US4388803A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for rapidly warming up catalytic converter provided to automotive internal combustion engine
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1981-07-09
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Granted: 1983-06-21
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Expires: 2001-07-09
Abstract
Abstract A system for rapidly warming up a catalytic converter provided to an automotive internal combustion engine to purify the exhaust gas. The system includes a vacuum-operated device to increase the opening degree of the throttle valve by a predetermined degree to thereby increase the quantity of the exhaust gas and another vacuum-operated device to retard the ignition timing of the engine to a predetermined extent to thereby raise the temperature of the exhaust gas. The two devices are connected by a vacuum passage to the intake passage of the engine at a section downstream of the throttle valve in series, and an electromagnetic valve renders the vacuum passage effective to thereby actuate the vacuum-operated devices only when the engine is idling under cold condition. Because of the series connection of the two devices, an intake vacuum is applied to the two devices in desirable sequence.
Inventors
- 👤 Katuji Furuya
- 👤 Tokuzo Yago
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:50
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P5/00; F02P5/04; F02P5/145; F02P5/155; F02P5/1558; F01; F01N; F01N3/00; F01N3/08; F01N3/10; F01N3/18; F01N3/20; F01N3/2006; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A50/00; Y02A50/20; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
262 words
A system for rapidly warming up a catalytic converter provided to an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine in an automobile to purify the exhaust gas, the engine including an intake passage with a throttle valve therein, the system comprising: throttle opening means for increasing the opening degree of the throttle valve by a predetermined degree when a vacuum is applied to said throttle opening means; ignition timing retarding means for retarding the ignition timing of the engine to a predetermined extent when a vacuum is applied to said ignition timing retarding means; a vacuum passage which connects said ignition timing retarding means to the intake passage at a section downstream of the throttle valve via said throttle opening means; an electromagnetic valve provided to said vacuum passage at a section between the intake passage and said throttle opening means such that an intake vacuum produced in the intake passage by the operation of the engine is applied through said vacuum passage to said throttle opening means and said ignition timing retarding means while said electromagnetic valve is electrically actuated; an engine-temperature switch which is included in a circuit for actuation of said electromagnetic valve and operates when the temperature of the engine is below a predetermined temperature; and a gear-position switch which is included in said circuit and operates in response to the neutral position of a transmission of the engine, said engine-temperature switch and said gear-position switch being connected with each other such that said electromagnetic valve is actuated when both said engine-temperature switch and said gear-position switch operate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
262 words
A system for rapidly warming up a catalytic converter provided to an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine in an automobile to purify the exhaust gas, the engine including an intake passage with a throttle valve therein, the system comprising: throttle opening means for increasing the opening degree of the throttle valve by a predetermined degree when a vacuum is applied to said throttle opening means; ignition timing retarding means for retarding the ignition timing of the engine to a predetermined extent when a vacuum is applied to said ignition timing retarding means; a vacuum passage which connects said ignition timing retarding means to the intake passage at a section downstream of the throttle valve via said throttle opening means; an electromagnetic valve provided to said vacuum passage at a section between the intake passage and said throttle opening means such that an intake vacuum produced in the intake passage by the operation of the engine is applied through said vacuum passage to said throttle opening means and said ignition timing retarding means while said electromagnetic valve is electrically actuated; an engine-temperature switch which is included in a circuit for actuation of said electromagnetic valve and operates when the temperature of the engine is below a predetermined temperature; and a gear-position switch which is included in said circuit and operates in response to the neutral position of a transmission of the engine, said engine-temperature switch and said gear-position switch being connected with each other such that said electromagnetic valve is actuated when both said engine-temperature switch and said gear-position switch operate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
174 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said throttle opening means comprises a flexible diaphragm and a vacuum chamber defined on one side of said diaphragm and connected to said section of the intake passage by said vacuum passage, said diaphragm being linked with the throttle valve such that the opening degree of the throttle valve increases by the predetermined degree when said diaphragm deflects toward said vacuum chamber by the action of the intake vacuum applied to said vacuum chamber, said ignition timing retarding means comprising a flexible diaphragm and a vacuum chamber defined on one side of the diaphragm and connected to said vacuum chamber of said throttle opening means by said vacuum passage, the diaphragm of said ignition timing retarding means being linked with an ignition timing control means for ignition of the engine such that the ignition timing is retarded to the predetermined extent when the diaphragm deflects toward the vacuum chamber in said ignition timing retarding means by the action of the intake vacuum applied to the vacuum chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 2, further comprising an air-admitting passage which is so arranged as to provide direct communication of the vacuum chamber in said ignition timing retarding means with the atmosphere when said electromagnetic valve is not actuated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
A system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising delay means provided in said vacuum passage at a section between said throttle opening means and said ignition timing retarding means, said delay means being a combination of an orifice for limiting the flow rate of air passing through said vacuum passage in the direction from said ignition timing retarding means toward said throttle opening means and a check valve which permits air to flow therethrough only in the direction from said throttle opening means toward said ignition timing retarding means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A system according to claim 1, further comprising a check valve arranged in said vacuum passage at a section between the intake passage and the position of said electromagnetic valve so as to permit the flow of gas only in the direction from said throttle opening means toward the intake passage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
A system according to claim 2, wherein said throttle opening means further comprises temperature-sensitive stopper means for varying the extent of the deflection of the diaphragm such that the extent of the increase in the opening degree of the throttle valve becomes smaller as the temperature of ambient air becomes higher, said ignition timing retarding means further comprising temperature-sensitive stopper means for varying the extent of the deflection of the diaphragm such that the extent of the retardation of the ignition timing becomes smaller as the temperature of ambient air becomes higher.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-06-20 | 1986-12-20 | 1987-06-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-20 | 1990-12-20 | 1991-06-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-20 | 1994-12-20 | 1995-06-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |