Automatic Or Timed Reactor Purge Or Heat-up In Engine Starting Operation Patents (Class 60/284)
  • Patent number: 9366215
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer-readable mediums for predicting a driving intention of a driver of a vehicle. A sequence comprising a plurality of indicators is detected, where each indicator suggests intent to drive a vehicle. A separation time between each of the indicators of the sequence is determined. The sequence and determined separation times are compared to historical data, where the historical data comprises data related to previously stored separation times of the sequence. Based on the comparison, a confidence level that an engine of the vehicle will be started is determined. Based on the confidence level, a feature of the vehicle is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Cunningham, Govindarajan Kothandaraman, Nassim Khaled, Yu Liu, Aniket Gupta
  • Patent number: 9303577
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for fuel injected into an engine cylinder from a plurality of fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting injection of fuel during start so that a portion of fuel is port injected and a remaining portion is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Steven Schwochert, Peter C. Moilanen, Eric Krengel
  • Patent number: 9279354
    Abstract: A heating-controller controls an electric power supply from a battery to a urea-water heater based on a voltage of the battery detected by a voltage detector and an engine-state of an internal combustion engine obtained by an engine-state detector. When a voltage of the battery is low or when the internal combustion engine stops, the heating-controller prohibits the electric power supply from the battery to the urea-water heater. A urea-water adding device can avoid an excess decrease of a battery power by intermittently energizing the urea-water heater according to the engine-state of an internal combustion engine and the battery voltage VB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanori Yoshida, Masakazu Toukairin
  • Patent number: 9238199
    Abstract: A combined flow mixing, tempering and noise suppressing apparatus for a selective catalytic reduction system, and method of use thereof is provided. The suppressing apparatus is positioned downstream of a gas input duct of the selective catalytic reduction system in order to provide improved flow uniformity and reduced noise at the entrance to the SCR system with minimal pressure loss. The combined flow mixing, tempering and noise suppressing apparatus includes lobe depressions that extend toward a centerline axis of a gas input duct of the selective catalytic reduction system and alternating lobe protrusions leading away from the centerline axis. The combined flow mixing, tempering and noise suppressing apparatus can include a means for introducing a secondary stream, such as an air manifold or an air bustle in fluid communication with the selective catalytic reduction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Martin, Kurt Kraus, Christopher Ferguson, Brian Duck, Richard Martin
  • Patent number: 9236623
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell system suited for changing a drive operating point of a fuel cell at the time of low-efficiency power generation. The fuel cell system in accordance with the present invention includes a fuel cell which generates electric power by supplied reactant gases, an air compressor which adjusts the flow rate of a reactant gas supplied to the fuel cell, and a controller which controls an output current of the fuel cell by controlling the air compressor to change a drive operating point of the fuel cell. The controller sets a restriction on at least one of a current change amount and a voltage change amount per unit time when changing the drive operating point of the fuel cell in a range of low-efficiency power generation in which a power loss is larger than that in normal power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoya Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9228464
    Abstract: Embodiments for heating a catalyst are provided. In one example, a method for controlling an internal combustion engine having an exhaust-gas aftertreatment device during a cold-start phase comprises adjusting a temperature of cooling water to a setpoint operating temperature as a function of a degree of aging of the exhaust-gas aftertreatment device of the internal combustion engine, wherein the temperature of the cooling water is increased more quickly as a present degree of aging of the exhaust-gas aftertreatment device increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Yasser Mohamed sayed Yacoub
  • Patent number: 9217381
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a motor generator configured to control the revolution speed of the engine, and an ECU configured to control ignition timing of the engine. The ECU modifies, in the case where the revolution speed of the engine is not controlled by the motor generator, the ignition timing for startup of the engine to a further timing retarding side, as compared to the case where the revolution speed of the engine is controlled by the motor generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Matsumoto, Daigo Ando
  • Patent number: 9200552
    Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling supply power to a conductive porous carrier of a catalyst converter for cleaning an emission, a moisture determiner determines whether moisture is contained in and/or on the conductive porous carrier. A power controller controls supply power to the conductive porous carrier for energization of the conductive porous carrier such that a value of the supply power to the conductive porous carrier when it is determined that the moisture is contained in and/or on the conductive porous carrier is lower than a value of the supply power to the conductive porous carrier when it is determined that the moisture is not contained in and/or on the conductive porous carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taro Hirai, Noriaki Ikemoto, Takeshi Harada, Naoyuki Kamiya, Hisashi Iida
  • Patent number: 9163545
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (9), of e.g. an exhaust gas system (5) for an internal combustion engine (1), includes a thermoelectric generator (12) having a hot side (13) and a cold side (14) and including a heating tube (15) on a hot side of a heating device (10), and a cooling tube (16) on a cold side of a cooling device (11). The heating tube and the cooling tube are stacked on one another and form a tube stack (18), with the heating tube and the cooling tube extending parallel to one another in a longitudinal direction (19) of the tube stack. For energy efficiency, a housing (21) of the heat exchanger has a jacket (23) with an integral re-tensioning section (25) that is resiliently adjustable between a relaxed state and a tensioned state. The pre-tensioning section generates a pre-tensioning force (26) pressing the tube stack in a stacking direction (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Resch, Sebastian Leicht, Jörg Oesterle
  • Patent number: 9062582
    Abstract: An exhaust post-treatment device (2) for a vehicle (4) for reducing nitrogen oxides present in the exhaust gases (20) of the vehicle (4) by supply of liquid reducing agent (18) to the exhaust gases (20) in an exhaust pipe (32). The device (2) locally warms a surface (31) within the exhaust pipe (32) by a Peltier element (6) by using thermal energy from the exhaust gases (20) to vaporize liquid reducing agent (18) which reaches the surface (31), thereby avoiding the formation of deposits of reducing agent within the exhaust pipe (32). Also a method for post-treatment of exhaust gases from vehicles with an exhaust post-treatment device (2) including a Peltier element (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: SCANIA CV AB
    Inventors: Peter Loman, Ola Hall, Daniel Ryrfeldt
  • Patent number: 9065101
    Abstract: A fuel injection system and method for injecting hydrocarbon fuel into a fuel reformer for generating hydrogen rich gas from hydrocarbon fuel are provided. The hydrocarbon fuel is injected into the fuel reformer as spray having a pulsating pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: POWERCELL SWEDEN AB
    Inventor: Peter Forsberg
  • Publication number: 20150128573
    Abstract: A diesel engine fluid reservoir system having a reservoir of diesel exhaust fluid in thermal communication with a heating element, a first conduit for the flow of engine coolant fluid to the heating element, a temperature sensor disposed to sense ambient temperature and/or a temperature of the diesel exhaust fluid, a controller communicatively coupled to the temperature sensor and communicatively coupled to a sprung gate valve included in the first conduit. The gate valve has a no-flow position and a flow position for control of the flow of engine coolant and includes an endless elastic band sandwiched between a first gate member and a second gate member each defining an opening therethrough alignable with the first conduit in the flow position. In response to a sensed temperature at which the diesel exhaust fluid is frozen, the controller signals the gate valve to be in the flow position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicants: TLX TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, DAYCO IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Dave Fletcher, Brian M. Graichen, Matt Gilmer, James H. Miller, Jeff Rogala
  • Publication number: 20150128570
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification apparatus includes: a reduction catalyst converter that reduces and purifies nitrogen oxides in exhaust gas; a tank that stores a liquid reducing agent or precursor thereof; and an injection nozzle that injects the liquid reducing agent or precursor thereof stored in the tank on an exhaust gas upstream side of the reduction catalyst converter. Some of the exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust pipe is diverted to the tank by a bypass pipe, to cause an exchange of heat between the diverted exhaust gas and the liquid reducing agent or precursor thereof stored in the tank, thereby thawing the liquid reducing agent or precursor thereof frozen in the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Yasuyoshi TOMITA
  • Publication number: 20150128572
    Abstract: An exhaust gas control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, controls an exhaust operation of the internal combustion engine (200) provided with an exhaust gas purification catalyst (216) in an exhaust passage (215). The exhaust gas control apparatus for the internal combustion engine is provided with a warming-up device configured to warm up the exhaust gas purification catalyst; and an oxygen supplying device (220, 221) configured to supply oxygen to the exhaust gas purification catalyst after the end of the warm-up. This makes it possible to preferably desorb sulfur adsorbed to the exhaust gas purification catalyst during warm-up. It is therefore possible to suppress a reduction in purification ability of the exhaust gas purification catalyst due to sulfur coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Takahiro Fujiwara, Norihisa Nakagawa, Kouichi Kimura, Shuntaro Okazaki, Keisuke Nagasaka, Ichiro Kitamura, Satoshi Kamitani, Koji Morita
  • Patent number: 9027325
    Abstract: An ambient NOx adsorption catalyst that can adsorb NOx contained in an exhaust gas in the presence of CO under standard conditions is placed in an engine exhaust gas passage, in an internal combustion engine. Until an engine post-initiation catalyst is activated, the amounts of a high-boiling-point hydrocarbon and an unsaturated hydrocarbon that are contained in the exhaust gas flowing into the catalyst are reduced so that the NOx-adsorbing activity cannot be deteriorated by the adhesion activity of the hydrocarbons while maintaining the CO concentration in the exhaust gas flowing into the catalyst at a level higher than the concentration required for the adsorption of NOx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakayama, Yukihiro Sonoda, Takaaki Itou, Takaaki Kanazawa
  • Publication number: 20150113955
    Abstract: A method for reducing the pollutant emissions in the exhaust gas in a start/catalytic converter heating phase of an internal combustion engine featuring externally supplied ignition and having at least one catalytic converter in an exhaust gas tract of the internal combustion engine, and for adapting a catalytic converter heating strategy to suitable state variables of the internal combustion engine and the catalytic converter as well as to the fuel quantity, the aging state and ambient conditions. The internal combustion engine is operated in a first phase of the start/catalytic converter heating phase using a lean air-fuel mixture in a range between a lambda value of 1.05 and at a lean misfire limit of the internal combustion engine that lies at a higher lambda value, and/or in a second phase of the start/catalytic converter heating phase, initially using a rich air-fuel mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Jochen HOFSTAETTER, Volker Ricken
  • Patent number: 9016044
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The method includes, but is not limited to storing exhaust gas while the engine is working, and supplying the stored exhaust gas into at least an engine cylinder during a subsequent start phase of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Giovanni Mafrici, Lorenzo Magro
  • Publication number: 20150107230
    Abstract: In an exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine which is provided with an NOx catalyst arranged in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine, the present invention has for its problem to be solved to suppress an increase in exhaust emissions, which results from processing for raising the temperature of the NOx catalyst, to a small level. In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine of the invention is constructed such that when an amount of increase in the NOX removal rate becomes smaller with respect to an amount of rise in the temperature of the NOx catalyst, the execution of temperature raising processing is deferred, and processing to make small the flow rate of exhaust gas discharged from the internal combustion engine and processing to make small the amount of smoke discharged from the internal combustion engine are executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Ito
  • Patent number: 9010088
    Abstract: A load application means, which applies a load to an engine such that a temperature of exhaust gas is raised to a temperature required to burn particulate matter, is comprised of an electric load application means for applying the load to the engine to raise the temperature of the exhaust gas by operating an electric assist motor to generate electric power and a hydraulic load application means for applying the load to the engine to raise the temperature of the exhaust gas by increasing a delivery pressure of a variable displacement hydraulic pump, and a selection control unit is provided for performing control processing to selectively actuate the electric load application means and/or the hydraulic load application means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Ishikawa, Hidetoshi Satake, Shinji Nishikawa, Takatoshi Ooki
  • Publication number: 20150101312
    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: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Muyoung CHOI
  • Patent number: 8997457
    Abstract: Embodiments for controlling an exhaust back-pressure valve are provided. In one example, a method for operating an engine comprises closing an exhaust back-pressure valve in response to a component temperature, and adjusting intake and/or exhaust valve operation in response to closing the exhaust back-pressure valve to reduce cylinder internal exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). In this way, combustion stability may be maintained while the exhaust back-pressure valve is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Peter C. Moilanen
  • Patent number: 8997456
    Abstract: An electronically controlled compression ignition engine includes an electronic engine controller in control communication with fuel injectors, a high pressure exhaust recirculation system and a variable geometry turbocharger. The controller is configured to execute a low load rapid warm up algorithm that generates control signals to reduce turbine efficiency, set an air fuel ratio in a predetermined range, set the exhaust gas recirculation in a predetermine range and supply fuel in a split injection in each engine cycle that includes a main injection initiated before top dead center and a post injection initiated after top dead center. These settings allow for rapid warm up to the aftertreatment inlet in excess of 300° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Wolk, Gurudutt Nayak
  • Patent number: 8943814
    Abstract: A warm-up system for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine includes an electronic control unit that performs warm-up control for warming up an exhaust system component upon start-up of the internal combustion engine and a failure diagnosis performing module of the electronic control unit that performs failure diagnosis for the exhaust system component after the completion of warm-up of the exhaust system component. If the internal combustion engine repeatedly stops before completion of the failure diagnosis for a predetermined period of time, then the electronic control unit changes the warm-up control performed upon start-up of the internal combustion engine to a control that raises the temperature of the exhaust system component more quickly than the warm-up control performed during the predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Shibata, Toru Kidokoro, Hiroshi Sawada, Kazuya Takaoka
  • Patent number: 8943800
    Abstract: When an internal combustion engine (1) is determined to be in a low-temperature start state (an affirmative determination is made in S120), an air-fuel ratio control apparatus (10) controls the temperature of a downstream detection element (17) of a downstream gas sensor (15) to a downstream target temperature by driving a downstream heater (16) of the downstream gas sensor (15) (S170), and feedback-controls the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas based on the output of the downstream gas sensor (15) (S190). When the engine (1) is determined not to be in the low-temperature start state (a negative determination is made in S120), the air-fuel ratio control apparatus (10) drives an upstream heater (25) of an upstream gas sensor (22) and feedback-controls the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas based on the output of the upstream gas sensor (22) (S270).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Umemoto, Shuichi Hanai, Koji Nagura
  • Patent number: 8904755
    Abstract: A heater control device of an oxygen concentration sensor is provided in which even in a case where an internal combustion engine is automatically stopped by idle stop control after cold start-up, it is possible to start energization of a heater at an appropriate time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Takeda, Ken Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8904767
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for achieving reduced emissions at cold start of an internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas after treatment system comprising at least one Diesel Oxygen Catalyst (DOC), at least one Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) unit, comprising the steps of: heating the DOC prior to cold starting said internal combustion engine, starting and controlling the internal combustion engine towards low NOx emission when said DOC has reached a predetermined temperature, optimizing the fuel consumption at a given total emission level when said DPF and SCR has reached a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Lennart Andersson, Bert-Inge Bertilsson
  • Patent number: 8881504
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The exhaust gas system includes an exhaust gas conduit, a generator, a vehicle electrical system, a primary energy storage device, a rechargeable secondary energy storage device, an electrically heated catalyst (“EHC”) device, and a control module. The primary energy storage device is selectively connected to the generator. The primary energy storage device has a threshold state of charge (“SOC”). The rechargeable secondary energy storage device is selectively connected to the generator and the vehicle electrical system. The EHC device is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit. The EHC device has an electric heater that is selectively connected the generator for receiving energy and a selectively activated catalyst that is heated to a respective light-off temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Charles E. Solbrig, Chang H. Kim
  • Patent number: 8875487
    Abstract: An exhaust purifying system includes: a catalytic device supplied with electric power from a power supply unit; a first connecting unit connecting one end of the catalytic device to a negative electrode node of the power supply unit; a second connecting unit connecting the other end of the catalytic device to a positive electrode node of the power supply unit; a leak detecting unit detecting leak from the power supply unit; and a control unit controlling opening and closing of each of the first and second connecting units. When leak is not detected by the leak detecting unit in a leak check state where one of the first and second connecting units is closed and the other is opened, the control unit closes the other and applies current through the catalytic device, and when leak is detected in the leak check state, the control unit does not apply the current through the catalytic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Katsuta
  • Patent number: 8863506
    Abstract: A method of sizing a light-off core supporting a fixed quantity of a light-off catalyst for an exhaust gas treatment system having an electric heater upstream of the light-off catalyst for heating the exhaust gas includes measuring the cumulative hydrocarbon or carbon monoxide emissions leaving the exhaust gas treatment system for multiple volumetric sizes of the light-off core in accordance with a heating strategy. Alternatively, a model of the treatment system may be used to predict the cumulative hydrocarbon or carbon monoxide emissions. The method further includes selecting the volumetric size of the light-off core that is associated with the lowest cumulative hydrocarbon or carbon monoxide emissions level from the measured or predicted hydrocarbon or carbon monoxide emissions when the exhaust gas is heated in accordance with the heating strategy. The heating strategy may include pre-crank heating, post-crank heating, or a combination of pre-crank heating and post crank heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Karthik Ramanathan, Se H. Oh
  • Patent number: 8857152
    Abstract: A method unloads hydrocarbon emissions deposited by an exhaust gas on an after-treatment device that is employed in an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine. The method includes determining whether the engine has been operating at a preset idle speed for a predetermined amount of time. The method also includes increasing the preset idle speed by a predetermined value if the engine has been operating at a preset idle speed for a predetermined amount of time. The increasing of the engine idle speed increases a flow rate of the exhaust gas to the after-treatment device and unloads the deposited hydrocarbon emissions. A system for unloading hydrocarbon emissions deposited on an after-treatment device and a vehicle employing such a system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Whitt, Rebecca J. Darr, Thomas Larose, Jr., Sarah Funk
  • Patent number: 8833058
    Abstract: Embodiments for routing exhaust in an engine are provided. In one example, an engine method comprises, during a first condition, firing a subset of cylinders and routing all exhaust from the subset of cylinders through a first exhaust manifold coupled directly to a catalyst and not a turbocharger, and during a second condition, firing all cylinders, routing a first portion of exhaust through a second exhaust manifold coupled to the turbocharger, and routing a second portion of exhaust through the first exhaust manifold. In this way, exhaust can be directly routed to a catalyst under some conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Douglas Ervin, Kim Hwe Ku, Gregory Patrick McConville, Brad Alan Boyer
  • Patent number: 8820049
    Abstract: A method to control valves in a cylinder operating in a multi-stroke cylinder mode. Valves are controlled to improve engine emissions as operating conditions vary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Donald J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 8776496
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media are described in which exhaust gas is routed to a hydrocarbon retaining device during starting, and purged to the engine intake manifold. Various alternative approaches are described for controlling operation and diagnosing degradation. Further, various interrelated configurations are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, Shane Elwart, James Michael Kerns, Jason Aaron Lupescu
  • Patent number: 8776495
    Abstract: An exhaust gas after treatment system for an internal combustion engine comprises an oxidation catalyst device having a first substrate, a heater, and a second substrate disposed serially between the inlet and the outlet. A hydrocarbon supply is connected to and is in fluid communication with the exhaust system upstream of the oxidation catalyst device for delivery of a hydrocarbon thereto. The heater is configured to oxidize the hydrocarbon therein and to raise the temperature of the second substrate and exhaust gas passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8776500
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle is presented. The control system can include an air/fuel ratio control module that selectively commands a rich air/fuel ratio upon starting an engine based on a temperature of an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) in an exhaust system of the engine, wherein the EHC includes a hydrocarbon (HC) adsorber. The control system can include an air pump control module that selectively activates an air pump supplying air into the exhaust system upstream from the EHC based on whether the engine is on and at least one of whether the HC adsorber is full and whether the EHC is saturated with oxygen. The control system can also include an electric heater control module that selectively activates an electric heater of the EHC based on whether the engine is on and the temperature of the EHC, as well as whether the HC adsorber is full.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Bryan N. Roos
  • Patent number: 8769932
    Abstract: A cold start NO2 generation system includes a catalyst control module that identifies a portion of a three-way catalyst that corresponds to a nitrogen dioxide zone. A diagnostic module determines a temperature in the nitrogen dioxide zone, and a fuel control module adjusts an air/fuel ratio based on the temperature in the nitrogen dioxide zone. A cold start NO2 generation method includes identifying a portion of a three-way catalyst that corresponds to a nitrogen dioxide zone. The method further includes determining a temperature in the nitrogen dioxide zone and adjusting an air/fuel ratio based on the temperature in the nitrogen dioxide zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Chang H. Kim, Steven J. Schmieg
  • Patent number: 8764607
    Abstract: A start-stop system includes a fuel type module that determines a fuel type of a fuel supplied to an engine. A threshold module determines a first threshold based on the fuel type. A temperature module estimates a temperature of a catalyst of an exhaust system of the engine. A comparison module compares the temperature to the first threshold and generates a comparison signal. A power module adjusts power to a heating circuit based on the comparison signal. The heating circuit is configured to increase temperature of the catalyst. The power module adjusts the power to the heating circuit to increase the temperature of the catalyst when the engine is shutdown. An engine control module shuts down and restarts the engine to reduce idling time of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso
  • Patent number: 8763366
    Abstract: In a method for operating an air-compressing fuel-injection internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas post-treatment system with a particle filter and a nitrogen oxide reduction catalytic converter, a plurality of internal combustion engine operating settings are provided, each having respective predefined values for predefined internal combustion engine operating parameters. A heating operating setting is set when the internal combustion engine is warming up, while a basic operating setting is set in the warmed-up state. When the temperature in the exhaust gas system exceeds a predefinable first value, the heating operating setting is changed over to the basic operating setting. In the warmed-up state, at least one further (third) operating setting, with an exhaust gas recirculation rate that is reduced compared to the basic operating setting, is provided in addition to the basic operating setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Bernd Christner, Alexander Kaiser, Berthold Keppeler, Holger Kissling, Markus Paule
  • Patent number: 8756916
    Abstract: A hydraulic driving device for a working machine surely prevents behavior of a single rod double acting cylinder not intended by an operator when discharge pressure of a main pump is raised to raise exhaust gas temperature to temperature required for burning particulate matter. A selector valve 160 interposed between a spool valve 61 and a rod chamber of a single rod double acting cylinder 51 and a section (a filter regeneration time actuation valve 122, a vehicle body controller 150) controlling the selector valve, are provided. A switch control section prevents a flow of oil directed from the rod chamber of the cylinder toward the spool valve by actuating the selector valve by a poppet of the selector valve when a by-pass cut valve 110 is controlled to increase a load of an engine 21 to a degree exhaust gas temperature reaches temperature required for burning particulate matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensuke Sato, Tsuyoshi Nakamura, Kouji Ishikawa, Yasuo Okano
  • Patent number: 8728422
    Abstract: System to reduce the amount of NOx in exhaust gases of a vehicle. The system includes a storage space 1 containing an agent, a SCR catalytic converter 5, an injection module 6c to inject the agent upstream of the converter, a heat exchanger 2 containing a porous matrix, a shutter or injector 11 to control the flow rate of the agent to the exchanger, a valve 12 between the storage space and exchanger, to transfer thermal energy to gases during the starting period. The shutter or injector controls the flow of agent into the exchanger during the starting period to raise its temperature, and is closed when gases have reached a certain temperature. The valve regulates exchanger pressure during a period at operating temperature and conveys the agent to storage space when the exchanger pressure is higher than storage space pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Aaqius & Aaqius S.A.
    Inventors: Arnaud Audouin, Jean-Baptiste Dementhon
  • Patent number: 8707683
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine having a hydrocarbon retaining system and an emission control device coupled to an engine exhaust, the engine exhaust comprising a venturi. One example method comprises, during a storing condition, routing exhaust gas through the venturi without generating a venturi action, and then to the hydrocarbon retaining system, while bypassing the emission control device, to store hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon retaining system, and during a purging condition, routing exhaust gas through the venturi while generating venturi action, then to the emission control device, and then to the hydrocarbon retaining system, to purge stored hydrocarbons, wherein a flow of purged hydrocarbons is drawn back to the venturi via venturi action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, Stephen B. Smith, James Michael Kerns, Shane Elwart, Jason Aaron Lupescu
  • Patent number: 8701388
    Abstract: A method of controlling an exhaust treatment system, comprising: selectively determining a first control state from a plurality of control states based on an exhaust temperature and a plurality of activation temperatures; estimating a reductant dose based on the control state; and controlling an injection of a reductant to the exhaust treatment system based on the reductant dose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8689541
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a catalyst module and a cylinder module. The catalyst module determines a catalyst temperature. The cylinder module selectively switches operation of a first cylinder from a first engine cycle having four strokes to a second engine cycle having N times four strokes, based on the catalyst temperature, wherein N is an integer greater than one. A related method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventors: Mike M. McDonald, William C. Albertson
  • Patent number: 8683781
    Abstract: A method for controlling an exhaust gas aftertreatment device of a vehicle hybrid drive is provided. The method comprises operating the hybrid drive only by a combustion engine, only by a non-combustion motor, or by both, as a function of a temperature of the exhaust aftertreatment device, and conducting exhaust gas of the hybrid drive at least partially through the exhaust aftertreatment device, the engine and motor each providing output to power the vehicle. In this way, the aftertreatment device may be operated at an optimal temperature for conversion performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Yasser Mohamed sayed Yacoub
  • Publication number: 20140083084
    Abstract: To provide a configuration that can discharge condensed water remaining in an exhaust gas passage in an engine in which a catalyst is placed in the exhaust gas passage. An engine system (100) is an engine system having an engine (10) in which a catalyst (6) is placed in an exhaust gas passage (31). The engine system (100) has a determination device (81a) for determining whether or not the catalyst (6) is immersed in the condensed water condensed from exhaust gas in a cold state and remaining in the exhaust gas passage (31) when the engine (10) is started, and an operation continuing device (81b) that allows operation of the engine (10) to continue when it is determined that the catalyst (6) is immersed in the condensed water so that a discharge operation time Te exceeds a required time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi FUKUDA, Hiroki NARIYASU, Hirotoshi KIHARA, Shojiro KOGA
  • Patent number: 8667782
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided. A selective reduction catalyst is disposed in an exhaust passage of the engine for reducing NOx in exhaust gases from the engine under existence of a reducing agent. The reducing agent or a reactant for generating the reducing agent is supplied to the upstream side of the selective reduction catalyst. Occurrence of a reducing-agent slip in which the reducing agent is discharged to the downstream side of the selective reduction catalyst is determined. A storage amount indicative of an amount of the reducing agent stored in the selective reduction catalyst is temporarily reduced from the state where the storage amount is at the maximum, and thereafter the storage amount is increased until the occurrence of the reducing-agent slip is detected. An accuracy of the reducing agent supply is determined according to an occurrence state of the reducing agent slip when the storage amount is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Yasui
  • Patent number: 8646252
    Abstract: A control system includes a temperature determination module and a catalyst protection module. The temperature determination module determines a temperature of exhaust gas based on a resistance of a heating element of an oxygen sensor. The catalyst protection module adjusts an operating parameter of an engine to decrease the temperature of the exhaust gas when the temperature of the exhaust gas is greater than a threshold temperature. The threshold temperature is based on a temperature that damages a catalyst in an exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Inventors: Bradley Gibson, Andrew W. Baur
  • Publication number: 20140026544
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The exhaust gas system includes an exhaust gas conduit, a generator, a vehicle electrical system, a primary energy storage device, a rechargeable secondary energy storage device, an electrically heated catalyst (“EHC”) device, and a control module. The primary energy storage device is selectively connected to the generator. The primary energy storage device has a threshold state of charge (“SOC”). The rechargeable secondary energy storage device is selectively connected to the generator and the vehicle electrical system. The EHC device is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit. The EHC device has an electric heater that is selectively connected the generator for receiving energy and a selectively activated catalyst that is heated to a respective light-off temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, JR., Charles E. Solbrig, Chang H. Kim
  • Patent number: 8635862
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine is provided having an exhaust gas conduit, an oxidation catalyst (“OC”) device, a selective catalytic reduction (“SCR”) device, and a control module. The internal combustion engine has at least one operating parameter. The exhaust gas conduit is in fluid communication with, and is configured to receive an exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine. The exhaust gas contains oxides of nitrogen (“NOx”) and hydrocarbons. The exhaust gas has an exhaust gas temperature. The OC device is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit, and is activated to induce oxidation of the hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas. The OC device has an oxidation catalyst compound disposed thereon that is selectively activated at a specified temperature range for converting nitrogen oxide (“NO”) to nitrogen dioxide (“NO2”) at a specified percentage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Chang H. Kim, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Steven J. Schmieg
  • Patent number: 8631641
    Abstract: In a vehicle having mounted therein an engine including an injector that directly injects fuel into a cylinder, in the case in which a warm-up control required condition is established, catalyst warm-up control is executed if an amount of fuel diluted in oil is low, or even if the amount of fuel diluted in oil is high, when the temperature of the engine oil is less than the fuel volatilization temperature. In contrast, even in the case in which the warm-up control required condition is established, if the amount of fuel diluted in oil is greater than or equal to a determination value, and furthermore the temperature of the engine oil is greater than or equal to the fuel volatilization temperature, there is the possibility of negative influence on exhaust emissions, and therefore the catalyst warm-up control is prohibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiji Hirowatari