this inspection, it is possible to inspect the filter 1300 for clogging, melting damage, and the like. The inspection method in this step will be described in more detail later.

If the result of the inspection in step S2 is good (S3: Yes), the stepners 1410 and 1420 and the insulator 1500 are removed from the tubular housing 1100 (step S4). In this way, by executing this step after performing the inspection in step S2, it is possible to avoid wasting the removal work of this step when the inspection result is not good and the filter is discarded.

In step S4, the stepners 1410 and 1420 interfere with the flange portions 1110 and 1120 as they are and cannot be removed from the tubular housing 1100. Therefore, they are removed from the tubular housing 1100 by cutting and dividing. Further, the insulator 1500 is removed from the tubular housing 1100 by removing the bolts and nuts that fasten the two halves.

On the other hand, if the inspection result in step S2 is not good (S3: No), the filter assembly is discarded (step S5).

After step S4, the filter 1300 is washed (step S6). Hereinafter, this step is also referred to as a cleaning step. In the cleaning step, the filter assembly 1000 (that is, the tubular housing 1100, the converter 1200 and the filter 1300) from which the stepners 1410 and 1420 and the insulator 1500 have been removed in step S4 is placed in the cleaning tank, and the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank is circulated. Wash the filter 1300 with.

After the cleaning step of step S6, the washed filter 1300 is rinsed (step S7). Hereinafter, this step is also referred to as a rinsing step. In the rinsing step, the filter 1300 is rinsed by sprinkling water on the filter 1300 in the washing tank from a shower nozzle installed above the washing tank. After sprinkling water, the remaining cleaning liquid or ash may be blown off with an air blow, and then rinsed with running water for finishing.

After the rinsing step of step S7, the filter 1300 is dried (step S8). Hereinafter, this step is also referred to as a drying step. By drying the filter 1300 in the drying step, it becomes possible to carry out the subsequent inspection steps (steps S9 and S11). The details of the drying method will be described separately.

After the drying step of step S8, the dried filter 1300 is inspected by differential pressure measurement (step S9). Hereinafter, this step is also referred to as a second inspection step. In the second inspection step, the presence or absence of clogging of the filter 1300 is determined by measuring the difference (differential pressure) between the pressure on the exhaust gas inflow surface 1300a side of the filter 1300 and the pressure on the exhaust gas outflow surface 1300b side. inspect.

If the result of the inspection by the differential pressure measurement is good (S10: Yes), the process proceeds to the filter inspection by the temperature distribution measurement (step S11). On the other hand, if the inspection result is not good (S10: No), it is suspected that the cleaning is insufficient, so the process returns to the cleaning step of step S6, and the filter 1300 is cleaned again.

After step S10, the filter 1300 having a good inspection result in step S9 is inspected by temperature distribution measurement (step S11). Hereinafter, this step is also referred to as a third inspection step. The second inspection process and the third inspection process are collectively referred to as a post-cleaning inspection process. By this step, it is possible to inspect the filter 1300 for clogging and melting damage. The filter inspection method in this step is the same as the inspection method in the first inspection step.

If the result of the inspection by the temperature distribution measurement is good (S12: Yes), the process proceeds to step S14, and if the inspection result is not good (S12: No), the filter assembly is discarded (step S13).

When the inspection result of the third inspection step is good, the stepner and the insulator are set in the tubular housing 1100 containing the cleaned filter (step S14). Hereinafter, this step is also referred to as a setting process. By replacing the stepner (more precisely, the coupling stepner described later) in this step, it is possible to prevent or suppress the exhaust gas that has not passed through the filter from leaking to the outside of the filter assembly. The replacement of the stepner will be described in detail later as a method of arranging the stepner.

The used filter assembly 1000 can be regenerated through the above process flow. The recycled filter assembly (recycled filter assembly 1000R described later) is supplied to the market as a recycled product or attached to a vehicle such as a truck.

According to the filter assembly regeneration method according to the present embodiment, the washed and dried filter 1300 is inspected by differential pressure measurement and temperature distribution measurement to improve the inspection accuracy of the filter. It is possible to avoid defects in the regenerated filter assembly as much as possible. That is, although filter clogging can be detected only by inspection by differential pressure measurement, it is difficult to detect that the sealing flow paths SFC1 and SFC2 of the filter 1300 penetrate due to melting damage. In addition, it may be difficult to detect a state in which clogging is uniformly generated in the exhaust gas passage surface only by inspection by temperature distribution measurement. However, the accuracy of the quality determination of the filter can be improved by performing both the inspection by the differential pressure measurement and the inspection by the temperature distribution measurement as described above.

The above method for regenerating the filter assembly is only an example. For example, the step of removing the stepners 1410, 1420 and the insulator 1500 from the tubular housing 1100 (step S4) may be performed between steps S1 and S2. Alternatively, step S4 may be performed immediately before step S14.

Further, the execution order of the second inspection step and the third inspection step may be changed.

If the inspection (steps S9 and S11) after cleaning the filter is not performed, the setting step (step S14) may be performed after the rinsing step (step S7).

Further, the configuration of the filter assembly 1000 targeted in the filter assembly reproduction method is only an example, and filter assemblies having other configurations may be targeted. For example, a filter assembly 1000A described later that does not have a converter may be reproduced.

<< Filter inspection system >>
Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the filter inspection system 10 used in the first inspection step (step S2) and the third inspection step (step S11) in the above-mentioned filter assembly regeneration method will be described.

As shown in FIG. 6, the filter inspection system 10 according to the present embodiment includes a temperature changing device 11 and a measuring device 12.

First, the temperature changing device 11 of the filter inspection system 10 will be described.

The temperature changing device 11 is configured to heat or cool the filter 1300 so that the temperature of the filter 1300 is higher or lower than a predetermined temperature from the ambient temperature.

When a part of the filter 1300 is melted, the amount of temperature change in the melted portion is different from the amount of temperature change in the other portion that is not melted. That is, when a part of the filter 1300 is melted and melted down, the sealing flow paths SFC1 and SFC2 penetrate through the part due to a defect of the sealing portions 1320 and 1330. As a result, the amount of temperature change is larger than that in the normal non-defective region because the hot air or the cold air passes through the through-passage formed by the melting loss.

Further, what is melted down by partial melting of the filter 1300 may block the open ends of the sealing flow paths SFC1 and SFC2. In this case, since hot air or cold air does not flow in the closed portion, the amount of temperature change is smaller than that in other normal regions.

As described above, the amount of temperature change is different from that of the other normal portions regardless of whether both ends of the sealing flow paths SFC1 and SFC2 are opened or closed due to melting damage. The same can be said not only for heating with warm air but also for heating the filter with an electric heating device.

From the viewpoint of inspection efficiency, it is preferable to heat or cool the filter 1300 with hot air or cold air. That is, the temperature changing device 11 heats or cools the filter 1300 by supplying hot air or cold air toward the exhaust gas passing surface (in the present embodiment, the exhaust gas inflow surface 1300a) of the filter 1300. In this case, for example, a spot air conditioner can be applied as the temperature changing device 11. By using hot air or cold air, the filter 1300 can be efficiently heated or cooled in a short time. Thereby, the inspection efficiency can be further improved. Although the efficiency is inferior, the filter 1300 may be heated by using an electric heating device such as a hot plate.

The temperature changing device 11 may supply cold air when the ambient temperature is equal to or higher than the reference temperature, and may supply hot air when the ambient temperature is lower than the reference temperature. For example, in the summer season, cold air is supplied to the filter 1300, and in the winter season, warm air is supplied to the filter 1300. As a result, a temperature difference between the filter 1300 and the surroundings can be easily generated. That is, it is possible to shorten the time until the temperature difference required for the quality determination occurs, and as a result, the inspection efficiency can be further improved.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the temperature changing device 11 supplies hot air or cold air toward the converter 1200. As a result, the wind rectified by the plurality of flow paths FC of the converter 1200 hits the filter 1300, so that the filter 1300 can be uniformly heated or cooled. As a result, the inspection accuracy (determination accuracy) of the filter inspection can be improved.

Next, the measuring device 12 of the filter inspection system 10 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 6, the measuring device 12 has an imaging unit 121, a display unit 122, a storage unit 123, and a determination unit 124.

The imaging unit 121 is configured by using an infrared image sensor, and measures the temperature distribution of the exhaust gas passing surface of the filter 1300 heated or cooled by the temperature changing device 11. In the present embodiment, the measuring device 12 measures the temperature distribution of the exhaust gas outflow surface 1300b of the filter 1300.

The display unit 122 is composed of a display such as a liquid crystal or an organic EL, and displays the temperature distribution (thermography) measured by the imaging unit 121. 7 and 8 show an example of a screen showing the temperature distribution of the exhaust gas outflow surface 1300b displayed on the display unit 122. FIG. 7 shows the case of the normal filter 1300, and FIG. 8 shows the case of the abnormal filter. In the case of a normal filter, the temperature distribution on the exhaust gas passing surface is uniform, whereas in the case of an abnormal filter, the temperature distribution on the exhaust gas passing surface has spot regions S1 and S2 showing melting damage.

The storage unit 123 stores image data showing the temperature distribution measured by the imaging unit 121. The storage unit 123 is composed of a non-volatile semiconductor memory such as a NAND flash memory, a hard disk drive, and the like.

The determination unit 124 determines the quality of the filter 1300 based on the temperature distribution measured by the imaging unit 121. Specifically, the determination unit 124 determines that the filter 1300 is abnormal when the temperature distribution is not uniform. For example, as described with reference to FIG. 8, the filter 1300 is determined to be abnormal when a spot region having a temperature higher or lower than the other regions exists in the temperature distribution of the filter. By determining the quality of the filter by the determination unit 124, an objective and uniform quality determination can be performed.

The number of spot areas for determining the abnormality may be appropriately set according to the criteria for the reproduction filter assembly. Further, not only when the spot region exists, but also when the temperature distribution of the filter is mottled, it may be determined that the filter is abnormal.

The determination unit 124 is realized, for example, by executing a predetermined program on the CPU. In addition, the determination unit 124 may be realized by hardware by FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or the like.

The determination unit 124 may be configured to determine the quality of the filter using a learned model constructed by machine learning such as deep learning. Further, regardless of the determination unit 124, a person may determine the quality of the filter by looking at the temperature distribution displayed on the display unit 122. In this case, the measuring device 12 does not have to include the determination unit 124.

According to the filter inspection system 10 described above, the filter is heated or cooled so that the temperature of the filter is separated from the ambient temperature by a predetermined value or more, and the temperature distribution of the exhaust gas passing surface of the heated or cooled filter is measured. As a result, the filter 1300 can be inspected accurately and efficiently in a short time. Further, as compared with the conventional inspection using a check rod, it is possible to reduce the variation in the inspection result by the person in charge of inspection.

The filter inspection system 10 according to the present embodiment is not limited to inspecting the filter 1300 stored in the tubular housing 1100, but may also be used to inspect the filter 1300 taken out from the tubular housing 1100. Good.

Further, the filter inspection system 10 according to the present embodiment may be used for inspection in a scene other than the reproduction method of the filter assembly 1000 described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, it may be used for pre-shipment inspection of new filters.

(Modified example of filter inspection system)
The filter inspection system 10A according to the modified example of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The filter inspection system 10A according to this modification is different from the above-mentioned filter inspection system 10 in that the filter assembly 1000A having no converter is inspected. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the filter assembly 1000A has a tubular housing 1100A, and the tubular housing 1100A stores the filter 1300 but not the converter 1200.

As shown in FIG. 9, the filter inspection system 10A according to this modification includes a temperature changing device 11, a measuring device 12, and a rectifying device 13. Since the temperature changing device 11 and the measuring device 12 are the same as the filter inspection system 10, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 9, the rectifying device 13 is provided between the temperature changing device 11 and the filter assembly 1000A (filter 1300), and rectifies hot air or cold air supplied from the temperature changing device 11. For example, the rectifier 13 is structurally configured to have a plurality of linear flow paths similar to the converter 1200. In addition, as the rectifying device 13, a known wind rectifying means may be used.

According to the filter inspection system 10A according to the present modification, the filter can be inspected accurately and efficiently in a short time as in the case of the above-described embodiment. Further, by providing the rectifying device 13, even if the filter assembly does not have a converter, the filter can be inspected without deteriorating the accuracy of the quality determination.

<< Filter inspection method >>
Next, the filter inspection method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This method is carried out in steps S2 and S11 of the method for regenerating the filter assembly described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

First, the temperature changing device 11 heats or cools the filter 1300 so that the temperature of the filter 1300 is higher or lower than the ambient temperature by a predetermined temperature or higher (step S21). For example, the temperature changing device 11 supplies hot air or cold air to the exhaust gas passing surface of the filter 1300 for about 10 seconds. The supply time depends on the air volume of hot air or cold air and its temperature. For example, the temperature of the hot air or the cold air is a temperature separated from the ambient temperature by 3 ° C. to 20 ° C. (for example, 5 ° C.).

Next, the measuring device 12 measures the temperature distribution of the exhaust gas passing surface of the filter 1300 heated or cooled in step S21 (step S22).

Next, the determination unit 124 determines the quality of the filter 1300 based on the temperature distribution measured in step S22 (step S23).

According to the above filter inspection method, the filter 1300 can be inspected accurately and efficiently in a short time.

According to the filter inspection system and the filter inspection method described above, the filter can be inspected accurately and efficiently in a short time. Further, by applying the filter inspection method according to the present embodiment to the filter assembly regeneration method, the filter assembly regeneration method can be made more efficient and a highly reliable regeneration filter assembly can be provided. That is, it becomes possible to efficiently provide a highly reliable reproduction filter assembly.

<< Filter drying system >>
Next, the filter drying system used in the drying step (step S8) in the above-mentioned filter assembly regeneration method will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the filter drying system 20 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 12 is a plan view of the lid portion 212 of the accommodating device 21.

The filter drying system 20 according to the present embodiment is configured so that the washed and rinsed filter 1300 can be efficiently dried in a short time as described in detail below.

As shown in FIG. 11, the filter drying system 20 includes an accommodating device 21, a heating device 22, a discharging device 23, temperature sensors 241,242, and a determination unit 25. Hereinafter, each component will be described in order.

The accommodating device 21 has a tubular (cylindrical, square cylinder) main body 211 in which the filter 1300 is arranged, and a lid 212 attached to the open end of the main body 211. In the present embodiment, the tubular main body 211 is arranged so that the central axis is along the vertical direction, and the opening end of the main body 211 is open upward. Here, a cylindrical drum can is used as the accommodating device 21. The shape of the accommodating device 21 is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a square cylinder or a box.

As shown in FIG. 11, a side opening 211a is provided on the side surface of the main body 211. The warm air of the heating device 22 is supplied to the inside of the main body 211 through the side opening 211a.

As shown in FIG. 12, the lid portion 212 is an annular member having an inner surface 212a and an outer surface 212b. For example, it is formed by processing the lid of a drum can. A plurality of bolt holes 212h corresponding to the bolt holes of the flange portion 1110 of the tubular housing 1100 are provided at the inner end portion of the lid portion 212. The lid portion 212 is configured to close the open end of the main body portion 211 together with the adapter 232 described later.

As shown in FIG. 11, the accommodating device 21 accommodates the tubular housing 1100 (filter 1300). In the present embodiment, the accommodating device 21 accommodates the filter 1300 in the vertical direction (that is, the directions of the sealing flow paths SFC1 and SFC2 are vertical). More specifically, the exhaust gas inflow surface 1300a faces the inner surface 212a of the lid portion 212 with the converter 1200 interposed therebetween.

The tubular housing 1100 is fixed to the lid portion 212. More specifically, the flange portion 1110 of the tubular housing 1100 is fixed to the adapter 232 of the discharge device 23 with bolts and nuts (not shown) sandwiching the lid portion 212. That is, the lid portion 212 is sandwiched between the flange portion 1110 of the tubular housing 1100 and the flange portion 232a of the adapter 232.

The tubular housing 1100 may be fixed to the lid portion 212 in a mode other than the above. For example, the tubular housing 1100 may be suspended from the lid 212 by a catenary such as a rope.

The heating device 22 is a device for raising the temperature inside the accommodating device 21. The heating device 22 is, for example, a heater that supplies warm air, and supplies warm air to the exhaust gas outflow surface 1300b of the filter 1300. The drying time can be shortened by increasing the temperature and volume of warm air.

As shown in FIG. 11, the heating device 22 is arranged outside the accommodating device 21, and supplies warm air to the inside of the accommodating device 21 via the side opening 211a of the main body 211. More specifically, the heating device 22 supplies warm air to the exhaust gas outflow surface 1300b.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the accommodating device 21 further includes a wind direction changing portion 213 that upwardly changes the wind direction of the warm air supplied from the side opening 211a into the accommodating device 21. As a result, more warm air from the outside of the accommodating device 21 can be applied to the filter 1300, and the drying efficiency of the filter can be improved.

The heating device 22 may be arranged inside the accommodating device 21. In this case, it is preferable to arrange the heating device 22 so that the water droplets dropped from the filter 1300 do not fall on the heating device 22.

Further, the heating device 22 is not limited to the hot air heater, and may be a convection stove or the like. In this case, it is preferable to arrange the convection stove inside the accommodating device 21. At this time, a side opening 211a may be provided on the side surface of the main body 211 as described above, or an opening may be provided on the bottom surface of the main body 211 so that the main body 211 is not blocked. It may be installed on a pedestal (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 11, the discharge device 23 has a suction unit 231, an adapter 232, and a connection pipe 233.

The suction unit 231 sucks the air in the filter 1300 and discharges it to the outside of the accommodating device 21. In the present embodiment, the suction unit 231 sucks the air in the filter 1300 from the exhaust gas inflow surface 1300a side of the filter 1300.

The suction unit 231 is composed of an ejector that sucks the air in the filter 1300 by using the driving gas, and has an introduction pipe 231a for introducing the driving gas (compressed air or the like) and a discharge pipe for discharging the sucked gas. It has 231b and. The gas sucked from the filter 1300 may contain substances derived from the cleaning liquid. By using an ejector as the suction unit 231, there is an advantage that the situation where the pump is damaged by such a substance can be avoided as compared with the case where a vacuum pump or the like is used. The present invention is not limited to the case where an ejector is used as the suction unit 231, and a vacuum pump or a blower may be applied.

The adapter 232 is a bowl-shaped member attached to the outer surface 212b of the lid portion 212. The adapter 232 is provided with a circular flange portion 232a. The flange portion 232a is provided with a bolt hole (not shown) corresponding to the bolt hole 212h of the lid portion 212. The bolt holes of the flange portion 232a, the bolt holes 212h of the lid portion 212, and the bolt holes of the flange portion 1110 of the tubular housing 1100 communicate with each other and are fastened with bolts and nuts.

The connection pipe 233 connects the suction unit 231 and the adapter 232. The air collected via the bowl-shaped adapter 232 passes through the connecting pipe 233, and is discharged to the outside through the suction unit 231.

The temperature sensors 241,242 are sensors that measure the temperature. More specifically, the temperature sensor 241 measures the temperature T1 of the air sucked by the suction unit 231 and the temperature sensor 242 measures the temperature T2 of the air inside the accommodating device 21. The types of the temperature sensors 241,242 are not particularly limited as long as they can measure up to the upper limit temperature (for example, 200 ° C.) of the warm air supplied from the heating device 22.

As shown in FIG. 11, the temperature sensor 241 is provided on the connecting pipe 233, and the temperature sensor 242 is provided on the inner surface 212a of the lid portion 212. The arrangement of the temperature sensors 241,242 is not limited to this. For example, the temperature sensor 241 may be provided inside the adapter 232 or in the suction unit 231. However, considering that the temperature of the air drops when flowing through the connecting pipe 233, it is preferable that the temperature sensor 241 is provided at a portion close to the filter 1300. Further, the temperature sensor 242 may be provided on the inner peripheral surface of the main body portion 211, for example, in addition to the lid portion 212.

Here, a method of determining the completion of the drying process by the temperature sensors 241,242 will be described. As the drying of the filter 1300 progresses, the temperature T1 of the air sucked by the suction unit 231 rises. More specifically, as the drying of the filter 1300 progresses, the moisture in the air sucked from the filter 1300 decreases, and the heat removing action of the heat of vaporization decreases, so that the temperature T1 measured by the temperature sensor 241 is determined. Rise.

Then, when the drying of the filter 1300 is almost completed, the temperature T1 of the air sucked by the suction unit 231 almost reaches the temperature T2 in the accommodating device 21. Therefore, by monitoring the temperature T1 measured by the temperature sensor 241 and the temperature T2 measured by the temperature sensor 242, it can be determined whether or not the drying of the filter 1300 is completed.

In the present embodiment, the determination unit 25 determines that the drying of the filter 1300 is completed when the temperature T1 substantially reaches the temperature T2. The determination unit 25 is realized, for example, by executing a predetermined program on the CPU. In addition, the determination unit 25 may be realized by hardware by FPGA, ASIC, or the like. The determination as to whether or not the drying of the filter is completed may be performed by a person instead of the determination unit 25.

The temperature sensor 242 is not indispensable for determining the completion of the drying process, and can be omitted depending on the required determination accuracy. When the temperature sensor 242 is omitted, the determination unit 25 determines that the drying of the filter 1300 is completed when the temperature T1 substantially reaches a predetermined temperature. As the predetermined temperature, for example, the temperature of the hot air supplied from the heating device 22, the temperature obtained by adding a predetermined value to the outside air temperature, or the like is used.

As described above, in the filter drying system 20 according to the present embodiment, the heating device 22 raises the temperature in the accommodating device 21 accommodating the filter 1300, and the discharging device 23 sucks the air in the filter 1300. It is discharged to the outside of the accommodating device 21. As a result, the washed and wet filter can be efficiently dried in a short time.

Further, by drying the filter 1300, the filter 1300 can be inspected after cleaning (steps S9 and S11 described above). As a result, it is possible to prevent or suppress the discovery of problems such as clogging after the regenerated filter assembly is attached to the vehicle.

Further, in the present embodiment, the heating device 22 supplies warm air to the exhaust gas outflow surface 1300b side, and the exhaust device 23 sucks the air in the filter 1300 from the exhaust gas inflow surface 1300a side. In this way, by applying warm air to one end face side of the filter 1300 and sucking air from the other end face side of the filter 1300, the warm air blows the sealing flow paths SFC1 and SFC2 of the filter 1300 at a relatively high speed. The filter 1300 can be dried in a shorter time because it passes through the filter.

Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the heating device 22 is arranged outside the accommodating device 21, and warm air is supplied into the accommodating device 21 through the side opening 211a of the main body portion 211. At the same time, the filter 1300 is vertically arranged in the accommodating device 21 to supply warm air to the exhaust gas outflow surface 1300b located below. As a result, the drying of the filter 1300 is promoted by the warm air supplied from the side opening 211a into the accommodating device 21, and the water droplets dropped from the filter 1300 can be prevented from falling onto the heating device 22. ..

(Modification example 1 of filter drying system)
The filter drying system according to the first modification of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 13A. FIG. 13A is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the filter drying system 20A according to the first modification of the present embodiment.

The filter drying system 20A is the above-mentioned filter drying system in that the filter 1300 is accommodated in the accommodating device 21 not vertically but horizontally (that is, so that the directions of the sealing flow paths SFC1 and SFC2 are horizontal). Different from 20.

As shown in FIG. 13A, the filter drying system 20A according to this modification includes an accommodating device 21A, a heating device 22A, a discharge device 23, a temperature sensor 241,242, and a determination unit 25. The configurations other than the accommodating device 21A and the heating device 22A are the same as those of the filter drying system 20, so detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The accommodating device 21A has a main body portion 211 and a lid portion 212, similarly to the accommodating device 21 described above. In this modification, the square tubular main body 211 is arranged so that the central axis is along the horizontal direction, and the opening end of the main body 211 is not upward but lateral (right in FIG. 13A). It is open. The tubular housing 1100 is laterally fixed to the lid 212.

The filter 1300 is arranged in the main body 211 so that the exhaust gas outflow surface 1300b faces the opposite side (left in FIG. 13A) of the main body 211.

The heating device 22A is arranged inside the accommodating device 21A as shown in FIG. 13A. The heating device 22A is a hot air heater, a convection stove, or the like, like the heating device 22 described above. In the case of a hot air heater, the heating device 22A supplies hot air to the exhaust gas outflow surface 1300b of the filter 1300.

According to this modification, the same effect as that of the filter drying system 20 according to the embodiment can be obtained. Further, by arranging the heating device 22A inside the accommodating device 21A, the filter drying system can be miniaturized.

The heating device 22A may be arranged outside the accommodating device 21A without being limited to the above. In this case, for example, an opening is provided on the side of the main body 211 (left in FIG. 13A), and the warm air supplied from the heating device 22A through the opening is introduced into the main body 211.

Further, the tubular housing 1100 may be arranged sideways on the inner surface of the main body 211, or may be arranged sideways on a base (not shown) provided in the main body 211.

The filter drying system according to the embodiment and the first modification has been described.

The filter 1300 may be accommodated in the accommodating devices 21 and 21A so that the exhaust gas outflow surface 1300b faces the inner surface 212a of the lid portion 212. In particular, in the case of a filter assembly having no converter 1200 such as the filter assembly 1000A, the filter 1300 may be arranged in the main body 211 so that the exhaust gas outflow surface 1300b faces the inner surface 212a of the lid 212. ..

Therefore, generally speaking, the filter 1300 has a main body portion 211 such that one end surface (first end surface) of the exhaust gas inflow surface 1300a and the exhaust gas outflow surface 1300b faces the inner surface 212a of the lid portion 212. Placed inside. In other words, the filter 1300 is arranged so that the other end surface (second end surface) of the exhaust gas inflow surface 1300a and the exhaust gas outflow surface 1300b faces downward. The second end face is the face opposite to the first end face. In the present embodiment, the first end face is the exhaust gas inflow surface 1300a, and the second end face is the exhaust gas outflow surface 1300b.

Further, a plurality of filters may be accommodated in the accommodating devices 21 and 21A, and the plurality of filters may be dried at once. As a result, the filter drying step can be performed more efficiently.

(Modification 2 of the filter drying system)
Next, the filter drying system according to the second modification of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 13B. FIG. 13B is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the filter drying system 20B according to the second modification of the present embodiment.

The filter drying system 20B is different from the above-mentioned filter drying systems 20 and 20A in that a constant temperature bath is used as the accommodating device.

As shown in FIG. 13B, the filter drying system 20B according to this modification includes an accommodating device 21B, a heating device 22B, a discharge device 23, and temperature sensors 241,242.

The accommodating device 21B has a constant temperature bath 214 and caster portions 215. The filter 1300 is arranged inside the constant temperature bath 214. Further, the temperature inside the constant temperature bath 214 is maintained at a predetermined temperature (set temperature) by the heating device 22B. A plurality of caster portions 215 are provided on the lower surface of the constant temperature bath 214, and are used when moving the accommodating device 21B.

An outside air introduction hole H1 is provided on the outer wall of the constant temperature bath 214, and outside air is taken into the constant temperature bath 214 through the outside air introduction hole H1.

In this modification, as shown in FIG. 13B, a plurality of tubular housings 1100 (filters 1300) are housed in the constant temperature bath 214. More specifically, each tubular housing 1100 is supported by a support 216. The support base 216 has a top plate portion 216a and a plurality of leg portions 216b. The top plate portion 216a is provided with an opening in the central region, similarly to the lid portion 212 described above, and the inner end of the opening corresponds to a bolt hole of the flange portion 1110 of the tubular housing 1100. A plurality of bolt holes (not shown) are provided. Then, the flange portion 1110 is fixed to the adapter 232 of the discharge device 23 with bolts and nuts sandwiching the top plate portion 216a, so that the tubular housing 1100 is fixed to the support base 216.

In this modification, as shown in FIG. 13B, the tubular housing 1100 is arranged upside down (ie, the filter 1300 is located above the converter 1200). Not limited to this, the tubular housing 1100 may be fixed to the support base 216 so that the filter 1300 is located below the converter 1200.

As shown in FIG. 13B, the temperature sensor 241 is provided for each discharge device 23 associated with the tubular housing 1100 (filter 1300). Thereby, it can be determined for each filter whether or not the filter is dry.

A temperature sensor 242 is provided in the constant temperature bath 214. By controlling the heating device 22B based on the temperature T2 measured by the temperature sensor 242, the temperature inside the constant temperature bath 214 is maintained at a desired temperature (set temperature). The position where the temperature sensor 242 is provided is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 13B.

The heating device 22B is a hot air heater provided between the inner wall and the outer wall of the constant temperature bath 214. The heating device 22B sends warm air into the constant temperature bath 214 through the air circulation hole H2 provided on the inner wall of the constant temperature bath 214.

As shown in FIG. 13B, the discharge device 23 is provided for each filter housed in the storage device 21B. Each discharge device 23 has a suction unit 231 and an adapter 232 and a connection pipe 233 as described in the filter drying systems 20 and 20A described above, and sucks the air inside the associated filter to accommodate the air. It is configured to discharge to the outside of 21B.

In this modification, as shown in FIG. 13B, the suction portion 231 is provided outside the constant temperature bath 214, and the connecting pipe 233 penetrates the side wall of the constant temperature bath 214 to connect the suction portion 231 and the adapter 232. There is. The structure is such that the discharged gas is discharged to the outside of the constant temperature bath 214, and the suction unit 231 may be arranged in the constant temperature bath 214.

The configuration of the constant temperature bath 214 described above is only an example. The configuration is not limited to the above as long as the filter can be arranged inside and the temperature inside is kept at a predetermined temperature.

Although not shown, the filter drying system 20B may include a determination unit similar to the determination unit 25 described above. In this case, the determination unit is communicably connected to a plurality of temperature sensors 241 and temperature sensors 242, and when the temperature T1 corresponding to a certain filter almost reaches the temperature T2 in the constant temperature bath 214, the filter is dried. Judge that it is completed. The determination of the completion of drying for each filter is not limited to automatic determination by the determination unit, and may be performed by a person.

According to the modification 2 described above, the temperature in the accommodating device 21B accommodating at least one filter 1300 is raised by the heating device 22B, and the air in the filter 1300 is sucked by the discharging device 23, so that the accommodating device 21B ( It is discharged to the outside of the constant temperature bath 214). As a result, at least one of the washed and wet filters can be efficiently dried in a short time.

Further, according to the second modification, since the heating device 22B is provided inside the accommodating device 21B, the filter drying system can be miniaturized. Alternatively, a filter drying system of the same size can dry more filters at once.

Further, according to the modification 2, since the drying process of the plurality of filters can be executed collectively, the filter drying step can be performed more efficiently.

The filter drying system according to the embodiment and the modified examples 1 and 2 thereof has been described above.

In the above-described embodiment and modification, the tubular housing 1100 is arranged in the accommodating devices 21, 21A, 21B, but the tubular housing 1100A may be arranged in the accommodating device 21 instead of the tubular housing 1100. ..

Further, the arrangement form of the tubular housing (filter) is not limited to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction as described above, and may be arranged in the oblique direction.

If the filter can be easily taken out from the tubular housing, the filter may be taken out from the tubular housing and the filter alone may be arranged inside the accommodating device 21.

<< Filter drying method >>
Next, the filter drying method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 14A and 14B. This method is carried out in step S8 of the method of regenerating the filter assembly described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In the following description, the filter drying method when the filter drying system 20 according to the embodiment is used will be described, but the same applies when the filter drying system 20A according to the modified example is used.

First, the filter 1300 and the discharge device 23 are attached to the lid portion 212 of the accommodation device 21 (step S81). In the present embodiment, after the filter assembly 1000 and the adapter 232 of the discharge device 23 are arranged so as to sandwich the lid portion 212, the bolt holes of the flange portion 1110 of the filter assembly 1000, the bolt holes 212h of the lid portion 212, and the adapter 232 are arranged. The bolt holes of the flange portion 232a of the above are communicated with each other, and the filter 1300, the lid portion 212 and the adapter 232 are fastened to each other with bolts and nuts.

After that, the lid portion 212 is attached to the main body portion 211 of the accommodating device 21 so that the filter 1300 is accommodated in the main body portion 211 (step S82).

After step S82, the heating device 22 is operated to raise the temperature inside the accommodating device 21 accommodating the filter 1300 (step S83). In the present embodiment, the hot air heater as the heating device 22 is operated to supply the hot air into the accommodating device 21.

After step S83, the discharge device 23 is operated to suck the air in the filter 1300 and discharge it to the outside of the accommodating device 21 (step S84). In the present embodiment, a driving gas such as compressed air is supplied to the ejector via the introduction pipe 231a. By this step, the hot air in the main body 211 passes through the filter 1300 at a relatively high speed, so that the filter 1300 can be dried efficiently.

After step S84, it is determined whether or not the temperature of the air sucked by the discharge device 23 has reached the temperature inside the accommodating device 21 (step S85). In the present embodiment, the determination unit 25 determines whether or not the temperature T1 measured by the temperature sensor 241 has reached the temperature T2 measured by the temperature sensor 242. When the temperature T1 almost reaches the temperature T2 (S85: Yes), it is determined that the drying of the filter 1300 is completed, and the process proceeds to step S86.

As the temperature inside the accommodating device 21, a predetermined temperature such as the temperature of the warm air supplied from the heating device 22 may be used instead of the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 242.

In step S86, the operation of the heating device 22 is stopped.

After step S86, it is determined whether or not the temperature inside the accommodating device 21 has dropped to a predetermined temperature (step S87). The predetermined temperature is, for example, a temperature obtained by adding a predetermined value to the outside air temperature.

When it is determined that the temperature inside the accommodating device 21 has dropped to a predetermined temperature (S87: Yes), the operation of the discharging device 23 is stopped (step S88). By stopping the operation of the heating device 22 and operating the discharging device 23 for a while in this way, the temperature of the heated filter can be rapidly lowered.

According to the filter drying method according to the present embodiment, the washed filter can be efficiently dried in a short time.

The above filter drying method is only an example. For example, step S83 and step S84 may be performed in the reverse order. Further, instead of the determination in step S87, it may be determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the execution of step S86, and step S88 may be performed when the predetermined time has elapsed.

The filter drying method for the filter drying system 20B according to the second modification is almost the same as the above method as follows.

First, the tubular housing 1100 is fixed to the support base 216. As a result, the tubular housing 1100 and the discharge device 23 are connected. After that, the heating device 22B is operated to raise the temperature in the constant temperature bath 214 to a predetermined temperature. The higher the temperature in the constant temperature bath 214, the shorter the time required for drying the filter. On the other hand, if the temperature is too high, the catalyst may be damaged. Therefore, the temperature inside the constant temperature bath 214 is preferably set within an appropriate range (for example, 160 ° C. to 180 ° C.).

After that, the discharge device 23 is operated to suck the air in the filter 1300 and discharge it to the outside of the accommodating device 21B. By discharging the air inside the filter 1300 to the outside, the filter 1300 can be efficiently dried in a short time.

After that, the same determination as in step S85 described above is performed. That is, it is determined whether or not the temperature T1 measured by the temperature sensor 241 has reached the temperature T2 measured by the temperature sensor 242. When the temperature T1 almost reaches the temperature T2, it is determined that the drying of the filter is completed. When it is determined that the drying of all the filters housed in the constant temperature bath 214 is completed, the operation of the heating device 22B is stopped. Even after the drying is completed, the discharge device 23 may be continued to operate until the temperature in the constant temperature bath 214 drops to a predetermined temperature in order to quickly lower the temperature of the heated filter.

According to the filter drying system and the filter drying method according to the present embodiment described above, the washed filter can be efficiently dried in a short time.

Further, by applying the filter drying method according to the present embodiment to the filter assembly regeneration method, the filter drying step can be shortened, so that the filter assembly regeneration method can be made more efficient. Further, since the post-cleaning inspection step can be performed by drying the filter, it becomes possible to provide a highly reliable regeneration filter assembly.

<< Stepner placement method >>
Next, the stepner arrangement method according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This stepner arrangement method is a method for arranging an annular stepner (to be exact, a coupling stepner as a stepner equivalent) between the flange portion 1110 and the flange portion 1120 provided in the tubular housing 1100 for storing the filter 1300. Is. This method is carried out in step S14 of the method of regenerating the filter assembly described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Although the tubular housing 1100 will be described below as a target for arranging the stepner, the above-mentioned tubular housing 1100A may be the target for placement.

First, the flange portions 1110 and 1120 of the tubular housing 1100 are laser-cleaned (step S141). As a result, rust and the like can be removed, the flatness of the flange portions 1110 and 1120 can be ensured, and exhaust gas leakage can be prevented or suppressed. Further, according to the laser cleaning using a laser cleaner (laser rust removing device), it is possible to prevent the ceramic filter from being damaged as compared with the case of using a rust removing agent or a cup brush, and foreign matter enters the inside of the filter during cleaning. This can prevent the filter performance from deteriorating.

Next, the annular stepner 1600 is divided to form a plurality of partial stepners 1600L and 1600R (step S142). Hereinafter, this step is also referred to as a partial stepner forming step. FIG. 16 shows a plan view of the stepner 1600 before division, and FIG. 17 shows a plan view of the partial stepners 1600L and 1600R. As shown in FIG. 16, the metal stepner 1600 is provided with eight bolt holes BH1 to BH8. Each bolt hole is provided at a position corresponding to the bolt hole provided in the flange portions 1110 and 1120. The number of bolt holes is only an example, and may be another number.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the stepner 1600 is divided into two along the cutting line CL to form the partial stepner 1600L and the partial stepner 1600R. After cutting, it is preferable to remove burrs on the cut surface using a metal file or the like. The stepner 1600 is not limited to the case where it is divided into two, and may be divided into three or more to form three or more partial stepners.

Next, a plurality of partial stepners 1600L and 1600R are combined in an annular shape so as to surround the outer peripheral surface of the tubular housing 1100, and temporarily connected to each other via a jig 2000 (step S143). Hereinafter, this step is also referred to as a temporary connection step. Here, the partial stepner 1600L and the partial stepner 1600R are circularly combined and cured so as to surround the outer peripheral surface between the flange portion 1110 and the flange portion 1120 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular housing 1100 along the central axis direction. Temporarily connected to each other via the tool 2000.

When combining the partial stepner 1600L and the partial stepner 1600R, it is preferable to align the front surface and the back surface so that the original stepner 1600 is restored.

The jig 2000 used in the temporary connection step includes an upper sandwiching portion 2100 and a lower sandwiching portion 2200. Here, the jig 2000 will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 (a) and 18 (b) and FIGS. 19 (a) and 19 (b). 18 (a) and 18 (b) show a plan view and a side view of the upper sandwiching portion 2100, respectively. 19 (a) and 19 (b) show a plan view and a side view of the lower sandwiching portion 2200, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, the upper sandwiching portion 2100 has a connecting member 2110 and a bolt 2120 provided on the connecting member 2110. The bolt 2120 is provided so as to be orthogonal to the main surface of the plate-shaped connecting member 2210. In the present embodiment, the bolt 2120 is inserted into the through hole of the connecting member 2110 and fixed to the connecting member 2110.

The lower sandwiching portion 2200 has a connecting member 2210 and a nut 2220 as shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B. The nut 2220 is screwable with the bolt 2120.

The connecting member 2110 is provided with alignment holes AH1 and AH2. Further, the connecting member 2210 is provided with alignment holes AH3, AH4 and AH5. In a state where the bolt 2120 is inserted through the alignment hole AH4, in a plan view (that is, when viewed in the thickness direction of the connecting members 2110 and 2210), the alignment hole AH1 and the alignment hole AH3 overlap and the alignment hole AH3 overlaps. The AH2 and the alignment hole AH5 overlap. The positioning pin LP (described later) is inserted into the positioning holes that overlap in this way.

As shown in FIGS. 18A and 19A, the planar shapes of the connecting members 2110 and 2210 are preferably arcuate, which is the same as the shapes of the partial stepners 1600L and 1600R. By matching the shape of the connecting members 2110 and 2210 with the shapes of the partial stepners 1600L and 1600R in this way, when the connecting members 2110 and 2210 sandwich the connecting portion of the partial stepners 1600L and 1600R, the connecting members 2110 and 2210 are partially connected. Sufficient pressure is applied evenly to the Stephner 1600L and 1600R. As a result, flattening between the partial stepner 1600L and the partial stepner 1600R can be further achieved.

The connecting members 2110 and 2210 may be obtained by cutting the stepners (not shown) prepared separately from those for manufacturing the partial stepners 1600L and 1600R. As a result, the bolt holes of the stepner can be used as through holes and alignment holes AH1 to AH5 for inserting the bolt 2120. Further, the planar shape of the connecting members 2110 and 2210 can be the same arc shape as the shape of the partial stepners 1600L and 1600R.

Further, the size (length) of the connecting members 2110 and 2210, the number of alignment holes, and the like can be appropriately changed according to the size of the target stepner, the number of bolt holes, and the like. When the number of bolt holes (for example, 10) of the stepner 1600 is large, the connecting members 2110 and 2210 may be lengthened or the number of alignment holes may be increased.

The temporary connection step using the jig 2000 will be described with reference to FIGS. 20A and 20B. 20 (a) and 20 (b) show a state in which the partial stepner 1600L and the partial stepner 1600R, which are combined so as to surround the outer peripheral surface of the tubular housing 1100, are temporarily connected to each other via the jig 2000. As shown in the figure, the partial stepner 1600L and the partial stepner 1600R are temporarily connected by two jigs 2000.

In the temporary connection step, among the plurality of partial stepners formed in the partial stepper forming step, the first partial stepper and the second partial steppner (here, the partial steppers 1600L and 1600R) adjacent to each other are subjected to the first portion. The upper sandwiching portion 2100 and the lower sandwiching portion 2200 are arranged so as to sandwich between the stepner and the second partial stepner. At this time, in the present embodiment, the bolt 2120 of the upper sandwiching portion 2100 is a connecting member of the bolt hole BH1 (BH5) and the lower sandwiching portion 2200 reshaped by combining the partial stepner 1600L and the partial stepner 1600R. It is inserted through the alignment hole AH4 of 2210.

After arranging the upper sandwiching portion 2100 and the lower sandwiching portion 2200 as described above, the connecting member 2110, the partial stepners 1600L, 1600R and the connecting member 2210 are fastened by screwing the nut 2220 into the bolt 2120. .. In this way, the first partial stepner and the second partial stepner are temporarily connected via the connecting member 2110 and the connecting member 2210.

By the way, when the nut 2220 is screwed into the bolt 2120, if the tightening torque is too small, the space between the partial stepner 1600L and the partial stepner 1600R cannot be sufficiently flattened. On the other hand, if the tightening torque is too large, the connecting members 2110 and 2210 will warp around the bolt 2120, and the partial stepner 1600L and the partial stepner 1600R cannot be sufficiently flattened. Therefore, it is desirable that the tightening torque has a size within an appropriate range (for example, about 20 Nm).

As shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, before screwing the nut 2220 into the bolt 2120, the alignment holes provided in the connecting member 2110 and the partial stepners 1600L and 1600R are provided. The alignment hole may be communicated with the alignment hole provided in the connecting member 2210, and the positioning pin LP may be inserted through the communication hole. Specifically, the positioning pin LP on the left side of FIG. 20B is inserted into the alignment hole AH2, the bolt hole BH6, and the alignment hole AH5. Further, the positioning pin LP on the right side is inserted into the alignment hole AH1, the bolt hole BH4, and the alignment hole AH3. The positioning pin LP on the left side is inserted into the alignment hole AH2, the bolt hole BH6, and the alignment hole AH5.

By screwing the nut 2220 into the bolt 2120 with the positioning pin LP inserted into the alignment hole in this way, the accuracy of the mounting position of the jig 2000 can be improved. As a result, the bonded stepner 1600B described later can be further flattened and rounded.

After performing the temporary connection step as described above, a plurality of partial stepners 1600L and 1600R are joined to form an annular bonded stepner 1600B (step S144). Hereinafter, this step is also referred to as a joining step. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 21, the partial stepner 1600L and the partial stepner 1600R are joined by welding to form an annular bonded stepner 1600B. FIG. 21 is a side view showing a state in which the gap between the partial stepner 1600L and the partial stepner 1600R is welded. The symbol WP indicates a welded portion.

As the welding method, semi-automatic welding such as CO2 welding is used. The welded portion WP may be coated with rust preventive coating. Further, the method of joining the partial stepner is not limited to welding, and a metal adhesive or the like may be used.

After the joining step, the jig 2000 is removed from the coupling stepner 1600B (step S145). In order to avoid deformation of the coupling stepner 1600B, it is preferable to remove the jig 2000 after the welded portion WP has cooled. For example, the jig 2000 is removed after 5 minutes or more have passed after welding.
FIG. 22 shows a plan view of the coupling stepner 1600B from which the jig 2000 has been removed. The coupling stepner 1600B is arranged so as to surround the outer peripheral surface of the tubular housing 1100.

The coupling stepner 1600B has bolt holes corresponding to the bolt holes of the flange portions 1110 and 1120, similarly to the stepners 1410 and 1420 before replacement. As shown in FIG. 23, two coupling stepners 1600B are produced, one adjacent to the flange portion 1110 and the other adjacent to the flange portion 1120.

After removing the jig 2000, a new insulator 1700 is placed in the tubular housing 1100 as shown in FIG. Specifically, two halves (not shown) are arranged so as to surround the outer peripheral surface of the tubular housing 1100 between the flange portions 1110 and the flange portions 1120, and are fastened to each other with bolts and nuts. FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the regenerated filter assembly 1000R. Instead of using the new insulator 1700, the used insulator 1500 removed in step S4 may be reused.

Here, with reference to FIG. 23, the configuration of the reproduction filter assembly 1000R reproduced by the above method will be described.

The regeneration filter assembly 1000R includes a tubular housing 1100, a cleaned filter 1300R housed in the tubular housing 1100, and an annular coupling stepner 1600B arranged between the flange portions 1110 and the flange portion 1120. An insulator 1700 that covers the outer peripheral surface of the tubular housing 1100 is provided. The regeneration filter assembly 1000R may further include a converter 1200, as shown in FIG.

Two coupling stepners 1600B are provided so as to be adjacent to the flange portions 1110 and 1120, respectively, and an insulator 1700 is provided between these coupling stepners 1600B. The bonded stepner 1600B is configured as a plurality of partial stepners 1600L and 1600R combined and joined so as to form one annular stepner.

In the coupling stepner 1600B, the partial stepner 1600L and the partial stepner 1600R are joined by a cut surface passing through the bolt holes BH1 and BH5 of the coupling stepner 1600B.

According to the stepner arrangement method according to the present embodiment described above, a new stepner (coupling stepner 1600B) can be arranged in the tubular housing 1100 that stores the cleaned filter 1300R. As a result, when the regeneration filter assembly 1000R is attached to the vehicle, sufficient pressure is evenly applied to the gasket interposed between the flange portion on the vehicle side and the flange portion 1110 to ensure airtightness. It will be possible. As a result, it is possible to prevent or suppress the exhaust gas that has not passed through the filter 1300 and contains particulate matter from leaking to the outside.

Therefore, by applying the stepner arrangement method according to the present embodiment to the filter assembly reproduction method, a highly reliable reproduction filter assembly can be provided.

Further, according to the stepner arrangement method according to the present embodiment, the partial stepners 1600L and 1600R are temporarily connected via the jig 2000 to flatten the partial steppner 1600L and the partial stepner 1600R. The 1600L and the partial stepner 1600R are joined. As a result, it is possible to prevent or suppress a situation in which a gap is generated between the coupling stepner 1600B and the flange portions 1110 and 1120 when the regeneration filter assembly is attached to the vehicle and the airtightness is lowered.

Further, in the above partial stepper forming step, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the stepner 1600 is divided so that the cutting line CL passes through the bolt holes BH1 and BH5 of the stepner 1600. By doing so, when the jig 2000 is attached to the partial stepners 1600L and 1600R in the temporary connection step (step S143), the bolt holes BH1 and BH5 reshaped by combining the partial stepper 1600L and the partial stepner 1600R. The bolt 2120 is inserted into the jig 2000, and the connecting member 2110 and the connecting member 2210 of the jig 2000 can uniformly press the partial stepners 1600L and 1600R from both the front and back surfaces with sufficient pressure (surface pressure). As a result, the level difference between the surfaces of the partial stepner 1600L and the partial stepner 1600R can be further reduced, and further flattening can be achieved.

The above stepner arrangement method is only an example, and various changes may be made. For example, the laser cleaning step of the flange portion (step S141) may be performed after any step in the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the above example, the bolt 2120 is inserted into the bolt holes BH1 and BH5 formed by combining the partial stepner 1600L and the partial stepner 1600R, but is not limited to this. That is, if the connecting member 2110 straddles the boundary between the partial stepner 1600L and the partial stepner 1600R, the bolt 2120 may be inserted into another bolt hole.

In the above example, the connecting members 2110 and 2210 and the partial stepners 1600L and 1600R are fastened using the bolts 2120 and the nuts 2220, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the connecting members 2110 and the connecting members are connected by using a fastening force such as a clamp mechanism or a clip. The member 2210 may be pressed from both sides to flatten the partial stepner 1600L and the partial stepner 1600R.

Based on the above description, those skilled in the art may be able to conceive of additional effects and various modifications of the present invention, but aspects of the present invention are limited to the individual embodiments and modifications described above. It's not a thing. Components across different embodiments and variants may be combined as appropriate. Various additions, changes and partial deletions are possible without departing from the conceptual idea and purpose of the present invention derived from the contents defined in the claims and their equivalents.

10,10A Filter inspection system 11 Temperature change device 12 Measuring device 121 Imaging unit 122 Display unit 123 Storage unit 124 Judgment unit 13 Rectifier 20, 20A, 20B Filter drying system 21,21A, 21B Containment device 211 Main body 211a Side opening Part 212 Lid part 212a Inner surface 212b Outer surface 212h Bolt hole 213 Wind direction change part 214 Constant temperature bath 215 Caster part 216 Support base 216a Top plate part 216b Legs 22, 22A, 22B Heating device 23 Discharge device 231 Suction part 231a Introduction pipe 231b Discharge pipe 232 Adapter 232a Flange part 233 Connection pipe 241,242 Temperature sensor 25 Judgment part 1000, 1000A Filter assembly 1000R Regeneration filter assembly 1100, 1100A Cylindrical housing 1110, 1120 Flange part 1200 Converter 1210 Catalyst carrying wall 1300, 1300R Filter 1300a Exhaust Gas inflow surface 1300b Exhaust gas outflow surface 1310 Cell wall 1320, 1330 Sealing part 1410, 1420 Stephner 1500 Insulator 1600 Stephner 1600L, 1600R Partial Stephner 1600B Coupling Stephner 1700 Insulator 2000 Jig 2100 Upper sandwiching part 2110 Connecting member 2120 Bolt 2200 Side sandwich 2210 Connecting member 2220 Nut A Ash AH1 to AH5 Alignment hole BH1 to BH8 Bolt hole CL Cutting line FC Flow path H1 Outside air introduction hole H2 Air circulation hole LP Positioning pin PM Particle substance S1, S2 Spot area SFC1, SFC2 Sealing flow path T1, T2 Temperature WP Welded part

Claims (17)

A filter drying system that collects particulate matter contained in the exhaust gas of diesel engines and dries the washed ones.
An accommodating device accommodating the filter and
A heating device that raises the temperature inside the accommodation device, and
A discharge device having a suction unit that sucks air in the filter and discharges it to the outside of the accommodating device.
A filter drying system characterized by being equipped with. The heating device supplies warm air to one of the exhaust gas outflow surface and the exhaust gas inflow surface of the filter.
The filter drying system according to claim 1, wherein the suction unit sucks air in the filter from the other surface side of the exhaust gas outflow surface and the exhaust gas inflow surface of the filter. The accommodating device has a tubular main body portion on which the filter is arranged and a lid portion attached to an open end of the main body portion.
The filter is arranged in the main body portion so that the first end surface of one of the exhaust gas outflow surface and the exhaust gas inflow surface faces the inner surface of the lid portion.
The filter drying system according to claim 1, wherein the suction portion of the discharge device sucks air in the filter from the first end face side. The tubular main body is arranged so that the central axis is along the vertical direction, and the opening end is opened upward.
The filter is arranged in the main body so that the second end face opposite to the first end face faces downward.
The filter drying system according to claim 3, wherein the heating device supplies warm air to the second end face. The fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the heating device is arranged outside the accommodating device and warm air is supplied to the inside of the accommodating device through a side opening provided in the main body portion. The filter drying system described. The filter drying system according to claim 5, wherein the accommodating device further includes a wind direction changing portion that changes the wind direction of warm air supplied from the side opening to the inside of the accommodating device upward. The tubular main body is arranged so that the central axis is along the horizontal direction, and the opening end opens laterally.
The filter is arranged in the main body so that the second end face opposite to the first end face faces the opposite side to the side.
The filter drying system according to claim 3, wherein the heating device supplies warm air to the second end face. The discharge device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, further comprising a bowl-shaped adapter attached to the outer surface of the lid portion, and a connecting pipe connecting the adapter and the suction portion. The filter drying system described. The filter drying system according to claim 1, wherein the accommodating device has a constant temperature bath in which the filter is arranged inside and the internal temperature is maintained at a predetermined temperature by the heating device. The filter drying system according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined temperature is 160 ° C. to 180 ° C. The filter drying system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the suction unit is an ejector that sucks air in the filter by using a driving gas. The filter drying system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a first temperature sensor for measuring a first temperature of air sucked by the suction unit. The filter drying system according to claim 12, further comprising a determination unit for determining that the drying of the filter is completed when the first temperature substantially reaches a predetermined temperature. The filter drying system according to claim 12, further comprising a second temperature sensor for measuring a second temperature of air inside the accommodating device. The filter drying system according to claim 14, further comprising a determination unit for determining that the drying of the filter is completed when the first temperature substantially reaches the second temperature. A filter drying method that collects particulate matter contained in the exhaust gas of a diesel engine and dries the washed one.
A step of raising the temperature inside the accommodating device accommodating the filter and
A step of sucking air in the filter and discharging it to the outside of the accommodating device.
A filter drying method characterized by comprising. A filter assembly regeneration method for regenerating a filter assembly having a filter for collecting particulate matter contained in the exhaust gas of a diesel engine.
Pre-cleaning inspection process to inspect filters in used filter assemblies,
If the result of the inspection in the pre-cleaning inspection step is good, the step of cleaning the filter and the step of cleaning the filter
The step of rinsing the washed filter and
A drying step of drying the rinsed filter and
A post-cleaning inspection step for inspecting the dried filter and
With
The drying step is
A step of raising the temperature inside the accommodating device accommodating the filter and
A step of sucking air in the filter and discharging it to the outside of the accommodating device.
A filter assembly playback method characterized by including.