Patents Examined by Diem Tran
  • Patent number: 10054028
    Abstract: Provided is a method for detecting abnormality of an after turbo catalyst (ATC) where fuel from a fuel injection device receiving a post injection command from a controller undergoes oxidation reaction in an exhaust pipe and resultant reaction heat heats the exhaust gas, which provides an ATC-entry-side temperature measuring means measuring a temperature on an entry side of ATC to transmit a measured value to the controller and an ATC-downstream-side temperature measuring means measuring a temperature downstream of ATC. The controller, which transmitted the post injection command, determines whether a fuel injection device normally operates if temperature downstream of ATC is not nonelevated to that on the entry side of ATC, and determines that ATC has abnormality if the fuel injection device normally operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: HINO MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Munechika Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 10040029
    Abstract: A method is disclosed of providing a fuel efficient regeneration of an exhaust after-treatment (AT) system that includes a lean oxides of nitrogen (NOX) trap (LNT) and a selective catalytic reduction filter (SCRF) positioned downstream of the LNT. The method includes regulating a selectable position valve. The valve permits a first gas flow portion to pass through the LNT and diverts a remaining second portion of exhaust gas flow from a first passage connecting an engine and the AT system to a second exhaust passage to thereby bypass the LNT. The method also includes regulating a first device to inject fuel into the first portion of the exhaust gas flow. The injection of fuel in to the first portion of the exhaust gas flow provides fuel efficient regeneration of the LNT and promotes NOX conversion and ammonia (NH3) formation in the LNT. A system employing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Rahul Mital, Jianwen Li, Andrea De Filippo, Chang H Kim, Shouxian Ren
  • Patent number: 10036295
    Abstract: A aqueous urea solution supply device for an engine is provided with a tank that stores aqueous urea solution, a valve configured to add the aqueous urea solution to exhaust gas, and a passage configured to supply the aqueous urea solution in the tank to the valve. When a pressure of the aqueous urea solution supplied to the valve is equal to or lower than a predetermined pressure and the amount of the aqueous urea solution in the tank is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold, an electronic control unit determines that the aqueous urea solution in an amount required for cooling of the valve cannot be supplied from the tank to the valve and executes a return control for returning the aqueous urea solution in the valve to the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Tomihisa Tsuchiya, Naoya Okamoto, Takahiro Kiyofuji, Sakutaro Hoshi
  • Patent number: 10036314
    Abstract: A fluid injection system includes a fluid injector assembly, a fluid conditioning module having an outlet port that is fluidly coupled to an inlet port of the fluid injector assembly via an injector assembly inlet conduit. The fluid injection system further includes a flush conduit fluidly coupled to the outlet port of the fluid conditioning module, a flush valve disposed in the flush conduit and configured to control a flowrate of fluid therethrough, and a controller operatively coupled to the fluid conditioning module and the flush valve, the controller being configured to adjust a flowrate of a fluid through the injector assembly inlet conduit by controlling a flowrate of fluid through the flush conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Hackett, Martin Lehman, Scott F. Shafer
  • Patent number: 10030563
    Abstract: Provided is a gasket effectively suppressing heat transfer from an exhaust pipe with an injector retention section to a reducing-agent injector. The gasket includes a first plate to contact a retaining wall of the injector retention section, the first plate having a first opening allowing the reducing agent to be injected and a first bolt insert-through hole, a second plate disposed closer to the reducing-agent injector than the first plate, the second plate having a second opening allowing the reducing agent to be injected and a second bolt insert-through hole, and a spacing keeping member that retains a spacing between the first and second plates to form a heat insulation space therebetween. The heat insulation space has a shape allowing at least a part of the heat insulation space to communicate with the outside of the gasket between the first and second plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michio Hirayama, Taisuke Ikeda, Seiichi Onishi
  • Patent number: 10024260
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a particulate matter sensor. In one example, the sensor may include a concave inlet for admitting exhaust gas from an exhaust passage downstream of a particulate filter into the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Xiaogang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10018128
    Abstract: An engine control system includes an internal combustion engine including a plurality of cylinders. An intake manifold is connected to the internal combustion engine. An exhaust manifold is connected to the internal combustion engine. A supercharger is connected to an air intake passage and the intake manifold and includes a variable speed drive. A throttle valve is disposed in the air intake passage. An exhaust passage is in connection with the exhaust manifold. A passive selective catalytic reduction catalyst system is in communication with the exhaust passage. An exhaust gas recirculation passage is in communication with the exhaust passage and the air intake passage and includes an exhaust gas recirculation valve. A controller controls the variable speed drive of the supercharger and the throttle valve and the exhaust gas recirculation valve based upon engine conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ko-Jen Wu, Oliver Rudwinsky, Robert S. McAlpine
  • Patent number: 10012183
    Abstract: A method for an engine is provided. Following an engine-off event, engine cylinders are sequentially positioned with an intake valve open and an exhaust valve open. The contents of the engine cylinder are then purged to an exhaust catalyst. In this way, existing vehicle hardware may be used to evacuate residual hydrocarbons and uncombusted fuel to the exhaust catalyst, provided the catalyst remains above the light-off temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 10006331
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive device includes heating a hot air stream with a heating device integrated in a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine of the drive device, wherein the internal combustion engine is connected with an exhaust gas system; mixing the hot air stream upstream of a catalytic converter with a cold fresh air stream for adjusting a defined temperature of the hot air stream; and supplying the hot air stream having the adjusted defined temperature to the catalytic converter in at least one operating state of the internal combustion engine so as to heat the catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Michael Görgen, Markus Sonner
  • Patent number: 10006328
    Abstract: An exhaust heat recovery device structure includes: an exhaust pipe; a catalytic converter that is connected to the exhaust pipe; an exhaust heat recovery device that is disposed further toward a vehicle rear side than the catalytic converter, and is disposed at an inner side of a floor tunnel that is formed at a vehicle floor portion, and a water pipe of cooling water is connected to a vehicle transverse direction one side of the exhaust heat recovery device, and the exhaust heat recovery device carries out heat exchange between the cooling water and the gas; and a connecting pipe that, at the inner side of the floor tunnel, connects the catalytic converter and the exhaust heat recovery device, and that is bent or curved toward the vehicle transverse direction one side with respect to a vehicle front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Oya, Toshio Murata, Takato Ishihata
  • Patent number: 9993771
    Abstract: Zoned diesel oxidation catalysts containing a higher precious metal loading in the inlet zone that the outlet zone and an equal or shorter length inlet zone are described. Emission treatment systems and methods of remediating nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter, and gaseous hydrocarbons using zoned diesel oxidation catalysts are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Voss, Kevin A. Hallstrom, Sanath V. Kumar, Susanne Stiebels, Marius Vaarkamp
  • Patent number: 9970345
    Abstract: The exhaust purification system comprises a control apparatus performing main feedback control controlling the amount of fed fuel so that the output air-fuel ratio of the upstream side sensor becomes a target value, sub feedback control setting the target air-fuel based on the output air-fuel ratio of the downstream side sensor, main learning control controlling the amount of fed fuel based on a main learning value, and sub learning control controlling the amount of fed fuel based on a sub learning value. The control apparatus performs sub learning promotion control so that the sub learning value easily changes to a suitable value when a sub learning promotion condition, which is satisfied when the absolute values of the main learning value and the sub learning value are respectively predetermined reference absolute values or more and these learning values are opposite in sign, is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kinji Morihiro
  • Patent number: 9957869
    Abstract: A method at an exhaust gas cleaning system for an engine (235) in which a reducing agent is added to a passage (290) for exhaust gases from the engine (235) for cleaning the exhaust gases. The exhaust gas cleaning system includes arrangements (270) that require a certain temperature level (Tmax) in order to achieve catalytic exhaust gas cleaning. The method is to distribute and store (s430) a limited amount of reducing agent at temperature level (Tmax); and to use (s440) during a cold start of the exhaust gas cleaning system, the distributed and stored reducing agent to achieve the catalytic exhaust gas cleaning. Also a computer program product (200; 210) to implement the method. Also an arrangement for an exhaust gas cleaning system for an engine (235), and a motor vehicle (100) equipped with the arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: SCANIA CV AB
    Inventors: Magnus Nilsson, Henrik Birgersson, Andreas Liljestrand
  • Patent number: 9957866
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust treatment apparatus for an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a catalyst chamber containing a catalyst. One or more exhaust gas inlets are provided for supplying exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine to the catalyst chamber. An exhaust gas outlet for supplying exhaust gases from the catalyst chamber to a turbocharger. An injection nozzle is provided for introducing a reductant into the exhaust gases between the catalyst and the turbocharger. The reductant and the exhaust gases can undergo mixing as they pass through the turbocharger. The catalyst can have a three-dimensional open structure to facilitate the flow of exhaust gases. The invention also relates to a method of treating exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventor: Michael Davies
  • Patent number: 9932877
    Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring an emission device coupled to an engine. In one example approach, the method comprises: following a deceleration fuel shut-off duration, indicating degradation of the emission device based on an amount of rich products required to cause a sensor to become richer than a threshold. The amount of rich products required may be correlated to an amount of oxygen stored in the emission device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, Imad Hassan Makki, Pankaj Kumar, Michael Casedy
  • Patent number: 9920673
    Abstract: The invention relates to an SCR line for treatment of exhaust from an internal combustion engine and including a first hose to carry a reducing agent, a second hose to carry a tempering agent and a pipe enclosing the two hoses. The two hoses are arranged in the pipe so as to run side by side in parallel. Each of the same-side ends of the first hose and of the pipe are connected to a reducing agent coupling housing. The ends of the second hose are each connected to a tempering agent coupling part separate from the reducing agent coupling housing. At least one of the reducing agent coupling housings has a through-opening at the outer perimeter. The second hose runs from the interior of the pipe through the through-opening to the outside. Furthermore, the invention relates to an SCR line bundle with an SCR line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: VOSS AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Becht, Alexander Bohl, Klaus Kaltwasser, Sascha Rosenfeldt
  • Patent number: 9920675
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an exhaust purification apparatus and a method of controlling the apparatus. The exhaust purification apparatus includes: an injector for injecting urea solution into an exhaust pipe; a driving unit to provide driving force for adjusting an injection angle of the injector; and a control unit to determine the injection angle of the injector based on values of a spatial velocity, flow rate, pressure and temperature of exhaust gas and to drive the driving unit so as to control the injection angle of the injector. In particular, the injection angle of the injector is adjusted by pivotal movement of the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Hyo Sang Cho, Jung Sub Lee, Seung Eun Yu
  • Patent number: 9915186
    Abstract: An engine having an after-treatment system for reducing emissions from an exhaust stream includes an intake manifold and a plurality of cylinders coupled to the intake manifold. The plurality of cylinders includes a first set of cylinders and a second set of cylinders. Further, the engine includes a first exhaust manifold coupled to the first set of cylinders and a second exhaust manifold coupled to the second set of cylinders. The engine further includes an after-treatment system coupled to the first exhaust manifold. The first exhaust manifold further includes an end portion disposed downstream relative to the after-treatment system. The end portion of the first exhaust manifold is coupled to a first portion of the second exhaust manifold via a pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Thomas Michael Lavertu
  • Patent number: 9909478
    Abstract: A swirl mixer for mixing a reducing agent with exhaust gas in a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) aftertreatment system is described. The swirl mixer may comprise a base permitting a flow of the reducing agent and the exhaust gas therethrough, and three arrays of fins projecting from the base in a direction of flow of the exhaust gas. The three arrays of fins may be arranged in a triangular configuration about a center of the mixer to induce a swirl motion to the reducing agent and the exhaust gas flowing through the mixer. The fins in each of the arrays may be oriented in a common direction that is rotated by about 60° from the common direction of the fins in an adjacent array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Fejer-Simon, Yong Yi
  • Patent number: 9909472
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an engine system comprising an ICE; an exhaust system; and an engine control unit for controlling operation of the engine system between at least a first operating state resulting in a first exhaust temperature range, and a second operating state resulting in a second, higher, exhaust temperature range. The exhaust system comprises a low frequency sound attenuation portion including a first tubing section having a first flow area; a second tubing section, having a second flow area smaller than the first flow area; and a third tubing section having a third flow area greater than the second flow area. The low frequency sound attenuation portion is dimensioned to achieve laminar flow through the third tubing section when the engine system is in the first operating state; and turbulent flow through the third tubing section when the engine system is in the second operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Elise Nielsen, Pekka Saviharju