US5577383A — Apparatus for controlling internal combustion eng…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 232 words

An apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine including a fuel injection valve and an air amount adjusting valve which are disposed in an air intake system of the engine to control the supply of an air-fuel mixture to the engine and an exhaust system having a combustion catalyst for oxidizing CO and HC which is disposed in an upstream portion of the exhaust system and a three-way catalyst for simultaneously purifying CO, HC and NOx which is provided in a downstream portion of the exhaust system of the engine, comprising: detecting means for detecting whether the temperature of said three-way catalyst is at a preset value representing the activation temperature thereof by detecting the temperature of one of said three-way catalyst and exhaust gas exiting said three-way catalyst; means, responsive to the temperature of said three-way catalyst being lower than said preset value, for controlling the fuel injection valve and the air amount adjusting valve in said air intake system to maintain the air-fuel mixture supplied to said engine richer than the mixture determined by the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio until said temperature is raised to said preset value; and means, responsive to the temperature of said three-way catalyst being equal or higher than said preset value, for controlling the fuel injection valve and the air amount adjusting valve to make the air/fuel ratio equal or approximate to the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 232 words

An apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine including a fuel injection valve and an air amount adjusting valve which are disposed in an air intake system of the engine to control the supply of an air-fuel mixture to the engine and an exhaust system having a combustion catalyst for oxidizing CO and HC which is disposed in an upstream portion of the exhaust system and a three-way catalyst for simultaneously purifying CO, HC and NOx which is provided in a downstream portion of the exhaust system of the engine, comprising: detecting means for detecting whether the temperature of said three-way catalyst is at a preset value representing the activation temperature thereof by detecting the temperature of one of said three-way catalyst and exhaust gas exiting said three-way catalyst; means, responsive to the temperature of said three-way catalyst being lower than said preset value, for controlling the fuel injection valve and the air amount adjusting valve in said air intake system to maintain the air-fuel mixture supplied to said engine richer than the mixture determined by the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio until said temperature is raised to said preset value; and means, responsive to the temperature of said three-way catalyst being equal or higher than said preset value, for controlling the fuel injection valve and the air amount adjusting valve to make the air/fuel ratio equal or approximate to the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 19 words

An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a casing for accommodating said combustion catalyst and said three-way catalyst.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 35 words

An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said combustion catalyst includes a combustion catalyst portion provided on a single substrate and said three-way catalyst includes a three-way catalyst portion provided on the same single substrate.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 55 words

An apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine according to claim 1 wherein said combustion catalyst and said three-way catalyst are accommodated within a common casing in a manner that said combustion catalyst is disposed at an upstream side within said casing and said three-way catalyst is disposed at a downstream side within said casing.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 85 words

An apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine according to claim 1 wherein said combustion catalyst and said three-way catalyst are accommodated within a common casing in a manner that said combustion catalyst is disposed at an upstream side within said casing and said three-way catalyst is disposed at a downstream side within said casing, and wherein said combustion catalyst includes a combustion catalyst portion provided on a single substrate and said three-way catalyst includes a three-way catalyst portion provided on the same single substrate.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 271 words

An apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine including a fuel injection valve and an air amount adjusting valve which are disposed in an air intake system of the engine to control the supply of an air-fuel mixture to the engine and an exhaust system having a combustion catalyst for oxidizing CO and HC which is disposed in an upstream portion of the exhaust system and a three-way catalyst for simultaneously purifying CO, HC and NOx which is provided in a downstream portion of the exhaust system of the engine, comprising: detecting means for detecting whether the temperature of said three-way catalyst is at a preset value representing the activation temperature thereof by detecting the temperature of one of said three-way catalyst and exhaust gas exiting said three-way catalyst; means for comparing the temperature of one of said three-way catalyst and exhaust gas exiting the three-way catalyst with a preset value representing the activation temperature of the three-way catalyst; means, responsive to said temperature being lower than said preset value, for generating a first signal to maintain the air-fuel mixture supplied to said engine richer than the mixture determined by the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio until the temperature of said exhaust gas purifying catalyst is raised to said preset value, and, responsive to said temperature being equal to or higher than said preset value, for generating a second signal to make the air/fuel ratio equal or approximate to the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio; and control means for opening or closing said fuel injection valve and said air amount adjusting valve in said air intake system in response to said first and second signals.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 271 words

An apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine including a fuel injection valve and an air amount adjusting valve which are disposed in an air intake system of the engine to control the supply of an air-fuel mixture to the engine and an exhaust system having a combustion catalyst for oxidizing CO and HC which is disposed in an upstream portion of the exhaust system and a three-way catalyst for simultaneously purifying CO, HC and NOx which is provided in a downstream portion of the exhaust system of the engine, comprising: detecting means for detecting whether the temperature of said three-way catalyst is at a preset value representing the activation temperature thereof by detecting the temperature of one of said three-way catalyst and exhaust gas exiting said three-way catalyst; means for comparing the temperature of one of said three-way catalyst and exhaust gas exiting the three-way catalyst with a preset value representing the activation temperature of the three-way catalyst; means, responsive to said temperature being lower than said preset value, for generating a first signal to maintain the air-fuel mixture supplied to said engine richer than the mixture determined by the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio until the temperature of said exhaust gas purifying catalyst is raised to said preset value, and, responsive to said temperature being equal to or higher than said preset value, for generating a second signal to make the air/fuel ratio equal or approximate to the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio; and control means for opening or closing said fuel injection valve and said air amount adjusting valve in said air intake system in response to said first and second signals.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 74 words

An apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine as defined in claim 6 and further including means for opening or closing said fuel injection valve and said air amount adjusting valve in said air intake system to make the air/fuel ratio A/F (A and F represents the air and fuel weights, respectively) not lower than 10 and not higher than 13 when the temperature of said three-way catalyst is lower than said preset value.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 285 words

An apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine including a fuel injection valve and an air amount adjusting valve which are disposed in an air intake system of the engine to control the supply of an air-fuel mixture to the engine and an exhaust system having a combustion catalyst for oxidizing CO and HC which is disposed in an upstream portion of the exhaust system and a three-way catalyst for simultaneously purifying CO, HC and NOx which is provided in a downstream portion of the exhaust system of the engine, comprising: detecting means for detecting whether the temperature of said three-way catalyst is at a preset value representing the activation temperature thereof by detecting the temperature of one of said three-way catalyst and exhaust gas exiting said three-way catalyst; inputting means for inputting the temperature of one of said three-way catalyst and exhaust gas exiting the three-way catalyst; means for storing a preset value; means for comparing the temperature input from said inputting means with the preset value stored in said storing means; means, responsive to said temperature being lower than said preset value, for generating a first signal to maintain the air-fuel mixture supplied to said engine richer than the mixture determined by the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio until the temperature of said exhaust gas purifying catalyst is raised to said preset value, and, responsive to said temperature being equal to or higher than said preset value, for generating a second signal to make the air/fuel ratio equal or approximate to the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio; and control means for opening or closing said fuel injection valve and said air amount adjusting valve in said air intake system in response to said first and second signals.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 285 words

An apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine including a fuel injection valve and an air amount adjusting valve which are disposed in an air intake system of the engine to control the supply of an air-fuel mixture to the engine and an exhaust system having a combustion catalyst for oxidizing CO and HC which is disposed in an upstream portion of the exhaust system and a three-way catalyst for simultaneously purifying CO, HC and NOx which is provided in a downstream portion of the exhaust system of the engine, comprising: detecting means for detecting whether the temperature of said three-way catalyst is at a preset value representing the activation temperature thereof by detecting the temperature of one of said three-way catalyst and exhaust gas exiting said three-way catalyst; inputting means for inputting the temperature of one of said three-way catalyst and exhaust gas exiting the three-way catalyst; means for storing a preset value; means for comparing the temperature input from said inputting means with the preset value stored in said storing means; means, responsive to said temperature being lower than said preset value, for generating a first signal to maintain the air-fuel mixture supplied to said engine richer than the mixture determined by the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio until the temperature of said exhaust gas purifying catalyst is raised to said preset value, and, responsive to said temperature being equal to or higher than said preset value, for generating a second signal to make the air/fuel ratio equal or approximate to the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio; and control means for opening or closing said fuel injection valve and said air amount adjusting valve in said air intake system in response to said first and second signals.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 283 words

An apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine having a fuel injection valve and an air amount adjusting valve disposed in an intake air system of the engine to control the supply of an air-fuel mixture to the engine, a combustion catalyst for oxidizing CO and HC and an exhaust gas purifying catalyst for simultaneously purifying CO, HC and NOx disposed at front and rear stages, respectively, of an exhaust system and air supplying means disposed upstream of said combustion catalyst, comprising: detecting means for detecting whether the temperature of said three-way catalyst is at a preset value representing the activation temperature thereof by detecting the temperature of one of said three-way catalyst and exhaust gas exiting said three-way catalyst; means, responsive to the temperature of one of said three-way catalyst and exhaust gas exiting that three-way catalyst being lower than a preset value, for generating a first signal which maintains the air-fuel mixture supplied to said engine richer than the mixture determined by the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio and for supplying air to said combustion catalyst until the temperature of said one of said exhaust gas purifying catalyst and exhaust gas exiting that catalyst is raised to said preset value, and, responsive to said temperature being equal to or higher than said preset value, for generating a second signal to make the air/fuel ratio equal or approximate to the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio and for stopping the supply of air to said combustion catalyst; and means for opening or closing said fuel injection valve and said air amount adjusting valve disposed in said air intake system and for turning on or off said air supplying means in response to said first and second signals.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 283 words

An apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine having a fuel injection valve and an air amount adjusting valve disposed in an intake air system of the engine to control the supply of an air-fuel mixture to the engine, a combustion catalyst for oxidizing CO and HC and an exhaust gas purifying catalyst for simultaneously purifying CO, HC and NOx disposed at front and rear stages, respectively, of an exhaust system and air supplying means disposed upstream of said combustion catalyst, comprising: detecting means for detecting whether the temperature of said three-way catalyst is at a preset value representing the activation temperature thereof by detecting the temperature of one of said three-way catalyst and exhaust gas exiting said three-way catalyst; means, responsive to the temperature of one of said three-way catalyst and exhaust gas exiting that three-way catalyst being lower than a preset value, for generating a first signal which maintains the air-fuel mixture supplied to said engine richer than the mixture determined by the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio and for supplying air to said combustion catalyst until the temperature of said one of said exhaust gas purifying catalyst and exhaust gas exiting that catalyst is raised to said preset value, and, responsive to said temperature being equal to or higher than said preset value, for generating a second signal to make the air/fuel ratio equal or approximate to the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio and for stopping the supply of air to said combustion catalyst; and means for opening or closing said fuel injection valve and said air amount adjusting valve disposed in said air intake system and for turning on or off said air supplying means in response to said first and second signals.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 201 words

A method of controlling an internal combustion engine including a fuel injection valve and an air amount adjusting valve which are disposed in an air intake system of the engine to control the supply of an air-fuel mixture to the engine and an exhaust system having a combustion catalyst for oxidizing CO and HC which is disposed in an upstream portion of the exhaust system and a three-way catalyst for simultaneously purifying CO, HC and NOx which is provided in a downstream portion of the exhaust system of the engine, comprising the steps of: detecting when the temperature of said three-way catalyst is lower than a preset value representing the activation temperature thereof; controlling the fuel injection valve and the air amount adjusting valve in said air intake system to maintain the air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine richer than the mixture determined by the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio until said temperature is raised to said preset value; and controlling the fuel injection valve and the air amount adjusting valve in said intake system to make the air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine equal or approximate to the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio, when said temperature is equal to or above said preset value.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 201 words

A method of controlling an internal combustion engine including a fuel injection valve and an air amount adjusting valve which are disposed in an air intake system of the engine to control the supply of an air-fuel mixture to the engine and an exhaust system having a combustion catalyst for oxidizing CO and HC which is disposed in an upstream portion of the exhaust system and a three-way catalyst for simultaneously purifying CO, HC and NOx which is provided in a downstream portion of the exhaust system of the engine, comprising the steps of: detecting when the temperature of said three-way catalyst is lower than a preset value representing the activation temperature thereof; controlling the fuel injection valve and the air amount adjusting valve in said air intake system to maintain the air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine richer than the mixture determined by the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio until said temperature is raised to said preset value; and controlling the fuel injection valve and the air amount adjusting valve in said intake system to make the air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine equal or approximate to the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio, when said temperature is equal to or above said preset value.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 212 words

A system for purifying an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine having a fuel injection valve and an air amount adjusting valve in an air intake system of the engine to control the supply of an air-fuel mixture to the engine and a combustion catalyst for oxidizing CO and HC provided as a preliminary catalyst and a three-way catalyst for simultaneously purifying CO, HC and NOx in a downstream portion in an exhaust system of the engine, comprising: detecting means for detecting whether the temperature of said three-way catalyst is at a preset value representing the activation temperature thereof by detecting the temperature of one of said three-way catalyst and exhaust gas exiting said three-way catalyst; control means for actuating said fuel injection valve and said air amount adjusting valve to maintain the air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine richer than the mixture determined by the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio for a period of time from when the engine is started until the temperature of said three-way catalyst is elevated to a temperature at which the three-way catalyst exhibits activation and to set the air/fuel ratio equal or approximate to the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio when the temperature of said three-way catalyst is at the temperature at which the three-way catalyst exhibits activation.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 212 words

A system for purifying an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine having a fuel injection valve and an air amount adjusting valve in an air intake system of the engine to control the supply of an air-fuel mixture to the engine and a combustion catalyst for oxidizing CO and HC provided as a preliminary catalyst and a three-way catalyst for simultaneously purifying CO, HC and NOx in a downstream portion in an exhaust system of the engine, comprising: detecting means for detecting whether the temperature of said three-way catalyst is at a preset value representing the activation temperature thereof by detecting the temperature of one of said three-way catalyst and exhaust gas exiting said three-way catalyst; control means for actuating said fuel injection valve and said air amount adjusting valve to maintain the air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine richer than the mixture determined by the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio for a period of time from when the engine is started until the temperature of said three-way catalyst is elevated to a temperature at which the three-way catalyst exhibits activation and to set the air/fuel ratio equal or approximate to the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio when the temperature of said three-way catalyst is at the temperature at which the three-way catalyst exhibits activation.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 49 words

A system for purifying an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine as defined in claim 11 and further including a bypass passage for bypassing a portion of an exhaust gas passage leading from the engine to said three-way catalyst, said bypass passage having said preliminary catalyst disposed therein.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 101 words

A system for purifying an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine as defined in claim 12 and further including means for switching said exhaust gas passage so that exhaust gas is caused to flow to said three-way catalyst through said preliminary catalyst in said bypass passage while the air-fuel mixture which is richer than the mixture determined by the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio is supplied to said engine, and so that the exhaust gas is caused to flow directly to said three-way catalyst without passing through said bypass passage when supply of the richer air-fuel mixture to the engine is stopped.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 40 words

A system for purifying an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine as defined in claim 11 in which means for supplying an oxidizing agent to the exhaust gas is provided upstream of said preliminary catalyst in said exhaust system.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 219 words

An automobile having a three-way catalyst for simultaneously purifying CO, HC and NOx in an exhaust gas passage from an internal combustion engine having a fuel injection valve and an air amount adjusting valve in an air intake passage thereof, comprising: detecting means for detecting whether the temperature of said three-way catalyst is at a preset value representing the activation temperature thereof by detecting the temperature of one of said three-way catalyst and exhaust gas exiting said three-way catalyst; means for supplying to said engine an air-fuel mixture which is richer than the mixture determined by the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio for a period of time from when said engine is started until said three-way catalyst is heated to the temperature at which the catalyst exhibits activation by controlling at least one of said fuel injection valve and said air amount adjusting valve; a combustion preliminary catalyst disposed in said exhaust gas passage upstream of said exhaust gas purifying catalyst for contact-combusting the exhaust gas emitted from said engine which is supplied with the richer air-fuel mixture; and means, responsive to the temperature of said three-way catalyst being equal or higher than said preset value, for controlling the fuel injection valve and the air amount adjusting valve to make the air/fuel ratio equal or approximate to the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 219 words

An automobile having a three-way catalyst for simultaneously purifying CO, HC and NOx in an exhaust gas passage from an internal combustion engine having a fuel injection valve and an air amount adjusting valve in an air intake passage thereof, comprising: detecting means for detecting whether the temperature of said three-way catalyst is at a preset value representing the activation temperature thereof by detecting the temperature of one of said three-way catalyst and exhaust gas exiting said three-way catalyst; means for supplying to said engine an air-fuel mixture which is richer than the mixture determined by the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio for a period of time from when said engine is started until said three-way catalyst is heated to the temperature at which the catalyst exhibits activation by controlling at least one of said fuel injection valve and said air amount adjusting valve; a combustion preliminary catalyst disposed in said exhaust gas passage upstream of said exhaust gas purifying catalyst for contact-combusting the exhaust gas emitted from said engine which is supplied with the richer air-fuel mixture; and means, responsive to the temperature of said three-way catalyst being equal or higher than said preset value, for controlling the fuel injection valve and the air amount adjusting valve to make the air/fuel ratio equal or approximate to the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 30 words

An automobile having a three-way catalyst in an exhaust gas passage from an internal combustion engine as defined in claim 15 and further including means for heating said preliminary catalyst.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 39 words

An automobile having a three-way catalyst in an exhaust gas passage from an internal combustion engine as defined in claim 15 and further including dehumidifying means in said exhaust gas passage leading from said engine to said preliminary catalyst.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 77 words

An automobile having a three-way catalyst in an exhaust gas passage from an internal combustion engine as defined in claim 15 and further including dehumidifying means at a post stage of said preliminary catalyst in said bypass passage for dehumidifying the exhaust gas when the temperature of said preliminary catalyst is equal to or lower than the dew point of the exhaust gas, so that dehumidified exhaust gas is introduced to said exhaust gas purifying main catalyst.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-11-26	2000-05-27	2000-11-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-11-26	2004-05-27	2004-11-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-11-26	2008-05-27	2008-11-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for controlling internal combustion engine

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