Patents Examined by Tu M. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8069649
    Abstract: When a concentration measured by a sensor is lower than a predetermined threshold, it is judged that a liquid is any different type of aqueous solution, and also, it is judged whether or not the different type discrimination is adequate. When the discrimination is adequate, the number of different type discriminating times is counted up based on a predetermined counted value, and when the number thereof is equal to or larger than a determination threshold, the different type discrimination is determined. At this time, at least one of the predetermined counted value and the determination threshold is dynamically set based on a liquid level of a reducing agent tank, so that the counting and/or the different type discriminating determination is performed considering convection which is changed according to a level change to thereby discriminate with high precision whether or not the liquid is the different type of aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 8042325
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle powertrain that includes a diesel engine, a particulate filter and a torque converter, a method for correcting an indicated engine output torque includes estimating a magnitude of torque being transmitted from the engine to the torque converter while regenerating the particulate filter, determining a reference magnitude of current engine torque being produced while regenerating the particulate filter, determining a torque error from a difference between the estimated magnitude and the reference magnitude, recording the torque error, determining a current torque error from the recorded torque error using a current engine speed and a current reference engine torque as indices to the recorded engine toque error, producing a corrected engine torque from the sum of the current torque error and the current reference engine torque, and using the corrected engine torque to control operation of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen M. Cicala, Cristina Ike, Charles W. Suter, Joseph Kucharski, Bradley D. Riedle, Dave M. Dillon, Michael Polk
  • Patent number: 8015799
    Abstract: There is provided a multicylinder internal combustion engine. Branches of an exhaust manifold are connected to a common exhaust gas sensor via respective exhaust communication passages. The exhaust gas sensor detects the exhaust air-fuel ratio of each cylinder. The distance from exhaust ports of the engine to the exhaust gas sensor is set to be shorter than the distance from the exhaust ports to a catalyst disposed in an exhaust pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Yasuki Tamura, Kazuhito Kawashima
  • Patent number: 8015805
    Abstract: A method for regenerating an exhaust aftertreatment system, in particular a particulate filter of an internal combustion engine, situated in a vehicle, having regeneration cycles controlled by a control device. An optimized regeneration of the exhaust aftertreatment system is achieved by supplying information relating to the travel route to the control device and controlling the regeneration cycles, taking the information into consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Pfaeffle, Ralf Wirth, Marcel Wuest, Hartmut Lueders, Thomas Hauber
  • Patent number: 8015802
    Abstract: An inlet chamber 40 and outlet chamber 50 for exhaust gas are integrated as an inflow/outflow section 80, and a first post treatment device 10 equipped with a DPF 13 at its central portion and second post-treatment device 20 equipped with a urea DeNOx catalyst 23 on its outer periphery side are integrated as a catalyst installation section 70. The catalyst installation section 70, the inflow/outflow section 80, and a communication chamber forming section 30 are provided separately and detachably from one another, and the catalyst installation section 70 is made installable in a reversible manner. As a result, by reversing the catalyst installation section 70, it is possible to easily reverse the DPF 13 without having to extract it from the central part. Further, since the urea DeNOx catalyst 23 is reversed simultaneously, it is possible to change the direction in which the exhaust gas flows therein, thereby enabling to prevent unbalanced deterioration of the urea DeNOx catalyst 23.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Nishiyama, Koji Iijima
  • Patent number: 8015806
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for treating exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine include at least two exhaust-gas treatment modules. An exhaust gas stream can be at least partly deflected depending on a load state of the internal combustion engine in such a way that at least parts of the exhaust gas flow through one or more modules. This makes it possible to advantageously construct and operate even an exhaust gas system of large-volume internal combustion engines, in which conversion and treatment of the exhaust gas is carried out in individual modules, even in no-load operation, basically at very low exhaust gas mass flow rates. The individual modules can be adapted to various load levels of the internal combustion engine. A rail-borne vehicle and a water-borne vehicle having the apparatus are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventor: Peter Treiber
  • Patent number: 8006481
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described to selectively reduce NOx emissions of an internal combustion engine. An exhaust aftertreatment system includes an injection device operative to dispense a hydrocarbon reductant upstream of a silver-alumina catalytic reactor device. A control system determines a NOx concentration and hydrocarbon/NOx ratio based upon selected parameters of the exhaust gas feedstream and dispenses hydrocarbon reductant during lean engine operation. Included is a method to control elements of the feedstream during lean operation. The hydrocarbon reductant may include engine fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Steven J. Schmieg, Richard J. Blint, Ling Deng, Michael B. Viola, Jong-Hwan Lee
  • Patent number: 8006485
    Abstract: A system including a compression ignition engine operable in a first, normal running mode and operable in a second mode to produce an exhaust gas having an increased level of carbon monoxide (CO) relative to the exhaust gas produced in the first mode. The system, when in use, can switch engine operation between the two modes, and the system includes an exhaust system. The exhaust system includes a supported palladium (Pd) catalyst associated with at least one base metal promoter and an optionally supported platinum (Pt) catalyst associated with and/or downstream of the Pd catalyst wherein CO is oxidised by the supported Pd catalyst during second mode operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Martyn Vincent Twigg, Paul Richard Phillips
  • Patent number: 8001770
    Abstract: The invention relates to an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, in particular in a motor vehicle, comprising an exhaust line that carries the exhaust gas, an SCR catalyst system arranged in the exhaust line and an injection device arranged on the exhaust line upstream from the SCR catalyst system for injecting an aqueous urea solution into the exhaust line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: J. Eberspaecher GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Georg Wirth, Felix Neumann
  • Patent number: 8001775
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, an exhaust dilution and dispersion device for a vehicle can include a generally elongate tailpipe including an inlet section capable of being in exhaust receiving communication with an exhaust system of a vehicle. The tailpipe further includes an outlet section in exhaust receiving communication with the inlet section. The outlet section can also include a downwardly directed exhaust deflection portion and an exhaust outlet in exhaust dispersing communication with the surroundings external to the device. The exhaust outlet can include a generally elongate exhaust dispersion opening extending in a lengthwise direction along the tailpipe. At least a portion of the exhaust outlet can be coextensive with the downwardly directed exhaust deflecting portion and a major portion of the exhaust dispersed from the outlet can have a transverse component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Daimler Trucks North America LLC
    Inventors: Jason T. Krajewski, Bhaskar Keshav Bhatnagar
  • Patent number: 7992375
    Abstract: The present invention relates to new crystalline, essentially all silicon oxide molecular sieve SSZ-73 prepared using a 3-ethyl-1,3,8,8-tetramethyl-3-azoniabicyclo[3.2.1]octane cation as a structure-directing agent, and its use in treating engine exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Stacey Zones, Allen Burton
  • Patent number: 7980061
    Abstract: An engine system includes an engine, an intake fluid system, and an exhaust fluid system. Furthermore, the engine system includes a turbocharger device including a compressor member in operative communication with the intake fluid stream and an energy supply member in operative communication with the exhaust stream to be actuated thereby. The energy supply member transfers energy to the compressor member, and the compressor member supplies a compressed fluid stream to the engine. Moreover, the engine system includes an aftertreatment device in operative communication with the exhaust stream to treat the exhaust stream. The engine system additionally includes a bypass fluid system that bypasses the internal combustion engine. The bypass fluid system supplies the portion of the compressed fluid stream to the aftertreatment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher J. Kleinfeld
  • Patent number: 7980069
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system is provided. The system may include a particulate trap configured to remove one or more types of particulate matter from an exhaust flow, the exhaust flow including at least a portion of a totality of exhaust gases produced by an engine. The system may further include a burner assembly configured to increase a temperature of gases in the exhaust flow at a location upstream from the particulate trap. The burner assembly may include an exhaust inlet oriented in a direction along a first axis and configured to direct the exhaust flow into the burner assembly and an exhaust outlet oriented in a direction along a second axis at an angle relative to the first axis, the exhaust outlet being configured to direct the exhaust flow out of the burner assembly toward the particulate trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Leonel Arellano, Vu Phi, Anthony Fahme, Alan Kubasco, Kenneth Smith
  • Patent number: 7971425
    Abstract: The concentration of the urea of a urea solution is identified accurately and immediately. A pulse voltage is applied for a predetermined time to a urea concentration identifying sensor heater including a heater and an identifying liquid temperature sensor provided in the vicinity of the heater, a urea solution to be identified is heated by the heater, and the concentration of the urea is identified with a voltage output difference V0 corresponding to a temperature difference between an initial temperature and a peak temperature in the identifying liquid temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Takahata, Toshiaki Kawanishi, Kiyoshi Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 7958723
    Abstract: A control system that controls regeneration of a particulate filter is provided. The system generally includes a regeneration module that controls current to the particulate filter to initiate combustion of particulate matter in the particulate filter. A propagation module estimates a propagation status of the combustion of the particulate matter based on a combustion temperature. A temperature adjustment module controls the combustion temperature by selectively increasing a temperature of exhaust that passes through the particulate filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Frank Ament
  • Patent number: 7954311
    Abstract: A method is described for managing vapors generated from an ammonia-containing reductant delivery system. The method may include generating ammonia vapors in a first storage device and storing said generated ammonia vapors in a second storage device. Further, the method may include purging the stored vapors from the second storage device to upstream of a combustion chamber of the engine during a first condition and downstream of the combustion chamber during a second condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Furqan Shaikh, Don Lawrence, Scott Cooper, Larry Castleberry, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7950226
    Abstract: In an exhaust aftertreatment system, two LNTs having differing compositions are configured in series downstream from an inline fuel reformer. The downstream LNT is adapted for desulfation at higher temperatures than the upstream LNT. During desulfation, the system develops temperature gradients with the temperatures increasing in the direction of exhaust flow. The ordering of the LNTs is designed utilize these gradients. In a preferred embodiment, the system also includes two SCR catalysts having different compositions. The SCR catalyst with a composition adapted to tolerate higher temperatures is located nearer the downstream end of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignees: Eaton Corporation, Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: James Edward McCarthy, Jr., Owen Herman Bailey
  • Patent number: 7946110
    Abstract: In a system for assisting the regeneration of depollution apparatus associated with an oxidation catalyst implementing an OSC function, constituting a supply of oxygen and integrated in an exhaust line of a motor vehicle diesel engine, in which the engine is associated with a common rail for feeding its cylinders with fuel, the running conditions of the vehicle are analyzed and compared with predetermined threshold values, to control the engine in a first regeneration mode of operation with a lean mixture when running conditions are above the threshold values, or in a second regeneration operating mode implementing sequences in which engine operation alternates between stages of rich mixture operation and of lean mixture operation when conditions are below the threshold values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Christophe Colignon
  • Patent number: 7941994
    Abstract: An engine having a first and second bank of cylinders is disclosed. The engine may have improved fuel economy and emission as compared to other similar engines. In one example, engine cylinders may be deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Christian T. Goralski, Jr., Stephen B. Smith, James P. O'Neill, Garry Zawacki
  • Patent number: 7934370
    Abstract: When a vehicle speed V is greater than a threshold value Vref when an engine speed difference ?N between an engine speed Ne and a target engine speed Ne* is greater than a threshold value Nref and a catalyst degradation flag Fc is 1, that engine speed Ne is brought to the target engine speed Ne* while the engine is kept firing. However, when the vehicle speed V is less than the threshold value Vref, a fuel cut is executed even if the engine speed difference ?N is greater than the threshold value Nref and the catalyst degradation flag Fc is 1. The threshold value Vref is set based on a catalyst bed temperature CT so control to suppress catalyst degradation can be continued for longer the more the operating state is such that the catalyst bed temperature CT is high and degradation of the catalyst is promoted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ikuo Ando, Kazuki Kunishima