Patents Examined by Diem T Tran
  • Patent number: 10544720
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine system includes an engine and an aftertreatment system that is connected to the engine to receive an exhaust flow from the engine. The aftertreatment system includes a contaminant storage catalyst for storing contaminants produced by the engine during cold start and low temperature operating conditions, and a NOx reduction catalyst downstream of the storage catalyst for receiving the contaminants released from the storage catalyst when temperature conditions in the exhaust flow and/or NOx reduction catalyst are above an effective temperature threshold for NOx reduction. A contaminant amount stored on the storage catalyst can be estimated in response to one or more operating parameters to manage a storage capacity of the storage catalyst. A bypass can used to bypass the storage catalyst to preserve storage capacity for a subsequent cold start condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Haas, Krishna Kamasamudram, Ashok Kumar
  • Patent number: 10525982
    Abstract: A variable valve, method, and diagnostic system are provided that determine accuracy of a position of a variable valve. The variable valve, method, and diagnostic system are configured to determine a system error, the system error being the difference between a commanded position of the valve and a measured position of the valve provided through a feedback signal of the valve. The variable valve, method, and diagnostic system are further configured to determine that a diagnostic accuracy passing condition is met if: a) the system error is less than a predetermined positive error threshold and greater than a predetermined negative error threshold; b) a rate of change of the measured position exceeds a predetermined positive feedback rate threshold; or c) the rate of change of the measured position is less than a predetermined negative feedback rate threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Piranavan Suntharalingam
  • Patent number: 10519841
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to monitor a quantity relating to particulate mass M in at least one exhaust pipe arranged downstream of a combustion engine. A first determination device determines a reduction ? of a pressure difference dP over at least one or several particulate filters, arranged downstream of the combustion engine. This reduction ? is related to a pressure difference dPref over one or more corresponding reference particulate filters. A second determination device determines a quantity related to the particulate mass M, based on the determined reduction ? of the pressure difference dP and a predetermined correlation between the reduction ? and the quantity related to the particulate mass M, so that use of soot sensors in the exhaust pipe may be avoided. A comparison device compares the quantity with a defined threshold value Mth and a providing device provides indications related to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Björn Bökelund, Karolin Erwe
  • Patent number: 10519832
    Abstract: A decomposition tube for an exhaust treatment system includes a housing with a housing wall that defines an exhaust flow path for exhaust; a reductant delivery mechanism coupled to the housing and having a nozzle configured to deliver a spray of reductant into the exhaust flow path; and a mesh device with a mounting element mounted on the housing wall and a mesh basket secured to the mounting element proximate to the nozzle to enclose and intercept the spray such that effectively all of the reductant passes through the mesh basket and into the exhaust flow path prior to impinging on the housing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: William F. Gavin, Nathan A. Bovee, Marc J. Andvik
  • Patent number: 10513958
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for regenerating an exhaust particulate filter during an engine non-combusting condition. In one example, a method may include, responsive to a higher than first threshold soot load on the PF and a higher than threshold PF temperature, regenerating the PF by flowing compressed air through the PF via operation of an electric booster coupled to the intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 10508574
    Abstract: An integrated exhaust heat recovery device positioned in an exhaust gas channel includes: a positioning section that comprises a tubular section extending in a downward-flow direction of exhaust gas, and has an exhaust gas purification device positioned therein; a heat exchange section positioned on a downstream side of the positioning section and having a heat exchanger; and an exhaust gas control unit for introducing exhaust gas, which flows from the positioning section, to the heat exchange section. The heat exchanger includes: a plurality of plates positioned so as to overlap in the downward-flow direction; an intake section for causing fluid to flow into heat exchange channels inside the plurality of plates from an intake port that opens laterally; and a discharge section for causing fluid to exit from the heat exchange channels through a discharge port that opens laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuji Asai, Hirohisa Okami
  • Patent number: 10502111
    Abstract: An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, especially for a vehicle, includes an exhaust gas-carrying pipe (12) and a reactant release unit (14) for releasing reactant (R) into exhaust gas (A) flowing in the exhaust gas-carrying pipe (12). The reactant release unit (14) includes a reactant injection unit (20), a reactant delivery unit (18) delivering reactant (R) from a reactant reservoir to the reactant injection unit (20) and a heating unit (24) for heating reactant (R) being delivered to the reactant injection unit (20). The heating unit (24) includes an exhaust gas/reactant heat exchanger unit (26) for transferring heat, being transported in the exhaust gas (A), to the reactant (R).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gerd Gaiser, Fabian Frobenius, Bernd Weller
  • Patent number: 10487712
    Abstract: An exhaust gas control system includes a NSR catalyst, a fuel supply valve, a SCR catalyst an addition device, and an electronic control unit. When temperature of NSR catalyst is in a range of a predetermined first temperature range and temperature of SCR catalyst is in a range of a predetermined second temperature range, the electronic control unit is configured to add additive with the addition device, and execute predetermined air-fuel ratio processing to control the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing into the NSR catalyst. In the predetermined air-fuel ratio processing, the electronic control unit is configured to execute a second air-fuel ratio processing after a first air-fuel ratio processing, and execute the third air-fuel ratio processing after a first air-fuel ratio processing and the second air-fuel ratio processing and in succession to the second air-fuel ratio processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuriko Hagimoto, Yuji Miyoshi, Hiromasa Nishioka
  • Patent number: 10480379
    Abstract: An exhaust heat recovery device comprises an exhaust pipe, a shell member, a heat exchange portion, an inflow portion, a valve, a driving portion that generates a driving force for driving the valve, and a transmitting portion that transmits the driving force generated by the driving portion to the valve. The driving portion comprises an expansion portion that expands when an external electrical signal is inputted thereto, and a linearly moving portion that extends according to expansion of the expansion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuji Asai, Arata Kobayashi, Hirohisa Okami
  • Patent number: 10480371
    Abstract: The invention relates to a metering device (10) for introducing a process liquid or auxiliary agent into a flow pipe of an internal combustion engine, in particular for introducing a reducing agent into an exhaust gas pipe (12). Said device comprises an injection valve (22) and a receiving device (50) comprising a heat sink element (46) and a cover element (48). The injection valve (22) and the receiving device (50) are combined to form a structural unit by means of bonded connections (62, 64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Murst, Achim Knittel, Thilo Kreher, Thorsten Rankel, Jochen Winkler, Claudius Henkel, Gellert Elsoe
  • Patent number: 10480437
    Abstract: An exhaust purification system is provided with a NOx-occlusion-reduction-type catalyst 32 that occludes NOx in exhaust when the exhaust is in a lean state and reduces and purifies the occluded NOx when the exhaust is in a rich state, and a NOx purge rich control unit 140 for reducing and purifying NOx occluded in the NOx-occlusion-reduction-type catalyst 32 by putting the exhaust into the rich state by repetitively performing fuel injection control of at least one of post injection and exhaust pipe injection at a predetermined interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Teruo Nakada, Takayuki Sakamoto, Daiji Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 10473011
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for regenerating a particulate filter of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, during a non-engine operating condition, regenerating a particulate filter coupled in an exhaust system downstream of an engine by activating an electric heater of the particulate filter and directing intake air through the particulate filter, the intake air bypassing the engine, and adjusting an electrical load of the electric heater responsive to one or more of exhaust temperature and intake airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, Paul Joseph Tennison
  • Patent number: 10450969
    Abstract: An electric exhaust gas valve device (1) controls a flow cross section (5) of an exhaust pipe (6) of an exhaust system (8) of an internal combustion engine. The valve device includes an electric drive (2) driving a driven shaft (9) rotatingly about an axis of rotation (10). An exhaust gas valve (3) has a drive shaft (12) aligned coaxially to and rotatable about the axis of rotation for controlling the cross section. A coupling device (4) transmits torques between the driven shaft and the drive shaft and includes a connection element connected to the drive shaft, a transmission element (16) connected to the driven shaft and the connection element with a prestressing spring (18) supported axially on the connection element and/or on the drive shaft as well as on the transmission element and axially driving the transmission element against the driven shaft to reduce thermal load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Annika Stark, Steffen Schmitt, Markus Birgler, Stefanos Varelis, Matthias Grün, Milijenko Novosel
  • Patent number: 10450944
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control apparatus and method for an internal combustion engine including two fuel injection valves in the intake port of each cylinder. In the present invention, fuel injection from a first fuel injection valve is activated while fuel injection from a second fuel injection valve is temporarily stopped at the resumption of fuel injection from the deceleration fuel cut-off state in response to a decrease in the engine rotation speed. The amount of minimum fuel injection to each cylinder that ensures the accuracy of fuel measurement can be reduced, and fuel is injected from the first fuel injection valve in an amount equal to or greater than the amount of minimum fuel injection. Thus, fuel injection can be resumed at a lower engine speed than when fuel injection is resumed from the two fuel injection valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kousuke Kanda, Yoshitatsu Nakamura, Tomoyuki Murakami
  • Patent number: 10443465
    Abstract: An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine (28) for controlling the release of undesirable emissions from the engine comprises an exhaust pipe (32) for receiving an exhaust flow from the engine, an SCR catalyst (48) arranged in the exhaust flow and means (80) for determining the temperature of the SCR catalyst. A NOx absorber (38), such as a diesel oxidation and NOx absorber catalyst (DONAC), is located in the exhaust flow at a position upstream of the SCR catalyst (48) for absorbing and releasing NOx contained in the exhaust flow. Means is provided for controlling the NOx absorber (38) so as to control the release of NOx to the SCR catalyst (48) in dependence on the temperature of the SCR catalyst, thereby to effect active management of release of NOx from the DONAC (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Neil Bevan, Michael Davies, Andrew Lilley, Robert Bending
  • Patent number: 10436090
    Abstract: A soot separator utilizing a toroid portion to centrifugally separate soot particles from the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. Upon lesser or no flow of exhaust gas, gravity causes the retained particles to fall within the bottom of the separator. The soot separator further includes a baffle to deflect particles and further enhance soot removal. A method utilizing this soot separator and association with an internal combustion engine are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Clean Diesel Development LLC
    Inventor: John F. Walko, III
  • Patent number: 10436089
    Abstract: A system structured to measure at least one of particulate matter or ammonia in an exhaust aftertreatment system. The system includes a selective catalytic reduction catalyst, a doser disposed upstream of the selective catalytic reduction catalyst, a particulate filter, and a radio frequency sensor communicatively coupled to the diesel particulate filter. The radio frequency sensor is structured to measure at least one of particulate matter or ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Nassim Khaled, Sriram Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 10436085
    Abstract: A road vehicle comprising: a passenger compartment; an internal combustion engine; an exhaust system, which releases into the atmosphere the gases generated by the combustion, is connected to the internal combustion engine, and ends with at least one silencer having at least one outlet pipe; and an exhaust noise transmission device, which is provided with a transmission conduit, which originates close to the outlet pipe of the silencer, ends in the area of a wall of the passenger compartment, and is provided, on the inside, with at least one insulating element, which is arranged inside the transmission conduit so as to tightly seal the transmission conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Ferrari S.p.A.
    Inventor: Cristiano Pompucci
  • Patent number: 10436095
    Abstract: The exhaust line comprises an injection segment including at least one cup having a large upstream face directly sprayed with the exhaust gases and dividing a circulation passage into an upstream space and a downstream space. The injection segment comprises at least one circumferential conduit fluidically connecting the upstream space to the downstream space. The cup defines at least one injection channel and at least one guiding area laid out so as to guide as far as said injection channel a portion of the exhaust gases spraying the large upstream face. An injection device includes a reagent injector that is oriented to inject the reagent substantially with a co-current or counter-current of the exhaust gases in the injection channel, with the latter extending from the injector as far as the inlet of the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: FAURECIA SYSTEMES D'ECHAPPEMENT
    Inventors: Frederic Greber, Christophe Tournier, Sebastien Gaspard
  • Patent number: 10427099
    Abstract: A mixing system for an exhaust system includes a first mixing device having a plurality of first auger blades and an inlet having a first cross-sectional area. A second mixing device is separate and downstream from the first mixing device and includes a second auger blade. The second mixing device includes an inlet having a second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area. A flow path longitudinal centerline of the first mixing device extends at an angle to a flow path longitudinal centerline of the second mixing device. A flow path longitudinal centerline of the first mixing device intersects the second auger blade. The first mixing device is disposed within a first portion of an exhaust pipe and the second mixing device is disposed in a second portion of the exhaust pipe. The second portion has a larger cross-sectional area than the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Denton, Eric A. Hein, Attila Kovacs, Kevin R. Reeder, Jonar Mendoza, Gary R. Moore, Manoj K. Sampath, John R. Hardin