Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a battery supplying power to an exhaust oxygen sensor heater. In one example, a method may include estimating a power delivered to the heater during heating of the sensor and in response to a power delivered from a battery being lower than a threshold, adjusting a battery charging strategy prior to an immediately subsequent engine start.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a battery supplying power to an exhaust oxygen sensor heater. In one example, a method may include estimating a power delivered to the heater during heating of the sensor and in response to a power delivered from a battery being lower than a threshold, adjusting a battery charging strategy prior to an immediately subsequent engine start.

Abstract: The present invention relates to distribution of conditioned air from automotive HVAC units, in particularly, distribution systems having both front and rear components. In particular, the present invention improves the temperature characteristics of the rear floor area of distribution in the cockpit, cab or passenger compartment, in a variety of temperature modes. By providing for a valving or closing off means on a rear distribution door, regulation and adjustment of the stratification and temperature of air reaching the rear, and especially, the rear floor area of the cockpit, cab or passenger compartment, is achieved by blocking or closing off a channel between the heater core area of the HVAC and the distribution system.

Abstract: An oven system for curing coated product is provided, where the oven line has at least one oven zone, with an entrance end, and a port through which coated product enters into the oven line. Means are provided for capturing substantially all of the indraft air, at least at the entrance end of the oven, near the port, and balance fan means are provided for circulating that indraft air at least in a first volume to a heat exchanger, and then back to the oven line. Solvent-rich air within the oven is withdrawn by an exhaust fan, and is delivered to an afterburner whose principal source of fuel is the volatile solvent which comes off the coated product within the oven as it is curing. A snout is provided, extending away from the entrance end of the oven in a direction towards the flow of coated product into the oven, and the snout has at least one hollow duct which is positioned near the flow path for the coated product, usually over the flow path.

Abstract: An indirect fired oven system for curing coated products, particularly metal product such as coiled sheet steel or coiled sheet aluminum, is provided. The oven line comprises at least one oven zone though usually at least two or three zones are present, through which the coated product travels, and the oven line is operated at elevated temperatures. An indraft is induced at the entrance and exit ends of the oven line by a balance air fan which captures the indraft air at both ends almost immediately that it enters the oven line, and feeds part of the indraft air to a heat exchanger and then back to the oven zones, and part of it unheated directly back to the oven zones. The temperature in the oven zones is controlled by the influx to each zone of heated air.

Abstract: A method for drying or curing a coating on a strip passing through an oven having a number of oven zones comprises continuously moving such a strip sequentially through the oven zones, in each of which oven gases are continuously circulated about the strip to entrain vaporized solvent. Solvent-carrying gases are then removed from at least one such oven zone and transferred untreated to a solvent incinerator disposed essentially at a different one of such oven zones and in which they are incinerated to oxidize the solvent vapors contained in such gases. After incineration, the gases are discharged at an elevated temperature and with a reduced solvent vapor content into such a different one of the oven zones so as then to mix with the oven gases circulating in that zone so as in turn to maintain a stable solvent vapor content and operating temperature in that zone.

Abstract: A coating containing a vaporizable solvent on a strip passing through an oven apparatus is dried or cured at least in part by means of a radiant heater disposed within such an oven apparatus. Solvent-carrying gases are removed from the oven and incinerated to oxidize the solvent vapors contained therein and to provide gases at an elevated temperature and with a reduced solvent vapor content. Such heated gases are then passed through the radiant heater which receives heat from such gases and radiates heat toward the strip. Optionally, openings are provided in the radiant heater to allow for the flow of hot gases from within the radiant heater through such openings for impingement on and direct heating of the strip.

Abstract: An oven roof or wall is formed from modular panels, each of which comprises an inner fabric and an outer fabric. Each such fabric is formed with an angle iron framework and somewhat resilient tie-bars or welded at their ends to flanges of the angle irons to maintain the inner and outer frameworks in spaced disposition while minimizing heat transfer by conduction and permitting some degree of relative movement on expansion and contraction of the module components. Suitable thermal insulation is provided within the module. Panels or skins are secured to the fabric frameworks and each such skin is secured to a framework and projects laterally so as slidingly to overlie the adjacent frame member of an adjacent panel in turn to permit relative movement during expansion and contraction.

Abstract: A method of heat treating a workpiece, and an oven for carrying out the method in which, the gaseous atmosphere within each zone is continuously recirculated by recirculating fan and duct systems within each zone, and directed onto the workpiece, thereby losing heat to the workpiece, and coating thereon. A substantial proportion of the oven atmosphere containing solvent vapors is continuously passed through individual zone incinerators located within each of the oven zones, thereby oxidizing the solvent vapor content of such portion. The incinerated proportion of gases is then re-mixed with the untreated gaseous atmosphere prior to entry to the recirculating fan and duct system thereby re-heating the gaseous atmosphere to a controlled elevated temperature.

Abstract: A solvent vapor collector is mounted on the upstream inlet end of an oven having a gas-circulating means and intended for curing a coating applied to a strip sheet metal at a coating station. The strip sheet metal may be hot and solvent vapors are evaporated at the coating station and from the strip as it passes from the coating station to the oven. Upper and lower plenums within a housing of the collector are supplied with oven gases or air from the gas-circulating means and such gases or air are discharged within the collector obliquely in a downstream direction against the strip passing through that collector to establish downstream gas flows along the top and under surfaces of the strip so as, in turn, to induct solvent vapors into the collector at the coating station.