Divider, Collector, Valve Means, Or Boundary Layer Device Controlling Exhaust Gas Flow Patents (Class 60/324)
  • Patent number: 7263826
    Abstract: A muffler device with catalysts for improving purifying exhaust gas of nitrogen oxides within a motorcycle exhaust pipe comprises a muffler divided into three chambers, a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber; a front exhaust pipe; a front reduction catalyst; a rear exhaust pipe provided with a secondary air inlet behind the reduction catalyst for introducing secondary air therein. Thereby, the exhaust gas from an engine with air-to-fuel ratio less than or equal to 14.7 will firstly pass the reduction catalyst to have its nitrogen oxides (NOX) effectively inverted into nitrogen (N2) and oxygen (O2), and then secondary air will be added to the exhaust gas so as to increase its air-to-fuel ratio to larger than 14.7, and finally the exhaust gas will pass the oxidation catalyst to have its carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC) effectively inverted into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Sentec E&E Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsiao Chung Wu
  • Publication number: 20070193260
    Abstract: The invention relates to a throttle arrangement for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve for throttling a stream of exhaust gas flowing through a pipe and having a restoring spring which prestresses the throttle valve into a closed position. The throttle valve is pivotable about a pivot axis in the pipe between the closed position [and the open position] and the restoring spring is supported on the valve end on a lever fixedly connected to the throttle valve and is supported at the pipe end on a bearing for accommodating a shaft extending coaxially with the pivot axis. The restoring spring is adapted to support the spring forces on the pipe end in an essentially symmetrical manner with respect to a plane of symmetry that extends perpendicular to the pivot axis and is in the area of the support on the valve end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Robert Hanitzsch, Bjoern Damson
  • Patent number: 7251932
    Abstract: A reconfigurable exhaust system provides selective positioning of exhaust gas treatment devices either near, or spaced from, the exhaust gas outlet port of a turbine of a turbocharged Diesel engine. In some embodiments, auxiliary air or a heat exchanger are arranged to cool the exhaust gas when required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: Yiqun Huang
  • Patent number: 7252177
    Abstract: An exhaust manifold has a structure such that an end portion of a collecting section where pipes connected to respective cylinders of an engine are collected is connected to an exhaust pipe via a joint tube member. The joint tube member is constituted by an upper joint portion and a lower joint portion, and cut-out grooves are formed on both joining portions of the upper joint portion or the lower joint portion. With the cut-out grooves, a partition plate is engaged to be positioned, and in this state, the partition plate is fixed to the upper joint portion or the lower joint portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventor: Tsukasa Minato
  • Patent number: 7249455
    Abstract: A diesel engine exhaust system includes a NOx absorber and a diesel fuel fired burner operated at an enriched fuel-to-air ratio to generate a sufficient quantity of CO and H2 for regenerating the NOx absorber. A method of operating a diesel exhaust system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Prasad Tumati, Wilbur H. Crawley
  • Patent number: 7246609
    Abstract: A multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having an exhaust system with an exhaust emission after-treatment device for exhaust gases from the cylinders, an air supply system for supplying fresh air to the cylinders, a fuel supply system for supplying fuel to each cylinder, and a controller to cut off the fuel supply and disable at least one cylinder, and preferably two cylinders in opposing pairs. A valve assembly is located between the cylinders to be disabled and the emission after-treatment device and is operable to divert gases from said the disabled cylinders via a recirculation conduit back to the air supply system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jon Caine, Patrick Phlips, Marcus Davies
  • Patent number: 7234295
    Abstract: An emission reduction apparatus includes first and second exhaust paths carrying respective first and second Nox traps. One trap has a smaller capacity than the other and is operative while the larger trap regenerates, allowing symmetric operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Ricardo UK Limited
    Inventor: Craig Lucas Goodfellow
  • Patent number: 7234297
    Abstract: Sound and power are an important part of the motorcycling experience. From the early days people have been attempting to get it “right” and have tried numerous ways to achieve the best of both worlds. Generally one had to be sacrificed to some degree to get the other. Tuning the exhaust rather than tuning the carburetor or increasing cubic inches is a less expensive and more efficient way to get both the sound and midrange power that motorcyclists are looking for. With the exhaust enhancement device of the present invention, exhaust pipes can be tuned for sound and increased midrange power very simply and easily by installing them in the exit end of an aftermarket straight type pipe using various combinations to achieve a desired sound and not sacrifice power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Inventor: James C. Maybeck
  • Patent number: 7216479
    Abstract: Normally, at the time of cold-start of an internal combustion engine or the like, the flow of exhaust in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine is suppressed or two-stage combustion is carried out so as to promote exhaust purification in an exhaust system. However, when a correlation value of a braking force required to be generated by a vacuum type brake booster is greater than a correlation value of a braking force that can be actually generated by the vacuum type brake booster, a restricting device restricts the suppression of the exhaust flow or a two-stage combustion prohibiting device prohibits the two-combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuki Tamura
  • Patent number: 7210289
    Abstract: An engine output control system includes an engine ECU having a fundamental ignition timing map, a fundamental fuel injection quantity map, a target throttle angle determination unit for determining a target throttle angle of an exhaust control valve, an exhaust control valve diagnosis unit for diagnosing operation of the exhaust control valve, an ignition timing map to be used during an abnormality for determining fundamental ignition timing when the exhaust control valve operates abnormally, and an abnormal fuel injection thinning-out table for determining a reduced rate of fuel injection when the exhaust control valve has been diagnosed as abnormal. The exhaust control valve driving unit supplies a driving current to an actuator in such a manner that the target throttle angle notified by the engine ECU coincides with actual valve throttle angle. The system is capable of obtaining sufficient traveling performance even when an exhaust control valve has is operating abnormally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoyuki Sugano, Norihiko Sasaki, Noritake Takami, Yuichi Moriyama, Hiroaki Tamai
  • Patent number: 7182171
    Abstract: A muffler with variable acoustic properties. A pressure cell with a diaphragm, a spring, a piston, a piston rod, a closing element on the piston rod, and a pressure connection line are integrated into a housing. The diaphragm is thermally insulated against the piston rod. Another layer of thermal insulation is provided between the closing element and the pressure cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Heinrich Gillet GmbH
    Inventors: Rico Weinert, Alexander Schinko, Bernd Fuhrmann, Katja Hirschberger, Michael Burkart
  • Patent number: 7174991
    Abstract: The subject invention refers to a muffler comprising a muffler housing (1, 2) and generally a catalytic converter element (13) mounted in the housing, which muffler has at least one inner outlet (4) through which exhaust gases cleaned by the catalytic element (13) are intended to pass. Furthermore, according to the invention an outlet duct (30, 31) is arranged in connection to the outside of the housing, comprising a first section (30) for leading exhaust gases in a first direction (A) in parallel with the outside of the housing, and a second section (31) for leading exhaust gases in a second, opposite direction (B), whereby said first and second sections (30, 31) have an essentially equally large cross-sectional area. By way of this outlet duct an improved cooling of the exhaust gases before they are brought in contact with fresh air rich in oxygen can be achieved. A back-pulsation of fresh air into the muffler can also be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
    Inventors: Peter Gunnarsson, Esbjörn Ollas, Mattias Ossiansson
  • Patent number: 7171804
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a multi-cylinder engine can include a plurality of exhaust pipes with first upstream ends connected to exhaust openings of a multi-cylinder engine, and a collecting pipe connected to the second downstream ends of the exhaust pipes for collecting exhaust introduced from the exhaust pipes and directing it to a silencer. The collecting pipe has a front-end portion communicated to exhaust passages of the exhaust pipes, a middle portion for collecting the exhaust introduced from the front-end portion, and a rear-end portion for further collecting the exhaust introduced from the middle portion. The middle portion is provided with exhaust control means for controlling the area of the exhaust passages in accordance with engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuto Terashima
  • Patent number: 7162868
    Abstract: A heat shield structure of an exhaust manifold and a catalyst has a flange which is provided in a connecting portion connecting the exhaust manifold and catalyst and forms an open channel, an exhaust manifold heat shield member which covers an upper surface of the exhaust manifold, and a catalyst heat shield member which covers an upper surface of the catalyst. In the heat shield structure, an open side of the channel faces to the catalyst's side, a rear end of the exhaust manifold heat shield member is arranged on a vehicle body upper side of an end portion of the flange, and a front end of the catalyst heat shield member is arranged on a vehicle body floor side of the end portion of the flange. By this structure, heat from the exhaust manifold and catalyst can be efficiently released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Funakoshi
  • Patent number: 7152396
    Abstract: A lean NOx trap operating in a lean NOx exhaust stream is progressively regenerated, sector to sector, for efficient operation of the trap and conservation of reducing gas used in the regeneration. A reductant gas distributor is inserted in the exhaust upstream of the trap. Reductant gas is carried into the exhaust duct through a conduit portion and the reductant gas stream diverged and directed through a distributor into selected cells of the trap. The NOx in the selected cells is reduced to N2 while lean NOx exhaust continues to flow through the remainder of the trap. By relative movement of the reductant gas distributor and the trap, the entire trap is progressively and continually regenerated while still preforming as a NOx trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Shi-Wai S. Cheng
  • Patent number: 7155333
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling sound of an engine comprises a sound sensor, an exhaust valve, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a sound level of a peak sound frequency within a predetermined sound frequency range by use of output from the sound sensor, compare the sound level of the peak sound frequency to a predetermined sound level, and change the position of the exhaust valve based on the comparison between the sound level of the peak sound frequency and the predetermined sound level. An associated method is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kwin Abram, Joe Callahan, Ivan Arbuckle, Robin Willats
  • Patent number: 7150273
    Abstract: A passageway is provided between branches of a multi-branch exhaust manifold to reduce the amount of backflow (iEGR) into the cylinders at low engine speeds. The passage is located upstream of the turbocharger and can be at the part of the manifold where the branches merge for entry into the turbo. The passageway allows exhaust pressure pulse modulation so that high iEGR levels (using iEGR through delayed exhaust valve closing for example) are avoided. The passage may be controllable to modulate the effect based on engine conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Perkins Engines Company Limited
    Inventors: Adriano F. Pacitti, Chris Barnes
  • Patent number: 7146806
    Abstract: A two cycle internal combustion engine cylinder having a piston chamber. The cylinder includes transfer ports; and an exhaust port divided into at least two sections. A first one of the sections has an aperture at the piston chamber with a top surface located closer to a top of the piston chamber than a top surface of an aperture of a second one of the sections at the piston chamber. The first section has a cross-sectional area which is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the second section. The aperture into the first section is located further away from the transfer ports than the aperture into the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Homelite Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Nagesh S. Mavinahally
  • Patent number: 7127884
    Abstract: A muffler has an integrated SCR catalytic converter for an exhaust line of an internal combustion engine, in particular in a motor vehicle The muffler includes a housing which has an intake trumpet on the intake end and an exhaust pipe on the output end. Catalytic converter elements are arranged in the housing with one inlet end in an inlet chamber and with an outlet end in an outlet chamber. An outlet end of the intake trumpet communicates with the inlet chamber. To improve the efficiency of the SCR catalytic converter the inlet chamber is sealed off from the outside and with respect to the intake trumpet and the catalytic converter elements to the extent that in operation of the internal combustion engine with exhaust gas loaded with urea, passing through the intake trumpet into the inlet chamber, the exhaust gas leaves the inlet chamber only through the catalytic converter elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: J. Eberspächer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Siegfried Wörner, Rudolf Buhmann, Marcus Werni
  • Patent number: 7121088
    Abstract: A valve assembly is adapted to be disposed in an automotive engine exhaust system at an outlet of an internal combustion engine. The assembly includes a valve body having an opening therethrough including an inlet portion and an outlet portion. A first valve and a second valve are disposed in the opening intermediate the inlet and outlet portions. The first and second valves have an open position and a closed position. The first valve blocks a first predetermined amount of the opening when in the closed position. The second valve blocks a second predetermined amount of the opening when in the closed position, with the second predetermined amount being less than the first predetermined amount. An actuator is connected to the first valve and the second valve and is operable to selectively move each of the valves between respective the open positions and the closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: David John Lavin
  • Patent number: 7107761
    Abstract: An exhaust control apparatus applied to an internal combustion engine in which intake sides of a plurality of cylinder groups are connected to a common intake passage and exhaust sides thereof are connected to different exhaust passages, comprises an exhaust gas flow amount adjusting device for causing a flow amount of exhaust gas, which is discharged through each of the exhaust passages of the cylinder groups, to be changed, an exhaust gas flow amount difference estimating device for estimating a difference in an exhaust gas flow amount between the exhaust passages of the cylinder groups, and an exhaust gas flow amount control device for controlling the exhaust gas flow amount adjusting device so as to reduce the estimated difference in the exhaust gas flow amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Takao Fukuma, Yoshiyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7104251
    Abstract: The device includes a set of rotatable vanes and a set of stationary vanes which are mounted within a cylindrical housing. The set of rotatable vanes are connected to a post located at the axis of the housing and rotate relative to the post in response to the intake or exhaust fluid impinging on the vanes which are angled relative to the direction of flow of the fluid stream. The set of stationary vanes are rigidly secured to the post and also rigidly secured to the housing walls. The set of stationary vanes are positioned adjacent the set of rotatable vanes and are similarly angled relative to the direction of flow of the fluid stream in order to deflect the fluid stream and impart a swirling motion to the fluid stream in order to provide more complete mixing of the air/fuel mixture of the intake fluid stream or scavenging of the exhaust fluid stream. Tabs which extend radially outwardly from the housing ends secure the device within an intake or exhaust passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Inventor: Jay S. Kim
  • Patent number: 7104042
    Abstract: A four-stroke supercharged internal-combustion engine includes at least two cylinders with a combustion chamber (14), an air intake (16) including a pipe (20) associated with a shutoff (21), an exhaust (18) including a pipe (22) with a shutoff (23) and exhaust gas collection system including the pipes and at least one manifold (22, 24; 64,66). The engine includes a capacity and a controller for increasing the collected exhaust gas volume during high-speed running of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventor: Alexandre Pagot
  • Patent number: 7100369
    Abstract: A thermoelectric generating device has a thermoelectric element which utilizes an exhaust gas from an engine as a high temperature heat source and an engine coolant as a low temperature heat source in order to generate electricity. An introducing passage introduces a part of the exhaust gas passed through the thermoelectric element into an intake of the engine. An introducing valve opens and closes the introducing passage. A controller controls an opening degree of the introducing valve according to a load of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroo Yamaguchi, Yasutoshi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 7093425
    Abstract: A variable flow regulator assembly includes a first stationary exhaust pipe, a second stationary exhaust pipe concentrically disposed within the first stationary exhaust pipe, and a movable exhaust pipe concentrically disposed between the first and second stationary exhaust pipes. The first stationary exhaust pipe includes one or more interference tabs concentrically and circumferentially fitted about its interior surface. The movable exhaust pipe includes one or more interference tabs concentrically and circumferentially fitted about its exterior surface. The interference tabs complimentarily interact and restrict the movement of the variable flow regulator so that the flow maldistribution of the exhaust gas stream entering the catalytic converter can be variably controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E. Jankowski, Stephen J. Myers
  • Patent number: 7090048
    Abstract: A system for attenuating exhaust noise from an engine with a first group of active cylinders and a second group of deactivatable cylinders includes a first exhaust manifold connected to the first group of active cylinders and a second exhaust manifold connected to the second group of deactivatable cylinders. The second exhaust manifold is connected to the first exhaust manifold such that the second exhaust manifold acts as a resonator to attenuate sound from the first group of active cylinders when the second group of cylinders is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William C. Albertson, Richard W. Hart, Aziz Bakar
  • Patent number: 7065963
    Abstract: A vibration and heat insulating board fixed so as to cover at least part of a heat source while forming a gap against the heat source surface, in order to lessen diffusion of heat from the heat source fixed in a vibration source, in which the heat source and the vibration and heat insulating board are coupled by means of a collar member having a pair of locking pieces fitted to the vibration and heat insulating board main body and bolted to a mounting part of the heat source, and ring-shaped coil members interposed between the pair of locking pieces of the collar member and the vibration and heat insulating board main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Nichias Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Niwa
  • Patent number: 7059118
    Abstract: A mixing device for mixing the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine flowing in an exhaust pipe with a reducing agent as well as an exhaust gas purification system having such a mixing device, in which a mixing body is positionable in the exhaust pipe and which includes a gas impact surface and a spray impact surface so that exhaust gas flowing from the internal combustion engine is able to strike the gas impact surface and reducing agent, which is suppliable transversely to the exhaust gas flow, is able to strike the spray impact surface, the spray impact surface and the gas impact surface forming disjointed sub-areas of the surface of the mixing body. The mixing device distributes the reducing agent uniformly over the cross section of the exhaust pipe and mixes it uniformly with the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ripper, Bernd Mahr, Johannes Schaller, Cord Scharsack, Thomas Prasser
  • Patent number: 7051689
    Abstract: There is provided a failure diagnostic system which includes an intake channel and an exhaust channel in communication with cylinders of an internal combustion engine; the exhaust pressure increasing device that increases the exhaust system pressure of the exhaust channel; an intake system pressure detecting device provided in the intake channel, for detecting the intake system pressure; and an exhaust pressure increase failure diagnostic section that determines whether the exhaust pressure increasing device has failed or not according to intake system pressure information obtained by the intake system pressure detecting device and a predetermined failure diagnosis reference range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuki Tamura, Kazuhito Kawashima, Hitoshi Toda
  • Patent number: 7051521
    Abstract: A particulate filter integrally carrying an oxidation catalyst is arranged in an exhaust pipe through which exhaust gas from a diesel engine flows. A NOx-absorption reduction catalyst is arranged in the exhaust pipe and downstream of the particulate filter. A bypass line is branched from a portion of the exhaust pipe between the particulate filter and the reduction catalyst and is connected to a portion of the exhaust pipe downstream of the reduction catalyst. A selector valve is arranged at the branch point of the bypass line and may be switched over to guide the exhaust gas either to the reduction catalyst or to the bypass line. As a result, without difficultly controlling the operation of the diesel engine, the reduction catalyst is prevented from being poisoned and deteriorated by sulfate, the lowering of the ratio of NOx purification through the NOx-absorption reduction catalyst is averted and prolongation of its life is attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Hino Motors, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Funabashi
  • Patent number: 7051524
    Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a venturi that is installed perpendicularly to the end of the exhaust pipe 12 of a truck or like vehicle 14 thus resulting in the air flow through the venturi being at a 90 degree angle relative to the exhaust gases exiting the exhaust pipe. The present invention 10 seeks to increase the performance and efficiency of an engine of a vehicle 14 by overcoming the backpressure in the engine exhaust system created by the muffler baffles. The present invention 10 may also be installed on automobiles and other motor vehicles 14 having appropriately modified exhaust systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Inventor: Bernard A Kraft
  • Patent number: 7028663
    Abstract: The device includes a pair of flat planar vanes securely mounted within a cylindrical housing. The vanes have a medial slit extending from the center to a longitudinal end of the vane. The vanes are interconnected at the slits so that they are in criss-cross positioning. The vanes are axially angled so that when positioned in an intake air duct the vanes impart a swirling motion to the air entering the engine providing more complete mixing of the air and fuel and when positioned in an exhaust passageway the vanes impart a swirling motion to the exhaust gases exiting the engine providing scavenging of the exhaust gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventor: Jay S. Kim
  • Patent number: 7029347
    Abstract: A water preclusion device for a watercraft with an internal combustion engine for inhibiting the intrusion of water upstream into an exhaust system. The water preclusion device includes a valve controlled by exhaust gas pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidenori Atsusawa
  • Patent number: 7021048
    Abstract: A combination emission abatement assembly includes a first emission device such as a NOx trap and a second emission abatement device such as a soot particulate filter. Reformate gas from a fuel reformer is used to selectively regenerate both the NOx trap and the soot particulate filter. A method of operating an emission abatement device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Taylor, III, Prasad Tumati, Michael J. Daniel
  • Patent number: 7010908
    Abstract: An anomaly judgment apparatus for a secondary air supply system which includes a secondary air supply path for introducing secondary air into an exhaust path of an internal combustion engine and an open-close valve disposed in the secondary air supply path. The valve is opened and/or closed by drive force of negative pressure introduced from a portion of an intake path of the engine downstream of a throttle valve. The anomaly judgment apparatus includes an anomaly judgment section for judging whether or not the secondary air supply system is anomalous; a negative pressure judgment section for judging whether or not the negative pressure is secured to a degree required for the drive force to reliably open and/or close the open-close valve; and an anomaly judgment prohibition section for prohibiting judgment by the anomaly judgment section when the negative pressure is not secured to the required degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Koyama, Shigemasa Hirooka, Takeo Ogiso, Kenji Kimura, Keita Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 7004805
    Abstract: The directable exhaust for a wake surfing power boat permits directing exhaust out of either the port or starboard side of a boat opposite the wake wave on which a wake surfer is surfing to avoid exposure of the person to the exhaust fumes. Valves which direct the exhaust out of the side of the boat are linked such that the exhaust can be directed out of either the port or starboard side of the boat away from the wake surfer by a single control available to the boat operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Fineline Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Lee, Timothy M. Lopes
  • Patent number: 6988360
    Abstract: An exhaust emission purification device comprises a sulfur component holding agent arranged on the exhaust path of an internal combustion engine for holding a sulfur component, a NOx holding agent arranged downstream of the sulfur component holding agent in the exhaust gas for holding NOx and the sulfur components when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing thereinto is lean, and a reducing agent adding unit for adding a reducing agent to the exhaust gas flowing into the NOx holding agent. The concentration of the sulfur component contained in the reducing agent added by the reducing agent adding unit is lower than the concentration of at least the sulfur component contained in the fuel supplied to the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. Thus, the sulfur poisoning of the exhaust emission purifier can be avoided while at the same time reducing the fuel consumption rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Kimura, Shinya Hirota, Yoshimitsu Henda, Kazuhiro Itoh, Takamitsu Asanuma, Shunsuke Toshioka, Yasuaki Nakano, Koichiro Nakatani, Akira Mikami
  • Patent number: 6986247
    Abstract: An automobile catalytic converter that utilizes the energy of the exothermic reactions that take place in the catalysis substrate to produce electrical energy with a thermoelectric generator. On vehicle cold start, the thermoelectric generator is used as a heat pump to heat the catalyst substrate to reduce the time to catalyst light-off. In this way, the catalytic converter comes up to operating temperature more rapidly, reducing the amount of pollutant emissions at vehicle start-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Inventor: Ronald J. Parise
  • Patent number: 6978606
    Abstract: An equal length crossover pipe exhaust system for an engine of a vehicle includes a plurality of exhaust manifolds for connection to outlets of cylinders of the engine. The equal length crossover pipe exhaust system also includes a plurality of crossover pipes having one end connected to the exhaust manifolds and extending above the engine. The equal length crossover pipe exhaust system further includes a main takedown pipe connected to another end of the crossover pipes at an equidistant point above the engine to provide an equal length junction point between the crossover pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignees: General Motors Corporation, Scambia Industrial Development AG
    Inventors: Benjamin W Loveless, II, William M Kehrer, Gregory W Nilsson, Bradley R Smith
  • Patent number: 6968677
    Abstract: There is provided an exhaust emission control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which includes a failure diagnostic device that fixes three parameters selected from the group consisting of the engine speed detected by an engine speed detecting device, the fuel quantity controlled by a fuel quantity control device, the ignition timing controlled by an ignition timing control device, and the intake air volume controlled by an intake air control device at respective predetermined values, and finds values of the remaining one parameter, and compares the values of the remaining one parameter with each other to determine whether an exhaust flow control apparatus has failed or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuki Tamura
  • Patent number: 6968680
    Abstract: An exhaust valve downstream of a diesel engine splits exhaust gasses between two catalysts. In one position, most of the exhaust gasses go to a first catalyst, and the remaining exhaust gasses, along with injected reductant go to a second catalyst. In a second position, most of the exhaust gasses go to the second catalyst, and the remaining exhaust gasses, along with injected reductant go to the first catalyst. In this way, a reduced cost system is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michiel J. van Nieuwstadt, Devesh Upadhyay, William Charles Ruona
  • Patent number: 6966179
    Abstract: To provide an exhaust gas purifying system capable of forcibly regenerating DPF by efficiently raising the temperature of exhaust gas even when an exhaust gas temperature is very low at the time of low load and low engine speed such as an idling operation. In an exhaust purifying system (1) having an exhaust throttling valve (31) and a DPF (3) in an exhaust passage and having regeneration control means (P1) for regenerating the DPF (3), the regeneration control means (P1) is provided with an exhaust gas temperature detection means (P22), a fuel injection control means (P11), and an exhaust throttling control means (P12) and includes regeneration control for performing the exhaust gas temperature raising control through the multistage delay injection by the fuel injection control means (P11) and through the exhaust throttling of the exhaust throttling valve (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Takao Onodera, Hidetaka Shibata, Takashi Haseyama, Takeshi Igarashi, Takuro Iwashita, Masashi Gabe, Yoshihisa Tashiro
  • Patent number: 6959542
    Abstract: An emission abatement assembly includes one or more DPNR devices for removing both NOX and particulate soot from the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. Reformate gas from a fuel reformer is used to selectively regenerate the DPNR device or devices. A method of operating an emission abatement assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Taylor, III, Samuel N. Crane, Jr., Yougen Kong
  • Patent number: 6951099
    Abstract: A heated and insulated catalytic converter includes a heat storage device and a control system for maintaining an elevated temperature while the engine is not operating. The control system may also include control of flaps to allow cool air to circulate to prevent overheating and timers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Inventor: John Dickau
  • Patent number: 6945034
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided for switching a switching valve at an optimal timing in accordance with an actual activated state of a catalyzer and a heated state of an adsorbent to achieve an optimal exhaust gas characteristic. The exhaust gas purifying apparatus comprises a catalyzer disposed in an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine, an adsorbent filled in a second passage circumventing a first passage in the exhaust system for adsorbing hydrocarbons within exhaust gases, a switching valve operable to switch between an open position for opening the first passage and a close position for closing the first passage, an ECU for detecting an atmospheric pressure state, and a switching valve driver for driving the switching valve to the close position upon start of the internal combustion engine, and driving the switching valve to the open position in accordance with the detected atmospheric pressure state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Ueno, Shiro Takakura, Kei Machida
  • Patent number: 6938729
    Abstract: An exhaust gas system for an internal combustion engine, in particular, of a motor vehicle has two mufflers through which the exhaust gas is able to flow in a parallel fashion. A switching unit makes it possible to selectively convey the exhaust gas flow of the internal combustion engine only or almost exclusively through the first muffler, or only or almost exclusively through the second muffler, or through both mufflers in a parallel fashion. The two mufflers are realized differently with respect to their muffling effect and/or flow resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: J. Ebersdacher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Siegfried Wörner, Ulrich Sigel
  • Patent number: 6921327
    Abstract: An exhaust pipe cover adapted to resist wind-induced uplift and entry of any accompanying and/or independent rain, snow, dirt, dust, and/or other foreign matter, into the exhaust pipe and communicating engine, wherein such a device may be retrofitted to existing vertically-disposed exhaust pipes extending from engines incorporated into machinery such as, for exemplary purposes only, tractors, trucks, irrigation motors, generators, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Inventor: Richard Urash
  • Patent number: 6915876
    Abstract: An exhaust processor comprises a Helmholtz resonance chamber with a variable tuning throat. The tuning frequency of the exhaust processor changes as the outlet opening from the variable tuning throat into the Helmholtz resonance chamber changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mehmet S. Ciray
  • Patent number: 6912843
    Abstract: An exhaust system of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, particularly in a motor vehicle, has a first exhaust-gas line for receiving the exhaust gas from a first cylinder group of the internal combustion engine, a second exhaust-gas line for receiving the exhaust gas from a second cylinder group of the internal combustion engine, an exhaust-gas expansion chamber and an exhaust-gas outlet line, leading out of the exhaust-gas expansion chamber. The first and second exhaust-gas lines lead into an exhaust-gas mixing chamber which is coupled in gas flow communication with the exhaust-gas expansion chamber, so that exhaust gas can expand via the perforation of the exhaust-gas mixing chamber, into the exhaust gas expansion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Jochen Hufendiek, Sascha Rossa
  • Patent number: 6901752
    Abstract: An exhaust processor has an exhaust tube and a cover mounted for rotation at least partially around the exhaust tube to adjust the tuning frequency of the exhaust processor. A method of operating the exhaust processor is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Uhler, Kenneth Cook, Mehmet S. Ciray