WO2017116329A1

WO2017116329A1 - Structurally improved exhaust treatment assembly and associated treatment components thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2017116329A1
Application number: PCT/TR2015/050298
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sevket Emre OZ; Altan OZGUR; Olcay CICEKDAG; Ipek DUMAN; Serkan ORHAN; Soren ENEVOLDSEN; Richard EMBERY
Original assignee: Ford Otomotiv Sanayi A.Ş.
Priority date: 2015-12-31
Filing date: 2015-12-31
Publication date: 2017-07-06
Also published as: RU2698860C1; CN108431378B; DK201870501A1; CN108431378A; DK180430B1

Abstract

An exhaust gas treatment system (1) comprising at least one exhaust gas treatment component inside a housing (2) with an inlet and outlet on side walls of said housing (2) allowing the exhaust gas to be received and disposed, said treatment components are removable tubular structures for servicing and maintenance and two treatment components are attachable by means of clamps providing sealing and impermeability during the gas passage.

Description

STRUCTURALLY IMPROVED EXHAUST TREATMENT ASSEMBLY AND ASSOCIATED TREATMENT COMPONENTS THEREOF

DESCRIPTION

Technical Field of the Present Invention

The present invention relates to a serviceable exhaust treatment system with exhaust gas treatment components suitable for treating exhaust gas stream from a combustion engine as close.

Prior Art/Background of the Present Invention An exhaust system generally guides exhaust gases formed due to the controlled combustion inside the engine of a vehicle. Diesel engines differ from spark-ignition gasoline engines due to the ignition of the fuel by the high temperature in compressed state. Typically, hazardous chemical components are present in a diesel exhaust such as nitrogen oxides (NCv), carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons as well as particulate matters such as carbon, organic materials and traces of metallic compounds.

Exposure to exhaust gases is a common problem in the modern world and therefore the emitted gases from the engines and the amounts thereof are regulated by legal requirements. Compliance with regulations to reduce exposure to exhaust gases emitted as such is ensured by exhaust aftertreatment systems which include components such as diesel particulate filters (DPF), diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) component so as to diminish the toxicity effect of the exhaust gas. In a nutshell, the exhaust gases pass through a plurality of filters and/or catalytic converters to reduce the hazardous effects of the exhaust gas. The components of the exhaust system may require replacement and regular maintenance or the residues on the filter surfaces may need to be cleaned. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to ensure maintenance of individual components without necessarily dismantling the overall exhaust system.

There are various exhaust systems in the state of the art, those generally comprising different treatment sections with one or more individually removable components from the housing of the exhaust system. It is however to be noted that the present invention is devised under the recognition that servicing of such removable components in a structurally reliable and substantially practical manner remains a great need.

The present invention therefore affords a multi-component, individually practically removable and structurally substantially improved exhaust aftertreatment assembly.

A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as US 7,550,024 B2, which discloses an exhaust aftertreatment assembly for an internal combustion engine and associated method enabling lateral removal of an aftertreatment component from between first and second assembly components for servicing. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly comprises an aftertreatment component extending axially along an axis between first and second distally opposite axial ends mounted in sealing relation to first and second assembly components axially spaced by said aftertreatment component there between, said aftertreatment component being laterally removable from between said first and second assembly components for servicing.

The present invention on the other hand provides removable exhaust treatment components placed inside a housing of an exhaust treatment system effecting filtering of hazardous gases such that each component is individually removable to be serviced in a substantially practical manner while at the same time ensuring a mechanically enhanced multi-component structure interengageable in a robust and sturdy manner. This is especially crucial in the case of inter-connected components requiring regular service because each and every component of the overall system involves in physical and reversible interaction with each other. Objects of the Present Invention

Primary object of the present invention is to provide an exhaust treatment system having a compartment for receiving removable aftertreatment components in the manner that a plurality of such components are sequentially serviceable in a practical manner by a mechanically robust interengaged structure.

Further, the present invention aims at ensuring an ease of mounting as well as unmounting of a plurality of removable treatment components adapted to be operationally connected to each other irrespective of the experience of the operator in charge of the maintenance operation.

Summary of the Present Invention

The present invention provides an exhaust gas treatment system for filtering and/or converting of the exhaust gas to diminish the toxicity thereof before effectuation of discharging to the outer environment.

Additionally, the present invention provides a system and method by which mounting and dismounting of the treatment components placed inside a housing of the exhaust gas treatment system is rendered substantially practical.

Mounting of a pair of treatment components are ensured by means of a V-clamp adapted to secure a proximal end of an enclosure component as well as a proximal end of a first treatment component. Said V-clamp further effectuates securing of a proximal end of a second treatment components such that the first treatment component's outer enclosure as well as the first treatment component itself are reliably secured to the second component, thereby connecting the first treatment component and the second treatment component while at the same time ensuring avoiding of operational displacement of the components as well as practical displacement thereof during servicing.

Brief Description of the Figures of the Present Invention

Accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying an exhaust treatment system with at least one removable treatment component. The drawings also exemplify an associated method for servicing the treatment components, whose advantages over prior art were outlined above and will be explained in brief hereinafter.

The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the claims nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in said claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.

Fig. 1 demonstrates a general lateral cross-sectional view along the longitudinal direction of an exhaust treatment system according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 demonstrates an enlarged view of section A of Fig 1 in which the interaction of the first treatment component with the overall exhaust treatment system is shown according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 demonstrates an enlarged view of section B of Fig 1 with a V-clamp and a V- clamp sealing means according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 demonstrates a detailed view of section C of Fig 1 with a band clamp according to the present invention. Fig. 5 demonstrates a general perspective view of the exhaust treatment system while a servicing lid is in opened condition and the V-clamp is loosened according to the present invention. Fig. 6 demonstrates a general perspective view of the exhaust treatment system while a second treatment component is removed according to the present invention.

Fig. 7 demonstrates a general perspective view of the exhaust treatment system while a first treatment component is aligned to be removed according to the present invention.

Fig. 8 demonstrates a general perspective view of the exhaust treatment system while the first treatment component is removed according to the present invention. Fig. 9 demonstrates a general perspective view of a handling means of the first treatment component according to the present invention.

Fig. 10 demonstrates a general perspective view of a positioning pin within the peripheral rim of the first treatment component according to the present invention.

Fig. 11 demonstrates a general perspective view of a band clamp according to the present invention.

Fig. 12 demonstrates a general perspective view of a V-clamp according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Present Invention

The following numerals are referred to in the detailed description of the present invention: 1) Exhaust treatment system

2) Exhaust compartment housing

3) Servicing lid

4) First treatment component

5) Second treatment component

6) Band clamp

7) Handling means

8) Supporting ring

9) Clamping means

10) Sealing means

11) Intermediate space

12) Terminal space

13) Wire mesh

14) Sensor access apertures

15) Positioning pin

16) Treatment component housing

17) Reinforcement bracket

18) Retainment portion The present invention relates to an exhaust treatment system (1) for an internal combustion engine, said exhaust treatment system (1) comprising an exhaust compartment housing (2) conventionally defining an interior exhaust passage chamber between an inlet and an outlet, through which combustion exhaust is received and treated in the form of a leakage-free processing chamber. In case a diesel engine is in question, the exhaust gas received into the exhaust compartment housing (2) can be treated by a plurality treatment components for instance in the form of a diesel particulate filter (DPF), diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) or selective catalytic reduction (SCR) component disposed in the exhaust compartment housing (2). The treatment components are accessible through a servicing lid (3) for maintenance and replacement purposes. The exhaust compartment housing (2) of the exhaust treatment system (1) comprises a first and second treatment components (4, 5) extending sequentially along the interior of said exhaust compartment housing (2). According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, while the first treatment serves as a catalyst, the second treatment component (5) can be provided as a filter. The exhaust gas progressively taken into said first and second treatment components (4, 5) being situated axially adjacently in an inter-connected manner is processed by said components so that toxic air contaminants in the form of substances and particles in the diesel exhaust are filtered out and toxicity of the exhaust gas is lowered before effecting discharge thereof from the exhaust compartment housing (2).

According to the present invention, each of said first and second treatment components (4, 5) are removable whereby the maintenance operation can be carried out so as to separately replace the components in a practical manner. A servicing lid (3) allowing access into the exhaust compartment housing (2) is a double-plane element having an L-shaped cross-section, thereby partially closing said exhaust compartment housing (2) at two side planes thereof, each of the planes being perpendicular one another. The L-shaped cross-section servicing lid (3) therefore closes an upper part of the exhaust compartment housing (2) as well as the front side thereof.

The first and second treatment components (4, 5) comprises an intermediate and a terminal space (12), being respectively positioned between the two treatment components and between the second treatment component (5) and the exhaust compartment housing's (2) side wall. In other words, the intermediate space (11) is provided between peripheral rims of the first and second treatment components (4, 5) at the reciprocating axial ends thereof and the terminal space (12) is provided between the side wall of the exhaust compartment housing (2) and the peripheral rim of the second treatment component (5) at the axial end thereof away from the first treatment component (4). The first and second treatment components (4, 5) are cylindrical structures with circular cross sections. Each of the treatment components is movably disposed within the exhaust compartment housing (2) such that the first treatment component (4) is axially slidable to the original location of the second treatment component (5) subsequent to the removal thereof from the exhaust compartment housing (2) in a lateral direction.

The first and second treatment components (4, 5) are fixedly connected to each other inside the exhaust compartment housing (2) in operational state by means of a releasable clamping means (9) in the manner that the inner axial end of the first treatment component (4) is fixedly secured to the inner axial end of the second treatment component (5). The clamping means (9) fixedly attaching the first and second treatment components (4, 5) is a V-clamp having a V-shape cross-section enclosing a treatment component housing's (16) peripheral rim as well as the inner reciprocating peripheral rims of the first and second treatment components (4, 5). The clamping means (9) effectuates fixation both in axial and radial direction as will be delineated hereinafter.

The clamping means (9) connects the peripheral rim at the second axial end of the first treatment component (4) to the peripheral rim at the first axial end of the second treatment component (5) by means of said treatment component housing (16) in the manner that while the latter treatment component housing (16) fully enclosing the first treatment component (4) is interconnected with the second treatment component (5), it also maintains the first treatment component (4) in fixedly mounted position. Therefore, the peripheral rims of both of the treatment component housing (16) and the first treatment component (4) are clamped together with the second treatment component (5). As the treatment component housing (16) is supported by two reinforcement brackets (17) fixedly attached to the exhaust compartment housing (2), the clamping means (9) also ensures a mechanically rigid connection of the treatment components with each other and the exhaust compartment housing (2). The peripheral edges of the first and second treatment components (4, 5) facing each other as well as the peripheral edge of the treatment component housing (16) are bent outwardly in a direction to extend into an inner space defined by the V-shape clamping means (9).

According to the present invention, the peripheral edge at the second axial end of the second treatment component (5) is connected to a retainment portion (18) structured as an annular element mechanically communicating with the edge of the second treatment component (5) through a band clamp (6). Said retainment portion (18) and the reciprocating rim of the second treatment component (5) are joined with each other by means of said band clamp (6). When the band clamp (6) is released, the second treatment component (5) can be moved a certain amount aside so that it can be removed in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the treatment components. The band clamp (6) thereby cooperating with the retainment portion (18) with an axial tolerance gap relative to the side wall of the exhaust compartment housing (2) allows ease of access for the purpose of mounting and dismounting of the second treatment component (5) during maintenance operations.

The clamping means (9) conventionally comprises a sealing means (10) within the enclosure thereof, thereby providing impermeability at the interconnection region of first and second treatment components (4, 5). In other words, the clamping means (9) effective in interlocking the two treatment components at the same time ensures impermeability at the junction of the treatment components. The first treatment component (4) comprises at least one handling means (7) at an inner cavity portion of its tubular structure providing ease of handling for sliding said first treatment component (4) out of the treatment component housing (16) after the second treatment component (5) is removed. The servicing lid (3) partially covers the exhaust compartment housing (2), extending over a surface portion thereof between the clamping means (9) and the retainment portion (18). In other words, the servicing lid (3) is structured in the manner that its inner end on the axial direction of the treatment components proximate the clamping means (9) is substantially close to the same while it still fully covers the clamping means (9) so that the latter is kept within easy reach during maintenance operations in the opened state of the servicing lid (3).

The above-described configuration also provides that the upper and front wall portions of the exhaust compartment housing (2) encloses a substantial portion of the treatment component housing (16) enclosing the first treatment component (4), thereby ensuring that the size of the servicing lid (3) is small enough only to allow practical replacement of the treatment components while at the same time the remaining closed body portion of the exhaust compartment housing (2) being as large as possible to ensure a mechanically robust structure. Particularly the fact that the dimension of the closed body portion on the axial direction of the treatment components is sufficiently large ensures that the two reinforcement brackets (17) fixedly attaching the treatment component housing (16) to the exhaust compartment housing (2) are placeable farther from each other so that the inner reinforcement bracket (17) can be as close as possible to the clamping means (9) that clamps a multitude of separate parts and elements, thereby forming a more reliable mechanical communication between the clamping means (9) and the exhaust compartment housing (2). Therefore both accessibility of the clamping means (9) and its sturdy connection with the exhaust compartment housing (2) is ensured.

Each of the first treatment component (4) and the treatment component housing (16) comprises sensor access apertures (14) so as to be alignable for allowing access to a sensor group of the first treatment component (4). These sensor access apertures (14) are generally indicated by the same numeral and are shown only for the exhaust compartment housing (2) and the first treatment component (4). The first treatment component (4) may further comprise a positioning pin (15) situated radially near an outer rim thereof, ensuring appropriate alignment of the sensor access aperture (14) with respective apertures on different parts (Exhaust compartment housing (2), the treatment component housing (16) and the first treatment component (4)). Further, a wire mesh (13) can be conventionally positioned relative to the first treatment component (4).

According to the present invention an additional supporting ring (8) is provided to support the sealing means (10) in a radially restricted manner. In a more specific manner, the supporting ring (8) extends axially to fully cover the open side of V-form clamping means (9) in contact with the sealing means (10) as well as part of the axially inner side peripheral rim of the first treatment component (4). The peripheral rim of the first treatment component (4) is thereby sandwiched between the supporting ring (8) and the treatment component housing (16). This configuration advantageously supports the sealing means (10) within the clamping means (9) interconnecting reciprocating axially inner side peripheral edges of said first and second treatment components (4, 5) as well as the peripheral edge of the treatment component housing (16) at its axial end proximate said second treatment component (5). In an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention, said supporting ring (8) can be fixedly attached to the first treatment component (4). In a nutshell, the present invention proposes an exhaust treatment system (1) comprising a first treatment component (4) and a second treatment component (5) extending in the axial direction thereof sequentially along the interior of an exhaust compartment housing (2) between an inlet and an outlet through which combustion exhaust is treated.

In one embodiment of the present invention, said first treatment component (4) is fully enclosed within a treatment component housing (16) inside the exhaust compartment housing (2), peripheral edge of the treatment component housing (16) at its axial end proximate said second treatment component (5) being adapted to be interconnected with reciprocating peripheral edge of said second treatment component (5) by means of a clamping means (9) in the manner that the peripheral edge of said first treatment component (4) proximate said second treatment component (5) is also clamped by said clamping means (9).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said first and second treatment components (4, 5) are accessible through a servicing lid (3) in the manner that each of said first and second treatment components (4, 5) is movably disposed within the exhaust compartment housing (2) in a sequentially removable manner such that first treatment component (4) is axially slidable after the second treatment component (5) is laterally removed through said servicing lid (3).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said servicing lid (3) is a double- plane element having an L-shaped cross-section and partially closing said exhaust compartment housing (2) at two side planes thereof, each of the planes being perpendicular to one another.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said clamping means (9) in the form of a V-clamp having a V-shape cross-section encloses said treatment component housing's (16) peripheral rim as well as axially inner reciprocating peripheral rims of the first and second treatment components (4, 5).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said treatment component housing (16) is supported by at least two reinforcement brackets (17) fixedly attached to the exhaust compartment housing (2). In a further embodiment of the present invention, axially inner reciprocating peripheral rims of the first and second treatment components (4, 5) facing each other and the peripheral edge of the treatment component housing (16) are bent outwardly in a direction to extend into an inner space defined by the V-shape clamping means (9). In a further embodiment of the present invention, peripheral edge of the second treatment component (5) at its axial end away from the first treatment component (4) is connected to a retainment portion (18) structured as an annular element fixedly attached to the exhaust compartment housing (2) and being positioned relative thereto. In a further embodiment of the present invention, said second treatment component (5) is connected to the retainment portion (18) by means of a band clamp (6).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said clamping means (9) comprises an annular sealing means (10) within the V-shape cross-section enclosure thereof.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said sealing means (10) is clamped between outwardly bent peripheral edge of the treatment component housing (16) and outwardly bent inner peripheral rim of the second treatment component (5). In a further embodiment of the present invention, said first treatment component (4) comprises at least one handling means (7) at an inner cavity portion thereof at an intermediate space (11) between itself and the second treatment component (5).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said servicing lid (3) partially covers the exhaust compartment housing (2), extending over a surface portion thereof between the clamping means (9) and the retainment portion (18).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the servicing lid (3) fully covers the clamping means (9) such that the inner end thereof on the axial direction is substantially close to the clamping means (9).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the inner reinforcement bracket (17) on the axial direction is substantially close to the clamping means (9).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a positioning pin (15) being radially situated near an outer rim of the first treatment component (4) is provided to align sensor access apertures (14) thereof with respective apertures of the exhaust compartment housing (2) and the treatment component housing (16).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said treatment component housing's (16) peripheral rim radially encloses the axially inner peripheral rim of the first treatment component (4).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said at least two reinforcement brackets (17) fixedly connects the treatment component housing (16) to the exhaust compartment housing (2) at two axial sides of the first treatment component (4).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, at least one reinforcement bracket (17) is provided within the projection of an intermediate space (11) at an inner cavity portion of the first treatment component (4) between the first and second treatment components (4, 5). This arrangement ensures that the treatment component housing (16) is attachable with the exhaust compartment housing (2) at an axial plane substantially close to its axial end proximate said second treatment component (5), that is, as close as possible to the clamping means (9), thereby allowing a more robust mechanical relationship between the two structures.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a supporting ring (8) is provided to support said sealing means (10) in a radially restricted manner.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the supporting ring (8) extends axially to fully cover the open side of V-form clamping means (9) in contact with the sealing means (10) as well as part of the axially inner side peripheral rim of the first treatment component (4).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, part of the axially inner side peripheral rim of the first treatment component (4) is sandwiched between the supporting ring (8) and the treatment component housing (16). The present invention provides a double component exhaust treatment system (1) using a single clamping means (9) to secure the components within the exhaust compartment housing (2). Also a single sealing means (10) advantageously ensures impermeability. A smaller servicing lid (3) effectively addresses practical replacement problem of the treatment components.

Claims

1. An exhaust treatment system (1) comprising a first treatment component (4) and a second treatment component (5) extending in the axial direction thereof sequentially along the interior of an exhaust compartment housing (2) between an inlet and an outlet through which combustion exhaust is treated characterized in that;

said first treatment component (4) is fully enclosed within a treatment component housing (16) inside the exhaust compartment housing (2), peripheral edge of the treatment component housing (16) at its axial end proximate said second treatment component (5) being adapted to be interconnected with reciprocating peripheral edge of said second treatment component (5) by means of a clamping means (9) in the manner that the peripheral edge of said first treatment component (4) proximate said second treatment component (5) is also clamped by said clamping means (9).

2. An exhaust treatment system (1) as set forth in Claim 1, characterized in that said first and second treatment components (4, 5) are accessible through a servicing lid (3) in the manner that each of said first and second treatment components (4, 5) is movably disposed within the exhaust compartment housing (2) in a sequentially removable manner such that first treatment component (4) is axially slidable after the second treatment component (5) is laterally removed through said servicing lid (3).

3. An exhaust treatment system (1) as set forth in Claim 2, characterized in that said servicing lid (3) is a double-plane element having an L-shaped cross-section and partially closing said exhaust compartment housing (2) at two side planes thereof, each of the planes being perpendicular to one another.

4. An exhaust treatment system (1) as set forth in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said clamping means (9) in the form of a V-clamp having a V-shape cross- section encloses said treatment component housing's (16) peripheral rim as well as axially inner reciprocating peripheral rims of the first and second treatment components (4, 5).

5. An exhaust treatment system (1) as set forth in Claim 1, 2 or 4, characterized in that said treatment component housing (16) is supported by at least two reinforcement brackets (17) fixedly attached to the exhaust compartment housing (2).

6. An exhaust treatment system (1) as set forth in Claim 4, characterized in that axially inner reciprocating peripheral rims of the first and second treatment components (4, 5) facing each other and the peripheral edge of the treatment component housing (16) are bent outwardly in a direction to extend into an inner space defined by the V-shape clamping means (9).

7. An exhaust treatment system (1) as set forth in Claim 4, characterized in that peripheral edge of the second treatment component (5) at its axial end away from the first treatment component (4) is connected to a retainment portion (18) structured as an annular element fixedly attached to the exhaust compartment housing (2) and being positioned relative thereto.

8. An exhaust treatment system (1) as set forth in Claim 7, characterized in that said second treatment component (5) is connected to the retainment portion (18) by means of a band clamp (6).

9. An exhaust treatment system (1) as set forth in Claim 6, characterized in that said clamping means (9) comprises an annular sealing means (10) within the V- shape cross-section enclosure thereof.

10. An exhaust treatment system (1) as set forth in Claim 9, characterized in that said sealing means (10) is clamped between outwardly bent peripheral edge of the treatment component housing (16) and outwardly bent inner peripheral rim of the first and second treatment components (4, 5).

11. An exhaust treatment system (1) as set forth in Claim 2, characterized in that said first treatment component (4) comprises at least one handling means (7) at an inner cavity portion thereof at an intermediate space (11) between itself and the second treatment component (5).

12. An exhaust treatment system (1) as set forth in Claim 2, 4 and 8, characterized in that said servicing lid (3) partially covers the exhaust compartment housing (2), extending over a surface portion thereof between the clamping means (9) and the retainment portion (18).

13. An exhaust treatment system (1) as set forth in Claim 2, 4 and 8, characterized in that the servicing lid (3) fully covers the clamping means (9) such that the inner end thereof on the axial direction is substantially close to the clamping means (9).

14. An exhaust treatment system (1) as set forth in Claim 5, characterized in that the inner reinforcement bracket (17) on the axial direction is substantially close to the clamping means (9).

15. An exhaust treatment system (1) as set forth in Claim 5, characterized in that a positioning pin (15) being situated near an outer rim of the first treatment component (4) is provided to align sensor access apertures (14) thereof with respective apertures of the exhaust compartment housing (2) and the treatment component housing (16).

16. An exhaust treatment system (1) as set forth in Claim 6, characterized in that said treatment component housing's (16) peripheral rim radially encloses the axially inner peripheral rim of the first treatment component (4).

17. An exhaust treatment system (1) as set forth in Claim 5 or 14, characterized in that said at least two reinforcement brackets (17) fixedly connects the treatment component housing (16) to the exhaust compartment housing (2) at two axial sides of the first treatment component (4).

18. An exhaust treatment system (1) as set forth in Claim 17, characterized in that at least one reinforcement bracket (17) is provided within the projection of an intermediate space (11) at an inner cavity portion of the first treatment component between the first and second treatment components (4, 5).

19. An exhaust treatment system (1) as set forth in Claim 9, characterized in that a supporting ring (8) is provided to support said sealing means (10) in a radially restricted manner.

20. An exhaust treatment system (1) as set forth in Claim 19, characterized in that the supporting ring (8) extends axially to fully cover the open side of V-form clamping means (9) in contact with the sealing means (10) as well as part of the axially inner side peripheral rim of the first treatment component (4).

21. An exhaust treatment system (1) as set forth in Claim 20, characterized in that part of the axially inner side peripheral rim of the first treatment component (4) is sandwiched between the supporting ring (8) and the treatment component housing (16).