Patents Examined by Audrey Klasterka
-
Patent number: 7971429Abstract: The disclosure concerns a procedure for the regeneration of a particle filter and the desulfurization of a NOx storage catalytic converter in an exhaust gas aftertreatment system of an internal combustion engine. The disclosed procedure allows for the necessary heating energy and fuel consumption required to completely or partially regenerating the particle filter to be significantly reduced. Furthermore, an increase in efficiency of the NOx storage catalytic converter results, because the process reduces the average sulfur absorption on account of a greater frequency of desulfurization phases. In so doing, the NOx emissions after the NOx storage catalytic converter can further be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2007Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Stefan Forthmann, Frank Schweizer, Stefan Scherer
-
Patent number: 7966812Abstract: A method of regenerating a particulate filter utilizes two temperature levels, with the first, lower, level removing stored hydrocarbons and urea from an SCR catalyst. The second, higher, level then follows for filter regeneration. Because the regeneration occurs after the SCR catalyst has been purged of hydrocarbons and urea, for example, the temperature experienced by the SCR catalyst during regeneration is reduced. In this way, SCR degradation may be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2007Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Lifeng Xu, William Lewis Henderson Watkins, William Charles Ruona, George Wade Graham, Robert Walter McCabe
-
Patent number: 7958720Abstract: A combustion control apparatus is configured for a direct-injection spark-ignition internal combustion engine. The combustion control apparatus selects an extremely retarded combustion mode while the internal combustion engine is in a predetermined operating state. In the extremely retarded combustion mode, the combustion control apparatus sets ignition timing to be after compression top dead center, and sets fuel injection timing to be before the ignition timing and after compression top dead center. The combustion control apparatus inhibits the extremely retarded combustion mode while an exhaust purifier of the internal combustion engine is in a predetermined cold state.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2006Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shinichi Okamoto, Masayuki Tomita, Taizo Horikomi, Taro Sakai, Akira Nakajima, Hitoshi Ishii, Mitsuhiro Akagi, Takao Maitani, Tomoyuki Takeda, Masatoshi Hidaka, Tomoyuki Shigefuji
-
Patent number: 7950222Abstract: A system and method are provided for cleaning combustion soot from an exhaust gas aftertreatment sensor. The system and method determine whether to conduct a sensor desoot event, and if it is determined that a sensor desoot event is to be conducted, the exhaust gas temperature is increased such that the temperature of the sensor correspondingly increases to or above a desoot temperature, the exhaust gas temperature is then controlled to maintain the temperature of the sensor at or above the desoot temperature for a predefined time period, and the exhaust gas temperature is then decreased after the temperature of the sensor has been at or above the desoot temperature for the predefined time period.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2007Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Cummins, Inc.Inventor: Edmund P. Hodzen
-
Patent number: 7941995Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system includes first and second exhaust tubes or assemblies and a coupler compliantly permitting movement of one of the exhaust tubes relative to the other along at least one of axial and transverse directions.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2007Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.Inventors: James R. Goss, Randolph G. Zoran
-
Patent number: 7937931Abstract: A procedure is introduced to operate a diesel engine, which has a catalytic converter with three-way conversion characteristics. The procedure is characterized thereby, in that if the engine rotational speed increases without in the process exceeding an engine rotational speed threshold value and the engine's load is greater than a load threshold value, the diesel engine is operated in such a manner that the diesel engine alternately generates an oxidizing and a reductive exhaust gas atmosphere before the catalytic converter. Additionally a control unit is introduced, which controls the sequence of the procedure.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2007Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Andreas Pfaeffle, Wolfgang Klenk, Frank Schweizer, Stefan Scherer, Andreas Schaffrath
-
Patent number: 7934373Abstract: In a control device for an internal combustion engine (E) of a vehicle comprising a particulate filter (42) installed in an exhaust passage of the engine and a loading device (63) that applies a load to the engine, the control device (9) is configured to execute a regeneration process for regenerating the particulate filter under a prescribed condition. When a vehicle is in a congested state, the temperature of the particulate filter typically drops below a threshold level for enabling a regenerating process. However, according to the present invention, the particulate filter may be regenerated even when the vehicle is in a congested state if a loading device such as an air conditioner is activated, and the temperature of the particulate filter is therefore high enough. Thereby, the particulate filter may be actively regenerated whenever possible.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2007Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co. Ltd.Inventors: Isao Chiba, Hiroto Takeuchi
-
Patent number: 7930884Abstract: A manifold for exhaust gases from a motor vehicle engine, includes upper and lower half-shells (18A, 18B) delimiting between them an exhaust gas pipe, and aligned bores designed to be arranged in the extension of the engine exhaust outlets, the half-shells having each a peripheral edge and being attached to each other via at least first segments (20A, 20B) of their peripheral edges welded to each other. The invention is characterized in that there is at least one median plane (P) passing through the bores and traversed at least twice by the first segments (20A, 20B).Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2006Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Faurecia Systemes d'EchappementInventors: Vincent Leroy, Patrik Nilsson
-
Patent number: 7930878Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a liquid reductant tank for supplying liquid reductant to a selective catalytic reduction system is disclosed. The tank includes a tank cavity for holding a liquid reductant and being at least partially defined by one or more side walls; a liquid reductant supply line at least partially situated within the tank cavity and for communicating liquid reductant from the tank cavity to outside of the tank cavity; and a heating element situated at least partially within the liquid reductant supply line and for thawing frozen reductant situated within the supply line during cold start conditions to obtain liquid reductant for use in a selective catalytic reduction system.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2007Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David Cook, Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Michael Levin, David Furedy, Evan Kent Dawson, Daniel Kabat, Jeremy Keller
-
Patent number: 7930883Abstract: An exhaust device of a six-cylinder engine includes first to sixth cylinders and a manifold extending from the first to sixth cylinders. The first to sixth cylinders are ignited in that order. The exhaust manifold can include first to sixth upstream exhaust pipes extending respectively from the first to sixth cylinders, first to third midway exhaust pipes extending respectively from a joined portion of extended ends of the first and fourth upstream exhaust pipes, a joined portion of extended ends of the second and fifth upstream exhaust pipes, and a joined portion of extended ends of the third and sixth upstream exhaust pipes, and a downstream exhaust pipe connecting extended ends of the first to third midway exhaust pipes to the ambient atmosphere.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2007Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tsugunori Konakawa, Yoshihiko Atsumi
-
Patent number: 7926262Abstract: A regeneration device is disclosed. The regeneration device may include a housing and a perforated plate. The housing may have a passage configured to receive a flow of combustion air, and a separate bore configured to receive an electrical device. The perforated plate may be mounted to the housing to at least partially define an air chamber. Furthermore, the regeneration device may include at least one purge passageway located to communicate combustion air from the air chamber with the bore.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2007Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Glenn B. Cox, Thomas R. McClure, Robert L. Miller, Stephen M. Wiley
-
Patent number: 7925431Abstract: A system is provided for removing particulate matter from a diesel particulate filter. The system includes an engine controller coupled to the diesel engine, and to a locomotive controller. The locomotive controller includes an algorithm to create a trip plan to optimize the performance of the locomotive along a route in accordance with a power setting of the diesel engine at each location along the route. Each sensor is configured to output a first alert signal to the engine controller once the trapped particulate matter exceeds a predetermined threshold. Upon receiving the first alert signal, the engine controller communicates with the locomotive controller to determine a time region or distance region within the trip plan when the power setting exceeds a power threshold. The engine controller increases the temperature of the diesel exhaust gas entering the diesel particulate filter during the time region or distance region.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2007Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Shawn Michael Gallagher, Roy Primus, Jennifer Topinka
-
Patent number: 7913486Abstract: An exhaust emission control device is disclosed. The device includes an NOx-occlusion reduction catalyst incorporated in an exhaust passage for reduction and purification of NOx, a fuel reforming catalyst structure and plasma fuel reforming unit for decomposition of the fuel into H2 and CO is arranged in the exhaust passage upstream of the reduction catalyst, so that the fuel is decomposed into H2 and CO such that NOx on the surface of the NOx-occlusion reduction catalyst can be efficiently reduced into N2. Thus, high NOx reduction ratio can be always obtained irrespective of variety of operational conditions.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2005Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Hino Motors, Ltd.Inventors: Masatoshi Shimoda, Yoshihide Takenaka
-
Patent number: 7895831Abstract: An exhaust emission control system for an internal combustion engine with a filter provided in the exhaust system of the engine, for collecting particulates from exhaust gases. An ECU carries out the post injection for additionally injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of the engine after a combustion stroke of the engine to thereby perform a regeneration operation for regenerating the filter. A vehicle speed sensor detects a travel distance of a vehicle on which the engine is installed, and the ECU calculates a post injection allowable amount such that the post injection allowable amount increases in accordance with increase in the detected travel distance. During execution of the post injection, the amount of fuel injected through the post injection is subtracted from the post injection allowable amount, and when the post injection allowable amount becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined first threshold value, the post injection is inhibited.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2007Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Isao Chiba, Yoshinori Ishihara, Kouji Okayasu
-
Patent number: 7895825Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for reducing exhaust gases in an initial cold start period, in which a main catalyst unit is connected to an engine through an exhaust pipe, including the steps of receiving signals for stopping engine operation from an engine, and removing engine exhaust gases remaining in an exhaust pipe located at an inlet of a main catalyst unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2007Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Heesung Engelhard CorporationInventors: Hee Chun Kang, Tae-Woo Lee, Eun-Seok Kim, Hyun-Sik Han, Tae Hun Yeon
-
Patent number: 7891168Abstract: A monitoring system for a catalytic converter is provided. The system includes: a fuel determination module that determines a fuel composition based on a sensed composition of fuel in a fuel system; a fuel/air (F/A) determination module that selectively determines a stoichiometric F/A ratio based on the fuel composition; and an oxygen storage capacity (OSC) diagnostic module that computes a target OSC based on the stoichiometric F/A ratio, that compares the target OSC to a reference value and diagnosis the catalytic converter based on the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2006Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Inventor: James R. Yurgil
-
Patent number: 7891175Abstract: An internal combustion engine in which an SOx trap catalyst able to trap SOx contained in exhaust gas is arranged in an engine exhaust passage upstream of an NOx storing catalyst. The SOx trap catalyst is strengthened in basicity compared with the NOx storing catalyst to an extent so that when the temperature of the SOx trap catalyst is in the temperature range at the time of ordinary operation, that is, substantially 150° C. to substantially 400° C., the NOx purification rate by the SOx trap catalyst becomes less than substantially 10 percent of the NOx purification rate by the NOx storing catalyst. When NOx should be released from the NOx storing catalyst, the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the SOx trap catalyst is temporarily switched from lean to rich.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2007Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kohei Yoshida, Kotaro Hayashi
-
Patent number: 7886529Abstract: An exhaust system may include a canister that is disposed downstream from an engine. A particulate filter (PF) is disposed within the canister and filters particulates within an exhaust from the engine. A reducing catalyst is disposed within the canister, is on the PF, and promotes reaction of a liquid reductant in the exhaust after reception by the PF. A heating element is disposed within the canister and heats particulate matter in the PF.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2007Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Yongsheng He
-
Patent number: 7886522Abstract: A combined diesel gas-turbine system for optimizing operation and combustion processes of a diesel engine includes a catalytic sub-system, a turbo-generator sub-system and a hybrid sub-system. The catalytic sub-system is in communication with an exhaust port of the diesel engine and is operative for combusting and reducing all pollutants from diesel exhaust. The catalytic sub-system is a three-way catalytic converter and a first catalytic converter in series with a second catalytic converter. The turbo-generator sub-system is operative for the reclamation of secondary energy from the catalytic sub-system and includes a turbine in communication with the second catalytic converter for receiving a source of cleaned exhaust gas to drive the turbine. The hybrid sub-system is operative for the management of energy within the system. The system may incorporate a waste heat recovery system and convert it to mechanical power.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2007Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Inventor: Refaat Kammel
-
Patent number: 7882698Abstract: When a misfire occurs in any cylinder of an engine, an exhaust switching valve is closed to pass exhaust gas through an HC adsorbing section to a catalytic purifying section having a three-way catalyst (step S130). Thus, unburned fuel (HC) mixed in the exhaust gas due to a misfire of the engine can be adsorbed in the HC adsorbing section. Accordingly, unburned fuel (HC) due to a misfire after the start of the engine is completed can be prevented from being exhausted.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2008Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazuhiro Ichimoto