Patents by Inventor Masato Gotoh

Masato Gotoh has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6715474
    Abstract: An engine where first combustion where the amount of the EGR gas in the combustion chamber is larger than the amount of EGR where the amount of production of soot peaks and almost no soot is produced and a second combustion where the amount of EGR gas in the combustion chamber (5) is smaller than the amount of EGR gas where the amount of production of soot peaks are selectively switched between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Masato Gotoh, Takekazu Ito, Kouji Yoshizaki, Hiroki Murata
  • Patent number: 6655133
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifier includes a particulate filter for oxidizing collected particulates, a reversing device that reverses an exhaust gas upstream side and an exhaust gas downstream side of the particulate filter. The particulate filter includes a collecting wall for collecting the particulates, which includes a first collecting surface and a second collecting surface. The first and the second collecting surfaces are alternately used for collecting the particulates by the reversing device. The catalyst device is arranged adjacent to the particulate filter at a position always being at the downstream side of the particulate filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Mikami, Shinya Hirota, Kazuhiro Itoh, Takamitsu Asanuma, Koichi Kimura, Shunsuke Toshioka, Koichiro Nakatani, Toshiaki Tanaka, Masato Gotoh, Takekazu Ito
  • Patent number: 6634345
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an EGR passage provided with an EGR control valve and a catalyst for purifying the EGR gas. When the internal combustion engine operates in a low-temperature combustion mode in which the amount of EGR gas supplied to a combustion chamber is larger than that of EGR gas with which the amount of soot produced reaches a peak, and almost no soot is produced, a controller reduces an opening amount of the exhaust gas recirculation control valve so as to increase an exhaust gas temperature, and reduces an opening amount of the throttle valve so as to suppress an increase in the amount of the EGR gas, thereby to reduce reductions in the temperature of the EGR gas and the temperature of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouji Yoshizaki, Shizuo Sasaki, Masato Gotoh, Takekazu Ito
  • Patent number: 6591818
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine performs a second mode of combustion where the EGR is less than the EGR gas that peaks the production of soot. The engine then performs a first mode of combustion where the EGR is greater than the EGR that peaks the production of soot. During the second mode, the engine curbs hydrocarbon supplied to an exhaust gas control catalyst by performing a combustion where hydrocarbon does not increase. The exhaust gas temperature discharged becomes relatively high and the EGR rate is set to zero. The engine then increases the hydrocarbon supplied to the catalyst by performing a combustion that increases the hydrocarbon. The temperature of exhaust gas discharged becomes relatively high, and the EGR rate is gradually increased. Accordingly, the engine quickly warms up the catalyst while preventing problems that occur, like clogging of an exhaust gas recirculation passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Kouji Yoshizaki, Masato Gotoh, Takekazu Ito
  • Publication number: 20020152746
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifier includes a particulate filter for oxidizing collected particulates, a reversing device that reverses an exhaust gas upstream side and an exhaust gas downstream side of the particulate filter. The particulate filter includes a collecting wall for collecting the particulates, which includes a first collecting surface and a second collecting surface. The first and the second collecting surfaces are alternately used for collecting the particulates by the reversing device. The catalyst device is arranged adjacent to the particulate filter at a position always being at the downstream side of the particulate filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Mikami, Shinya Hirota, Kazuhiro Itoh, Takamitsu Asanuma, Koichi Kimura, Shunsuke Toshioka, Koichiro Nakatani, Toshiaki Tanaka, Masato Gotoh, Takekazu Ito
  • Publication number: 20010054416
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an EGR passage provided with an EGR control valve and a catalyst for purifying the EGR gas. When the internal combustion engine operates in a low-temperature combustion mode in which the amount of EGR gas supplied to a combustion chamber is larger than that of EGR gas with which the amount of soot produced reaches a peak, and almost no soot is produced, a controller reduces an opening amount of the exhaust gas recirculation control valve so as to increase an exhaust gas temperature, and reduces an opening amount of the throttle valve so as to suppress an increase in the amount of the EGR gas, thereby to reduce reductions in the temperature of the EGR gas and the temperature of the catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kouji Yoshizaki, Shizuo Sasaki, Masato Gotoh, Takekazu Ito
  • Publication number: 20010052341
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine performs a second mode of combustion where the EGR is less than the EGR gas that peaks the production of soot. The engine then performs a first mode of combustion where the EGR is greater than the EGR that peaks the production of soot. During the second mode, the engine curbs hydrocarbon supplied to an exhaust gas control catalyst by performing a combustion where hydrocarbon does not increase. The exhaust gas temperature discharged becomes relatively high and the EGR rate is set to zero. The engine then increases the hydrocarbon supplied to the catalyst by performing a combustion that increases the hydrocarbon. The temperature of exhaust gas discharged becomes relatively high, and the EGR rate is gradually increased. Accordingly, the engine quickly warms up the catalyst while preventing problems that occur, like clogging of an exhaust gas recirculation passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Kouji Yoshizaki, Masato Gotoh, Takekazu Ito
  • Patent number: 6240721
    Abstract: A first combustion mode in which an amount of an EGR gas within a combustion chamber is higher than that of the EGR gas when a generated amount of soot reaches a peak and substantially no soot is generated. A second combustion mode in which the amount of the EGR gas within the combustion chamber is lower than that of the EGR gas when the generated amount of soot reaches the peak are selectively performed. A catalyst is disposed within an engine exhaust passage wherein a temperature of the catalyst is adjusted so as to be within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takekazu Ito, Shizuo Sasaki, Kouji Yoshizaki, Masato Gotoh, Hiroki Murata
  • Patent number: 6216676
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine system is capable of reducing soot and NOx simultaneously, and prevents the occurrence of an undesirable situation where a generation amount of soot is increased in accordance with frequent transitions between a first combustion mode and a second combustion mode. In the system, the first combustion mode in which an amount of inert gas supplied to the combustion chamber is larger than an amount of the inert gas that causes the generation amount of soot to become a peak, such that soot is hardly generated, and a second combustion mode in which an amount of the inert gas supplied to the combustion chamber is smaller than the amount of the inert gas that causes the generation amount of soot to become a peak, are selectively performed. When conditions are such that switching between the first combustion mode and the second combustion mode has or may occur frequently, the execution of the first combustion mode is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Gotoh, Shizuo Sasaki, Kouji Yoshizaki, Takekazu Ito, Hiroki Murata
  • Patent number: 6209515
    Abstract: A stable combustion without generating smoke or misfire is performed by selectively conducting a first combustion mode and a second combustion mode. In the first combustion mode, an amount of an inert gas, e.g., EGR gas, provided to a combustion chamber is made to be larger than an amount of the inert gas that causes the generation amount of soot to become a peak amount. This causes substantially no soot to be generated. In the second combustion mode, the amount of the inert gas provided to the combustion chamber is made to be smaller than the amount that causes the generation amount of soot to become a peak amount. The injection timing is quickened if the injection amount is increased in the first combustion mode, and the injection timing is delayed if the injection amount is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Gotoh, Shizuo Sasaki, Kouji Yoshizaki, Takekazu Ito, Hiroki Murata
  • Patent number: 6152118
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine that selectively switches from a first combustion in which an amount of an exhaust gas recirculation gas within a combustion chamber is more than the amount of the exhaust gas recirculation gas when an amount of soot generated reaches a peak amount to generate substantially no soot, that is, a low temperature combustion, and a second combustion in which the amount of the exhaust gas recirculation gas within the combustion chamber is less than the amount of the exhaust gas recirculation gas when the amount of soot generated reaches the peak amount. The switching is selectively performed, such that, a stable low temperature combustion corresponding to the air fuel ratio is performed by shifting the area for performing the low temperature combustion to the high load side as the air fuel ratio is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Masato Gotoh, Takekazu Ito, Kouji Yoshizaki, Hiroki Murata, Tsukasa Abe
  • Patent number: 6016788
    Abstract: In a fuel injection control system, a throttle valve is provided on the intake air passage of a diesel engine and an EGR control valve is provided for recycling a part of the engine exhaust gas to the intake air system of the engine. An engine control unit (ECU) controls the intake air amount of the engine to a value corresponding to the engine operating condition by adjusting the throttle valve and the EGR control valve. Further, the ECU detects the actual intake air amount by an airflow meter disposed at the inlet of the intake air passage and determines the maximum fuel injection amount based on the engine speed and the actual intake air amount. The maximum fuel injection amount is the maximum amount of the fuel which does not generate the exhaust smoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuya Kibe, Masato Gotoh, Tatsuji Mizuno
  • Patent number: 5987884
    Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided an exhaust gas purification device for purifying an exhaust gas discharged from an engine having cylinders including first and second cylinders. An exhaust stroke in the first cylinder is carried out next to an exhaust stroke in the second cylinder. The exhaust gas purification device comprises exhaust branch passages which are connected to the cylinders, respectively. The exhaust branch passages include first and second exhaust branch passages which are connected to the first and second cylinders, respectively. The exhaust gas purification device comprises a common exhaust passage connected to the exhaust branch passages, a catalyst positioned in the common exhaust passage for purifying an exhaust gas, and an exhaust gas recirculation passage connected to the first exhaust branch passage. The exhaust gas recirculation passage introduces the exhaust gas from the first exhaust branch passage into an intake passage which is connected to the cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuya Kibe, Masato Gotoh, Tatsuji Mizuno, Kouichi Akita
  • Patent number: 5983630
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a fuel injecting device for injecting fuel into a cylinder of an engine. A fuel injector injects a main fuel charge into the cylinder at a predetermined first timing, and the fuel injector injects additional fuel into the cylinder at a predetermined second timing which is different from the predetermined first timing. It is judged if an amount of fuel adhering to an inner wall of the cylinder is larger than a predetermined fuel amount when the fuel injector injects the additional fuel. The fuel injector inject the additional fuel such that an amount of fuel adhering to the inner wall of the cylinder becomes smaller than the predetermined fuel amount when it is judged that an amount of fuel adhering to the inner wall of the cylinder is larger than the predetermined fuel amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuya Kibe, Masato Gotoh, Tatsuji Mizuno, Ichiro Sakata
  • Patent number: 5974794
    Abstract: The exhaust gas purification device includes a NO.sub.x absorbent disposed in an exhaust gas passage of an internal combustion engine. The engine is mainly operated at a lean air-fuel ratio. The NO.sub.x absorbent absorbs NO.sub.x in the exhaust gas from the engine when the exhaust gas flowing into the NO.sub.x absorbent is at a lean air-fuel ratio, and releases the NO.sub.x absorbed therein and reduces it when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas becomes a rich air-fuel ratio. A control circuit is provided for controlling the operating air-fuel ratio of the engine. When the ignition switch of the engine is turned off, the control circuit continues the engine operation for a predetermined period before terminating the engine operation. During this engine operation, the operating air-fuel ratio of the engine is controlled at a rich air-fuel ratio to supply exhaust gas with a rich air-fuel ratio to the NO.sub.x absorbent. Therefore, NO.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Gotoh, Kenji Katoh, Takamitsu Asanuma
  • Patent number: 5848529
    Abstract: An apparatus for, and a method of, purifying exhaust gas emitted from an internal combustion engine reduces fuel consumption under a lean operating condition and generates high torque under a rich operating condition without deteriorating the cleanness of exhaust gas and the driveability of the engine. The apparatus and method improve the durability of a variable valve timing mechanism of the engine.The engine operation involves lean and rich operating conditions. The variable valve timing mechanism of the apparatus changes the open and close timing of at least one of intake and exhaust valves of the engine. The apparatus further has a catalytic converter in an exhaust system, to occlude NOx under the lean operating condition and discharge and reduce the occluded NOx under the rich operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Katoh, Masato Gotoh, Takamitsu Asanuma
  • Patent number: 5483795
    Abstract: An NO.sub.x absorber (18) is arranged in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine. The NO.sub.x absorber (18) absorbs the NO.sub.x when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NO.sub.x absorber (18) is lean while releases the absorbed NO.sub.x when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NO.sub.x absorber (18) becomes the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio or rich. An air-fuel ratio sensor (22) is arranged in the exhaust passage downstream of the NO.sub.x absorber (18). When the air-fuel ratio detected by the air-fuel ratio sensor (22) is switched from lean to rich after the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into NO.sub.x absorber (18) is switched from lean to rich, it is decided that the releasing action of NO.sub.x from the NO.sub.x absorber (18) is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Katoh, Tokuta Inoue, Hidetaka Nohira, Kiyoshi Nakanishi, Satoshi Iguchi, Tetsuro Kihara, Masato Gotoh, Takamitsu Asanuma, Hiroshi Okano, Jun Harada, Shinichi Takeshima, Masahiko Sugiyama, Shigenori Sakurai, Kenji Ohkubo, Mikio Murachi
  • Patent number: 5423181
    Abstract: An engine comprising an exhaust passage having therein a NO.sub.x absorbent which absorbs the NO.sub.x when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NO.sub.x absorbent is lean and releases the absorbed NO.sub.x when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NO.sub.x absorbent becomes the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio or rich. When the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture should be changed over from lean to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture is temporarily made rich and is then made the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Katoh, Satoshi Iguchi, Tetsuro Kihara, Masato Gotoh, Shinichi Takeshima, Takamitsu Asanuma, Fumitada Murakami