Air Feed To Reactor Modulated Or Diverted By Control Patents (Class 60/289)
  • Patent number: 11661876
    Abstract: An aftertreatment system for treating an exhaust gas comprises an exhaust conduit, a preheating oxidation catalyst, a primary oxidation catalyst disposed downstream of the preheating oxidation catalyst, and a selective catalytic reduction system disposed in the exhaust conduit downstream of the primary oxidation catalyst. A controller is configured to determine a temperature of an exhaust gas at an inlet of the selective catalytic reduction system. In response to the temperature being below a threshold temperature, the controller generates a hydrocarbon insertion signal configured to cause hydrocarbons to be inserted into or upstream of the preheating oxidation catalyst so as to increase a temperature of the exhaust gas to above the threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Emission Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Shirish S. Punde, Rayomand Dabhoiwala, James Nicholas Reynolds
  • Patent number: 11286829
    Abstract: A system for controlling emissions of a motor-vehicle spark-ignition internal combustion engine includes first and second exhaust gas treatment devices and a secondary air feeding system for feeding secondary air into an exhaust gas conduit, between the first and second exhaust gas treatment devices. The secondary air feeding system is activated only when engine load is greater than a predetermined load value and/or when engine rotational speed is greater than a predetermined speed value. In this condition, an air/fuel ratio of the engine is kept at a value lower than the stoichiometric value, so as to feed the engine with a rich mixture. In one example, an electronic controller is configured for controlling activation of the secondary air feeding system on the basis of a map, as a function of values of the engine load and rotational speed. The map is predetermined depending upon specific characteristics of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: FCA Italy S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianluca Pivetti, Fabio Bedogni, Ettore Musu
  • Patent number: 11220942
    Abstract: The invention relates to an exhaust gas aftertreatment system for a spark ignition internal combustion engine based on the Otto principle. The internal combustion engine is connected on the outlet side to an exhaust gas system, wherein an electrically heatable three-way catalytic converter, a four-way catalytic converter downstream from the electrically heatable three-way catalytic converter, and a further three-way catalytic converter downstream from the four-way catalytic converter are situated in the exhaust gas system in the flow direction of an exhaust gas through the exhaust gas system. Before the internal combustion engine is started, the electrically heatable three-way catalytic converter and preferably also the four-way catalytic converter are heated to allow efficient exhaust gas aftertreatment of the untreated emissions of the internal combustion engine upon starting the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKIIHNGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Bernd Hupfeld, Falk-Christian Baron Von Ceumern-Lindenst Jerna, Stefan Paukner
  • Patent number: 11111868
    Abstract: A method of controlling exhaust gas recirculation in the internal combustion engine includes: sensing one or more sensing signals indicative of operating conditions of an internal combustion engine, producing, as a function of the sensing signal or signals sensed, an exhaust gas recirculation control signal for controlling exhaust gas recirculation in the internal combustion engine, producing, e.g., via a “virtual” sensor including a neural network, a particulate size distribution signal indicative of the particulate size distribution in the exhaust of the internal combustion engine, correcting the exhaust gas recirculation control signal as a function of the particulate size distribution control signal, thereby producing a corrected exhaust gas recirculation control signal, and controlling exhaust gas recirculation in the internal combustion engine as a function of the corrected exhaust gas recirculation control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventor: Ferdinando Taglialatela Scafati
  • Patent number: 11047286
    Abstract: An exhaust gas control apparatus includes an exhaust gas control catalyst disposed in an exhaust passage, a filter disposed downstream of the catalyst, a secondary air supply device configured to supply secondary air into exhaust gas flowing into the filter at a location downstream of the catalyst in an exhaust gas flow direction, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to, when a temperature of the catalyst is higher than or equal to an activation temperature and an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas emitted from an engine body is a rich air-fuel ratio, cause the supply device to supply secondary air into exhaust gas while periodically increasing or reducing the air such that the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing into the filter alternately varies between rich and lean air-fuel ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shogo Tanaka, Norihisa Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10508595
    Abstract: An energy recovery system for an engine system is disclosed. The engine system includes an engine, an exhaust conduit configured to receive exhaust gases discharged from the engine, and a first turbocharger coupled to the exhaust conduit to receive exhaust gases from the engine and provides compressed air to the engine. The energy recovery system includes a bypass conduit, a second turbocharger, and an accumulator. The bypass conduit is coupled to the exhaust conduit upstream of the first turbocharger, and facilitates a portion of exhaust gases from the exhaust conduit to bypass the first turbocharger. The second turbocharger is coupled to the bypass conduit, and is driven by the portion of exhaust gases bypassing the first turbocharger to compress air received from an ambient to a first pressure. The accumulator is in fluid communication with the second turbocharger, and stores air received from the second turbocharger at the first pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Reddy Pocha Siva Sankara, Sudarshan Loya, Keith Moravec, Michael B. Goetzke
  • Patent number: 10443475
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to internal combustion engines. The teachings thereof may include monitoring a secondary air system with which secondary air is introduced into exhaust of the internal combustion engine wherein individual cylinders of the internal combustion engine are associated with one of at least two cylinder banks and a separate exhaust duct is associated with each cylinder bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Jaroslav Lipa
  • Patent number: 10190462
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to aftertreatment of exhaust gases in internal combustion engines. The teachings thereof may be embodied in a method for operating a secondary air system comprising: measuring an actual pressure downstream of a pump of the secondary air system; acquiring a dynamic pressure based on the actual pressure, characteristic of changes caused by dynamic operation of the engine; acquiring a basic pressure based on peripheral conditions of the secondary air system; calculating a model pressure based on the basic and the dynamic pressure; determining a capacity of the pump based on a ratio between the model pressure and the actual pressure; and adjusting operation of the secondary air system based on the capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Jaroslav Lipa
  • Patent number: 10174696
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided. The control apparatus is equipped with an electronic control unit. A CPU with which this electronic control unit is equipped performs dither control for setting a first cylinder as a rich-burn cylinder whose air-fuel ratio is richer than a theoretical air-fuel ratio and setting each of second to fourth cylinders as a lean-burn cylinder whose air-fuel ratio is leaner than the theoretical air-fuel ratio, when a request to raise the temperature of a three-way catalyst is made. Then, the CPU reduces the degree of richness of the rich-burn cylinder and the degree of leanness of each of the lean-burn cylinders while continuing dither control, on the condition that fluctuations at a level equal to or higher than a predetermined value are caused in time-series data on the rotational speed resulting from the combustion in each of the cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiichiro Kido, Masanao Idogawa
  • Patent number: 10018132
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger and an exhaust gas recirculation pipe fluidly connecting an exhaust system to an air intake system upstream of a compressor of the turbocharger. A first value of a parameter indicative of the density of a mixture of fresh air and exhaust gas in the air intake system is determined. A flowing of exhaust gas through the exhaust gas recirculation pipe is interrupted if the first value is lower than a first reference value thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Massimiliano Melis, Francesco Concetto Pesce, Joaquin De La Morena
  • Patent number: 9863371
    Abstract: An insert for engine intake gaseous fuel mixing device. A body defines a longitudinal axis, leading end, trailing end, and exterior surface profile from the leading to the trailing end. Supports extend radially from the body, each support extending parallel to the axis to define separate longitudinal intake passages. The exterior surface profile of the body includes a nose section in which diameter increases from a minimum value at the leading end to a maximum value at a downstream end of the nose section. The nose section is followed by a flat section and a curved tapering section in which the profile converges toward the axis at an increasing rate from the flat section in a direction of the axis toward the trailing end. The diameter at the trailing end is at least 15 percent less than a maximum diameter of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Mohamed Moustafa El Gammal, Mark Vincent Casarella
  • Patent number: 9856830
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing evaporative emissions in a vehicle during engine-off conditions responsive to an indication of undesired fuel outflow from one or more fuel injectors. In one example, at an engine-off event, an electric motor is operated to spin a vehicle engine unfueled to position a cylinder receiving fuel from a fuel injector with undesired fuel outflow with an intake valve open and an exhaust valve closed, and subsequently an onboard vacuum pump is activated to purge the contents of the cylinder to a fuel vapor canister. In this way, upon detection of undesired fuel outflow from one or more fuel injectors, during engine-off conditions mitigating action may be undertaken such that the undesired fuel outflow is purged to the fuel vapor canister, rather than being released as vapors to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 9624805
    Abstract: An aftertreatment system is provided for an engine. The aftertreatment system may have at least one exhaust passage and a plurality of reductant injectors that are controllable to dose reductant into the at least one exhaust passage. The aftertreatment system may also have at least one sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an exhaust parameter and a controller in communication with each of the plurality of reductant injectors and the sensor. The controller may be configured to dynamically adjust the dosing of the plurality of injectors, wherein adjusting the dosing includes adjusting at least one of an injector timing, an injector sequence, and a grouping of the plurality of injectors that are simultaneously injecting based on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Robert Wentzel, Brian Michael Cole
  • Patent number: 9316179
    Abstract: A secondary air supply device for an internal combustion engine, the secondary air supply device includes a secondary air supply passage, an air pump, a control valve, a pressure sensor and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: (a) when the control valve is opened so that the secondary air supply passage is opened and the air pump is driven, control the air pump to maintain driving of the air pump and control the control valve to close so as to close the secondary air supply passage; (b) calculate a differential pressure between a maximum pressure and a convergence pressure of the pressures within the secondary air supply passage since just after the secondary air supply passage is closed; and (c) calculate a flow amount of secondary air supplied from the secondary air supply passage supplied to the exhaust gas passage based on the differential pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Kawamura, Shinya Kondo
  • Patent number: 9316233
    Abstract: A propeller fan molded by injection molding using a resin material containing a continuous fiber, includes a hub having an end surface wall and a peripheral wall; and a plurality of blades on an outer periphery of the hub, the propeller fan being molded by providing a plurality of injection positions for injecting the resin material containing the continuous fiber in a part of the end surface wall corresponding to a root portion of one of the blades of the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventor: Shunzen Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9255502
    Abstract: An engine with an acoustic emissions valve or reflector for an exhaust system is disclosed. This reflector is disposed outside of the exhaust system—the reflector is disposed in the atmosphere into which the exhaust system discharges. The reflector is moved between a reflecting position (where the reflector reflects or obstructs acoustic emissions from the exhaust system) and a non-reflecting position (where the reflector does not obstruct the bulk exhaust gas flow from the exhaust system) by rotation of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: NORTHWEST ULD, INC.
    Inventor: Dean W. Glass
  • Patent number: 9181836
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine that includes a first secondary air supply unit having a first air pump and a first air switching valve and a second secondary air supply unit having a second air pump and a second air switching valve, a time difference is provided between the operation start timing of the first air pump and the operation start timing of the second air pump, and the open timing of the first air switching valve and the open timing of the second air switching valve are set so as to be simultaneous with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Akisada, Toru Yaeo, Shinya Kondo
  • Patent number: 9163540
    Abstract: An exhaust gas control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a NOx purification catalyst disposed in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine and carrying a first catalyst metal on a first catalyst carrier, an oxidation catalyst disposed in the downstream exhaust passage of the NOx purification catalyst and carrying second catalyst metals including a base metal on a second catalyst carrier, an air introduction apparatus introducing air into an upstream of the oxidation catalyst, and a temperature detector detecting a temperature of the oxidation catalyst. When an oxidation catalyst temperature is a predetermined temperature or lower, an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas into the oxidation catalyst is controlled to a more fuel lean ratio than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. When the oxidation catalyst temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature, the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas into the oxidation catalyst is controlled to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Nobukawa
  • Patent number: 9157356
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle diesel engine having an exhaust emission control system is provided. The emission control system includes an oxidation catalytic converter, a particle filter, and an SCR catalytic converter, in which the exhaust gas that is discharged from the diesel engine is passed through the oxidation catalytic converter before passing through the particle filter and the SCR catalytic converter. A regeneration of the particle filter with thermal soot burn-off is occasionally carried out, during which the diesel engine is operated at an air-fuel ratio having a lambda value (?) of at least approximately 1.0, and air is added to the exhaust gas after it exits the oxidation catalytic converter and before it enters the particle filter air, so that soot deposited on the particle filter is burnt-off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Ortwin Balthes, Thomas Beckmann, Berthold Keppeler, Siegfried Mueller
  • Patent number: 9157358
    Abstract: An exhaust gas system includes a reducing agent preparation section having a first cylindrical exhaust gas line pipe section opening approximately perpendicularly into a second exhaust gas line pipe section via an opening in a cylinder lateral surface of the second exhaust gas line pipe section. An injector unit for introducing the reducing agent into the exhaust gas is situated at the first exhaust gas line pipe section, upstream from the opening. The opening in the cylinder lateral surface of the second exhaust gas line pipe section has a larger extension in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the second exhaust gas line pipe section than transversely thereto. In a method using the reducing agent preparation section a rotating exhaust gas flow is formed within the second exhaust gas line pipe section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Thomas Beckmann, Tillmann Braun, Frank Duvinage, Helmut Herwig, Bernhard Kobiela, Peter Lueckert, Antonio Pepe, Peter Raitschev, Joachim Schommers
  • Patent number: 9149768
    Abstract: A passive mid bed air injection apparatus for an engine includes a three way catalyst positioned in an exhaust stream of the engine. The three way catalyst reduces NOx, CO and HC from the exhaust stream. The three way catalyst includes an ammonia slip catalyst positioned in the exhaust stream of the engine. The ammonia slip catalyst is positioned downstream from the three way catalyst and oxidizes NH3 and CO from the exhaust stream. The three way catalyst includes an oxygen input disposed between the three way catalyst and the ammonia slip catalyst such that the oxygen input delivers air downstream from the three way catalyst and upstream from the ammonia slip catalyst. The oxygen input receives the air from a charged side of a forced induction device and delivers the air to the exhaust stream entering the ammonia slip catalyst. An associated method also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Maruthi Narasinga Rao Devarakonda, Robert Earl McDowell, Dennis John Spaulding, James Kristopher von der Ehe
  • Patent number: 9115628
    Abstract: A flow restrictor for a secondary air injection system for an internal combustion engine. The flow restrictor includes a main body configured to be located between the intake end and a first injecting end of the supply conduit of the secondary air injection system. The main body defines a restricting orifice configured to reduce propagation of pressure fluctuations between the first injecting end a second injecting end. The main body includes a first connecting portion configured to connect to the supply conduit proximal to the intake end and a second connecting portion configured to connect to the supply conduit proximal to the first injecting end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Paolo Guidi
  • Patent number: 9080482
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling operation of exhaust of an engine including a particulate filter are provided. One example method includes generating vacuum during engine operation, and storing the vacuum. The method further includes, during or after engine shutdown, drawing ambient air through the particulate filter via the vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Patent number: 9056279
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling emissions in an engine, includes establishing a desired first temperature at an inlet (116) of an ammonia slip catalyst assembly (115); and determining a second temperature associated with a temperature at the inlet of the ammonia slip catalyst assembly (115). If the second temperature is higher than the desired first temperature, then directing an air injector (135) to add air to the inlet (116) of the ammonia slip catalyst assembly (115).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Maruthi N. Devarakonda
  • Patent number: 9032715
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling emissions of VOC's comprises transporting VOC's to an engine and transporting the exhaust from the engine into a manifold. Supplemental air is transporting into the manifold and heat is transferred from the exhaust to the supplemental air within the manifold. The supplemental air is mixed with the exhaust and the mixture is transferred to a pollution abatement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: BRB/SHERLINE, INC.
    Inventor: Bernhardt R. Bruns
  • Patent number: 9016048
    Abstract: An exhaust arrangement for an internal combustion engine. The exhaust arrangement includes a diffuser duct including a wall surface which diverges between an inlet and a first outlet. The arrangement further includes an auxiliary duct extending from a second outlet of the diffuser duct. The second diffuser duct outlet being located on the wall surface between the diffuser duct inlet and the first outlet. The auxiliary duct includes a heat recovery device configured to convert heat energy from exhaust gases passing through the auxiliary duct in use to mechanical or electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Stephen Gallimore
  • Patent number: 8997466
    Abstract: A mixing and/or evaporating device (12) for an exhaust system (5) of a combustion engine (1), in particular of a motor vehicle, includes a support body (19), which encloses a flat cross section through which a flow can flow running transversely to the axial direction (20) of the device (12) in the circumferential direction (32). The support body (19) comprises two long side walls (21, 22) located opposite each other and two short side walls (23, 24) located opposite each other, wherein the short side walls (23, 24) each connect the two long side walls (21, 22) with each other. At least on one long side wall (21, 22) at least on one axial end (26, 27), a plurality of guide blades (25) is arranged. The guide blades (25) stand away in a direction of the other long side wall (21, 22) and are angled relative to the axial direction (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sebastian Leicht, Felix Neumann, Benjamin Arlt, Oleksandr Semenov, Silvia Calvo, Joachim Braun, Tobias Wolf
  • Patent number: 8991157
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system for an engine includes a regeneration device being in receipt of exhaust from the engine and positioned upstream of a diesel particulate filter. A compressor provides a source of compressed air. An air/fuel nozzle is coupled to the regeneration device, in receipt of a fuel supply as well as the compressed air. The fuel and compressed air are forced through an orifice of the nozzle to atomize the fuel. A bypass line provides compressed air from the compressor to the regeneration device without passing through the orifice of the nozzle. A valve is operable to allow compressed air to flow through the bypass line when a predetermined condition exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Mastbergen, Clark Fraser Paterson, John Michael Williams, Lawrence Dalimonte, Nicholas Morley, Tom DePotter, Jagandeep Sandhu
  • Patent number: 8966896
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, an internal combustion engine includes a first exhaust port in a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine, a first one way valve coupled to a secondary air system, the first one way valve configured to restrict fluid communication from the first exhaust port to the secondary air system. The engine also includes a second exhaust port in the cylinder head and a second one way valve coupled to the secondary air system, the second one way valve configured to restrict fluid communication from the second exhaust port to the secondary air system, wherein the first and second exhaust ports are in fluid communication with a turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert Lionel Jacques, Kenneth R. Kridner
  • Patent number: 8955313
    Abstract: An exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine, which includes: a silver-alumina-based catalyst, which is arranged in an engine exhaust system and, when an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas is leaner than a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, releases adsorbed NO2 at a first set temperature and adsorbed NO at a second set temperature, a secondary air feed passage configured to suppress a temperature rise of the silver-alumina-based catalyst; and an electronic control unit, that: controls the air flow through the secondary air feed passage to: when the silver-alumina-based catalyst has reached a third set temperature, suppress a temperature rise of the silver-alumina-based catalyst to maintain the silver-alumina-based catalyst near the third set temperature, and then lift the suppression of the temperature rise of the silver-alumina-based catalyst so that at least part of the NO adsorbed at the silver-alumina-based catalyst, is oxidized to NO2 to be adsorbed at the silver-alumina-based catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Matsuo, Hiromasa Nishioka, Katsuhiko Oshikawa, Yoshihisa Tsukamoto, Hiroshi Otsuki, Shigeki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8931256
    Abstract: An engine system for a machine is disclosed. The engine system may have an intake manifold configured to direct air into a donor cylinder and a non-donor cylinder of an engine. The engine system may have a first exhaust manifold configured to direct exhaust from the non-donor cylinder to the atmosphere and a second exhaust manifold configured to receive exhaust from the donor cylinder. The engine system may further have a control valve configured to selectively direct a first amount of exhaust from the second exhaust manifold to the intake manifold and an after-treatment component configured to treat the first amount of exhaust. In addition, the engine system may have a controller configured to adjust a first operating parameter of the donor cylinder such that a ratio of an amount of a gaseous component and an amount of particulate matter in the first amount of exhaust exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventors: Keith E. Moravec, Teoman Uzkan
  • Patent number: 8925298
    Abstract: A variety of embodiments of exhaust systems for engines including small off-road engines, and related methods of operation, are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the exhaust system includes a first conduit that receives exhaust emissions from a first engine cylinder, and a second conduit that communicates air to a first port on the first conduit. The air mixes with the exhaust emissions within the first conduit so as to produce a chemical reaction, and a level of at least one undesirable component of the exhaust emissions is reduced. Further, the exhaust system does not include any catalytic converter. In some embodiments, the exhaust system further comprises a crankcase ventilation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Eric Pekrul, Eric Hudak
  • Patent number: 8925297
    Abstract: A variety of embodiments of exhaust systems for engines including small off-road engines, and related methods of operation, are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the exhaust system includes a first conduit that receives exhaust emissions from a first engine cylinder, and a second conduit that communicates air to a first port on the first conduit. The air mixes with the exhaust emissions within the first conduit so as to produce a chemical reaction, and a level of at least one undesirable component of the exhaust emissions is reduced. Further, the exhaust system does not include any catalytic converter. In some embodiments, the exhaust system further comprises a crankcase ventilation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Eric Pekrul, Eric Hudak
  • Patent number: 8919108
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide a technique which serves to suppress unburnt HC from being discharged to a downstream side, when fuel is injected from a fuel supply valve for removing clogging thereof. The present invention is provided with a fuel supply valve that supplies fuel to an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, and an ignition unit that ignites the fuel supplied from the fuel supply valve, wherein in cases where there is a possibility that clogging may occur in an injection hole of the fuel supply valve, fuel for removal of clogging is injected from the fuel supply valve. An amount of the fuel to be injected from the fuel supply valve for removing clogging thereof is an amount of fuel which is able to be combusted by being ignited by means of the ignition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Itoh, Junya Nakajima, Shinya Hirota
  • Patent number: 8899027
    Abstract: A method is applied to regenerate particulate matter in a particulate filter of a hybrid electric vehicle having a combination of a combustion engine and an electric motor for propelling the vehicle, the hybrid electric vehicle having an electrically heated catalyst disposed in flow communication with the particulate filter in an exhaust system of the vehicle. The method determines whether the combustion engine is or is not combusting fuel, and under a condition where the combustion engine is not combusting fuel, the catalyst is electrically heated until it has reached a temperature suitable to cause ignition of the particulate matter. The electric motor is used to facilitate rotation of the combustion engine at a rotational speed suitable to draw air into and be exhausted out of the combustion engine into the exhaust system, across the catalyst, and into the particulate filter to facilitate ignition of the particulate in the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Bryan N. Roos, Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8881507
    Abstract: A dosing system for delivering reductant to an exhaust gas treatment system of an internal combustion engine using air driven hydraulic pumps for closed-loop controlling reductant pressure and a two-stage PWM control method for controlling dosing rate. Reductant residue in the dosing systems is purged by using compressed air after a dosing process completes, and when the air driven hydraulic pumps are positioned inside a reductant tank, dedicated heating means for the pumps is not necessary. The air driven hydraulic pumps can also use low pressure compressed air, and the closed-loop pressure control together with the two-stage PWM control allow dosing accuracy insensitive to pressure variations in compressed air. These new features enable the dosing system use a variety of compressed air sources, including an engine turbo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Inventors: Mi Yan, Baohua Qi
  • Patent number: 8863502
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a metering module (15) for a liquid reducing agent, in particular a urea-water solution, for mixing the reducing agent with a gas, in particular air, for further introduction into an exhaust pipe (5) of an internal combustion engine (1). The metering module (15) comprises a metering valve (31) having a conduit (33), a compressed air duct (49) and a mixing chamber (35). An outlet opening of the conduit (33) for the reducing agent is arranged in the mixing chamber (35) at a distance from the mid-axis of the metering module (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Feistritzer, Markus Foetschl, Werner Pape
  • Patent number: 8868315
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating a temperature calibration are described. One embodiment of a method includes determining, by a computing device, a current speed of the vehicle and determining a dynamic smoothing number, the dynamic smoothing number being dependent on the current speed, the dynamic smoothing number being utilized to determine an estimated temperature of an air injection system. Some embodiments include calculating the estimated temperature of the air injection system from the dynamic smoothing number, determining whether the estimated temperature is greater than a predetermined temperature of the air injection system, and in response to determining that the estimated temperature is greater than the predetermined temperature of the air injection system, sending a signal for on-board diagnostics to resume at a next start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Devin Michael Allphin
  • Patent number: 8857179
    Abstract: A secondary air system comprising a variable speed air pump and a gated check valve connected between the variable speed air pump and an IC engine. The gated check valve has two ports, and generally, a first of the two ports is connected to a first bank of engine cylinders, and a second of the two ports is connected to a second bank of engine cylinders. The system further comprises a controller for controlling the speed of the variable speed air pump, and the positioning of the gated check valve. The gated check valve is operable to fully close air flow to both ports, fully open air flow to one of the two ports, or variably split air flow between the two ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Mark S. Kado, Kenneth P. Degroot
  • Patent number: 8844272
    Abstract: Various systems and method are described for controlling an engine having an exhaust system which includes a particulate filter. One example method comprises, after shutting down the engine and spinning down the engine to rest, operating a vacuum pump to draw fresh air through the exhaust system to an intake system, and regenerating at least a portion of the particulate filter during the engine rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Jeffrey Scott Hepburn
  • Publication number: 20140260196
    Abstract: Described herein is an air dithering system for an internal combustion engine generating exhaust gas that includes an exhaust line in exhaust gas receiving communication with the internal combustion engine. The system also includes an exhaust aftertreatment component positioned within the exhaust line in exhaust gas receiving communication with exhaust gas in the exhaust line. Further, the system includes an air injector in air injecting communication with exhaust gas in the exhaust line at a location downstream of the internal combustion engine and upstream of the exhaust aftertreatment component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Leon A. LaPointe, Scott Miles, Jay Shah
  • Patent number: 8806856
    Abstract: Provided is a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that can favorably achieve compatibility between suppressing deterioration of a catalyst and suppressing progression of rich poisoning thereof when the internal combustion engine has a configuration that performs valve stopping control during a fuel-cut operation. Variable valve operating apparatuses are provided having valve stop mechanisms that can respectively change an operating state of an intake valve and an exhaust valve between a valve operating state and a closed-valve stopped state. When an integrated fuel injection amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined value ? when executing a fuel-cut operation, it is determined that rich poisoning of an upstream catalyst is in a progressed state. In that case, valve stopping control of the intake and exhaust valves is prohibited to thereby supply oxygen to the upstream catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihisa Nakagawa, Takashi Nishikiori, Yasuyuki Shibata, Shinya Misaka
  • Patent number: 8806868
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a secondary air injection system includes a first conduit in fluid communication with at least one first exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine and a second conduit in fluid communication with at least one second exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine, wherein the at least one first and second exhaust passages are in fluid communication with a turbocharger. The system also includes an air supply in fluid communication with the first and second conduits and a flow control device that controls fluid communication between the air supply and the first conduit and the second conduit and thereby controls fluid communication to the first and second exhaust passages of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ko-Jen Wu, Darrell J. Walter
  • Patent number: 8783020
    Abstract: An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The system comprises an exhaust tract which is connectable to an outlet side of the internal combustion engine, at least one catalytic converter arranged in the exhaust tract downstream of the engine, a particle filter downstream of the at least one catalytic converter, and a secondary-air inlet port provided in the exhaust tract upstream of the particle filter for introducing compressed secondary air into the exhaust tract via at least one flutter valve. In this way, additional oxygen may be supplied to the particulate filter to perform filter regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Moritz Klaus Springer, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Thomas Lorenz, Georg Louven, Jens Dunstheimer
  • Patent number: 8776502
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method for controlling a system for regenerating a diesel particulate filter. The method includes monitoring an engine run time that has lapsed since a previous regeneration event. The method also includes monitoring backpressure behind the diesel particulate filter. The method further includes triggering a regeneration flag if the engine run time that lapsed since the previous regeneration event reaches a predetermined time limit and the backpressure exceeds a minimum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hiemstra, Eivind Stenersen, Wenzhong Zhang, Allan T. Hovda, Gary Dale Reeves, Josh Kundert, Wayne M. Wagner, Todd R. Taubert
  • Patent number: 8752366
    Abstract: A method for abating carbon monoxide in an exhaust stream may include injecting an amount of air into the exhaust stream to produce an air/exhaust mixture; measuring an air/fuel ratio of the air/exhaust mixture; reacting carbon monoxide in the air/exhaust mixture with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst to produce carbon dioxide to abate carbon monoxide in the air/exhaust mixture; measuring a temperature of the catalyst; and adjusting the amount of air injected into the exhaust stream based on the air/fuel ratio or the temperature of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt E. Reichelderfer, David L. Euler
  • Patent number: 8726656
    Abstract: A power assembly includes an internal combustion engine including an air intake line and an exhaust gas line having at least one heat exchanger. The power assembly further includes a Brayton cycle system capable of providing additional power to the main internal combustion engine and that includes a gas compressor, a fuel burning heater and a turbine linked to the compressor so that air is drawn into the compressor where it is pressurized, the pressurized air is further heated by flowing through at least one heat exchanger where it exchanges heat with exhaust gases from the main internal combustion engine, the heated and pressurized air is further heated by the fuel burning heater and is thereafter expanded through the turbine where a first fraction of the work extracted by the turbine is used to drive the compressor and a second fraction of the work extracted by the turbine is used to bring additional energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Renault Trucks
    Inventor: Marc Lejeune
  • Patent number: 8720195
    Abstract: An exhaust assembly includes an exhaust pipe, a first venturi member at the inlet end of the pipe and a second venturi member at the outlet end of the pipe. A diffuser/mixer is mounted at the outlet end of the exhaust pipe. A shield pipe surrounds a portion of the exhaust pipe. A shield member is mounted to the shield pipe and covers a portion of the first venturi member. The first and second venturi members operate to combine ambient air with exhaust gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Gardner, Brian T. Brown, Gary S. Keys, II
  • Patent number: 8720192
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The internal combustion engine has an engine off condition. The exhaust gas treatment system includes particulate filter (“PF”) device in fluid communication with an exhaust gas conduit, an electric heater, a primary energy storage device, a plurality of secondary energy storage devices, and a control module. The PF device has a filter structure for removal of particulates in the exhaust gas, and is selectively regenerated based on an amount of particulates trapped within the filter structure of the PF device. The electric heater is disposed upstream of the filter structure and is selectively energized to provide heat for regeneration of the PF device. The plurality of secondary energy storage devices are selectively connected to the primary energy storage device. The secondary energy storage devices selectively energize the electric heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Michael G. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 8695328
    Abstract: An exhaust purifying apparatus achieving placement of components so as to prevent an increase in the size of the vehicle caused by the placement of the exhaust purifying apparatus while maintaining the performance of the exhaust purifying apparatus by secondary air in a saddle-ride type vehicle. An exhaust purifying apparatus of a saddle-ride vehicle includes a secondary air supply pipe of which one end is connected an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine. A secondary air control valve is connected with the other end of the secondary air supply pipe for controlling the supply of secondary air to the secondary air supply pipe. An outdoor air introduction passage is connected to the secondary air control valve, wherein an air filter for secondary air and a resonant passage are installed in the middle of the outdoor air introduction passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiko Shimizu, Makoto Mitsukawa, Kuniharu Kimura, Takatoshi Tatsumi