Having Sensor Or Indicator Of Malfunction, Unsafeness, Or Disarray Of Treater (e.g., Fusible Link, Etc.) Patents (Class 60/277)
  • Patent number: 9236730
    Abstract: An integrated circuit generating a driving signal to a load according to an input voltage and including an impedance switching unit, a first protection unit, a first detection unit and a control unit is disclosed. The impedance switching unit takes the input voltage as the driving signal according to a control signal. The first protection unit generates a first detection signal when a current passing through the impedance switching unit is higher than a predetermined current. The first detection unit detects a voltage of the impedance switching unit to generate a detection result. The control unit controls the control signal according to the first detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ping-Ying Chu
  • Patent number: 9222391
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system for an internal combustion engine includes: an addition valve disposed in an exhaust pipe of the internal combustion engine to add a reducing agent to exhaust gas; a temperature obtaining portion that acquires a temperature of the addition valve; a cooling portion that cools the addition valve by circulating cooling fluid; a determining portion that determines whether the cooling portion is able to normally cool the addition valve; and an output limit portion that limits output of the internal combustion engine based on a heat-resistant temperature of the addition valve and the temperature of the addition valve acquired by the temperature obtaining portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sumitaka Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9217351
    Abstract: A method for operating a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system having a urea solution supply and an ultrasound based urea concentration sensor, the measurement signal of the urea concentration sensor being representative of a propagation time of an ultrasonic pulse along a predefined path length in a fluid of the urea solution supply includes: heating at least the fluid in a detection region of the urea concentration sensor from a predefined first temperature to a predefined second temperature; during the heating, detecting the measurement signal at at least a third and fourth temperature, and in each case determining a raw concentration characteristic value as a function of the respective measurement signal, which raw concentration characteristic value is representative of the propagation time of the ultrasonic pulse; and determining a concentration characteristic value, representative of a concentration of urea in the fluid, as a function of the raw concentration characteristic values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Philippe Grass, Denny Schädlich
  • Patent number: 9217350
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for detecting exhaust reductant injector degradation based on an exhaust NOx sensor are disclosed. In one example, degradation of the reductant injector is indicated when an actual NOx sensor output differs from an expected NOx sensor output by more than a threshold amount under engine off conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Devesh Upadhyay, In Kwang Yoo, David John Kubinski, Jacobus Hendrik Visser, Garth Michael Meyer, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Patent number: 9205376
    Abstract: An anti-contamination system having a container, a pump, a tube, an exhaust pipe, and a dispenser system. The pump is used to direct a water and calcium oxide solution through the tube to the dispenser system. The high temperature of the exhaust gases is used as a reactor and the exhaust pipe as a controlled atmosphere volume. The heat from the exhaust gas/pipe is used to heat water mixed with calcium oxide to create calcium hydroxide and steam, which is injected by the dispenser system into the exhaust pipe such that the exhaust gas reacts with the steam and the calcium hydroxide. The exhaust pipe is made with stainless steel to avoid corrosion due the chemical reactions that occur inside, and the gases expelled to the atmosphere are clean with only minimal solid residues like calcium sulfate that are troughed away as small pellets, without any pollution contribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Moises Castaneda Fonseca
  • Patent number: 9194306
    Abstract: An appropriately constructed and configured internal combustion engine with a control system to safely stop engine operation in the event of a release of flammable gas within the external area surrounding the engine that may consequently enter the engine combustion chamber is provided. The overall device includes an air intake shutoff valve and an externally located remote interface box constructed of a properly rated enclosure material housing necessary sensors and shutoff controls for automatic activation of the air intake shutoff valve. Furthermore, the device includes a separately provided operator control panel for manual override in case of other system failure, including any compromise of the remote interface box controls for any reason. The overall engine and shutdown system, as well as the method of utilizing such a system, are thus encompassed within this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: CUMMINS MID-SOUTH, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael Timothy Mask, Angelo Jason Morgan, Brandon Scott Isbell
  • Patent number: 9181841
    Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring the light-off temperature of a diesel oxidation catalyst of a combustion engine. The method includes, but is not limited to measuring the temperature of the exhaust gas upstream and downstream of the diesel oxidation catalyst during a post injection phase or after injection phase of the combustion engine, determining whether a catalyst light-off occurred by using the temperature data of the exhaust gas, calculating the surface temperature of the diesel oxidation catalyst by using the measured temperature data of the exhaust gas, and defining the calculated temperature as light-off temperature of the diesel oxidation catalyst in the case that a catalyst light-off is determined. By means of the method, it is possible to determine the actual light-off temperature of the diesel oxidation catalyst for instance after each engine start by means of calculating the surface temperature of the diesel oxidation catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Leu, Torsten Mueller, Markus Wesslau
  • Patent number: 9181840
    Abstract: A method is provided to operate a diesel particulate filter of a Diesel engine equipped with a soot-sensor located in an outlet of the diesel particulate filter, the soot-sensor operating according to a succession of soot loading phases mutually separated by a regeneration phase. The method includes, but is not limited to setting a borderline value of the efficiency of the diesel particulate filter, resetting a value of a counter, during a regeneration phase of the soot-sensor, this value representing a soot loading level of the soot-sensor, iteratively increasing the value of this counter, during a next soot loading phase of the soot-sensor, at least until the value reaches a predetermined threshold value of the counter, and detecting an unsuited efficiency of the diesel particulate filter, if a next regeneration phase of the soot-sensor begins when the value of the counter is below the predetermined threshold value of the counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Cristian Taibi, Alessia Tuninetti
  • Patent number: 9157354
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprises a NOx selective reduction catalyst provided in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine; an upstream side oxidation catalyst which is a catalyst having an oxidizing ability provided in the exhaust passage upstream from the NOx selective reduction catalyst and which includes a carrier for carrying a noble metal for oxidation, the carrier being formed of a basic carrier; and a reducing agent supply until which supplies a reducing agent to an exhaust gas allowed to flow into the NOx selective reduction catalyst. Accordingly, even when the oxidation catalyst causes the SOx poisoning in the exhaust gas purification apparatus for the internal combustion engine having the oxidation catalyst and the NOx selective reduction catalyst provided in the exhaust passage, the reduction efficiency of NOx reduced by the aid of the NOx selective reduction catalyst is favorably maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Bisaiji, Kohei Yoshida, Mikio Inoue
  • Patent number: 9151206
    Abstract: A method for determining soot mass oxidized during a particulate filter oxidation procedure is disclosed. In one example, soot mass is determined via an Arrhenius equation. The approach may provide cost savings and reliability improvements as compared to other ways of determining soot mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Patent number: 9127584
    Abstract: A recovery control system that allows a dosing valve to recover from a malfunction to a normal state, or a liquid feed line through which urea solution is fed to recover from clogging to a normal state. An abnormality detector detects an abnormality of the dosing valve and a recovery controller controls a supply module to feed urea solution in the dosing valve back to an urea tank when the abnormality detector detects the abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Takao Onodera, Takuro Iwashita, Masanobu Minezawa
  • Patent number: 9121323
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an exhaust system, an SCR device, upstream and downstream NOx sensors, and a controller. The controller is in electrical communication with the NOx sensors, and is configured for detecting a stuck-in-range fault condition of the downstream NOx sensor during a low exhaust flow condition. The controller detects the condition, receives the upstream and downstream NOx levels from the respective upstream and downstream NOx sensors, and compares these levels to a zero or near-zero threshold when the low exhaust flow condition is active. The controller is also configured for executing a first control action when the upstream NOx level is below the threshold and the downstream NOx level exceeds the threshold, and executing a second control action when neither of the levels exceeds the threshold. A method is also disclosed for diagnosing the stuck-in-range condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Scott T. Feldmann, Justin A. Shetney
  • Patent number: 9115623
    Abstract: In a method for controlling the NOx concentration in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine in which an NOx control deviation is calculated from an actual NOx value and a desired NOx value, a control value is calculated based on the NOx control deviation via an NOx controller and by means of the control value at least one condition of the cylinder inlet flow volume of the internal combustion engine is adjusted in that, additionally, an adaption injection begin is determined in dependence on the control value of the NOx controller, and the injection begin is changed by the adaption injection begin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: MTU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Prothmann, Andreas Flohr, Joerg Remele, Martin Lehmann, Alexander Bernhard, Andreas Krammer
  • Patent number: 9097153
    Abstract: Exhaust systems of a combustion engine of a motor vehicle, motor vehicles with exhaust systems, and methods for operating an exhaust system of a combustion engine in a motor vehicle are provided. An exhaust system includes an exhaust line comprising a heat exchanger branch and a bypass branch. The exhaust line has an adjustable control element by which combustion gas flowing through the exhaust line is fed to the heat exchanger branch and/or the bypass branch. A heat exchanger is connected to the heat exchanger branch and to a cooling circuit and an adjusting mechanism has an actuator for adjustment of the adjusting mechanism. The adjusting member of the adjusting mechanism is configured such that the actuator is spaced from the exhaust line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Bert Moehlmann, Lothar Seybold, Kai-Ove Pietsch
  • Patent number: 9068493
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system abnormality diagnosing device includes: a sensor value detecting means that reads a sensor signal of a specified gas concentration sensor to detect a gas concentration; a limiting device controlling means which, when the gas concentration has become equal to or greater than a predetermined start-of-diagnosis threshold value or when a difference obtained by subtracting from the gas concentration an estimated NOx concentration on a downstream side of a selective reduction catalyst obtained by computation has become equal to or greater than a predetermined start-of-diagnosis threshold value, increases the quantity of ammonia capable of being adsorbed by the selective reduction catalyst by raising the pressure inside an exhaust gas passageway with a passageway area limiting device disposed on the downstream side of the selective reduction catalyst; and a determining means that determines the abnormal state on the basis of the gas concentration or the difference after the pressur
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Bosch Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Tanioka
  • Patent number: 9051859
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification device 1 includes an exhaust gas processing device 30 provided in an exhaust passage 11 of an internal combustion engine 10, an in-exhaust pipe fuel injection device 24 provided on an upstream side of the exhaust gas processing device 30 to supply fuel to the exhaust gas processing device 30, a NOx sensor 13 provided on a downstream side of the exhaust gas processing device 30, and a control unit 40 that controls combustion in the internal combustion engine 10 based on operating state of the engine 10. To burn and remove PM trapped in the exhaust gas processing device 30, the control unit 40 causes the in-exhaust pipe fuel injection device 24 to supply the fuel to the exhaust gas processing device 30 and stores a detection value from the NOx sensor 13 as a NOx value at an outlet of the engine 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Daiji Nagaoka, Teruo Nakada, Hiroyuki Yuza
  • Patent number: 9038370
    Abstract: A method for operating an exhaust emission control system of a motor vehicle internal combustion engine, in the exhaust gas line of which an oxidation-catalytically active exhaust emission control component is arranged upstream of a SCR-catalyst is provided. An ageing state of the oxidation-catalytically active exhaust emission control component is determined by correlating a hydrocarbon fraction present in the exhaust emission upstream of the oxidation-catalytically active exhaust emission component with a simultaneous nitrogen oxide conversion of the SCR-catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventor: Alexander Massner
  • Patent number: 9038369
    Abstract: Methods and systems for diagnosing inadequate performance and/or degradation of one or more components of an aftertreatment system are disclosed, the components including at least an oxidation catalyst that is positioned upstream from an SCR catalyst. A performance degradation analysis of the oxidation catalyst is based on a comparison of measurements received from a first nitrous oxide (NOx) sensor located upstream of the oxidation catalyst and a second NOx sensor located downstream from the oxidation catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Nassim Khaled, Richard A. Booth
  • Patent number: 9032719
    Abstract: A method for particulate filter performance monitoring in an exhaust gas treatment system is provided. The method includes monitoring a current received from a soot sensor in the exhaust gas treatment system and comparing the current to a soot sensor current threshold. Based on determining that the current is greater than or equal to the soot sensor current threshold, an accumulated engine out soot value is compared to an accumulated engine out soot threshold. A particulate filter fault is set based on determining that the accumulated engine out soot value is less than the accumulated engine out soot threshold. A monitoring system and an exhaust gas treatment system of an engine are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Min Sun, Jr., Michelangelo Ardanese, Vincent J. Tylutki, Igor Anilovich
  • Patent number: 9032711
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, inside of an engine exhaust passage, a hydrocarbon feed valve and an exhaust purification catalyst are arranged. On the exhaust purification catalyst, platinum Pt is carried and a basic layer is formed. The concentration of hydrocarbons which flows into the exhaust purification catalyst is made to vibrate by within a predetermined range of amplitude and a predetermined range of period due to which the NOx which is contained in exhaust gas is reduced at the exhaust purification catalyst. At this time, the greater the oxidizing strength of the exhaust purification catalyst, the greater the injection pressure of hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon feed valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki Bisaiji, Kohei Yoshida, Mikio Inoue
  • Publication number: 20150128568
    Abstract: A method for determining if an injector (10) is in a blocked state, the injector including a coil of resistance R and of inductance L, passed through by a power supply current of maximum intensity (Imax), and powered by a voltage E, the method includes: controlling the opening of the injector, measuring the intensity I passing through a measurement resistance r as a function of time t, determining a necessary duration ? to reach a predetermined intensity value (Ipred), lower than the maximum intensity (Imax), computing the inductance L as a function of the necessary duration, if L?Lth, then the injector is blocked in the closed position, otherwise if L<Lth, the injector is blocked in the open position, with Lth being a threshold value of the inductance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicants: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GmbH, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE
    Inventors: Pascal BARBIER, Roland LANG, Ningsheng QIAO
  • Patent number: 9027539
    Abstract: The present invention intends to perform control for detecting a change in air-fuel ratio with high accuracy by an exhaust gas sensor in an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger with a wastegate valve. A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to the present invention includes: a turbocharger; a wastegate through which an exhaust gas passes while bypassing a turbine; a wastegate valve for opening/closing the wastegate; an exhaust gas sensor provided in an exhaust passage on the downstream side from the turbine and the wastegate valve; and air-fuel ratio change detection controlling means for executing air-fuel ratio change detection control to change an air-fuel ratio on the upstream side from the turbine and the wastegate valve and detect a change in the air-fuel ratio by the exhaust gas sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeki Miyashita
  • Patent number: 9021791
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing a metering valve for metering a reagent into the exhaust gas region of an internal combustion engine. The metering valve is actuated by a pulse-width-modulated metering valve actuation signal with a certain duty factor for setting the metering rate. A reagent pump places the reagent at a reagent pressure, and the reagent pump is operated with a pulse-width-modulated pump actuation signal with a certain duty factor. Diagnosis of the metering valve is carried out on the basis of an evaluation of the increase in the metering valve actuation signal pulse duty factor after a predefined increase in the metering rate. The reagent filling level of an SCR catalytic converter arranged in the exhaust gas region is taken into account. At the start of the diagnosis, the reagent storage capacity of the SCR catalytic converter is checked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Buelent Barcin, Christian Walz, Tobias Pfister
  • Publication number: 20150113960
    Abstract: Solid storage media stores a reductant in a reductant source that is released from the solid storage media in a gaseous form into an exhaust system. A leak detection and/or leak mitigation system, method and apparatus is disclosed for the gaseous reductant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Michael J. Ruth, Cary Henry
  • Patent number: 9016043
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an exhaust after-treatment system that doses an exhaust treatment fluid held from a tank into an exhaust stream. The method includes determining a first temperature of the exhaust treatment fluid in the tank using a temperature sensor. If the first temperature of the exhaust treatment fluid is less than a predetermined temperature, a heater is activated to increase the first temperature of the exhaust treatment fluid. The increasing first temperature is then monitored relative to the predetermined temperature. Then, a second temperature when a phase change of the exhaust treatment fluid occurs is detected. The detected second temperature is then compared to the predetermined temperature to determine whether the exhaust treatment fluid is of sufficient quality, or to determine whether the temperature sensor is rational.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Reynolds, III, Thomas Stephens
  • Patent number: 9010087
    Abstract: Various systems and method for detecting exhaust NOx sensor degradation are disclosed. In one example, degradation of the NOx sensor is indicated responsive to reductant injection in an exhaust passage under engine off conditions. For example, degradation of the NOx sensor is indicated when an actual NOx sensor output differs from an expected NOx sensor output by more than a threshold amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Devesh Upadhyay, In Kwang Yoo, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, David John Kubinski
  • Publication number: 20150101312
    Abstract: An O2 purge control method for two type catalysts may include, performing, by a WCC O2 purge of a warm up catalytic converter (WCC), a sensor based WCC O2 purge logic to which a voltage of a WCC O2 sensor is applied immediately after a fuel-cut; and when the sensor based WCC O2 purge logic is completed, applying an O2ucc learning history and an O2uccReset of an O2ucc (oxygen quantity adsorbed into UCC) for an under floor catalytic converter (UCC) and performing, by any one of a factor based UCC O2 purge logic to which an engine RPM and an Fpurge of a purge oxygen suction quantity [mg] are applied and a sensor based UCC O2 purge logic to which a voltage value of an UCC O2 rear sensor is applied, an UCC O2 purge of the UCC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Muyoung CHOI
  • Patent number: 9005558
    Abstract: An exhaust gas control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes: a NOx purification catalyst arranged in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine; a degradation degree estimating unit estimating a degradation degree of the NOx purification catalyst; and an air-fuel ratio control unit adjusting an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing into the NOx purification catalyst, wherein, until the estimated degradation degree of the NOx purification catalyst reaches a predetermined degradation degree, the air-fuel ratio control unit adjusts the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas to a rich air-fuel ratio, and, when the estimated degradation degree of the NOx purification catalyst exceeds the predetermined degradation degree, the air-fuel ratio control unit changes the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas from the rich air-fuel ratio to a lean air-fuel ratio so that the NOx purification catalyst is regenerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masao Watanabe, Shigeharu Takagi, Keisuke Kishita, Noboru Otake, Akira Morikawa, Takuto Hirose, Yasutaka Nagai
  • Patent number: 8997467
    Abstract: A machine includes an engine having a coolant system, an electrical system, and an exhaust system. A diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) injector provides DEF into the exhaust system. The DEF injector includes a housing that forms a coolant passage therethrough. The coolant passage is adapted to accommodate a flow of coolant through the coolant passage for cooling the DEF injector. A DEF pump is arranged to provide DEF to the DEF injector from a reservoir during operation of the engine. A power management module is associated with the electrical system, the DEF injector and the DEF pump. An auxiliary power unit is associated with the power management module and is configured to remain active after the engine electrical system has been deactivated. The power management module is configured to cause a purge of the DEF from the DEF injector when the engine is shut down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Rebecca Grzesiak, Michael J. Braun
  • Publication number: 20150089927
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprises an exhaust purification catalyst which can store oxygen, controller for controlling the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas to become a target air-fuel ratio, and a downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor. An abnormality diagnosis system performs an active air-fuel ratio control which alternately controls the target air-fuel ratio to rich and lean air-fuel ratios, and diagnoses abnormality of said exhaust purification catalyst based on the output air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel ratio sensor. The abnormality diagnosis system judges that the exhaust purification catalyst is abnormal when the output air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel ratio sensor reaches a rich judgment air-fuel ratio and a lean judgment air-fuel ratio during the active air-fuel ratio control, and judges that said air-fuel ratio control is abnormal when the output air-fuel ratio reaches only one of the rich and lean judgment air-fuel ratios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Masahiro Kubo, Yasushi Iwasaki, Kouichi Kitaura, Hiroshi Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20150089926
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system for an internal combustion engine includes: an addition valve disposed in an exhaust pipe of the internal combustion engine to add a reducing agent to exhaust gas; a temperature obtaining portion that acquires a temperature of the addition valve; a cooling portion that cools the addition valve by circulating cooling fluid; a determining portion that determines whether the cooling portion is able to normally cool the addition valve; and an output limit portion that limits output of the internal combustion engine based on a heat-resistant temperature of the addition valve and the temperature of the addition valve acquired by the temperature obtaining portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Sumitaka IKEDA
  • Patent number: 8984868
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a machine is disclosed. The exhaust system may have a diffuser configured to receive exhaust from an engine. The exhaust system may further have a plurality of dosers associated with the diffuser and configured to inject fuel into the diffuser. The exhaust system may also have a controller configured to selectively control an amount of fuel injected by each of the plurality of dosers based on a velocity of the exhaust adjacent to each doser. In addition, the exhaust system may have an after-treatment component fluidly connected downstream of the diffuser and configured to heat the exhaust by oxidizing the injected fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventors: Ajay Patel, Pradeep K. Ganesan
  • Patent number: 8984861
    Abstract: A catalyst deterioration diagnosis method for diagnosing deterioration of a catalyst for purification of exhaust gas by using a test catalyst disposed in an exhaust gas flow path through which the exhaust gas flows, the method including an exhaust gas control step of inverting an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas in the flow path from a lean side to a rich side or from a rich side to a lean side; a measurement step of measuring a change over time in electrical resistance of the test catalyst at the inversion of the air-fuel ratio and finding a resistance change ratio of the test catalyst; and a determination step of determining catalytic deterioration of the test catalyst based on the resistance change ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Sakamoto, Akihiko Suda, Akira Morikawa
  • Patent number: 8978357
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method for determining an exhaust system condition includes determining if a reaction in an oxidation catalyst is performing acceptably based on a determined temperature of the exhaust gas flowing from the oxidation catalyst and determining a temperature of the exhaust gas flowing from a particulate filter. The method further includes determining a temperature of the exhaust gas flowing into the oxidation catalyst, determining an exhaust system condition based on a first difference between the temperature of the exhaust gas flowing from the particulate filter and the temperature of the exhaust gas flowing from the oxidation catalyst and a second absolute difference between the temperature of the exhaust gas flowing from the oxidation catalyst and the temperature of the exhaust gas flowing into the oxidation catalyst and communicating a signal to identify the determined exhaust system condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Vincent J. Tylutki, Janean E. Kowalkowski, Benjamin Radke
  • Patent number: 8966882
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an exhaust system having a particulate filter which removes soot from the exhaust stream, a sensor, and a controller. The sensor measures instantaneous differential pressure across the filter. The controller executes a method to selectively enable or disable execution of an efficiency diagnostic of the filter as a function of a learned differential pressure offset value. The controller may also compare the differential pressure to a calibrated threshold and execute a control action when the differential pressure falls within an allowable range of the threshold. This may include applying the differential pressure offset value and enabling execution of the diagnostic using measurements from the zeroed sensor. Another control action may be executed when the measured differential pressure is not within the allowable range of the threshold, including disabling the execution of the diagnostic and setting a diagnostic code indicating that the sensor may be faulty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Vincent J. Tylutki, Benjamin Radke, Janean E. Kowalkowski
  • Publication number: 20150052878
    Abstract: A multi-stage SCR system including a front reductant injecting device, a front mixer, a front SCR catalyst, a back reductant injecting device, a back mixer, a back SCR catalyst, and a DCU. The front and back reductant injecting devices receives reductant from an air-driven pump, which includes a liquid supply tank, a pressure tank, and solenoids control valves. Under pressure provided by a compress air source, reductant is pressed into the front and back reductant injecting devices from the air-driven pump. The front and back reductant devices also have flow-back paths fluidly connected to a reductant tank. And in purging or maintenance heating, the flow-back paths can be energized open. In the multi-stage SCR system, a DOC can be further positioned in between the two SCR devices for increasing the deNOx efficiency in the back SCR catalyst, so that the system is less sensitive to catalyst aging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventor: Baohua Qi
  • Patent number: 8959891
    Abstract: A selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system that can detect whether or not a float is stuck even where a water level sensor that detects a liquid level in a stepwise manner is used, including: an urea injection quantity integrating unit that integrates an injected quantity of urea to calculate an urea injection quantity integrated value; an integrated value resetting unit that, if a detected value from detection means changes, resets the urea injection quantity integrated value; and an abnormality determination unit that, if the urea injection quantity integrated value exceeds a predetermined threshold value for determination, determines a level sensor as having an abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Takeshi Fukuoka, Hirotaka Takahashi, Tomoo Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8959890
    Abstract: A selective catalytic reduction thawing control system that can distinguish between a thawing failure and a malfunction and can prevent a malfunction of a supply module (“SM”) pump. The thawing control system includes a thawing control unit that detects a pressure inside the supply module when the SM pump is operated, and stops the operation of the SM pump and continues thawing of urea water when the pressure is less than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Masanobu Minezawa, Keiichi Iida, Gouichi Akahoshi
  • Patent number: 8959892
    Abstract: An exhaust control system for use with a combustion engine is disclosed. The system may have an exhaust passage, an exhaust sensor located within the exhaust passage and configured to generate a first signal indicative of an exhaust parameter, and an operational sensor associated with the combustion engine and configured to generate a second signal indicative of an operational parameter. The system may have a controller associated with the combustion engine, the exhaust sensor, and the operational sensor. The controller may be configured to detect a change in the operational parameter based on the second signal and to detect a change in the exhaust parameter based on the first signal. The controller may measure an elapsed time between detection of the change in the operational parameter and the change in the exhaust parameter, and determine a placement-related parameter of the exhaust sensor based on the elapsed time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Darin James McCoy, Drew Douglas Wackerlin
  • Patent number: 8955307
    Abstract: In an ordinary mode, when an abnormality diagnosis of a PM sensor attached to a downstream opening downstream of a filter is performed, the PM sensor is moved to a first upstream opening upstream of the filter, and an exhaust gas is discharged from an engine. An ECU stores a program for the abnormality diagnosis. In an abnormality diagnosis mode, the ECU diagnoses the PM sensor by comparing an output value of the PM sensor to a standard output after performing the program. The first upstream opening may be closed by a cover in the ordinary mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeto Yahata, Tomohiro Ueno
  • Publication number: 20150043611
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system to treat exhaust gas includes a particulate filter, a second temperature sensor and a control module. The particulate filter includes a PF substrate configured to trap particulate matter contained in the exhaust gas. The second temperature sensor is configured to output an outlet temperature signal indicating an outlet temperature at the outlet of the particulate filter. The control module is in electrical communication with the second temperature sensor to receive the outlet temperature signal. The control module determines a maximum substrate temperature of the PF substrate based on the outlet temperature. The control module is further configured to determine whether the particulate filter includes an active washcoat disposed thereon based on the maximum substrate temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jianwen Li, Vincent J. Tylutki, Rahul Mital
  • Publication number: 20150033700
    Abstract: Systems and methods for defrosting sensing components in fluid sensing system. In one embodiment, the invention provides a defrosting system that includes a sensing system. The sensing system includes a sensor operable to sense a characteristic of the fluid in a tank. The defrosting system includes a fluid pickup line spaced apart from the sensor, and a fluid return line. The fluid return line includes an output. The output is positioned to direct fluid onto the sensing system. In one embodiment, the defrosting system further comprises a pipe configured to provide the fluid to a system external to the tank. The fluid is heated by heat generated by the external system and directed onto the sensing system at least partially defrosts fluid contained within the sensing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: SSI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David T. Schlenke
  • Patent number: 8943800
    Abstract: When an internal combustion engine (1) is determined to be in a low-temperature start state (an affirmative determination is made in S120), an air-fuel ratio control apparatus (10) controls the temperature of a downstream detection element (17) of a downstream gas sensor (15) to a downstream target temperature by driving a downstream heater (16) of the downstream gas sensor (15) (S170), and feedback-controls the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas based on the output of the downstream gas sensor (15) (S190). When the engine (1) is determined not to be in the low-temperature start state (a negative determination is made in S120), the air-fuel ratio control apparatus (10) drives an upstream heater (25) of an upstream gas sensor (22) and feedback-controls the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas based on the output of the upstream gas sensor (22) (S270).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Umemoto, Shuichi Hanai, Koji Nagura
  • Patent number: 8943814
    Abstract: A warm-up system for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine includes an electronic control unit that performs warm-up control for warming up an exhaust system component upon start-up of the internal combustion engine and a failure diagnosis performing module of the electronic control unit that performs failure diagnosis for the exhaust system component after the completion of warm-up of the exhaust system component. If the internal combustion engine repeatedly stops before completion of the failure diagnosis for a predetermined period of time, then the electronic control unit changes the warm-up control performed upon start-up of the internal combustion engine to a control that raises the temperature of the exhaust system component more quickly than the warm-up control performed during the predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Shibata, Toru Kidokoro, Hiroshi Sawada, Kazuya Takaoka
  • Patent number: 8943799
    Abstract: In a control device for an internal combustion engine including an air-fuel ratio sensor that includes a catalyst layer that covers an exhaust gas-side electrode, an oxygen storage capacity of the catalyst layer is acquired based on a sensor output of the air-fuel ratio sensor. The sensor output is corrected if the oxygen storage capacity is higher than a predetermined value and the sensor output is in a predetermined range in the vicinity of the theoretical air-fuel ratio. Preferably, the oxygen storage capacity is calculated by integrating the product of a deviation amount ?A/F of the sensor output with respect to the theoretical air-fuel ratio and a dwell time thereof. A correction period in which a correction operation is performed is set based on the oxygen storage capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takanori Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8938947
    Abstract: A catalyst degradation detection apparatus includes: calculation means for calculating, as an oxygen storage amount of a catalyst, an amount of oxygen stored into or desorbed from the catalyst during a period from when a change that corresponds to a change in an air/fuel ratio occurs in the signal of a pre-catalyst sensor to when the signal of a post-catalyst sensor reaches a criterion value regarding the change in the air/fuel ratio; catalyst degradation determination means for determining of degradation of the catalyst on the basis of the oxygen storage amount; and correction means for correcting the oxygen storage amount calculated for use for determining of degradation of the catalyst more to a decrease side as a measured responsiveness of the post-catalyst sensor becomes more deteriorated relative to a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20150020504
    Abstract: The present technology provides systems for monitoring particulate matter buildup on a filter installed in the engine exhaust stream of a vehicle. A filter differential pressure sensor monitors a pressure differential across the filter. A downstream differential pressure sensor monitors a pressure differential across an exhaust stream outlet. A processor monitors a particulate buildup value based at least in part on the pressure differential across the filter and the pressure differential across the exhaust stream outlet. A method for monitoring particulate buildup is also provided. The method monitors a pressure differential across the filter, and determines a downstream exhaust flow rate based on a pressure differential between a filter outlet housing and an exit pipe, where the diameter of the filter outlet housing is greater than the diameter of the exhaust exit pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Jacques Florian Nicole, Rade Milanovic, Evan Ngan, Little Flower Basani
  • Patent number: 8931264
    Abstract: An exhaust gas processing device for a diesel engine includes a DPF, a PM deposition amount estimating unit for PM deposited in the DPF, a DPF regenerating unit, a DPF regeneration control unit, a storage unit, an acceleration regeneration request information notifying unit, an acceleration regeneration start operating unit, and a mode selecting unit. When a normal regeneration process is selected, the time at which acceleration regeneration request determination reserve period T1 elapses from the start of the normal regeneration process without the end of the normal regeneration process is time T2 for acceleration regeneration request determination, at which time, if the PM deposition amount estimation value is greater or equal to acceleration regeneration request determination value J2, it is determined that there is the acceleration regeneration request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: KUBOTA Corporation
    Inventors: Katsushi Inoue, Yuuki Ishii, Yongchol Lee, Tomohiro Ninomiya
  • Patent number: 8932871
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a first ozone sensor that generates a first sensor signal indicating a first amount of ozone in air flowing into a radiator. A second ozone sensor generates a second sensor signal indicating a second amount of ozone in air flowing out of the radiator. A control module receives the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal and determines an ozone conversion rate based on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventors: Scott H. Wittkopp, Chang H. Kim, Brian T. Heil
  • Publication number: 20150007551
    Abstract: A control system includes an electrical heating catalyzer, a measuring device and an electronic control unit. The measuring device measures an insulation resistance between a catalyst carrier and case of the electrical heating catalyzer. The electronic control unit determines that the electrical heating catalyzer has a failure when a variation width of the insulation resistance is smaller than or equal to a set value in a historical variation in the insulation resistance measured by the measuring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Hiroshi TANAKA, Keisuke NAGASAKA, Kazuki TSURUMI