Having A Means For Heating The Catalyst Patents (Class 60/300)
  • Patent number: 8621849
    Abstract: A method and a control system are provided for diagnosing a diesel combustion catalyst that is located in an exhaust line within a diesel engine system. The method comprising providing an unburned fuel mass flow through the diesel oxidation catalyst, determining the oxidation heat release rate which is related to the exothermic oxidation reactions of the unburned fuel into the diesel oxidation catalyst, integrating the determined oxidation heat release rate on a time interval, integrating the unburned fuel mass flow on the same time interval, dividing the integrated value of oxidation heat release rate and the integrated value of unburned fuel mass flow for determining an efficiency index (DOI) of the diesel oxidation catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Roberto Vernassa, Francesco Cianflone
  • Patent number: 8615988
    Abstract: An exhaust system that processes exhaust generated by an engine includes a diesel particulate filter (DPF) that is disposed downstream of the engine and that filters particulates from the exhaust. An electrical heater is disposed upstream of the DPF and selectively heats the exhaust to initiate combustion of the particulates within the exhaust as it passes therethrough. Heat generated by combustion of the particulates induces combustion of particulates within the DPF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Frank Ament
  • Patent number: 8601794
    Abstract: A regeneration apparatus comprises a heater 2 which heats a catalyst 1 at the time of stopping fuel supply to an engine, a pump 4 which supplies an oxidizing gas or a reducing gas to the heated catalyst 1 and a switching valve 3. In the oxidizing step, catalytic poisons, for example hydrocarbon, which are absorbed on a noble metal are oxidized and removed. The particles of the noble metal become oxidized particles as pure oxide and the like. After the oxidizing step, the reducing step is carried out. In the reducing step, particles of the noble metal are reduced and re-dispersed on the support simultaneously and as a result, the particles of the noble metal become fine. Thus, a deteriorated catalyst can be regenerated without interrupting the use of catalyst and also without deteriorating the drivability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanori Yamato, Takeru Yoshida, Nobuyuki Takagi, Toshitaka Tanabe, Yasutaka Nagai, Kazuhiko Dohmae, Naoki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8596048
    Abstract: A method for operating a device for the purification of exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine which is operated with an excess of air includes heating at least one heating apparatus of the device above a predetermined first setpoint temperature. The at least one heating apparatus is at least partially in contact with the exhaust gas, can be activated by electrical energy and is formed at least partially with an oxidation coating. At least the temperature of the at least one heating apparatus or of the exhaust gas is subsequently monitored. An increase in the hydrocarbon fraction of the exhaust gas is initiated if at least the temperature of the heating apparatus or of the exhaust gas has reached a threshold temperature or a low-load phase of the internal combustion engine is present. A motor vehicle having the device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Thomas Nagel, Carsten Kruse, Gerhard Kahmann, Thorsten Düsterdiek
  • Publication number: 20130312395
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to achieve improvement in an exhaust gas purification rate as well as suppression of breakage or damage of a heater element in an electric heating catalyst (EHC), by causing the heater element to generate heat in a more suitable manner. In an EHC according to the present invention, a pair of surface electrodes (7a) are formed in such a manner that they extend spirally from one end toward the other end of a heater element (3), which is formed into a cylindrical shape, along an outer circumferential surface of the heater element (3), and mutually cross each other while sandwiching the heater element (3) therebetween. Moreover, the width in each of the surface electrodes (7a) in the vicinity of their ends which are in contact with circumferences of end faces of the heater element (3) is enlarged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mamoru Yoshioka
  • Publication number: 20130312394
    Abstract: The electricity is suppressed from flowing through a case (5) of an electric heating catalyst (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mamoru Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8590294
    Abstract: A particulate filter regeneration system may include an exhaust inlet, an exhaust chamber coupled downstream of the exhaust inlet, an exhaust outlet, and a flow-through wall coupled between the exhaust chamber and the exhaust outlet. The particulate filter regeneration system may further include a heater for heating the particulate filter regeneration system to enable particulate combustion and a bypass coupled to the exhaust chamber for selectively opening a filter regeneration pathway to remove accumulated particulate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Avra Brahma
  • Publication number: 20130305698
    Abstract: The electricity is suppressed from flowing through a case (5) of an electric heating catalyst (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mamoru Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8584445
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a diesel particulate filter includes a particulate matter load determination module determining a particulate matter load in a diesel particulate filter (DPF), a desired oxygen level determination module determining a desired exhaust gas oxygen level based on the particulate matter load, an oxygen comparison module comparing the desired exhaust gas oxygen level and a measured exhaust gas oxygen level and generating a comparison signal and an electric DPF control module controlling an electrically heated catalyst in response to the comparison signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Garima Bhatia
  • Patent number: 8578703
    Abstract: In an exhaust emission purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine, for adding a reducing agent for NOx to the exhaust gas to thereby purify NOx in the exhaust gas, the mixing of the reducing agent injected by an injection nozzle with the exhaust gas is accelerated. To this end, in the apparatus of the present invention, the injection nozzle for the urea water is disposed to be opposite to the flow of the exhaust gas, or to face upward in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiminobu Hirata, Nobuhiko Masaki, Hisashi Akagawa, Yuji Yajima
  • Patent number: 8573190
    Abstract: In a method for heating a gas sensor (1), in particular an exhaust gas sensor for an exhaust system (5) of a motor vehicle (7), a temperature of the gas sensor (1) is determined and the heating process is influenced as a function of the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Barnikow, Johannes Scheuerer
  • Publication number: 20130263577
    Abstract: A method of assessing non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) conversion efficiency in a diesel after-treatment (AT) system having a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) arranged upstream of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) includes regenerating the AT system. Additionally, the method monitors DOC inlet and outlet temperatures during the regeneration. The method also assesses whether the DOC is operating at or above threshold efficiency by determining a DOC inlet/outlet temperature difference and comparing the determined inlet/outlet temperature difference with a threshold inlet/outlet temperature difference. The method also monitors DPF outlet temperature if the DOC is operating at or above the threshold efficiency and determines a DOC temperature/DPF outlet temperature difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Igor Anilovich, Janean E. Kowalkowski, Cheryl J. Stark, John F. Van Gilder, Ognyan N. Yanakiev
  • Patent number: 8549843
    Abstract: In in-cylinder fuel multi-injection conducted during forced regeneration of a diesel particulate filter (“DPF”), control maps for multi-injection are constructed so as to be different for a first gas temperature raising control, which raises a catalyst temperature index temperature to a first judgment temperature only by multi-injection, and for a subsequent second exhaust gas temperature raising control, wherein post-injection is conducted in addition to multi-injection to raise a filter temperature index temperature to a second judgment temperature. In so doing, exhaust gas flowing into the DPF can be rapidly raised in temperature when performing forced regeneration of the DPF, thereby shortening the forced regeneration time and improving fuel consumption for forced regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Kenji Hagio, Takashi Ikeda, Shigeru Ikeda, Takao Onodera, Tatsuo Mashiko
  • Patent number: 8549846
    Abstract: An exhaust system that processes exhaust generated by an engine is provided. The system includes: a particulate filter (PF) that filters particulates from the exhaust wherein an upstream end of the PF receives exhaust from the engine; and a grid of electrically resistive material that is applied to an exterior upstream surface of the PF and that selectively heats exhaust passing through the grid to initiate combustion of particulates within the PF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Frank Ament
  • Patent number: 8544259
    Abstract: An exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine is provided with an exhaust treatment device which purifies exhaust, a fuel feed device which is arranged at an upstream side from the exhaust treatment device and which feeds fuel to the engine exhaust passage, an ignition device which causes fuel which is fed from the fuel feed device to ignite, and a flow regulating device which regulates the flow rate of exhaust gas which flows toward the ignition device. The fuel feed device is formed so as to feed liquid fuel. The system has an operating region in which due to the fuel which is fed to the engine exhaust passage burning, backflow of the exhaust gas occurs. Fuel is made to burn in the operating region. Further control is performed to make the flow rate of the exhaust gas increase during the period from when combustion of fuel should be started to when combustion of the fuel ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Tsujimoto, Mikio Inoue
  • Patent number: 8539757
    Abstract: An exhaust purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to the present invention includes a heated gas generation apparatus configured to generate heated gas utilizing exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust passage. The heated gas generation apparatus includes a catalyst configured to provide an oxidation function, a fuel supply nozzle, and a heater. An exhaust purification unit is provided downstream of the heated gas generation apparatus. An incoming gas temperature of the exhaust purification unit is detected and estimated. An actual incoming gas temperature being a detected value and an estimated incoming gas temperature both acquired when at least the fuel supply nozzle is actuated are compared with each other. Based on the result of the comparison, the apparatus detects one of poisoning of the catalyst with HC and degradation of the catalyst. Thus, the heated gas generation apparatus is prevented from discharging HC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Hirota, Toru Sasatani, Sakutaro Hoshi, Hiroshi Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 8528319
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, described herein is an apparatus for mitigating on-board diagnostic (OBD) faults generated by an OBD system of an internal combustion engine (ICE) system having a selective catalytic reduction system with a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) decomposition tube. The apparatus includes a fault mitigation module that is configured to monitor at least one OBD signal of the OBD system and issue a request for regenerating the DEF decomposition tube when a value of the at least one OBD signal reaches a predetermined regeneration threshold corresponding with the at least one OBD signal. The regeneration threshold is reachable prior to an OBD fault threshold corresponding with the at least one OBD signal. The apparatus also includes a regeneration module that is configured to regenerate the DEF decomposition tube according to the issued request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel D. Wilhelm, Kwadwo O. Owusu, April Evans, Xiao Lin, Robert Kern, Douglas Alan Mitchell, Lisa Farrell
  • Patent number: 8528324
    Abstract: The invention relates to a metering device for fuel upstream of an oxidation catalytic converter in the exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine. A closing valve and/or a metering valve and an injection valve are integrated downstream of a supply device for fuel into a line leading to a metering unit. A return having a first overflow valve branches off upstream of the metering unit. A further return having a second overflow valve influencing a mean pressure level of the metering unit is disposed between the closing valve and the metering valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Keusen, Volker Reusing, Stefan Stein
  • Patent number: 8528320
    Abstract: A system for exhaust gas purification including, in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine in order from an upstream side: a device for direct injection into the exhaust pipe, an oxidation catalyst, and at least one of a catalyst for NOx removal and a catalyzed diesel particulate filter. A support of the oxidation catalyst is a metallic material or a material having a specific heat not higher than that of the metallic material, and has a structure that mixes the exhaust gas. Regeneration of the NOx occlusion/reduction type catalyst by NOx removal and the forced regeneration of the catalyzed diesel particulate filter by particulate matter removal can occur even when the engine is operated under low-load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Daiji Nagaoka, Teruo Nakada, Hiroyuki Yuza
  • Patent number: 8516796
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an exhaust system of an engine includes a fuel control module and a diagnostic module. The fuel control module, in response to a request for a fuel inhibiting event, operates the engine in a first rich condition for a first period until a catalytic converter of the exhaust system is in a predetermined first rich state and subsequently operates the engine in a lean condition for a second period contiguous with the first period. The diagnostic module determines a catalyst efficiency of the catalytic converter based on an output of an oxygen sensor located downstream of said catalytic converter during the second period, and selectively adjusts a diagnostic status of the catalytic converter based on a comparison of the catalyst efficiency and a predetermined catalyst efficiency. The fuel inhibiting event may be a deceleration fuel-cutoff event. A related diagnostic method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventors: Wesley W. Wald, Robert J. Genslak, Edward Stuteville, Igor Anilovich
  • Patent number: 8511075
    Abstract: A combustion device for an exhaust treatment system is disclosed. The combustion device may have a fuel injector configured to inject fuel toward an exhaust flow. The combustion device may also have an ignition source configured to ignite the injected fuel. The combustion device may further have a deflector configured to redirect at least a portion of the ignited fuel towards a center of the exhaust flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Cory Andrew Brown, Glenn Brian Cox, Yung T. Bui
  • Patent number: 8511069
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine includes receiving a request to regenerate a particulate matter filter and regulating, in response to the request, operation of the engine and an electric heater that heats an inlet surface of the filter such that for a first period, the heater maintains the inlet surface within a first temperature range above a regeneration temperature of the filter and combustion of a first mass of accumulated PM within the filter is initiated, for a second period following the first period, exhaust cools the inlet surface to within a second temperature range below the regeneration temperature and combustion of the first mass is inhibited, and for a third period following the second period, the inlet surface is maintained within a third temperature range above the regeneration temperature and a second mass of the accumulated PM is combusted. A related control system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Garima Bhatia
  • Patent number: 8511068
    Abstract: A technique is provided which is capable of reducing an amount of smoke generated in a temperature raising system in which fuel added to an exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust passage is caused to combust at the time of requesting a temperature rise in an exhaust gas purification catalyst. When a request for raising the temperature of an exhaust gas purification catalyst is made, bypass control is carried out in which the exhaust gas having bypassed a turbine is caused to flow into the exhaust gas purification catalyst through a bypass passage, and fuel ignition control is carried out in which a fuel addition valve is caused to add fuel to the exhaust gas which has flowed out of the turbine, and a glow plug is caused to ignite the added fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Tsujimoto, Mikio Inoue
  • Patent number: 8505280
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for controlling the injection of urea in a selective catalytic reduction, known as CR, system for treating nitrogen oxides, intended to be installed in the exhaust line (6) of a motor vehicle (1) engine (2), wherein the treatment comprises chemically reducing, in a catalyst (3), known as SCR catalyst, the nitrogen oxides by adding ammonia contained in urea, the process comprising the following steps: —the temperature of the gases in the exhaust line (6) of the engine (2), upstream of the SCR catalyst (3), is measured, —if the temperature measured is above a predetermined minimum value, called minimum injection temperature, an order is given to inject urea (5), —if the temperature measured is below the minimum injection temperature, the following substeps are carried out: —a mass of ammonia stored in the SCR catalyst (3) is determined, —the amount of ammonia required to obtain a nitrogen oxide conversion greater than a predetermined value is determined, if the mass of ammonia
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Pierre Henri Maesse
  • Patent number: 8505282
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine is provided, including an exhaust gas conduit, an oxidation catalyst (“OC”) device, an electrically heated catalyst (“EHC”) device, a selective catalytic reduction (“SCR”) device, and a control module. The OC device is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit. The OC device adsorbs hydrocarbons and is selectively activated to induce oxidation of the hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas. The EHC device is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit and is configured to receive the exhaust gas. The EHC device is located within the OC device and is selectively activated to produce heat and induce further oxidation of the exhaust gas. The EHC device has an oxidation catalyst compound disposed thereon for converting nitrogen oxide (“NO”) to nitrogen dioxide (“NO2”).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Chang H. Kim, Steven J. Schmieg
  • Publication number: 20130199165
    Abstract: An electrically heated catalyst device has a cylindrical outer skin part and a cell formation part. A pair of electrodes formed on the outer skin park faces relative to each other in a radial direction of the honeycomb structural body. An electrode terminal is formed on the corresponding electrode in an outer radial direction of the honeycomb structural body. A length edge line of each electrode is inclined to a virtual reference line at a predetermined angle. The virtual reference line is a virtual line defined on the outer circumferential surface of the outer skin part and is parallel to the axial direction of the honeycomb structural body. The electrode terminals are formed at a predetermined interval in the axial direction of the honeycomb structural body to make an angle of less than 180° when viewed from one end surface perpendicular to the axial direction of the honeycomb structural body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoo KAWASE, Mikio Ishihara
  • Patent number: 8499547
    Abstract: Upon a system startup, a hybrid vehicle 20 determines whether a catalyst warm up operation of an engine 22 is to be executed or not based on a catalyst bed temperature Tcat of an exhaust gas purifying catalyst 141 and a state of charge SOC of a battery 50 (S110, S140) and determines whether a forced charging of the battery 50 with an idling of the engine 22 is to be executed or not based on the catalyst bed temperature Tcat, the state of charge SOC and an estimated intake air amount GAidl upon the idling of the engine 22 when the catalyst warm up operation is not to be executed, then controls the engine 22, motors MG1 and MG2 in accordance with determination results (S130, S210).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Patent number: 8504278
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling engine operation includes a timer module that determines a time period from when a catalyst light-off mode is entered to when an oxygen sensor signal reaches an oxygen sensor threshold and a comparison module that generates an error signal and determines when the time period is above a time threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Inventors: Douglas R. Verner, Jonathan T. Shibata, Allen B. Rayl, Halim G Santoso, Kenneth J. Buslepp
  • Patent number: 8495867
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system includes a heating module for heating exhaust gas upstream of a main catalytic converter. The heating module includes a first heating core having a first core volumetric size and a second heating core having a second core volumetric size that is less than the first core volumetric size. The first heating core with the larger first core volumetric size is configured to optimize pre-crank heating, while the second heating core with the smaller second core volumetric size is configured to optimize post-crank heating. The first heating core and the second heating core may be arranged in series with each other or in parallel with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Karthik Ramanathan, Se H. Oh
  • Patent number: 8491493
    Abstract: A method and system for assessing the health status of a patient, such as the asthma status of a patient, provides an asthma status score and a confidence rating indicative of the score's reliability using continuous real-time data. In some embodiments, the assessment comprises a multidimensional analysis in which asthma status scores and respective confidence ratings are generated for multiple individual asthma health dimensions as well as a summary asthma health dimension indicative of overall asthma health. In some embodiments, the individual dimensions include an environmental trigger dimension based on sensor-based environmental data, a physiological burden dimension based on sensor-based physiological data, a medication adherence dimension based on patient diary data and a perceived symptom dimension based on patient diary data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Nhedti Colquitt, Deepak Ayyagari
  • Patent number: 8490740
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a PCU serving as a power control unit controlling the electric power for vehicle running, a battery storing the electric power for vehicle running, and an EHC serving as an electrically heated catalyst. The PCU includes a converter, an inverter, and a positive line and a negative line each connecting the converter and the inverter. The converter boosts a voltage VL output from the battery to a requested voltage value VHsys. The EHC has a positive end connected to the positive line. The EHC also has a negative end connected to the negative line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keita Hashimoto, Katsumi Tsuchida, Yasuharu Terada
  • Patent number: 8490385
    Abstract: A catalyst deterioration diagnosis system performs a diagnosis of deterioration of the oxidation catalyst based on a high-temperature-inflow-condition exhaust gas temperature and a low-temperature-inflow-condition exhaust gas temperature. The high-temperature-inflow-condition exhaust gas temperature is a temperature detected by a temperature sensor while the temperature of the exhaust gas that flows into the oxidation catalyst is in a high temperature region H while the reducing agent is supplied from the reducing agent supply means into the exhaust gas that flows into the oxidation catalyst. The low-temperature-inflow-condition exhaust gas temperature is a temperature detected by the temperature sensor while the temperature of the exhaust gas that flows into the oxidation catalyst is in a low temperature region L while the reducing agent is supplied from a reducing agent supply means into the exhaust gas that flows into the oxidation catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Miyoshi, Hiroshi Sawada, Daisuke Shibata
  • Publication number: 20130180232
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine according to the present invention includes an exhaust treatment device provided in an exhaust passage and a burner device provided upstream of the exhaust treatment device to raise exhaust temperature. The burner device includes a fuel addition valve configured to add fuel into the exhaust passage, a first ignition device configured to ignite the added fuel, a burner catalyst provided downstream of the first ignition device, and a second ignition device provided downstream of the burner catalyst. The burner catalyst partitions the exhaust passage into an infra-catalyst passage formed inside the burner catalyst and an extra-catalyst passage formed outside the burner catalyst. The second ignition means is positioned between the extra-catalyst passage and the exhaust treatment device. Generated soot can be combusted by the second ignition device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masashi Shinoda
  • Patent number: 8484956
    Abstract: A regeneration control system for use with a diesel engine having a diesel particulate filter is provided. This regeneration control system utilizes a wide band oxygen sensor placed in the exhaust stream upstream of a regeneration device, as well as an engine speed sensor, to determine when to initiate the regeneration event, and for controlling the regeneration device to ensure proper regeneration of the diesel particulate filter. The after treatment controller utilizes the oxygen percentage signal to calculate or otherwise determine the percentage load at which the diesel engine is operating. This information along with the engine speed information allows the after treatment controller to calculate or otherwise determine exhaust parameters necessary for proper control of the regeneration device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel B. Mastbergen
  • Patent number: 8484959
    Abstract: An object is to provide a technology with which the temperature of exhaust gas can be raised with improved efficiency in cases where a catalyst apparatus including a catalyst having an oxidizing ability is provided in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine. According to the present invention, a catalyst apparatus 6 that is provided in the exhaust passage 1 of the internal combustion engine and to which reducing agent is supplied from upstream when the temperature of the exhaust gas is to be raised is equipped with at least first and second catalysts 4, 5 having an oxidizing ability. The first catalyst 4 is configured in such a way that the exhaust gas flows through a gap between its outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface of the exhaust passage. The second catalyst 5 is disposed downstream of the first catalyst 4 with a space 10 having a specific width Ws between it and the first catalyst 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Tsujimoto, Shinya Hirota
  • Patent number: 8479496
    Abstract: An exhaust system includes N heating elements and a particulate matter (PM) filter. The N heating elements heat N portions of an exhaust gas. At least one of the N heating elements is coated with a first selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst. The PM filter has an inlet that receives the N portions of the exhaust gas heated by the N heating elements. Each of the N portions of the exhaust gas heats a corresponding region of the inlet. N is an integer greater than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130167514
    Abstract: In an electrically heated catalyst, an electrode is connected to a heat generating element while passing through a through-hole which is formed through a case and an electrode chamber which is formed between an inner wall surface of the case and an outer circumferential surface of the heat generating element. Further, a support member, which is formed of an electric insulator material and which supports the electrode in the through-hole formed through the case, extends along the electrode to the inside of the electrode chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mamoru Yoshioka, Takashi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8473177
    Abstract: Some exemplary embodiments include hybrid vehicle systems including an engine operable to output exhaust, an exhaust aftertreatment system configured to receive the exhaust from the engine, the exhaust aftertreatment system including an SCR catalyst operable to reduce NOx in the exhaust and an electrical heater operable to heat the SCR catalyst, a motor/generator operable in a braking mode to receive torque to slow the vehicle and output electrical power, an energy storage device operable to output electrical power to drive the motor/generator and receive electrical power from the motor/generator, and a controller operable to control the electrical heater to heat the SCR catalyst using electrical power from the motor/generator in the braking mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahesh Madurai Kumar, Morgan M. Andreae, Neal W. Currier
  • Patent number: 8465702
    Abstract: In an exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine of the present invention, a silver-alumina-based catalyst device and NOX reducing catalyst device are arranged in the engine exhaust system. When a temperature of the silver-alumina-based catalyst device becomes a first set temperature T1 on the high temperature side, NOX released from the silver-alumina-based catalyst device is reduced by reducing material to be purified in the NOX reducing catalyst device. When the temperature of the silver-alumina-based catalyst device becomes a second set temperature on the low temperature side, NOX released from the silver-alumina-based catalyst device is reduced by reducing material to be purified in the NOX reducing catalyst device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Tsukamoto, Hiromasa Nishioka, Katsuhiko Oshikawa, Hiroshi Otsuki, Junichi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 8459007
    Abstract: A method comprises modifying combustion parameters of an engine of a hybrid vehicle to provide an engine power level insufficient to maintain crankshaft rotation at a desired speed including increasing a temperature of an exhaust gas and reducing an emissions content of the exhaust gas; and supplementing the engine power level with an electric machine of the hybrid vehicle to maintain crankshaft rotation at the desired speed. A control module comprises a cold start combustion control module that modifies combustion parameters of an engine of a hybrid vehicle to provide an engine power level insufficient to maintain crankshaft rotation at a desired speed, wherein the modifying includes increasing a temperature of an exhaust gas, and reducing an emissions content of the exhaust gas; and an electric machine control module that supplements the engine power level using an electric machine of the hybrid vehicle to maintain crankshaft rotation at the desired speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventors: Colleen Marie Maier, David N. Belton
  • Patent number: 8459010
    Abstract: A catalyst composition is provided that includes a catalytic metal secured to a substrate, and the substrate is mesoporous and has pores that are templated. A catalyst composition includes a catalytic metal secured to a mesoporous substrate. The mesoporous substrate is a reaction product of a reactive solution, a solvent, a modifier, and a templating agent. A method for controlling nitrous oxide emissions including the catalyst composition comprising introducing a regeneration fuel into an exhaust stream upstream relative to the catalyst composition and heating the exhaust stream upstream relative to the catalyst composition. When the regeneration fuel is introduced the air/fuel ratio ? of an air/fuel mixture of a lean burn exhaust is greater than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dan Hancu, Larry Neil Lewis, Benjamin Hale Winkler, Daniel George Norton
  • Patent number: 8453433
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification device for an internal combustion engine, in which a catalyst installed in an exhaust passage is quickly heated to the activation temperature of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuji Wada, Shinya Ishimaru, Tomoko Tsuyama, Jun Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 8448425
    Abstract: The invention involves an engine system and a method for an engine system comprising an internal combustion engine comprising at least one cylinder, and an exhaust system comprising an exhaust gas treatment device, in which engine system the admittance of air and fuel is controllable by means of air flow control means and fuel control means, the method comprising performing an exhaust gas treatment device regeneration. The method comprises controlling, during the exhaust gas treatment device regeneration, the air flow control means and the fuel control means so as to provide a mixture to the exhaust gas treatment device with a lambda value of at least 1.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Jonas Hermansson, Anders Johnsson
  • Patent number: 8434296
    Abstract: Provided is an exhaust emission control device for an internal combustion engine capable of preventing NOx purification performance from degrading according to the operating condition. The exhaust emission control device comprises a NOx purification catalyst, a catalytic converter for continuously reducing the NOx in the exhaust emissions, a fuel reformer for reforming fuel to manufacture a reformed gas and supplying the reformed gas as the reducing gas from the upstream side of the NOx purification catalyst and the catalytic converter of the exhaust pipe, an operating condition detecting means for detecting the operating condition of an engine, and an enriching means for enriching the exhaust air-fuel ratio. The enriching means enriches the exhaust air-fuel ratio by supplying the reducing gas into the exhaust pipe by using the fuel reformer when the operating condition detected by the operating condition detecting means is a high-load operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuji Wada, Shinya Ishimaru, Jun Iwamoto, Nobuhiro Komatsu
  • Patent number: 8429900
    Abstract: A liquid container for motor vehicles, especially for an aqueous urea solution, is provided. The container has an interior space into which the liquid can be fed, and also has an upwardly disposed wall to close off the interior space of the container in a fluid type manner. Provided between a maximum liquid level at a maximum filling state in the interior space of the container, and an inner side of the upwardly disposed container wall, is a free space that corresponds to an increase in volume, including the “blooming”, of the liquid that has frozen in the interior space of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: MAN Truck & Bus AG
    Inventors: Holger Knetsch, Josef Kreutmair, Robert Zenz, Reinhard Eckert
  • Patent number: 8429903
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system for machine is disclosed that includes a burner body having an inlet for receiving a flow of exhaust, an outlet for the exhaust flow to exit, an opening and a receiving mount disposed around the opening. A fuel injector head is mounted over the opening in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to the body. The burner body includes a plurality of mounting pads extending at least partially and circumferentially around the burner body for coupling a support bracket to the burner body in any one of a plurality of positions relative to the burner body. The support bracket may be used to couple the burner to a fixture device such as a cradle for supporting other exhaust treatment system components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Charles, Jack A. Merchant, David L. Demeny, Govind S. Madaiah, Naseer A. Niaz, Eric J. Blankenship, Thomas R. McClure
  • Patent number: 8424287
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine vehicle or hybrid-electric vehicle is provided with a vehicle-mounted solar cell array capable of generating electrical power. The solar cell array and other elements, including a metal substrate catalytic convertor form a system for reducing exhaust gas emissions from the vehicle in which the power from the array is applied to minimize exhaust emissions. A primary application of the solar cell array-generated power is to preheat the catalytic convertor to a preferred operating temperature prior to engine start. But the power from the solar cells, directed by a controller, may also be applied to charge the battery or to power electric power receiving devices, for example, to control cabin temperatures. The preferred allocation of the solar power available depends on a number of factors including the state of charge of the batteries, and the time of anticipated next use of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Venkata Prasad Atluri, Yongsheng He, Madhusudan Raghavan
  • Patent number: 8418444
    Abstract: Temperature range enabling combustion of high concentration hydrocarbon is enlarged, or high temperature gas is rapidly supplied to a latter part catalyst. Provided is a method for purification of exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine, by using a catalyst for increasing temperature of exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine, wherein hydrocarbon from 1,000 to 40,000 ppm by volume, as converted to methane, to the exhaust gas, is introduced at the upstream side of the catalyst for increasing temperature, along flow of the exhaust gas inside a passage of exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignees: Umicore Shokubai Japan Co., Ltd., Umicore Shokubai USA Inc
    Inventors: Masanori Ikeda, Naohiro Kato
  • Patent number: 8413423
    Abstract: A catalyst temperature control system of the present disclosure includes a vehicle start anticipation module and an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) control module. The vehicle start anticipation module determines whether a vehicle start is anticipated based on at least one of a plurality of vehicle conditions before an ignition switch is turned on. The EHC control module activates an EHC based on the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Inventors: Bryan Nathaniel Roos, Brian Spohn, Halim G. Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze
  • Patent number: 8407984
    Abstract: A vehicle mounted engine control apparatus serves to prevent air fuel ratio control from becoming an excessively fuel rich state by sequentially actuating heaters for early activation of a pair of exhaust gas sensors arranged in an upstream and a downstream position of a catalyzer. Electric power is first supplied to a heater for an upstream exhaust gas sensor, and the supply of electric power to a heater for a downstream exhaust gas sensor is started without waiting for activation of the upstream exhaust gas sensor, if a heater current declines to a predetermined value or less. When the upstream exhaust gas sensor is inactive, an output signal of an upstream air fuel ratio control unit inputted to a fuel injection control unit is restricted to a predetermined fuel rich command, and when the downstream exhaust gas sensor is inactive, an output signal of an downstream air fuel ratio control unit inputted to the upstream air fuel ratio control unit is restricted to a predetermined fuel rich command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Hashimoto, Yuji Zushi