Patents by Inventor Christer Alm

Christer Alm has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9574524
    Abstract: A method and internal combustion engine system are provided for keeping an exhaust gas aftertreatment system within its working temperature range during an idle or motoring engine operation mode of an internal combustion engine. The method includes sensing the temperature of the gas at the gas intake side of the internal combustion engine and/or of the exhaust gas; determining whether or not the sensed temperature value is in a predetermined temperature interval or below a predetermined temperature threshold; determining whether the internal combustion engine is in idle or motoring engine operation mode; in case the internal combustion engine is determined to be in an idle or motoring engine operation mode, controlling the temperature of the gas at the gas intake side of the internal combustion engine to be within the predetermined temperature range or below the predetermined temperature threshold by recirculating exhaust gas through a connecting duct by controlling at least one valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Volvo Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Christer Alm
  • Patent number: 9399937
    Abstract: An operating method of an exhaust gas aftertreatment system including at least a particulate filter for retaining soot from the exhaust gas of an engine and a deNOx catalytic converter for reducing nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gas of the engine is provided. Operation regimes of the particulate filter and of the deNOx catalytic converter are synchronized with respect to each other for performing regeneration of the particulate filter while the catalytic converter provides a nitrogen oxide conversion efficiency above a predetermined limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Christer Alm, Andreas Hinz, Hans Bernler, Carl Landberg
  • Patent number: 8849550
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an exhaust gas temperature of an engine of a vehicle during interruption of fuel supply to the engine, wherein the engine drives a driveline of the vehicle. The method involves alternating between two or more operational modes, wherein at least one of the operational modes maintains a higher exhaust temperature than the one or more other operational modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Per Larsson, Christer Alm, Hans Bernler
  • Publication number: 20140069085
    Abstract: A method and internal combustion engine system are provided for keeping an exhaust gas aftertreatment system within its working temperature range during an idle or motoring engine operation mode of an internal combustion engine. The method includes sensing the temperature of the gas at the gas intake side of the internal combustion engine and/or of the exhaust gas; determining whether or not the sensed temperature value is in a predetermined temperature interval or below a predetermined temperature threshold; determining whether the internal combustion engine is in idle or motoring engine operation mode; in case the internal combustion engine is determined to be in an idle or motoring engine operation mode, controlling the temperature of the gas at the gas intake side of the internal combustion engine to be within the predetermined temperature range or below the predetermined temperature threshold by recirculating exhaust gas through a connecting duct by controlling at least one valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: VOLVO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Christer Alm
  • Patent number: 8656702
    Abstract: An exhaust gas after treatment system includes a diesel particulate filter unit (DPFU) provided downstream of a diesel engine, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) arrangement provided in fluid communication with said DPFU, a first injector for feeding reducing agent into the exhaust gas provided downstream of said DPFU and upstream of said SCR, at least one NOx sensor provided downstream of said SCR for providing at least one NOx signal to a NOx coordinator, at least one temp sensor provided upstream and/or downstream of said SCR for providing at least one temp signal to said NOx coordinator, wherein said NOx coordinator is provided for switching said diesel engine into a high NOx mode or a low NOx mode depending on the values of the at least one NOx signal and the at least one temp signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Christer Alm, Ingemar Eckerström, Hans Bernler, Johan Bengtsson
  • Publication number: 20120060477
    Abstract: An operating method of an exhaust gas aftertreatment system including at least a particulate filter for retaining soot from the exhaust gas of an engine and a deNOx catalytic converter for reducing nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gas of the engine is provided. Operation regimes of the particulate filter and of the deNOx catalytic converter are synchronized with respect to each other for performing regeneration of the particulate filter while the catalytic converter provides a nitrogen oxide conversion efficiency above a predetermined limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: VOLVO LASTVAGNAR AB
    Inventors: Christer Alm, Andreas Hinz, Hans Bernler, Carl Landberg
  • Publication number: 20120059572
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an exhaust gas temperature of an engine of a vehicle during interruption of fuel supply to the engine, wherein the engine drives a driveline of the vehicle. The method involves alternating between two or more operational modes, wherein at least one of the operational modes maintains a higher exhaust temperature than the one or more other operational modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: VOLVO LASTVAGNAR AB
    Inventors: Per Larsson, Christer Alm, Hans Bernler
  • Patent number: 8069650
    Abstract: A method is provided for maintaining the heat in an exhaust after treatment system connected to the exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine. The engine is used to propel a vehicle and is equipped with a valve-controlled EGR duct for the adjustable recirculation of exhaust gases from the exhaust side of the engine to its induction side. According to the invention, it is detected that neither the braking system nor the throttle control mechanism of the vehicle is activated and that the vehicle is being driven at a speed in excess of a predetermined value. After this, the gas flow through the EGR duct is regulated so that the gas flow to the exhaust aftertreatment system is reduced to a level which is less than about 50% of the gas flow to the exhaust aftertreatment system with shut-off EGR valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Christer Alm, Hans Bernler
  • Publication number: 20100139249
    Abstract: An exhaust gas after treatment system includes a diesel particulate filter unit (DPFU) provided downstream of a diesel engine, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) arrangement provided in fluid communication with said DPFU, a first injector for feeding reducing agent into the exhaust gas provided downstream of said DPFU and upstream of said SCR, at least one NOx sensor provided downstream of said SCR for providing at least one NOx signal to a NOx coordinator, at least one temp sensor provided upstream and/or downstream of said SCR for providing at least one temp signal to said NOx coordinator, wherein said NOx coordinator is provided for switching said diesel engine into a high NOx mode or a low NOx mode depending on the values of the at least one NOx signal and the at least one temp signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Christer Alm, Ingemar Eckerström, Hans Bernler, Johan Bengtsson
  • Publication number: 20080264049
    Abstract: A method is provided for maintaining the heat in an exhaust after treatment system connected to the exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine. The engine is used to propel a vehicle and is equipped with a valve-controlled EGR duct for the adjustable recirculation of exhaust gases from the exhaust side of the engine to its induction side. According to the invention, it is detected that neither the braking system nor the throttle control mechanism of the vehicle is activated and that the vehicle is being driven at a speed in excess of a predetermined value. After this, the gas flow through the EGR duct is regulated so that the gas flow to the exhaust aftertreatment system is reduced to a level which is less than about 50% of the gas flow to the exhaust aftertreatment system with shut-off EGR valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: VOLVO LASTVAGNAR AB
    Inventors: Christer Alm, Hans Bernler
  • Publication number: 20070006576
    Abstract: Method and arrangement for regenerating a particle filter (15) arranged in thermal proximity to a catalyst unit (16) in an exhaust duct (10) connected to an internal combustion engine (2). The particle filter is located downstream of an adjustable exhaust pressure regulator (20) for regulating an exhaust flow through the exhaust duct. When the internal combustion engine is driven at low engine load, the exhaust pressure regulator (20) is activated with a predetermined regulating pressure. Fuel is then supplied to the exhaust duct (10) by means of an injection unit, the catalyst unit (16) being exposed to the fuel, which is oxidized, and the particle filter (15) being heated to such a temperature that soot particles are converted into carbon dioxide in reaction with oxygen contained in the exhaust flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Applicant: VOLVO LASTVAGNAR AB
    Inventors: Per PERSSON, Bo SVENSSON, Christer ALM
  • Patent number: 6220226
    Abstract: A method of controlling torque changes in a direct injection diesel engine having a control unit which controls the amount of fuel in the engine combustion chambers depending on signals fed into the control unit representing at least accelerator pedal position and engine speed. When the accelerator pedal is depressed, for example, thereby requesting a torque (tq), which exceeds a predetermined upper torque limit (b) stored in the control unit, the torque is first controlled up to a lower torque limit (c) stored in the control unit and from there gradually to the upper torque limit (b), from which the torque is then released up to the torque requested by the driver with the accelerator pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Christer Alm, Gote Hansson