Patents Examined by Tu M. Nguyen
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Patent number: 7845165Abstract: An exhaust emission control system including a continuous regenerating diesel particulate filter (“DPF”) and a DPF controller, wherein a forced regenerator is operated by a driver's request, when it is judged that a traveling distance, after starting particulate matter collection, detected by a traveling distance detector has reached a predetermined judging traveling distance, even when the DPF controller detects that a collection amount detected by a collection amount detector is smaller than a prescribed judging collection amount. Accordingly, in a continuous regenerating DPF capable of manual regenerating, the number of warnings, such as a blinking regeneration button prompting a manual regeneration, is reduced to relieve a driver of annoyance or inconvenience.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2005Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Isuzu Motors LimitedInventors: Hitoshi Satou, Takehito Imai, Tatsuo Mashiko, Takao Onodera, Makoto Takeuchi, Mamoru Komine, Nobuyuki Hiraki
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Patent number: 7841169Abstract: A regeneration controller for preventing a large amount of particulate matter from being suddenly burned without increasing the frequency a heating process is performed. The regeneration controller includes an ECU(70) for heating an exhaust purification apparatus to eliminate the particulate matter accumulated in the exhaust purification apparatus when an estimated accumulation amount is greater than a reference accumulation amount. The ECU(70) obtains the estimated accumulation amount by estimating the amount of particulate matter accumulated in the exhaust purification apparatus. Furthermore, the ECU (70) changes modes for heating an exhaust purification apparatus when the regeneration controller is heated and an estimated accumulation amount is within a mode change range.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2005Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Yasuhiko Otsubo, Shigehiro Matsuno, Hiroki Matsuoka
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Patent number: 7827782Abstract: A method for remediating an emission containing NOx emissions includes introducing an exotherm generating agent into the NOx emissions when the inlet temperature of the NOx emissions is in a range of 300° C. to 600° C. and an air/fuel ratio is greater than or equal to 15; exposing the NOx emissions to a lean NOx trap; introducing a reducing agent into the emissions when the inlet temperature of the emissions is greater than 130° C. and less than 600° C.; exposing the NOx emissions having an air/fuel ratio greater than or equal to 15 to a selective catalytic reduction catalyst; and producing a remediated emission having an air/fuel ratio greater than or equal to 15.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2006Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Joseph Theis
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Patent number: 7818962Abstract: A propulsion system, including a diesel engine, an air inlet circuit, and an exhaust circuit, for exhaust gases coming from the engine. The inlet circuit includes an adjustment mechanism to control the air flow into the engine and the exhaust circuit includes a nitrogen oxides trap for storage of nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust gases. During a regeneration mode in which the exhaust gases are provided with reducing agents for regeneration of the nitrogen oxides trap, a set point is determined for the air flow, according to the operating status of the engine, the adjustment mechanism is controlled to obtain an air flow close to the set point, a main fuel injection is carried out, and a secondary fuel injection is carried out during a power phase to maintain the exhaust gas in a reducing state.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2004Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Renault s.a.s.Inventors: Laurent Philippe, Jerome Cruchet
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Patent number: 7818959Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a power generation system that has an internal combustion engine that operates in a low temperature combustion mode to produce an engine exhaust that is low in NOx and particulate matter. The exhaust is treated by a fuel cell to remove organic compounds and CO while producing useful power. Another aspect of the invention relates to controlling the adiabatic flame temperature by EGR drawing from upstream of the fuel cell. A further aspect of the invention relates to treating engine exhaust with a reducing catalyst and then with a fuel cell. A still further aspect of the invention relates to treating exhaust with an intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell. A further aspect of the invention relates to a system equipped with a valve allowing exhaust to selectively bypass a fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2004Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Haoran Hu, Thomas Stover, Timothy J. Morscheck, Kathryn A. Miles, Patrick M. Watts, Diane C. Wiersma
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Patent number: 7819101Abstract: A diesel engine intake cam profile creates two intake valve events separated by a short dwell period each engine cycle. A relatively low valve lift during an engine exhaust event allows a portion of the exhaust gas to flow into an intake manifold and mix with intake air. The intake valve is then nearly closed for a dwell period until a normal intake valve opening occurs, drawing the mixture of air and exhaust gas back into the combustion chamber for compression and burning, upon closure of the intake valves.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2004Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.Inventors: Ramesh B. Poola, Paul Gottemoller, Michael B. Goetzke
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Patent number: 7810317Abstract: A catalytic burner wherein a liquid fuel is evaporated prior to catalytic combustion by employing an electrosprayer. The catalytic burner can be made into an electrical generator by the use of a thermal to electrical energy conversion (TEEC) module.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2003Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Alessandro Gomez, Subir Roychoudhury
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Patent number: 7805929Abstract: A method of controlling ammonia and nitric oxides production for selective catalytic reduction systems is provided. The method may include producing an ammonia-containing gas stream having an ammonia concentration. The method may further include operating an engine to continuously produce a NOx-containing gas stream having a NOx concentration. The ammonia-containing gas stream may be supplied to a first exhaust system location upstream of a selective catalytic reduction catalyst, and the ammonia concentration may be determined at a first time. The NOx-containing gas stream may be supplied to a second exhaust system location upstream of the selective catalytic reduction catalyst, and the NOx concentration may be evaluated at a second time which is later than the first time. The NOx concentration may be adjusted based on the ammonia concentration at the first time.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2005Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventor: James Joshua Driscoll
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Patent number: 7805931Abstract: An exhaust-treatment system is provided having an oxidation catalyst configured to heat exhaust gas flowing through the oxidation catalyst. The system also has a particulate filter configured to receive the heated exhaust gas, and a recirculation loop configured to receive a portion of heated exhaust gas downstream of the oxidation catalyst and deliver the portion of exhaust gas upstream of the oxidation catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2006Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Perkins Engines Company LimitedInventor: Thomas W. Carlill
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Patent number: 7797928Abstract: In a method for purifying exhaust gases in particular from lean-burn internal combustion engines having an exhaust-gas converter with a heat exchanger and catalysts arranged in inflow and/or outflow passages, the heat exchanger exhaust gas which flows in is heated by heat exchange with exhaust gas which flows. The incoming exhaust gas enters the inflow passages without encountering any obstacle susceptible to blockages, and flows through the inflow passages to a diversion region. Heat is fed to the exhaust gas by means of a burner. The burner is operated with fuel, air and engine exhaust gas in such a way that it supplies either an oxidizing or a reducing exhaust gas. Burner exhaust gas is admixed to the gas which emerges from the inflow passages and, together with this gas, enters the outflow passages, where nitrogen oxides are removed from it by a deNOxing catalyst present in the outflow passages.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2004Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Univeritaet StuttgartInventors: Gerhard Friedrich, Grigorios Kolios, Volker Schmeisser, Ute Tuttlies, Frank Opferkuch, Gerhart Eigenberger
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Patent number: 7797923Abstract: A method for controlling regeneration of a lean NOx trap includes estimating an accumulated NOx in the lean NOx trap; determining whether the estimated NOx exceeds a first threshold value or a second threshold value; estimating the temperature of the lean NOx trap; determining whether the estimated temperature exceeds a threshold temperature; determining a desired air-fuel ratio for initiating a regeneration event, the desired air-fuel ratio being determined based upon the estimated NOx and the estimated temperature of the lean NOx trap; hastening the occurrence of a regeneration event when the estimated NOx exceeds the first threshold value through active control of engine operating regimes; and initiating a regeneration event when the estimated NOx exceeds the second threshold value or when the estimated temperature exceeds the threshold temperature by forcing homogenous operation of the engine at the desired air-fuel ratio.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2008Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Sanjeev M. Naik, David J. Cleary
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Patent number: 7793489Abstract: An oxygen storage capacity (OSC) monitoring system for a vehicle having a catalytic converter includes an inlet oxygen sensor that generates an inlet sensor signal (ISS) based on an oxygen content of exhaust flowing into the catalytic converter. A control module receives the ISS, increases a closed loop fuel control gain during a first period and determines a fuel control factor based on the ISS during the first period. The control module determines an OSC when an average value of the fuel control factor is greater than a first value and is less than a second value during the first period.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2005Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Inventors: Wenbo Wang, Richard B. Jess, David N. Belton, Chris R. Thelen, Jeffrey M. Hutmacher, William Western, Ian J. Macewen, Robert J. Genslak
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Patent number: 7788905Abstract: A fuel fractionation method which can suitably control a state of a fuel at a time of fractionating the fuel in an internal combustion engine, which includes the steps of applying an operation for promoting a fractionation of a fuel of an engine to a fractionation passage while making the fuel flow to the fractionation passage, thereby fractionating the fuel into a gas phase fuel and a liquid phase fuel within the fractionation passage, conducting the fractionated gas phase fuel and the fractionated liquid phase fuel to a branch point of the fractionation passage, and separating the gas phase fuel and the liquid phase fuel to a gas phase passage and a liquid phase passage, respectively due to gravity.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2004Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takanori Ueda, Shinya Hirota
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Patent number: 7784272Abstract: An engine exhaust treatment system using a control system is described. In one form of the present invention, engine exhaust gas contaminates are passed through a selective reduction catalyst and a contaminate reducing agent is injected into the catalyst. The amount of contaminates present in the exhaust proximate to the selective reduction catalyst are sensed using at least one sensor. In one embodiment, input signals are sent to a control system from the sensor or sensors and a feedforward control combined with a feedback loop is used to transform these signals and a predetermined catalyst output contaminate value into an output signal. The output signal instructs a provider to inject contaminate reducing agents in a manner to efficiently track the desired predetermined catalyst output contaminate value.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2004Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Qingwen Song, Guoming George Zhu, Jerilyn Tsai
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Patent number: 7775036Abstract: A method and device for treating exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine with a reducing agent introduced into the exhaust gases. The reducing agent is pumped out of a reactant reservoir and to a dosing valve so that after the dosing valve is opened, the reducing agent can be introduced into the engine's exhaust gas line in a dosed manner. Reducing agent can be conveyed back from the delivery device to the reservoir via a return line. The reducing agent can circulate between the delivery device and the reactant reservoir thereby, particularly when the dosing valve is closed, preventing the reactant from freezing.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2005Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Buelent Barcin
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Patent number: 7765792Abstract: A system having a particulate matter sensor in an exhaust stream of an engine upstream from a particulate filter and another such sensor downstream from the filter. There may also be an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) control on the engine. The amount of particulate matter in or loading of the filter may be determined by the upstream filter. The working condition of the filter may be determined by the downstream sensor. The filter may have a heater and control for providing operational and particulate matter burn-off temperatures to the filter. A processor may be connected to the sensors, the EGR control and the filter heater control.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2005Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Michael L. Rhodes, Brian C. Krafthefer, David B. Kittleson, Hongbin Ma
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Patent number: 7765798Abstract: A method and device for reducing the nitrogen oxide proportion in exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, carry out selective catalytic reduction on a reduction catalytic converter, at least discontinuously supplied with reducing agent. A reduction catalytic converter storage capacity for reducing agent and dependence of the storage capacity on temperature of the catalytic converter are considered when determining the reducing agent amount to be supplied. The reducing agent amount to be supplied can be adjusted to future temperature of the reduction catalytic converter and storage capacity at that temperature, for example preventing the reducing agent from desorbing from the catalytic converter when the temperature of the catalytic converter increases, e.g. by regenerating a particle filter.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2008Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbHInventor: Rolf Brück
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Patent number: 7765801Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment device for internal combustion engines and the like includes inlet and outlet end caps, two catalyst substrates, and a two-piece housing. A first, cylindrically-shaped housing member has a hollow interior in which one of the substrates is retained, a first end sealingly connected with the inlet end cap, and an opposite second end with a radially reduced section. A second cylindrically-shaped housing member has a hollow interior in which the other one of the substrates is retained, a first end sealingly connected with the outlet end cap, and an opposite second end with a radially enlarged section sized to receive therein the second end of the first housing member, whereby the reduced section of the first housing member and the enlarge section of the second housing member are spaced radially apart a predetermined distance to define an annularly-shaped space or gap which thermally insulates the associated portion of the exhaust gas treatment device.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2005Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Benteler Automotive CorporationInventors: Frederick B. Hill, Jr., Joseph G. Salmonowicz, Jr., Brad M. Schneemann, John C. Studabaker
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Patent number: 7765794Abstract: A method and system of providing compressed low NOx exhaust gas for industrial purposes including for use in augmenting crude oil production including the steps of extracting exhaust gas from an engine consuming a controllable mixture of hydrocarbon fuel and air, compressing and cooling the exhaust gas to condense water therefrom, measuring the pH of the condensed water, employing the measured pH to adjust the ratio of the hydrocarbon fuel and air supplied to the engine to achieve a substantially neutral pH measurement and thereby obtain compressed exhaust gas having a low NOx content.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2006Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: NCO2 Company LLCInventor: Wade J. Alexander
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Patent number: 7762062Abstract: A regeneration system for a work machine may include a power source configured to provide a variable power output. The regeneration system may also include at least one regeneration device operably connected to the power source and adapted to use at least a portion of the variable power output to regenerate the exhaust element. A controller may be configured to determine an amount of power required to regenerate the exhaust element. The controller may also be configured to adjust operation of the power source based on the amount of power required to regenerate the exhaust element.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2005Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventor: Cornelius Nicolae Opris