Automatic Or Timed Reactor Purge Or Heat-up In Engine Starting Operation Patents (Class 60/284)
  • Publication number: 20030182931
    Abstract: An in-cylinder injection type spark-ignition internal combustion engine and a control method thereof realize a stabilized stratified-charge combustion by setting a large lift amount to an intake valve when the engine is cold-started and by executing a compression stroke injection. At this time, warming-up capability of a catalyst is improved by delaying an ignition timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukihiro Sonoda, Yasuyuki Irisawa, Takashi Tsunooka, Koichi Kitaura
  • Publication number: 20030182932
    Abstract: A HC adsorption type three-way catalytic converter is arranged in an exhaust gas passage of a diesel engine at a position upstream of a diesel particulate filter or a NOx trapping catalytic converter. Upon need of reactivation of the diesel particulate filter or NOx trapping catalytic converter under cold operation of the engine, a control unit carries out lowering an excess air ratio of the exhaust gas of the engine when the temperature of the catalyst bed of the three-way catalytic converter is lower than or equal to a first predetermined temperature (viz., oxidization activation temperature); raising the excess air ratio of the exhaust gas when the temperature of the catalyst bed of the three-way catalytic converter is higher than the first predetermined temperature but lower than or equal to a second predetermined temperature (viz.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Miura, Takashi Shirakawa
  • Publication number: 20030177761
    Abstract: A heating of a catalytic converter in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine is presented which can be operated in different operating modes and wherein at least one of several heating measures can be selected so that, at first, an estimate can be made for several heating measures as to whether an individual heating measure can make the desired heating effect available and that it is further estimated whether an individual heating method can be carried out in the instantaneous operating state with a view to the exhaust-gas values and the operating mode of the internal combustion engine, which is necessary for carrying out the heating measure; and that that operating mode is requested wherein the requests can best be satisfied and that at least one possible heating measure is activated in dependence upon the instantaneous mode of operation. The invention further is directed to an electronic control unit for carrying out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Jens Wagner, Andreas Roth, Detlef Heinrich, Klaus Winkler
  • Publication number: 20030172643
    Abstract: A vehicle control device is installed in a hybrid vehicle which can run by a driving force of at least one of an engine and a motor, and charges a battery by driving the engine when an amount of electric power stored in a battery which supplies the electric power to a motor becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined lower limit. The vehicle control device preheats the engine, a catalyst and the like when an amount of the electric power stored in the battery becomes equal to a value which is set as an amount of stored electric power that is larger than the lower limit. Thus, since the engine and the like have already been warmed when the engine is started, deterioration of emission can be prevented, and the vehicle can run properly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoto Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6619034
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus 10 for reducing the amount of vehicular emissions during and shortly after a vehicle 12 has been started. The assembly includes at least one heater 80, 82 which is coupled to a catalytic converter assembly 22 and which heats the catalytic assembly 22 during and/or for a period occurring shortly after the vehicle 12 has been started. The assembly 10 also includes a load, such as motor/generator 16, which is selectively applied to the internal combustion engine of the vehicle 12 during and/or for a period occurring shortly after the vehicle 12 has been started in order to increase the temperature and the amount of exhaust gasses which are communicated to the catalytic converter assembly 22 from the internal combustion engine 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Harold Sean Hilbert
  • Patent number: 6615578
    Abstract: The invention provides an HC-discharge suppressing device and an operational method of suppressing the discharge of HC for a vehicle equipped with an engine that has an exhaust system including an HC adsorbent and an HC oxidation catalyst and that is stopped temporarily upon fulfillment of a predetermined condition for operating the vehicle. According to the device and method of the invention, the engine is controlled after cold start thereof in accordance with a temperature of the HC adsorbent and a temperature of the HC oxidation catalyst, in such a manner as to minimize the amount of HC discharged from the exhaust system to the atmosphere. Thus, if such an HC-discharge suppressing device is installed in a vehicle whose engine is frequently started at a low temperature, it becomes possible to reduce the amount of HC discharged from an exhaust system of the vehicle to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Yamazaki, Takashi Suzuki, Masaki Kusada
  • Patent number: 6609365
    Abstract: A method of reducing emissions in the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine that has at least one cylinder to which an air/fuel mixture is supplied when a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine is rotated, at least one intake valve, at least one exhaust valve, and a piston reciprocating between a top dead-center position and a bottom dead-center position in the cylinder. The method comprises the following steps: an air/fuel mixture with a lambda value greater than 1 is supplied to the cylinder, an electric motor/generator connected to the crankshaft maintains an essentially constant predetermined speed of the crankshaft, and the exhaust valve is controlled so that it opens before the piston has passed the bottom dead-center position is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Göran Almkvist, Karin Thorn
  • Publication number: 20030154711
    Abstract: A vehicle engine control system controls an engine that includes a plurality of cylinders and that generates exhaust gas. An air-assisted direct injection fuel system supplies an air/fuel mixture to the cylinders. A catalytic converter reduces harmful emissions from the exhaust gas after the catalytic converter reaches a light-off temperature. A controller communicates with the engine, the catalytic converter and the air-assisted direct injection fuel system. The controller optimizes cam phasing, the air/fuel mixture and spark angle for full and partial engine operating modes. The controller deactivates at least one of the cylinders of the engine before the catalytic converter achieves the light-off temperature to hasten light-off of the catalytic converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Alan William Hayman, Gary J. Patterson
  • Patent number: 6601384
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed that accelerates the rise in temperature of a catalyst provided in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. The system increases the intake air amount after the engine starts and retards the ignition timing according to a rotational speed of the engine. In this control system, a failure of the catalyst temperature rise acceleration control is diagnosed according to the engine rotational speed and/or a retard amount of the ignition timing during the execution of the catalyst temperature rise acceleration control. The above failure may also be diagnosed according to at least one of the ignition timing and the engine rotational speed when decreasing the intake air amount during the execution of the catalyst temperature rise acceleration control. The above failure may also be diagnosed according to a detected catalyst temperature and an estimated catalyst temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Isobe, Kojiro Tsutsumi, Manabu Niki, Hiroyuki Ando
  • Publication number: 20030140618
    Abstract: A device and method for controlling an internal combustion engine (2) includes a charger (7) for increasing pressure of air supplied to the engine. IN addition, a catalyzer (10) for refining exhaust of the engine is provided. In dependence on the temperature of the catalyzer (10), the charger (7) is activated and the time point of the combustion is shifted in the direction of “late”.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Peter Schenk, Volker Ricken
  • Publication number: 20030131588
    Abstract: A method of heating a main catalytic converter positioned downstream from at least one primary catalytic converter by supplying unburned fuel generated by the engine in the exhaust gas upstream from the main catalytic converter while at the same time surplus air is present upstream from the main catalytic converter, where the generation of unburned fuel by the engine takes place at a separate time and/or place from the generation of surplus air in the exhaust gas by the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: Eberhard Schnaibel, Oliver Wiemers, Matthias Dall, Andreas Kufferath
  • Publication number: 20030130785
    Abstract: A plant controller controls a plant modeled in a discrete-time system. The controller uses a frequency-shaping response-designating control algorithm having a filtering function to cause a difference between output of the plant and a target value to converge. Thus, the plant is robustly controlled without causing undesired frequency components. When the plant is an engine, the engine is modeled using a ignition timing corrective quantity as input and a rotational speed as output. The controller performs the frequency-shaping response-designating control algorithm to determine the ignition timing corrective quantity. The frequency-shaping response-designating control may be frequency-shaping sliding-mode control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Yosuke Ishikawa, Yuji Yasui
  • Patent number: 6588205
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus is provided which includes a three way catalyst provided in an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine; and a NOx adsorption/reduction catalyst provided in the exhaust pipe to be located downstream of the three way catalyst. Nickel serving as a catalyst source is loaded on an alumina support layer of the NOx adsorption/reduction catalyst. When the engine operates with a fuel-rich air/fuel mixture at a relatively small air-fuel ratio, a reducing atmosphere is formed around the NOx catalyst, and the reaction to convert NiO into NiS occurs, thereby to consume H2S. As a result, consumption of SO2 proceeds, and the reaction to convert BaSO4 as an oxidized product of sulfur deposited on the NOx catalyst into BaCO3 as an NOx adsorbent is accelerated in an oxidizing atmosphere, thereby resuming the purifying capability of the NOx catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shiro Kumagai, Kazuo Koga
  • Publication number: 20030115855
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying catalyst comprises a substrate, an inner catalytic layer coated on the substrate, an intermediate catalytic layer containing Pd laid over said inner catalytic layer, and an outer catalytic layer containing a NOx adsorption material laid over said intermediate catalytic layer. The Pd isolated from the NOx adsorption material is prevented from lowering its low temperature activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji Miyoshi, Akihide Takami, Hiroshi Yamada, Kenji Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20030110762
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine that has a plurality of cylinders and that generates exhaust gas. A catalytic converter reduces harmful emissions from the exhaust gas after achieving a light off temperature. A controller is connected to the engine and the catalytic converter. The controller deactivates the cylinder(s) of the engine before the catalytic converter achieves the light off temperature if the engine is operating at idle or low load. The controller waits a first period before deactivating the cylinder(s). The controller optimizes engine operating parameters to reduce a second period that is required to achieve the light off temperature. A temperature sensor is connected to the controller and senses ambient temperature. The controller does not deactivate the cylinders if the ambient temperature is below a first predetermined temperature. The controller activates all of the cylinders if the engine is operating at high load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventor: Frederick J. Rozario
  • Patent number: 6575129
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method of reducing emissions in the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder to which an air/fuel mixture is supplied when a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine rotates, at least one inlet valve, at least one exhaust valve, control members for controlling the opening and closing of the inlet and exhaust valves, and a piston reciprocating between a top dead-center position and a bottom dead-center position in the cylinder. The method includes the steps of supplying an air/fuel mixture with lambda value greater than 1 to the cylinder, controlling the internal combustion engine so that it works at high load, and controlling the inlet valve so that it opens after the piston has passed the top dead-center position. According to an embodiment of the invention, the internal combustion engine is controlled so that the crankshaft rotates at an essentially constant speed within a range of about 1000 to about 2000 rpm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Göran Almkvist, Karin Thorn, Sten Sjöström
  • Publication number: 20030101713
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods to improve the performance and emission control of internal combustion engines equipped with nitrogen oxides storage-reduction (“NSR”) emission control systems. The system comprises a NSR catalyst, a fuel processor located upstream of the NSR catalyst, and at least one fuel injection port. The fuel processor converts a fuel into a reducing gas mixture comprising CO and H2. The reducing gas mixture is then fed into the NSR catalyst, where it regenerates the NSR adsorbent, reduces the NOx to nitrogen, and optionally periodically desulfates the NSR catalyst. The fuel processor comprises one or more catalysts, which facilitate reactions such as combustion, partial oxidation, and/or reforming and help consume excess oxygen present in an engine exhaust stream. The methods of the present invention provide for NSR catalyst adsorbent regeneration. Control strategies are provided to control the system and methods of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Ralph Dalla Betta, Joel Cizeron
  • Patent number: 6568175
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine having an intake system and an exhaust system is disclosed. The exhaust system includes a catalyst, and the intake system includes a throttle valve. The engine is mounted on a vehicle having a brake booster to which an intake pressure at downstream of the throttle valve is introduced. The catalyst temperature rise control in which the intake air amount is increased after starting of the engine and the ignition timing is retarded according to a rotational speed of the engine is performed. When a pressure difference between the detected intake pressure and the atmospheric pressure during the catalyst temperature raising control is less than a predetermined pressure, the increased intake air amount and the retard amount of the ignition timing is gradually decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Izumiura, Katsuhiro Kumagai, Takashi Kiyomiya, Atsushi Matsubara, Shinichi Kitajima, Kan Nakaune
  • Patent number: 6568174
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement are provided for reducing warm-up emissions in the exhaust system of a direct-injection internal-combustion engine. The method includes the steps of adjusting a lean air/fuel mixture for the engine-related combustion; implementing a late injection into the exhaust gas during the exhaust cycle of the internal-combustion engine, so that the exhaust gas contains an essentially stoichiometric air/fuel mixture; and igniting the stoichiometric air/fuel mixture contained in the exhaust gas in the proximity of a catalyst device for heating up the catalyst device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignees: Dr. Ing H.C.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft, Audi AG, Volkswagen AG, DaimlerChrysler AG, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
    Inventors: Ngoc-Hoa Huynh, Lorenz Salzer, Peter Gerl, Alf Degen
  • Patent number: 6560959
    Abstract: An upstream-side catalyst is provided at a location in close to an exhaust manifold of an engine. An HC absorbent and a downstream-side catalyst are installed in series at the downstream side. With the upstream-side catalyst put in an inactive state, the HC absorbent absorbs HC having passing through the upstream-side catalyst. After the upstream-side catalyst has been activated, HC released from the HC absorbent is refluxed to the upstream side of the upstream-side catalyst through a reflux path to be removed by the upstream-side catalyst. At that time, the ECU executes catalyst-early-warming control right after an engine start in order to raise the temperature of the upstream-side catalyst at an early time so as to shorten the time it takes to activate the upstream-side catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Katsuta, Yoshihiro Majima, Yukihiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 6560960
    Abstract: In the case that an engine is operated in a state where an in-cylinder air/fuel ratio is lean in a stratified combustion region and a fuel cut control is performed under a predetermined condition, when catalysts are in a low temperature state where a purification performance is deteriorated or when a NOx absorptive amount of the lean NOx catalyst, a control procedure for exhaust air/fuel state at a recovery timing from the fuel cut control so that a driving sensation is improved while maintaining the exhaust purification performance by the catalysts. When the fuel cut control is terminated and the engine shifts into the stratified combustion region, if a catalyst temperature is at or below a set temperature or a NOx absorptive amount is at or above a set amount, the in-cylinder air/fuel ratio of the engine is correctively enriched and the exhaust air/fuel state is enriched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hirofumi Nishimura, Keiji Araki
  • Publication number: 20030084660
    Abstract: A low NOx combustion mode is executed in which the fuel injected timing IT is greatly advanced to 36° BTDC as compared with a normal value of roughly 10° BTDC. At this fuel injection timing IT, the smoke emission amount is suppressed below an extremely low value, even if the EGR ratio Regr is increased to about 56%, and the NOx emission amount is suppressed owing to a large amount of EGR, so that the smoke and NOx can be reduced at the same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Kei Shigahara, Michihiro Hata, Toshinori Morita, Noriyuki Koga, Yuji Yanagawa
  • Patent number: 6557505
    Abstract: A control device for an engine provided with an electromagnetic driven intake valves is provided so that the intake valves may perform a desirous control (for example, early activation of a catalytic converter) in an excellent driving state without having to bring about unfavorable phenomena such as a variety of rotation or serge of the engine. The control device serves to make the given cylinders different in the opening or shutting timing of intake valve from the other cylinders according to the driving state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshio Hori
  • Patent number: 6557341
    Abstract: In an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine having two groups of cylinders with a separate exhaust line for each cylinder group, each including an upstream catalytic converter and a downstream catalytic converter and a control valve, a first transverse connection extending between the exhaust lines upstream of the upstream catalytic converters and a second transverse connection extending between the exhaust lines between the upstream and downstream catalytic converters, the valves are so arranged and controlled that, during warm-up, the exhaust gases from both cylinder groups flow through the upstream catalytic converter of one, and the downstream catalytic converter of the other exhaust line for rapid heat up of one of the catalytic converters in each of the exhaust lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Guenther Bubeck, Normann Freisinger, Roland Kemmler, Martin Matt, Jens Quinten, Peter Struebel
  • Patent number: 6557524
    Abstract: An apparatus and method control a negative pressure in an internal combustion engine equipped with a brake booster that uses a negative pressure produced on a downstream side of a throttle valve provided in an intake passage of the engine, as a power source for amplifying the pedal pressing force. A controller of the apparatus or method determines whether a negative pressure applied to the brake booster has reached a predetermined level when the internal combustion engine is started, and, if the negative pressure has not reached the predetermined level, increases an operating speed of the engine to a predetermined high speed and then keeps the throttle valve in a fully closed position during a period of time in which the engine proceeds to a steady-state operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Tsunooka
  • Publication number: 20030074891
    Abstract: At the start of operation of an internal-combustion engine(S10,S12,S14), an exhaust flow is restrained (to raise the exhaust pressure) (S18), secondary air is supplied (S20), and the combustion air-fuel ratio (A/F) is set within the range of rich air-fuel ratios (S16, S22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Yasuki Tamura, Kazuhito Kawashima
  • Publication number: 20030074890
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a direct-injection, spark-ignition engine including a temperature-condition detector for detecting a temperature condition of the engine catalyst, and a controller for controlling a fuel-injection operation of the engine fuel injector for the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yamashita, Masashi Marubara, Hiroyuki Yoshida, Noriyuki Ohta
  • Publication number: 20030074892
    Abstract: In a cold condition before a warming-up completion in a diesel engine, when an engine power is less than a predetermined value, an air excess rate is controlled to a second air excess rate being smaller than a target air excess rate set after the warming-up completion, thereby promoting a warming-up of an exhaust gas purification catalyst due to rise of an exhaust gas temperature, and when the engine power is more than the predetermined value, the air excess rate is controlled to a first air excess rate being larger than the target air excess rate, thereby decreasing HC emission quantity from a combustion chamber. Accordingly, a total emission quantity of HC at the clod condition is decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Manabu Miura
  • Publication number: 20030074889
    Abstract: A method for influencing the exhaust gas temperature of an internal combustion is described in which measures can be carried out for increasing, lowering and limiting exhaust gas temperature. Depending on temperature requirements, and in which method these temperature requirements are prioritized, the temperature limitation having the highest priority for ensuring protection of the component parts, the resulting temperature requirement may be achieved by heating measures or cooling measures in such a way that heating measures and cooling measures are not applied at the same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Jens Wagner, Andreas Koring, Ralf Daeubel, Beate Rittmann, Klaus Winkler
  • Patent number: 6550239
    Abstract: A method for reducing harmful and toxic exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine. The engine includes at least one cylinder to which an air/fuel mixture is supplied when a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine is rotated. The method includes supplying an air/fuel mixture with a lambda value greater than one to the cylinder, and controlling the pressure in the intake channel by an electric motor/generator coupled to the crankshaft. When the pressure in the intake channel exceeds a predetermined pressure, the electric motor/generator is controlled in such a way that the pressure in the intake channel can decrease, and when the pressure in the intake channel falls below a predetermined pressure, the electric motor/generator is controlled in such a way that the pressure in the intake channel can increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Göran Almkvist, Krister Fredriksson
  • Patent number: 6550236
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine (1), especially for a motor vehicle, is described, which has a three-way catalytic converter (12″) and a storage catalytic converter (12′) which can be loaded with and unloaded of nitrogen oxides. A diagnosis of the storage catalytic converter (12′) is carried out by a control apparatus (18) below a temperature at which the three-way catalytic converter (12″) does not yet operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Eberhard Schnaibel, Andreas Koring, Holger Bellmann, Thomas Wahl, Andreas Blumenstock, Klaus Winkler, Frank Stanglmeier, Bernd Schumann
  • Publication number: 20030070637
    Abstract: A valve timing control device for an internal combustion engine, in which upon cold start, combustion gas containing quench hydrocarbons and wet fuel is confined in a combustion chamber by advancing an exhaust valve close timing. This combustion gas is richer in hydrocarbons and wet fuel than is the gas produced after the engine has been warmed up. When the pressure in an intake line becomes lower than 600 mmHg, the exhaust valve close timing is retarded so as to recirculate post-combustion gas back to the combustion chamber. Then the unburned hydrocarbons in the post-combustion gas are involved in combustion again and their emission is reduced. Such gas recirculation and confinement to the combustion chamber are switched in accordance with a target valve underlap corresponding to the intake line pressure in the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Majima
  • Publication number: 20030070423
    Abstract: An emission control system has a catalyst and a sensor responding to a component of exhaust gas. In order to speed warming up the catalyst, the emission control system increases the amount of heat dissipated by exhaust gas. A diagnosis of the emission control system is carried out by determining whether the amount of heat dissipated by exhaust gas is sufficient or insufficient. The amount of heat dissipated by exhaust gas is represented by the length of time to an activated state of the sensor. In the diagnosis, the amount of heat generated by a heater provided in the sensor is taken into consideration. The diagnosis can also be carried out before and after the warming up the catalyst. The heater can also be deactivated. Detection of an abnormality of a secondary air control system can be based on a component of exhaust gas. If the amount of heat dissipated by exhaust gas is found insufficient, additional control can be executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Syujiro Morinaga, Hisashi Iida, Yoshihiro Majima, Tatsuya Oka, Akira Ichikawa, Keiji Wakahara, Masayuki Tsutsumi, Hideyuki Maeji, Masakazu Yamada, Takanori Takahashi, Yukihiro Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20030066286
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification device of an engine comprising a particulate filter arranged in an exhaust passage. An electric motor able to impart a vehicle drive power separate from the engine and able to generate electric power from the engine is provided. After the particulate filter finishes being warmed up, when the temperature of the particulate filter is low, the output torque of the engine is increased and the amount of increase of the output torque is consumed by the power generating action of the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Murata, Toshio Suematsu, Shizuo Sasaki, Kohei Igarashi, Setsuko Igarashi, Shinya Hirota, Kazuhiro Itoh, Takamitsu Asanuma, Shunsuke Toshioka, Koichi Kimura, Akira Mikami, Hiroyuki Nagareda
  • Patent number: 6543218
    Abstract: A method is described for preventing early degradation of an exhaust treatment device installed in a diesel powered vehicle, the treatment device having an active element located within a casing by means of a mat surrounding the active element. The method comprises temporarily operating the engine at an early stage following the installation of the exhaust treatment device in an alternative mode wherein the temperature of the exhaust treatment device is raised sufficiently to cause the mat surrounding the active element of the exhaust treatment device to pop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David Arthur Ketcher
  • Publication number: 20030061802
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes plural catalysts provided in parallel. In a case where temperatures of the catalysts need to be raised, a catalyst is selected from among the catalysts and the exhaust gas is allowed to flow in the selected catalyst. In addition, the temperature of the selected catalyst is raised without using a reducing agent when the temperatures of the catalysts are lower than a temperature range in which the reducing agent can be purified. Alternatively, the reducing agent is supplied to the selected catalyst so as to raise the temperature thereof when the temperatures of the catalysts are equal to or higher than the temperature at which the reducing agent can be purified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichiro Nakatani, Toshiaki Tanaka, Shinya Hirota, Takamitsu Asanuma, Shunsuke Toshioka, Koichi Kimura, Akira Mikami
  • Publication number: 20030056501
    Abstract: A temperature estimating apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided for correctly calculating the temperature of an exhaust device even when the internal combustion engine is started under low temperature conditions. The temperature estimating apparatus comprises an ECU for estimating the temperature of a hydrocarbon adsorbent in an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine through calculations. The ECU calculates an estimated adsorbent temperature of the adsorbent in accordance with an engine rotational speed, an absolute intake pipe inner pressure, an engine water temperature, an intake temperature, and a detected humidity of exhaust gases. This calculation is started when condensation, which has occurred within an intake pipe, is eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Masaki Ueno, Yoshihisa Iwaki, Masahiro Sato, Hideharu Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20030056497
    Abstract: The invention relates to the starting of an internal combustion engine. The engine is coupled to an exhaust aftertreatment device that has a minimal threshold temperature for proper operation. Within a certain period of time after engine start, the load on an electrical generator driven by the engine is increased. Also, the air intake is throttled to reduce the intake manifold pressure to a target pressure. Both measures provide faster engine and catalyst warm-up and, thus, reduced emissions, particularly for a diesel engine in connection with an oxidation catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Johannes Kuenstler, Paul Eduard Moraal
  • Patent number: 6536209
    Abstract: An exhaust gas heating system and method of a direct injection compression ignition internal combustion engine which has a plurality of combustion chambers, an exhaust passage, and one or more direct fuel injection devices, each operable to inject fuel directly into a corresponding one of the combustion chambers. The system also includes a fuel injection controller which is operable to provide to at least one of the direct fuel injection devices, a post fuel injection signal during a corresponding cylinder cycle of the corresponding one of the plurality of combustion chambers. The post fuel injection signal is timed so as to provide exhaust gas heating from a resultant post fuel injection, and the fuel injection controller dynamically determines the particular one or more of the plurality of direct fuel injection devices to which the post fuel injection signal will be applied based on a temperature related engine operating parameter such as a desired amount of exhaust gas heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Eric C. Fluga, Brian G. McGee, Kent A. Koshkarian
  • Publication number: 20030037539
    Abstract: A system and method for providing operating conditions that provide higher efficiency NOx reduction in a lean NOx catalyst coupled to a lean-burning internal combustion engine. A catalyst containing reductant is caused to attain a temperature greater than 300° C. After a duration of about 10 seconds at the elevated temperature, the NOx conversion efficiency of the catalyst is increased in the 140-250° C. temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Lifeng Xu, Robert Walter McCabe
  • Patent number: 6523341
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring a catalytic converter (32) during engine (catalyst) warm-up by first and second heated exhaust gas oxygen sensors (60, 70) located upstream and downstream, respectively, of the catalytic converter. A microprocessor determines a change of signal output of the downstream sensor relative to signal output of the upstream sensor during engine (catalyst) warm-up initiated by engine cold starting during the catalyst warm-up period. A catalyst light-off temperature is determined by the microprocessor when the change occurs. The catalyst light-off temperature thus determined is compared to a stored reference catalyst light-off temperature that is indicative of a properly functioning (e.g. fresh) catalyst to assess the extent or degree of degradation of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Anthony Rumpsa, Paul Chester Gaworecki
  • Patent number: 6516609
    Abstract: There is provided a compression ignition type engine comprising an exhaust gas purification catalyst, and an electric motor for generating an output separated from the engine output. The engine may selectively perform a first control to make the engine output an output larger than that determined on the basis of the engine operation state, and a second control to operate the engine under the first combustion mode in which the inert gas amount in the chamber is larger than that in which the soot generation amount is peak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohei Igarashi, Shizuo Sasaki, Hiroki Murata
  • Patent number: 6516608
    Abstract: Method for controlling the injection and ignition in a direct-injection endothermic engine, in order to accelerate heating of a catalytic converter , which is disposed along the exhaust pipe of the engine, The method comprising the steps of executing, during a single cycle of the engine, and for each cylinder of the engine itself, at least a first injection of fuel, during suction stroke and/or compression stroke of the cylinder itself, in order to supply a weak mixture; priming combustion in each cylinder, at a priming moment which is pre-determined such that the combustion in each cylinder generates the same torque; and executing, in at least one cylinder of the engine, a second injection of fuel, during the exhaust stroke of the cylinder itself, such that the ratio of air/fuel of the mixture as a whole, which is supplied to the cylinder during suction stroke, compression stroke, expansion stroke and exhaust stroke, is close to the stoichiometric value; the fuel which is injected in the said second injectio
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luca Poggio, Marco Secco, Andrea Gelmetti
  • Patent number: 6513322
    Abstract: A device for controlling the rise of the catalyst temperature in an internal combustion engine, capable of quickly raising the catalyst temperature at the start to satisfy the exhaust gas regulations to a sufficient degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirofumi Ohuchi, Tadahiro Azuma
  • Patent number: 6513319
    Abstract: An engine has variable timing mechanisms, which are controlled in starting an engine to set valve opening overlap of an intake valve and an exhaust valve around 30° CA. In this case, internal EGR is actively conducted and fuel burning velocity within a cylinder becomes relatively slow and unburned fuel within the cylinder is emitted to an exhaust pipe to be post-burned by itself. Temperature of exhaust gas is maintained high and catalyst converters in the cold state may be activated quickly by actively implementing the post-burning within the exhaust pipe. Further, ignition timing is retarded, an air-fuel ratio is controlled at a slightly lean ratio and the exhaust valve is advanced. The effect of raising the temperature of exhaust gas by the post-burning may be realized more reliably by combining each of these controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masaei Nozawa, Sigenori Isomura, Yoshihiro Majima
  • Publication number: 20030014966
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a technology capable of producing an appropriate combustible mixture in an apparatus for heating an exhaust-purifying catalyst disposed in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, without providing a special pre-mixing chamber for mixing fuel and air, by burning the combustible mixture in the exhaust passage upstream of the exhaust-purifying catalyst when the exhaust-purifying catalyst is inactive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya Hirota, Toshiaki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20030010018
    Abstract: Disclosed is a control unit for an internal combustion engine which can activate the three way catalyst at the early stage and can lessen the deterioration of the exhaust in an internal combustion engine such as HC, CO, and NOx, etc. from the exhaust gas when starting. The control unit for an internal combustion engine is provided with three way catalyst and HC adsorbent on an exhaust side. The control unit alternately controls the A/F between a rich state and a lean state in order to quicken the activation of the three way catalyst when the internal combustion engine starts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Minoru Ohsuga, Masami Nagano
  • Patent number: 6505464
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed that accelerates the rise in temperature of a catalyst provided in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. The system increases the intake air amount after the engine starts and retards the ignition timing according to a rotational speed of the engine. In this control system, a failure of the catalyst temperature rise acceleration control is diagnosed according to the engine rotational speed and/or a retard amount of the ignition timing during the execution of the catalyst temperature rise acceleration control. The above failure may also be diagnosed according to at least one of the ignition timing and the engine rotational speed when decreasing the intake air amount during the execution of the catalyst temperature rise acceleration control. The above failure may also be diagnosed according to a detected catalyst temperature and an estimated catalyst temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Isobe, Kojiro Tsutsumi, Manabu Niki, Hiroyuki Ando
  • Patent number: 6499292
    Abstract: An direct injected internal combustion engine includes a catalytic device for cleaning the exhaust gases of the engine. A control system of the engine is configured to adjust at least one of fuel injection timing, fuel injection duration and ignition timing so as to increase the temperature of the exhaust gases entering the catalytic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiko Kato
  • Publication number: 20020194837
    Abstract: An exhaust gas heating system and method of a direct injection compression ignition internal combustion engine which has a plurality of combustion chambers, an exhaust passage, and one or more direct fuel injection devices, each operable to inject fuel directly into a corresponding one of the combustion chambers. The system also includes a fuel injection controller which is operable to provide to at least one of the direct fuel injection devices, a post fuel injection signal during a corresponding cylinder cycle of the corresponding one of the plurality of combustion chambers. The post fuel injection signal is timed so as to provide exhaust gas heating from a resultant post fuel injection, and the fuel injection controller dynamically determines the particular one or more of the plurality of direct fuel injection devices to which the post fuel injection signal will be applied based on a temperature related engine operating parameter such as a desired amount of exhaust gas heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Eric C. Fluga, Brian G. McGee, Kent A. Koshkarian