US4567725A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trap regenerative device control apparatus
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1984-01-09
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Granted: 1986-02-04
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Expires: 2004-01-09
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus controls the operation of a regenerative device for generating a quantity of heat to burn the exhaust particles collected in a trap located in the exhaust conduit of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus is responsive to the pressures on the inlet and outlet sides of the trap to detect a regeneration requirement to operate the regenerative device so as to regenerate the trap. The apparatus is also responsive to the engine speed and engine load to control the quantity of heat the regenerative device generates so as to maintain the inlet side of the trap at a target temperature during the regeneration period.
Inventors
- 👤 Motohiro Shinzawa
- 👤 Yoji Hasegawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 08:26
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N9/00; F01N9/002; F01N3/00; F01N3/02; F01N3/021; F01N3/023; F01N3/025; F01N3/0253; F01N3/0256; F01N2390/00; F01N2390/02; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
An apparatus for use in an internal combustion engine having an exhaust conduit for discharging exhaust particles together with exhaust gases to the atmosphere, and a trap located in said exhaust conduit for collecting exhaust particles, said apparatus comprising: regenerative means operable to generate a quantity of heat to burn the exhaust particles collected in said trap so as to regenerate said trap; sources for deriving signals indicative of (a) the pressure (P1) on the inlet side of said trap, (b) the pressure (P2) on the outlet side of said trap, (c) engine speed and (d) engine load; and control means responsive to the signals indicative of (a) and (b) for detecting a regeneration requirement to operate said regenerative means so as to regenerate said trap for a predetermined time period, said control means including means responsive to the signals indicative of (c) and (d) for controlling the quantity of heat said regenerative means generates to maintain the inlet side of said trap at a target temperature during the regeneration period.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
171 words
An apparatus for use in an internal combustion engine having an exhaust conduit for discharging exhaust particles together with exhaust gases to the atmosphere, and a trap located in said exhaust conduit for collecting exhaust particles, said apparatus comprising: regenerative means operable to generate a quantity of heat to burn the exhaust particles collected in said trap so as to regenerate said trap; sources for deriving signals indicative of (a) the pressure (P1) on the inlet side of said trap, (b) the pressure (P2) on the outlet side of said trap, (c) engine speed and (d) engine load; and control means responsive to the signals indicative of (a) and (b) for detecting a regeneration requirement to operate said regenerative means so as to regenerate said trap for a predetermined time period, said control means including means responsive to the signals indicative of (c) and (d) for controlling the quantity of heat said regenerative means generates to maintain the inlet side of said trap at a target temperature during the regeneration period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means responsive to the signals indicative of (c) and (d) for controlling the quantity of heat said regenerative means generates includes: means for controlling the quantity of heat said regenerative means generates; and means for calculating a value corresponding to a setting of said means for controlling the quantity of heat said regenerative means generates, said calculation being performed as functions of engine speed and engine load.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 2, which further comprises a source for deriving a signal indicative of (e) the temperature (T1) on the inlet side of said trap, and wherein said control means includes means for modifying said calculated value based upon the value of the signal indicative of (e).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 3, which further comprises a source for deriving a signal indicative of (f) the temperature (T2) on the outlet side of said trap, and wherein said control means includes: means responsive to the signal indicative of (f) for detecting the temperature (T2) exceeding a predetermined limit; and means for placing said regenerative means out of operation when the temperature (T2) exceeds the predetermined limit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said means for modifying said calculated value based upon the value of the signal indicative of (e) includes means responsive to the signal indicative of (e) for detecting the temperature (T1) being in a first temperature range having a lower and upper limit, in a second temperature range having a lower limit higher than the upper limit of the first temperature range, the second temperature range including said target temperature, or in a third temperature range having a lower limit higher than the upper limit of the second temperature range.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said means for modifying said calculated value based upon the value of the signal indicative of (e) includes means for multiplying said calculated value by a constant (A) greater than 1 so as to increase the quantity of heat said regenerative means generates when the temperature (T1) is in the first temperature range, and for multiplying said calculated value by a constant (B) smaller than 1 so as to decrease the quantity of heat said regenerative means generates when the temperature (T1) is in the third temperature range.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 6, which further comprises a source for deriving a signal indicative of (f) the temperature (T2) on the outlet side of said trap, and wherein said control means includes; means responsive to the signal indicative of (f) for detecting the temperature (T2) exceeding a predetermined limit greater than the upper limit of the third temperature range; and means for placing said regenerative means out of operation when the temperature (T2) exceeds the predetermined limit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said regenerative means comprises a burner located in said exhaust conduit upstream of said trap, said burner being operable to burn an air-fuel mixture supplied thereto to generate a quantity of heat, said burner including means for increasing the temperature in said burner to a level sufficient to ignite the air-fuel mixture upon the occurrence of a regeneration requirement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said means responsive to the signals indicative of (c) and (d) for controlling the quantity of heat said regenerative means generates includes: means for controlling the quantity of fuel to said burner; and means for calculating a value corresponding to a setting of said means for controlling the quantity of fuel to said burner, said calculation being performed as functions of engine speed and engine load.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 9, which further comprises a source for deriving a signal indicative of (e) the temperature (T1) on the inlet side of said trap, and wherein said control means includes means for modifying said calculated value based upon the value of the signal indicative of (e).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 10, which further comprises a source for deriving a signal indicative of (f) the temperature (T2) on the outlet side of said trap, and wherein said control means includes; means responsive to the signal indicative of (f) for detecting the temperature (T2) exceeding a predetermined limit; and means for stopping the supply of fuel to said burner when the temperature (T2) exceeds the predetermined limit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
96 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said means for modifying said calculated value based upon the value of the signal indicative of (e) includes means responsive to the signal indicative of (e) for detecting the temperature (T1) being in a first temperature range having a lower and upper limit, in a second temperature range having a lower limit higher than the upper limit of the first temperature range, the second temperature range including said target temprature, or in a third temperature range having a lower limit higher than the upper limit of the second temperature range.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said means for modifying said calculated value based upon the value of the signal indicative of (e) includes means for multiplying said calculated value by a constant (A) greater than 1 so as to increase the quantity of fuel to said burner when the temperature (T1) is in the first temperature range, and for modifying said calculated value by a constant (B) smaller than 1 so as to decrease the quantity of fuel to said burner when the temperature (T1) is in the third temperature range.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said means for modifying said calculated value based upon the value of the signal indicative of (e) includes means responsive to the signal indicative of (e) for stopping the supply of fuel when the temperature (T1) is below the lower limit of the first temperature range at a predetermined time after the occurrence of the regeneration requirement.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 13, which further comprises a source for deriving a signal indicative of (f) the temperature (T2) on the outlet side of said trap, and wherein said control means includes: means responsive to the signal indicative of (f) for detecting the temperature (T2) exceeding a predetermined limit greater than the upper limit of the third temperature range; and means for stopping the supply of fuel to said burner when the temperature (T2) exceeds the predetermined limit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said means for modifying said calculated value based upon the value of the signal indicative of (e) includes means for multiplying said calculated value by a constant to increase the quantity of fuel to said burner for a predetermined time period after the occurrence of the regeneration requirement.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of controlling the operation of a regenerative means to generate a quantity of heat to burn the exhaust particles collected in a trap located in the exhaust conduit of an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of: measuring the pressure (P1) on the inlet side of said trap, the pressure (P2) on the outlet side of said trap, the engine speed, and the engine load; detecting a regeneration requirement based upon the measured pressures (P1) and (P2) to operate said regenerative means so as to regenerate said trap for a predetermined time period; and controlling the quantity of heat said regenerative means generates based upon the measured engine speed and engine load to maintain the inlet side of said trap at a target temperature during the regeneration period.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of controlling the operation of a regenerative means to generate a quantity of heat to burn the exhaust particles collected in a trap located in the exhaust conduit of an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of: measuring the pressure (P1) on the inlet side of said trap, the pressure (P2) on the outlet side of said trap, the engine speed, and the engine load; detecting a regeneration requirement based upon the measured pressures (P1) and (P2) to operate said regenerative means so as to regenerate said trap for a predetermined time period; and controlling the quantity of heat said regenerative means generates based upon the measured engine speed and engine load to maintain the inlet side of said trap at a target temperature during the regeneration period.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the step of controlling the quantity of heat said regenerative means generates based upon the measured engine speed and engine load uses means for controlling the quantity of heat said regenerative means generates and includes calculating a value corresponding to a setting of said means for controlling the quantity of heat said regenerative means generates, said calculation being performed as functions of engine speed and engine load.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 18, which further includes the steps of: measuring the temperature (T1) on the inlet side of said trap; and modifying said calculated value based upon the measured temperature (T1).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
153 words
The method of claim 19, wherein the step of modifying said calculated value based upon the measured temperature (T1) includes the steps of: detecting the temperature (T1) being in a first temperature range having a lower and upper limit, in a second temperature range having a lower limit higher than the upper limit of the first temperature range, the second temperature range including said target temperature, or in a third temperature range having a lower limit higher than the upper limit of the second temperature range; multiplying said calculated value by a constant (A) greater than 1 so as to increase the quantity of heat said regenerative means generates when the temperature (T1) is in the first temperature range, and multiplying said calculated value by a constant (B) smaller than 1 so as to decrease the quantity of heat said regenerative means generates when the temperature (T1) is in the third temperature range.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 20, which further includes the steps of: measuring the temperature (T2) on the outlet side of said trap; detecting the measured temperature (T2) exceeding a predetermined limit greater than the upper limit of the third temperature range; and stopping the operation of said regenerative means when the measured temperature exceeds the predetermined limit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 19, which further includes the steps of: measuring the temperature (T2) on the outlet side of said trap; detecting the measured temperature (T2) exceeding a predetermined limit; and stopping the operation of said regenerative means when the measured temperature exceeds the predetermined limit.
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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) | 1989-02-03 | 1989-08-05 | 1990-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-03 | 1993-08-05 | 1994-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-03 | 1997-08-05 | 1998-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |