Patents Examined by Jonathan Matthias
  • Patent number: 9334778
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and controlling generation of ammonia. The ammonia generation control system includes a communication module and an ammonia generation module coupled to the communication module. The ammonia generation module is configured to cause generation of gaseous ammonia from a solid ammonia source in response to a determination that an ammonia storage quantity in an ammonia dosing storage cartridge meets a first pre-determined threshold and a determination that an engine condition of an internal combustion engine coupled to ammonia dosing storage cartridge meets a pre-determined engine condition threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: CUMMINS IP, INC.
    Inventors: Cary J. Henry, Michael J. Ruth
  • Patent number: 9334787
    Abstract: An exhaust reversion prevention plate is installed within the exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine in order to prevent a phenomenon known as reversion, which causes a reduction of power available to the engine. A curved plate is affixed within the exhaust pipe with a threaded stud welded to the plate. The curved plate has a wave shape resembling a sinusoidal wave with several peaks and valleys, which are angularly spaced equally around the central axis of the curved plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin Pirolo, Devin Ray Bright
  • Patent number: 9297286
    Abstract: A system includes an internal combustion engine. An aftertreatment system is coupled to the internal combustion engine to receive an exhaust gas stream. The aftertreatment system comprises one or modules. Each module includes one or more emission reducing devices to reduce undesirable constituents in the exhaust gas stream from the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: CUMMINS EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Justin Kruer, Atul Abhyankar, John Ringstad, Ken Hummel
  • Patent number: 9267416
    Abstract: The invention relates to an exhaust-gas treatment device (10), comprising a) an outer tube (14) through which an exhaust-gas stream (12) can flow, b) an inner tube (20) that is arranged in a first section (16) of the outer tube (14) and that divides the interior of the first section (16) into a central flow path (22) and a peripheral flow path (24), whereby a first exhaust-gas treatment means (26) is arranged in the central flow path (22) and/or in the peripheral flow path (24), c) means (30, 32) to selectively convey an exhaust-gas stream via the central flow path (22) and/or via the peripheral flow path (24), and d) a second exhaust-gas treatment means arranged in a second section (18) of the outer tube (14) downstream from the first section (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Stefan Toelle
  • Patent number: 9238991
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an exhaust treatment system with a fluid injection system and a swirl can plenum mixer for mixing injected fluid with exhaust gas exhausted from the engine. The mixer comprises a canister having an inner plenum. A bulkhead separates the inner plenum into an exhaust gas collector and a diffuser chamber. A flow port opens through the bulkhead to a tangential flow director on the downstream side of the bulkhead to collect the exhaust gas. A fluid injector port receives a fluid injector for dispensing a fluid into the exhaust gas for mixing with the exhaust gas in the swirl can plenum mixer. A tangential flow director nozzle is configured to dispense the exhaust gas and fluid into the downstream plenum in a tangential flow trajectory, wherein mixing and vaporization of the exhaust gas and fluid mixture with the exhaust gas is accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Solbrig, Ognyan N. Yanakiev, Melanie K. Corrigan
  • 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: 9212585
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided with: a first catalyst (234) which is disposed in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine (200); a second catalyst (235) which is disposed in the exhaust passage on a downstream side of the first catalyst; a reducing agent supplying device (233) which is disposed on an upstream side of the first catalyst and which is configured to supply a reducing agent into the exhaust passage; and a reducing agent supply controlling device (100) which is configured to control the reducing agent supplying device such that an air-fuel ratio on the upstream side of the first catalyst becomes momentarily rich.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshihiro Mori, Yuki Bisaiji
  • Patent number: 9200550
    Abstract: A hydraulic excavator includes an engine, a rotating frame, a vehicle body frame, a diesel particulate filtering device, a selective catalytic reduction device, and a connecting pipe. The diesel particulate filtering device and the selective catalytic reduction device are supported by a vehicle body frame. At least a portion of the connecting pipe includes an extendable bellows part. The connecting pipe connects the engine and the diesel particulate filtering device. The diesel particulate filtering device is located further away from the engine than the selective catalytic reduction device along a first direction on a horizontal plane. The first tubular body portion of the diesel particulate filtering device and the second tubular body portion of the selective catalytic reduction device are disposed apart from each other with a space therebetween in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Tadashi Mori, Manabu Himoto, Osamu Nishimura, Kenji Sanada
  • Patent number: 9200552
    Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling supply power to a conductive porous carrier of a catalyst converter for cleaning an emission, a moisture determiner determines whether moisture is contained in and/or on the conductive porous carrier. A power controller controls supply power to the conductive porous carrier for energization of the conductive porous carrier such that a value of the supply power to the conductive porous carrier when it is determined that the moisture is contained in and/or on the conductive porous carrier is lower than a value of the supply power to the conductive porous carrier when it is determined that the moisture is not contained in and/or on the conductive porous carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taro Hirai, Noriaki Ikemoto, Takeshi Harada, Naoyuki Kamiya, Hisashi Iida
  • Patent number: 9169763
    Abstract: A system and method for providing energy to auto systems such as systems after-treating exhaust. Energy may be received from a solar energy source electrically connected to an after-treatment system. At least some of the energy from the solar energy source may be provided to the after-treatment system to purify exhaust from an engine. A control module may provide at least some of the energy from the solar energy source to a heater, for example, to initiate heating the after-treatment system prior to starting the engine. The heater may heat the after-treatment to temperatures within a predetermined temperature range associated with optimal efficiency for the after-treatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Venkata Prasad Atluri, Kushal Narayanaswamy, Paul M. Najt, Yongsheng He, Madhusudan Raghavan
  • Patent number: 9169758
    Abstract: The present invention has its object to provide a technique which can eliminate HC poisoning of an exhaust gas purification catalyst in a suitable manner in a fuel injection control system of an internal combustion engine which can use a liquid fuel and a gas fuel. In order to achieve this object, the present invention is constructed such that in the fuel injection control system of an internal combustion engine capable of using a liquid fuel and a gas fuel, when HC poisoning of the exhaust gas purification catalyst has occurred, HC poisoning is intended to be eliminated by causing the internal combustion engine to operate by the use of the gas fuel if the temperature of the exhaust gas purification catalyst is less than a specified value, whereas the elimination of HC poisoning is intended by causing the internal combustion engine to operate by the use of the liquid fuel if the temperature of an exhaust gas purification device is not less than the specified value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakayama, Toru Kidokoro, Kenji Sakurai
  • Patent number: 9157358
    Abstract: An exhaust gas system includes a reducing agent preparation section having a first cylindrical exhaust gas line pipe section opening approximately perpendicularly into a second exhaust gas line pipe section via an opening in a cylinder lateral surface of the second exhaust gas line pipe section. An injector unit for introducing the reducing agent into the exhaust gas is situated at the first exhaust gas line pipe section, upstream from the opening. The opening in the cylinder lateral surface of the second exhaust gas line pipe section has a larger extension in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the second exhaust gas line pipe section than transversely thereto. In a method using the reducing agent preparation section a rotating exhaust gas flow is formed within the second exhaust gas line pipe section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Thomas Beckmann, Tillmann Braun, Frank Duvinage, Helmut Herwig, Bernhard Kobiela, Peter Lueckert, Antonio Pepe, Peter Raitschev, Joachim Schommers
  • Patent number: 9151177
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel turbo-generator unit, which at least comprises a boiler and a superheater and a reheater provided in the boiler. On the boiler, the positions corresponding to the header of the steam inlets and outlets of the superheater and reheater form the header-connection area; the steam pipe system at least comprises the pipes that connect the boiler with the HP cylinder and the IP cylinder and are used to transmit the HTHP steam; the HP cylinder and the generator constitute the high-level shafting, and the high-level shafting is positioned outside of boiler and close to the header-connection area. The present invention can also comprise a low-level shafting positioned at a low level. Since the high-level shafting and the low-level shafting are arranged at different levels, the lengths of costly HTHP steam pipes in the pipe system and the pressure drop and heat radiation loss of the pipe system are significantly reduced, and the work capability of the unit is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Inventor: Weizhong Feng
  • Patent number: 9115619
    Abstract: A thermoelectric generator of a vehicle converts thermal energy of exhaust gas of an engine into electric energy by using a thermoelectric phenomenon, and may include: a high-temperature part heated by exchange heat and a plurality of pairs of heat transfer plates mounted on an outer peripheral surface of an exhaust pipe at a predetermined interval; pairs of thermoelectric modules acquired by bonding a P-type semiconductor and an N-type semiconductor, interposed between the pairs of heat transfer plates to generate electricity, and electrically connected to each other; and a low-temperature part interposed between the pairs of thermoelectric modules and cooling inner surfaces of the pairs of thermoelectric modules. The plurality of thermoelectric modules generates electricity by a difference in temperature between heated outer surfaces and cooled inner surfaces. Thermoelectric efficiency is improved and a small-sized thermoelectric generator of a vehicle may be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, SEJONG IND. CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Ho-Chan An, Jong-Ho Seon, Ho-Cheol Seo, Sung-Ool Jang
  • Patent number: 9103257
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of determining a DOC regeneration cycle of a vehicle, in which the DOC regeneration cycle is determined such that a rich fuel-air mixture is repeatedly and periodically applied to the DOC, and the regeneration of the DOC is accelerated, thereby improving the purification performance of the DOC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Sung Mu Choi
  • Patent number: 9091193
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle including an exhaust system. The exhaust system also includes a dosing module having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. Additionally, the exhaust system includes a first conduit coupled directly between the fluid inlet and an engine cooling system of the agricultural vehicle. The first conduit is configured to hold a cooling fluid. The exhaust system also includes a second conduit coupled directly between the fluid outlet and the engine cooling system and is configured to hold the cooling fluid. The cooling fluid is configured to flow from the first and second conduits into the engine cooling system after an engine of the agricultural vehicle is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Morey, Mark Douglas Klassen, William Louis Schroeder
  • Patent number: 9080488
    Abstract: A method for determining NH3 and NOx slippage through a SCR is described. In one example, signals from NOx sensors positioned upstream and downstream of a SCR are processed and provide indication of NH3 and NOx slippage. Engine emissions may be reduced with information provided via the NOx sensors, at least during some conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Devesh Upadhyay, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Patent number: 9074511
    Abstract: A reductant delivery unit for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) after-treatment for vehicles includes a fluid injector having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid inlet receives a source of urea solution. An injector flange is coupled directly with an end of the fluid injector and has a flange outlet in fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the fluid injector. The flange outlet is associated with an exhaust gas flow path upstream of a SCR catalytic converter with the fluid injector controlling injection of urea solution into the exhaust gas flow path. Internal surface structure that defines the flange outlet includes a conical surface joined with at least one radius surface. The radius surface is constructed and arranged to resist formation of deposits on the internal surface structure due to break down of the urea solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Willem Nicolaas Van Vuuren, Stephen C. Bugos
  • Patent number: 9068488
    Abstract: A vaporization device for a motor vehicle exhaust system vaporizes an oxidizable liquid and introduces a vapor produced from the oxidizable liquid into an exhaust gas flow of the motor vehicle exhaust system. The vaporization device includes a heating element that is arranged in a housing, and which has the form of a glowing filament. The housing has an inlet for the liquid, at least one vaporization chamber, and an outlet for the vapor. The glowing filament is embedded in a glow tube surrounding the glowing filament. The glowing filament and the glow tube constitute a prefabricated unit which is fastened on a side of the housing by the glow tube being mounted directly to the housing. Furthermore, an exhaust system having a vaporization device, and a method of producing a vaporization device are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies, Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen Klement
  • 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