Exhaust Gas Or Exhaust System Element Heated, Cooled, Or Used As A Heat Source Patents (Class 60/320)
  • Patent number: 11549416
    Abstract: A heating device for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine and having: a tubular body, where a combustion chamber is obtained on the inside; a fuel injector, which is designed to inject fuel into the combustion chamber; at least one inlet opening, which can be connected to a fan so as to receive an air flow, which is directed to the combustion chamber; a feeding channel, which receives air from the inlet opening, surrounds an end portion of the fuel injector and ends with a nozzle, which is arranged around an injection point of the fuel injector; and a spark plug, which is mounted through a side wall of the tubular body. The feeding channel is delimited, on the outside, by an outer tubular body. The fuel injector is configured to spray at least part of the fuel against the outer tubular body, which has a through opening, through which a spray tip of the fuel injector letting out the fuel directly aims at the electrodes of the spark plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: MARELLI EUROPE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Marco La Sana, Emanuele Milani, Mauro Brignone, Luigi Lubrano
  • Patent number: 11421577
    Abstract: An exhaust header with an integrated heat shield is disclosed. In one aspect of the disclosure, the exhaust header comprises a body including an inner wall that defines a cavity through which exhaust gases can be routed. An outer wall is integrally formed with, and radially offset from, the inner wall to define an air gap through which an airflow can be received at an input of the exhaust header and passed along a periphery of the body to collect thermal radiation and route it through an outlet duct. In some embodiments, the exhaust header is coupled to a turbocharger, which itself is coupled to an exhaust outlet of the body and separately, the air gap for effecting an airflow about the turbocharger's perimeter. Further, in various embodiments, the exhaust header is additively manufactured to produce the integrated heat shield and other header components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: John Russell Bucknell, Michael Vasile, Michael Bolton
  • Patent number: 11384673
    Abstract: An energy recovery system and a method of recovering energy are disclosed. In one arrangement, an exhaust gas conduit system guides a flow of exhaust gas generated by a combustion process. A heat exchange fluid circuit guides a flow of a heat exchange fluid. An electrical generator generates electrical power from the flow of heat exchange fluid. The heat exchange fluid circuit is configured so that heat is transferred from the exhaust gas to the heat exchange fluid while the exhaust gas is flowing through the exhaust gas conduit system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Inventors: Kamaljit Singh Chana, Vikram Sridhar, Sunny Singh Chana, Michael Joseph Pekris
  • Patent number: 11353267
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a hollow pillar shaped honeycomb structure, a first cylindrical member, a second cylindrical member, a cylindrical guide member, and an upstream cylindrical member. A communication port is provided between the downstream end portion of the guide member and the second cylindrical member or at the guide member. The second cylindrical member has a horn shape in which a diameter of the upstream end portion of the second cylindrical member is increased radially outward. The upstream cylindrical member has a flange portion, and a rising position of the flange portion is located on a more downstream side than the upstream end portion of the first cylindrical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaro Fumoto, Tatsuo Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 11289636
    Abstract: An energy recovery unit (8) for use in a vehicle exhaust system (6) comprises an inlet (24) for receiving exhaust gas from the exhaust system (6); an outlet (26) for returning exhaust gas to the exhaust system (6); a thermoelectric generator (20) disposed between the inlet (24) and the outlet (26); and a valve arrangement operable to direct exhaust gas entering the inlet (24) across the thermoelectric generator (20) to enable the thermoelectric generator (20) to generate electrical energy from thermal energy contained in the exhaust gas, wherein the valve arrangement is operable to vary the direction of exhaust gas flow across the thermoelectric generator (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventor: William Hutchins
  • Patent number: 11225898
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine including an engine body and a catalyst device and a carbon dioxide recovery device recovering carbon dioxide contained in the exhaust is provided. The engine body, catalyst device, and carbon dioxide recovery device are mounted in the vehicle so that relationships X1>X2 and X2>X3 stand where a distance from a mounting position of the engine body to a mounting position of the carbon dioxide recovery device is X1, a distance from a mounting position of the catalyst device to the mounting position of the carbon dioxide recovery device is X2, and a distance from a mounting position of the engine body to a mounting position of the catalyst device is X3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koseki Sugiyama, Hiroshi Otsuki
  • Patent number: 11189772
    Abstract: A thermoelectric power generator includes: a pipe in which a first fluid flows; a power generation module including a thermoelectric conversion element; and a holding member that is in contact with a one side part of the power generation module, such that heat of a second fluid that is higher in temperature than the first fluid transfers to the one side part of the power generation module. The holding member holds the power generation module and the pipe in a heat transferable state, such that the pipe is in contact with the other side part of the power generation module. The thermoelectric power generator includes a heat conductive component interposed between the holding member and the pipe to define a heat transfer course through which heat transfers from the second fluid to the first fluid, at downstream of the power generation module in a flowing direction of the second fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya Kitagawa, Yoshiyuki Okamoto, Takuya Matsuda
  • Patent number: 11181024
    Abstract: The invention relates to method for operating an internal combustion engine that has at least two combustion chambers, of which at least one is operated at a substoichiometric air-fuel ratio and of which at least another is operated at a superstoichiometric air-fuel ratio. The outlet of the internal combustion engine is connected to an exhaust gas system in which a three-way catalytic converter is arranged in the flow direction of an exhaust gas through an exhaust gas channel, and an exhaust gas heat-recovery device is arranged downstream from the three-way catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Falk-Christian Baron Von Ceumern-Lindenstjerna, Stefan Paukner, André Horn, Michael Kaack, Thomas Maischik, Asmus Carstensen
  • Patent number: 11152554
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion element includes an element body formed of a thermoelectric conversion material of a silicide-based compound, and electrodes each formed on one surface of the element body and the other surface opposite the one surface. The electrodes are formed of a sintered body of a copper silicide, and the electrodes and the element body are directly joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Nakada
  • Patent number: 11028744
    Abstract: The separation efficiency of carbon dioxide is improved by making the temperature of exhaust gas further low. An exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a first heat exchanger arranged in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine and configured to carry out heat exchange between outside air and exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine, a second heat exchanger arranged in the exhaust passage and configured to carry out heat exchange between a circulating heating medium and the exhaust gas, and a carbon dioxide separator arranged in the exhaust passage at the downstream side of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger and configured to separate carbon dioxide from the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Hayashi, Kouseki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10995641
    Abstract: The separation efficiency of carbon dioxide is improved by making the temperature of exhaust gas further low. An exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a first heat exchanger arranged in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine and configured to carry out heat exchange between outside air and exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine, a second heat exchanger arranged in the exhaust passage and configured to carry out heat exchange between a circulating heating medium and the exhaust gas, and a carbon dioxide separator arranged in the exhaust passage at the downstream side of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger and configured to separate carbon dioxide from the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Hayashi, Kouseki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10934911
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder case forming a plurality of coolant outlets, and an exhaust log structure disposed on the cylinder case and including inner and outer walls defining a coolant jacket therebetween, a plurality of coolant inlets extending through the outer wall and being fluidly connected to the coolant jacket, and a plurality of transfer housings. Each transfer housing includes an inner housing wall forming a gas passage, an outer housing wall disposed at an offset distance around the inner housing wall such that a cooling passage is defined in a space between the inner and outer housing walls, and a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet in fluid communication with the cooling passage. The plurality of coolant inlets is fluidly connected to the plurality of coolant outlets via the cooling passages in the plurality of transfer housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Byrd, Aaron L. Robinson, Craig P. Hittle, Keith W. Mellencamp
  • Patent number: 10823111
    Abstract: An energy recovery unit (8) for use in a vehicle exhaust system (6), the energy recovery unit (8) comprising an inlet (24) for receiving exhaust gas from the exhaust system (6) and an outlet (26) for returning exhaust gas to the exhaust system (6). The energy recovery unit (8) further comprises a plurality of thermoelectric generators (20) disposed between the inlet (24) and the outlet (26), and a plurality of flow directing members (39). Each flow directing member (39) is configured to direct exhaust gas flow across at least one thermoelectric generator (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventor: William Hutchins
  • Patent number: 10738674
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving warm-up of a catalytic aftertreatment device is disclosed in which the flow to a catalyst brick is controlled using a flow control device so as to restrict the flow of exhaust gas to only a central core of the catalyst brick when rapid heating of the catalyst brick is desired to reach a light-off temperature and to otherwise allow the flow of exhaust gas to the entire front face of the catalyst brick. By restricting the area of the catalyst brick to which exhaust gas can flow the energy density of the exhaust gas flowing to the central core is higher than it is when there is no restriction of flow thereby reducing the time needed to warm-up the catalyst brick to a minimum light-off temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: William Gerald Barr
  • Patent number: 10731608
    Abstract: A heat exchanger disposed in an exhaust heat recovery device exchanges heat between exhaust and cooling fluid. An inner shell of the heat exchanger externally surrounds an exhaust pipe and forms a heat exchange space between the inner shell and the exhaust pipe to accommodate arranged plates. An outer shell of the heat exchanger includes an EGR opening that leads the exhaust to an inlet system of an internal combustion engine. The outer shell forms an external space leading to the EGR opening between the outer shell and the inner shell. The inner shell includes at least one aperture area that communicates the heat exchange space with the external space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshiki Tsuji
  • Patent number: 10669909
    Abstract: An exhaust purification system is provided with a NOx-occlusion-reduction-type catalyst and a NOx purge rich control unit that executes NOx purge of reducing and purifying the occluded NOx by putting the exhaust into a rich state by fuel injection control, in a case where a catalyst temperature of the NOx-occlusion-reduction-type catalyst is equal to or higher than a catalyst temperature threshold value and a NOx occlusion amount of the NOx-occlusion-reduction-type catalyst is equal to or higher than an NOx occlusion amount threshold value, and executes the NOx purge even when the NOx occlusion amount is less than the NOx occlusion amount threshold value, in a case where the catalyst temperature is equal to or higher than a catalyst temperature threshold value which is greater than the catalyst temperature threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Teruo Nakada, Takayuki Sakamoto, Daiji Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 10665768
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion module package includes: a thermoelectric conversion module including a first and a second substrate opposed to each other, a plurality of thermoelectric elements arranged between the first and second substrates, and a first and a second lead wire drawn out from one of the first and second substrates; and a package including a first metal foil covering the first substrate of the thermoelectric conversion module, a second metal foil covering the second substrate of the thermoelectric conversion module, a resin portion hermetically connecting the first metal foil and the second metal foil along an outer edge portion of the thermoelectric conversion module, and an insertion portion for hermetically passing the first and second lead wires through the resin portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignees: YAMAHA CORPORATION, TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD., TOYOTA TSUSHO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsutsugu Hamano, Takahiro Hayashi, Yuma Horio, Tomoaki Taniguchi, Yuki Muroi, Takashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10605145
    Abstract: An assembly includes a heat exchanger, a bypass conduit defining a path for passage for the exhaust gases and bypassing the heat exchanger, and a valve adjusting the amounts of exhaust gases circulating through the heat exchanger and through the bypass conduit respectively. The valve has a driving shaft, and the assembly further comprises a fluid box that is in fluid communication with a heat transfer fluid circulation side of the heat exchanger and arranged around the driving shaft to cool the driving shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Faurecia Systemes D'Echappement
    Inventor: Frederic Greber
  • Patent number: 10519838
    Abstract: Described herein is a unit for conversion of thermal energy designed in particular for installation along an exhaust-gas line of a motor vehicle and configured for exchange and conversion of the thermal energy of the exhaust gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Alex Rinaldi, Silvano Sandri, Paolo Graziano
  • Patent number: 10502118
    Abstract: An exhaust heat recovery device includes: a first pipe through which exhaust gas from an engine flows; a second pipe that communicates with the first pipe and bypasses the first pipe; a heat recovery unit that is disposed at an interior of the second pipe, and that exchanges heat between the exhaust gas and cooling water that circulates at an interior of the heat recovery unit, and that recovers heat of the exhaust gas; and a heat transfer suppressing mechanism that is provided at a portion connecting the first pipe with the second pipe, and that suppresses transfer of heat from the first pipe to the second pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Murata, Tadashi Nakagawa, Kazunari Matsuura
  • Patent number: 10465595
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of cooling an engine exhaust generated by an engine of a work machine having a hydraulically operated implement. The work machine includes an emission control system and a cooling system having an oil cooling system configured to cool an oil of a hydraulic system and an engine cooling system configured to cool an engine coolant circulating through the engine. An exhaust pipe, coupled to the emission control system and configured to direct engine exhaust, includes an outlet disposed in a space located between an oil cooler of the oil cooling system and a radiator of the engine cooling system. An air displacement device is configured to draw air into and away from the oil cooler and the radiator and to draw the exhaust from the exhaust pipe. Exhaust from the exhaust pipe is drawn past the oil cooler and the radiator to cool the exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Kennedy, Kevin W. Campbell, Paul A. Wantschik, Travis Graber, Kal J. Airey
  • Patent number: 10428722
    Abstract: A temperature management method for a hybrid vehicle which includes: a flow rate control valve controlling flow of coolant to an engine, a heater, a heat exchanger, and a radiator; and an exhaust heat recovery device coupled to the flow rate control valve via the heater, the exhaust heat recovery device performing heat exchange between the coolant received from the heater and exhaust gas received from the engine, and supplying the heat-exchanged coolant to the engine, includes: identifying whether the heater is on or off; and identifying at least one of an outside air temperature, a coolant temperature, or an oil temperature and operating the flow rate control valve in a flow stop mode to prevent the coolant of the engine from discharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Seung Bum Kim
  • Patent number: 10415444
    Abstract: An exhaust conduit for a marine exhaust system includes an inlet end portion connectable to an exhaust manifold, an outlet end portion that directs exhaust gases toward an exhaust system outlet, a catalytic converter assembly arranged between the inlet and outlet end portions, and inner and outer tubes. The inner tube directs exhaust gases from the exhaust manifold to the catalytic converter assembly, and the outer tube surrounds the inner tube to define a cooling liquid passage between the inner and outer tubes. A flange is secured to the inner and outer tubes at inlet ends thereof, the flange being connectable to an outlet of the exhaust manifold. The inner tube has a uniform diameter between the flange and the catalytic converter assembly, and is welded to the flange independently of the outer tube. First and second welds join the inner and outer tubes to the flange at radially inner and outer faces, respectively, of a flange rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Indmar Products Company Inc.
    Inventors: Jason C. Stimmel, Richard J. Waggoner, Kevin J. Kimball, Rachel M. Mashburn, Timothy G. Anderson, Timothy G. Maher
  • Patent number: 10330033
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for exhaust gas heat recovery using a bottoming cycle comprising an exhaust heat exchanger. In one example, a method may include maintaining a target thermal energy input to the heat exchanger by opportunistically flowing exhaust through the heat exchanger after storing a portion of thermal energy from the exhaust in a thermal storage device or prior to flowing exhaust through the heat exchanger, heating the exhaust by drawing thermal energy from the thermal storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Quazi Ehtesham Hussain
  • Patent number: 10260396
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a motor vehicle, with an exhaust pipe for discharging exhaust of a device that produces an exhaust. A heat accumulator, which surrounds the exhaust pipe in the peripheral direction with respect to a longitudinal central axis of the exhaust pipe, is present, at least in regions thereof, and, in the radial direction between the exhaust pipe and the heat accumulator over at least a portion of the longitudinal extension the heat accumulator, a cross-section adjusting element for adjusting a passage cross section is arranged between the exhaust pipe and the heat accumulator. The cross-section adjusting element has a first holed pipe, which surrounds the exhaust pipe, and a second holed pipe, which surrounds the first holed pipe. The first holed pipe and the second holed pipe can be shifted in position relative to each other for adjusting the passage cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Karl Jägle, Thomas Hoffmann, Markus Störmer, Alexander Berringer
  • Patent number: 10138760
    Abstract: A working fluid collecting apparatus for a Rankine cycle waste heat recovery system includes a storage tank for storing a working fluid circulated in a Rankine cycle therein, and a collection means for collecting the working fluid into the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Jung Min Seo
  • Patent number: 10082059
    Abstract: A system for recovering electrical energy and water from exhaust gasses. The system includes a thermoelectric generator to produce electricity from the waste heat of the exhaust gasses of internal combustion engines and the like. The exhaust is cooled by the thermoelectric generator, air cycle machine and other heat absorbing devise which, through work, reduce the exhaust gas temperature and promote condensation of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Borla Performance Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander Borla
  • Patent number: 10077703
    Abstract: An exhaust heat recovery device structure that includes: an exhaust heat recovery device main body that is disposed at an inner side of a floor tunnel formed at a vehicle transverse direction central portion of a floor panel, the exhaust heat recovery device main body carrying out heat exchange between cooling water and gas that is generated at an internal combustion engine of a vehicle; and a metal pipe that extends-out from the exhaust heat recovery device main body, the metal pipe being connected to one end of a resin hose whose another end is connected to the internal combustion engine, the connected portion that connects the metal pipe with the resin hose being provided to the metal pipe further toward a vehicle lower side than the exhaust heat recovery device main body, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Murata, Masakazu Shinkai, Takeshi Oya
  • Patent number: 9733029
    Abstract: A cooling system for a vehicle may include a cooling water temperature sensor, a cooling circulation fluid passage including first, second and third fluid passages, wherein the cooling water exhausted from the engine may be branched into the first fluid passage provided with a heater core, the second fluid passage provided with a radiator, and the third fluid passage provided with an exhaust heat recovery apparatus, a fluid flow adjusting valve provided on a point at which the cooling water passing through the cooling water temperature sensor may be branched into the first fluid passage to the third fluid passage to adjust a flow of the cooling water, and a controlling part controlling the first fluid passage to the third fluid passage to be selectively opened or closed by operating the fluid flow adjusting valve depending on the temperature of the cooling water, in a heating mode and a non-heating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jun Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 9702292
    Abstract: In an exhaust heat recovery device, exhaust gas flows out from a heat exchange outflow port into a heat exchange passage. The exhaust gas having flowed out into the heat exchange passage flows in a radial direction from an inner side to an outer side of a heat exchanger to reach a second heat exchange passage from a first heat exchange passage. A heat exchange is performed in the heat exchanger while the exhaust gas flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Arata Kobayashi, Hirohisa Okami
  • Patent number: 9562454
    Abstract: The invention relates to an exhaust-gas treatment device for processing exhaust gas from a combustion aggregate, especially a diesel engine. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for processing exhaust gas from a combustion aggregate by means of selective catalytic reaction, and it also relates to a motor vehicle in which the method according to the invention is implemented or which has the exhaust-gas treatment device according to the invention. It is provided that the exhaust-gas treatment device comprises an exhaust-gas system and, arranged in it, an oxidation catalyst, a reduction catalyst for selective catalytic reduction, and a particle filter, whereby the oxidation catalyst is arranged upstream from the reduction catalyst and the reduction catalyst is arranged upstream from the particle filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Jörg Sprute
  • Patent number: 9328657
    Abstract: Various systems and method for heating an engine in a vehicle are described. In one example, intake air flowing in a first direction may be heated via a gas-to-gas heat exchange with exhaust gases. The heated intake air may then be used in a subsequent gas-to-liquid heat exchange to heat a fluid circulating through the engine. In another example, intake air flowing in a second direction may be heated via a heat exchange with exhaust gases in order to cool an exhaust catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 9194267
    Abstract: Arrangement for introducing a liquid medium into exhaust gases from a combustion engine, comprising a mixing duct, a first flow guide for creating a first exhaust vortex in the mixing duct such that the exhaust gases in this first exhaust vortex rotate in a first direction of rotation during their movement downstream in the mixing duct, an injector for injecting the liquid medium in the form of a finely divided spray into exhaust gases which are led into the liquid medium in an exhaust flow at the center of the first vortex, and a second flow guide for creating a second exhaust vortex in the mixing duct concentrically with and externally about the first vortex, such that the exhaust gases in this second vortex rotate in a second direction of rotation, which is opposite to said first direction of rotation, during their movement downstream in the mixing duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: SCANIA CV AB
    Inventor: Peter Loman
  • Patent number: 9169756
    Abstract: An exhaust gas cooler for cooling combustion exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine having a cooling medium, wherein the exhaust gas cooler has an exhaust gas inlet for introducing hot combustion exhaust gas into the exhaust gas cooler. Furthermore, the exhaust gas cooler has an exhaust gas outlet for directing cooled combustion exhaust gas out of the exhaust gas cooler, wherein the exhaust gas outlet is fluidically connected to the exhaust gas inlet. Furthermore, the exhaust gas cooler has at least one coolant inlet for fluidically connecting the exhaust gas cooler to at least one coolant outlet of the internal combustion engine. Furthermore, the exhaust gas cooler has an interface for fluidically connecting a water collecting adapter, wherein the interface is designed to carry the coolant out of the exhaust gas cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bucher, Oliver Grill
  • Patent number: 9163548
    Abstract: An exhaust system for an engine is provided herein. The exhaust system includes an emission control device and an exhaust manifold having a plurality of runners merging at a confluence section positioned upstream of the emission control device. The exhaust system further includes a mixer plate positioned in the confluence section, the mixer plate including a central opening and a plurality of louvered vents positioned axially around the central opening, the louvered vents having angled openings facing a common rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cornelius Langston Henderson, IV, Ray Host, Michael Collareno, George I. Tapos, Christopher Oberski
  • Patent number: 9115619
    Abstract: A thermoelectric generator of a vehicle converts thermal energy of exhaust gas of an engine into electric energy by using a thermoelectric phenomenon, and may include: a high-temperature part heated by exchange heat and a plurality of pairs of heat transfer plates mounted on an outer peripheral surface of an exhaust pipe at a predetermined interval; pairs of thermoelectric modules acquired by bonding a P-type semiconductor and an N-type semiconductor, interposed between the pairs of heat transfer plates to generate electricity, and electrically connected to each other; and a low-temperature part interposed between the pairs of thermoelectric modules and cooling inner surfaces of the pairs of thermoelectric modules. The plurality of thermoelectric modules generates electricity by a difference in temperature between heated outer surfaces and cooled inner surfaces. Thermoelectric efficiency is improved and a small-sized thermoelectric generator of a vehicle may be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, SEJONG IND. CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Ho-Chan An, Jong-Ho Seon, Ho-Cheol Seo, Sung-Ool Jang
  • Patent number: 9091203
    Abstract: An apparatus to use waste heat from an internal combustion engine in a vehicle, wherein the apparatus has an exhaust gas line to remove exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine, the exhaust gas line is thermally connected to a high-temperature side of a thermoelectric generator, and a latent heat accumulator is thermally connected to the high-temperature side of the thermoelectric generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Karlheinz Geradts, Werner Sonnleitner
  • Publication number: 20150135690
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for recovering energy in an exhaust gas circuit (3) of a heat engine (1) of a vehicle, said system comprising an exhaust gas bypass duct (15) comprising a heat exchanger (18). An energy recovery system according to the invention is mainly characterised by the fact that the part of the exhaust circuit arranged downstream of the connection point (17) of the bypass duct (15) for connecting to said circuit (3) is provided with a valve (16) that can at least partially close the exhaust circuit (3), and the by-pass duct (15) comprises, at the outlet of the exchanger (18), a first pipeline (20) running into the admission circuit (2, 6) and a second pipeline (21) running into the exhaust circuit (3) downstream of the valve (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Grégory Hodebourg, Samuel Leroux
  • Publication number: 20150135689
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (7) for an exhaust gas system (5) of an internal combustion engine (1) includes a thermoelectric generator (13) with plural thermoelectric elements (15) that each have a hot side (16) and a cold side (17). A heating channel (18) conducts a heating medium on the hot sides and a cooling channel (19) conducts cooling medium on the cold sides (17). The thermoelectric generator (13), the heating channel (18), and the cooling channel (19) are arranged adjacent in a stacking direction (20) and form a channel stack (21). A housing (8) that encloses an interior (22) accommodates the channel stack (21) and has medium inlets (9, 11), outlets (10, 12) and electrical connections (14). The thermoelectric elements are arranged in a double-walled intermediate bottom (15) that separates the cooling channel (19) from the heating channel (18), adjacent to said cooling channel, in regard to fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Andreas Resch
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150128578
    Abstract: A cooling system for actively cooling an exhaust gas system, comprises an exhaust pipe which conducts an exhaust gas flow of an internal combustion engine and an air-conducting element. The air-conducting element surrounds the exhaust pipe and forms an air-conducting channel. The exhaust pipe is cooled by an air flow which flows through the air-conducting channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Bernd Helferich
  • Patent number: 9027326
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle exhaust heat recovery system including a first exhaust line fluidically connected to a heat exchanger, a second exhaust line fluidically connected to the first exhaust line, and an inanimate flow regulator in the first exhaust line configured to limit exhaust flow under predetermined conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Kenneth J. Jackson, Nimrod Kapas
  • Patent number: 9027334
    Abstract: A trough filter integrated with a thermoelectric generator includes annular filter modules having a support structure at its inner circumference, a filter element, and a support structure at its outer circumference. The filter elements may be configured to form troughs. An annular exhaust gas outlet channel or gas inlet channel may be formed between filter modules. The thermoelectric generator may be positioned in the exhaust gas outlet or inlet channel. A vehicle includes the trough filter integrated with a thermoelectric generator downstream from an internal combustion engine. A method of treating exhaust gas uses a trough filter with an integrated thermoelectric generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Monika Backhaus-Ricoult, Thomas Dale Ketcham
  • Publication number: 20150121846
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for recovering energy from an exhaust gas circuit (3) of a heat engine (1), including an exhaust gas by-pass pipe (12) that includes a heat exchanger with two compartments, and has a first manifold (14) leading into one compartment (16) and a second manifold (15) leading into the other compartment (17), said system comprising a first valve (18) installed in the exhaust circuit (3) and capable of controlling the flow of gases into each of said manifolds (14, 15), and a second valve (20) intended to control the flow of gases at the outlet of the heat exchanger (13). The main technical feature of a system for recovering energy according to the invention is that the first valve (18) can only be used in two positions, a first position wherein same seals the first manifold (14), and a second position wherein same seals the exhaust circuit (3) and only allows the exhaunt gases to flow into the first manifold (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Grégory Hodebourg, Samuel Leroux
  • Patent number: 9021795
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat transfer device, more preferably for an exhaust system of a combustion engine, preferentially of a motor vehicle, with at least one warm tube for conducting a fluid emitting heat, with at least one cold tube for conducting a fluid absorbing heat and with at least one thermoelectric generator for generating electric energy from a temperature difference, wherein a thermoelectric generator each is arranged between a warm tube and a cold tube. The efficiency of the heat transfer device is improved if the respective thermoelectric generator is in contact with the respective tube via a heat conducting material and if the respective heat conducting material is configured as shaped body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Eberspaecher Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Arnulf Spieth, Anika Bürkle, Ming Dong, Jörg Oesterle, Angela Hettel
  • Publication number: 20150114366
    Abstract: Systems and method for extracting energy from a gas are disclosed herein. In particular, systems and methods for implementing a series of thermodynamic transformations by means of which it is possible to extract useful work from a gas carrying thermal energy due its thermodynamic state are disclosed. An example system for extracting energy from a cycle gas can include an expander for expanding the cycle gas, a heat exchanger in fluid connection with the expander for cooling the expanded cycle gas while maintaining the expanded cycle gas at an approximately constant pressure, and a compressor in fluid connection with the heat exchanger for compressing the cooled cycle gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Codrin-Gruie Cantemir, Fabio Chiara, Marcello Canova
  • Patent number: 9016047
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for controlling nitrogen oxides in an exhaust gas received by an exhaust system, the exhaust system including a first selective catalytic reduction device, an exhaust gas heat recovery device and a second selective catalytic reduction device is provided. The method includes flowing the exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into the first selective catalytic reduction device, receiving the exhaust gas from the first selective catalytic reduction device into the exhaust gas heat recovery device and directing the exhaust gas to a heat exchanger in the exhaust gas heat recovery device based on a temperature of the internal combustion engine proximate moving engine components. The method includes adsorbing nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas via a nitrogen oxide adsorbing catalyst disposed in the heat exchanger and flowing the exhaust gas from the exhaust gas heat recovery device into the second selective catalytic reduction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technologies Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Chang H. Kim, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., George M. Claypole
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150107242
    Abstract: An exhaust system with post-operation cooling for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle generally has a heat generating device that generates exhaust gas. The exhaust system includes an exhaust gas conduit through which at least a portion of the exhaust gas is flowable and dischargeable, and at least one exhaust gas component in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit. The exhaust system also includes an air intake conduit through which outside air is flowable, and an air pump in fluid communication with the air intake conduit. The air intake conduit is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit upstream of the at least one exhaust gas component. The air pump is configured to draw the outside air into the air intake conduit such that the outside air is supplied to the exhaust gas conduit to cool the at least one exhaust gas component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael G. Long, Gerald M. Simon, Kulbir S. Dhuga
  • Publication number: 20150101321
    Abstract: An exhaust flap device for an internal combustion engine includes a flap housing and an actuator. The flap housing comprises an exhaust gas duct arranged in the flap housing. The exhaust gas duct is configured to have an exhaust gas flow there-through. An exhaust flap is arranged in the exhaust gas duct and is mounted in the flap housing. The exhaust flap is configured to rotate. A coolant duct is arranged in the flap housing so as to at least partially surround the exhaust flap. The actuator comprises an electric motor and an actuator housing which comprises an actuator coolant duct. The actuator is configured to drive the exhaust flap. The coolant duct arranged in the flap housing is configured to be in a direct fluid communication with the actuator coolant duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: PIERBURG GMBH
    Inventors: Hans-Ulrich Kuehnel, Peter Corbach, Elina Sovva