Anti-pollution Patents (Class 60/274)
  • Patent number: 9394823
    Abstract: An O2 purge control method for two type catalysts may include, performing, by a WCC O2 purge of a warm up catalytic converter (WCC), a sensor based WCC O2 purge logic to which a voltage of a WCC O2 sensor is applied immediately after a fuel-cut; and when the sensor based WCC O2 purge logic is completed, applying an O2ucc learning history and an O2uccReset of an O2ucc (oxygen quantity adsorbed into UCC) for an under floor catalytic converter (UCC) and performing, by any one of a factor based UCC O2 purge logic to which an engine RPM and an Fpurge of a purge oxygen suction quantity [mg] are applied and a sensor based UCC O2 purge logic to which a voltage value of an UCC O2 rear sensor is applied, an UCC O2 purge of the UCC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Muyoung Choi
  • Patent number: 9394837
    Abstract: An engine system and method for operating an engine that includes a particulate filter is described. In one example, spark delivery to one or more engine cylinders is ceased while fuel is continued to be injected to the one or more cylinders to improve particulate filter regeneration. The system and method may be particularly beneficial for direct injection turbocharged engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Adam Nathan Banker, William Charles Ruona, Henry W. Patterson
  • Patent number: 9388771
    Abstract: In an intake controller for an internal combustion engine, an opening controlling unit performs, when a light load operation is performed during a manual forced regeneration process of a diesel particulate filter which reduces an amount of particulate matter included in exhaust gas exhausted from the internal combustion engine, control to form a bypass passage by setting an open-close valve to a fully closed state and a variable turbo nozzle to a fully closed state and which performs, when an amount of the injected fuel detected by a fuel injection amount detecting unit becomes zero, control to set the open-close valve from the fully closed state to a fully opened state and the variable turbo nozzle from the fully closed state to a fully opened state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Murakami, Yoshiki Kanzaki
  • Patent number: 9388757
    Abstract: The exhaust gas purification apparatus 100 according to the present invention is provided with an exhaust gas purification catalyst 40, an upstream O2 sensor 14, a downstream O2 sensor 15, and a control section 30 that executes main F/B control and sub-F/B control. This exhaust gas purification apparatus 100 contains, on a support in a prescribed region 45 from a catalyst-outlet-side end 43a at the downstream side of an exhaust gas purification catalyst 40, an OSC material having a pyrochlore structure and an OSC material having an oxygen storage rate that is faster than that of the OSC material having a pyrochlore structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryota Onoe, Oji Kuno, Yuki Aoki, Nobusuke Kabashima
  • Patent number: 9387438
    Abstract: An engine exhaust after-treatment system including an exhaust passage including a plurality of legs, with an exhaust control valve being positioned at an inlet of each of the legs that is configured to control an amount of exhaust that enters each leg. A desulfurization treatment component is located within each of the legs. An alkaline reagent tank provides an alkaline reagent to the desulfurization treatment component, and a reagent control valve is disposed between the alkaline reagent tank and the desulfurization treatment component. The reagent control valve is configured to control an amount of alkaline reagent that enters the desulfurization component. A controller may be communication with each of the exhaust control valves and reagent control valves, wherein the controller is configured to control the exhaust control valves independently of the reagent control valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Golin, Adam J. Kotrba
  • Patent number: 9388723
    Abstract: A delivery device for delivering liquid reducing agent includes a reducing agent tank. At least a delivery unit, at least one first compensation element, a reducing agent line and a metering unit together have an overall volume to be filled with a reducing agent and are configured for delivering, conducting and metering the reducing agent from the reducing agent tank. The at least one first compensation element is configured for reducing the overall volume when a negative pressure occurs in the delivery device. A method for compensating freezing of a reducing agent in a delivery device and a motor vehicle having a delivery device, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Jan Hodgson, Sven Schepers
  • Patent number: 9381468
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting ammonia slip in an exhaust system based upon transient NOx sensor responses are described. In one example method, an exhaust system allocates tailpipe NOx sensor output to NOx and NH3 levels responsive to the transient sensors using a segment length method that processes the transient signals based on the total segment lengths calculated within a window. A ratio of segment lengths relative to a threshold is determined for a measured and expected NOx rate of change downstream of an SCR that is further used to determine a probability of NOx and NH3 based on the measured sensor activities, and a controller is included to adjust one or more parameters based on the allocation and changes of sensor output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Korpics, Dean Pennala, Devesh Upadhyay, Hao Wu
  • Patent number: 9376949
    Abstract: Embodiments are described to improve the durability of a lean NOx aftertreatment system. According to one embodiment of the present invention an air injection system is used to inject air continuously into the exhaust system between the upstream three-way catalyst and the downstream selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst when the engine is operating at stoichiometric or rich air/fuel ratios and the exhaust temperatures are above a calibratable level (e.g., 700° C.). In another embodiment, an oxidation catalyst is positioned downstream of the air injection point to prevent exothermic reactions from occurring on the SCR. In another embodiment, the reductant for the SCR is generated in-situ. In yet another embodiment, a diverter valve with a reduction catalyst in a bypass arm is utilized to bypass the SCR during high load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Harendra S. Gandhi, Robert Walter McCabe, Joseph Robert Theis
  • Patent number: 9371763
    Abstract: A method of controlling an exhaust gas treatment system of a vehicle includes detecting a request to regenerate a particulate filter, and injecting hydrocarbons at an injection rate into a flow of exhaust gas upstream of an oxidation catalyst to heat the oxidation catalyst. The injection rate is increased at a current acceleration rate, and the current acceleration rate is reduced to define a reduced acceleration rate when the oxidation catalyst is quenched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas LaRose, Jr., David Michael VanBuren, Patrick Barasa, Michael V. Taylor, Kari Jackson
  • Patent number: 9372208
    Abstract: According to a method herein, a multi-level inductor is created around a through-silicon-via (TSV) in a semiconductor substrate. A voltage induced in the multi-level inductor by current flowing in the TSV is sensed, using a computerized device. The voltage is compared to a reference voltage, using the computerized device. An electrical signature of the TSV is determined based on the comparing the voltage to the reference voltage, using the computerized device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. DiRocco, Kirk D. Peterson, Norman W. Robson, Keith C. Stevens
  • Patent number: 9366172
    Abstract: A particulate filter device monitoring system for an internal combustion engine includes a particulate accumulation register configured to store an amount of particulate in a particulate filter. The particulate accumulation register includes a particulate accumulation trigger zone having a power limiting mode trigger. A power limiting mode trigger module is configured to limit output power of the internal combustion engine when the amount of particulate accumulation reaches the power limiting mode trigger. A particulate accumulation model module includes a particulate accumulation model configured to calculate changes in particulate accumulation in the particulate accumulation register at a first sampling rate when particulate accumulation is outside the particulate accumulation trigger zone, and at a second sampling rate when particulate accumulation is within the particulate accumulation trigger zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Whitt, Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Christopher C. Swoish
  • Patent number: 9366164
    Abstract: A DPF system for an engine generator that performing a recovery process on a filter (DPF) provided to remove particulate matter generated by combustion of fuel when an amount of the particulate matter in the DPF exceeds a predetermined value, the engine generator performing the recovery process by carrying out an automatic recovery operation to raise a temperature of exhaust gas to combust the particulate matter, the system comprising: a dummy load connected to the engine generator when necessary; and control device for allowing the engine to perform a recovery preparation operation in such a manner that, once the amount of the particulate matter exceeds the predetermined value, the recovery operation is performed when the temperature of exhaust gas reaches a reference temperature, and the dummy load is connected to the generator to raise the temperature of exhaust gas when the temperature thereof fails to reach the reference temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: DENYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji Matsuo, Yasuhiro Kobayashi, Shinji Matsuda, Tadahiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 9359928
    Abstract: A pump assembly (214) for an exhaust treatment system is provided that may include a housing (220), a gas flow path (259), a reductant flow path (239) and a pump (224). The housing may include a first inlet (236) configured to receive a reductant from a tank (210), a second inlet (252) configured to receive a gas from a gas compressor (13), and an outlet (262) through which the gas and the reductant exit the housing. The gas flow path may extend between and fluidly communicate with the second inlet and the outlet. The reductant flow path may extend between and fluidly communicate with the first inlet and the outlet. The pump may be at least partially disposed within the housing and may include a motor in a heat transfer relationship with gas flowing through the gas flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Gaofeng Fan, Jianqiang Fan, Yang Yang, Mingdao Xu, Bo Hu, Jianzhong Guan, Yingxin Jian
  • Patent number: 9359967
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating catalyst transfer function gain are disclosed. In one example, an air-fuel ratio forcing function is applied to a catalyst. Air-fuel ratios upstream and downstream of the catalyst are manipulated to determine a transfer function gain of the catalyst. The transfer function gain may be a basis for indicating the presence or absence of catalyst degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mario Anthony Santillo, Steve William Magner, Michael James Uhrich, Mrdjan J. Jankovic
  • Patent number: 9353664
    Abstract: In a system with an SCR catalytic converter, a correction by a changeable long term adaption factor to a target dosing rate is provided for the model dosing rate and a correction by a changeable short term adaption factor to an assumed actual filling state for the ammonia filling level value. A dosing unit controllable by a control unit adds an ammonia-containing reducing agent to the exhaust gas and an exhaust gas enriched with ammonia according to the dosing is fed to the SCR catalytic converter. An ammonia filling level value for a filling level of ammonia stored in the SCR catalytic converter and a model dosing rate for dosing the reducing agent into the exhaust gas are calculated by a computer model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Bernd Christner, Uwe Hofmann, Alexander Kaiser, Markus Paule
  • Patent number: 9346366
    Abstract: A charge/discharge system is mounted on an electric vehicle using a motor as a driving source, which is driven by electric power charged in a battery, and controls at least one of charge from the outside of the vehicle to the battery and discharge from the battery to the outside of the vehicle. The charge/discharge system comprises a power supply unit for controlling power supply to supply power only to a unit contributing charge/discharge among units connected to a wiring system of driving power for the motor when charge/discharge to/from the battery from/to the outside of the vehicle is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihide Satake, Takanori Matsunaga, Yoichi Okubo
  • Patent number: 9347354
    Abstract: An SCR-catalytically active diesel particle filter having a ceramic wall flow filter substrate with inflow channels, outflow channels, walls separating the inflow and outflow channels, and two coatings. The first coating is applied in inflow channels, is composed of high-melting point materials, and closes the inflow sides of pores in walls connecting the inflow channels and outflow channels to soot particles without preventing passage of gaseous exhaust gas constituents. The second coating is within the walls between inflow channels and outflow channels, and effectively catalyzes the selective reduction of nitrogen oxides when in the presence of a reducing agent. The particle filter displays excellent banking-up pressure properties combined with high filtration efficiency and good regeneration properties; and displays good aging stability of NOx conversion activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: UMICORE AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Marcus Pfeifer, Stephan Basso, Franz Dornhaus
  • Patent number: 9347359
    Abstract: Described herein is an air dithering system for an internal combustion engine generating exhaust gas that includes an exhaust line in exhaust gas receiving communication with the internal combustion engine. The system also includes an exhaust aftertreatment component positioned within the exhaust line in exhaust gas receiving communication with exhaust gas in the exhaust line. Further, the system includes an air injector in air injecting communication with exhaust gas in the exhaust line at a location downstream of the internal combustion engine and upstream of the exhaust aftertreatment component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: CUMMINS IP, INC.
    Inventors: Leon A. LaPointe, Scott Miles, Jay Shah
  • Patent number: 9347352
    Abstract: A correction device for an air/fuel ratio sensor in the present invention, the sensor issuing an output according to an air/fuel ratio and installed on the downstream from catalyst of the exhaust passage, has air/fuel ratio control means for controlling an air/fuel ratio of an exhaust gas on the upstream side from a catalyst to switch between a rich air/fuel ratio which is richer and a lean air/fuel ratio which is leaner than a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio. Moreover, correction means for correcting an output of the sensor in accordance with a difference between the output of the sensor during a predetermined period during air/fuel ratio control by the air/fuel ratio control means, and a reference output corresponding to a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiichiro Aoki, Takanori Sasaki, Go Hayashita
  • Patent number: 9341545
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for testing the catalytic efficiency of exhaust components, particularly exhaust components used in heavy-duty diesel engine exhaust systems. The exhaust component typically has a plurality of elongate channels through which exhaust gases flow, the channels extending between a first end face and a second end face of the exhaust component. The method comprises causing an exhaust gas to flow through the exhaust component, and making measurements of a property of the exhaust gas before and after it has flowed through the exhaust component, wherein the flow of the exhaust gas through the channels is restricted such that the volume of the exhaust component through which the exhaust gas flows is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Ceramex Ltd
    Inventor: Peter Ivan Forster
  • Patent number: 9334772
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling the operation of a particulate filter is disclosed. The objective of this control system is to manipulate the properties and spatial distribution of contaminant material accumulated in filters to reduce filter pressure drop and associated deleterious impacts of the contaminant material on filter performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Alexander Sappok, Victor Wong
  • Patent number: 9334822
    Abstract: The first target A/F directing toward a richer side from the initial target A/F to the theoretical A/F is calculated; and the first estimated catalyst's oxygen amount is calculated based on the detected A/F and the theoretical A/F. Until the first estimated catalyst's oxygen amount reaches the first target catalyst's oxygen amount, calculations of the first target A/F and of the first estimated catalyst's oxygen amount continue. After the first estimated catalyst's oxygen amount reaches the first target catalyst's oxygen amount, the second target A/F directing toward a richer side from the theoretical A/F to the final target A/F is calculated; and the second estimated catalyst's oxygen amount is calculated based on the detected A/F and the final target A/F. Until the second estimated catalyst's oxygen amount reaches the second target catalyst's oxygen amount, calculations of the second target A/F and of the second estimated catalyst's oxygen amount continue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigemasa Shimojo, Masayuki Tani
  • Patent number: 9335094
    Abstract: An engine exhaust-driven heating device generates a high volume, steady stream of hot gas by passing an exhaust stream from a gasoline, propane, natural gas, or combustible fueled internal combustion engine through a catalyst that reduces the atmospheric emissions of the stream and liberates the energy of the pollutants in the stream. The device then combines the catalytic-treated air stream with a fresh air stream to further react with remaining pollutants and generate additional heat. The hot gas may be used to dry a variety of surfaces and, when integrated without other components typically found in surface drying equipment, provides an ideal system for use in a variety of moderate- to large-sized portable surface drying equipment. The heating device provides a reliable and continuous heat source and, when integrated into a controlled delivery system, dries the moisture from a surface faster and more effectively than prior art heating devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Green Flag Surface Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Brush, John W. Robinson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9335004
    Abstract: A combustion product control system includes a first sensing device that measures a concentration of NOx in a fluid stream and a second sensing device that measures NH3 slip in the stream. The system also includes at least one combustion product control element. The system further includes at least one processor coupled to the sensing devices and the control element. The processor is programmed to generate predetermined parameters for NOx values in the stream at least partially as a function of transient stream conditions. The processor is also configured to use model predictive control (MPC) processing to generate predetermined values for a NH3 injection rate during stream transients. The predetermined values vary at least partially as a function of modeled stream characteristics. The processor is further configured to regulate the control element to facilitate simultaneous regulation of the NOx and NH3 slip in the stream within respective predetermined parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Sidharth Abrol
  • Patent number: 9322351
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine comprising an emission control system that includes at least one catalytic and/or filter-effective emission control component. In conjunction with a cold start and/or a warm-up of the internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine is operated using a cold start engine operation process having predefined values for predefined operating parameters of the internal combustion engine. An amount of hydrocarbons (HC) stored in one or more of the at least one emission control component is estimated, and the cold start engine operation process is activated when the estimation indicates that the amount of stored HC exceeds a predefined maximum amount of stored HC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Thomas Koch, Alexander Massner, Anke Traebert
  • Patent number: 9309797
    Abstract: An engine assembly includes an exhaust system having a first SCR catalyst, a second SCR catalyst in fluid communication with the first SCR catalyst, and an injector configured to inject reductant into the exhaust system. A controller is configured to estimate a first amount of ammonia stored in the first SCR catalyst and to estimate a second amount of ammonia stored in the second SCR catalyst. The controller is operatively connected to the injector and configured to control the amount of reductant injected by the injector. The controller controls the injector based on the first amount, the second amount, and a temperature of a substrate disposed in the second SCR catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Min Sun, Justin Adam Shetney, Amr Radwan
  • Patent number: 9309799
    Abstract: A method and a device for determining the oxygen storage capacity of an emission control system in an exhaust duct of an internal combustion engine. In a first phase, the internal combustion engine being operated using an air-fuel mixture having a rich air-to-fuel ratio, and in a second phase, the engine being operated at a lean air-to-fuel ratio; and an oxygen storage capacity of the emission control system being determined from an oxygen input into the emission control system during the second phase; and/or in order to determine a hydrocarbon gas storage capacity, the internal combustion engine being operated during the first phase at a lean air-to-fuel ratio, and operated in the second phase at a rich air-to-fuel ratio; and the hydrocarbon gas storage capacity being determined from the oxygen discharge from the emission control system during the second phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Siyun Chu, Matthias Kuentzle, Richard Holberg
  • Patent number: 9303575
    Abstract: Systems and methods for continuous automatic adjustment of a control set point of an air-fuel ratio controller of a rich burn engine so as to maintain emissions within a desired range. In an embodiment, a NOx sensor is placed in the exhaust outlet from an exhaust catalyst and the NOx exhaust sensor output is continuously monitored while adjusting the control set point between rich and lean in order to minimize the output from the NOx sensor. Corrections may be continuously made to the set point during operation of the engine to compensate for changes in environmental conditions, engine loads, and other factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL CONTROLS CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Gordon Fisher, Richard Ross Fisher, Galina Laur, Hillary H. Grimes, III, Kristian W. Yates, John A. Zahir, John C. Vronay
  • Patent number: 9297289
    Abstract: In cases where an NOx selective reduction catalyst is provided at a location downstream of an NOx storage reduction catalyst, NOx purification performance in an exhaust gas purification apparatus as a whole is maintained, irrespective of deterioration of the NOx storage reduction catalyst. For this purpose, the reduction of NOx in the NOx storage reduction catalyst is promoted more when the degree of deterioration of the NOx storage reduction catalyst or the NOx selective reduction catalyst is low than when it is high, and the reduction of NOx in the NOx selective reduction catalyst is promoted more when the degree of deterioration of the NOx storage reduction catalyst or the NOx selective reduction catalyst is high than when it is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Sakurai, Toru Kidokoro, Yasuyuki Irisawa, Tuyoshi Obuchi
  • Patent number: 9291085
    Abstract: A method of estimating an ideal air-fuel ratio in an internal combustion engine, comprises receiving an output of an upstream air-fuel ratio sensor and an output of a downstream air-fuel ratio sensor, the upstream air-fuel ratio sensor being attached to an exhaust gas passage such that it is positioned upstream of a catalyst provided in the exhaust gas passage to purify an exhaust gas, the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor being attached to the exhaust gas passage such that it is positioned downstream of the catalyst; detecting a state in which the catalyst does not store or release oxygen based on the output of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor; and deciding as an estimated ideal air-fuel ratio in the internal combustion engine an air-fuel ratio detected by the upstream air-fuel ratio sensor when the state in which the catalyst does not store or release oxygen is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Yanase, Junji Tamura, Kouzou Suzuki, Takashi Abe, Yoshinobu Mori
  • Patent number: 9284872
    Abstract: System, apparatus, and methods are disclosed for reductant dosing in an exhaust aftertreatment system. A dynamic flow rate and injection duration of a reductant injected from a reductant dosing system to the exhaust aftertreatment system is controlled in response to a dosing command when the exhaust system is operating in a low temperature operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: CUMMINS EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Jinqian Gong, Josh S. Shao, Quazi Syed Fawad
  • Patent number: 9273596
    Abstract: A secondary air injection system to aid in the warm-up of a catalyst employed as part of an emissions control system of a vehicle to obtain efficient reduction in engine emissions. A compressor utilized to compress or boost air for increased engine performance is additionally used as a secondary air injection source, eliminating the need for external air pumps. The compressor is configured to transmit boosted air to the engine of the vehicle or to the catalyst to aid in the warm-up of the catalyst. A valve having an open configuration and a closed configuration controls the passage of the boosted air to the engine or to the catalyst. The valve may be controlled by a controller based upon airflow, temperature, pressure, or time. A control map relating engine speed to airflow may be used for obtaining airflow values for controlling the configuration of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy D. Tracey
  • Patent number: 9261005
    Abstract: An exhaust gas heat recovery device of the present invention recovers heat of an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine. The exhaust gas heat recovery device includes an exhaust pipe that leads the exhaust gas from an upstream side to a downstream side, a cylindrical shell that covers an outside of the exhaust pipe, and an exhaust gas heat recovery section that is interposed between the exhaust pipe and the cylindrical shell and that performs heat exchange between the exhaust gas and a heat exchange medium. The exhaust gas heat recovery section includes a stacked body that is composed by stacking a plurality of jacket each having a heat exchange medium conduit provided thereinside. In the stacked body, the respective heat exchange medium conduits in the plurality of jacket parts are serially connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hisayuki Kato, Hirohisa Okami
  • Patent number: 9261033
    Abstract: Systems and methods for diagnosing operation of a catalyst are presented. In one example, threshold limits for catalyst variables are adjusted in response to attributes of a catalyst monitor sensor that may vary with sensor age. The catalyst variables may provide insight into whether or not the catalyst is degraded or operating as intended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brent Edward Sealy, Michael Casedy, Timothy Robert Gernant
  • Patent number: 9249710
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes an engine, an injector injecting a reducing agent to an exhaust gas exhausted from the engine, a determination portion determining whether or not a temperature of the injector is high, a stop determination portion determining whether or not the engine has stopped while the injector is in a high-temperature state as a result of determination by the determination portion, a counter counting the number of times of stop of the engine while the injector is in the high-temperature state based on a result of determination by the stop determination portion, and a warning portion giving a warning in connection with stop of the engine when a count value of the counter exceeds a first prescribed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Tadashi Mori, Jin Yogita
  • Patent number: 9243538
    Abstract: Internal combustion diesel engine systems and methods of operation are disclosed that include a diesel engine, an exhaust gas recirculation system, a wastegated turbocharger, an exhaust throttle, and a vanadia selective catalytic reduction catalyst downstream of the exhaust throttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Jennifer Kay Light-Holets
  • Patent number: 9243544
    Abstract: A flexible line element (14), for an exhaust system (4) of an internal combustion engine (1), especially of a motor vehicle, includes a metal bellows (15), which is corrugated in a ring-shaped or helical pattern and through which an exhaust gas stream (8) can flow. The risk of deposition of urea and/or urea derivatives in the metal bellows (15) is reduced by a conical flow guide body (16), through which the exhaust gas stream (8) can flow, and which tapers in the direction of flow of the exhaust gas stream and which protrudes into an inlet area (17) of the metal bellows (15). The flexible line element (14) is combined with the flow guide body (16) integrated therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heike Többen, Silvia Calvo
  • Patent number: 9239019
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for passive regeneration of a particulate matter filter coupled to a gasoline engine. During vehicle deceleration conditions, an engine is operated leaner than stoichiometry over two subsequent lean phases, including an initial longer and leaner phase followed by a shorter and less lean phase. By passively regenerating the filter using intermittent lean engine operation, engine performance can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christine Kay Lambert, Martyn Vincent Twigg
  • Patent number: 9238901
    Abstract: A supporting mechanism supports first and second exhaust treatment devices for treating exhaust gas from an engine, and includes a sub-bracket, a base bracket, and first and second supporting members. The base bracket includes first and second connecting parts, and first and second pipe members. The sub-bracket supports the first and second exhaust treatment devices. The base bracket supports the sub-bracket. The first and second supporting members respectively support one side and the other side of the base bracket. The first and second connecting parts are respectively joined to the first and second supporting members. The first and second pipe members are installed between the first and second connecting parts. The sub-bracket is attached to the first and second pipe members, extends in the lateral direction of the first and second pipe members, and is separated from the first and second connecting parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kamimae, Hisato Kitaoka, Toshimitsu Honda, Masaya Ota
  • Patent number: 9234474
    Abstract: A method of determining an amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) stored in a NOx trap of an engine exhaust assembly may include determining a mass flow rate of NOx into the NOx trap, determining an efficiency of storing of the NOx within the trap, and calculating the amount of NOx stored in the NOx trap based on the determined mass flow rate and the determined efficiency. The method may further include determining a mass flow rate of a reductant entering the NOx trap, determining a relationship between the determined reductant mass flow rate and the NOx removed from the NOx trap, and calculating the amount of NOx removed from the NOx trap based on the determined mass flow rate and the determined relationship. The calculated amount of NOx stored may be adjusted by subsequent amounts of calculated NOx stored and subsequent amounts of NOx removed from the NOx trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: David J. Stroh
  • Patent number: 9228474
    Abstract: A method and a system determines failure of a urea quality sensor. The method may include: determining whether a urea temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature; determining, if the urea temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature, whether a vehicle speed is faster than a predetermined vehicle speed; determining, if the vehicle speed is faster than the predetermined vehicle speed, whether a difference between a current urea quality and a previous urea quality is higher than a predetermined urea quality; and storing a failure code if the difference between the current urea quality and the previous urea quality is higher than the predetermined urea quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jae-Yoon Jung
  • Patent number: 9228517
    Abstract: A process is proposed for determining the lambda value upstream from the exhaust catalytic converter in which variation in the lambda value (??) from the stoichiometric value is determined on the basis of variation in the charging (?OSC) of the oxygen reservoir (7) of the exhaust catalytic converter (6) and variation in the charging (?OSC) of the oxygen reservoir (7) is ascertained from the voltage signal (U?downstream) of a binary lambda probe (8) associated with the exhaust catalytic converter (6). In accordance with the proposal a control probe upstream from the exhaust catalytic converter can be omitted; this results in cost savings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Bodo Odendall
  • Patent number: 9228466
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine comprises a charge-air cooler for cooling charge air and comprises a dosing valve. The charge air comprises exhaust gases which are conducted to the charge air cooler, with an adjustable exhaust-gas recirculation rate, from an exhaust tract of the internal combustion engine. In the method, a dosing valve temperature of the dosing valve is determined, and a charge-air temperature of the charge air is detected. Coolant is supplied to the dosing valve and to the charge-air cooler by means of a common adjustable coolant pump as a function of the dosing valve temperature. Furthermore, an exhaust-gas recirculation rate is adjusted as a function of the charge-air temperature and the dosing valve temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Michael Greiner
  • Patent number: 9228469
    Abstract: A system includes a controller configured to determine if a combustion engine is operating under a desired rich fuel condition. The controller is also configured, if the combustion engine is operating under the desired rich fuel condition, to monitor a catalytic activity within an ASC assembly that converts NH3 within treated exhaust gases from the combustion engine into N2 to determine whether the catalytic activity has been deactivated in the ASC assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Maruthi Narasinga Rao Devarakonda
  • Patent number: 9221014
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system may include a tank, an injector, a supply conduit, a pump, a pressure sensor, and a control module. The tank may contain a volume of a fluid. The injector may be configured to inject the fluid into a stream of exhaust gas discharged from the combustion engine. The supply conduit may fluidly connect the tank and the injector. The pump may pump the fluid from the tank to the injector. The control module may be in communication with the pressure sensor and the pump and may control the pump based on first and second measurements from the pressure sensor. The first measurement may be indicative of a first pressure within the supply conduit when the pump is operating. The second measurement from the pressure sensor may be indicative of a second pressure within the supply conduit when the pump is not operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Butzke
  • Patent number: 9221458
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, power inverter module, transmission, engine brake, and control system. The transmission has a stationary member, gearbox, and electric traction motor controlled via pulse width modulation. The engine brake selectively connects the engine to the stationary member in an electric vehicle drive mode. The control system executes a method to detect a requested autostart of the engine during the electric vehicle drive mode, disconnects the engine from the stationary member via the engine brake in response to the detected requested autostart, determines a driver-requested output torque and a maximum output torque of the transmission, and executes one of an engine self-lifting control routine and a motor over-modulation routine when the driver-requested output torque exceeds the calculated maximum output torque by less than a calibrated threshold, both routines when the driver-requested output torque exceeds the calculated maximum output torque by more than the calibrated threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Goro Tamai, Lan Wang
  • Patent number: 9222389
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for determining a feed rate for direct introduction of a reductant gas into an exhaust stream to achieve a NOx emissions target and for controlling a reductant introduction device to admit the reductant gas into the exhaust stream at the determined feed rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Cary Henry, Michael J. Ruth
  • Patent number: 9222394
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification method of a diesel engine, which purifies exhaust gas while suppressing deterioration in drivability and fuel consumption, including when exhaust gas enters a rich reduction state, opening an EGR valve and closing an intake throttle, if a temperature of an NOx occlusion reduction catalyst is at or above a predetermined temperature, and a vehicle having a diesel engine is decelerating from a speed at or above a predetermined speed, and then closing an exhaust throttle provided downstream of the NOx occlusion reduction catalyst and supplying fuel to the NOx occlusion reduction catalyst as a reductant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Daiji Nagaoka, Teruo Nakada, Hiroyuki Yuza
  • Patent number: 9212586
    Abstract: An object is to reduce the increase in the fuel consumption or the increase in emissions caused by processing for raising the temperature of an NOx catalyst in an exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine having the NOx catalyst arranged in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine. To achieve the above object, an exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to the present invention executes processing for raising the temperature of the NOx catalyst on condition that a temperature change ratio with a predetermined amount of assumed temperature rise of the NOx catalyst is equal to or higher than a reference value. According to the present invention, it is possible to activate the NOx quickly while keeping the unwanted increase in the fuel consumption and emissions caused by the temperature raising processing small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuki Iwatani
  • Patent number: 9212581
    Abstract: A method pertaining to an SCR system which includes a dosing unit (250) to supply reducing agent to an exhaust duct (240) for exhaust cleaning, and a container for reducing agent: the steps of determining (s320) a cooling requirement of the dosing unit (250) and choosing (s340) a limit level for reducing agent in the container (205) on the basis of the cooling requirement. A computer program product containing program code (P) implements a method according to the invention. A device of an SCR system includes a dosing unit (250) to supply reducing agent to an exhaust duct (240) for exhaust cleaning. A motor vehicle (100) is equipped with the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SCANIA CV AB
    Inventors: Andreas Liljestrand, Per Bremberg, Daniel Arvidsson