EP0590814A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
A particulate and exhaust gas emission control system
Assignee: Ford-Werke GmbH
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Filing: 1993-09-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-09-08
Abstract
Abstract A particulate and exhaust emission control system for a vehicle (10) having a diesel engine (12). The control system has a particulate trap (24) connected to the exhaust manifold (22) of the diesel engine, an additive tank (30) for storing a fuel additive decomposed by the engine's combustion process to form a reducible metal oxide capable of depressing the ignition temperature of the carbon particulates collected by the particulate trap (24) and a metering mechanism (34) responsive to the adding of diesel fuel to the vehicle's fuel tank (28) to add a quantity of the fuel additive to the diesel fuel in the fuel tank (28) to maintain a predetermined ratio of the fuel additive to the diesel fuel in the tank. The metal oxide depressing the ignition temperature of the carbon particulates collected by the particulate trap (24) to a temperature obtained by the particulate trap during selected operating parameters of the diesel engine (12). The particulate trap (24) includes a honeycomb ceramic filter element (38) having inlet channels (44) for collecting the carbon particulate and exit channels (46) coated with a catalyst to oxidize carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons in the exhaust.
Inventors
- 👤 Vemulapalli D. N. Rao
- 👤 Harry A. Cikanek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 12:01
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M25/00; F02M25/14; B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/34; B01D53/92; B01D53/94; B01D53/944; B01J; B01J4/00; B01J4/02; B60; B60K; B60K15/00; B60K15/03; B60K15/063; C; C10; C10L; C10L1/00; C10L1/10; C10L1/14; C10L1/18; C10L1/188; C10L1/1881; C10L1/30; C10L10/00; C10L10/02; C10L10/06; F01; F01N; F01N3/00; F01N3/02; F01N3/021; F01N3/022; F01N3/0222; F01N3/023; F01N3/08; F01N3/10; F01N3/24; F01N3/28; F01N3/2882; F02D; F02D19/00; F02D19/12; B60K2015/03328; B60K2015/03348; C10L1/16; C10L1/1608; C10L1/301; C10L1/305; F01N2250/00; F01N2250/02; F01N2430/00; F01N2430/04; F01N2510/00; F01N2510/06; F02B; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A50/00; Y02A50/20; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A particulate and exhaust gas emission control system for an automotive vehicle having a fuel tank (28) and a diesel engine (12), said control system comprising: a particulate trap (24) connectable to an exhaust manifold (22) of said diesel engine (12), said particulate trap (24) having a plurality of parallel inlet and outlet channels (44,46) separated by porous longitudinal walls (52), said porous longitudinal walls permitting the exhaust gases to pass from said inlet channels (44) to said outlet channels (46), said inlet channels (44) collecting therein the carbonaceous particulates contained in the exhaust gases and said outlet channels (46) having a layer (54) of catalytic material disposed therein to promote the oxidation of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbs in the exhaust gases; an additive tank (30) for storing a fuel additive effective to depress the ignition temperature of the carbonaceous particulates collected in the particulate trap (24); and metering means (34) for metering said fuel additive to said fuel tank (28) in response to fuel being added to said fuel tank (28), said metering means (34) adding a quantity of said fuel additive to said fuel tank proportional to the quantity of fuel added to maintain a predetermined ratio between said fuel additive and said fuel in said tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
18 words
A control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said particulate trap is a porous ceramic honeycomb structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A control system as claimed claim 1, wherein said catalytic material is selected from a group of metals consisting of platinum, palladium, and alloys thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fuel additive is an organometallic compound in an aerosol-promoting liquid carrier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A control system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said organometallic compound is at least one metal octoate having a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel and cerium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A control system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said aerosol-promoting liquid carrier is selected from the group consisting of hexane, pentane and toluene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
126 words
A control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle includes a closure which is required to be opened to add fuel to said fuel tank, said means for metering comprising: means for detecting said closure being open to generate a fill signal; means for detecting the quantity of fuel added to the fuel tank to generate a fuel quantity signal; a metering control for generating an additive quantity signal in response to said fill signal and said fuel quantity signal, said additive quantity signal having a value proportional to the quantity of fuel added to said fuel tank; and a metering device for metering said quantity of fuel additive from said additive tank to said fuel tank in response to said additive quantity signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
164 words
A control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle has a closure required to be opened to add fuel to said fuel tank, said means for metering comprising: a metering device having a cylinder, a piston disposed in said cylinder, and at least one port; a normally open valve conducting said fuel additive from said additive tank to said at least one port; a normally closed valve connecting said at least one port to said fuel tank; means for activating said normally open valve to a closed state and said normally closed valve to an open state in response to said closure being open; and a float connected to said piston, said float displacing said piston a distance proportional to the quantity of fuel added to said fuel tank, said displacing of said piston with said normally open valve closed and said normally closed valve open adding said quantity of said fuel additive to said fuel tank to maintain said predetermined ratio.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
141 words
A control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for metering comprises: a vane type metering device attached to said fuel tank, said vane type metering device having an inlet connected to said additive tank, an outlet connected to said fuel tank, a rotor, and a plurality of vanes attached to said rotor; a spiral shaft connected to said rotor; and float means slidably connected to said spiral shaft, said float means rotating said spiral shaft in response to adding fuel to said fuel tank, said float means rotating said spiral shaft and said rotor through an angle proportional to the quantity of fuel added causing said vane type metering device to meter said quantity of said fuel additive into said fuel tank to maintain said predetermined ratio of said fuel additive to said fuel in said fuel tank.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
A control system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said vehicle has a closure required to be opened to add fuel to said fuel tank, said means for metering comprising: a lock mechanism having a locked state inhibiting the rotation of said rotor and an unlocked state permitting the rotation of said rotor; and means for activating said lock mechanism to said unlocked state in response to said closure being open.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A control system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said means for metering further includes a unidirectional clutch connected between said rotor and said spiral shaft permitting said spiral shaft to rotate said rotor in only a predetermined direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
122 words
A control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for metering comprises: a peristaltic metering device connecting said additive tank to said fuel tank, said peristaltic metering device having a multi-lobed rotor; a ratchet gear attached to said multi-lobed rotor; a float disposed in said fuel tank; and a rack connected between said float and said ratchet gear, said rack rotating said ratchet gear in a predetermined direction in response to fuel being added to said fuel tank, said rotation of said ratchet wheel actuating said peristaltic metering device to meter said quantity of said fuel additive from said additive tank to said fuel tank to maintain said predetermined ratio between fuel additive and said fuel in said fuel tank.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
A control system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said vehicle has a closure required to be opened to add fuel to said fuel tank, said means for metering comprising: a lock mechanism having a locked state inhibiting the actuation of said peristaltic metering device by said float and an unlocked state permitting the displacement of said float in response to fuel being added to said fuel tank; and means for actuating said lock mechanism to said unlocked state permitting said float to actuate said peristaltic metering device in response to said closure being open.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
166 words
A particulate and exhaust gas emission control system for a vehicle having a diesel engine and a fuel tank storing diesel fuel for powering the diesel engine, said control system comprising: a particulate trap connectable to an exhaust manifold of said diesel engine, said particulate trap having a porous ceramic filter structure for collecting carbon particulates from the exhaust gases emitted by said diesel engine, said particulate trap located relative to said exhaust manifold a distance predetermined for said exhaust gases to heat said porous ceramic structure to within a predetermined temperature range under at least one operating state of said diesel engine; an additive tank for storing a fuel additive effective to depress the ignition temperature of the collected carbon particulates to said predetermined temperature range; and means for metering said fuel additive from said additive tank to said fuel tank in response to adding fuel to said fuel tank to maintain a predetermined ratio of said fuel additive to the fuel in said tank.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
A emissions control system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said porous ceramic filter structure is a honeycomb structure having a plurality of inlet and outlet channels separated by porous longitudinal walls, said carbon particulates being collected on the surfaces of said inlet channels, said outlet channels having porous internal surfaces coated with a layer of catalytic material promoting the oxidation of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons in the exhaust gases.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
127 words
A emissions control system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said vehicle has a closure required to be opened to add diesel fuel to said fuel tank, said means for metering comprising: means responsive to said closure means being open to generate a fill signal; a fuel level sensor for generating a fuel quantity signal having a value indicative of the quantity of diesel fuel in the fuel tank; means for generating a fuel additive signal in response to said fill signal and a change in said value of said fuel quantity signal; and means for metering a quantity of fuel additive from said additive tank to said fuel tank to maintain said predetermined ratio of said fuel additive to said diesel fuel in said fuel tank.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
208 words
A emissions control system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said vehicle includes a closure which is required to be open to add diesel fuel to said fuel tank, said means for metering comprises: a fluid metering device having a cylinder, a piston slidably disposed in said cylinder and at least one port; a normally open valve conducting said fuel additive from said additive tank to said at least one port; a normally closed valve connecting said at least one port to said fuel tank; means for actuating said normally open valve to a closed state and for actuating said normally closed valve to an open state in response to said closure being open; a float connected to said piston, said float displacing said piston a distance proportional to the quantity of diesel fuel added to said fuel tank, said displacing of said piston by said float adding a quantity of additive to said diesel fuel in said fuel tank when said normally open valve is in said closed state and said normally closed valve is in said open state in response to said closure being open, said quantity of fuel additive maintaining said predetermined ratio of said fuel additive to said diesel fuel in said fuel tank.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
150 words
A emission control system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said means for metering comprises: a vane type metering device attached to said fuel tank, said vane type metering device having an inlet connected to said additive tank, an outlet connected to said fuel tank, a rotor and a plurality of vanes attached to said rotor; a spiral shaft connected to said rotor; and float means slidably connected to said spiral shaft, said float means angularly rotating said spiral shaft in response to adding diesel fuel to said fuel tank, said float means rotating said spiral shaft and said rotor through an angle proportional to the quantity of diesel fuel added to said fuel tank causing said vane type metering device to meter a quantity of said fuel additive into said fuel tank to maintain said predetermined ratio of said fuel additive to said diesel fuel in said fuel tank.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
76 words
A emission control system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said vehicle includes a closure which is required to be opened to add diesel fuel to said fuel tank, said means for metering further comprising: a lock mechanism having a locked state inhibiting the rotation of said rotor and an unlocked state permitting the rotation of said rotor; and means for actuating said lock mechanism to said unlocked state in response to said closure being open.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A emission control system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said closure is a door enclosing a fuel cap covering an opening through which fuel may be added to said fuel tank.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A emission control system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said closure is a fuel cap covering an opening to said fuel tank through which fuel may be added to said fuel tank.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A emission control system as claimed in claim 19, further including a unidirectional drive mechanism connected between said spiral shaft and said rotor of said vane type metering device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
136 words
A emission control system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said means for metering comprises: a peristaltic metering device connecting said additive tank to said fuel tank, said peristaltic metering device having a multi-lobe rotor; a ratchet gear attached to said multi-lob rotor of said peristaltic metering device and rotatable therewith; a float disposed in said fuel tank; and a rack connected to said float and resiliently engageable with said ratchet gear, said rack rotating said ratchet gear in a predetermined direction in response to diesel fuel being added to said fuel tank, said rotation of said ratchet gear actuating said peristaltic metering device to meter a quantity of fuel additive from said additive tank to said fuel tank to maintain said predetermined ratio between said fuel additive and said diesel fuel in said fuel tank.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
83 words
A emission control system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said vehicle includes a closure which is required to be opened to add diesel fuel to said fuel tank, said means for metering further comprises: a lock mechanism having a locked state inhibiting the rotation of said multi-lobed rotor of said peristaltic metering device and an unlocked state permitting the rotation of said multi-lobed rotor; and means for actuating said lock mechanism to said unlocked state in response to said closure being open.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
A emission control system as claimed in claim 24, wherein said fuel tank has a fuel cap, the removal of which permits fuel to be added to said fuel tank, said closure is a door covering said fuel cap.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
51 words
A emission control system as claimed in claim 24, wherein said closure is a fuel cap removably attached to said fuel tank, said fuel cap covering an opening in said fuel tank through which diesel fuel from an external source can be added to the diesel fuel in said fuel tank.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
A emission control system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said fuel additive comprises at least one metal octoate dissolved in an aerosol-promoting liquid carrier.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
43 words
A emission control system as claimed in claim 27, wherein said at least one octoate has a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel and cerium and said aerosol-promoting liquid carrier is selected from the group comprising hexane, pentane and toluene.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
85 words
A filter element for reducing the undesirable exhaust emissions of an internal combustion engine, said filter element comprising a porous filter structure having a plurality of interleaved parallel inlet and exit channels separated by longitudinal porous side walls, said porous longitudinal wall permitting the exhaust gases to pass from said inlet channels to said exit channels, said inlet channels collecting therein any raw gas, unburned hydrocarbons, and oil contained in said exhaust and said exit channels having an oxidation catalyst disposed on its internal surfaces.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
A filter element as claimed in claim 29, wherein said oxidation catalyst extends into the pores of said porous longitudinal side walls to increase the surface area of said oxidation catalyst.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
A filter element as claimed in claim 29, wherein said oxidation catalyst is selected from the group of metals consisting of platinum, palladium and alloys thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
44 words
A filter element as claimed in claim 29, further including a canister enclosing said porous filter element, said canister including means for conducting said exhaust gas from said exhaust manifold of said internal combustion engine to said inlet channels of said porous filter element.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
A filter element as claimed in claim 29, wherein said filter element is a monolithic porous ceramic structure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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