Automatic Or Timed Reactor Purge Or Heat-up In Engine Starting Operation Patents (Class 60/284)
  • Patent number: 7743602
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for catalytically processing a gas stream passing therethrough to reduce the presence of NOx therein, wherein the apparatus includes a first catalyst composed of a silver-containing alumina that is adapted for catalytically processing the gas stream at a first temperature range, a second catalyst composed of a copper-containing zeolite located downstream from the first catalyst, wherein the second catalyst is adapted for catalytically processing the gas stream at a lower second temperature range relative to the first temperature range, a hydrocarbon compound for injection into the gas stream upstream of the first catalyst to provide a reductant, and a reformer for reforming a portion of the hydrocarbon compound into H2 and/or oxygenated hydrocarbon for injection into the gas stream upstream of the first catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignees: ExxonMobil Research And Engineering Co., Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mohan Kalyanaraman, Paul W. Park, Christie S. Ragle
  • Patent number: 7730717
    Abstract: In a control system for a compression-ignition engine whose operation is switchable between a compression-ignition operation in which an air-fuel mixture supplied to a combustion chamber auto-ignites to burn owing to compression and a spark-ignition operation in which the air-fuel mixture is ignited to burn by a spark of a spark plug, it is determined whether a predetermined permissible condition to permit switching from the spark-ignition to the compression-ignition operation is satisfied, and switching from the spark-ignition operation to the compression-ignition operation is permitted when the predetermined permissible condition is satisfied, thereby enabling to expand the compression-ignition operation utilization region so long as permissible in light of the engine operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Ogawa, Toru Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20100122522
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system for an engineering machine is capable of avoiding decreases in working efficiency during regeneration control by burning off a deposit of particulate matter from a filter efficiently during a work pause time. An operating section 17 of a display monitor 16 is used to set a work pause time and a work pause switch 13 notifies a vehicle body control unit 21 that the hydraulic excavator has entered a work pause state. In response, the vehicle body control unit 21 calculates the time required for a regenerating device to burn off the current amount of particulate matter deposited on the filter, and when the calculated time is longer than the preset work pause time, a regeneration controller 4a of an engine control unit 4 is activated, and a solenoid control valve 15 is switched to a closed position during the preset work pause time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidenobu TSUKADA, Kouji ISHIKAWA, Yasushi ARAI, Shohei KAMIYA
  • Publication number: 20100122521
    Abstract: A method for purging reductant from a reductant supply system is disclosed. The method includes dispensing reductant into an exhaust system via a dispensing device. The method also includes purging the dispensing device by urging reductant from the dispensing device to a reductant source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: Jinhui Sun, Shashank Mupparapu, Theodore J. Tarabulski, Paul W. Park
  • Patent number: 7716915
    Abstract: An exhaust purification catalyst warm-up system has an air pump that supplies air upstream from an exhaust purifying catalyst, disposed in an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine, the pump supplying air when the exhaust purifying catalyst is being warmed up. The exhaust purification catalyst warm-up system also has an atmospheric pressure sensor that detects the atmospheric pressure, wherein correction is performed so that the degree of fuel increase is smaller, the higher is the atmospheric pressure detected by the atmospheric pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomokazu Muraguchi
  • Patent number: 7694507
    Abstract: In an engine including an in-cylinder injector and an intake manifold injector, the fuel injection ratio between the injectors with respect to a total fuel injection quantity in the homogeneous combustion operation is normally set in accordance with the engine operation state (engine speed, load factor). Upon transition from the stratified charge combustion operation to the homogeneous combustion operation, the fuel injection ratio is modified from that of the normal operation during a prescribed control period so that the fuel injection quantity from the intake manifold injector is increased than in the normal operation state, considering that the fuel newly injected via the in-cylinder injector immediately after transition of operation mode is likely to deposit inside the combustion chamber because of the fuel deposited therein during the stratified charge combustion operation. This prevents combustion deterioration in the engine upon transition of the operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Tokuda
  • Patent number: 7685812
    Abstract: A NOx storing catalyst (11) comprising a precious metal catalyst (46) and NOx absorbent (47) is arranged in an exhaust passage. When the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is lean, the storing catalyst cold stores the NO2 contained in the exhaust in the absorbent when the catalyst is inactive and hot stores the cold stored NO2 in the absorbent when the catalyst is made active. The NO2 contained in the exhaust is cold stored in the absorbent when the catalyst is not activated, and when a predetermined NOx storing catalyst restoring condition (107) is met, a NOx storing catalyst restoring control (109, 115) including raising the NOx storing catalyst temperature to a predetermined temperature to active it (109) is executed so as to restore the cold storing capability of the NOx absorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohei Yoshida, Shinya Hirota, Takamitsu Asanuma, Yasuaki Nakano, Shunsuke Toshioka
  • Publication number: 20100064665
    Abstract: Lean burn engines require an exhaust gas system comprising nitrogen oxide storage catalysts for removal of nitrogen oxides from their exhaust gases. When the lean burn engine is operated with a sulphur-containing exhaust gas, the storage catalysts have to be desulphurized from time to time. During the desulphurization, there is the risk of high pollutant emissions. These emissions can be reduced when the cylinders of the lean burn engine are combined in two groups which release their exhaust gas to two assigned exhaust legs, in each of which is arranged at least one nitrogen oxide storage catalyst. The two exhaust legs are combined beyond the storage catalysts to form a common exhaust leg which contains a catalyst which possesses a three-way function under stoichiometric conditions. The two nitrogen oxide storage catalysts are desulphurized offset in time with respect to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Stephan Eckhoff, Susanne Philipp, Wilfried Mueller, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 7673447
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, in particular in a motor vehicle, with an exhaust line in which an oxidation catalyst is provided for treatment of the exhaust gases coming from the internal combustion engine. To be able to heat the oxidation catalyst more rapidly in a cold start of the internal combustion engine, a pre-oxidation unit may be provided in the exhaust line upstream from the oxidation catalyst and connected to a secondary fuel supply and adapted so that it partially oxidizes the secondary fuel supplied in combination with an oxidizer in a catalyst heating operation and the partially oxidized intermediate products are supplied to the oxidation catalyst for complete oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: J. Eberspaecher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gerd Gaiser
  • Patent number: 7661262
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an intake duct, at least one cylinder that takes in air via the intake duct and an exhaust gas duct, in which the exhaust gas catalytic converter is located, and into which the combusted air/fuel mixture is ejected from at least one cylinder. Depending on measurement values that are determined by sensors, input signals for the control of actuators of the internal combustion engine are generated by means of control functions based on torsional moment and by means of a dynamic charging model of the intake duct. A measurement is determined, which characterizes the difference of a desired air mass flow into the respective cylinder from an actual air mass flow into the cylinder. Depending on the measurement, a proper or improper heating up of the exhaust gas catalytic converter is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Bayerle, Wolfgang Moser, Olivier Pioch
  • Publication number: 20100024396
    Abstract: Method and systems are provided for operating an engine having a hydrocarbon retaining system coupled to an engine exhaust and an engine intake. One example method comprises, during an engine cold start, routing exhaust gas to the hydrocarbon retaining system to store hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon retaining system. The method further comprises, during a first purging condition where the exhaust gas is at a first temperature, purging the hydrocarbon retaining system with at least exhaust gas, and during a second purging condition where the exhaust gas is at a second temperature, said second temperature being higher than said first temperature, mixing the exhaust gas with an amount of fresh air to form a purging gas mixture, and purging the hydrocarbon retaining system with said purging gas mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Aaron Lupescu, Shane Elwart, James Michael Kerns, Michael James Uhrich, Harendra S. Gandhi
  • Publication number: 20100024392
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is operated with direct fuel injection into the combustion chambers. Furthermore, the internal combustion engine is operated with sub-optimum ignition angle efficiency and an apportionment of a fuel quantity, which is to be injected before the start of a combustion, into at least two partial injections. A torque loss which results from the sub-optimum ignition angle efficiency and/or from the apportionment of the fuel to be injected is compensated by means of an increased charge of the combustion chambers. The fuel quantity and the charge are coordinated with one another in such a way that the air ratio lambda of the combustion chamber charges is greater than 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Mueller, Guido Porten, Juergen Raimann, Klaus Winkler
  • Patent number: 7650745
    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: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Donald J. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20100005784
    Abstract: In one aspect an internal combustion engine assembly may be provided that may include at least one combustion chamber and an exhaust system with an after-treatment system that may have an oxidation catalyst and a particulate filter. The internal combustion engine assembly may include an electronic controller that may have a de-contamination function that may, responsive to a command be configured to de-contaminate the particulate filter and the oxidation catalyst. To that end, a method may be provided to, and the controller may be configured to increase the exhaust gas temperature at an inlet of the after-treatment system to above a de-contamination temperature during a certain time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: STEPHEN W. BIRD, PAUL J. QUINNEY, SANJAY K. RAJANI, JAMES J. REED, ANIL RAINA
  • Publication number: 20090293450
    Abstract: A cold-start control system includes an air pump control module that controls an air pump and an engine starting module that starts an engine. The air pump control module activates the air pump to supply oxygen to a catalytic converter based on a temperature of the catalytic converter. The engine starting module starts the engine based on the temperature of the catalytic converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso
  • Patent number: 7617673
    Abstract: A start-up assisting degree by a motor is set at an appropriate level on the basis of a catalyst condition represented by a catalyst temperature, an oxygen storage (degree) in the catalyst, a change in combustion control represented by an air-fuel ratio for combustion, an ignition timing, or an engine condition such as an engine stopping time period, an engine cooling water temperature, a crank stopping position or rotational load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadatsugu Udono, Takashi Okada, Minoru Ohsuga, Eiichi Ohtsu
  • Publication number: 20090277426
    Abstract: A gas vapor control system may include a canister for capturing gas vapor that is generated from a fuel, a throttle valve that is disposed substantially in the middle of an intake passage through which air flows into a cylinder of the engine, a gas passage that communicates from the canister to one side downstream of the throttle valve, a purge control valve that is disposed on the gas passage, and a control portion that stops an engine in an idle state and controls a real fuel injection amount that is to be injected while restarting the engine according to a first fuel amount that is included in gas vapor that is discharged into the intake passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicants: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yong-Jung PARK
  • Patent number: 7614216
    Abstract: In an exhaust system, there are provided an HC absorbent which absorbs HC contained in exhaust when in a specified low-temperature range and desorbs the absorbed HC when it exceeds said low-temperature range, and a catalyst capable of at least removing HC by oxidation, where the catalyst is arranged at the same position as or downstream of the HC absorbent. When it is found that the HC absorbent is in a state ready for desorbing the absorbed HC (S16, S18) and the internal combustion engine is in a specified decelerating state (S14), fuel supply to some of the cylinders of an internal combustion engine is stopped while fuel is supplied to the other cylinders (partial fuel cut) (S22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Engineering Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Yamashita, Katsuhiko Miyamoto, Seiji Shiota
  • Patent number: 7603848
    Abstract: The ignition timing is sustained at an initial value during a predetermined time beginning at a start of an engine, and is retarded after the predetermined time is elapsed to heat a catalyst at an early time. The predetermined time ends when the negative pressure of an intake pipe or the negative pressure of a brake booster reaches to a predetermined value. That is, the predetermined time is a period, which begins at a start of the engine and ends when a proper negative pressure can be sustained in the brake booster. As a result, it is possible to assure a negative pressure in the brake booster at an early time and to reduce exhaust emission at a start of the engine simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Majima
  • Patent number: 7536853
    Abstract: A heating system for use on an exhaust system having an exhaust gas passageway, the engine having a cooling system to circulate a cooling fluid to and from the engine, includes a fuel-dosing member for dosing fuel to the exhaust system to trigger a regeneration event. A particulate filter is located on the exhaust gas passageway downstream of the engine, and an oxidation catalyst member is located upstream from the particulate filter. The oxidation catalyst member oxidizes the fuel dosed to increase the temperature of the exhaust gases. The increased temperature causes a regeneration event at the particulate filter, which further increases the temperature of the exhaust gases. A heat exchanger is located downstream of the particulate filter for capturing heat from the exhaust gases. The heat exchanger has an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit for circulating the cooling fluid from the heat exchanger to the engine cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony J. Cook, Richard L. Malecki
  • Patent number: 7536852
    Abstract: A combustion air-fuel ratio control system controls the combustion air-fuel ratio when the warming-up of the catalyst is required and achieves an increase in the catalyst temperature at an early stage. When warming up of the catalyst is requested it determines whether or not the exhaust air-fuel ratio sensors that detect the exhaust air-fuel ratio upstream the catalyst on the exhaust passage is active, and if the exhaust air-fuel ratio sensor is inactive, it sets the combustion air-fuel ratio to the primary combustion air-fuel ratio, which is between the theoretical ratio and the combustion limit air-fuel ratio, which is richer than the theoretical ratio and allows stable combustion using open control, and if the exhaust air-fuel sensor is active, it sets the combustion air-fuel ratio to the secondary combustion air-fuel ratio, which is richer than the primary combustion air-fuel ratio and near the combustion limit air-fuel ratio using feedback control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Katou
  • Patent number: 7533519
    Abstract: Testing of temperature sensors (28, 30, 32) in an emission control system, such as in an exhaust system (10) of a diesel engine, serves to condition further component and/or system testing by determining that sufficient sensor cooling has occurred and that no sensor is “stuck within range” using a strategy (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. McNulty, Christopher R. Ciesla, Christopher M. Kaas
  • Publication number: 20090120065
    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: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, Shane Elwart, James Michael Kerns, Jason Aaron Lupescu
  • Publication number: 20090120067
    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: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, Michael James Uhrich, James Michael Kerns, Jason Aaron Lupescu
  • Publication number: 20090120063
    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: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, Shane Elwart, James Michael Kerns, Jason Aaron Lupescu
  • Publication number: 20090120061
    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: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, Jason Aaron Lupescu, Michael James Uhrich, James Michael Kerns
  • Patent number: 7526914
    Abstract: An oxygen concentration sensor including the sensor element for detecting oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas and the heater for heating the sensor element is installed at the location downstream of a DPF. An ECU controls power supply to the heater to make the sensor element at a predetermined active state. The ECU calculates heat data corresponding to a heat budget in the exhaust pipe in close proximity to the sensor location part after the engine startup, based upon an operating condition of the engine and a driving condition of a vehicle and also makes a determination as to dryness inside the exhaust pipe based upon the heat data. In addition, the power supply to the heater is controlled based upon the result of the dryness determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Nakano
  • Patent number: 7520125
    Abstract: A method for controlling the amount of secondary air of a motor vehicle, which has a device for injecting secondary air. The increase in the injected amount of secondary air is carried out as a function of the starting conditions of the motor vehicle and the heating progression of the catalytic converter determined by modeling and/or measurement, and is variable over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Boerkel
  • Patent number: 7513104
    Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus for an internal combustion engine. An exhaust purification section includes an exhaust purifier disposed in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine, for purifying an exhaust emission, and a purifier activation section configured to control engine operating parameters of the internal combustion engine to promote activation of the exhaust purifier during the internal combustion engine being cold. The diagnostic apparatus is configured to determine a state of the exhaust purifier, to determine a total purifier out emission quantity as a quantity of the exhaust emission exiting the exhaust purifier during the internal combustion engine being cold, in accordance with the state of the exhaust purifier, and to determine normality of the exhaust purification section in accordance with the total purifier out emission quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rie Takatsuto, Hiroshi Katoh
  • Publication number: 20090077947
    Abstract: In an exhaust gas purifying system (1) which is equipped with a NOx occlusion reduction type catalyst (11) and an oxidation catalyst (12) set on the upstream side of the catalyst (11) and in which sulfur purge control for regenerating the sulfur-poisoned catalyst (11) is conducted, in conducting the sulfur purge control, the air fuel ratio control for sulfur purge is conducted after the temperature difference (?TIO) between the inlet side and outlet side of the catalyst (11) has been reduced to a prescribed level (?T0) or below by raising the exhaust temperature. According to the invention, the sulfur poison on the catalyst (11) can be uniformly removed in the sulfur-purge regeneration control, whereby the service life of the catalyst (11) can be protected from being shortened by sulfur poisoning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Daiji Nagaoka, Masashi Gabe
  • Patent number: 7506517
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for startup characterization in a turbine engine that provides the ability to accurately characterize engine startup. The startup characterization system and method uses engine temperature sensor data and engine speed sensor data to accurately characterize the startup of the turbine engine by determining when several key engine startup conditions are reached. By storing and analyzing engine sensor data taken during these key conditions of engine startup, the system and method is able to accurately characterize the performance of the engine during startup. This information can be used as part of a trending system to determine when faults in the start transient regime are occurring or likely to occur. Additionally, this information can be used in real time by control systems to better control the startup and operation of the turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Onder Uluyol, Kyusung Kim, Charles M. Ball
  • Patent number: 7503166
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having combustion cylinders capable of running on gasoline in either a spark ignition mode or in a homogenous charge compression mode. The allocation of cylinders in each mode is dynamic and may be dynamically controlled and varied during operating of the engine. Also, the engine may include plural aftertreatment systems which may be dynamically selected, typically based on the combustion mode(s) in which the cylinders are operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mrdjan Jankovic
  • Publication number: 20090049823
    Abstract: A method for operating an emission abatement assembly (10) includes determining if a particulate filter (18) needs to be regenerated and adjusting the operation of an internal combustion engine (12) to increase oxygen content in exhaust gases generated by the engine (12) to generate heat in a fuel-fired burner (16) for combusting soot trapped in the particulate filter (18). An emission abatement assembly (10) is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventor: Navin Khadiya
  • Patent number: 7475534
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for controlling fuel injection in an internal combustion engine (10) having at least one electric machine (26), wherein a direct injection system (18) for direct injection of fuel into at least one combustion chamber (54) of the internal combustion engine (10) is associated with the internal combustion engine (10), the direct injection system (18) including a mechanically driven high-pressure fuel pump (22) for generating a fuel pressure in an accumulator volume (20) upstream of the at least one combustion chamber (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignees: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, Skoda Auto a.s.
    Inventors: Ekkehard Pott, Matthias Holz, Michael Zillmer, David Prochazka
  • Patent number: 7458203
    Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid vehicle is provided. The hybrid vehicle has a combustion engine and an electric motor each providing a torque for operating the hybrid vehicle. The hybrid vehicle has an exhaust gas system with a catalytic converter system for at least one exhaust gas component. An energy storage device stores and returns electric energy. At least one value of a catalytic converter activity is ascertained. The at least one value of the catalytic converter activity is compared with at least one given limit value. A torque addition of the electric motor is provided in dependence on the comparison result and on a status value of the energy storage device in order to influence activity parameters of the catalytic converter system wherein the torque addition is a motor torque addition or a generative torque addition. A hybrid vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ekkehard Pott
  • Publication number: 20080282673
    Abstract: A method of operating an engine control system includes generating an engine start signal, determining whether a cold start condition exists, energizing an electrically heated catalyst based on the cold start condition, determining the temperature of the electrically heated catalyst and selectively starting an engine based on the engine start signal and the electrically heated catalyst temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Frank Ament, Halim G. Santoso
  • Patent number: 7448204
    Abstract: A four-cycle engine is provided that includes an exhaust port for releasing combusted gas from the engine and an exhaust system. The exhaust system includes an exhaust pipe coupled with the exhaust port, a first catalyst, a second catalyst, and a secondary air introduction pipe. The first catalyst is disposed in the exhaust pipe and the second catalyst is disposed in the exhaust pipe a set distance downstream of the first catalyst. The secondary air introduction pipe is configured to introduce air into the exhaust pipe. The secondary air induction pipe is connected to the exhaust pipe between the first and the second catalysts at a location where a temperature difference of the first and the second catalysts in a cold start transient phase is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidehiro Nishimura, Junichi Ooba, Osamu Takii
  • Patent number: 7441401
    Abstract: The present invention provides a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine which can make a determination on fuel property with high accuracy without causing a cost increase. The control apparatus for the internal combustion engine includes: an intake air amount control unit for controlling an intake air amount of the engine; an ignition timing control unit for controlling an ignition timing of the engine; a catalyst heat-up control unit for increasing the intake air amount after cold start of the engine and performing control for retarding the ignition timing; an air-fuel ratio detecting unit for detecting an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas in the engine; and a fuel property determining unit for making a determination on fuel property through a comparison between a parameter value calculated from the air-fuel ratio and a preset reference value when the catalyst heat-up control unit performs the control for retarding the ignition timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Osamu Maeda, Keiichi Enoki
  • Patent number: 7444233
    Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus for an internal combustion engine is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the diagnostic apparatus comprises a catalytic converter and a controller. The catalytic converter is disposed in an exhaust passage of an engine and treats an exhaust gas component in the exhaust gas. The controller is adapted to perform a number of functions. More specifically, the controller is adapted to operate the engine with an engine control parameter to increase catalyst temperature of the catalytic converter during a cold engine condition. The controller is further adapted to calculate a temperature factor indicative to temperature increase of the catalyst based on the engine control parameter. The controller is further adapted to estimate the amount of the exhaust gas component flowing out of the catalytic converter based on the temperature factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rie Takatsuto, Hiroshi Katoh
  • Publication number: 20080236144
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an exhaust passage provided with a catalyst to purify exhaust gas. A control system for the internal combustion engine performs a quick-warming control to accelerate warming up of the catalyst when a predetermined condition is satisfied after the internal combustion engine begins cold startup. The control system further performs an advance control to advance an ignition timing further than an idling-ignition timing at the time of an idling operation in a period between beginning of the cold startup of the internal combustion engine and a time point where the quick-warming control is started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shingo Nakata, Tomoaki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20080216465
    Abstract: The internal combustion engine control apparatus of the invention starts gradually delaying an ignition timing ? for catalyst warm-up, immediately after a start of an internal combustion engine. When the ignition timing ? is delayed to or below a preset reference timing ?ref, a fuel amount increase flag F1 is set to 1 to start increase correction of a fuel injection amount. The internal combustion engine control apparatus then starts gradually increasing a throttle opening TH to a preset target opening THset. The increase correction of the fuel injection amount is terminated after elapse of a preset time t3 since the increase of the throttle opening TH to the preset target opening THset. This arrangement enables the increase correction of the fuel injection amount according to the requirement, thus improving the fuel economy and the emission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ikuo Ando
  • Publication number: 20080216466
    Abstract: In a control device for an internal combustion engine provided with a NOx catalytic converter in an exhaust passage thereof, the progress of an undesired substance removal process is computed from the consumption of the reducing agent contained in the exhaust gas in the NOx catalytic converter. The undesired substance may include sulfur contents and NOx captured in the NOx catalytic converter. This computation may be based on the air fuel ratio of the exhaust gas upstream of the NOx catalytic converter and the estimated consumption of the reducing agent contained in the exhaust gas or on the difference between the air fuel ratios of the exhaust gas upstream and downstream of the NOx catalytic converter. In either case, the accuracy can be improved by taking into account the space velocity of the exhaust gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoko Morita, Norio Suzuki, Hiroshi Ohno
  • Publication number: 20080196388
    Abstract: An apparatus, including a diesel particulate filter, at least one sensor for sensing information associated with operation of an engine, an engine brake configured to brake the engine, and a controller electrically coupled to the at least one sensor and the engine brake, to determine if the engine is operating in a manner that does not generate enough engine heat to activate the diesel particulate filter, and if the engine is so operating, operate the engine brake so as to brake the engine to cause the engine to generate enough engine heat to activate the diesel particulate filter. An associated method is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Randall J. Johnson, Kendall T. Duffield
  • Patent number: 7412821
    Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the step of performing an operation for rapid catalyst warm-up, under the conditions that an engine is started and rapid catalyst warm-up is necessary, by setting the ratio of fuel injection by an in-cylinder injector to be equal to or higher than that of an intake manifold injector and retarding the ignition timing to a large degree, and the step of performing normal operation under the condition that the catalyst is warmed up to be activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Araki, Yoshiyuki Shogenji
  • Publication number: 20080190107
    Abstract: A startup control apparatus of an internal combustion engine including a supercharger having a turbine driven by exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine, a variable nozzle mechanism provided in the supercharger and regulating the flow rate of exhaust gas to the turbine, and an exhaust gas control catalyst arranged in an exhaust passage on the downstream side, with respect to the direction of exhaust gas flow, of the turbine. A controller selectively performs, during a cold start, control to increase the amount of combustion gas in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine by reducing the sectional area of a nozzle passage of the variable nozzle mechanism and increasing back pressure, and controls to deliver exhaust gas to the exhaust gas control catalyst by increasing the sectional area of the nozzle passage of the variable nozzle mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Ogiso
  • Patent number: 7404289
    Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: if it is necessary to take an anti catalytic odor approach and the engine should be warmed up, resetting an engine warm up request flag to cut fuel for the approach; cutting the fuel and determining whether the approach has completed; and if so, setting the flag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Miwa, Ikuo Ando, Ryuta Teraya
  • Patent number: 7404291
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine, including a filter provided in an exhaust system of the engine for trapping particulates in exhaust gases, and a pressure difference sensor for detecting a pressure difference between an upstream side pressure of the filter and a downstream side pressure of the filter. A non-frozen state of the pressure difference sensor is determined based on at least one of a first parameter relevant to an exhaust gas temperature of the engine and a second parameter relevant to an atmospheric temperature. An abnormality of the filter is determined based on a result of the non-frozen state determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Endo
  • Patent number: 7377102
    Abstract: A device and method for heating exhaust gas from the combustion of fossil fuel upstream of an emissions control device, especially a diesel particulate filter. A conduit receives an exhaust gas flow, and is in fluid communication with the emissions control device for supplying exhaust gas thereto. A flow straightener is disposed in the conduit, and a portion of the exhaust gas flows through the flow straightener. An igniter is disposed in the conduit between the flow straightener and the emissions control device for igniting fuel supplied thereto to produce a flame to heat the exhaust gas flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: CleanAir Systems
    Inventors: Michael Roach, Michael Tripodi, William Tilton
  • Patent number: 7373917
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a hybrid vehicle with a drive train which comprises an internal combustion engine driven by diesel fuel and at least one electric driving machine. In order to reduce the nitrogen oxide and exhaust particulate emissions it is provided that the internal combustion engine is operated with an alternative diesel combustion method in at least one operating range of the vehicle and the electric driving machine is switched in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Raimund Ellinger, Wolfgang Kriegler, Michael Weissbäck, Peter Ebner
  • Patent number: 7370470
    Abstract: A method for increasing the exhaust gas temperature of internal combustion engines, particularly for driving a motor vehicle under load in order to reach the necessary regeneration temperature of at least one component of an exhaust gas post-treatment system, has the step of placing the engine under load by at least one of the brakes of the motor vehicle and/or by the starting element of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Olaf Graupner, Gerhard Wissler