Anti-pollution Patents (Class 60/274)
  • Patent number: 9541039
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for reducing the emission of nitrogen oxides in an internal combustion engine system. Exhaust gas directly or indirectly downstream of the internal combustion engine is at least selectively stored in an exhaust gas storage region. Upon the occurrence of at least one enablement condition, indicative of a potential period where the emission of nitrogen oxides (NOx) will increase, the stored exhaust gas is inserted into the internal combustion engine to assist in reducing the emission of the nitrogen oxides. The exhaust gas storage volume regularly, or the exhaust gas storage volume may be filled during strategic periods when the emissions of nitrogen oxides are low and/or there is a low need for the recirculation of exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: CUMMINS IP, INC.
    Inventors: J. Steven Kolhouse, Vivek A. Sujan, Thomas M. Yonushonis
  • Patent number: 9534524
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting leaks in a diesel particulate filter (DPF). In one example, a faster leak detection routine may be performed during a single drive cycle to detect large leaks in the DPF. However, if there are no large leaks in the DPF, a slower leak detection may be performed over a plurality of drive cycles, to detected smaller leaks in the DPF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Brendan Hopka, William Russell Goodwin, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Patent number: 9534556
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, the method comprising, during one working cycle, distributing fuel for each cylinder of the plurality of cylinders among a plurality of injection processes according to settable split factors which respectively define a setpoint fuel mass and/or injection duration and time setting of each respective injection process for the plurality of individual injection processes, wherein random variation is carried out for at least one injection process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Georg Louven, Jens Wojahn, Klemens Grieser, Marco Marceno, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Thomas Lorenz, Moritz Klaus Springer
  • Patent number: 9534551
    Abstract: In a backhoe comprising: a diesel engine able to increase a speed due to an accelerating operation; an exhaust gas cleaning device having a DPF for catching a particulate matter included in an exhaust gas exhausted from the diesel engine; and a filter regeneration means to combust and remove the particulate matter deposited in the DPF of the exhaust gas cleaning device, the filter regeneration means requires to increase the speed of the diesel engine during an automatic regeneration for automatically combusting and removing the particulate matter deposited in the DPF. In this manner, a working machine able to require an operator to increase the speed of the diesel engine at appropriate timing, in order to increase a temperature of the exhaust gas to a temperature required for regeneration of the DPF can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Miura, Hiroaki Nakagawa, Ryosuke Kinugawa, Atsushi Matsumoto, Teruo Kunizawa, Ikuhiro Uotani, Masaru Soejima, Satoshi Tajima
  • Patent number: 9528421
    Abstract: An exhaust device of an internal combustion engine includes a burner device (40) including a fuel addition device (15) for adding fuel to an exhaust passage (12) of the internal combustion engine (1), and igniting the added fuel, and a controller (50) which detects an abnormal condition of the burner device (40) on the basis of a temperature change at a temperature detection point in the exhaust passage (12) downstream of the fuel addition device (15) after changing the amount of addition of the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Hashima
  • Patent number: 9528422
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system to treat exhaust gas includes a particulate filter, a second temperature sensor and a control module. The particulate filter includes a PF substrate configured to trap particulate matter contained in the exhaust gas. The second temperature sensor is configured to output an outlet temperature signal indicating an outlet temperature at the outlet of the particulate filter. The control module is in electrical communication with the second temperature sensor to receive the outlet temperature signal. The control module determines a maximum substrate temperature of the PF substrate based on the outlet temperature. The control module is further configured to determine whether the particulate filter includes an active washcoat disposed thereon based on the maximum substrate temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jianwen Li, Vincent J. Tylutki, Rahul Mital
  • Patent number: 9527497
    Abstract: A control device according to the invention moves an operation point of an internal combustion engine such that a distribution of engine torque with respect to required torque is reduced and then carries out air-fuel ratio control for reducing an air-fuel ratio of the internal combustion engine in a case where an operation mode of the internal combustion engine should be switched from a lean combustion mode to a stoichiometric combustion mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Morita, Yoshihito Kanno, Gohki Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9528462
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an exhaust system, and a controller. The exhaust system includes a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device, and a rear nitrogen oxide (NOx) sensor. The controller, which is in communication with the NOx sensor, includes a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory. A plurality of data maps and a plurality of binary maps are recorded in memory. Each data map is indexed by a different pair of exhaust system performance values. Each cell of each data map is populated by estimated downstream NOx levels. The binary maps are indexed by one of the pairs of exhaust system performance values. Each cell of each binary map is populated by a binary value, i.e., a 0 or 1. The controller uses the data maps and the binary maps to execute a control action with respect to the exhaust system, such as verifying plausibility of the rear NOx sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Raffaello Ardanese, Manoharan Thiagarajan, Justin A. Shetney, Janean E. Kowalkowski
  • Patent number: 9523321
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an exhaust after-treatment apparatus for vehicle are provided. The method includes detecting, by a controller, signals from a front lambda sensor and a rear lambda sensor of a Lean NOx Trap (LNT), when an engine is driven in a rich mode and acquiring, by the controller, a temperature of exhaust gas detected by a temperature sensor, when the engine is driven in a rich mode. Further the method includes comparing, by the controller, the signals from the front lambda sensor and the rear lambda sensor to detect a breakthrough time when a breakthrough occurs between the signals from the front lambda sensor and the rear lambda sensor. In addition, the controller is configured to determine an additional rich time period based on the breakthrough time and the temperature of exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sung Mu Choi
  • Patent number: 9523302
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification catalyst apparatus. The apparatus has a noble metal component for oxidizing NOx in an exhaust gas discharged from a diesel engine, a reducing agent spraying means for supplying the reducing agent selected from a urea component or an ammonia component, and a selective reduction catalyst (SCR) not comprising a noble metal for removing by reduction NOx by contacting with the reducing agent, in this order from the upstream side of an exhaust gas passage. Activity of the selective reduction catalyst (SCR) is maintained by setting that the noble metal component of the oxidation catalyst (DOC) comprises platinum and palladium, and ratio of platinum particles existing alone is 20% or less, or average particle diameter of the noble metal is 4 nm or larger, and by suppressing volatilization of platinum from the oxidation catalyst (DOC), even when catalyst bed temperature increases up to 900° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: N.E. CHEMCAT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Mende, Toshinori Okajima, Yasuyuki Banno, Makoto Nagata
  • Patent number: 9523319
    Abstract: One embodiment is a unique strategy for raising exhaust temperatures which includes deactivating a first group of cylinders while maintaining a second group of cylinders in a combustion mode and injecting fuel into each of one of the second group of cylinders not earlier than 2 degrees before top dead center (TDC). The strategy also includes passing fuel rich exhaust from the second group of cylinders into an exhaust pathway and oxidizing at least a portion of the fuel rich exhaust in the exhaust pathway. In one form, the oxidizing occurs independent of any catalytic influence. Other embodiments include unique methods, systems, and apparatus for raising exhaust temperatures and/or regenerating one or more components of an aftertreatment system. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the following description and drawings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Michael A. Wilson
  • Patent number: 9523974
    Abstract: An exhaust flow treatment apparatus to treat exhaust flow emitted by a combustion engine is configured to receive unburnt fuel for combustion therein after confirming that conditions are such that the unburnt fuel is likely to combust in the apparatus. A method of controlling operation of an exhaust flow treatment apparatus includes confirming that the temperature of fluid in the apparatus exceeds a threshold temperature before allowing unburnt fuel into the apparatus. The method may confirm a particular mode of operation of the exhaust flow treatment apparatus to determine the appropriate quantity of fuel for burning in the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Perkins Engines Company Limited
    Inventor: Antony Eager
  • Patent number: 9518492
    Abstract: An exhaust system for use with a combustion engine is disclosed. The exhaust system may have an exhaust passageway, a reduction catalyst, a reductant injector, and a controller. The controller may have a NOX/reductant relationship map, and be configured to receive a first input relating to an amount of NOX within the exhaust passageway upstream of the reduction catalyst, and reference the NOX/reductant relationship map to determine an initial amount of reductant that should be directed into the exhaust passageway based on the first input. The controller may also be configured to receive a second input relating to performance of the reduction catalyst, determine an adjustment to the initial amount of reductant based on the second input, and regulate operation of the reductant injector to direct an adjusted amount of reductant into the exhaust passageway. The controller may further be configured to update the NOX/reductant relationship map based on the determined adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Lou Kesse, Zhiyong Wei, Liangtao Zhu
  • Patent number: 9512763
    Abstract: A dosing system for dosing diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) into an inlet of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) aftertreatment module of a diesel engine is described. The dosing system may comprise a DEF supply line configured to deliver the DEF from a pump to a first injector and a second injector at the inlet. The DEF supply line may include a tri-axis connector configured to split the DEF from the pump into two portions each exiting one of a first outlet port and a second outlet port, a first delivery conduit configured to deliver the DEF exiting the first outlet port to the first injector, and a second delivery conduit configured to deliver the DEF exiting the second outlet port to the second injector. The first injector and the second injector may dose the same quantity of the DEF into the inlet of the aftertreatment module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Hudgens, Matthew Fahrenkrug, Theron Cassidy, Brian Cole, Kevin Dea
  • Patent number: 9512785
    Abstract: It is intended to provide an exhaust gas purification system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of suppressing HC emission increase and raising the temperature of an exhaust gas purifier at an early stage while maintaining stable combustion during the warm-up operation such as immediately after the engine starting. The system is provided with: an air flow control unit 50 for reducing a flow rate of air supplied to the engine 1 to raise a temperature of the exhaust gas exhausted from the engine 1; and an activation timing control unit 52 for controlling a timing of activating the air flow control unit 50, and the activation timing control unit is configured to control the timing of activating the air flow control unit 50 so that a combustion state in the engine 1 does not become unstable when the air flow control unit 50 is activated and the air to be supplied to the engine 1 is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamada, Tomohide Yamada
  • Patent number: 9506386
    Abstract: An injection device comprises a volume, an injection device to inject a jet of liquid reagent into the volume, at least one first impactor positioned in the volume, and a first heating device to heat the first impactor. The first heating device comprises a first heating member having a device having a thermally conductive zone in contact with the first impactor or defining the first impactor. A resistive heating element is housed in the device and arranged to heat the thermally conductive zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Faurecia Systemes D'Echappement
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Brunel
  • Patent number: 9506418
    Abstract: Methods and systems for adjusting a plurality of fuel injections supplied to a cylinder during a cycle of the cylinder are described. In one example, fuel amounts are moved between fuel injections in response to combustion phase. Engine feedgas hydrocarbons and/or carbonaceous particulate matter may be reduced when cetane of combusted fuel changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Kurtz, Douglas Kuhel
  • Patent number: 9506390
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for modeling a reductant temperature and storage distribution of a SCR catalyst axially and radially. In one example, a method may include modeling an expected distribution of stored reductant among a plurality of axial zones and a plurality of radial zones of an SCR catalyst arranged in an engine exhaust passage and comparing the expected distribution with a reductant storage setpoint of each zone to adjust radial and axial storage locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cory Scott Hendrickson, Devesh Upadhyay
  • Patent number: 9501452
    Abstract: A method of increasing a weighting factor of an exponentially weighted moving averaging (“EWMA”) filter is provided. The method includes monitoring a data stream containing raw data values, and determining an EWMA value based on the data stream by an electronic control module. The method includes determining if the EWMA value is between a predetermined maximum fault threshold value and a predetermined minimum fault threshold value. The method includes increasing the weighting factor of the EWMA filter to more heavily weigh incoming raw data values of the data stream based on the difference between the first raw data value and a previously calculated filtered value exceeding the calibration value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Janean E. Kowalkowski, Igor Anilovich, Jason J. Chung
  • Patent number: 9500111
    Abstract: A method for determining reducing agent slippage from an exhaust-gas treatment device includes determining a difference between sensor signals of a second nitrogen oxide sensor and of a device for determining a nitrogen oxide compound quantity upstream of an SCR catalytic converter in an exhaust-gas flow direction; determining a controlling deviation from the difference and a target value of a controlling element; determining a gradient of an integral controlling component; and identifying reducing agent slippage if the controlling deviation exceeds a first threshold value and the gradient exceeds a second threshold value. The method and a corresponding device make it possible to reliably identify reducing agent slippage so that a very fast controlling element can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventor: Peter Bauer
  • Patent number: 9500110
    Abstract: An exhaust purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a NOx removing catalyst, an oxidation catalyst, and a controller which is configured to calculate the amount of NOx contained in exhaust gas that has passed through the oxidation catalyst. The controller is configured to execute an abnormality diagnosis process that determines the existence of an abnormality in the NOx removing catalyst if NOx removal efficiency obtained from the amount of NOx is less than or equal to a predetermined value. The controller is configured to execute the abnormality diagnosis process after executing a desorption process that desorbs unburned fuel adsorbed by the NOx removing catalyst if an execution condition of the abnormality diagnosis process is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirohiko Ota
  • Patent number: 9494072
    Abstract: A three way catalyst and an NOx storage catalyst are arranged in an engine exhaust passage. In an engine low load operating region, a combustion is performed under a lean air-fuel ratio, and when NOx should be released from the NOx storage catalyst, the air-fuel ratio in a combustion chamber is made rich. In an engine medium load operating region, the base air-fuel ratio is made lower as compared with the engine low load operating region, and the air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber is made rich at a shorter period as compared with the engine low load operating region. When the operating state of the engine is switched from the engine low load operating region to the engine medium load operating region, the air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber is temporarily made rich, and the degree of richness of the air-fuel ratio at this time is stepwise lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Sakurai, Kohei Yoshida, Yuki Bisaiji, Shigeki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9494097
    Abstract: The NOx storage catalyst and the NOx selective reduction catalyst are arranged in the engine exhaust passage. In the engine low load operating region, a combustion is performed in the combustion chamber under a lean base air-fuel ratio and the air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber is made rich when NOx should be released from the NOx storage catalyst. In the engine medium load operating region, the base air-fuel ratio is made smaller, a degree of richness of the air-fuel ratio is made smaller, and a period in which the air-fuel ratio is made rich is made shorter so that an amount of ammonia which is produced per unit time when the air-fuel ratio is made rich falls compared with the time of engine low load operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Sakurai, Kohki Nakamura, Shigeki Nakayama, Kohei Yoshida, Yuki Bisaiji
  • Patent number: 9488145
    Abstract: A vehicular liquid containment system including a tank, a pump arranged to pump a liquid from the tank to a vehicular system via a feed line, a pressure sensor arranged to detect a pressure in a vapor dome inside the tank, and a sprayer arranged within a branch of the feed line, the outlet of the sprayer being arranged inside the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Josh Butler, David Hill, Bjorn Criel
  • Patent number: 9482124
    Abstract: A method is provided for detecting abnormally frequent diesel particulate filter (DPF) regeneration. The method includes measuring a pressure drop across the DPF and using the measured pressure drop to calculate a pressure drop based soot load estimate, calculating soot output from an engine model and using the calculated soot output to calculate an emissions based soot load estimate, comparing the pressure drop based soot load estimate with the emissions based soot load estimate, and providing a warning if a difference between the pressure drop based soot load estimate and the emissions based soot load estimate exceeds a predetermined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Mack Trucks, Inc.
    Inventors: Qunlong Dong, Jeffrey Marley
  • Patent number: 9482132
    Abstract: Systems and devices for delivering a fluid to an exhaust system. An inlet is configured for receiving the fluid, and a conduit includes openings for expelling the fluid into the exhaust system. A compact gaseous delivery system may include a first conduit in fluid communication with a fluid source, a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, and a plurality of additional conduits in fluid communication with the second conduit and including a plurality of openings for expelling the fluid into the exhaust system. The first conduit, second conduit, and plurality of additional conduits may have axes that are substantially coplanar to form the compact gaseous delivery system that may be disposed within the exhaust system. Implementations may include openings with varying diameters. Other implementations may include a volute conduit with openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: CUMMINS EMISSION SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Achuth Munnannur, Vinay Kumar Joshi, Douglas A. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9476341
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system configured to treat exhaust gas generated by an internal combustion engine includes a reductant delivery system that injects a reductant solution into an exhaust gas. A selective catalyst reduction (SCR) device reacts with the reductant solution to reduce NOx from the exhaust gas. A control module is in electrical communication with the SCR device and the reductant delivery system. The control module determines at least one of an injection status of the reduction delivery system and a performance of the SCR device. The control module further determines at least one debounce time for delaying diagnosis of a NOx sensor based on at least one of the injection status and the performance of the SCR device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Whitt, Justin Adam Shetney
  • Patent number: 9476374
    Abstract: In a method for regeneration of nitrogen oxide storage catalytic converters in the exhaust gas tract of a gasoline engine assigned an exhaust aftertreatment system in the form of a Y system including two three-way catalytic converters, two downstream nitrogen oxide storage catalytic converters, one shared catalytic converter for selective catalytic reduction, and a rear nitrogen oxide storage catalytic converter, a first part of the exhaust gas in the first exhaust bank is set to rich and a second part of the exhaust gas in the second exhaust bank is set to lean in a first regeneration phase and subsequently, the second part of the exhaust gas in the second exhaust bank is set to rich and the first part of the exhaust gas in the first exhaust bank is set to lean in a second regeneration phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Alexandra Fuchsbauer, Uwe Mueller, Matthias Walz, Guido Porten
  • Patent number: 9470126
    Abstract: A system for reducing ammonia in exhaust gas generated from a lean burn internal combustion engine includes an oxidation catalyst, a selective reduction catalyst (SCR), a cooling unit, and a three-way catalyst. Exhaust gas generated by the engine passes through the oxidation catalyst to oxidize carbon monoxide from the exhaust gas to form carbon dioxide. Nitrous oxide (NOx) compounds in the exhaust gas are reduced in the SCR to form nitrogen and water. The exhaust gas is then cooled in a cooling unit and then passed over the three-way catalyst. The three-way catalyst causes ammonia in the cooled exhaust stream to react to form less harmful compounds, such as nitrogen and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Tecogen Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph B. Gehret, Robert Panora, Ranson Roser, Jean P. Roy
  • Patent number: 9464552
    Abstract: An exhaust system mixer (12) mixes a reactant with an exhaust gas flow (3) and includes a pipe section (13), which borders a flow cross section (16), through which the exhaust gas flows (3), in the circumferential direction (17), and which extends in an axial direction (18) from a first axial side (19) to a second axial side (20), and a plurality of guide blades (14, 15), which project from the pipe section (13) at least on one of the axial sides (19, 20), so as to protrude into the flow cross section (16). Guide blades (14, 15) on an axial side, which follow each other in the circumferential direction (17), include a first guide blade group (21), arranged on the respective axial side (19, 20), axially offset in relation to the guide blades (15) of the second guide blade group (22), to reduce a pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Silvia Calvo
  • Patent number: 9458812
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a temperature control module and an engine disabling module. The temperature control module regulates a first temperature of an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) based on a first predetermined light-off temperature while an engine is shut down. The engine disabling module selectively disables start up of the engine when a second temperature of a passive catalyst is less than a second predetermined light-off temperature while a maximum torque output of an electric motor is greater than a desired torque output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Halim G Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze, Brian Spohn, Bryan Nathaniel Roos
  • Patent number: 9453446
    Abstract: Exhaust aftertreatment assemblies and methods of manufacturing and operating exhaust aftertreatment assemblies. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly includes a reductant delivery device, a reductant source fluidly coupled to the reductant delivery device, a mixing chamber positioned between the reductant delivery device and the reductant source and thereby fluidly coupling the reductant source to the reductant delivery device, and a compressed air source fluidly coupled to the mixing chamber upstream of the mixing chamber with respect to the reductant delivery device. The compressed air source provides compressed air to mix with reductant in the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins Emission Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas A. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9453451
    Abstract: An abnormality diagnosis apparatus for an exhaust gas purification apparatus including a selective catalytic reduction NOx catalyst (SCR catalyst) and a sensor which detects NOx and ammonia in exhaust gas flowing out from the NOx catalyst and at which NOx and ammonia react with each other. The abnormality diagnosis apparatus calculates, based on concentrations of NOx and ammonia which flow out from the SCR catalyst, an amount of decline in output of the sensor due to a reaction between NOx and ammonia at the sensor, and performs an abnormality diagnosis of the SCR catalyst based on the calculated amount of decline in output of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Arifumi Matsumoto, Tomoyuki Kogo, Taiga Hagimoto, Kenji Furui, Akifumi Uozumi
  • Patent number: 9440194
    Abstract: A decrease in the NOx removal or reduction rate is suppressed, while suppressing the outflow of particulate matter from a filter after regeneration of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Irisawa
  • Patent number: 9442041
    Abstract: A method for determining the quantity of reducing agent in a tank of a motor vehicle, including: a storage material in the tank for storing and releasing the reducing agent according to demand; a heating device to supply heat to release the reducing agent, and a control device for driving the heating device. After the motor vehicle is started, driving the heating device so that it delivers constant power during an initial phase over which the pressure inside the tank increases until it reaches a predetermined value. The heating device then regulating the pressure around a datum value; then measuring the time of the initial phase or the derivative of pressure with respect to time during this initial phase; and comparing the measured time against various calibrated values of the initial phase in order to determine the quantity of reducing agent in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: AAQIUS & AAQIUS S.A.
    Inventor: Arnaud Audouin
  • Patent number: 9441562
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes the steps of determining an oxygen filling state of an oxygen storage of a catalytic converter by way of a first lambda signal provided by a first lambda probe and an offset value, the first lambda probe being arranged in an exhaust gas stream upstream of the catalytic converter; when a second lambda signal provided by a second lambda probe arranged in the exhaust gas stream upstream of the catalytic converter falls below a lower lambda signal threshold, setting the oxygen filling state to a first value corresponding to an empty oxygen storage and/or when the second lambda signal exceeds a upper lambda signal threshold setting the oxygen filling state to a second value corresponding to a full oxygen storage; immediately thereafter regulating the oxygen filling state during at least one regulation time period to a target filling state; and after expiration of the regulation time period adjusting the offset value by way of the second lambda signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Bodo Odendall
  • Patent number: 9441525
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is fluidly coupled to an exhaust aftertreatment system including a particulate filter. A method for operating the internal combustion engine includes determining an expected boost pressure of an intake air compressor system in response to an output torque request, determining a deviation between an actual boost pressure and the expected boost pressure, determining a engine-out soot generation rate correction based upon the deviation between the actual boost pressure and the expected boost pressure, adjusting a steady-state engine-out soot generation rate using the engine-out soot generation rate correction, time-integrating the adjusted steady-state engine-out soot generation rate, and commanding regeneration of the particulate filter when the time-integrated adjusted engine-out soot generation rate exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher C. Swoish, Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Christopher Whitt, Thomas Larose, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9435244
    Abstract: A system includes an exhaust aftertreatment system configured to treat emissions from a combustion engine. The exhaust aftertreatment system includes a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst assembly and at least one radio frequency (RF) probe disposed within the SCR catalyst assembly. A controller is coupled to the exhaust aftertreatment system and utilizes an NH3 storage estimate measured by the at least one RF probe and an NH3 storage estimate determined by an NH3 storage estimate model to output a control action for a reductant injection system. The NH3 storage estimate model utilizes measured concentrations of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the fluid upstream or downstream of the SCR catalyst and/or measured concentrations of NH3 in the fluid upstream or downstream of the SCR catalyst, and the NH3 storage measurement from the at least one RF probe to determine the NH3 storage estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Maruthi Narasinga Rao Devarakonda
  • Patent number: 9429059
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for detecting ammonia slip. In one example method, an exhaust system with two NOx sensors uses transient responses of the NOx sensors to allocate tailpipe NOx sensor output to NOx and NH3 levels therein. An ammonia slip detection counter with gains is included that determines a probability of NOx and NH3 based on the measured sensor activities that are further processed by a controller to adjust one or more parameters based on the allocation and changes of sensor output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Riffle, Frank M. Korpics, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Devesh Upadhyay, David Robert Nader
  • Patent number: 9429060
    Abstract: Reductant delivery systems are disclosed that include a dry reductant source and a liquid reductant source which are operable to selectively provide gaseous reductant and liquid reductant to an exhaust aftertreatment system for treatment and reduction of NOx emissions. The gaseous reductant is provided to the exhaust aftertreatment system for treatment of NOx emissions under a first temperature condition associated with the exhaust system and the liquid reductant for treatment of NOx emissions under a second temperature condition associated with the exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: CUMMINS EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Cary Henry, Steven J. Kolhouse
  • Patent number: 9422848
    Abstract: An engine exhaust gas post-treatment device including a mechanism that can vary opening timing of an exhaust valve, and a control method. A unit is configured to raise a temperature of a part or all of the device to not less than a preset temperature by the mechanism opening the exhaust valve in an exhaust stroke at normal combustion within a range of an afterburning period, and the mechanism feeds the device an exhaust gas whose temperature and pressure are high due to combustion of fuel injected into a cylinder. After the exhaust gas is treated by the device, or when the device is regenerated, the unit adds an unburned fuel component to the exhaust gas by an additional injection of an injector in the cylinder or an injection of a hydrocarbon addition nozzle provided at an exhaust port in accordance with the valve opening timing by the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Daiji Nagaoka, Masashi Gabe
  • Patent number: 9416711
    Abstract: An exhaust gas heat energy recovery and pollution control system for a marine vessel is disclosed. The system includes (a) an exhaust gas boiler that receives exhaust gases from a gas or fuel oil-burning internal combustion engine, (b) a variable capacity wet scrubbing system that sprays a mixture into the exhaust gases, (c) two or more condensing heat exchangers that receive exhaust gases, (d) a variable flow and variable pressure exhaust gas mover that facilitates movement of the exhaust gases, (e) a liquid collection and treatment system that collects liquid condensate, (f) one or more heat sinks to receive thermal energy from exhaust gases, (g) an interconnecting fluid conduit that allows for movement of exhaust gases, and (h) a control system communicatively coupled with a plurality of sensors, actuators, and external interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Inventor: Peter Lee Randall
  • Patent number: 9416706
    Abstract: The invention relates to an exhaust gas treatment system comprising a catalytic particulate filter, a catalytic reduction device for the reduction of nitrogen oxides, which is mounted downstream of the catalytic particulate filter, an injection device mounted upstream of the catalytic particulate filter, a means for determining the temperature of the catalytic particulate filter and an electronic control unit able to command injection of reducing agent. The electronic control unit comprises a first control means able to command injection of the reducing agent in order to obtain a reference quantity of reducing agent stored in the filter that corresponds to a filter temperature below a threshold, and a second control means able to command the injection of reducing agent in order to obtain a reference quantity of reducing agent stored in the device that corresponds to a filter temperature higher than said threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Inventors: David Marie-Luce, Damiano Di-Penta
  • Patent number: 9416715
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for monitoring an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. Temperature profiles upstream and downstream of an installation location of a catalytic converter are measured in order to determine whether or not a catalytic converter is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: MTU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GMBH
    Inventors: Jens Niemeyer, Aron Toth, Tim Spaeder
  • Patent number: 9416708
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method to determine the HC-conversion efficiency of a catalyst, which is situated in the exhaust gas flow path of an internal combustion engine and which is configured to convert hydrocarbons, by means of an oxygen-sensitive sensor that is installed downstream from the catalyst in the exhaust gas flow path and that exhibits a cross sensitivity to hydrocarbons. The method comprises: detecting a first signal of the downstream sensor in a first situation in which a first HC fraction is present in the exhaust gas upstream from the catalyst; detecting a second signal of the downstream sensor in a second situation in which a second HC fraction that is higher than the first HC fraction is present in the exhaust gas upstream from the catalyst; and determining the HC-conversion efficiency of the catalyst as a function of the first and second signals of the downstream sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Christfried Schroeder, Michael Daetz
  • Patent number: 9410458
    Abstract: A control system includes a state of charge module and a control module. The state of charge module receives a parameter associated with a battery in a vehicle and determines a state of charge of the battery based on the parameter. The control module activates a heater in a catalytic converter in an exhaust system of the vehicle based on the state of charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Brian Spohn, Bryan Nathaniel Roos
  • Patent number: 9410467
    Abstract: Various methods and system are described for determining ambient humidity via an exhaust gas sensor disposed in an exhaust system of an engine. In one example, a reference voltage of the sensor is modulated between a first and second voltage during non-fueling conditions of the engine. The ambient humidity is determined based on an average change in pumping current while the voltage is modulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, Timothy Schram, Timothy Joseph Clark, Evangelos Skoures
  • Patent number: 9410495
    Abstract: An object is to provide a diesel engine control apparatus configured to evaluate the activation state of a SCR catalyst at high accuracy by means other than the temperature of the catalyst and to control engine control parameters so as to reduce the amount of NOx emission when the SCR catalyst is in a non-active state. The diesel engine control apparatus includes a diesel engine, an engine control unit, and an SCR catalyst. The engine control unit includes a parameter setting part configured to set engine control parameters; an operation control part configured to control an operation state of the diesel engine on the basis of the at least one engine control parameter; and a purification state determination part configured to determine a NOx purification state of the SCR catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Yamamoto, Tomohide Yamada, Ko Takayanagi
  • Patent number: 9404406
    Abstract: A catalyst for use in a process for purifying exhaust gas from a gasoline engine of the fuel-direct-injection type that varies, in response to changes in the air-fuel ratio, between a first exhaust-gas state featured by an air-fuel ratio in the vicinity of the stoichiometrical air-fuel ratio, and a second exhaust-gas state that forms a more oxidizing, low-temperature atmosphere and that is featured by an air-fuel ratio greater than the stoichiometrical air-fuel ratio, the catalyst being obtained by causing a noble metal and a rare-earth oxide and/or a transition metal to be carried by or to be mixed with a fire-resistant inorganic oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignees: UMICORE SHOKUBAI JAPAN CO., LTD., UMICORE SHOKUBAI USA INC.
    Inventors: Masao Hori, Akihisa Okumura, Makoto Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 9399927
    Abstract: An apparatus for a gas turbine power plant that uniquely configures emission control equipment such that the plant can extend the emissions compliant operational range, the apparatus including a plurality of oxidation (CO) catalysts arranged in series, optimized SCR for high NO2 reduction, Control valves with added capabilities for low turndown and other characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: David McDeed, George Pyros, Anthony Bravato