Abstract: A filter used to remove particulates from a diesel engine exhaust is regenerated by increasing the exhaust temperature to achieve burn off of the accumulated particulates. Regeneration of the filter is inhibited when the sensed level of fuel in a diesel fuel tank for the engine falls below a first threshold level. Optionally, filter regeneration may be initiated when the sensed fuel level is between the first threshold and a higher threshold, and the load level of particulates accumulated in said filter is above a preselected, relatively high load level. Increase of the exhaust temperature to achieve burn off may be achieved by a variety of techniques, including throttling the intake of said engine, reducing the oxygen content in the exhaust gases delivered to said engine, closing an EGR valve of said engine, or performing post injection of fuel in the engine's combustion cylinders.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine, wherein exhaust gas generated by the engine is directed through an emission control device, includes determining instantaneous rates of storage for a constituent of the exhaust gas, such as NOx, as well as the capacity reduction of the device to store the exhaust gas constituent as a function of a calculated value representing an amount of SOx which has accumulated in the device since a prior device-regeneration (desulfation) event. The calculated accumulated SOx value is also preferably used to schedule a device-regeneration event, as when the calculated accumulated SOx value exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: An engine control equipment capable of activating a catalyst and preventing exhaust gas from deteriorating in order to early perform combustion by compressive self-ignition.

Abstract: In an in-cylinder injection spark-ignition internal combustion engine including a plurality of cylinders and a catalyst device disposed in an exhaust system of the engine, a fuel is injected to at least one selected cylinder selected from the plurality of cylinders to be operated, and subsequently the fuel is injected to all cylinders to be operated. At this time, a warm-up controlled variable for the at least one selected cylinder is smaller than the warm-up controlled variable used when all cylinders are operated. In the in-cylinder injection spark-ignition internal combustion engine, the all cylinder operation is started and the warm-up control is started for all cylinders to warm up the catalyst device disposed in the exhaust system of the engine preferably when a fuel injection pressure exceeds a target value.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a preparation device for fuel, for the purpose of providing a starting fuel which comprises low-boiling fuel constituents. A catalytic converter is accommodated in an exhaust train of the internal combustion engine. After-treatment of the exhaust gases is carried out by a secondary air device, by means of which secondary air is blown into the exhaust train upstream of the catalytic converter, the combustion being carried out with an excess of starting fuel for rich-burn operation during the cold start and the subsequent warm-up phase. The system is provided for spark-ignition mixture-compressing or spark-ignition direct injection internal combustion engines.

Abstract: A catalyst warming apparatus for an internal combustion engine provides an appropriate combustible mixture 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. Specifically, fuel components and air discharged from the internal combustion engine are mixed into a combustible mixture in a sub exhaust-purifying catalyst disposed in the exhaust passage upstream of a main exhaust-purifying catalyst, and the resultant combustible mixture is burned upstream of the main exhaust-purifying catalyst.

Abstract: Engine exhaust gas emissions are cleaned up using apparatus comprising an electrical heater, a first catalyst for oxidizing CO and H2, and a hydrocarbon oxidation catalyst (which may be the same as the first catalyst). Engine management initiates electrical heating upon start-up of the engine, and ensures that there is sufficient CO and H2 and sufficient additional air supplied to the exhaust system, to provide chemical energy in the form of exotherm, whereby the hydrocarbon oxidation catalyst is speeded in reaching light-off temperature.

Abstract: A direct-injection, spark-ignition engine of the present invention includes a turbo-charging device which promotes the temperature rise or activation of the exhaust-gas purification catalyst disposed downstream of a turbine during cold start. During engine cold start, the fuel injection by the fuel injector is divided into a leading fuel injection performed during the latter half of the compression stroke, prior to the ignition timing, and a trailing fuel injection performed during the expansion stroke, after the ignition timing. The amount of the intake-air and the amount of the fuel injection are so controlled that the air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber during the combustion of the fuel by the leading fuel injection (a leading air-fuel ratio) is within the range of 2&lgr;3, and the air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber during the combustion of the fuel by the trailing fuel injection (a total air-fuel ratio) is within the range of 1<&lgr;<2.

Abstract: A multi-battery charging system for reduced fuel consumption and emissions for an automotive vehicle. The system starts the vehicle with a start battery in a fuel savings manner, removing electrical torque from the alternator shaft, and allows a second (run) battery to provide all or some of the current required by the vehicle loads as a fuel savings measure. The system also utilizes an electrically heated catalytic converter (EHC) and a third (EHC or storage) battery to provide a 3 to 15 second preheat and/or a 20 second current, during vehicle start, to the EHC heater coil, e.g., of a small EHC located in series with a standard catalytic converter for emissions reduction to reduce emissions during start. The start battery is recharged after start and switched out of the system fully charged for future vehicle starts.

Abstract: An improved method of assessing the catalyst warm-up rate of a motor vehicle catalytic converter is based on the response rates of fast warm-up exhaust gas sensors located in the exhaust gas upstream and downstream of the catalytic converter. The method essentially measures an oxygen storage characteristic of the catalyst that increases as the catalyst temperature rises to its ideal operating temperature. In one method, a ratio of switching frequency between the upstream and downstream exhaust gas sensors is periodically computed and compared to a threshold during catalyst warm-up. In another method, the response times of the exhaust gas sensors to a known air/fuel ratio transition are detected to form a measure of the oxygen storage characteristic that is compared to a threshold. In each method, the threshold varies as a function of cumulative airflow through the engine to compensate for different engine airflow levels.

Abstract: A gasoline in a material fuel tank is separated into a high-RON fuel having a higher octane value than the material fuel and a low-RON fuel having a lower octane value than the material fuel, by a separator device equipped with a separation membrane. Using a fuel switching mechanism, one or both of the high-RON fuel and the low-RON fuel are supplied to the engine in accordance with the state of operation of the engine. As the octane value of a fuel can be changed in accordance with the engine operation state, the state of combustion in the engine improves, so that both an increase in engine output and an improvement in an exhaust property can be achieved.

Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine having an exhaust system provided with a catalyst is provided. The control system comprises a catalyst temperature rise accelerating control in which the intake air amount is increased and the ignition timing is retarded according to the engine rotational speed. A transient control from the catalyst temperature rise accelerating control to the normal control, is started when the speed of a vehicle driven by the engine reaches a predetermined vehicle speed or higher during the catalyst temperature rise accelerating control. During the transient control, the intake air amount is gradually reduced and the ignition timing is set according to the vehicle speed.

Abstract: A catalyst is warmed up by a rapid heating control that retards ignition timing and increases an intake air amount. Then the warm up is completed or a transmission is shifted to a drive range, the ignition timing is gradually advanced and the intake air amount is gradually decreased. Therefore, an engine speed is smoothly changed from the rapid heating control to the normal control without a torque shock. Additionally, a beginning of the advancing of the ignition timing is delayed by a predetermined delay time relative to a beginning of the decreasing of the intake air amount. The decreasing of the intake air amount prevents undesirable increase of the engine speed caused by the advancing of the ignition timing.

Abstract: When an increase in a temperature of an exhaust-gas purifying catalyst device in an in-cylinder injection type internal combustion engine is demanded, a temperature-increase control section in an electronic control unit accomplishes stratified combustion by causing each fuel injection valve to inject fuel directly into the associated combustion chamber in a compression stroke in such a way that the air-fuel ratio of the internal combustion engine is in a vicinity of a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. This allows the temperature of the exhaust-gas purifying catalyst device to be maintained or increased without increasing fuel consumption.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine, wherein fuel vapor adsorbed in a canister (22) is purged into a surge tank (13) through a purge control valve (28). A target value of the fuel vapor rate showing the ratio of the amount of fuel vapor in the purge gas to the amount of fuel injection is stored in advance. At least one of the amount of purge gas or the amount of fuel injection is controlled so that the fuel vapor rate becomes the target value.

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.

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.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuel cell that generates electricity, a pre-heater electrically coupled to the fuel cell, wherein the pre-heater provides an output, and a component configured to receive a portion of the output, wherein a temperature of the component is changed through receipt of the portion of the output. In addition, a method is described for operating a fuel cell in a vehicle that includes: generating electricity from the fuel cell, and providing a portion of the electricity to a pre-heater, which provides an output to a vehicular component, thereby pre-heating the component.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling a vehicle so as to purify an exhaust emission from an internal combustion engine with an exhaust-emission purifying catalyst disposed in an exhaust system of the engine, and such that the engine is brought into a temporary engine-stop state while a predetermined vehicle condition is satisfied, wherein the engine is operated for heating the catalyst, when a temperature of the catalyst has been lowered below a predetermined lower limit threshold, even while the predetermined vehicle condition is still satisfied. The catalyst maintains an exhaust-emission purifying ability at a temperature above the lower limit threshold. When the catalyst temperature has been raised to a predetermined upper limit threshold, as a result of the engine operation, the engine is restored to the temporary engine-stop state if the predetermined condition is still satisfied.

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.

Abstract: A method and system for generating auxiliary load during start-up and warm-up of a spark ignition engine operating with a high load, cold start and spark retard and enleanment (HL-CSSRE) methodology to achieve rapid light-off. The method and system of the present invention uses existing vehicle systems (20) to couple an auxiliary load to the engine for a predetermined period of time during engine start-up and warm-up.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, at least some of which may be selectively deactivated to provide variable displacement operation, include managing temperature of at least one engine/vehicle component by monitoring the temperature of the component and controlling activation of at least one cylinder to control the temperature of the component. In one embodiment, the engine/vehicle component is an emission control device, such as a catalytic converter.

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.

Abstract: An exhaust control system for a cylinder fuel injection engine having a cylinder injection injectors directly injecting a fuel into combustion chambers and a catalytic converter provided in an exhaust passage from said combustion chambers for purifying an exhaust gas, air/fuel ratio in the combustion chambers is periodically made rich for quicken activation of catalytic converter.

Abstract: A regeneration aid system (4) for a particulate filter integrated into the exhaust line (2) of a diesel engine of a motor vehicle, comprising means (5) for injecting fuel into at least some of the cylinders of the engine (1) during the expansion stage thereof in order to cause an increase, without any modification of engine torque as requested by the user, in the temperature of the exhaust gas therein, so that regeneration aid can be provided with respect to the filter, characterized in that the means of injection (5) are adapted in order to result in several fuel injections in calibrated amounts spread out in time during the expansion stage.

Abstract: A filter used to remove particulates from a diesel engine exhaust is regenerated by increasing the exhaust temperature to achieve burn off of the accumulated particulates. Regeneration of the filter is inhibited when the sensed level of fuel in a diesel fuel tank for the engine falls below a first threshold level. Optionally, filter regeneration may be initiated when the sensed fuel level is between the first threshold and a higher threshold, and the load level of particulates accumulated in said filter is above a preselected, relatively high load level. Increase of the exhaust temperature to achieve burn off may be achieved by a variety of techniques, including throttling the intake of said engine, reducing the oxygen content in the exhaust gases delivered to said engine, closing an EGR valve of said engine, or performing post injection of fuel in the engine's combustion cylinders.

Abstract: There is provided a control device for controlling an engine operation such that the engine is operated at a predetermined fuel consumption in accordance with a requested output. The engine comprises an electric motor and an exhaust gas purification catalyst. When an air fuel ratio of an exhaust gas should be made rich to restore an ability of purification of the catalyst, the device controls the motor operation such that the air fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is made rich while the engine output is caused to be decreased and the shortage of the engine output relative to the requested output is supplemented by the motor output to totally output the requested output.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a variable displacement engine include starting the engine with at least one bank of cylinders deactivated to increase load on at least one other bank of activated cylinders and reduce time required for an engine and/or vehicle component to reach a desired operating temperature. In one embodiment, ignition timing or spark is retarded and air/fuel ratio is biased lean for the activated cylinder bank during and shortly after starting to further reduce the time required for catalyst light off and closed loop operation. During activation of a deactivated bank of cylinders, air/fuel ratio of one or more activated cylinders is biased rich with air/fuel ratio of the deactivated cylinders biased lean. In addition, spark is retarded during activation of the deactivated cylinders to reduce the time necessary for components associated with the deactivated cylinders to reach desired operating temperatures.

Abstract: A method and system for generating auxiliary load during start-up and warm-up of a spark ignition engine operating with a high load, cold start and spark retard and enleanment (HL-CSSRE) methodology to achieve rapid light-off. The method and system of the present invention uses existing vehicle systems (20) to couple an auxiliary load to the engine for a predetermined period of time during engine start-up and warm-up.

Abstract: A catalyst deterioration detector detects the deterioration of a catalytic device that is disposed in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, adsorbs hydrocarbons and oxidizes the hydrocarbons at a temperature equal to or higher than an activation temperature thereof. The catalyst deterioration detector includes an adsorption detector that detects a degree of adsorption of hydrocarbons by the catalytic device and a controller that determines deterioration of the catalytic device according to the degree of adsorption of hydrocarbons by the catalytic device as detected by the adsorption detector.

Abstract: A catalyst temperature estimating apparatus is provided, capable of estimating the temperature of the catalyst installed in an internal combustion engine on a vehicle by providing various catalyst temperature estimating parameters, when the internal combustion engine is in an idle stop. When it is determined that the internal combustion engine is stopped by determining whether the internal combustion engine is stopped, the temperature of the catalyst is estimated based on temperature coefficients during the engine stop. Estimation of the catalyst temperature even when the engine is in an idle stop makes it possible to accurately and promptly estimate the catalyst temperature when the engine is restarted from the idle stop.

Abstract: A fuel injection method and strategy for an internal combustion engine wherein the fuel injection event that occurs during each combustion cycle of a four-cycle internal combustion engine. A first fuel injection event may occur during the intake stroke of the combustion cycle, thereby creating a lean homogeneous air/fuel mixture. A second fuel injection event may occur during the compression stroke. The combustion gases created in the combustion chamber of the engine are transferred to an exhaust system during the exhaust stroke. The injected fuel mixes with the air present in the combustion chamber to create a lean air/fuel mixture. The valve timing for the engine is deliberately adjusted to a setting that is less than the maximum torque setting where hydrocarbon production occurs during the combustion event. The exhaust gas hydrocarbon content for any given ignition spark timing increases as the injection timing before top dead center is increased.

Abstract: A method for the diagnosis of an exhaust gas purification system for an internal combustion engine, provided with a pre-catalyst and a main catalyst disposed along an exhaust duct of an internal combustion engine; the method including the stages of determining a real heat supplied to the exhaust gases in the pre-catalyst as a function of a input temperature and an output temperature of the exhaust gases at the input and output respectively of the pre-catalyst; determining a nominal heat supplied during nominal operating conditions of the pre-catalyst; calculating an index representative of the state of wear of the pre-catalyst, as a function of the real heat and the nominal heat; comparing the index with a threshold value.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a variable displacement engine include starting the engine with at least one bank of cylinders deactivated to increase load on at least one other bank of activated cylinders and reduce time required for an engine and/or vehicle component to reach a desired operating temperature. In one embodiment, ignition timing or spark is retarded and air/fuel ratio is biased lean for the activated cylinder bank during and shortly after starting to further reduce the time required for catalyst light off and closed loop operation. During activation of a deactivated bank of cylinders, air/fuel ratio of one or more activated cylinders is biased rich with air/fuel ratio of the deactivated cylinders biased lean. In addition, spark is retarded during activation of the deactivated cylinders to reduce the time necessary for components associated with the deactivated cylinders to reach desired operating temperatures.

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.

Abstract: A rotary vane combustion engine is provided that has a plurality of vane cells. This rotary vane combustion engine includes a rotor having a plurality of vanes; a stator enclosing the rotor to form a plurality of vane cells between the plurality of vanes; one or more intake ports for providing intake charge to the vane cells; one or more exhaust ports for removing exhaust gas from one of the vane cells; and a variable bandwidth fuel-air source connected to at least one of the intake ports for providing a discrete band of mixed fuel and air having a desired axial width to each of the plurality of vane cells. By providing a discrete band of fuel and air to each of the vane cells, this rotary vane combustion engine will allow the machine or engine to run at lower power without requiring it to run a vacuum to lower the density of mixed fuel and air. As a result, vacuum pumping losses can be substantially eliminated and the machine or engine can operate more efficiently.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling temperature of an exhaust gas oxygen sensor in a system having a variable displacement engine include monitoring temperature of the sensor, comparing the sensor temperature to a corresponding desired temperature, and controlling the system to maintain the sensor temperature at or above the desired operating temperature. In one embodiment, the sensor is a heated exhaust gas oxygen (HEGO) sensor and the method includes controlling an integrated sensor heater to maintain the sensor temperature above the desired operating temperature. Depending upon the particular application, the system may also be controlled by controlling the engine to reactivate at least one deactivated cylinder to increase the temperature of the sensor alone or in combination with controlling an integrated or auxiliary sensor heater for systems using HEGO sensor(s).

Abstract: An exhaust temperature raising apparatus has an exhaust throttle valve that adjusts the engine exhaust amount based on the amount of throttling, and an injector that performs main injection and a sub-injection directly into a cylinder, a combination of an ECU, the injection and the exhaust throttle valve as exhaust gas temperature increase apparatus for, during an engine warm-up, performing and controlling the exhaust throttling by the exhaust valve and performing and controlling an exhaust gas temperature increase through combustion attributed to the main injection performed in an excess-air condition and combustion attributed to the sub-injection, an exhaust gas temperature sensor that monitors a state of temperature increase of the exhaust gas caused by performance of the exhaust gas temperature increase apparatus, and the ECU as monitor abnormality detection apparatus for determining whether the exhaust gas temperature sensor has an abnormality, and the ECU as exhaust gas temperature increase stop apparat

Abstract: An exhaust gas after-treatment device arranged in an exhaust passage of an engine, which raises the temperature of the exhaust gas after-treatment device by making selective use of a first injection pattern injecting only main fuel and delaying the injection timing of the main fuel QR, a second injection pattern injecting auxiliary fuel Qv near top dead center of the suction stroke and delaying the injection timing of the main fuel QR, and a third injection pattern injecting auxiliary fuel Qv and Qp before injection of the main fuel and after injection and delaying the injection timing of the main fuel QR.

Abstract: An exhaust purification device comprising a first catalyst and a second catalyst arranged in the engine exhaust passage downstream of the first catalyst. An exhaust control valve is arranged downstream of the second catalyst. When the reducing components in the exhaust gas should be mainly oxidized by the first catalyst, the exhaust control valve is substantially fully closed and auxiliary fuel is additionally injected into the combustion chamber. When the reducing components in the exhaust gas should be mainly oxidized by the second catalyst, the exhaust control valve is fully opened and injection of auxiliary fuel is stopped.

Abstract: A nitrogen oxide absorbing material (38) which absorbs nitrogen oxide when the reduction component concentration of exhaust gas in the exhaust passage (31) of an engine (1) is lower than a predetermined concentration, and discharges nitrogen oxide when the reduction component concentration of exhaust gas in the exhaust passage (31) of the engine (1) is higher than the predetermined concentration, and a catalyst (38) which promotes reduction of the discharged nitrogen oxides by a reduction component are provided. A controller (40) first reduces the reduction component concentration of the exhaust gas over a first predetermined time period by, for example, advancing the fuel injection timing. The controller (40) then increases the reduction component concentration of the exhaust gas over a second predetermined time period by, for example, retarding the fuel injection timing.

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.

Abstract: A method and system 10 for reducing cold-start emissions of an automotive vehicle 12 having an internal combustion engine 26. System 10 includes a main controller or control system 14, a variable valve timing system 16, an ignition system 18, a fuel metering system 20, and vehicle operating condition sensors 22. Controller 14 detects cold-start conditions based on signals received from sensors 22, and in response to such a detection, controller 14 generates command signals to said variable valve timing system 16, to said ignition system 18, and to said fuel metering system 20, effective to respectively alter valve timing, spark timing, and said air/fuel delivery of engine 26 in a manner which synergistically increases air/fuel enleanment limits, improves combustion characteristics, and increases exhaust gas temperature, thereby reducing cold-start emissions.

Abstract: A failure judging device of the present invention is a device for diagnosing a failure of an exhaust purifying apparatus having a purifying catalyst for purifying an exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine, and an adsorbing member for adsorbing an unburned gas component in the exhaust gas. The failure judging device judges a failure on the basis of temperatures of the adsorbing member and the purifying catalyst when oxidating reaction of the unburned gas component occurs in the adsorbing member or the purifying catalyst, i.e., a change in temperature of the adsorbing member or the purifying catalyst distinctly appears.

Abstract: A direct injection internal combustion engine includes catalysts for purifying exhaust gases, the catalysts being disposed in an exhaust passage of the engine. A control device controls the engine so as to warm up or activate the catalysts. The control device includes a first control part for controlling the engine with an air-fuel ratio of the engine being set at a value in proximity to a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, an ignition timing being set at a point after a top dead center and a fuel injection timing being set within a compression stroke, and a second control part for controlling the engine with an air-fuel ratio of the engine being set at a value in proximity to a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, with an ignition timing being set before a top dead center and a fuel injection timing being set within a compression stroke after the first control part controls the engine. The controlling operation performed by the first control part enables stable after-burning and raises the exhaust temperature.

Abstract: An arrangement for igniting a combustible gas mixture for the exhaust system of an internal-combustion engine has a frame device which is wound with a heating wire and can be installed into an exhaust gas train of the exhaust system transversely to the flow axis of the exhaust gas. A power supply device is provided for supplying the heating wire with electric current for generating a predetermined heating wire temperature. The frame device defines a flow range in which a heating wire grid is provided.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system for a lean burn engine includes a thermal mass unit and a NOx conversion catalyst unit downstream of the thermal mass unit. The NOx conversion catalyst unit includes at least one catalyst section. Each catalyst section includes a catalytic layer for converting NOx coupled to a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger portion of the catalyst section acts to maintain the catalytic layer substantially at a desired temperature and cools the exhaust gas flowing from the catalytic layer into the next catalytic section in the series. In a further aspect of the invention, the exhaust gas purification system includes a dual length exhaust pipe upstream of the NOx conversion catalyst unit. The dual length exhaust pipe includes a second heat exchanger which functions to maintain the temperature of the exhaust gas flowing into the thermal mass downstream near a desired average temperature.

Abstract: In a cylinder injection spark-ignition engine having a spark plug to ignite an air mixture fuel within a corresponding cylinder; a fuel injector to inject fuel into a combustion chamber; a catalytic converter interposed in an exhaust passage; and a controller, the controller being programmed to: command the fuel injector to inject a main fuel into the combustion chamber for a first time duration within at least one of a suction stroke and a compression stroke and to inject an additional fuel for a second time duration within at least one of an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke, the controller is programmed to set a target value of a total air-fuel mixture ratio to a value of the air-fuel mixture ratio which is leaner than a stoichiometric air-fuel mixture ratio for a warm-up condition of the catalytic converter and the controller is programmed to calculate respective injection quantities (Ti1 and Ti2) of the main fuel and the additional fuel in such a manner that the total air-fuel mixture ratio based on

Abstract: An engine control equipment capable of activating a catalyst and preventing exhaust gas from deteriorating in order to early perform combustion by compressive self-ignition.

Abstract: The hybrid vehicle of the present invention has an internal combustion engine, a power storage unit for storing electric power, and a motor driven by the electric power stored in the power storage unit, the hybrid vehicle being driven by at least one of the outputs from the internal combustion engine and the motor.