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US5353590A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Exhaust heating control

Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
•
Filing: 1993-08-19
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Granted: 1994-10-11
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Expires: 2013-08-19
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Abstract

Abstract Control of a fuel quantity and an air quantity delivered to an exhaust gas heater is provided by determining a desired heater air quantity and a desired heater air/fuel ratio both of which may vary over multiple control states, by commanding an air rate in accord with the desired heater air quantity, by adjusting the commanded air quantity in accord with a sensed actual air quantity, and by commanding a fuel quantity in accord with the desired heater air/fuel ratio and either the desired heater air quantity or the sensed actual air quantity.

Inventors

  • 👤 William H. Pettit
  • 👤 Daniel F. Kabasin
  • 👤 Donald D. Stoltman
  • 👤 Kenneth J. Dauer

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 08:46
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N3/00; F01N3/08; F01N3/10; F01N3/24; F01N3/36; F01N3/02; F01N3/021; F01N3/023; F01N3/025; F01N9/00; F01N9/002; F01N2390/00; F01N2390/02; F01N2610/00; F01N2610/03; F01N2900/00; F01N2900/04; F01N2900/0422; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 146 words
A method for controlling a commanded fuel vapor quantity and a commanded air quantity admitted to an exhaust gas heater, comprising the steps of: providing for combustion in the heater by setting a desired air quantity to a predetermined lighting air quantity and by setting a desired heater air/fuel ratio to a predetermined lighting air/fuel ratio; sensing combustion in the heater; providing for a rapid increase in heater energy output upon sensing combustion in the heater by setting the desired air quantity to a predetermined ramp air quantity and setting the desired heater air/fuel ratio to a predetermined ramp air/fuel ratio; adjusting the commanded air quantity in accord with the set desired air quantity; and adjusting the commanded fuel vapor quantity in accord with the set desired heater air/fuel ratio and a predetermined one of the set desired air quantity and the adjusted commanded air quantity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 146 words
A method for controlling a commanded fuel vapor quantity and a commanded air quantity admitted to an exhaust gas heater, comprising the steps of: providing for combustion in the heater by setting a desired air quantity to a predetermined lighting air quantity and by setting a desired heater air/fuel ratio to a predetermined lighting air/fuel ratio; sensing combustion in the heater; providing for a rapid increase in heater energy output upon sensing combustion in the heater by setting the desired air quantity to a predetermined ramp air quantity and setting the desired heater air/fuel ratio to a predetermined ramp air/fuel ratio; adjusting the commanded air quantity in accord with the set desired air quantity; and adjusting the commanded fuel vapor quantity in accord with the set desired heater air/fuel ratio and a predetermined one of the set desired air quantity and the adjusted commanded air quantity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 65 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: estimating when heater energy output has reached a predetermined maximum output; and stabilizing engine exhaust gas temperature when heater output energy is estimated to have reached the predetermined maximum output, by setting the desired air quantity to a predetermined hold air quantity and setting the desired heater air/fuel ratio to a predetermined hold air/fuel ratio.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 43 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of: enleaning an air/fuel ratio in the engine exhaust gas by setting the desired air quantity to a predetermined enleanment air quantity and setting the desired air/fuel ratio to a predetermined enleanment air/fuel ratio.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: estimating a concentration of fuel vapor admitted to the heater; and adapting the adjusted commanded fuel vapor quantity in accord with the estimated concentration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 41 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: sensing when combustion is not present in the heater; and stopping admission of the commanded fuel vapor quantity to the heater upon sensing that combustion is not present in the heater.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 359 words
A method for controlling a commanded fuel quantity and a commanded air quantity admitted to an exhaust gas heater in which the fuel quantity and the air quantity are combined and ignited to generate heat energy used to heat internal combustion engine exhaust gas, comprising the steps of: providing for combustion in the heater by setting a desired air quantity to a predetermined lighting air quantity and by setting a desired heater air/fuel ratio to a predetermined lighting air/fuel ratio; sensing combustion in the heater; providing for a rapid increase in heater energy output upon sensing combustion in the heater by setting the desired air quantity to a predetermined ramp air quantity and setting the desired heater air/fuel ratio to a predetermined ramp air/fuel ratio; estimating when heater energy output has reached a predetermined maximum output; minimizing change in engine exhaust gas temperature for a predetermined period of time after having estimated that heater energy output has reached the predetermined maximum output, by setting the desired air quantity to a predetermined hold air quantity and setting the desired heater air/fuel ratio to a predetermined hold air/fuel ratio; enleaning an air/fuel ratio in the engine exhaust gas after minimizing change in engine exhaust gas temperature for the predetermined period of time by setting the desired air quantity to a predetermined enleanment air quantity and setting the desired heater air/fuel ratio to a predetermined enleanment air/fuel ratio; sensing an actual air quantity admitted to the heater; determining air error as the difference between the set desired air quantity and the sensed actual air quantity; determining an air correction value as a predetermined function of the determined air error; adjusting the commanded air quantity by the determined air correction value; determining a desired quantity of fuel vapor to be admitted to the heater as the quantity of fuel vapor needed, for a predetermined air quantity selected from the set including the set desired air quantity and the sensed actual air quantity, to drive an actual heater air/fuel ratio toward the set desired heater air/fuel ratio; and generating a fuel vapor command as a predetermined function of the desired quantity of fuel vapor.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 359 words
A method for controlling a commanded fuel quantity and a commanded air quantity admitted to an exhaust gas heater in which the fuel quantity and the air quantity are combined and ignited to generate heat energy used to heat internal combustion engine exhaust gas, comprising the steps of: providing for combustion in the heater by setting a desired air quantity to a predetermined lighting air quantity and by setting a desired heater air/fuel ratio to a predetermined lighting air/fuel ratio; sensing combustion in the heater; providing for a rapid increase in heater energy output upon sensing combustion in the heater by setting the desired air quantity to a predetermined ramp air quantity and setting the desired heater air/fuel ratio to a predetermined ramp air/fuel ratio; estimating when heater energy output has reached a predetermined maximum output; minimizing change in engine exhaust gas temperature for a predetermined period of time after having estimated that heater energy output has reached the predetermined maximum output, by setting the desired air quantity to a predetermined hold air quantity and setting the desired heater air/fuel ratio to a predetermined hold air/fuel ratio; enleaning an air/fuel ratio in the engine exhaust gas after minimizing change in engine exhaust gas temperature for the predetermined period of time by setting the desired air quantity to a predetermined enleanment air quantity and setting the desired heater air/fuel ratio to a predetermined enleanment air/fuel ratio; sensing an actual air quantity admitted to the heater; determining air error as the difference between the set desired air quantity and the sensed actual air quantity; determining an air correction value as a predetermined function of the determined air error; adjusting the commanded air quantity by the determined air correction value; determining a desired quantity of fuel vapor to be admitted to the heater as the quantity of fuel vapor needed, for a predetermined air quantity selected from the set including the set desired air quantity and the sensed actual air quantity, to drive an actual heater air/fuel ratio toward the set desired heater air/fuel ratio; and generating a fuel vapor command as a predetermined function of the desired quantity of fuel vapor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of: estimating a concentration of fuel vapor admitted to the heater; and adjusting the generated fuel vapor command in accord with the estimated concentration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 41 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of: sensing when combustion is not present in the heater; and stopping admission of the commanded fuel vapor quantity to the heater upon sensing that combustion is not present in the heater.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3618314A Cited
US3908371A Cited
US3911675A Cited
US4615173A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-10-10 1998-04-11 1998-10-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-10-10 2002-04-11 2002-10-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-10-10 2006-04-11 2006-10-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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