Having A Means For Heating The Catalyst Patents (Class 60/300)
  • Publication number: 20120131907
    Abstract: The present invention has for its subject to avoid a situation that condensed water stays around electrode terminals, in an electric heating type exhaust gas purification apparatus which is arranged in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mamoru Yoshioka, Noriaki Kumagai, Naoya Takagi
  • Publication number: 20120110989
    Abstract: An exhaust-gas aftertreatment device for an internal combustion engine is contemplated. The device may comprises a catalytic converter, wherein the catalytic converter comprises a tubular member which defines a volume within which a catalytic converter substrate is located, and wherein the volume with the catalytic converter substrate communicates with an inlet portion for receiving exhaust gas emissions from the internal combustion engine and with an outlet portion for discharging the exhaust gas emissions after catalytic conversion thereof in the volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mats Laurell, Jan Dahlgren, Staffan Ovesson
  • Patent number: 8171727
    Abstract: A transition metal-containing catalyzer is arranged on a particle filter installed in the exhaust gas line of an internal combustion engine and cannot be separated therefrom without being destroyed. To reduce emissions, at least one molecular sieve which retains polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans is arranged between the transition metal-containing catalyzer and the exhaust gas outlet. Further, the input side of the molecular sieve and/or the output side of the catalyzer has an oxidation activity for hydrocarbons, polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans upstream of the molecular sieve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: MAN Truck & Bus AG
    Inventor: Andreas Döring
  • Patent number: 8173074
    Abstract: A device for reducing the emission of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) from transition metal-containing catalyzers for selective catalytic reduction of nitric oxides in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine by means of ammonia and/or reducing agents which split off ammonia. At least one catalyzer for oxidizing hydrocarbon-containing PCDD precursor substances and PCDF is arranged upstream of the at least one transition metal-containing SCR catalyzer and/or at least one catalyzer for degrading precursor substances for degrading the polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and/or polychlorinated dibenzofurans is arranged downstream of the at least one transition metal-containing catalyzer. The at least one catalyzer for degrading PCDD and PCDF and/or the at least one catalyzer for oxidizing hydrocarbon-containing precursor substances thereof are/is additionally active for the reduction of nitric oxides by means of ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: MAN Truck & Bus AG
    Inventor: Andreas Döring
  • Patent number: 8164034
    Abstract: A configuration contains a first honeycomb body, which is formed by at least one convoluted or wound stack and has a plurality of channels allowing a flow, wherein a first end of the stack is connected to an electric connection and a second end is connected to an electric ground. The stack contains a plurality of sheet metal foils in electric contact with each other, the foils being structured at least in some regions. At the same time, the honeycomb body has support pins for connecting to a second honeycomb body, the pins have a distance of at least 25 mm from each other along the course of the stack at least outside an inner region. A method introduces support pins into the honeycomb body and a device receives a honeycomb body and/or for positioning support pins. The device enables the installation of the support pins in the honeycomb body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Jörg-Roman Konieczny, Rolf Brück, Jan Hodgson
  • Patent number: 8156733
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method to operate an internal combustion engine equipped with an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) with memory, an exhaust system including a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC), a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), upstream of a Selective Catalyst Reducer (SCR). A doser is in the DPF and actuated by commands from the ECU. The method includes sensors at the DPF and SCR electronically connected to the ECU to transmit data signals indicative of operating conditions at the DPF and SCR. The method includes sensing the temperature at an outlet of the DPF and an inlet at the SCR, determining whether that temperature is at least a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time, and introducing heat to the SCR to raise its temperature to a predetermined level for a predetermined period of time, such as light off temperature, to operate more efficiently. Heat may be introduced in the exhaust stream by engine thermal management strategies as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Detroit Diesel Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Dean Sisken, Matthew Thomas Baird
  • Patent number: 8158908
    Abstract: A device includes an electrically heatable honeycomb body, particularly for treating an exhaust gas flow of a mobile internal combustion machine. The device includes sheet metal foils forming channels and being in electrical contact with a housing. The housing has a terminal for connection to a voltage source, a plurality of contact points disposed remotely from the terminal for contacting the sheet metal foils and a respective contact conductor between the terminal and each contact point. The contact conductors have the same electrical resistance. A motor vehicle having at least one such device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissiontechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Jörg-Roman Konieczny, Rolf Brück, Jan Hodgson
  • Patent number: 8156737
    Abstract: A system includes an electrical heater and a particulate matter (PM) filter that is arranged one of adjacent to and in contact with the electrical heater. A control module selectively increases an exhaust gas temperature of an engine to a first temperature and that initiates regeneration of the PM filter using the electrical heater while the exhaust gas temperature is above the first temperature. The first temperature is greater than a maximum exhaust gas temperature at the PM filter during non-regeneration operation and is less than an oxidation temperature of the PM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Garima Bhatia
  • Patent number: 8151555
    Abstract: Provided is a technology enabling a temperature of an exhaust gas purifying device to rise more surely by operating an electric heater for a catalyst attached with the electric heater more steadily without exerting an excessive load on a battery. Included are the battery and the electric heater operating upon being supplied with electric power from the battery and heating an occlusion-reduction type NOx catalyst, wherein it is predicted, from a point that a SOx occluded quantity into the occlusion-reduction type NOx catalyst is equal to or larger than S1, that a SOx poisoning recovery process will be executed in near future (S102), and a charging level of the battery is increased (S106) by raising a voltage of power generation of an alternator (S103).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kuniaki Niimi, Tomihisa Oda, Takanori Ueda, Kenichi Tsujimoto
  • Publication number: 20120073269
    Abstract: System and methods for treating particulate matter vented from an engine crankcase are provided. In one embodiment, an engine includes a crankcase. A ventilation hose is coupled to the engine to vent a crankcase gas from the crankcase. A catalytic emissions control device is coupled to the ventilation hose to treat particulate matter in the crankcase gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Lawrence Hoey HEVERLEY, III, James Robert MISCHLER
  • Publication number: 20120060471
    Abstract: An exhaust gas after treatment system for an internal combustion engine comprises an oxidation catalyst device having a first substrate, a heater, and a second substrate disposed serially between the inlet and the outlet. A hydrocarbon supply is connected to and is in fluid communication with the exhaust system upstream of the oxidation catalyst device for delivery of a hydrocarbon thereto. The heater is configured to oxidize the hydrocarbon therein and to raise the temperature of the second substrate and exhaust gas passing therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, JR.
  • Patent number: 8128003
    Abstract: The invention concerns a burner, particularly an auxiliary burner in a motor vehicle and most especially a burner to rapidly heat up a three way catalytic converter of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, with a fuel supply mechanism to deliver fuel to the burner, an air supply mechanism to deliver air to the burner, as well as with an open-loop or closed-loop control mechanism to set a desired fuel-air-ratio in the burner. The invention additionally concerns a procedure to operate such a burner. Provision is made, that the open-loop or closed-loop mechanism adjusts the fuel mass delivered from the fuel supply mechanism to the burner to the air mass delivered from the air supply mechanism to the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosh GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Schenck Zu Schweinsberg
  • Publication number: 20120047881
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to suppress a decrease in insulation resistance between electrodes and a case in an electric heating catalyst (EHC). An EHC (1) according to the present invention is provided with a heat generation element (3) that is energized to generate heat thereby to heat a catalyst, a case (4) that receives the heat generation element therein, an insulating member (5) that is arranged between the heat generation element (3) and the case (4) for insulating electricity, electrodes (7) that are connected to the heat generation element (3) through an electrode chamber (9) which is a space located between an inner wall surface of the case (4) and an outer peripheral surface of the heat generation element (3), and a ventilation passage (10) that ventilates the electrode chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriaki Kumagai, Mamoru Yoshioka, Naoya Takagi
  • Patent number: 8112989
    Abstract: A resistively heated diesel particulate filter (DPF). The resistively heated DPF includes a DPF having an inlet surface and at least one resistive coating on the inlet surface. The at least one resistive coating is configured to substantially maintain its resistance in an operating range of the DPF. The at least one resistive coating has a first terminal and a second terminal for applying electrical power to resistively heat up the at least one resistive coating in order to increase the temperature of the DPF to a regeneration temperature. The at least one resistive coating includes metal and semiconductor constituents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Amanda C. Phelps, Kevin K. Kirby, Daniel J. Gregoire
  • Patent number: 8112990
    Abstract: A system includes a particulate matter (PM) filter, a sensor, a heating element, and a control module. The PM filter includes with an upstream end that receives exhaust gas, a downstream end and multiple zones. The sensor detects a temperature of the exhaust gas. The control module controls current to the heating element to convection heat one of the zones and initiate a regeneration process. The control module selectively increases current to the heating element relative to a reference regeneration current level when the temperature is less than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Garima Bhatia
  • Patent number: 8104269
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a hydrocarbon adsorber, a catalyst, a control module, and a heater. The hydrocarbon adsorber receives first exhaust gases, adsorbs hydrocarbons from the first exhaust gases, and outputs second exhaust gases. The catalyst receives the second exhaust gases. The control module controls a heater and fuel injectors. The heater heats a portion of the catalyst to a predetermined temperature. The control module controls the fuel injectors to generate a fuel-rich air/fuel mixture when the portion of the catalyst is heated to the predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso
  • Publication number: 20120011834
    Abstract: An electrically heated catalytic device includes an electrically heated catalyst accommodated in an outer casing provided on an exhaust pipe. A heater ring made of an insulating material is provided adjacent to an outer peripheral edge portion of an upstream end face of the electrically heated catalyst. The heat of the electrically heated catalyst is transferred to the heater ring by generating resistive heat in the electrically heated catalyst. When the soot in exhaust gas accumulates on the surface of the heater ring, the deposits of soot is removed through combustion by the heat from the surface of the heater ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventor: Kazuaki SOBUE
  • Patent number: 8091343
    Abstract: An exhaust pipe is provided with a SCR catalyst (NOx catalyst) and an oxidation catalyst. A urea water adding valve and an exhaust gas temperature sensor are provided upstream of the SCR catalyst. A downstream NOx sensor is provided downstream of the SCR catalyst. The oxidation catalyst is provided with a catalyst temperature sensor. An ECU computes a temperature of the oxidation catalyst based on a detection value of the catalyst temperature sensor. Further, the ECU computes a temperature of exhaust gas flowing into the oxidation catalyst based on a detection value of the exhaust gas temperature sensor. The ECU detects ammonia flowing out from the SCR catalyst based on a differential temperature between the temperature of the catalyst and the temperature of the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Ataru Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 8091337
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment device and a method of conditioning the device that include a reactive compound capable of undergoing an endothermic reaction are described. A method of manufacturing the device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Patrick David Tepesch
  • Publication number: 20120000182
    Abstract: A regeneration system includes a first module, a mode selection module and an adsorber regeneration control (ARC) module. The first module monitors at least one of (i) a temperature of a first catalyst of a catalyst assembly in an exhaust system of an engine and (ii) an active catalyst volume of the first catalyst. The mode selection module is configured to select an adsorber regeneration mode and generates a mode signal based on the at least one of the temperature and the active catalyst volume. The ARC module at least one of activates an air pump and cranks the engine to regenerate an adsorber of the catalyst assembly while the engine is deactivated based on the mode signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso
  • Patent number: 8087232
    Abstract: In an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, a control valve is disposed downstream of a junction point of one of two exhaust passages of the engine, and a control valve and a catalytic converter are disposed downstream of a junction point of the other of the exhaust passages. The control valves of the two exhaust passages are controlled so that exhaust gas of all of the cylinders mainly passages the catalytic converter of the other exhaust passage during startup of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeki Miyashita, Naoya Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8082731
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a NOX storage catalyst. A storage capacity (NOX_STC) of the NOX storage catalyst is determined for the purpose of operating the internal combustion engine. The temperature (TEMP) of the NOX storage catalyst is increased if the storage capacity (NOX_STC) is less than a predefined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Tino Arlt, Thomas Baumann, Gerd Rösel
  • Patent number: 8082732
    Abstract: A device is provided for admixing a reducing agent into an exhaust gas flow of an internal combustion engine having an exhaust system and a dosing device for feeding the reducing agent into the exhaust system. At least one heating rib, heatable by the exhaust gas and arranged downstream from the dosing device in the exhaust system is oriented largely in a flow direction of the exhaust gas. The dosing device is situated in or on a hollow body arranged on the exhaust system, an internal volume of which is connected to the exhaust system to conduct exhaust gas. An extremely low-flow device for admixing a reducing agent into an exhaust gas flow of an internal combustion engine is achieved by this design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Nefischer
  • Patent number: 8075843
    Abstract: A flexible and substantially crack resistant intumescent, non-intumescent, or hybrid mounting mat material for use in mounting fragile structures includes at least one intumescent, non-intumescent or hybrid layer containing inorganic fibers and reinforcing layer applied to the layer. Also provided is an exhaust gas treatment device including a housing, a fragile catalyst support structure mounted within the housing, and the crack resistant mounting mat disposed in a gap between the housing and the fragile catalyst support structure. Also disclosed are methods of making a mounting mat for an exhaust gas treatment device and for making an exhaust gas treatment device incorporating the mounting mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Unifrax I LLC
    Inventor: Amit Kumar
  • Patent number: 8071040
    Abstract: A mounting mat for an exhaust gas treatment device including high temperature resistant ceramic fibers containing alumina and/or high temperature resistant biosoluble inorganic fibers, organic binder which at least partially liquefies at elevated temperature prior to binder burnout, colloidal inorganic oxide and optionally intumescent material. The exhaust gas treatment device includes a housing, a fragile catalyst support structure resiliently mounted within the housing, and the mounting mat disposed in a gap between the housing and the fragile catalyst support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Unifax I LLC
    Inventors: Mark Beauharnois, Amit Kumar, Mark D. Stahlman
  • Patent number: 8071037
    Abstract: Described are apparatuses, systems, and methods for treating exhaust. The described apparatus and systems typically include a catalytic device for converting aqueous urea to ammonia. The catalytic device may include a pyrolysis catalyst and a hydrolysis catalyst for converting aqueous urea to ammonia. The catalytic device typically includes an upstream face that is positioned at an angle relative to exhaust flow when the device is positioned in a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Arvind V. Harinath, Bryan E. Blackwell, Pradeep Prasad, Z. Gerald Liu
  • Publication number: 20110283688
    Abstract: When the cut-off cylinder operation execution condition of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine is fulfilled, the temperature of the catalytic converter provided in the exhaust passage linked to the cylinders that are made inoperative during the cut-off cylinder operation is estimated, and when this temperature is less than the predetermined preliminary heating requiring temperature, a catalyst preliminary heating operation is executed by which the ignition timing of the cylinders is delayed and the temperature of the catalytic converter is raised. Then, the cut-off cylinder operation is started after the temperature of the catalytic converter becomes equal to or higher than the preliminary heating requiring temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shuji Yuda
  • Patent number: 8061129
    Abstract: An exhaust system for use with a diesel engine includes a diesel particulate filter configured to capture particulate matter exhausted from the diesel engine, a first sensor operable to detect a particulate matter accumulation level within the diesel particulate filter, and a second sensor operable to detect an ambient temperature of an environment surrounding the diesel particulate filter. The exhaust system also includes a control module electrically coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the diesel particulate filter. The control module is operable to adjust a first regeneration threshold based on the detected ambient temperature. The control module is also operable to initiate regeneration of the diesel particulate filter when the detected particulate matter accumulation level reaches the first regeneration threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation and Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jill N. Irlbeck, Erich Albert Lucht, John Hiemstra, Allan T. Hovda, John Jacob Shaw, Gary Reeves, Greg Truckenbrod, Wenzhong Zhang, John Wiese, Eivind Stenersen, Scott Peters, Derek Hiemstra, Josh Kundert
  • Patent number: 8057746
    Abstract: A carrier for exhaust-gas purification is able to effectively protect against getting clogged with the particulate matters in a filter having carriers. The carrier is constituted with a web corrugated to have straight and/or zigzag ridges and then wound up into a column. The carrier for exhaust-gas purification is made of the web of wire netting or nonwoven metallic fabric, which is embossed to have ridges and grooves extending at least in a widthwise direction and further wound up spirally or stacked on top of the other into the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: ACR Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Matsuoka
  • Publication number: 20110265460
    Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling supply power to a conductive porous carrier of a catalyst converter for cleaning an emission, a moisture determiner determines whether moisture is contained in and/or on the conductive porous carrier. A power controller controls supply power to the conductive porous carrier for energization of the conductive porous carrier such that a value of the supply power to the conductive porous carrier when it is determined that the moisture is contained in and/or on the conductive porous carrier is lower than a value of the supply power to the conductive porous carrier when it is determined that the moisture is not contained in and/or on the conductive porous carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taro Hirai, Noriaki Ikemoto, Takeshi Harada, Naoyuki Kamiya, Hisashi Iida
  • Patent number: 8037673
    Abstract: An emissions control system includes a temperature determination module and an emissions control module. The temperature determination module determines a first temperature of a heater element of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) assembly in an exhaust system and determines a second temperature of a catalyst of the DPF assembly. The emissions control module selectively activates the heater element, selectively initiates a predefined combustion process in an engine based upon the first temperature, and selectively starts a reductant injection process based upon the second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8034310
    Abstract: Several embodiments of high-efficiency catalytic converters and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a catalytic converter for treating a flow of exhaust gas comprising a reaction chamber, a heating enclosure enclosing at least a portion of the reaction chamber, and an optional coolant channel encasing the heating enclosure. The reaction chamber can have a first end section through which the exhaust gas flows into the reaction chamber and a second end section from which the exhaust gas exits the reaction chamber. The heating enclosure is configured to contain heated gas along the exterior of the reaction chamber, and the optional coolant channel is configured to contain a flow of coolant around the heating enclosure. The catalytic converter can further include a catalytic element in the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: in the works
    Inventors: Todd K. Hansen, David A. Endrigo
  • Patent number: 8020372
    Abstract: A method controls an exhaust gas temperature from a vehicle engine during regeneration of particulate filter (PF) in a vehicle having an oxidation catalyst (OC) and a selective catalytic reduction catalyst (SCR). The method ensures that a final OC temperature does not exceed a maximum of the target OC outlet temperature and a calibrated maximum OC outlet temperature. An apparatus for controlling a temperature of the exhaust gas includes sensors for measuring a temperature within the exhaust system and a controller having an algorithm, an OC temperature lookup table, and a PF temperature lookup table. The algorithm calculates a target OC outlet temperature using the lookup tables and a delayed error value that compensates for a thermal mass of the SCR. Actual OC outlet temperature is limited during regeneration of the PF to the lesser of the target OC outlet temperature and a calibrated maximum OC outlet temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jason Daniel Mullins, Thomas LaRose, Jr., James M. Perrin, Paul Jasinkiewicz
  • Patent number: 8020376
    Abstract: A regeneration control method for a particle filter of an internal combustion engine exhaust line determines operating data items of the particle filter, wherein the data items are at least one representative inside temperature T(t) of the filter at a time t, regenerates the filter by increasing the temperature thereof above a first combustion temperature threshold of a soot contained in the filter, and computes a time-varying parameter dinst(t) representative for the amount of energy produced at the time t by the regeneration process. The method further calculates a weighted parameter Dinst weight(t), which is at least partially defined by the function of dinst(t)*Gtemp (t) or Gtemp (t) and varying in time (t) according to the representative temperature T(t).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Erwan Radenac, Marc Guyon
  • Patent number: 8020377
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for producing hot gas with a first combustion chamber (2) to burn fuel (17). The first combustion chamber features an open (5) and a closed end (36), and the first combustion chamber has a fuel inlet (13) arranged at its closed end. A second combustion chamber (35) encloses the first combustion chamber, with the second combustion chamber featuring a discharge outlet (37) for the hot gas, and the second combustion chamber featuring a closed end at which an inlet for combustion air (39) is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: TWK Engineering Entwicklungstechnik GBR
    Inventors: Thomas Winter, Waldemar Karsten
  • Patent number: 8015803
    Abstract: An operating method for a system including a reformer which in reformate mode can convert hydrocarbon-containing fuel to a hydrogen-rich reformate gas, and a catalytic exhaust gas aftertreatment device which is acted upon by reformer gas to reach the catalytic converter light-off temperature more rapidly. During cold starts, the reformer, after its own starting phase, is initially operated in a so-called lean-burn mode, and the reformer is switched from lean-burn mode to reformate mode as soon as combustible constituents in the catalytic aftertreatment device can be independently oxidized. During the reformer lean-burn mode, the combustible constituents of the engine's exhaust gas react with the hot reformer gas, such that the cumulative exhaust gas flow has the composition of exhaust gas generated by stoichiometric combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengellschaft
    Inventors: Jochem Huber, Michael Preis, Juergen Ringler, Christian Liebl
  • Patent number: 8012440
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a device having at least one electrically heatable honeycomb body through which an exhaust gas can flow. The electrically heatable honeycomb body has at least one current distribution structure to which a plurality of short, successive voltage pulses are initially applied during activation, before a constant heating voltage is applied to the current distribution structure to heat the honeycomb body. A suitable device for the catalytic conversion of exhaust gases in an exhaust system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Jan Hodgson, Rolf Brück
  • Patent number: 8006487
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, in particular in a motor vehicle, comprising an exhaust line in which an exhaust treatment device, in particular an oxidation catalyst or a particulate filter is arranged for treating the exhaust gases coming from the internal combustion engine. It is essential to this invention that a device for heating the exhaust gases in the exhaust line is arranged upstream from the exhaust treatment device and is connected to a fuel supply and an air supply, the latter producing primary air and secondary air, and the device has a pre-oxidation zone a downstream post-oxidation zone, such that the pre-oxidation zone is connected to the fuel supply for its supply of liquid fuel and is connected to the air supply for its supply of primary air, while the post-oxidation zone is connected to the air supply for its supply of secondary air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: J. Eberspaecher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gerd Gaiser
  • Patent number: 8007732
    Abstract: A mounting mat for an exhaust gas treatment device including inorganic fibers, organic binder, antioxidant, optionally clay and optionally intumescent material. The exhaust gas treatment device includes a housing, a fragile catalyst support structure resiliently mounted within the housing, and the mounting mat disposed in a gap between the housing and the fragile catalyst support structure. Additionally disclosed are methods of making a mounting mat for an exhaust gas treatment device and for making an exhaust gas treatment device incorporating the mounting mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Unifrax 1 LLC
    Inventor: Mark Beauharnois
  • Publication number: 20110203257
    Abstract: A diesel dosing module utilizes a diesel fuel shut-off valve, a diesel fuel dosing valve to provide dosing fuel to the inlet of a diesel oxidation catalyst and an air purge valve to purge fuel from a dosing line attached to the diesel dosing module and from a nozzle attached to a distal end of the dosing line. The valves are attached to a housing manifold which is remotely positionable from the nozzle and the high heat areas of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: PARKER HANNIFIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter M. White, Michael Robert Valenches, Robert W. Zeiner, Andrew Jozef Brzoska
  • Patent number: 7997066
    Abstract: The diagnosis of the heating of a catalytic converter situated in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine is described. The system includes monitoring the actual ignition angle intervention. A current ignition angle is acquired over a specified time and converted into a torque model used for catalytic converter heating. Using the torque model, a degree of fulfillment of executed catalytic converter heating measures is obtained and an error signal is generated by comparing the obtained degree of fulfillment to a limiting value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellshaft
    Inventors: Gerd Kraemer, Stefan Uhl, Wolf Kiefer, Gerhard Schulz
  • Patent number: 7997067
    Abstract: An exhaust emission control device for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of accurately estimating the amount of NOx trapped by a NOx catalyst even when a catalyst is provided on an upstream side of the NOx catalyst. A catalyst having the function of purifying NOx and a NOx catalyst for trapping NOx under an oxidizing atmosphere are disposed in an exhaust system. The amount of NOx contained in exhaust gases is estimated. A NOx purification performance of the catalyst is calculated. The NOx emission amount is corrected based on the purification performance. An amount of NOx trapped in the NOx catalyst is calculated based on the corrected NOx emission amount. A reducing agent is supplied to an upstream side of the catalyst based on the trapped NOx amount, thereby causing the NOx catalyst to carry out a NOx reducing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoko Morita, Norio Suzuki, Katsuji Wada
  • Patent number: 7992377
    Abstract: A method of extending emissions performance of an exhaust after-treatment system of a vehicle that includes a dosing agent includes determining a level of a dosing agent source, selectively entering a limp-home mode based on the level and monitoring a catalyst temperature during said limp-home mode. Operation of an engine is regulated to increase the catalyst temperature when the catalyst temperature is less than a threshold catalyst temperature during the limp-home mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Inventor: David B. Brown
  • Patent number: 7988921
    Abstract: A hexagonal-cell honeycomb catalyzer is for purifying an exhaust gas. The catalyzer comprising a support that has a plurality of cells and a purification layer that has an HC absorption layer and a three-way catalyst layer. The HC absorption layer is formed on the honeycomb-formed surface of each wall of the support. The three-way catalyst layer is formed on the surface of the HC absorption layer. Provided that the HC absorption layer has a thickness a1 and the three-way catalyst layer has a thickness b1 at a thin portion of the purification layer of which thickness is minimum and the HC absorption layer has a thickness a2 and the three-way catalyst layer has a thickness b2 at a thick portion of the purification layer of which thickness is maximum, a ratio of a1/b1 and a ratio of a2/b2 are both within a range of 1/20 to 5/1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Cataler Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Murata, Yoshiyasu Andoh, Shingo Nakata, Tomoaki Nakano, Akimasa Hirai, Kenichi Taki, Yuji Yabuzaki
  • Patent number: 7975469
    Abstract: A control system that controls regeneration of a particulate filter is provided. The system generally includes a propagation module that estimates a propagation status of combustion of particulate matter in the particulate filter. A regeneration module controls current to the particulate filter to re-initiate regeneration based on the propagation status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Frank Ament
  • Patent number: 7958720
    Abstract: A combustion control apparatus is configured for a direct-injection spark-ignition internal combustion engine. The combustion control apparatus selects an extremely retarded combustion mode while the internal combustion engine is in a predetermined operating state. In the extremely retarded combustion mode, the combustion control apparatus sets ignition timing to be after compression top dead center, and sets fuel injection timing to be before the ignition timing and after compression top dead center. The combustion control apparatus inhibits the extremely retarded combustion mode while an exhaust purifier of the internal combustion engine is in a predetermined cold state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Okamoto, Masayuki Tomita, Taizo Horikomi, Taro Sakai, Akira Nakajima, Hitoshi Ishii, Mitsuhiro Akagi, Takao Maitani, Tomoyuki Takeda, Masatoshi Hidaka, Tomoyuki Shigefuji
  • Patent number: 7958723
    Abstract: A control system that controls regeneration of a particulate filter is provided. The system generally includes a regeneration module that controls current to the particulate filter to initiate combustion of particulate matter in the particulate filter. A propagation module estimates a propagation status of the combustion of the particulate matter based on a combustion temperature. A temperature adjustment module controls the combustion temperature by selectively increasing a temperature of exhaust that passes through the particulate filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Frank Ament
  • Patent number: 7946111
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for PM purification, where good PM purification performance can be achieved. The PM purification apparatus includes (a) a honeycomb support having an outer periphery-side region and an inner-side region, which carries a PM oxidation catalyst and in which the PM oxidation catalyst loading per unit volume of support in the outer periphery-side region is greater than the PM oxidation catalyst loading per unit volume of support in the inner-side region, (b) a center electrode passing through the center part of the honeycomb support and extending to the exhaust gas flow upstream side, and (c) an outer peripheral electrode disposed on the outer periphery of the honeycomb support and electrically insulated from the center electrode by the honeycomb support. The PM purification method can be performed using the PM purification apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaru Kakinohana, Hirohito Hirata, Masaya Ibe
  • Patent number: 7946109
    Abstract: An exhaust after-treatment system for a vehicle including a dosing agent that is selectively injected into an exhaust from a dosing agent supply includes a first module that determines a level of a dosing agent source. A second module selectively impedes vehicle operation by adjusting an engine operating mode if the level of said dosing agent source is below a threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Inventors: Michael A. Potter, Fabien G. Redon, Sherif H. El Tahry, Christopher C Wright, John A. Pinson
  • Publication number: 20110113763
    Abstract: In an exhaust gas purification apparatus of an internal combustion engine, there is provided a technique that is able to quickly raise the temperature of a catalyst arranged at a downstream side by raising the temperature of a catalyst arranged at an upstream side in a quick manner. The apparatus is provided with an exhaust gas purification catalyst, a plurality of catalysts that are arranged at an upstream side of the exhaust gas purification catalyst and have oxidizing ability, a fuel supply device that supplies fuel to one catalyst which is arranged at the most upstream side, and a heating device that heats the one catalyst, wherein the plurality of catalysts having oxidizing ability are arranged in an exhaust passage in series to the direction of flow of an exhaust gas, and the more upstream side the catalysts are arranged at, the smaller the cross-sectional areas of the catalysts formed by cutting planes which are orthogonal to a central axis of the exhaust passage are made.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinya Hirota