US6155042A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Exhaust gas recirculation line for an automobile engine
Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur SA
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Filing: 1998-10-30
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Granted: 2000-12-05
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Expires: 2018-10-30
Abstract
Abstract An exhaust recirculation of gases in internal combustion engines, notably for automobiles, which has a catalytic converter, recycling apparatus for recycling the exhaust gases and heat recovers apparatus for recovering heat from the exhaust gases. A single heat exchanger is arranged for cooling the recycled exhaust gases and recovering the heat energy from the exhaust gases for heating the passenger compartment of the vehicle and for protecting the catalytic converter from excessively high exhaust temperatures. Valves for diverting exhaust gases, a back-pressure valve and an EGR valve are controlled for this purpose by control electronics. The invention is particularly applicable to direct-injection petrol or diesel engines or to lean-mixture petrol engines.
Inventors
- 👤 Denis Perset
- 👤 Thomas Bauerlein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:48
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N5/00; F01N5/02; F01N3/00; F01N3/02; F01N3/04; F01N3/043; F01N3/08; F01N3/10; F01N3/18; F01N3/20; F01N3/2006; F01N3/2046; F02; F02M; F02M26/00; F02M26/13; F02M26/22; F02M26/23; F02M26/28; F01N2240/00; F01N2240/02; F01N2410/00; F02M26/14; F02M26/15; F02M26/42; F02M26/44; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A50/00; Y02A50/20; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
An exhaust gas recirculation line for automobile internal combustion engines, comprising a catalytic converter, recycling means for recycling the exhaust gases and heat recovery means for recovering heat from the exhaust gases, said recirculation line further comprising: a heat exchanger between the exhaust gases and a cooling fluid, disposed between the engine and the catalytic converter, in series with restriction means, the restriction means being downstream of the heat exchanger and arranged to create a back pressure; a diversion for the heat exchanger and the restriction means and selection means for selectively directing the exhaust gases into the diversion or into the heat exchanger; a recycling pipe to recycle the exhaust gases, connected at a first end between the heat exchanger and the restriction means and at a second end to an air intake pipe admitting air into the engine; and regulating means for regulating the proportion of recycled exhaust gases in the recycling pipe.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
An exhaust gas recirculation line for automobile internal combustion engines, comprising a catalytic converter, recycling means for recycling the exhaust gases and heat recovery means for recovering heat from the exhaust gases, said recirculation line further comprising: a heat exchanger between the exhaust gases and a cooling fluid, disposed between the engine and the catalytic converter, in series with restriction means, the restriction means being downstream of the heat exchanger and arranged to create a back pressure; a diversion for the heat exchanger and the restriction means and selection means for selectively directing the exhaust gases into the diversion or into the heat exchanger; a recycling pipe to recycle the exhaust gases, connected at a first end between the heat exchanger and the restriction means and at a second end to an air intake pipe admitting air into the engine; and regulating means for regulating the proportion of recycled exhaust gases in the recycling pipe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An exhaust gas recirculation line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the restriction means are fixed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
80 words
An exhaust gas recirculation line as claimed in claim 1, further comprising control means arranged to instruct the regulating means to close the recycling pipe and the selection means to direct the exhaust gases through the heat exchanger and the restriction means in a cold-start mode and to instruct the regulating means to allow a given proportion of exhaust gases to recycle and the selection means to direct the remainder of the exhaust gases through diversion in normal operating mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An exhaust gas recirculation line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the restriction means comprise an adjustable-opening valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
An exhaust gas recirculation line as claimed in claim 4, further comprising control means arranged to control the restriction means to be in the closed position in a normal operating mode and to be in an open position in a full-load mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
An exhaust gas recirculation line as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control means are arranged to instruct the regulating means to close the recycling pipe and the selection means to direct the exhaust gases through the heat exchanger in full-load mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
An exhaust gas recirculation line as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control means are arranged to instruct the regulating means to close the recycling pipe and the selection means to direct the exhaust gases through the heat exchanger in full-load mode.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of circulating exhaust gases according to an automobile internal combustion engine's mode of operation, comprising the steps of: positioning selection means, having an open and a closed positions, to the closed position to divert the exhaust gases into a diversion and a catalytic converter; positioning restriction means to obtain desired back-pressure; and positioning a separate regulating means, having an open and a closed positions, to the open position to divert exhaust gases into a recycling pipe.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of circulating exhaust gases according to an automobile internal combustion engine's mode of operation, comprising the steps of: positioning selection means, having an open and a closed positions, to the closed position to divert the exhaust gases into a diversion and a catalytic converter; positioning restriction means to obtain desired back-pressure; and positioning a separate regulating means, having an open and a closed positions, to the open position to divert exhaust gases into a recycling pipe.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
140 words
An exhaust gas recirculation line for automobile internal combustion engines, comprising: a catalytic converter; a heat exchanger; a back pressure valve, having an open and a closed positions, the valve disposed between the heat exchanger and the catalytic converter, the back pressure valve being downstream of the heat exchanger and arranged to create a back pressure; a diversion for the heat exchanger and the back pressure valve; a separate diversion valve having an open and a closed positions, the diversion valve disposed between the engine and the catalytic converter, the diversion valve being arranged to selectively divert exhaust gases into the diversion; and a recycling circuit disposed adjacent to the heat exchanger such that when the back pressure valve is in the closed position and the diversion valve is the open position, exhaust gases are recycled back to the engine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
140 words
An exhaust gas recirculation line for automobile internal combustion engines, comprising: a catalytic converter; a heat exchanger; a back pressure valve, having an open and a closed positions, the valve disposed between the heat exchanger and the catalytic converter, the back pressure valve being downstream of the heat exchanger and arranged to create a back pressure; a diversion for the heat exchanger and the back pressure valve; a separate diversion valve having an open and a closed positions, the diversion valve disposed between the engine and the catalytic converter, the diversion valve being arranged to selectively divert exhaust gases into the diversion; and a recycling circuit disposed adjacent to the heat exchanger such that when the back pressure valve is in the closed position and the diversion valve is the open position, exhaust gases are recycled back to the engine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
82 words
An exhaust gas recirculation line according to claim 9, wherein the recycling circuit further comprises: a regulating valve to regulate a proportion of recycled exhaust gases in the recycling circuit; an air intake pipe arranged to admit air into the engine; and a recycling pipe arranged to recycle the exhaust gases, the recycling pipe having two ends, a first end being connected between the heat exchanger and the back pressure valve and a second end being connected to the air intake pipe.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
An exhaust gas recirculation line according to claim 10, further comprising a controller arranged to instruct the back pressure valve to be in the closed position in a normal operating mode and to be in an open position in a full-load mode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
An exhaust gas recirculation line according to claim 11, wherein the controller is arranged to instruct the regulating valve to close the recycling pipe and the diverter valve to direct the exhaust gases through the heat exchanger in full-load mode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
81 words
An exhaust gas recirculation line according to claim 10, further comprising a controller arranged to instruct the regulating valve to close the recycling pipe and the diverter valve to direct the exhaust gases through the heat exchanger and the back pressure valve in a cold-start mode and to instruct the regulating valve to allow a given proportion of exhaust gases to recycle and the diverter valve to direct the remainder of the exhaust gases through the diversion in normal operating mode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
An exhaust gas recirculation line according to claim 13, wherein the controller is arranged to instruct the regulating valve to close the recycling pipe and the diverter valve to direct the exhaust gases through the heat exchanger in full-load mode.
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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) | 2003-12-05 | 2004-06-05 | 2004-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-05 | 2008-06-05 | 2008-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-05 | 2012-06-05 | 2012-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |