Patents Examined by Matthew T Largi
  • Patent number: 11047282
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification device is capable of reducing the amount of NOx emissions generated at the time of cold start. An exhaust gas purification device includes a urea injection valve, a metal honeycomb, a temperature sensor, and an SCR catalyst in an exhaust passage. It is possible for an exhaust gas temperature of exhaust gas passing through the metal honeycomb to be increased by the metal honeycomb that is capable of being electrically heated by control executed by a control unit ECU. The exhaust gas temperature is detected by the temperature sensor. Based on a temperature-versus-ammonia adsorption amount profile stored in advance in a storage unit of the control unit ECU, ammonia is pre-adsorbed onto the metal honeycomb and the SCR catalyst, and the metal honeycomb is electrically heated at the time of cold start after the temperature detected by the temperature sensor becomes lower than 150° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: N.E. CHEMCAT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshinori Okajima, Makoto Nagata, Nobunori Okui, Kyohei Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11041419
    Abstract: An exhaust gas post-processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: an exhaust flow path for moving an exhaust gas discharged from an engine; at least one aftertreatment device installed on the exhaust flow path and purifying the exhaust gas; a burner installed on the exhaust flow path and heating the exhaust gas upstream of the at least one aftertreatment device; a fuel supplier for supplying a fuel to the burner; and an air supply flow path for supplying an air to the burner. The air supply flow path supplies a part of the exhaust gas discharged from the engine as the air to the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: DOOSAN INFRACORE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tae Joong Wang
  • Patent number: 11035281
    Abstract: An exhaust filtration system comprises a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor, each configured to measure pressure in the exhaust filtration system under low-flow conditions. The exhaust filtration system comprises a third pressure sensor and a fourth pressure sensor, each configured to measure pressure in the exhaust filtration system under high-flow conditions. A flow rate of exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust filtration system is periodically determined. When the flow rate is below a predetermined flow rate threshold, the first and second pressure sensors are used to measure pressure in the exhaust filtration system, and a soot load of the exhaust filtration system is estimated using the pressure measured by the first and second pressure sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Sriram Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 11035275
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heater control device and a heater control method capable of suppressing a maximum value of a current flowing through a current supply circuit to a heater in a reducing agent supplier. The heater control device is a heater control device including: a tank heater for heating a reducing agent stored in a tank; and a piping heater for heating the reducing agent in a flow channel including a supply channel, and includes: a first current supply circuit that supplies a current to the tank heater; a second current supply circuit that supplies a current to the piping heater; a common current supply circuit that connects between a battery and each of the first current supply circuit and the second current supply circuit; and a heater control unit that controls driving of the tank heater and the piping heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Sakuma, Keijiro Ozaki, Eiichi Kitazawa, Masahiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11028759
    Abstract: A heater system for an exhaust system is provided. The heater system includes a heater disposed in an exhaust conduit. The heater includes a plurality of heating elements disposed in the exhaust conduit. A heating control module controls the plurality of heating elements differently according to operating conditions specific to each heating element. In other forms, the heater system for an exhaust system has a plurality of heating zones, instead of a plurality of heating elements. The heating control module controls the plurality of heating zones differently according to operating conditions specific to each heating zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Everly, James Pradun, Sanhong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11015507
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine, exhaust system, exhaust gas/reactant mixing assembly unit includes an inlet area (14) of an exhaust gas flow duct (12) and a reactant release device (20) releasing reactant (R) into exhaust gas (A) flowing in the exhaust gas flow duct. The exhaust gas flow duct includes a mixing section (16) with a first mixing section segment (22) downstream of the reactant release device (20). An exhaust gas/reactant mixture flows in the first mixing section segment essentially in a main flow direction (H1)—from the reactant release device to a deflection area. A ring-shaped second mixing section segment (28) surrounds the first mixing section segment. The exhaust gas/reactant mixture flows in the second mixing section segment (28) in a second main flow direction (H2), essentially opposite the first main flow direction, from the deflection area (26) to an outlet area (34) of the exhaust gas flow duct (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gerd Gaiser
  • Patent number: 11002204
    Abstract: An exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine comprises an HC adsorbent 20 arranged adsorbing HC in exhaust gas, an NOx adsorbent 20 adsorbing NOx in exhaust gas, a catalyst 24 removing HC and NOx at a predetermined air-fuel ratio, an air-fuel ratio control part 31 configured to control an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas, and an HC concentration calculating part 32 configured to calculate a concentration of HC desorbed from the HC adsorbent. A peak of a desorption temperature of HC at the HC adsorbent and a peak of a desorption temperature of NOx at the NOx adsorbent are substantially the same. The air-fuel ratio control part is configured to control an air-fuel ratio of inflowing exhaust gas flowing into the catalyst to the predetermined air-fuel ratio based on the concentration of HC calculated by the HC concentration calculating part when HC is desorbed from the HC adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomihisa Oda
  • Patent number: 10989083
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for partially regenerating a lean NOx trap in response to an engine shutdown request. In one example, an engine shutdown is delayed so that a low-temperature storing region of the lean NOx trap is regenerated without regenerating a high-temperature storing region of the lean NOx trap. A battery charge is replenished during the shutdown, wherein the charge may be consumed during a subsequent engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederik De Smet, Vijay Krishnaswamy, Mario Balenovic
  • Patent number: 10984995
    Abstract: A solar generator can include a photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator with a cathode to receive solar radiation. The photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator can include an anode that in conjunction with the cathode generates a first current and waste heat from the solar radiation. A thermoelectric generator can be thermally coupled to the anode and can convert the waste heat from the anode into a second current. A circuit can connect to the photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator and to the thermoelectric generator and can combine the first and the second currents into an output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventor: John Xiaozhong Wang
  • Patent number: 10975753
    Abstract: A method for operating an exhaust gas recirculation system using rationality diagnostics for an automobile vehicle includes: estimating an oxygen storage content (OSC) of a catalytic converter of a vehicle; comparing an amount of oxygen stored in the catalytic converter to an OSC threshold; initiating a closed oxygen storage control (COSC) event for a predetermined one of multiple cylinders of an engine of a vehicle if the OSC threshold is met or exceeded, the COSC event targeting a rich air-fuel equivalence ratio (EQR) for the predetermined one of the multiple cylinders; and directing a fuel injector communicating with the predetermined one of the multiple cylinders to operate the predetermined one of the multiple cylinders at the rich EQR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Smith, Martino A. Casetti, Michael Kaczmar, Scott R. Jeffrey
  • Patent number: 10975750
    Abstract: A fluid control system is provided that in one form includes a first flow channel, a second flow channel, a heater disposed in the second flow channel, and a fluid control device disposed upstream from the first and second flow channels. When the heater is turned on, the fluid control device changes a fluid flow rate through at least one of the first flow channel and the second flow channel. In another form, the fluid control system includes a bypass conduit, a heater disposed within the bypass conduit, and a fluid control device disposed near the inlet and outlet of the bypass conduit. In still another form, the fluid control system includes a regeneration device disposed downstream from at least one exhaust aftertreatment system and closes an outlet of the exhaust pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Louis P. Steinhauser, Mark D. Everly, George F. Jambor, Jacob Lindley
  • Patent number: 10975746
    Abstract: A driver circuit drives a heater associated with a sensor in an exhaust system of a vehicle at a duty cycle. A feedback circuit generates a feedback signal indicating a temperature of the sensor. A ramp circuit outputs a first ramping set point indicating a first rate at which the temperature of the sensor is to be changed over a first time period after an engine of the vehicle is turned on, and a second ramping set point indicating a second rate at which the temperature of the sensor is to be changed after the first time period until the temperature of the sensor reaches a predetermined temperature. An error circuit generates first and second error signals based on the feedback signal and the first and second ramping set points. A controller controls the duty cycle of the driver circuit to drive the heater based on one or more gains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Scott R. Jeffrey, Rajeev M. Ramanan, Jhansi Basani
  • Patent number: 10975782
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting an evaporative emissions test diagnostic on a vehicle fuel system and evaporative emissions control system during engine-on conditions. In one example, a first fuel vapor storage device is separated from a second fuel vapor storage device by a one-way check valve, thus preventing loading of the first fuel vapor storage device during conditions such as refueling operations, diurnal temperature fluctuations, or from running-loss vapors from a vehicle fuel tank. In this way, the evaporative emissions test diagnostic may be conducted during a cold-start event where an exhaust catalyst is below a predetermined threshold temperature required for catalytic oxidation of hydrocarbons in the engine exhaust, without increasing undesired exhaust emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Mark W. Peters
  • Patent number: 10968807
    Abstract: A catalyst deterioration detection system 1 comprises an air-fuel ratio sensor 41, a current detection device 61, a voltage application device 60, a voltage control part 71, an air-fuel ratio control part 72 and a deterioration judging part 73. The air-fuel ratio control part executes fuel cut control, and, after the fuel cut control, executes rich control. The voltage control part, if judging that the air-fuel ratio of the outflowing exhaust gas has reached the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio when setting the applied voltage to a first voltage in a limit current region during the rich control, changes the applied voltage from the first voltage to a second voltage in a limit current region. The deterioration judging part judges the degree of deterioration of the catalyst based on the output current of the air-fuel ratio sensor when the applied voltage is set to the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keiichiro Aoki
  • Patent number: 10968766
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device comprising: an expansion machine for generating mechanical energy by expanding vapor of a working medium; a generator connected to a shaft of the expansion machine and used for generating electric energy from mechanical energy of the expansion machine; wherein the expansion machine and the generator form a structural unit with an exhaust vapor chamber between the expansion machine and the generator, and wherein, when the expansion machine is in operation, working medium expanded into the exhaust vapor chamber contacts the generator; and means for feeding, in particular injecting, a liquid working medium into the exhaust vapor chamber. The invention also relates to an ORC device comprising the device according to the present invention and to a method for operating the device according to the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: ORCAN ENERGY AG, Bitzer Küühlmaschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Richard Aumann, Andreas Grill, Roy Langer, Andreas Schuster
  • Patent number: 10967334
    Abstract: A mixing device for mixing exhaust gas from a combustion engine of a vehicle with a solution for lowering the content of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas includes a casing with an exhaust inlet, an exhaust outlet, and a corner region in which an exhaust gas flow is diverted toward the exhaust outlet. The corner region has an opening for a dosing unit. A flow guide is arranged within the casing. The flow guide is configured to divide a total of the exhaust gas flow into a first exhaust gas stream and a second exhaust gas stream. A gap for the second exhaust gas stream is formed between the flow guide and a side wall of the casing. In the side wall the opening for the dosing unit is located. An end region of the flow guide is arranged upstream of the opening for the dosing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Peng Quan, Justin Kosik, Corey Bertch, Eric Caruth
  • Patent number: 10954837
    Abstract: A SCR doser includes an electrical adapter extending from an inner end electrically connected to the pins of a solenoid to an outer end having electrical terminals. The outer end outwardly protrudes from an aperture provided in a base wall of the housing of the SCR doser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Rose, Domenico Capolupo, Simon Coster, Martin A. P. Sykes
  • Patent number: 10954925
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bistable actuator device (1) for providing at least two actuator positions comprising: an elastic bending element (2) supported at at least one attachment point (31, 32, 34) such that, by applying a switching torque at the attachment point (31, 32, 34), elastic deformation of the bending element (2) results in a change from a first actuator position to a second actuator position; and at least one actuator element (41, 42) formed with a shape memory wire, the shape memory wire causing a pulling force by heating and being coupled to a portion of the bending element (2) at the attachment point (31, 32, 34) so that the pulling force causes the switching torque at the attachment point (31, 32, 34) to move the bending element (2) from the first actuator position to the second actuator position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventors: Paul Motzki, Stefan Seelecke
  • Patent number: 10953373
    Abstract: A nozzle including a first channel, a second channel annularly disposed around the first channel, and a plurality of third channels fluidly connected to the second channel. The nozzle includes an interior cavity having a first inlet fluidly connected to the first channel and a plurality of second inlets. Individual second inlets of the plurality of second inlets fluidly connect to individual third channels of the plurality of third channels. The interior cavity includes an outlet and an impinging surface located opposite the first inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Satya Ramakrishna Manda Venkata Naga, Kevin L. Martin, Paul Arthur Zwart, Andrew M. Denis
  • Patent number: 10941688
    Abstract: An electrical connection for an electrical component in an exhaust gas system. The exhaust gas system has a metal casing through which an electrical conductor is routed. The connection has the conductor, an electrical insulation surrounding the conductor, and a metal bushing surrounding the insulation and the conductor, all together extend along a center axis. The insulation extends along the center axis beyond the bushing by an insulation gap of at least 2 mm at least at a first end of the connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Hirth, Thomas Härig, Christoph Pabst