Patents by Inventor Motoharu Akaba

Motoharu Akaba 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: 8341937
    Abstract: An apparatus for an exhaust gas system includes a main exhaust passage, a main catalytic converter disposed in the main exhaust passage, a bypass exhaust passage, a bypass catalytic converter disposed in the bypass exhaust passage, and a valve configured to open or close a section of the main exhaust passage. The bypass exhaust passage bypasses the main exhaust passage between a branch point of the bypass exhaust passage out of the main exhaust passage and a junction with the main exhaust passage at a upstream side of the main catalytic converter. A first sensor indicates a first air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas in the bypass exhaust passage. A second sensor indicates a second air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing into the main catalytic converter. A controller determines whether the valve in the closed configuration leaks exhaust gas based on the first and second air-fuel ratios of exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sunki I, Kenichi Sato, Motoharu Akaba, Kimiyoshi Nishizawa, Kengo Kubo
  • Patent number: 7891173
    Abstract: An exhaust gas cleaning apparatus is provided that has a main exhaust passage, a main catalytic converter disposed in the main exhaust passage, a bypass exhaust passage, a bypass catalytic converter disposed in the bypass exhaust passage, a selector valve and a controller. The controller controls the internal combustion engine to a rich combustion state with a rich air fuel ratio while the controller controls the selector valve to block the flow of the exhaust gas through the main exhaust passage, and then, afterwards, controls the selector valve to direct the flow of the exhaust gas through the main exhaust passage such that residual air remaining in the main exhaust passage mixes with rich exhaust gas from the bypass exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoharu Akaba, Suki I, Takao Inoue, Kimiyoshi Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 7559196
    Abstract: An exhaust system of the internal combustion engine comprises upstream main paths for cylinders that are attached to a side of a cylinder head and extend towards a side of the engine, and are connected to the respective cylinders; a downstream main path in which the upstream main paths join so as to become one flow path; a main catalytic converter provided on the downstream main path; bypasses that are split from the upstream main paths or the downstream main path; a bypass catalytic converter that is provided on the bypass; and flow path switching valves that open and close the upstream main paths so that exhaust discharged from the cylinders flows into the bypass. The bypass catalytic converter is provided below the upstream main paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Inoue, Sunki I, Motoharu Akaba, Kimiyoshi Nishizawa
  • Publication number: 20080184699
    Abstract: An exhaust gas cleaning apparatus is provided that has a main exhaust passage, a main catalytic converter disposed in the main exhaust passage, a bypass exhaust passage, a bypass catalytic converter disposed in the bypass exhaust passage, a selector valve and a controller. The controller controls the internal combustion engine to a rich combustion state with a rich air fuel ratio while the controller controls the selector valve to block the flow of the exhaust gas through the main exhaust passage, and then, afterwards, controls the selector valve to direct the flow of the exhaust gas through the main exhaust passage such that residual air remaining in the main exhaust passage mixes with rich exhaust gas from the bypass exhaust passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoharu AKABA, Suki I, Takao INOUE, Kimiyoshi NISHIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20070214775
    Abstract: An apparatus for an exhaust gas system includes a main exhaust passage, a main catalytic converter disposed in the main exhaust passage, a bypass exhaust passage, a bypass catalytic converter disposed in the bypass exhaust passage, and a valve configured to open or close a section of the main exhaust passage. The bypass exhaust passage bypasses the main exhaust passage between a branch point of the bypass exhaust passage out of the main exhaust passage and a junction with the main exhaust passage at a upstream side of the main catalytic converter. A first sensor indicates a first air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas in the bypass exhaust passage. A second sensor indicates a second air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing into the main catalytic converter. A controller determines whether the valve in the closed configuration leaks exhaust gas based on the first and second air-fuel ratios of exhaust gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sunki I, Kenichi Sato, Motoharu Akaba, Kimiyoshi Nishizawa, Kengo Kubo
  • Publication number: 20070095052
    Abstract: An exhaust system of the internal combustion engine comprises upstream main paths for cylinders that are attached to a side of a cylinder head and extend towards a side of the engine, and are connected to the respective cylinders; a downstream main path in which the upstream main paths join so as to become one flow path; a main catalytic converter provided on the downstream main path; bypasses that are split from the upstream main paths or the downstream main path; a bypass catalytic converter that is provided on the bypass; and flow path switching valves that open and close the upstream main paths so that exhaust discharged from the cylinders flows into the bypass. The bypass catalytic converter is provided below the upstream main paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Takao Inoue, Sunki I, Motoharu Akaba, Kimiyoshi Nishizawa