Patents Examined by Jonathan R Matthias
  • Patent number: 11060438
    Abstract: A control device comprising a first exhaust temperature calculation part calculating a temperature of exhaust flowing into a PM trapping device as a first exhaust temperature, a second exhaust temperature calculation part calculating a temperature of exhaust flowing out from the PM trapping device as a second exhaust temperature, a rate of change over time calculation part calculating a rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and a rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature, and a judgment part judging if the PM trapping device is in a removed state removed from the exhaust passage based on a difference between the rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and the rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazumasa Katoh, Takahiko Fujiwara, Kenji Igawa, Kentaro Mineo
  • Patent number: 11053829
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system (10) for treating exhaust gases (12) of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle has an exhaust gas catalytic converter, a pipe piece (14) connected to an input side of the exhaust gas catalytic converter for feeding in exhaust gases (12) of the internal combustion engine, and a heating line (20) that opens into the pipe piece (14) for feeding heating gas (16) into the pipe piece (14) for heating the exhaust gas catalytic converter to the light-off temperature. The heating gas (16) is fed in as a vortex flow that rotates about a longitudinal axis of the pipe piece (14) to achieve homogeneous thorough mixing with the exhaust gas (12) with rapid heating across an entire cross-section of the exhaust gas catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Inventor: Andre Casal Kulzer
  • Patent number: 11047275
    Abstract: A device for treating exhaust gases includes at least one purification member with a substrate for purifying the exhaust gases, a heat exchanger axially located beyond an axial end of the substrate, a body, a valve comprising a flap arranged in an internal volume of the body. An exchanger inlet and exchanger outlet open into the internal volume. At least 45% of a volume of the body is in a virtual space located in an axial extension of one or more purification substrate(s). The body comprises at least one first orifice in fluid communication with a purification member outlet, and a second orifice defining an outlet for the exhaust gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Brunel
  • Patent number: 11047288
    Abstract: A control device comprising a first exhaust temperature calculation part calculating a temperature of exhaust flowing into a PM trapping device as a first exhaust temperature, a second exhaust temperature calculation part calculating a temperature of exhaust flowing out from the PM trapping device as a second exhaust temperature, a rate of change over time calculation part calculating a rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and a rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature, and a judgment part judging if the PM trapping device is in a removed state removed from the exhaust passage based on a difference between the rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and the rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazumasa Katoh, Takahiko Fujiwara, Kenji Igawa, Kentaro Mineo
  • Patent number: 11041423
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a gasoline particulate filter in an engine exhaust passage. A pressure-flow relationship of the filter is learned in a low engine speed and high engine speed range. Degradation of the filter is identified based on a substantial separation between the curve fits at the high and low speed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Beatham, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Allen Lehmen, Douglas Martin, Raymond Henry Berger
  • Patent number: 11035279
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus relating to operating an internal combustion engine include steps or features for determining a performance threshold of a particulate filter disposed in an exhaust gas flow of the engine having a set time interval between regeneration events of the particulate filter; determining a rate at which the particulate filter is reaching the performance threshold; and controlling an exhaust gas characteristic to control the rate so that the performance threshold is reached at or just before an end of the time interval. In an embodiment, there are steps or features for interpreting a filter condition of the particulate filter; determining a particulate matter load rate of the filter as a function of the condition; determining a limit of an exhaust gas characteristic based on the load rate; and controlling engine operation to control the exhaust gas characteristic to satisfy the limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey David Selwyn Diwakar Abraham, Ananth Vemuri, Michael Haas, Adam W. Kidd
  • Patent number: 11035278
    Abstract: A heater includes: a conductive ceramic cylinder tube provided with a plurality of cells, each cell being defined by a pair of first cell-walls and a pair of second cell-walls, each first cell-wall extending in a radial direction of the ceramic cylinder tube, and each second cell-wall extending so as to cross the radial direction of the ceramic cylinder tube; an inner electrode electrically coupled to an inner wall of the ceramic cylinder tube; and an outer electrode electrically coupled to an outer wall of the ceramic cylinder tube. Linear portions are radially arranged in the ceramic cylinder tube, each linear portion linearly extending in the radial direction of the ceramic cylinder tube so as to include a plurality of first cell-walls that are arranged on the same axial line that in the radial direction and current flows radially at least via the linear portions between the inner and outer electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignees: NGK Insulators, Ltd., Faurecia Systemes d'Echappement
    Inventors: Yukio Miyairi, Masaaki Masuda, Xavier Bartolo
  • Patent number: 11028760
    Abstract: A control device comprising a first exhaust temperature calculation part calculating a temperature of exhaust flowing into a PM trapping device as a first exhaust temperature, a second exhaust temperature calculation part calculating a temperature of exhaust flowing out from the PM trapping device as a second exhaust temperature, a rate of change over time calculation part calculating a rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and a rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature, and a judgment part judging if the PM trapping device is in a removed state removed from the exhaust passage based on a difference between the rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and the rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazumasa Katoh, Takahiko Fujiwara, Kenji Igawa, Kentaro Mineo
  • Patent number: 11022016
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust gas pathway configured to receive exhaust from the engine, a diesel particulate filter (DPF) element positioned in the exhaust gas pathway to capture particulate matter from the exhaust, and a regenerator operable to increase a temperature of the exhaust that passes through the DPF element. The system also includes a controller configured to selectively operate the exhaust gas treatment system in a first mode in which the regenerator is inactive such that a temperature of the exhaust is within a first range, a second mode in which the regenerator is activated to increase the temperature of the exhaust to a first target temperature beyond the first range, and a third mode in which the regenerator is activated to increase the temperature of the exhaust to a second target temperature greater than the first temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Shyan-Cherng Huang, Danan Dou, Eric J. Hruby
  • Patent number: 11015510
    Abstract: A catalyst deterioration diagnosis system includes an air-fuel ratio detection element and a NOx detection element on a downstream side with respect to a catalyst, and a control element. The control element causes an engine to perform diagnosis operation performed with an exhaust gas temperature being kept at 600° C. or higher, such that at a timing when a downstream air-fuel ratio in a lean operation state reaches a threshold value, the engine is transitioned to a rich operation state, and at a timing that is a predetermined period after a downstream air-fuel ratio in a rich operation state reaches a threshold value, the engine is transitioned to a lean operation state. The diagnosis element compares NOx concentration during the rich operation state to a diagnosis threshold value, thereby to diagnose a degree of deterioration of NOx reduction capability of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Taku Okamoto, Osamu Nakasone
  • Patent number: 11008922
    Abstract: Diagnostics for inadequate performance and/or degradation of an exhaust aftertreatment system are disclosed. A performance degradation analysis of the exhaust aftertreatment system includes a determination of a long term brake specific NOx value over a time period and a comparison of the long term brake specific NOx value to a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Grana, Girish Chandramouli, Sergio M. Hernandez-Gonzalez, Ravindra Kakade
  • Patent number: 11008923
    Abstract: A control device comprising a first exhaust temperature calculation part calculating a temperature of exhaust flowing into a PM trapping device as a first exhaust temperature, a second exhaust temperature calculation part calculating a temperature of exhaust flowing out from the PM trapping device as a second exhaust temperature, a rate of change over time calculation part calculating a rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and a rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature, and a judgment part judging if the PM trapping device is in a removed state removed from the exhaust passage based on a difference between the rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and the rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazumasa Katoh, Takahiko Fujiwara, Kenji Igawa, Kentaro Mineo
  • Patent number: 10995646
    Abstract: A control device comprising a first exhaust temperature calculation part calculating a temperature of exhaust flowing into a PM trapping device as a first exhaust temperature, a second exhaust temperature calculation part calculating a temperature of exhaust flowing out from the PM trapping device as a second exhaust temperature, a rate of change over time calculation part calculating a rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and a rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature, and a judgment part judging if the PM trapping device is in a removed state removed from the exhaust passage based on a difference between the rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and the rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazumasa Katoh, Takahiko Fujiwara, Kenji Igawa, Kentaro Mineo
  • Patent number: 10989095
    Abstract: A control device comprising a first exhaust temperature calculation part calculating a temperature of exhaust flowing into a PM trapping device as a first exhaust temperature, a second exhaust temperature calculation part calculating a temperature of exhaust flowing out from the PM trapping device as a second exhaust temperature, a rate of change over time calculation part calculating a rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and a rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature, and a judgment part judging if the PM trapping device is in a removed state removed from the exhaust passage based on a difference between the rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and the rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazumasa Katoh, Takahiko Fujiwara, Kenji Igawa, Kentaro Mineo
  • Patent number: 10989085
    Abstract: This invention provides means and a method to eliminate emissions from an internal combustion engine during cold-starts and warm-starts. An oxidizer intake valve external to the engine head and an exhaust valve following the after-treatment system and condensing heat exchanger are closed, thus sealing all gasses inside the engine and the exhaust after-treatment system before starting the engine. Oxygen and hydrogen are used as the oxidizer and fuel to start this engine and operate this engine until the exhaust after-treatment systems have reached their required operating temperatures. This emissions-free startup system works equally well on two, four, six, or eight stroke engines, one or multiple cylinder engines, and spark or compression ignition engines. This invention also provides a means and method to clean the interior of an engine and the after-treatment systems of soot, particulate, and the catalytic surfaces without disassembling the engine or the after-treatment systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventor: Philip Owen Jung
  • Patent number: 10975752
    Abstract: A control device comprising a first exhaust temperature calculation part calculating a temperature of exhaust flowing into a PM trapping device as a first exhaust temperature, a second exhaust temperature calculation part calculating a temperature of exhaust flowing out from the PM trapping device as a second exhaust temperature, a rate of change over time calculation part calculating a rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and a rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature, and a judgment part judging if the PM trapping device is in a removed state removed from the exhaust passage based on a difference between the rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and the rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazumasa Katoh, Takahiko Fujiwara, Kenji Igawa, Kentaro Mineo
  • Patent number: 10968808
    Abstract: A modular tailpipe riser kit includes a plurality of conduit modules that are selectively connectable to each other to support flow of exhaust gases through connected conduit modules. The plurality of conduit modules include a tailpipe coupling having a first end receivable and selectively securable to the outer surface of a tailpipe of an automobile, an elbow selectively connectable to the tailpipe coupling, and a riser extension selectively connectable to the elbow. The modular tailpipe riser kit further include a circumferential clamp that is receivable about the tailpipe coupling for selectively securing the tailpipe coupling about the outer surface of the tailpipe. A tailpipe riser that is fully assembled and ready for installation may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventor: Ronda Kimberly Johnson
  • Patent number: 10968798
    Abstract: A method of controlling an oxygen purge of a three-way catalyst (TWC) may include: rapidly adjusting, by a controller, an air-fuel ratio (AFR) at an upstream of the TWC to a target AFR when the oxygen purge of the TWC after a fuel cut-off is performed; and maintaining the target AFR until an oxygen purge finish time has passed. According to the method, concentration of NOx slipped from the TWC after the oxygen purge may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jin Woo Choung
  • Patent number: 10961874
    Abstract: A thermal utilization system is capable of producing power, storing energy via a chemical or and a hydropower-elevation means. It also capable of transport fluid as vapor over obstacles and terrains, as well as desalinate water. It may in some embodiments do all or some of these tasks simultaneously and with the same amount of energy. It may run with any source of energy including renewable energy sources such as solar energy, and wind. The system may use that energy to run a heat engine and, at the same time, stores that energy via chemical separation. When energy is needed, the system may withdraw the chemical substances and lets them interact to claim the energy back, and then use it to run a heat engine and desalinate water. Some parts of the system can be used for cooling and heating. The system may be configured to be an air conditioner unit or a refrigerator that has an internal back up energy storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Inventor: Husham Al-Ghizzy
  • Patent number: 10961885
    Abstract: A device for reducing the emission of carbon particles from combustion of hydrocarbons, more particularly in exhaust emission of vehicles, includes a duality of electrically conducting rotating members with opposite polarities, charged with high voltage to create a corona discharge and agglomerate the ionized carbon particles. The carbon particles are cleaned using a plurality of wipers. The agglomerated carbon particles are then separated in a removable collection box or are optionally fed to a cyclone filter to be disposed. Various embodiments may be installed in existing vehicles as well as in open source pollution locations to helps control air pollution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Inventors: Rijwan Nurul Islam Shaikh, Zuber Noorul Islam Shaikh