Patents Examined by Kelsey Stanek
  • Patent number: 9273596
    Abstract: A secondary air injection system to aid in the warm-up of a catalyst employed as part of an emissions control system of a vehicle to obtain efficient reduction in engine emissions. A compressor utilized to compress or boost air for increased engine performance is additionally used as a secondary air injection source, eliminating the need for external air pumps. The compressor is configured to transmit boosted air to the engine of the vehicle or to the catalyst to aid in the warm-up of the catalyst. A valve having an open configuration and a closed configuration controls the passage of the boosted air to the engine or to the catalyst. The valve may be controlled by a controller based upon airflow, temperature, pressure, or time. A control map relating engine speed to airflow may be used for obtaining airflow values for controlling the configuration of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy D. Tracey
  • Patent number: 9260996
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling an exhaust system includes determining an air to fuel ratio within a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, measuring a temperature of an exhaust gas flow from the internal combustion engine into the exhaust system and determining a specific heat for the exhaust gas flow in a first segment of the exhaust system based on the temperature of the exhaust gas flow from the internal combustion engine and the air to fuel ratio, wherein the first segment is upstream of the particulate filter. The method also includes determining a first temperature of the exhaust gas in the first segment based on the specific heat for the exhaust gas flow and selectively controlling a regeneration process for the particulate filter using the determined temperature of the exhaust gas at the selected location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Scot A. Douglas, Patrick Barasa
  • Patent number: 9255504
    Abstract: A device and a system are provided. The system may include a perforated barrier disposed within an exhaust stream downstream from the combustion chamber(s). The barrier may divide the exhaust stream radially and longitudinally. A mixing surface may be coupled with the perforated barrier which may define a path within the exhaust stream to impart a swirl to the exhaust stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Xiaogang Zhang
  • Patent number: 9255511
    Abstract: Provided is an exhaust purification system capable of clearing a blockage of a reducing agent injection valve caused by solidification of an aqueous urea solution soon after starting an engine and preventing degradation in exhaust purification efficiency when starting an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Watanabe, Takeshi Miyamoto, Fumiyasu Kurogi
  • Patent number: 9249713
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a component (1) for a motor vehicle (5), particularly an exhaust system, which can be fastened to a carrier (4) of the motor vehicle (5) by means of at least one fixture (3), with a component housing (2) comprising a housing wall (6), wherein the respective fixture (3) comprises at least one holder (8) having an inner leg (9) extending parallel to the housing wall (6) and an outer leg (10) standing away from the housing wall (6) to the outside. The fatigue strength of the fixture (3) can be improved if the housing wall (6) comprises a passage opening (7), through which the outer leg (10) protrudes, while the inner leg (9) areally bears against the housing wall (6) in the interior (11) of the component housing (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Eberspaecher Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Arnulf Spieth
  • Patent number: 9249688
    Abstract: A rotary machine drive system includes: a first heat source heat exchanger that receives a first heating medium and gasifies a liquid working medium; a first expander that is connected to a rotation shaft and rotates the rotation shaft by expanding the working medium that has been gasified by the first heat source heat exchanger; a rotary machine that has a rotor part provided to the rotation shaft; a second heat source heat exchanger that receives a second heating medium and gasifies a liquid working medium; a second expander that is connected to the rotation shaft and rotates the rotation shaft by expanding the second heating medium; and a condenser that condenses the working medium that has been used in the first expander and the working medium that has been used in the second expander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Matsumura, Shigeto Adachi, Yutaka Narukawa
  • Patent number: 9243532
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pumping device (20) for supplying an exhaust gas aftertreament system (10) of an internal combustion engine with a reductant (14), in particular with a urea-water solution, in order to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the exhaust gas flow of the internal combustion engine, comprising a motor (32) for driving two pumps (22, 24). According to the invention, the first pump (22) is connected to the motor (32) by means of a first coupling, and the second pump (24) is connected to the motor by means of a second coupling. In a preferred embodiment, the couplings are designed as freewheel couplings (26, 28) acting in opposite directions, so that a switch between a “pumping state” and a “suck-back state” can be made by simply reversing the direction of rotation of the motor (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Ulrich, Christoph Waletzek
  • Patent number: 9238468
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a system for an engine. In one example, the system includes an exhaust passage through which exhaust gas is configured to flow from the engine. The system further includes an aftertreatment system disposed in the exhaust passage, the aftertreatment system including an aftertreatment device and a bypass with a bypass control element, the bypass control element adjustable to reduce exhaust gas flow through the aftertreatment device during tunneling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lawrence Hoey Heverley, III, Shashi Kiran, Stephen Mark Geyer
  • Patent number: 9234493
    Abstract: A wave power generation system includes a power generation component and a hydraulic component. The hydraulic component includes a cylinder and a piston. The cylinder connects to the power generation component. The cylinder has an accommodation space and a vent located in the middle section of the accommodation space such that the vent runs outside from the accommodation space. The accommodation space is used for accommodating a fluid. The piston is disposed in the accommodation space and is used for being guided by the accommodation space and sliding relative to the cylinder. Thereby, this drives the power generation component to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, and to force the remaining air in the accommodation space and remaining air in the fluid to be discharged via the vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Sheng-Chung Lo, Chen-Yang Lan, Wei-Ming Chen, Tzu-Hung Huang
  • Patent number: 9222388
    Abstract: An exhaust system including a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) component and an oxidation catalyst component. The exhaust system also includes an exhaust treatment fluid injection system for dispersing an exhaust treatment fluid into an exhaust stream at a location adjacent either the SCR component or the oxidation catalyst component, wherein the exhaust treatment fluid injection device includes a common rail that provides the exhaust treatment fluid under pressure to a plurality of injectors that dose the exhaust treatment fluid into the exhaust stream. The exhaust treatment fluid injection device also includes a return rail for returning unused exhaust treatment fluid to the fluid source. Each of the common rail and return rail can be configured to allow drainage of the exhaust treatment fluid as a freeze-protection feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Dana Kregling, Michael Golin, Guanyu Zheng, Alan Brockman, Adam J. Kotrba, Timothy P. Gardner, Andrey Factor
  • Patent number: 9221014
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system may include a tank, an injector, a supply conduit, a pump, a pressure sensor, and a control module. The tank may contain a volume of a fluid. The injector may be configured to inject the fluid into a stream of exhaust gas discharged from the combustion engine. The supply conduit may fluidly connect the tank and the injector. The pump may pump the fluid from the tank to the injector. The control module may be in communication with the pressure sensor and the pump and may control the pump based on first and second measurements from the pressure sensor. The first measurement may be indicative of a first pressure within the supply conduit when the pump is operating. The second measurement from the pressure sensor may be indicative of a second pressure within the supply conduit when the pump is not operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Butzke
  • Patent number: 9222390
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for injecting a fluid (2), in particular into the exhaust-gas section of an internal combustion engine, having a reservoir (4) for storing the fluid (2) to be injected; an injection and metering module (10); a pump (8) which is configured for conveying fluid (2) during operation out of the reservoir (4) to the injection and metering module (10); and a return line (16) which makes an outflow of fluid (2) out of the injection and metering module (10) possible, wherein a switchable throttling valve (14) which is suitable for pumping fluid out of the injection and metering module (10) is arranged in the return line (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Gottwald
  • Patent number: 9212630
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for regeneration of an exhaust gas recirculation cooler. One example method includes adjusting cooling of exhaust gas by an exhaust gas recirculation cooler to maintain a manifold air temperature during an idle condition of an engine. The method further includes initiating regeneration of the exhaust gas recirculation cooler during the idle condition when an effectivity of the exhaust gas recirculation cooler falls below a threshold effectivity prior to or during the idle condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric David Peters, Adam Klingbeil, Michael Easter
  • Patent number: 9212578
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust manifold for preventing condensate and gas leakage in an engine, and more particularly, to an exhaust manifold for preventing condensate and gas leakage in an engine, capable of preventing peripheries of the engine from being contaminated by condensate and/or exhaust gas leaking from interiors of a plurality of exhaust manifolds to the outside through connection portions of the exhaust manifolds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Doosan Infracore Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soon Chang Cha, Kwang Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 9206719
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system to treat exhaust gas includes a particulate filter and a pressure sensor. The particulate filter is configured to trap soot contained in exhaust gas. The pressure sensor is configured to output a pressure signal indicative of a pressure differential of the particulate filter. The exhaust treatment system further includes a soot mass module configured to determine a soot mass. The soot mass is indicative of an amount of soot stored in the particulate filter based on the pressure differential and a soot model stored in a memory device. The exhaust treatment system further includes a continuously regenerating trap (CRT) compensation module configured to generate a variable CRT threshold. The CRT compensation module selectively outputs a CRT compensation value that modifies the soot model based on comparison between the NOx flow rate and the soot mass-based variable CRT threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher C. Swoish, Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Christopher Whitt, Thomas Larose, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9200551
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment apparatus for an engine including a combustible gas supplying passage; a heat releasing port opened in an upstream side in the exhaust passage from the oxidation catalyst and in a downstream side in the combustible gas supplying passage, the exhaust passage and the combustible gas supplying passage communicating with each other through the heat releasing port; an ignition apparatus beneath the heat releasing port, the heat of flaming combustion of combustible gas ignited by the ignition apparatus being supplied to the exhaust passage to raise the temperature of exhaust in the exhaust passage; a flame holding plate in a downstream side in the combustible gas supplying passage from the ignition apparatus, an exhaust guiding plate at the top portion of the flame holding plate, the exhaust guiding plate having an upward slope toward a downstream side in the exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: KUBOTA Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsugu Okuda, Yoshikazu Takemoto, Takashi Onishi, Hozumi Ishida, Manabu Miyazaki, Yuichi Tamaki, Tomoya Akitomo, Katsuaki Arai
  • Patent number: 9200553
    Abstract: A power system and a method for energizing an electrically heated catalyst are provided. The system includes a battery outputting a first voltage, and a generator outputting a second voltage greater than the first voltage in response to a first signal. The system further includes a controller that generates a second signal to set a first switching device to a first operational state to apply the second voltage to the electrically heated catalyst to increase a temperature of the catalyst, if a first temperature level of the catalyst is less than a first threshold temperature level. The controller generates a third signal to induce the generator to output a third voltage, and generates a fourth signal to set a second switching device to a second operational state to apply the first voltage to the catalyst, if the first temperature level is greater than the first threshold temperature level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Christopher J. Kalebjian
  • Patent number: 9194267
    Abstract: Arrangement for introducing a liquid medium into exhaust gases from a combustion engine, comprising a mixing duct, a first flow guide for creating a first exhaust vortex in the mixing duct such that the exhaust gases in this first exhaust vortex rotate in a first direction of rotation during their movement downstream in the mixing duct, an injector for injecting the liquid medium in the form of a finely divided spray into exhaust gases which are led into the liquid medium in an exhaust flow at the center of the first vortex, and a second flow guide for creating a second exhaust vortex in the mixing duct concentrically with and externally about the first vortex, such that the exhaust gases in this second vortex rotate in a second direction of rotation, which is opposite to said first direction of rotation, during their movement downstream in the mixing duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: SCANIA CV AB
    Inventor: Peter Loman
  • Patent number: 9188039
    Abstract: A device for exhaust-gas treatment near an engine includes an annular structure and a guide structure disposed in an exhaust line. An inner wall forms an inner flow passage and an outer flow passage in the annular structure. The inner wall and the guide structure form a gap in such a way that only a limited secondary flow of the exhaust gas is conducted through the inner flow passage. A motor vehicle having the device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignees: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH, J. Eberspaecher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Nagel, Carsten Kruse, Joerg-Uwe Mueller, Jan Haenisch, Joerg Oesterle, Sebastian Leicht
  • Patent number: 9188041
    Abstract: A system for reducing emissions in an engine is provided. The system includes a primary fuel tank having a primary fuel. The system also includes a secondary fuel tank having a secondary fuel. The system further includes a separator in fluid communication with the secondary fuel tank or the primary fuel tank or both the secondary fuel tank and the primary fuel tank, the engine and a hydrocarbon-selective catalytic reduction subsystem. The subsystem separator separates a less volatile portion of the secondary fuel or the primary fuel from a more volatile portion, said less volatile portion of the secondary fuel or the primary fuel in the separator is routed to the hydrocarbon-selective catalytic reduction subsystem and said more volatile portion of the secondary fuel or the primary fuel in the separator is routed to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel George Norton, Edward Joseph Hall