US6679052B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Emission control apparatus
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
•
Filing: 2002-07-24
•
Granted: 2004-01-20
•
Expires: 2022-07-24
Abstract
Abstract An emission control unit includes a trunk passage, a loop passage connected to the trunk passage, and a path change portion that is provided in a connecting portion between the trunk passage and the loop passage and that includes a switching valve for changing the path of exhaust gas. The loop passage is provided with a first emission control portion for purifying NOx and carbon-containing particles present in exhaust gas. A second emission control portion for purifying NOx present in exhaust gas is provided in a downstream-side partial trunk passage. The emission control unit is equipped with a reducer injection nozzle for injecting into a first partial loop passage a reducing agent for recovering the emission control functions of the two emission control portions.
Inventors
- 👤 Koichiro Nakatani
- 👤 Shinya Hirota
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:07
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N3/00; F01N3/02; F01N3/021; F01N3/023; F01N3/0233; F01N13/00; F01N13/009; F01N13/0097; F01N13/02; F01N3/025; F01N3/0253; F01N3/033; F01N3/035; F01N3/08; F01N3/0807; F01N3/0821; F01N3/0828; F01N3/0842; F01N3/10; F01N3/18; F01N3/20; F01N3/2093; F01N2610/00; F01N2610/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
328 words
An emission control apparatus that is applied to an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber, and that controls emissions discharged from the combustion chamber, the emission control apparatus comprising: an exhaust passage that conveys an emissions discharged from the combustion chamber, and that includes a trunk passage, and a loop passage having a first partial loop passage and a second partial loop passage that branch from the trunk passage; a path change portion that is provided in a connecting portion between the trunk passage and the loop passage, and that includes a switching valve that is set in a first state where emissions in the loop passage flows through the first partial loop passage and the second partial loop passage in that order, and is set in a second state where emissions in the loop passage flows through the second partial loop passage and the first partial loop passage in that order; a first emission control portion that is provided in the loop passage, and that has a filter that occludes and purifies at least a particulate substance present in the emissions, one side face of the filter communicating with the first partial loop passage, and another side face of the filter communicating with the second partial loop passage; a second emission control portion that is provided in the trunk passage downstream of the path change portion, and that purifies at least a specific gaseous substance present in the emissions; a recovery agent injection portion that injects a recovery agent which recover an emission control function of the first emission control portion and an emission control function of the second emission control portion, into at least one of the first partial loop passage and the second partial loop passage; and a control portion that recovers the emission control functions of the emission control portions by adjusting at least one of a switching operation of the switching valve and an injecting operation of the recovery agent injection portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
328 words
An emission control apparatus that is applied to an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber, and that controls emissions discharged from the combustion chamber, the emission control apparatus comprising: an exhaust passage that conveys an emissions discharged from the combustion chamber, and that includes a trunk passage, and a loop passage having a first partial loop passage and a second partial loop passage that branch from the trunk passage; a path change portion that is provided in a connecting portion between the trunk passage and the loop passage, and that includes a switching valve that is set in a first state where emissions in the loop passage flows through the first partial loop passage and the second partial loop passage in that order, and is set in a second state where emissions in the loop passage flows through the second partial loop passage and the first partial loop passage in that order; a first emission control portion that is provided in the loop passage, and that has a filter that occludes and purifies at least a particulate substance present in the emissions, one side face of the filter communicating with the first partial loop passage, and another side face of the filter communicating with the second partial loop passage; a second emission control portion that is provided in the trunk passage downstream of the path change portion, and that purifies at least a specific gaseous substance present in the emissions; a recovery agent injection portion that injects a recovery agent which recover an emission control function of the first emission control portion and an emission control function of the second emission control portion, into at least one of the first partial loop passage and the second partial loop passage; and a control portion that recovers the emission control functions of the emission control portions by adjusting at least one of a switching operation of the switching valve and an injecting operation of the recovery agent injection portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control portion changes a standby time that elapses from a switching valve switching start time point to a recovery agent injection start time point in accordance with a switching direction of the switching valve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
102 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the standby time in a case where the switching valve switches from the first state to the second state is set as a time that elapses until a time portion of a reversal of a flowing direction of the emissions, and wherein the standby time in a case where the switching valve switches from the second state to the first state is set as a time that elapses until a time point that coincides with or follows a time point immediately prior to a reversal of the flowing direction of the emissions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the control portion changes the standby time in accordance with an amount of emissions that flows in the emission control portion prior to the switching of the switching valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
100 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the standby time in the case where the switching valve switches from the first state to the second state is set longer with increases in the amount of emissions that flows in the emission control portion prior to the switching of the switching valve, and wherein the standby time in the case where the switching valve switches from the second state to the first state is set shorter with increases in the amount of emissions that flows in the emission control portion prior to the switching of the switching valve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the control portion changes the standby time in accordance with an operation condition of the internal combustion engine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the control portion changes the standby time in accordance with an amount of air taken into the combustion chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the control portion changes the standby time in accordance with an amount of air taken into the combustion chamber, and a temperature of the emissions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control portion causes the recovery agent to be injected when an amount of emissions flowing in the emission control portion becomes substantially equal to a predetermined amount during the switching of the switching valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a first pressure measurement portion that measures a first pressure in the first partial loop passage and a second pressure measurement portion that measures a second pressure in the second partial loop passage, wherein the control portion causes the recovery agent to be injected when a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure becomes equal to a predetermined target value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the predetermined target value is changed in accordance with a switching direction of the switching valve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a pressure measurement portion that measures a pressure in the trunk passage upstream of the path change portion, wherein the control portion causes the recovery agent to be injected when the pressure becomes equal to a predetermined target value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the control portion determines the predetermined target value in accordance with an operation condition of the internal combustion engine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the control portion determines the predetermined target value in accordance with the pressure prior to the switching of the switching valve, and an amount of air taken into the combustion chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the control portion determines the predetermined target value in accordance with the pressure prior to the switching of the switching valve, and a temperature of the emissions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the control portion determines the predetermined target value in accordance with the pressure prior to the switching of the switching valve, an amount of air taken into the combustion chamber, and a temperature of the emissions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the control portion stops switching of the switching valve during switching when the control portion causes the recovery agent to be injected.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control portion stops switching of the switching valve during switching and causes the recovery agent to be injected, at least in a case where the switching valve is switched from the first state to the second state.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the control portion stops switching of the switching valve when an amount of flow of emissions flowing in the emission control portion becomes substantially equal to a predetermined amount at an intermediate point in the switching of the switching valve.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
72 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 19 , further comprising a first pressure measurement portion that measures a first pressure in the first partial loop passage and a second pressure measurement portion that measures a second pressure in the second partial loop passage, wherein the control portion stops switching of the switching valve when a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure becomes equal to a predetermined target value.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
57 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein the control portion stops switching of the switching valve at the intermediate point in the switching of the switching valve regardless of a switching direction of the switching valve, and wherein the predetermined target value is changed in accordance with the switching direction of the switching valve.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 19 , further comprising a pressure measurement portion that measures a pressure in the trunk passage upstream of the path change portion, wherein the control portion stops switching of the switching valve when the pressure becomes equal to a predetermined target value.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
63 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control portion changes a switching operation of the switching valve in accordance with a switching direction of the switching valve, and causes the recovery agent to be injected at the elapse of a predetermined time following a switching valve switching start time point, regardless of the switching direction of the switching valve.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the control portion changes a switching speed of the switching valve in accordance with the switching direction of the switching valve.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
53 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein the switching speed of the switching valve is set lower in a case where the switching valve switches from the first state to the second state than in a case where the switching valve switches from the second state to the first state.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
49 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the control portion stops switching of the switching valve at an intermediate point in the switching of the switching valve, in at least the case where the switching valve is switched from the first state to the second state.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
53 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the stop period of the switching valve is set longer in the case where the switching valve switches from the first state to the second state than in the case where the switching valve switches from the second state to the first state.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
76 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein if the switching valve is in the first state prior to the switching of the switching valve, the control portion causes the recovery agent to be injected at an intermediate point in the switching of the switching valve from the first state to the second state, and then returns the switching valve to the first state instead of shifting the switching valve to the second state.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control portion adjusts at least one of a recovery agent injection period and a recovery agent injection pressure of the recovery agent injection portion.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 29 , wherein the control portion changes at least one of the recovery agent injection period and the recovery agent injection pressure in accordance with a switching direction of the switching valve.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
93 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein the control portion causes the recovery agent to be injected at the elapse of a predetermined time following a switching valve switching start time point, regardless of a switching direction of the switching valve, and wherein the control portion sets the injection period shorter and sets the injection pressure higher in a case where the switching valve switches from the first state to the second state than in a case where the switching valve switches from the second state to the first state.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
40 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 29 , wherein the control portion changes a recovery agent injection condition so that an air-fuel ratio of emissions flowing in the emission control portion becomes less than equal to a predetermined value.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 32 , wherein the control portion determines a recovery agent injection condition in accordance with the engine operation condition.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
64 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 32 , further comprises an air-fuel ratio measurement portion that measures the air-fuel ratio of emissions in the trunk passage upstream of the path change portion, wherein the control portion determines a recovery agent injection condition in accordance with the use of the amount of intake air taken into the combustion chambers, and air-fuel ratio of emissions.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
66 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 32 , further comprising an air-fuel ratio measurement portion that measures the air-fuel ratio of emissions in the trunk passage upstream of the path change portion, wherein the control portion determines a recovery agent injection condition in accordance with the air-fuel ratio of emissions, and information acquired from a flow of emissions that flows in the emission control portion.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control portion changes a switching period of the switching valve in accordance with a load of the internal combustion engine.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
66 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 36 wherein the control portion changes the switching period by changing a switching speed of the switching valve, and wherein a first switching speed corresponding to a first load of the internal combustion engine is set lower than a second switching speed corresponding to a second load of the internal combustion engine that is greater than the first load.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
84 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 36 wherein the control portion temporarily stops switching of the switching valve in the switching of the switching valve, and changes the switching period of the switching valve by changing a stop period of the valve, and wherein a first switching period corresponding to a first load of the internal combustion engine is set longer than a second switching period corresponding to a second load of the internal combustion engine that is greater than the first load.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the recovery agent injection portion supplies the recovery agent solely into the first partial loop passage.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
82 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 39 , wherein the control portion recovers at least the emission control function of the first emission control portion by controlling the recovery agent injection portion so as to supply the recovery agent into the first partial loop passage when the control portion controls the path change portion to set the switching valve so that there exists emissions that flows through the first partial loop passage and the second partial loop passage in that order.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
80 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 40 , wherein the control portion recovers the emission control function of the second emission control portion by controlling the recovery agent injection portion so as to supply the recovery agent into the first partial loop passage when the control portion controls the path change portion to set the switching valve so that there exists emissions that flows through the second partial loop passage and the first partial loop passage in that order.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
85 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 41 , wherein the control portion sets different amounts of supply of the recovery agent for a case where the switching valve is set so that there exists emissions that flows through the first partial loop passage and the second partial loop passage in that order, and for a case where the switching valve is set so that there exists emissions that flows through the second partial loop passage and the first partial loop passage in that order.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
42 words
The emission control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first emission control portion purifies a nitrogen oxide and the particulate substance present in the emissions, and wherein the second emission control portion purifies a nitrogen oxide present in the emissions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2946651A
Cited
US3796546A
Cited
US4485622A
Cited
US4462379A
Cited
US4515758A
Cited
JPH07106290B2
Cited
US4916897A
Cited
US5162287A
Cited
US5738832A
Cited
JPH07189656A
Cited
US5884474A
Cited
US5768888A
Cited
US6314722B1
Cited
US6546721B2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-01-19 | 2007-07-21 | 2008-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-01-19 | 2011-07-21 | 2012-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-01-19 | 2015-07-21 | 2016-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |