Patent US3714932A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3714932A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Emissions control system
Assignee: Eaton Corp
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Filing: 1971-08-19
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Granted: 1973-02-06
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Expires: 1991-08-19
Abstract
Abstract A method, system and apparatus for minimizing the amounts of undesirable pollutants emitted from an internal combustion engine after combustion of a fuel-air mixture within a cylinder of said engine in which a portion of the products of combustion of a given operating cycle, which portion contains a higher proportion of noxious constituents than does the expelled portion of such products, is retained in the cylinder and is mixed with the incoming charge for the next operating cycle. One particular form of the invention comprises varying the proportion of such retained products according to engine operating conditions in order to maintain the dilution of such incoming charge at the maximum level consistent with good engine performance. The retained products are in an amount in excess of that normally retained in the cylinder clearance volume at the exhaust manifold pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 G Meacham
- 👤 W Nagel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:32
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/0025; F02D41/0047; F02D41/006; F02B; F02B47/00; F02B47/04; F02B47/08; F02B75/00; F02B75/10; F02D21/00; F02D21/06; F02D21/08; F02M; F02M2700/00; F02M2700/34; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
7 words
a small amount at light engine loads,
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
7 words
a small amount at light engine loads,
Claim 3
Independent Claim
220 words
A method of minimizing the amounts of undesirable obnoxious pollutants emitted from a cyclic internal combustion engine having a piston, a cylinder, a crankshaft, exhaust means and intake means, after combustion of a fuel-air charge within the cylinder of said engine, comprising the steps of: sensing an engine operation condition; varying the time of the exhaust means closing with respect to the position of the piston in said cylinder in response to said sensed engine operating condition and thereby adjusting the amount of exhaust gas present within the cylinder for the next combustion, so that there is present in said cylinder: a small amount of said exhaust gas to provide for a small dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge at light engine loads; a larger amount of said exhaust gas to provide a greater dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge at heavier engine loads; and a third amount of said exhaust gas, which third amount is smaller than said larger amount, to provide for a reduction in the dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge as engine loading approaches maximum load; said exhaust gas present in said cylinder containing a high concentration of incompletely burned fuel; mixing the exhaust gas present in the cylinder with the incoming fuel-air charge during the intake stroke for the next cycle; and igniting the mixture.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
220 words
A method of minimizing the amounts of undesirable obnoxious pollutants emitted from a cyclic internal combustion engine having a piston, a cylinder, a crankshaft, exhaust means and intake means, after combustion of a fuel-air charge within the cylinder of said engine, comprising the steps of: sensing an engine operation condition; varying the time of the exhaust means closing with respect to the position of the piston in said cylinder in response to said sensed engine operating condition and thereby adjusting the amount of exhaust gas present within the cylinder for the next combustion, so that there is present in said cylinder: a small amount of said exhaust gas to provide for a small dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge at light engine loads; a larger amount of said exhaust gas to provide a greater dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge at heavier engine loads; and a third amount of said exhaust gas, which third amount is smaller than said larger amount, to provide for a reduction in the dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge as engine loading approaches maximum load; said exhaust gas present in said cylinder containing a high concentration of incompletely burned fuel; mixing the exhaust gas present in the cylinder with the incoming fuel-air charge during the intake stroke for the next cycle; and igniting the mixture.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
220 words
A method of minimizing the amounts of undesirable obnoxious pollutants emitted from a cyclic internal combustion engine having a piston, a cylinder, a crankshaft, exhaust means and intake means, after combustion of a fuel-air charge within the cylinder of said engine, comprising the steps of: sensing an engine operation condition; varying the time of the exhaust means closing with respect to the position of the piston in said cylinder in response to said sensed engine operating condition and thereby adjusting the amount of exhaust gas present within the cylinder for the next combustion, so that there is present in said cylinder: a small amount of said exhaust gas to provide for a small dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge at light engine loads; a larger amount of said exhaust gas to provide a greater dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge at heavier engine loads; and a third amount of said exhaust gas, which third amount is smaller than said larger amount, to provide for a reduction in the dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge as engine loading approaches maximum load; said exhaust gas present in said cylinder containing a high concentration of incompletely burned fuel; mixing the exhaust gas present in the cylinder with the incoming fuel-air charge during the intake stroke for the next cycle; and igniting the mixture.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
220 words
A method of minimizing the amounts of undesirable obnoxious pollutants emitted from a cyclic internal combustion engine having a piston, a cylinder, a crankshaft, exhaust means and intake means, after combustion of a fuel-air charge within the cylinder of said engine, comprising the steps of: sensing an engine operation condition; varying the time of the exhaust means closing with respect to the position of the piston in said cylinder in response to said sensed engine operating condition and thereby adjusting the amount of exhaust gas present within the cylinder for the next combustion, so that there is present in said cylinder: a small amount of said exhaust gas to provide for a small dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge at light engine loads; a larger amount of said exhaust gas to provide a greater dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge at heavier engine loads; and a third amount of said exhaust gas, which third amount is smaller than said larger amount, to provide for a reduction in the dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge as engine loading approaches maximum load; said exhaust gas present in said cylinder containing a high concentration of incompletely burned fuel; mixing the exhaust gas present in the cylinder with the incoming fuel-air charge during the intake stroke for the next cycle; and igniting the mixture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
7 words
a small amount at light engine loads,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
7 words
a small amount at light engine loads,
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the third amount of said exhaust gas is substantially equal to said small amount tO provide for a reduction in the dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge as engine loading approaches maximum load.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
8 words
a larger amount at heavier engine loads, and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
8 words
a larger amount at heavier engine loads, and
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
8 words
a larger amount at heavier engine loads, and
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
8 words
a larger amount at heavier engine loads, and
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the third amount of said exhaust gas is smaller than said small amount to provide for a reduction in the dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge as engine loading approaches maximum load.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
a third amount which is smaller than said larger amount as the engine loading approaches maximum load.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
a third amount which is smaller than said larger amount as the engine loading approaches maximum load.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
a third amount which is smaller than said larger amount as the engine loading approaches maximum load.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
a third amount which is smaller than said larger amount as the engine loading approaches maximum load.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
133 words
Apparatus for minimizing the amounts of undesirable obnoxious pollutants emitted from a cyclic internal combustion engine having a piston, a cylinder, a crankshaft, exhaust means and intake means, after combustion of a fuel-air charge within the cylinder of said engine, comprising: adjustment means for varying the time of closing of the exhaust means with respect to the position of the piston in the cylinder in order to adjust the amount of exhaust gas present in the cylinder for the next combustion; control means coupled to said adjustment means for effecting operation thereof, said control means being actuatable in correspondence with engine operating conditions between first, second and third conditions in which said adjustment means is respectively positioned so that the amount of exhaust gas present in said cylinder for the next combustion is
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
133 words
Apparatus for minimizing the amounts of undesirable obnoxious pollutants emitted from a cyclic internal combustion engine having a piston, a cylinder, a crankshaft, exhaust means and intake means, after combustion of a fuel-air charge within the cylinder of said engine, comprising: adjustment means for varying the time of closing of the exhaust means with respect to the position of the piston in the cylinder in order to adjust the amount of exhaust gas present in the cylinder for the next combustion; control means coupled to said adjustment means for effecting operation thereof, said control means being actuatable in correspondence with engine operating conditions between first, second and third conditions in which said adjustment means is respectively positioned so that the amount of exhaust gas present in said cylinder for the next combustion is
Claim 21
Independent Claim
258 words
A method of minimizing the amounts of undesirable obnoxious pollutants emitted from a cyclic internal combustion engine having a piston, a cylinder, a crankshaft, exhaust means and intake means, after combustion of a fuel-air charge within the cylinder of said engine, comprising the steps of: sensing an engine operation condition; varying the time of the exhaust means closing with respect to the position of the piston in said cylinder in response to said sensed engine operation condition between an exhaust means closing time ahead of the top dead center position of said piston in said cylinder and an exhaust means closing time at or after the top dead center position of said piston in said cylinder and thereby adjusting the amount of exhaust gas retained within said cylinder for the next combustion, said retained exhaust gas containing a high concentration of incompletely burned fuel, said varying of the time of the exhaust means closing being carried out so that there is present in the cylinder (a) a small amount of said exhaust gas to provide a small dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge at light engine loads, and (b) a larger amount of said exhaust gas to provide a greater dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge at heavier engine loads; opening said intake means at least as early as the closing of said exhaust means to admit a fuel-air charge into said cylinder; mixing said retained amount of exhaust gas with the incoming fuel-air charge during the intake stroke for the next cycle; and igniting the combined mixture.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
258 words
A method of minimizing the amounts of undesirable obnoxious pollutants emitted from a cyclic internal combustion engine having a piston, a cylinder, a crankshaft, exhaust means and intake means, after combustion of a fuel-air charge within the cylinder of said engine, comprising the steps of: sensing an engine operation condition; varying the time of the exhaust means closing with respect to the position of the piston in said cylinder in response to said sensed engine operation condition between an exhaust means closing time ahead of the top dead center position of said piston in said cylinder and an exhaust means closing time at or after the top dead center position of said piston in said cylinder and thereby adjusting the amount of exhaust gas retained within said cylinder for the next combustion, said retained exhaust gas containing a high concentration of incompletely burned fuel, said varying of the time of the exhaust means closing being carried out so that there is present in the cylinder (a) a small amount of said exhaust gas to provide a small dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge at light engine loads, and (b) a larger amount of said exhaust gas to provide a greater dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge at heavier engine loads; opening said intake means at least as early as the closing of said exhaust means to admit a fuel-air charge into said cylinder; mixing said retained amount of exhaust gas with the incoming fuel-air charge during the intake stroke for the next cycle; and igniting the combined mixture.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 5, in which the exhaust means closing time is varied by adjusting the phase relationship between the engine crankshaft and a control device for the exhaust means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 6, including the step of adjusting the phase relationship between the engine crankshaft and the control device for the intake means simultaneously with and to the same extent as the adjustment of the phase relationship between said crankshaft and the control device for said exhaust means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 5, in which the exhaust means closing time is varied by adjusting the phase relationship between the engine crankshaft and the exhaust means camshaft.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 5, in which the exhaust means closing time is varied by adjusting the phase relationship between the engine crankshaft and the driving means for said exhaust means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method according to claim 5, in which the intake means is always opened a selectable period of time before the exhaust means is closed in order to provide an overlap period for said intake means and said exhaust means of selected length and in which the intake means opening time is adjusted in the same direction and to the same extent as the exhaust means closing time so as to maintain a constant overlap.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 5, in which the intake means is opened a selectable period of time before the exhaust means is closed to provide an overlap period for said intake means and said exhaust means of selected length and in which the duration of the overlap period is changed when the exhaust means closing time is varied.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
239 words
A method of minimizing the amounts of undesirable obnoxious pollutants emitted from a cyclic internal combustion engine having a piston, a cylinder, a crankshaft, exhaust means movable between an open and a closed position and intake means movable between an open and a closed position, said method comprising the steps of: sensing an engine operation condition; varying, with respect to the position of the piston, in said cylinder, the time of movement of one of said means from one of its positions to the other of its positions in response to said sensed engine operation condition in a manner to selectively adjust the amount of exhaust gas which is not expelled through said exhaust means during the exhaust stroke, said varying of the time of such movement being carried out so that a. at light engine loads a small amount of said exhaust gas is not expelled through said exhaust means to provide a small dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge, and b. at heavier engine loads a larger amount of said exhaust gas is not expelled through said exhaust means to provide a greater dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge; opening said intake means at least as early as the closing of said exhaust means to admit a fuel-air charge into said cylinder; mixing said non-expelled amount of exhaust gas with the incoming fuel-air charge during the intake stroke for the next cycle; and igniting the combined mixture.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
239 words
A method of minimizing the amounts of undesirable obnoxious pollutants emitted from a cyclic internal combustion engine having a piston, a cylinder, a crankshaft, exhaust means movable between an open and a closed position and intake means movable between an open and a closed position, said method comprising the steps of: sensing an engine operation condition; varying, with respect to the position of the piston, in said cylinder, the time of movement of one of said means from one of its positions to the other of its positions in response to said sensed engine operation condition in a manner to selectively adjust the amount of exhaust gas which is not expelled through said exhaust means during the exhaust stroke, said varying of the time of such movement being carried out so that a. at light engine loads a small amount of said exhaust gas is not expelled through said exhaust means to provide a small dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge, and b. at heavier engine loads a larger amount of said exhaust gas is not expelled through said exhaust means to provide a greater dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge; opening said intake means at least as early as the closing of said exhaust means to admit a fuel-air charge into said cylinder; mixing said non-expelled amount of exhaust gas with the incoming fuel-air charge during the intake stroke for the next cycle; and igniting the combined mixture.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
230 words
A method of minimizing the amounts of undesirable obnoxious pollutants emitted from a cyclic internal combustion engine having a piston, a cylinder, a crankshaft, exhaust means and intake means, after combustion of a fuel-air charge within the cylinder of said engine, comprising the steps of: sensing an engine operation condition; varying the timing of at least one of said means with respect to the position of the piston in said cylinder in response to said sensed engine operation condition in a manner to selectively adjust the amount of exhaust gas expelled through said exhaust means during the exhaust stroke, such varying being carried out so that at light engine loads, a small amount of said exhaust gas is not expelled through said exhaust means to provide for a small dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge; at heavier engine loads, a larger amount of said exhaust gas is not expelled through said exhaust means to provide a greater dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge; and as engine loading approaches maximum load, a third amount of said exhaust gas, which third amount is smaller than said larger amount, is not expelled through said exhaust means to provide for a reduction in the dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge; mixing said non-expelled amount of exhaust gas with the incoming fuel-air charge during the intake stroke for the next cycle; and igniting the mixture.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
230 words
A method of minimizing the amounts of undesirable obnoxious pollutants emitted from a cyclic internal combustion engine having a piston, a cylinder, a crankshaft, exhaust means and intake means, after combustion of a fuel-air charge within the cylinder of said engine, comprising the steps of: sensing an engine operation condition; varying the timing of at least one of said means with respect to the position of the piston in said cylinder in response to said sensed engine operation condition in a manner to selectively adjust the amount of exhaust gas expelled through said exhaust means during the exhaust stroke, such varying being carried out so that at light engine loads, a small amount of said exhaust gas is not expelled through said exhaust means to provide for a small dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge; at heavier engine loads, a larger amount of said exhaust gas is not expelled through said exhaust means to provide a greater dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge; and as engine loading approaches maximum load, a third amount of said exhaust gas, which third amount is smaller than said larger amount, is not expelled through said exhaust means to provide for a reduction in the dilution of the incoming fuel-air charge; mixing said non-expelled amount of exhaust gas with the incoming fuel-air charge during the intake stroke for the next cycle; and igniting the mixture.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-06 | 1976-08-07 | 1977-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-06 | 1980-08-07 | 1981-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-06 | 1984-08-07 | 1985-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |