Methods Patents (Class 60/273)
  • Patent number: 7866147
    Abstract: A method of improving scavenging operation of a two-stroke internal combustion engine. The exhaust pressure of the engine is analyzed to determine if there is a pulsation frequency. Acoustic modeling is used to design an absorber. An appropriately designed side branch absorber may be attached to the exhaust manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Ralph E. Harris, Eugene L. Broerman, III, Gary D. Bourn
  • Publication number: 20110000187
    Abstract: A method for adjusting an exhaust gas recycling rate in an internal combustion engine exhaust gas recycling system, comprising: arranging the exhaust gas recycling system in at least one of a fresh gas line, an exhaust gas line, and an exhaust gas recycling line of the internal combustion engine; actuating at least one additional valve; adjusting the at least one additional valve temporarily by changing the operation of the internal combustion engine based on an exhaust gas rate associated with a current operating point of the internal combustion engine; diagnosing the at least one additional valve; and evaluating the change of at least one engine operating parameter dependent on the exhaust gas recycling rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Alfred Elsässer, Marco Warth
  • Publication number: 20110000188
    Abstract: A heat exchanging system suitable for use in an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) circuit comprises a split EGR heat exchanger arrangement. Exhaust gas is used to warm engine oil via a first heat exchanger during initial stages of an engine operating cycle. In the later stages of the operating cycle, recirculated exhaust gases are diverted to flow through the second heat exchanger where they are cooled by the engine coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ian Graham Pegg, Roland Stark
  • Patent number: 7861520
    Abstract: A method of reducing emissions from a diesel engine including the steps of providing an injector to an exhaust outlet of the diesel engine, the injector having an orifice with a diameter of about 0.006 inch or less, providing a reagent to the injector at an inlet pressure between about 120 psi and about 60 psi, actuating the injector on and off at a frequency between about 10 Hz and about 1 Hz with an on-time of about 1% or more, injecting the reagent via the orifice into the exhaust outlet at an injection rate, and wherein varying of at least two of the inlet pressure, the frequency, and the on-time achieves a turn-down ratio of a maximum injection rate to a minimum injection rate of at least about 31:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: R. Gifford Broderick, Tom Eldredge
  • Publication number: 20100319315
    Abstract: A control system includes a heater control module and a particulate matter (PM) load module. The heater control module selectively activates an electric heater to initiate regeneration in a zone of a particulate filter and deactivates the electric heater after the regeneration is initiated. The regeneration continues along a length of the particulate filter after the electric heater is deactivated. The PM load module determines a PM load based on an outlet temperature of the particulate filter after the regeneration is initiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, JR., Stuart R. Smith, Garima Bhatia
  • Publication number: 20100319316
    Abstract: To provide an oxidation catalyst fault diagnosis unit and fault diagnosis method that can perform fault diagnosis of an oxidation catalyst with good precision in a desired time period and an internal combustion engine exhaust purification apparatus equipped with the oxidation catalyst fault diagnosis unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kasahara
  • Publication number: 20100313547
    Abstract: An exhaust gas particulate filter system for an internal combustion engine comprises an exhaust gas conduit in fluid communication with, and configured to receive exhaust gas from, the internal combustion engine. A hydrocarbon supply is connected to the exhaust gas conduit and is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas for delivery of hydrocarbon thereto. A particulate filter assembly is located downstream of the hydrocarbon injector for receipt of the exhaust gas and hydrocarbon mixture. The particulate filter assembly comprises an exhaust gas filter disposed therein for removal of particulates from the exhaust gas and an electrically heated catalyst device disposed therein, upstream of the exhaust gas filter, and heatable to induce oxidation of the exhaust gas and hydrocarbon mixture and to heat the exhaust gas filter and burn particulates collected therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, JR.
  • Publication number: 20100300068
    Abstract: In an exhaust gas sensor control system and control method, the exhaust pipe wall temperature is estimated based on the measured exhaust gas temperature measured, the exhaust gas flowrate, and the measured outside air temperature, with reference to a supplied heat quantity calculation map, wall temperature added value map, and a wall temperature subtracted value map. Then the dew-point of the exhaust pipe is calculated based on the air-fuel ratio of the air flow amount to the weight of fuel, and a condensed water added amount is calculated based on the relative wall temperature and the exhaust gas flow amount. The amount of condensed water is then estimated by summing the calculated condensed water added amounts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Enomoto, Akio Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 7841168
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to estimate a temperature jump (?T) of a catalytic converter of an internal combustion engine in the event of a change in the composition of the exhaust gas. To this end, a quantity of a reactand (SI) stored in the catalytic converter is monitored (2-7), and the heating (?T) of the catalytic converter resulting from the reaction heat released during the reaction of the stored reactand is assumed (13, 14, 16, 17) as the temperature jump (?T).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Helmut Oswald, Frank Schwerin
  • Patent number: 7841172
    Abstract: A method is provided for compensating for variability in ash accumulation rates within an aftertreatment element of an engine exhaust system. The method includes determining flow resistance values through the aftertreatment element and tracking minimum flow resistance values over time. The method also includes correlating the tracked minimum flow resistance values over time, with a model of engine oil consumption rate that is based on predetermined values for model engine oil consumption. The method further includes adjusting the predetermined values based on the tracked minimum flow resistance values over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Mark Scaife, Trent Cleveland, Michael Lowe, Cornelius Opris, Evan Jacobson
  • Publication number: 20100293923
    Abstract: If it is determined that a precondition (S108, S110, S112) for closing an exhaust throttle valve is not satisfied (“NO”) during removal of PM, auxiliaries that are an air-conditioner, a radio, and an electric fan are turned off. If the precondition is actually satisfied (“YES”) by increasing the likelihood that the precondition is satisfied, it is possible to reduce the opening amount of the exhaust throttle valve (S114). Therefore, the bed temperature of a particulate filter (DPF) is controlled stably, and a sufficient bed temperature is maintained. As a result, the DPF is recovered promptly. In this way, excessive increases in the exhaust gas temperature and the exhaust gas back pressure are not caused, and it is therefore possible to protect an internal combustion engine and to control the opening amount of the exhaust throttle valve appropriately. As a result, it is possible to remove particulate matter stably.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuhisa Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20100293922
    Abstract: A method including obtaining information representative of the amount of oxides of nitrogen and the amount of particulate matter being produced by a combustion engine, and adjusting the amount of oxides of nitrogen and the amount of particulate matter being produced by the combustion engine by controlling the amount of combustion engine exhaust gas re-circulating through an EGR cooler and through an EGR cooler bypass line using the information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Matt Delavan, Robert Keefover, Murray Busato
  • Publication number: 20100293921
    Abstract: A regeneration apparatus comprises a heater 2 which heats a catalyst 1 at the time of stopping fuel supply to an engine, a pump 4 which supplies an oxidizing gas or a reducing gas to the heated catalyst 1 and a switching valve 3. In the oxidizing step, catalytic poisons, for example hydrocarbon, which are absorbed on a noble metal are oxidized and removed. The particles of the noble metal become oxidized particles as pure oxide and the like. After the oxidizing step, the reducing step is carried out. In the reducing step, particles of the noble metal are reduced and re-dispersed on the support simultaneously and as a result, the particles of the noble metal become fine. Thus, a deteriorated catalyst can be regenerated without interrupting the use of catalyst and also without deteriorating the drivability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Masanori Yamato, Takeru Yoshida, Nobuyuki Takagi, Toshitaka Tanabe, Yasutaka Nagai, Kazuhiko Dohmae, Naoki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7832195
    Abstract: Super retard combustion is performed in which an ignition timing is set to be after a compression top dead center and fuel is injected before the ignition timing and after the compression top dead center, at cold start or the like which requires early warming-up of a catalyst. During an idle operation without the super retard combustion, a first ISC control is executed in which a feedback control is provided for the degree of opening of a throttle and the ignition timing so that an engine speed corresponds to a target idle speed (S14). On the other hand, during the super retard combustion, a second ISC control is executed in which the control of the degree of opening of the throttle is inhibited, but the ignition timing is advanced because a catalyst may be thermally damaged when the amount of intake air is increased in accordance with an increase in load of an auxiliary device and the like (S15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiko Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7827783
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a NOx removing device provided in an exhaust system of the engine and at least one fuel injector for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of the engine. A temperature of the NOx removing device is detected and a regeneration process, which removes sulfur oxide accumulated in the NOx removing device, is performed. The regeneration process is performed by performing at least one post injection after performing a main injection by the at least one fuel injector to raise a temperature of the NOx removing device or by increasing a main injection amount of fuel to raise the temperature of the NOx removing device without performing the post injection. The exhaust gases are then controlled to flow into the NOx removing device in the reducing state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hisao Haga, Norio Suzuki, Katsuji Wada
  • Patent number: 7823377
    Abstract: A system for controlling the function of a diesel engine (1) in a motor vehicle having anti-pollution means (6, 7) includes an oxidation catalyst (6) and arranged in the exhaust system (3) of said engine (1). The catalyst (6) has at least one non-initialized state and one initialized state and the engine (1) has means (8) for supplying the engine cylinders with fuel with at least one injection during the recovery phase thereof. The system includes a single temperature sensor (18) downstream of the catalyst (6) and means (19) for controlling the supply means (8) by switching of the phase control and/or the quantity of fuel injected during the recovery phase between a first value for the initialization of the catalyst and a second value for maintaining the initialized state of the catalyst as a function of the measured temperature downstream of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Christophe Griard
  • Publication number: 20100263352
    Abstract: An exhaust system (10) for a dual fuel engine comprising a catalyst assembly comprising a first catalyst (4) comprising a methane oxidising catalyst and a second catalyst (6) comprising a selective catalytic reduction catalyst, the first catalyst (4) being positioned upstream of the second catalyst (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: T. Baden Hardstaff Ltd. Hillside
    Inventors: Darryl William Hylands, Trevor Lee Fletcher
  • Patent number: 7814745
    Abstract: An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine for a vehicle is provided. The system comprises an exhaust passage with an angled injector and a plurality of mixing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Levin, Sandro Balestrino, Daniel Michael Kabat, Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Bret Alan Zimmerman, Jeremy Keller, Scott Donald Cooper, Kris Kantebet
  • Patent number: 7810314
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine comprises correlating a measured property associated with a carbon nanostructure layer to an amount of particulate matter from an exhaust stream of the engine. In this way, engine operation may be adjusted based on an amount of sensed particulate matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Avra Brahma, Jagjit Nanda
  • Patent number: 7810320
    Abstract: An intake air temperature detected by an airflow sensor is corrected based on a rotation speed of an engine and a fuel supply amount to thereby estimate an atmospheric temperature. The atmospheric temperature is estimated by calculating a dynamic temperature error caused by heat generated around an engine and a correction factor in regard to thermal influence which changes according to the flow rate of an intake air, and correcting the intake air temperature detected by the airflow sensor with the temperature error corrected with the correction factor. On the basis of the atmospheric temperature, an electric heater is controlled, which is provided on at least a part of a system of supplying a reducing agent or its precursor, for example, a supply pipe mutually communicating a reducing agent container with a reducing agent supplying apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 7810316
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for enhancing the efficiency of an exhaust aftertreatment application. The method may include determining the current operating conditions of the application, the optimal operating conditions of a target component, and the performance criteria of a conditioning component relative to the optimal operating conditions. The method may include determining an optimal fraction of an exhaust flow to pass through the conditioning component to achieve the optimal operating conditions of the target component. The method may further include manipulating a bypass valve position based on the optimal fraction of exhaust flow to pass through the conditioning component. The target component may be a selective catalyst reduction (SCR) component that operates optimally at a designed NO2/NOx mole ratio. The conditioning component may be a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) that affects the NO2/NOx mole ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc
    Inventors: Gary Salemme, Hasan Mohammed
  • Publication number: 20100236218
    Abstract: A method is described for operating an internal combustion engine in motor vehicles, in which air is supplied to a combustion chamber via a throttle valve and an air supply channel, and in which exhaust gas is conducted through a particulate filter and is returned at least intermittently and at least partially through an exhaust gas recirculation valve into the air supply channel, and in which an oxygen proportion in the exhaust gas is detected using at least one lambda probe. In this context, in an overrun operation, the throttle valve is controlled to close and the exhaust gas recirculation valve is controlled to open, a variable characterizing the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas is compared to a boundary value, and as a function of the result of the comparison, it is concluded that there is a leakage in the air supply channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Stephane DE TRICAUD, Danny JAEGER
  • Patent number: 7797926
    Abstract: A particulate filter is provided in an exhaust system of the engine. Parameter values correlated with a flow amount of exhaust gas of the engine are determined, and differential pressure between upstream and downstream sides of the particulate filter is determined. The ratio of a variation rate of the parameter values correlated with the exhaust flow amount to a variation rate of the differential pressure is compared with a predetermined threshold value during transitional operation of the engine to determine the state of the particulate filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Nishino, Kiyoshi Saito, Eisaku Gosyo
  • Patent number: 7797925
    Abstract: An NOx catalytic converter, which includes an NOx storage and reduction catalyst, absorbs NOx contained in exhaust gas of an engine. The absorbed NOx is deoxidized and eliminated when an NOx deoxidizing agent is supplied to the catalytic converter. An ECU determines a purifying performance of the catalytic converter based on one of an amount of supplied NOx deoxidizing agent, which is required to deoxidize and remove absorbed NOx at the NOx catalytic converter, and a parameter that correlates with the amount of the supplied NOx deoxidizing agent. The ECU prohibits the determining of the purifying performance of the catalytic converter when it is determined that supplied unburnt fuel, which is supplied to the catalytic converter, is in an excessive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Kawamura, Masakuni Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7797929
    Abstract: A method of controlling an engine having a lean NOx trap in the exhaust is described. The method comprises during a first mode, at a first temperature, storing NOx at a lean condition and then purging stored NOx from the NOx trap at a rich condition without concurrently supplying oxygen to the trap during the purging and during a second mode, at a second, lower temperature, storing NOx at a lean condition and then purging stored NOx from the NOx, where an exothermic reaction is generated to temporarily raise the temperature of the trap by supplying oxygen and reductants with an overall rich mixture to the trap during the purging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, Jason Aaron Lupescu, Joseph Robert Theis, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 7788910
    Abstract: A system and method may be provided for operating a system having an engine with an emission control system, the emission control system including a lean NOx trap and a particulate filter, where after lean exhaust gas air-fuel ratio regeneration of the particulate filter at an elevated regeneration temperature, a rich or intermittently rich exhaust air-fuel ratio is provided for a duration lasting until LNT temperature falls to a minimum threshold, where said rich or intermittently rich operation reactivates catalysts in the LNT and reverses deactivation caused by the elevated temperature lean operation associated with previous particulate filter regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Walter McCabe, Lifeng Xu, John William Hoard, Karen Marie Adams
  • Patent number: 7788913
    Abstract: A combination exhaust manifold and catalytic converter wherein the catalytic converter is in the form of a removable and replaceable cartridge mounted within an opening of an exhaust manifold. This cartridge is supported within the opening of the exhaust manifold by sealing rings and retained within the opening by a removable fastener element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Indmar Products Company Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Midgley, Glen H. Martin, III, Richard J. Waggoner
  • Patent number: 7788911
    Abstract: A system, method and computer operable code is disclosed for reducing HC and liquid accumulation in an exhaust gas treatment system. A timer is used to monitor the amount of time the system spends in either absorption mode or desorption mode. If the exhaust gas temperature at the inlet of a oxidation catalyst device is below an absorption threshold, the timer is instructed to count up. If the exhaust gas temperature is above a desorption threshold, the timer is instructed to count down. At a predetermined timer threshold value, the engine is instructed to enter a thermal management mode operable to reduce accumulation of HC and liquid in the exhaust gas management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuetao Zhang, Daniel D. Wilhelm, Joseph M. Brault, Venkata Lakkireddy, James A. Cramer, Thomas A. Grana
  • Patent number: 7784271
    Abstract: Deterioration of a catalyst provided in an exhaust system of the engine is determined. Air-fuel ratio sensors are provided in the upstream side and the downstream side of the catalyst. Air-fuel ratio is changed. Based on the sensor outputs in the upstream die and the downstream side of the catalyst, a parameter of a catalyst model representing a state of the catalyst is identified. The parameter is compared with a threshold to determine a state of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Saito, Eisaku Gosyo, Hiroaki Nishino
  • Patent number: 7784276
    Abstract: It is intended to efficiently remove particulate substances, such as NOx and soot, without poisoning by Sox, etc. from dilute-combustion effecting internal combustion engines, combustion equipment, etc. There is provided an exhaust gas purifier to be installed in exhaust passage (2) of internal combustion engine (1) or the like, comprising, disposed in the exhaust passage (2), NOx adsorbent (4) capable of temporarily adsorbing nitrogen oxides even in an atmosphere of excess air and capable of desorbing the adsorbed nitrogen oxides upon temperature rise or in a reducing atmosphere, adsorbed substance desorbing means (3) arranged on an exhaust upstream side as compared with the NOx adsorbent (4) and capable of heating the exhaust or converting it to a reducing atmosphere, and combustion device (5) arranged on an exhaust downstream side as compared with the NOx adsorbent (4) and composed of fuel nozzle (6) and igniter (7). In normal operation, the NOx adsorbent (4) adsorbs NOx contained in exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Taisuke Ono
  • Patent number: 7785380
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing sulfur from a hydrocarbon fuel. The apparatus includes a combustion reactor (3) and a sulfur trap (4) and the combustion reactor (3) is adapted to operate with an air-to-fuel ratio below 1 and in the presence of steam. The sulfur trap (4) is located downstream the combustion reactor (3) and is adapted to remove sulfur compounds formed in the combustion reactor (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Powercell Sweden AB
    Inventors: Bård Lindström, Per Ekdunge
  • Publication number: 20100205958
    Abstract: A first heat medium is circulated in a first circulating path (engine cooling circuit) of a heat source (engine) to cool the heat source down by the first heat medium, and exhaust heat from the heat source is absorbed by the first heat medium. A second heat medium is circulated in a second circulating path (exhaust heat recovering circuit) to exchange heat of exhaust air with the second heat medium, and heat of the first heat medium is exchanged with the second heat medium circulating in the second circulation path. The heat of the second medium to which heat is applied due to these heat exchanges is stored in heat storage means (heat storage tank).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: TAKAGI INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Ishii
  • Patent number: 7775033
    Abstract: The invention concerns a system for evaluation regeneration of pollution management means (1) integrated in an exhaust line (2) of a motor vehicle engine, characterized in that it comprises means (4) for determining the thermal power input by the exhaust gas upstream of the pollution management means during the regeneration phase thereof and means (4) for comparing said power to threshold values (Sb, Sh) to determine a partial or total failure of regenerating said means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Christophe Colignon
  • Publication number: 20100175368
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (71) for checking the operability of an oxidation catalytic converter (29), through which exhaust gas (43, 49) of an internal combustion engine (11) flows, wherein a first sensor variable (x1, y1), which characterizes a composition of the exhaust gas (43) flowing into the oxidation catalytic converter (29), and a second sensor variable (x2, y2), which characterizes a composition of the exhaust gas (49) flowing out of the oxidation catalytic converter (29), are acquired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GMBH
    Inventor: Andreas Schulze
  • Patent number: 7716917
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling air-fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine having: a three-way catalytic converter; an oxygen sensor, which is installed at the upstream side of said catalytic converter in respect to exhaust gas flow direction, for generating a switching signal showing rich/lean relative to a certain air-fuel ratio; and an air-fuel ratio sensor, which is installed at the downstream side of said catalytic converter, for generating a linear output signal corresponding to the air-fuel ratio, wherein the apparatus includes a deviation calculation unit for calculating deviation between air-fuel ratio measured by the air-fuel ratio sensor, and target air-fuel ratio; and a feedback control unit of the air-fuel ratio for carrying out feedback control of air-fuel ratio based on the deviation calculated by a deviation calculation unit, and the output signal of the oxygen sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiji Asano
  • Publication number: 20100115920
    Abstract: An exhaust component for use with a combustion engine is disclosed. The exhaust component may have a housing at least partially defining an inlet and an outlet, and a treatment device supported by the housing in communication with exhaust passing from the inlet to the outlet. The exhaust component may also have a life indicator permanently associated with at least one of the housing and the treatment device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Jason K. Bloms, Mohamed Daoud, Anthony J. Eager, Kevin D. Ehrenhardt, Tazio S. Grivetti, David J. Kapparos, Matthew E. Leustek, Anthony C. Rodman, Richard Severns, II, Yanchai Zhang
  • Publication number: 20100058737
    Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle using an engine as one of power sources, an ECU obtains catalyst temperature. The ECU performs a catalyst warm-up operation if the catalyst temperature is lower than first catalyst temperature necessary for exhaust gas purification during a continuous operation of the engine. The ECU performs intermittency prohibition operation for prohibiting an intermittent operation of the engine if the catalyst temperature is between the first catalyst temperature and second catalyst temperature necessary for the exhaust gas purification at starting of the engine. The ECU performs a normal operation for allowing the intermittent operation of the engine if the catalyst temperature is higher than the second catalyst temperature. Thus, deterioration of fuel consumption due to catalyst warm-up is inhibited while inhibiting deterioration of emission in the hybrid vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Harada, Ikuo Ando, Daigo Ando
  • Publication number: 20100043397
    Abstract: A method for indicating a malfunctioning catalyst in a powertrain including an internal combustion engine and an aftertreatment system including an aftertreatment device utilizing a catalyst to convert NOx includes monitoring a NOx content entering the aftertreatment system, monitoring a NOx content exiting the aftertreatment system, determining an actual conversion efficiency based upon the NOx content entering the aftertreatment system and the NOx content exiting the aftertreatment system, monitoring factors affecting conversion efficiency within the aftertreatment device, determining a malfunction conversion efficiency indicative of the malfunctioning catalyst based upon the factors affecting conversion efficiency within the aftertreatment device, and indicating the malfunctioning catalyst based upon comparing the actual conversion efficiency to the malfunction conversion efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Charles E. Solbrig, Ognyan N. Yanakiev
  • Publication number: 20100043398
    Abstract: A dual exhaust system includes a first exhaust component defining a first exhaust path and a second exhaust component defining a second exhaust path that is different from the first exhaust path. A first valve is associated with the first exhaust path and a second valve is associated with the second exhaust path. The first valve and second valve operate independently of each other to vary exhaust flow and provide sufficient noise control for varying applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Kwin Abram, Ivan Arbuckle, Joseph E. Callahan, James Egan, Robin Willats
  • Publication number: 20100031638
    Abstract: A work machine having dual compression ignition engines each driving motor generators providing a power output to selective loads. The compression ignition engines each have an exhaust aftertreatment device requiring regeneration in accordance with a selected parameters. A controller controls motor/generators or hydraulic pump/motors associated with the diesel engines to either transfer load between one or the other of the motor/generators or pump/motors to impose a load on one of the engines sufficiently high to produce passive regeneration. In the event that loads driven by the motor/generators or pump/motors are too low, one of the engines may be shut off or the loads increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventor: Alan D. Sheidler
  • Patent number: 7648785
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a clean power generation system in which an internal combustion engine is operated to produce shaft power and an exhaust stream. The exhaust stream is processed by a fuel cell. Fluctuations in power demand are met, at least in part, by increasing or decreasing power output from the fuel cell and/or power uptake or output from a power storage device. The engine can operate at a relatively constant rate, providing a steady exhaust stream, which facilitates pollution control and fuel cell operation. According to another aspect of the invention, the exhaust of an engine is treated with a fuel cell having an electrolyte that conducts protons. In addition to removing pollutants from the exhaust while generating useful power, the fuel cell can provide a supply of low acidity water. The water can be used in the fuel reformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Haoran Hu, Thomas Stover, Timothy J. Morscheck, Kathryn A. Miles, Patrick M. Watts, Diane C. Wiersma
  • Publication number: 20090288391
    Abstract: The present invention detects the deterioration of a catalyst. In accordance with an output from an oxygen sensor, a catalyst deterioration detection device for the catalyst positioned in an exhaust path of an internal combustion engine detects a maximum oxygen storage state where an exhaust gas outflowing downstream of the catalyst contains excess oxygen and a minimum oxygen storage state where the exhaust gas outflowing downstream of the catalyst lacks oxygen. Control is exercised to provide a rich target air-fuel ratio for the internal combustion engine during an oxygen release period between the instant at which the maximum oxygen storage state is detected and the instant at which the minimum oxygen storage state is detected later, and to provide a lean target air-fuel ratio for the internal combustion engine during an oxygen storage period between the instant at which the minimum oxygen storage state is detected and the instant at which the maximum oxygen storage state is detected later.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventor: Keiichiro Aoki
  • Patent number: 7618605
    Abstract: An exhaust emission control device for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of supplying a just enough amount of reducing agent to a NOx catalyst, thereby reducing exhaust emission and improving fuel economy. The device includes a three-way catalyst, a NOx catalyst provided downstream of the three-way catalyst, and an ECU. The ECU carries out rich spike control such that exhaust gases flowing into the NOx catalyst form a reducing atmosphere. During the control, the ECU calculates a reducing agent consumption amount of reducing agent in the exhaust gases consumed by the three-way catalyst, calculates a cumulative reducing agent amount as a total amount of reducing agent supplied to the NOx catalyst, depending on the reducing agent consumption amount, and terminates the control when the cumulative reducing agent amount becomes larger than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoko Morita, Norio Suzuki, Hiroshi Ohno
  • Publication number: 20090255242
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system is provided. The exhaust aftertreatment system includes a mixing arrangement for mixing flows of exhaust along a flow path. The mixing arrangement radially and angularly rearranges segments of two different portions of flow to mix the different portions of flow. The mixing arrangement initially converts a generally radially stratified temperature profile into an angularly stratified temperature profile to increase surface area between cool segments of exhaust gas and hot segments of exhaust gas. The aftertreatment system may also include a combustion chamber, a combustor housing and a combustor liner. The mixing arrangement is downstream from the combustion chamber to direct radially outward hot gas passing through the combustor liner and to direct radially outer cool gas passing between the liner and the combustor housing radially inward in an interleaving fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: WOODWARD GOVERNOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Clark Paterson, Dan B. Mastbergen
  • Patent number: 7575729
    Abstract: A fuel reforming apparatus includes a reforming catalyst, a filtering member, a raw material supply flow passage and a processed gas flow passage. The filtering member has a plurality of cells. A reforming catalyst is carried on a surface of a partition on the side of the processed gas flow passage. If raw gas including hydrocarbon fuel is supplied to the fuel reforming apparatus and filtered by the filtering member, soot included in the raw gas is trapped by gaps in the partition, and the hydrocarbon fuel is reformed into reformed gas including hydrogen and carbon monoxide on the reforming catalyst. By increasing the amount of air supplied from a blower at intervals of time, the soot trapped by the partition is removed by combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Numata, Satoshi Iguchi
  • Publication number: 20090199537
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method to operate an electronically controlled internal combustion engine with an exhaust system equipped with a diesel particulate filter upstream of a selective catalyst reducer to protect the selective catalyst reducer from premature aging and failure caused by exhaust temperature heat generated during uncontrolled regeneration of the diesel particulate filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: Detroit Diesel Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin D. Sisken, Matthew T. Baird
  • Patent number: 7550119
    Abstract: A regeneration device of an exhaust gas purification filter that reduces the regeneration time of the filter. The regeneration device includes a plurality of first temperature detectors (26a, 26b) arranged in casings to detect the temperature in each casing and a second temperature detector (26a, 26b) for detecting the temperature of the exhaust gas. A processor (30) is connected to the first temperature detectors and the second temperature detector. The processor compares the temperature of the exhaust gas and the temperature of at least one of the casings, opens the associated switch valve based on the comparison result, and preheats at least one of the filters with the exhaust gas. The heat of the exhaust gas suddenly increases the temperature of the filter from the initial temperature and reduces the filter regeneration time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Ibiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Kojima
  • Patent number: 7543445
    Abstract: Methods for regenerating or improving the regeneration of a particulate filter and for improving the performance of a particulate filter during the operation of an internal combustion engine comprise lubricating the engine with a lubricant composition comprising additives that when combusted can form an ash deposit in the filter. The methods are particularly useful for diesel particulate filters on diesel engines that are equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: The Lubrizol Corporation
    Inventor: Ewa Bardasz
  • Publication number: 20090133405
    Abstract: A fixed sized bell rocket nozzle is lined with a layer of combustible material that is ignited during launch ignition and burns to outgas into the rocket exhaust for spatially variably confining the exhaust and perfecting an effective variably sized altitude compensating exhaust nozzle that maximizes lift during the launch of a spacecraft into orbit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Gary F. Hawkins, John W. Murdock
  • Publication number: 20090126354
    Abstract: A stream of exhaust gases from the combustion of hydrocarbon-containing fuels with a variable temperature can be produced by dividing the exhaust gases into two separate part-streams, cooling one part-stream and then combining the two part-streams again. The temperature of the exhaust-gas stream which has been combined again can be set to between the temperature of the combustion of the hydrocarbon-containing fuels and the temperature of the cooled exhaust-gas part-stream by corresponding throttling of the two part-streams before they are brought together again. The exhaust-gas stream produced in this way is preferably used for the defined ageing of automotive exhaust catalysts. In this context, it is particularly advantageous that the change in the temperature of the exhaust-gas stream has no influence on its air/fuel ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2005
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Juergen Gieshoff, Hartmut Finkbeiner, Thomas Kreuzer