Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine having an exhaust port, an exhaust system for conditioning an engine exhaust stream, a nitrogen oxide (NOx) sensor positioned within the exhaust stream, and a controller. The controller has an out-of-range diagnostic tool for evaluating a range performance of the sensor. The controller detects a predetermined engine-on fuel shutoff event, and then temporarily disables the diagnostic tool during the fuel shutoff event. The fuel shutoff event may be a vehicle deceleration-based event. A selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device may be positioned within the exhaust system, with at least one NOx sensor positioned at the outlet of the SCR device. An additional NOx sensor may be positioned in proximity to the exhaust port. A method for use aboard the above vehicle includes detecting the engine-on fuel shutoff event via the controller, and temporarily disabling the diagnostic tool for the duration of the detected fuel shutoff event.

Abstract: An exhaust upstream section (48) of an exhaust apparatus (E) comprises a plurality of branch pipe portions (32), a plurality of intermediate collector pipe portions (33), a final collector pipe portion (34), and an exhaust gas-purifying unit (40). The exhaust gas-purifying unit (40) is disposed on a vehicle-rear side of an engine (1) to allow a gas passage thereinside to extend approximately in vehicle-widthwise direction, in top plan view. Each of the plurality of intermediate collector pipe portions (33) curves to allow an exhaust downstream region of the intermediate collector pipe portion (33) to be oriented toward one side or the other side of the vehicle-widthwise direction, in top plan view, and the final collector pipe portion (34) curves to allow an exhaust downstream region of the final collector pipe portion (34) to be oriented toward a vehicle-front side, in top plan view.

Abstract: A shape memory alloy drive device has drive control portion for displacing a shape memory alloy up to a target displacement value by applying a voltage or an electric current to the shape memory alloy by servo control, and also has contact detection portion for detecting a predetermined change in a drive control value, or, for example, a sharp increase in the drive control value, representing the amount of the voltage of the electric current applied by the drive control portion. When detecting a predetermined change, the contact detection portion determines that a movable portion having a lens etc. mounted thereon is in contact with a stationary mechanism. The shape memory alloy drive device further has drive limiting portion which, when the determination described above is made, causes the drive control portion to limit the target displacement value within a predetermined range.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an exhaust emission control device capable of favorably dispersing urea water for improved mixing with exhaust gas even if a flow rate of the exhaust gas is increased. An entry end of a mixing pipe is formed with a first opening at a position near an exit side of a particulate filter and is formed with a second opening at a position away from the exit side of the particulate filter and diametrically opposite to the first opening. Arranged in a downstream end of a gas gathering chamber are a first partition which guides all of the flow of exhaust gas from the particulate filter into a one-way swirling flow around the entry end of the mixing pipe, a second partition which divides the flow of the exhaust gas guided by the first partition into two to cause an inner one of the divided swirling flows to tangentially enter into the first opening and a third partition which causes the remaining outer swirling flow to tangentially enter into the second opening.