Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a reformer for reforming a fuel air mixture to produce a reformed gas, a crank angle sensor for detecting a rotational speed of the engine, and an ECU. The ECU obtains a difference of an actual rotational speed from a target rotational speed of the engine during an idling thereof based on a signal from the crank angle sensor. When the difference thus obtained exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the ECU determines that a reforming catalyst of the reformer has deteriorated or there is any abnormality in the reformer.

Abstract: According to an apparatus and method for determining degradation of a reforming catalyst degradation which reforms a mixture of air and fuel, in a reformer that supplies a reformate gas to an engine of a vehicle, a temperature sensor detects a temperature of a reforming reaction portion in which is provided a reforming catalyst. An ECU then determines the extent of degradation of the reforming catalyst based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to contribute to prevention of worsening an exhaust gas emission at the time of cold starting up of an internal combustion engine by providing a technology for accurately determining the degradation of an exhaust gas purifying catalyst provided in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine, specifically, the degradation of a low temperature activation capability of the exhaust gas purifying catalyst.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine in accordance with one aspect of the invention is characterized by comprising a combustion chamber, a reformer, and a control portion. A predetermined fuel component is burnt in the combustion chamber. The reformer has a reforming catalyst, and that produces a reformed gas which contains the fuel component obtained by reforming a mixture of fuel and air and which supplied to the combustion chamber. The control portion sets an air-fuel ratio of the mixture in the reformer such that a reforming efficiency of the reformer is held within a predetermined range, and sets an amount of the mixture supplied to the reformer such that an actual output torque of the internal combustion engine coincides with a target torque.

Abstract: Methods for continuously producing 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol (2,3-DCH) and epichlorohydrin in high yields and in a stabel manner for a long time are disclosed. In a method where allyl alcohol is chorinated in a hyrochloric acid solution and the reaction solution is introduced into a degassing tower to release hydrogen chloride and 2,3-DCH is obtained from the remaining solution, the concentraton of chlorine in the reaction mixture to be introduced into the degassing tower is maintaining to 0.015 g/ml or less and/or the partial pressure of chlorine gas in the reactor immediately before the degassing tower to 0.08 MPa or less, by monitoring and/or the partial pressure of chlorine gas in the reactor immediately before the degassing tower to 0.

Abstract: Methods for continuously producing 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol (2,3-DCH) and epichlorohydrin in high yields and in a stabel manner for a long time are disclosed. In a method where allyl alcohol is chorinated in a hyrochloric acid solution and the reaction solution is introduced into a degassing tower to release hydrogen chloride and 2,3-DCH is obtained from the remaining solution, the concentraton of chlorine in the reaction mixture to be introduced into the degassing tower is maintaining to 0.015 g/ml or less and/or the partial pressure of chlorine gas in the reactor immediately before the degassing tower to 0.08 MPa or less, by monitoring and/or the partial pressure of chlorine gas in the reactor immediately before the degassing tower to 0.

Abstract: An emission control apparatus for an internal combustion engine has a bypass passage bypassing a portion of a main exhaust passage located upstream of an exhaust gas-purifying catalyst device, an adsorbent provided in the bypass passage, a passage switching device for switching between flow of exhaust gas to the bypass passage and flow of exhaust gas to the main exhaust passage, and a bypass flow control device for adjusting a flow that occurs through the bypass passage when the unburned gas component is desorbed (released) from the adsorbent so that the flow through the bypass passage becomes equal to or less than a predetermined flow and assumes a proportion that is equal to or less than a predetermined proportion relative to the flow through the main exhaust passage.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to effectively utilize the performance of an adsorbent by providing an art for controlling flow of exhaust gas to the adsorbent in accordance with a mode in which unburnt fuel components discharged from an internal combustion engine reach the adsorbent or a mode in which the unburnt fuel components adsorbed by the adsorbent are desorbed therefrom.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle driven using power from an internal combustion engine and power from an auxiliary power source, includes an exhaust gas purification catalyst disposed in an exhaust passage of the engine. The catalyst stores oxygen and a power controller causes the engine to discharge exhaust gas including excess oxygen and causes the auxiliary power source to assist the engine in driving the vehicle when oxygen is to be stored in the exhaust gas purification catalyst. It is possible to supply the catalyst with exhaust gas containing excess oxygen while inhibiting the driveability from being adversely affected.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon adsorption apparatus is provided in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine. The hydrocarbon adsorption apparatus is equipped with a main passage, a switching valve for opening and closing the main passage, and a bypass passage for bypassing the main passage. The switching valve is coupled to a diaphragm of a diaphragm mechanism. A variable chamber in the diaphragm mechanism is connected to an intake manifold through a negative pressure feed line and a vacuum switching valve. When the vacuum switching valve is turned on, a negative pressure is supplied to the variable pressure chamber so that the diaphragm is deflected. In response to the deflection of the diaphragm, the switching valve is closed. The state of the switching valve is judged based on a tendency of changes in pressure of the negative pressure feed line when the vacuum switching valve is turned on.

Abstract: An HC-adsorbent capable of adsorbing various kinds of hydrocarbon including lower and higher hydrocarbon, of which the adsorbable amount per unit volume is large, and which exhibits excellent durability at elevated temperatures. The HC-adsorbent is composed of a first zeolite of ZSM-5 of which the silica/alumina (SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3) mole-ratio is 500 or more, and a second zeolite of Y-type zeolite of which the silica/alumina (SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3) mole-ratio is 200 or more. The second zeolite mainly adsorbs higher hydrocarbon while the first zeolite mainly adsorbs lower hydrocarbon, thus enabling adsorption of many kinds of hydrocarbon.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technology of diagnosing an exhaust gas purifying apparatus about a fault in its temperature control function of controlling a temperature of an exhaust gas purifying catalyst. The exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes the exhaust gas purifying catalyst, and a temperature control means for controlling the temperature of this exhaust gas purifying catalyst. The exhaust gas purifying apparatus is judged to be faulted, wherein at least one of a state of the temperature control means and a state of the exhaust gas purifying catalyst serves as a parameter.

Abstract: An electrode for connecting an external electric wire to a body heated to a high temperature includes a high temperature side electrode made of a conductor connected to the heated body, and a low temperature side electrode connected at a first end thereof to the high temperature side electrode and at a second end thereof to the external electric wire. The low temperature side electrode is formed of a conductor covered by an insulating material with the conductor of the low temperature side electrode being made of a material having a conduction resistance smaller than that of the conductor of the high temperature side electrode. Thus, as the conductor of the low temperature side electrode has a smaller conduction resistance than the conductor of the high temperature side electrode, an increase in a resistance value is reduced even when the conductor of the low temperature side electrode is extended to lower the temperature at a connection to an external electric wire.

Abstract: In the power supply control system, an electrically heated catalytic converter (EHC) is connected to an alternator output terminal via a switch SW1, and a battery is connected to the alternator via a switch SW2 in parallel with the EHC. A control unit (ECU) for controlling the operation of the switches SW1 and SW2 is provided. When the engine has started, the ECU turns on the SW1 and turns off the SW2 to supply electric power to the EHC directly from the alternator. After the EHC is heated to the activating temperature and starts its catalytic action, the ECU turns on both the switches SW1 and SW2 to supply electric power to the EHC from the battery to maintain the temperature of the EHC. Since the electric power for raising the temperature of the EHC is supplied in the condition where the battery is disconnected from the alternator, the output voltage can be increased to a value higher than a normal output voltage for charging the battery.

Abstract: In an electrically heated catalyst support, when necessary, reinforcing layers are formed on the inner circumference and the outer circumference of a honeycomb body. On an end surface of the honeycomb body on the downstream side of exhaust gas, there are provided a plurality of insulating ceramic bars on the outer circumferential layer and/or the inner circumferential layer in such a manner that the insulating ceramic bars cross a non-reinforcing layer of the honeycomb body. End portions of the ceramic bars are held on the reinforcing layer by pins or a ring-shaped holding member joined to an external metallic cylinder. Due to the foregoing arrangement, telescoping of the honeycomb body in the direction of gas flow and damage of the metallic foil can be prevented without obstructing the generation of heat when electricity is supplied. Accordingly, durability of the catalyst support can be remarkably enhanced.

Abstract: A honeycomb support structure of an electrically-heated catalyst apparatus is disclosed, in which a support member of retainers for preventing an electrically-heated catalyst moving backward is coupled to an outer cylinder while causing the support member to follow the thermal deformation of the outer cylinder thereby to suppress the deformation of the support member due to the thermal stress. A metal foil laminate having a corrugated foil and a tabular foil superposed one on the other is spirally wound to form a cylindrical honeycomb unit, which is accommodated in a metal outer cylinder and is heated by being supplied with power. The honeycomb unit support structure includes a plurality of ceramic bars and at least a support member having a plurality of recesses for holding the ceramic bars at such a position as to traverse the end surface of the honeycomb unit downstream of the exhaust gas flow and in such a manner as to follow the deformation of the outer cylinder.

Abstract: Device for cleaning exhaust gases by a metallic catalyst carrier that is installed in an exhaust gas passage and is contained in a metallic outer cylinder, wherein a structure for absorbing a difference in the thermal expansion between the metallic catalyst carrier and the outer cylinder is realized without causing stress to the metallic catalyst carrier and without requiring strict tolerance in production. A cushioning material made of a heat-resistant wire gauze is arranged between the metallic catalyst carrier and the metallic outer cylinder, and the cushioning material, metallic carrier and metallic outer cylinder are conductively joined. The cushioning material is compressed between the metallic catalyst carrier and the outer cylinder, and the cushioning material is joined to the metallic catalyst carrier and to the outer cylinder. Here, the junction is accomplished locally without overlapping one upon the other in the axial direction of the outer cylinder.

Abstract: A valve system for an engine comprises a plurality of intake or exhaust valves, adapted to be driven by cams of which the profiles are different from each other to make maximum valve lifts of the valves different from each other, and compression springs biassing the valves toward the corresponding closing directions, the springs being identical to each other. An initial length of the spring is made shorter as the maximum valve lift of the valve becomes smaller, to make an initial load of the spring larger as the maximum valve lift of the valve becomes smaller.

Abstract: An electrically heated catalytic converter having a substrate for a catalyst, a rod-like metal electrode connected to the substrate, and a casing accommodating the substrate. The substrate for the catalyst is formed as a scroll-like cylindrical laminated assembly of thin metal sheets wound around the electrode. The electrode extends from the laminated assembly along the central axis, bends towards the wall of the casing and penetrates the casing. The electrode is fixed to the casing via an insulating material at the point where it penetrates the casing. When the electricity is fed to the electrode, electric current flows through the electrode to the laminated assembly, and to the casing, and heat is generated in the substrate by the electric current and the temperature of the catalyst carried by the substrate quickly reaches the activating temperature. The rod-like electrode of the present invention is formed as a hollow pipe.

Abstract: An electrically heating catalytic apparatus that quickly heats catalyst to an activation temperature even when the engine is started at a low temperature below the catalyst activation temperature. The apparatus employs an electrically conductive catalyst carrier that is electrically heated. The carrier is provided with local hot spots to be energized. Since the heat is locally generated, the heat capacity of the catalyst carrier is small to shorten a temperature increasing time.