Patents Represented by Attorney Nicolas E. Seckel
  • Patent number: 7824481
    Abstract: The inventive system for evaluating the charged state of depollution means integrated into the exhaust line of a motor vehicle engine is characterised in that it comprises means (7) for determining a pressure in the depollution means, means (8) for determining the volume gas flowrate upstream said depollution means (10) and means for comparing the depollution means state defined by the thus determined pressure and the volume flowrate with a predetermined diagram (11) of the absent, overcharged and clogged states of the depollution means in order to evaluate the state thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Christophe Colignon
  • Patent number: 7823377
    Abstract: A system for controlling the function of a diesel engine (1) in a motor vehicle having anti-pollution means (6, 7) includes an oxidation catalyst (6) and arranged in the exhaust system (3) of said engine (1). The catalyst (6) has at least one non-initialized state and one initialized state and the engine (1) has means (8) for supplying the engine cylinders with fuel with at least one injection during the recovery phase thereof. The system includes a single temperature sensor (18) downstream of the catalyst (6) and means (19) for controlling the supply means (8) by switching of the phase control and/or the quantity of fuel injected during the recovery phase between a first value for the initialization of the catalyst and a second value for maintaining the initialized state of the catalyst as a function of the measured temperature downstream of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Christophe Griard
  • Patent number: 7826940
    Abstract: The invention essentially concerns a method for fast starting on an up slope or with a high load. Said method uses a power transmission device (1.1) comprising a traction chain. Said traction chain consists in particular of a heat engine (2), a clutch (3), an electrical macine (4), and wheels (6). The invention is characterized in that while the vehicle is stopped or is running at low speed up a slope, the heat engine (2) is stopped, and when the vehicle is accelerated, the heat engine (2) is started using a starting system (7) mechanically independent of the electrical machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventors: Paulo Miranda, Stephane Rimaux
  • Patent number: 7802422
    Abstract: Method of assisting regeneration of a depollution device (1) associated with an oxidation catalyst (2) and integrated in an exhaust line (3) of a motor vehicle diesel engine (4), in which a common ramp supplies fuel to the cylinders of the engine, by shifting the engine (4), through modification of engine operation control parameters and use of fuel post-injections into the cylinders, among four strategies of regeneration of the depollution device (1), the first called normal engine operation strategy, the second called level 1 strategy, the third called level 2 strategy and the fourth called over-calibrated level 2 strategy, enabling different thermal levels to be achieved in the exhaust line, with looping back of the strategies, until detection of a request for stopping the regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Christophe Colignon
  • Patent number: 7798110
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a device for controlling the opening and closing of an internal combustion engine valve. This device is characterized in that the magnetic circuit of the electromagnet and/or the plate contains a magnetic material having a remnant magnetization (Fp) when the valve is in position, the remnant magnetization (Fp) being reversible so as to be cancelled when the valve changes position and having a coercive field strength in the range of 10 Oe to 600 Oe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventors: Emmanuel Sedda, Christophe Fageon, Jean-Paul Yonnet
  • Patent number: 7775033
    Abstract: The invention concerns a system for evaluation regeneration of pollution management means (1) integrated in an exhaust line (2) of a motor vehicle engine, characterized in that it comprises means (4) for determining the thermal power input by the exhaust gas upstream of the pollution management means during the regeneration phase thereof and means (4) for comparing said power to threshold values (Sb, Sh) to determine a partial or total failure of regenerating said means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Christophe Colignon
  • Patent number: 7766108
    Abstract: The invention essentially concerns a method for fast starting of a hybrid vehicle. Said method uses a power transmission device (1.1) comprising a traction chain consisting of a heat engine (2), a clutch (3), an electrical machine (4), and wheels (6). The invention is characterized in that said method, in order to rapidly accelerate the vehicle when it is stopped, consists in starting the heat engine (2) concurrently with the actuation of the electrical machine, using a starting system (7) mechanically independent of the electrical machine (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventors: Stephane Rimaux, Paulo Miranda
  • Patent number: 7765791
    Abstract: The inventive system comprises means (10) for determining the vehicle running mode, means (11) for determining the mass of elementary carbon exhausted by the engine according said running mode, means (15) for accumulating said elementary masses during the engine operation and obtaining a total mass thereof, means (18) for calculating the volume of ash from engine lubrication oil, means (20) for calculating the volume of ash from engine feed fuel, means (21) for calculating the effective volume of the depollution means on the basis of the total volume of the means thereof as they are new or cleaned, the already calculated volume of ash and means for calculating the degree of soot loading of the depollution means on the basis of the total mass, the effective volume and the maximum density of deposits on the depollution means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Christophe Colignon
  • Patent number: 7765979
    Abstract: System for controlling the operation of a motor vehicle diesel engine in which the supply of fuel to the cylinders is controlled as a function of the pressure of a reference cylinder acquired and a predetermined desired fuel supply value for each cylinder, the supply of fuel to the reference cylinder is slaved to its desired supply value as a function of the pressure acquired, the drive shaft rotation speed generated by the displacement of the piston of the reference cylinder and the drive shaft rotation speed generated by the displacement of the piston of at least one other cylinder are acquired, and the supply of fuel to this at least one other cylinder is actuated as a function of the speeds acquired by slaving the drive shaft rotation speed related to the at least one other cylinder to the drive shaft rotation speed related to the reference cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignees: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA, Delphi Technologies Holdings Sarl
    Inventors: Claire Vermonet, Vincent Souchon, Benjamin Desmarquet, Guillaume Meissonnier
  • Patent number: 7765796
    Abstract: The inventive system for assisting in the regeneration of depollution means (1) which is integrated in the exhaust means (3) of a diesel engine (4), wherein the engine (4) is associated with a common rail supplying means (7, 8) for injecting fuel into cylinders thereof using at least one post-injection and for carrying out at least two regeneration strategies by isotorque modifying the parameters of the engine operation control, wherein the first regeneration strategy comprises a first level strategy and a second level strategy and the second regeneration strategy comprising the first level strategies and a sequence alternating the second and second over-calibrated level strategies, thereby making it possible to obtain different thermal levels in the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Christophe Colignon
  • Patent number: 7766779
    Abstract: The invention relates to, in essence, a switching device (10, 11) for a motor vehicle. This switching device comprises two idler gears (17, 18) and a claw (14). This claw (14) assures, by displacement, a selective connection of a drive shaft (9) to one of the two idler gears (17, 18). According to the invention, the claw (14) comprises axial protrusions (65, 66) for simultaneously connecting it to the two idler gears (17, 18). To this end, the gears (17, 18) each have axial projections (67, 68). The protrusions (65, 66) are designed for entering the spaces made between the projections (67, 68). The inventive switching device (10, 11) is preferably used with a hybrid transmission device (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Serge Belmont
  • Patent number: 7769533
    Abstract: A system for determining the level of sulphur poisoning of a depollution device integrated into the exhaust line of a motor vehicle engine involves controlling the operation thereof, switching the system between a lean storage mode and a rich storage mode, calculating the sulphur storage speed in the lean mode, calculating the sulphur elimination speed in the rich mode, calculating the quantity of sulphur stored in the depollution device during the operation of the engine and comparing the quantity of sulphur with threshold values for determining a poisoning level of the depollution device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citron Automobiles SA
    Inventors: Arnaud Audouin, Benoit Frouvelle
  • Patent number: 7743607
    Abstract: The invention concerns a system for assisting regeneration of pollution management means (1) associated with oxidation catalyst forming means (2) implementing an oxygen storage capacity (OSC) function, and integrated in an exhaust line of a motor vehicle diesel engine (4), wherein the engine is associated with common ramp means (7) supplying fuel to the cylinders thereof. The invention is characterized in that it comprises means (8) for determining the frequency of the pollution management means regeneration and for comparing same to predetermined threshold values (10), to control the engine (4) in a first lean mixture regeneration operating mode (11) for frequencies less than the threshold values or in a second regeneration operating mode implementing engine operating sequences alternating rich mixture and lean mixture operating phases (12) for frequencies more than the threshold values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Christophe Colignon
  • Patent number: 7728249
    Abstract: An arrangement of a stress transducer (8) mountable on one arm (31) of welding pliers, wherein an insert (10) is positioned between the arm (31) of the pliers and the stress transducer (8). A method for mounting said stress transducer is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Patrice Auger
  • Patent number: 7716923
    Abstract: The invention concerns a system for assisting regeneration of pollution management means (1) associated with oxidation catalyst forming means implementing an oxygen storage capacity (OSC) function, and integrated in an exhaust line (3) of a motor vehicle diesel engine (4), wherein the engine is associated with common ramp means (7) supplying fuel to the cylinders thereof. The invention is characterized in that it comprises means (8) for determining the number of incomplete regeneration processes of the pollution management means and for comparing same to predetermined threshold values (10) to control the engine (4) in a first lean mixture regeneration operating mode (11) for a number less than the threshold values or in a second regeneration operating mode of engine operation sequences alternating rich mixture and lean mixture operating phases (12) for a number greater than the threshold values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Christophe Colignon
  • Patent number: 7712439
    Abstract: In this method, during the same operating cycle of the cylinder, the following phases are carried out: an opening phase at the exhaust (OE-OF); a first opening phase at the intake (OA1-FA1); a second opening phase at the intake (OA2-FA2); a fuel injection phase (OI-FI) and a combustion phase. The exhaust closing time (FE) is between the first intake opening time (OA1) and the second intake opening time (OA2). The invention also relates to an internal-combustion engine having a cylinder which operates in accordance with such a method, and a motor vehicle provided with such an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Fabien Lanteires
  • Patent number: 7713647
    Abstract: The invention mainly concerns a fuel cell seal (52) designed to be affixed on a bipolar plate (22) in the form of a membrane whereof the profile corresponds approximately to the peripheral frame (50) of the bipolar plate (22) and comprising a central opening (66) coinciding approximately with the central zone (46) dispensing the reagents of the bipolar plate (22). The invention also concerns a fuel cell comprising an electrode membrane assembly (70) which includes in particular an active region (74), which is the site of anode and cathode reactions, and a peripheral frame (75) and which is sandwiched between two bipolar plates (22) whereon is affixed the inventive seal (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignees: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA, Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Damien Lemasson, Xavier Glipa, Francis Roy, Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier, Patrick Le Gallo
  • Patent number: 7694761
    Abstract: The invention concerns a hybrid drive chain of a vehicle (1) comprising a heat engine (2) connected to a mechanical assembly (4) including a gearbox (5) coupled with a differential (6) itself coupled with the driven wheels (7G, 7D) of the vehicle (1) by their respective axle shafts (8G, 8D), and at least one electrical machine (3) including a stator (10) and a rotor (11), cooperating with the heat engine (2) via the mechanical assembly to provide heat and/or hybrid traction to the driven wheels (7G, 7D). The invention is characterized in that the electrical machine (3) is arranged between the differential (6) and one of the driven wheels (7D), by surrounding the axle shaft (8D) connecting the driven wheel (7D) to the differential (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Christian Noiret
  • Patent number: 7694668
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for controlling the operation of a diesel engine of a motor vehicle, associated with means for supplying the cylinders with fuel and with means for recirculating waste gases at the admission. The control system comprises means for controlling the supply means according to the rotation speed of the engine and an effective torque control point and means for controlling the recirculating means according to the at least one effective torque control point. The system comprises means for determining a torque control point which is reconstructed from information provided by means for acquisition of the richness of the waste gas of the engine and air supply at the admission thereof and means for adjusting the means for controlling the recirculating means according to the effective torque control point and the reconstructed torque control point in order to minimize the emission of pollutants by the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventors: Faycal Souidi, Vincent Souchon, Benjamin Desmarquet
  • Patent number: 7694663
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for controlling the operation of a cylinder assembly according to which the following phases are carried out during the same operating cycle: an exhaust opening phase (L1); a first inlet opening phase (L2) during a compression phase of the piston, and; a second inlet opening phase (L3) subsequent to the first. The second inlet opening phase (L3) begins once the piston reaches a position located in the second third of the travel thereof, in an expansion phase, and the first phase (L1) is carried out entirely during the exhaust opening phase (L1). The invention also concerns an internal combustion engine that operates according to the aforementioned method, and to a motor vehicle equipped with this engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Fabien Lanteires