Electrical Type Patents (Class 422/174)
  • Patent number: 11933210
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment unit for cleaning exhaust gases includes an emission reducing module being a diesel particulate filter, DPF, and/or a diesel oxidation catalyst, DOC, a selective catalyst reduction, SCR, catalyst, an electrical heating element arranged upstream of the emission reducing module, a casing housing at least the emission reducing module and the electrical heating element, and a service lid removably arranged to cover a service opening of the casing through which the emission reducing module may be accessed. The electrical heating element is removably arranged relative the casing and is arranged accessible upon removal of the service lid and the emission reducing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gert-Ove Wahlström
  • Patent number: 11898481
    Abstract: A system includes an aftertreatment system coupled to an engine, a heater, at least one sensor configured to determine an exhaust gas temperature, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is structured to determine whether the exhaust gas temperature is at or below a predefined threshold temperature; provide a first command to control the heater in response to the exhaust gas temperature being at or below the predefined threshold temperature; selectively provide a second command to increase the exhaust gas temperature; and coordinate the first and second commands, where the first command is provided followed by the second command only if the predefined threshold temperature is not attained by the first command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Avra Brahma
  • Patent number: 11879370
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a power converter that receives power, and has first and second outputs, a low voltage battery that receives power from the power converter via the first output, and a heating element that receives power from the power converter via the second output, and provides heat to a catalyst of an exhaust system. The vehicle also includes a controller that commands the converter to provide power to the heating element via the second output according to a temperature of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Cox, Anthemios Philemon Petridis, David Hesketh
  • Patent number: 11795857
    Abstract: A heating system includes at least one electric heater disposed within a fluid flow system and a control device that is configured to determine a temperature of the at least one electric heater based on a model, at least one fluid flow system input, and at least one heater input. The at least one heater input includes at least one physical characteristic of the heating system, the at least one physical characteristic includes at least one of a resistance wire diameter, a heater insulation thickness, a heater sheath thickness, a conductivity, a specific heat and density of the material of the heater, an emissivity of the heater and the fluid flow pathway, and combinations thereof. The control device is configured to provide power to the at least one electric heater based on the temperature of the at least one electric heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: James N. Pradun, Sanhong Zhang, Jeremy J. Quandt, David P. Culbertson, Magdi Khair
  • Patent number: 11781458
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment arrangement for cleaning exhaust gases includes a fluid channel for providing a fluid pathway for the exhaust gases, a selective catalyst reduction, SCR, catalyst, arranged in or downstream the fluid channel, a heating arrangement for heating the exhaust gases, the heating arrangement being arranged upstream of the SCR catalyst and comprising an electrical heating element, a first fluid pathway for guiding the exhaust gases to the electrical heating element, and a second fluid pathway for guiding the exhaust gases to bypass the electrical heating element, wherein the heating arrangement is removably arranged relative the fluid channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gert-Ove Wahlström
  • Patent number: 11767814
    Abstract: An exhaust gas heating device includes a housing and a heating element arranged in the housing for heating exhaust gases flowing through the housing. The heating element comprises a first and a second connecting region. A power source for supplying electricity to the heating element, comprises a first connecting element, connected to the first connecting region of the heating element, and intended to supply the heating element (18) with electricity, and a second connecting element. The electrical power source comprises a third connecting element that comprises an electrical connector, electrically connecting the second connecting element to the second connecting region of the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: FAURECIA SYSTEMES D'ECHAPPEMENT
    Inventors: Ting Feng, Christophe Basso, Alain Mercier, Thomas Ferrier, Gaetan Richard, Thomas Sommier
  • Patent number: 11746683
    Abstract: A heating member for a vehicle exhaust gas purification device comprises an electrically conductive peripheral frame having an inner edge, a central support arranged substantially at a geometric centre of the inner edge, and a perforated heating grid formed of a plurality of elongate heating elements each having first and second ends opposite one another. The first end is linked to the electrically conductive peripheral frame and the second end is linked to the central support. Each elongate heating element occupies a respective angular sector of the perforated heating grid, and is arranged in zigzag manner within that angular sector so as to form a succession of strands connected by nodes and being linked by the nodes to the elongate heating elements occupying neighbouring angular sectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Sommier, Matthieu Riverain, Nicolas Tur, Sébastien Hanauer, Vincent Lebourgeois
  • Patent number: 11668215
    Abstract: A catalytic converter includes at least one heating element that is configured to disrupt the direction of flow of exhaust gases which contain harmful toxic gases and pollutants and aid in removing and/or reducing said toxic gases and pollutants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: ECC TEC MSJ INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Saban Akyildiz
  • Patent number: 11661874
    Abstract: A heating device comprises a heating element, permeable to the exhaust gas, and intended to be traversed by the exhaust gas flowing in a longitudinal direction. The heating element comprises two electrical poles, and two electrodes, each electrode being solidly attached to a respective electrical pole. Each electrode has a generally elongated shape along a respective elongation direction. At least one of the electrodes has a direction of elongation substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Inventors: Christophe Basso, Yannick Fourcaudot
  • Patent number: 11628401
    Abstract: A composite structure, exhaust aftertreatment system, and method of manufacture. The composite structure includes a body that includes an array of intersecting walls that form a plurality of channels extending in an axial direction through the body such that adjacent channels are located on opposite sides of each wall. A composite material of the body includes a first phase of a porous glass or ceramic containing material. The first phase includes an internal interconnected porosity. A second phase of an electrically conductive material is included that is a continuous, three-dimensional, interconnected, electrically conductive phase at least partially filling the internal interconnected porosity of the first phase, which creates an electrical path through at least some of the walls in a lateral direction perpendicular to the axial direction between the opposite sides of the walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas Munroe Beall, Vishwanath Ganpat Deshmane
  • Patent number: 11566557
    Abstract: An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust gas-carrying component (16) with an outer wall (14), a heat conductor element (12) with a jacket (40) and with a heat conductor device (50) enclosed by the jacket (40). A pass-through device (22) provides a gastight passing of the heat conductor element (12) through the outer wall (14) of the exhaust gas-carrying component (16). The pass-through device (22) includes a pass-through opening (26) in the outer wall (14), which pass-through opening (26) is traversed by the heat conductor element (12), and a connection element (24), which is connected in a gastight manner to the heat conductor element (12), on the one hand, and to the outer wall (14), on the other hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: PUREM GMBH
    Inventors: Fatih Uysal, Enver Kurpejovic, Dietmar Uebele
  • Patent number: 11519317
    Abstract: Engine systems use a three-way catalyst followed by air injection and mixing to convert all hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide under various load conditions when exhaust gas temperature is above 500 degrees Celsius. A three-way catalytic converter is disposed in the exhaust system. A nozzle is configured to inject air into the exhaust system downstream from the three-way catalytic converter. A mixing plate with or without catalyst coatings is disposed in the exhaust system downstream from the nozzle. The mixing plate is bow shaped with a concave shaped side facing the nozzle to enhance carbon monoxide conversion. Optional two way catalytic converters are added downstream from the mixing plate to further reduce tailpipe hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chengke Liu, Rafat F Hattar
  • Patent number: 11512620
    Abstract: A device for treating exhaust gases which is designed for electrically contacting a plurality of conductor tracks, which are arranged within an interior space that is surrounded by an outer wall of the device, through the outer wall. One or more electrodes which may be electrically contacted through the outer wall are arranged in the interior space, each of which electrodes electrically contacts two or more of the conductor tracks in the interior space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Hirth, Florian Rings
  • Patent number: 11499457
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment device includes a catalyst assembly having an electrically conductive carrier matrix and first and second electrodes. The first and second electrodes have terminals attached on opposing sides of the catalyst assembly to be electrically connected to each other through the carrier matrix and configured to generate heat. A first elongate heat sink extends axially along the first electrode and is configured to absorb a portion of the heat to mitigate formation of hotspots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xin Liu, Paul M Laing, Douglas Allen Dobson
  • Patent number: 11498028
    Abstract: A device for treating exhaust gases which has an outer wall which has an opening in order to electrically contact one or more conductor tracks, which are arranged within an interior space that is surrounded by the outer wall, through the outer wall. The opening is arranged in a projection which protrudes outward from the interior space and is integrally formed with the outer wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Hirth, Florian Rings
  • Patent number: 11486289
    Abstract: A mixing assembly for an exhaust system can include an outer body, a front plate, a back plate, a middle member, and an inner member. The outer body defines an interior volume and has a center axis. The front plate defines an upstream portion of the interior volume and the back plate defines a downstream portion of the interior volume. The middle member is positioned transverse to the center axis and defines a volume. The inner member is positioned coaxially with the middle member inside the middle member. The front plate includes inlets configured to direct exhaust to (i) a first flow path into an interior of the inner member, (ii) a second flow path into the volume of the middle member between a sidewall of the middle member and a sidewall of the inner member, and (iii) a third flow path into the interior volume of the outer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: CUMMINS EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Matthew K. Volmerding, Ryan M. Johnson, Jim L. Alonzo, Samuel Johnson, Apoorv Kalyankar, Pranjal Naik, Kartiki Jagtap, Mahendra Mittapalli
  • Patent number: 11486292
    Abstract: An exhaust-gas purification system of an internal combustion engine includes an electrically heated catalytic device and a three-way catalytic device. The electrically heated catalytic device includes a first honeycomb base having a large number of honeycomb passages and a first catalyst component that is supported on, by a predetermined thin-film treatment, surfaces that define the honeycomb passages and that contains one or more types of noble metals. The three-way catalytic device includes a second honeycomb base having a large number of honeycomb passages and a second catalyst component that is supported on surfaces defining the honeycomb passages and that contains one or more types of noble metals. The total noble metal content per unit volume of the second honeycomb base is higher than the total noble metal content per unit volume of the first honeycomb base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Hatakeyama, Hiroki Takeori, Tetsuo Endo, Shun Kato
  • Patent number: 11486286
    Abstract: A connection unit for an exhaust gas heater in an exhaust gas system of a combustion engine includes an electrically conducting connection element, elongated in the direction of a connection element longitudinal axis (L). The connection element has an inner connection region for connection to a heating conductor and an outer connection region for connection to an electrical supply. A carrier arrangement surrounds the connection element and an insulating arrangement insulates the connection element with respect to the carrier arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Purem GmbH
    Inventors: Enver Kurpejovic, Fatih Uysal, Holger Prommersberger, Dietmar Kuschel, Sandra Hoeckel
  • Patent number: 11454152
    Abstract: An electrically heated catalyst device includes a catalyst support, a low-potential-side electrode, and a high-potential-side electrode. In a case in which a current value between two electrodes, which are the low-potential-side electrode and the high-potential-side electrode, is gradually increased from 0, the current value between the two electrodes is referred to as an electrode fusing current value when, in each of the low-potential-side electrode and the high-potential-side electrode, a temperature of any section of the electrode first reaches a melting point of a material of the electrode. The low-potential-side electrode is configured to have a lower electrode fusing current value than the high-potential-side electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Sadamitsu
  • Patent number: 11441469
    Abstract: A catalyst for cleaning exhaust gases, having a honeycomb body which configures a plurality of flow ducts through which a gas from a gas inlet side may flow in the axial direction to a gas outlet side, having an inner casing which encloses the honeycomb body having an outer casing which encloses the inner casing, and having an insulation region which is disposed between the inner casing and the outer casing. The honeycomb body, the inner casing, the outer casing and the insulation region are formed from exactly two tiers formed from metal foils that are stacked on top of one another and wound along a winding direction transverse to the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Hirth, Florian Rings
  • Patent number: 11428136
    Abstract: A heavy duty truck includes a diesel engine, an exhaust after-treatment system, and an engine control unit. The exhaust after-treatment system may include one or more selective catalytic reduction systems, each with a respective heater, and each heater with a respective pair of temperature sensors, one upstream and the other downstream of the heater. Such systems may be used to perform diagnostic methods including populating a lookup table having heat energy supplied to an exhaust gas stream by the diesel engine as a first independent variable, heat energy supplied to the exhaust gas stream by a heater as a second independent variable, and a resulting temperature as an output. Such a lookup table can be used to maintain a temperature of the exhaust gas flow at a constant target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: PACCAR INC
    Inventors: Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart, Cynthia Chaffin Webb, Maarten Meijer, Varun Ramesh
  • Patent number: 11396009
    Abstract: A honeycomb structure including a honeycomb having porous partition walls extending between inflow and outflow end faces to define cells, an outermost peripheral wall, and a pair of electrodes disposed on a side surface of the honeycomb. Each electrode is formed in a strip shape extending in a direction of the cells. In a cross section orthogonal to the extending direction of the cells, one electrode is disposed on a side opposed to the other electrode. The honeycomb has an outer peripheral region including the outer peripheral wall, a central region, and an intermediate region. An average electric resistivity A of a material constituted of the outer peripheral region, an average electric resistivity B of a material constituted of the central region and an average electric resistivity of C of a material constituted of the intermediate region satisfy the relationship: A?B<C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoya Takase
  • Patent number: 11396851
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, whereby an electrically heated component of an exhaust aftertreatment system being supplied with electrical power via an electric machine driven by the internal combustion engine, a load point shift of the internal combustion engine being carried out by an activation or a deactivation of the component or by a temporary storage of the necessary electrical energy for operating the component in a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sergej Jakovlev, Johannes Bunkus
  • Patent number: 11377992
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for regenerating a particulate filter in the exhaust gas channel of an internal combustion engine. Here, the particulate filter is divided into several zones for determining the loading state, and, at the same time, a temperature distribution over the cross section of the particulate filter is determined. In order to prevent the soot retained in the edge zones of in the particulate filter from being insufficiently oxidized, when it is ascertained that the edge zones have been sufficiently loaded, the exhaust gas temperature is raised to a temperature which, in spite of the heat losses in the edge areas, lies above the temperature at which oxidation of the soot particles can take place. The invention further relates to an internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas channel and a particulate filter arranged in the exhaust gas channel, said internal combustion engine being configured to carry out such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Stefan Paukner, Falk-Christian Baron Von Ceumern-Lindenstjerna
  • Patent number: 11371408
    Abstract: An electrically heatable heating disk for use within a device for the aftertreatment of exhaust gas, wherein the heating disk is formed by a layer stack formed from a multiplicity of metal foils which are stacked one on top of the other, the layer stack being wound to form a honeycomb body, wherein the layer stack has alternately arranged, coarsely structured metal foils and finely structured or smooth metal foils, and wherein the honeycomb body has at least one electrical contact at a radial edge region, wherein first metal foils terminate with an offset with respect to one another as a result of the winding in the circumferential direction of the heating disk, wherein finely structured or smooth second metal foils which extend in the circumferential direction extend beyond the respective ends of the terminating first metal foils in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmBH
    Inventors: Peter Hirth, Ferdi Kurth, Thomas Härig
  • Patent number: 11352925
    Abstract: A heating element for a vehicle exhaust gas purification device is provided and is to be disposed in an exhaust gas duct. The heating element extends around a central axis. and comprises a central support defined around the central axis, a heating grid extending radially around the central support, and a liaison element. The liaison element comprises a plurality of mounting brackets comprising at least a first part connecting the mounting brackets to the heating grid, at least a second part connecting the bracket to the duct, intended to be directly or indirectly attached to the duct, and at least one intermediate section connecting the first connecting part to the second connecting part. The connecting element is at least partially radially flexible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Sommier, Matthieu Riverain, Marc Leroux, Sébastien Hanauer
  • Patent number: 11274584
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ceramic body which can be designed as a catalyst support and/or particulate filter and which has a plurality of channels and a plurality of elongate metal elements for inductive heating arranged in parallel with the channels, the elongate metal elements being arranged in the walls of the ceramic body. In this way, the free frontal area of the ceramic body is preferably reduced or is at least no more than 5%. The invention also relates to a method for producing the ceramic body, an exhaust gas purification device and a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Ekkehard Pott
  • Patent number: 11230953
    Abstract: A heating disk for heating up a stream of exhaust gas and/or a component for exhaust gas aftertreatment has a honeycomb body, wound from a plurality of smooth and corrugated metal layers stacked on top of one another. The honeycomb body is received within a carrier shell and an electrical contact is fed through the carrier shell. The honeycomb body is connected to a current source via the electrical contact. The electrical contact has a contact strip within the carrier shell extending in the circumferential direction of the carrier shell. An insulating region is formed between the carrier shell and the contact strip. A plurality of stacks of layers are electrically insulated from one another. Each of the stacks of layers are formed from the plurality of smooth and corrugated metal layers, and which are arranged directly adjacent to one another and conductively connected to the contact strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Pabst, Peter Hirth, Ferdi Kurth, Lukas Hort
  • Patent number: 11203967
    Abstract: An electric heating support includes a honeycomb structure having an outer peripheral wall and interior porous partition walls defining a plurality of cells forming a flow path. A pair of electrode layers are disposed on a surface of the outer peripheral wall so as to face each other across a central axis of the honeycomb structure. Protective layers cover the electrode layers, respectively, such that at least a part of each electrode layer is exposed. A pair of metal terminals are provided on the electrode layers. Each electrode layer is composed of a metal-ceramic mixed member. A portion of each electrode layer that is exposed from the protective layer is electrically connected to each of the pair of metal terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoya Takase, Shinya Yoshida, Kimihisa Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11149607
    Abstract: An exhaust system that includes a catalytic converter, selective catalytic reduction system, a muffler and, for certain applications, a diesel particulate filter that each include at least one filter that has an electric heating element, a metallic coating and a plurality of metal rods extending therethrough. The combination of elements are configured to heat the internal housings of the exhaust system and disrupt the direction of flow of exhaust gases which contain harmful toxic gases and pollutants and aid in removing and/or reducing said toxic gases and pollutants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: ECC TEC MSJ Incorporated
    Inventor: Saban Akyildiz
  • Patent number: 11105247
    Abstract: A control device comprising a first exhaust temperature calculation part calculating a temperature of exhaust flowing into a PM trapping device as a first exhaust temperature, a second exhaust temperature calculation part calculating a temperature of exhaust flowing out from the PM trapping device as a second exhaust temperature, a rate of change over time calculation part calculating a rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and a rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature, and a judgment part judging if the PM trapping device is in a removed state removed from the exhaust passage based on a difference between the rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and the rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazumasa Katoh, Takahiko Fujiwara, Kenji Igawa, Kentaro Mineo
  • Patent number: 11092052
    Abstract: An electric heating support includes an electrically conductive honeycomb structure having an outer peripheral wall and porous partition walls disposed on an inner side of the outer peripheral wall, the porous partition walls defining a plurality of cells, each cell penetrating from one end face to other end face to form a flow path. A pair of metal terminals are disposed so as to face each other across a central axis of the honeycomb structure, each metal terminal being joined to a surface of the honeycomb structure via a welded portion. The honeycomb structure is composed of ceramics and a metal. The honeycomb structure contains 40% by volume or less of the metal. The welded portion of the honeycomb structure has a surface containing 40% by volume or more of the metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoya Takase
  • Patent number: 11073065
    Abstract: A control device comprising a first exhaust temperature calculation part calculating a temperature of exhaust flowing into a PM trapping device as a first exhaust temperature, a second exhaust temperature calculation part calculating a temperature of exhaust flowing out from the PM trapping device as a second exhaust temperature, a rate of change over time calculation part calculating a rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and a rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature, and a judgment part judging if the PM trapping device is in a removed state removed from the exhaust passage based on a difference between the rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and the rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazumasa Katoh, Takahiko Fujiwara, Kenji Igawa, Kentaro Mineo
  • Patent number: 11015503
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing and at least one substrate enclosed within the housing and extending along an axis. The substrate includes at least one internal open area that is of a predetermined size and at a predetermined location within the substrate. At least one heater is configured to heat the at least one substrate by directing heat into the at least one internal open area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies, USA, LLC
    Inventor: Claudinei Hijazi
  • Patent number: 11008912
    Abstract: An exhaust gas heating unit for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine includes a jacket heating conductor element (12) including a jacket (16) and with an electrical heating conductor (14), which extends in the jacket and is enclosed by insulating material (18). A heat transfer surface formation (20) is arranged on, and in heat transfer contact with, an outer side of the jacket. The heat transfer surface formation includes a heat transfer element with a meandering extent along the jacket heating conductor element with a plurality of heat transfer element sections (32), which pass over into one another in bent areas (30) and are arranged following one another in a longitudinal direction of the jacket heating conductor element. Each heat transfer element section in association with the jacket heating conductor element has a passage opening (34), through which the jacket heating conductor element passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Gerd Gaiser
  • 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: 10815851
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification device for a vehicle comprises a coil configured to generate an electromagnetic field, a magnetic flux concentrator, surrounding the coil and configured to conduct the electromagnetic field generated by the coil, and an exhaust gas purification substrate. The exhaust gas purification substrate comprises an upstream segment having an upstream section, and a downstream segment having a downstream section. The exhaust gas purification substrate further comprises at least one intermediate segment between the upstream segment and the downstream segment, the intermediate segment having a central section smaller than the upstream section and/or the downstream section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: FAURECIA SYSTEMES D'ECHAPPEMENT
    Inventors: Jean Paul Brunel, Guillaume Aufranc
  • Patent number: 10772983
    Abstract: A perfume retainer includes a main body and an air flow channel located in the main body. The air flow channel includes: a retainer space configured to retain a perfume, a first opening located connecting a first end of the retainer space to a space outside of a first end of the air flow channel, and a second opening connecting a second end of the retainer space to a space outside of a second end of the air flow channel. The retainer space includes a plurality of segment regions arranged adjacent each other such that an external wall of one of the plurality of segment regions is in contact with an external wall of another of the plurality of segment regions. The plurality of segment regions increase a surface area of the air flow channel without increasing a volume of space of the air flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shuji Fujita, Tsunetoshi Samukawa, Koya Nomoto, Yuji Ishigaki, Hideki Nakano, Keita Tanaka, Naoyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10760462
    Abstract: An assembly for treating gaseous emissions has a substrate with cells for the passage of an emissions gas to be treated and inductive heating elements located in some of the cells. An electromagnetic field generator mounted near the substrate generates a varying electromagnetic field, so as to inductively heat the inductive heating elements and so heat the substrate. Some of the inductive heating elements have a first natural resonant frequency other inductive elements have a second natural resonant frequency different from the first resonant frequency. A power supply for the electromagnetic field generator is operated with a frequency closer to the first resonant frequency for a time and is operated with a frequency closer to the second resonant frequency period for a subsequent time period. By switching between the frequencies at different times, the heating profile can be moved in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Patent number: 10731534
    Abstract: An electrically heated catalyst has a catalyst body and a housing at least circumferentially surrounding the catalyst body. An electrical contacting assembly is arranged on a shell surface of the catalyst body, the electrical contacting assembly comprising a surface electrode arranged directly on the catalyst body and a contacting element connected to the surface electrode. The contacting element is rigid and has a screw thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies, Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Stiglmair, Axel Boehmer, Ting Feng, Matthias Hildebrand, Jean-Francois Perret
  • Patent number: 10688472
    Abstract: One or more embodiments relates to a method of catalytically converting a reactant gas mixture for pollution abatement of products of hydrocarbon fuel combustion. The method provides substituted mixed-metal oxides where catalytically active metals are substituted within the crystal lattice to create an active and well dispersed metal catalyst available to convert the reactant gas mixture. Embodiments may be used with gasoline and diesel fueled internal combustion engine exhaust, although specific embodiments may differ somewhat for each.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: David A. Berry, Dushyant Shekhawat, Daniel J. Haynes, Mark W. Smith
  • Patent number: 10648390
    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: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark D. Everly, James Pradun, Sanhong Zhang
  • Patent number: 10626766
    Abstract: A gaseous emissions treatment system includes an emissions control substrate having a plurality of passages to facilitate a catalytic reaction in an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine. A magnetic field generator responds to a control signal by generating a varying magnetic field to inductively heat the emission control substrate. A magnetic field concentrator is configured and positioned to increase the radiated varying magnetic field in a region on the same side of the magnetic field concentrator as the emissions control substrate. The magnetic field concentrator also acts as a shield to reduce the radiated varying magnetic field in a region on the distal side of the magnetic field concentrator from the emissions control substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Patent number: 10590820
    Abstract: A support for an electric heating type catalyst includes: a honeycomb structure; and a pair of metal electrode portions. One metal electrode portion of the pair of metal electrode portions is disposed on a side opposite to the other metal electrode portion across a center of the honeycomb structure. One or both of the pair of metal electrode portions includes: a plate-shaped body portion; and a plurality of tongue pieces each protruding from the body portion. A part of each tongue piece is in contact with the honeycomb structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoya Takase
  • Patent number: 10549004
    Abstract: An apparatus that may entirely be contained in a glovebox for the removal of at least one contaminant from an inert atmosphere. The apparatus includes a body, a media in the body for the removal of at least one of the contaminants from the inert atmosphere flowing through the media, a fan for causing the inert atmosphere to flow through the media and body, and a motor for driving the fan. The apparatus may be provided in combination with a glovebox. A method of purification of the inert atmosphere using such an apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: WEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Melvin W. Hughes, Ronald S. Hood, William Carter Mathews, Dmitry Vernik
  • Patent number: 10519834
    Abstract: A reducing agent injection device includes a honeycomb structure and a urea spraying device spraying a urea water solution in mist form. In addition, the reducing agent injection device includes a carrier gas inlet that introduces carrier gas f between the urea spraying device and the honeycomb structure. The exhaust gas treatment method of the present invention supplies the urea water solution from the urea spraying device into the cells from the first end face of the honeycomb structure body to generate the ammonia, while introducing the carrier gas f from the carrier gas inlet, and injecting the ammonia to the outside to treat exhaust gas containing NOX.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Saiki, Yoshimasa Omiya, Takuya Ishihara
  • Patent number: 10479522
    Abstract: An internal recycle reactor for catalytic inerting has a monolithic body having a motive fluid duct, a suction chamber, a mixing region, a reactor section, an outlet, and a recycle passage. The suction chamber includes a suction chamber inlet. The mixing region is configured to receive gaseous fluids from the motive fluid duct and the suction chamber inlet to produce a gaseous mixture. The reactor section includes a catalyst and is configured to receive the gaseous mixture from the mixing region. The outlet is configured to deliver an exhaust gas from the reactor section and the recycle passage is configured to deliver a portion of the exhaust gas to the suction chamber inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Sean C. Emerson, Zissis A. Dardas, Randolph Carlton McGee, Eric Surawski
  • Patent number: 10465583
    Abstract: In an exhaust-gas-purification catalytic heating device that houses a current heater in a conductive metallic housing where a catalytic unit is housed, the current heater being arranged at an upstream side of the catalytic unit along a distribution direction of exhaust gas, the current heater has a negative electrode directly coupled to the housing electrically coupled to an external ground wire, the current heater has a positive electrode with which a rod-shaped terminal is continuous, the terminal passing through the housing in an electrically insulating state so as to be electrically coupled to a power line outside the housing, and the terminal has a portion protruding from the housing, the protruding portion being covered with a terminal cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Nakamura, Ryosuke Ibata, Daiji Kawaguchi, Hirotaka Sato, Tetsuya Kaneko
  • Patent number: 10450916
    Abstract: Provided is a plasma reactor capable of reliably generating plasma even in the event of inflow of water. The plasma reactor of the present invention includes a plasma panel stack 20, electrically conductive members 51 and 54, a case, and a mat 71. The plasma panel stack 20 has a structure in which electrode panels 30 are stacked, and generates plasma upon application of voltage between the adjacent electrode panels 30. The electrically conductive members 51 and 54 are electrically connected to discharge electrodes of the electrode panels 30. The case houses the plasma panel stack 20. The mat 71 intervenes between the case and the plasma panel stack 20 and fixes the plasma panel stack 20 to the case. The mat 71 is disposed apart from the electrically conductive members 51 and 54 so that gaps S1 and S2 are formed between the mat 71 and the electrically conductive members 51 and 54, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignees: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD., TOKYO ROKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinsuke Itoh, Norihiko Nadanami, Yu Ebara
  • Patent number: 10413867
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification member comprises an annular substrate centered on a central axis, a peripheral electrode alongside and against an outer cylindrical face of the substrate, and a central electrode alongside and against an inner cylindrical face of the substrate. The substrate is made up of an electrically conductive material and includes a plurality of intersecting walls defining longitudinal cells therebetween and that each emerge in an upstream face and in a downstream face of the substrate. These intersecting walls are covered with a catalytic composition and each wall extends from an outer cylindrical wall of the substrate, defining the outer cylindrical face, to the inner cylindrical wall of the substrate, defining the inner cylindrical face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Faurecia Systemes D'Echappement
    Inventor: Xavier Bartolo