US6981370B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for PM filter regeneration
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 2002-12-03
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Granted: 2006-01-03
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Expires: 2022-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for initiating regeneration of a particulate matter (PM) filter in an exhaust system in an internal combustion engine. The method and apparatus includes determining a change in pressure of exhaust gases passing through the PM filter, and responsively varying an opening of an intake valve in fluid communication with a combustion chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Cornelius N. Opris
- 👤 Maarten Verkiel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:07
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D13/00; F02D13/02; F02D13/0269; F01; F01N; F01N3/00; F01N3/02; F01N3/021; F01N3/023; F01N3/0231; F01N3/033; F01N3/035; F01N9/00; F01N9/002; F02B; F02B37/00; F02B37/004; F02B37/013; F02D41/00; F02D41/0002; F02D41/02; F02D41/021; F02D41/0235; F02D41/027; F02D41/029; F02D2041/001; F02D2041/002; F02D41/0025; F02D41/0047; F02D41/0065; F02M; F02M26/00; F02M26/02; F02M26/08; F02M26/13; F02M26/22; F02M26/23; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for initiating regeneration of a particulate matter (PM) filter in an exhaust system in an internal combustion engine, including the steps of: determining a change in pressure of exhaust gases passing through the PM filter; and extending an open duration of an intake valve in fluid communication with a combustion chamber beyond a normal duratio in response to the change in pressure to increase a temperature of the exhaust gases passing through the PM filter.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for initiating regeneration of a particulate matter (PM) filter in an exhaust system in an internal combustion engine, including the steps of: determining a change in pressure of exhaust gases passing through the PM filter; and extending an open duration of an intake valve in fluid communication with a combustion chamber beyond a normal duratio in response to the change in pressure to increase a temperature of the exhaust gases passing through the PM filter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein extending an open duration of an intake valve includes the step of extending an open duration of the intake valve in response to the change in pressure being greater than a predetermined threshold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein extending the open duration beyond a normal duration includes the step of extending the open duration into a portion of a compression stroke of the internal combustion engine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1 , further including the step of returning the open duration of the intake valve to the normal duration in response to the change in pressure being less than the predetermined threshold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1 , further including the step of varying a throttle valve located in an intake passageway in cooperation with varying the opening of the intake valve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein determining a change in pressure includes the step of sensing a difference in pressure of the exhaust gases passing through the PM filter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein determining a change in pressure includes the step of estimating a change in pressure as a function of at least one parameter associated with the internal combustion engine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method, as set forth in claim 2 , further including the step of determining a flow of exhaust gases passing through the PM filter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method, as set forth in claim 8 , further including the step of varying the opening of the intake valve in response to at least one of the change in pressure and the change in flow of exhaust gases being greater than the predetermined threshold.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for initiating regeneration of a particulate matter (PM) filter in an EGR system in an internal combustion engine, including the steps of: determining a change in pressure of exhaust gases passing through the PM filter; and extending an open duration of an intake valve in fluid communication with a combustion chamber in response to the change in pressure being greater than a predetermined threshold to reduce an amount of air available for combustion.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for initiating regeneration of a particulate matter (PM) filter in an EGR system in an internal combustion engine, including the steps of: determining a change in pressure of exhaust gases passing through the PM filter; and extending an open duration of an intake valve in fluid communication with a combustion chamber in response to the change in pressure being greater than a predetermined threshold to reduce an amount of air available for combustion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method, as set forth in claim 10 , wherein extending the open duration includes the step of extending the open duration into a portion of a compression stroke of the internal combustion engine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method, as set forth in claim 10 , further including the step of returning the open duration of the intake valve to a normal open duration in response to the change in pressure being less than a second predetermined threshold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method, as set forth in claim 12 , further including the steps of: controlling a throttle valve to reduce a flow of air through an intake passageway in cooperation with the open duration of the intake valve being extended; and returning the throttle valve to a position to allow a normal flow of air through the intake passageway in cooperation with the open duration of the intake valve returning to the normal open duration.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
74 words
An apparatus for initiating regeneration of a particulate matter (PM) filter in an EGR system in an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber and an intake valve in fluid communication thereof, comprising: means for determining a change in pressure of exhaust gases passing through the PM filter; and a controller for extending an open duration of the intake valve in response to the change in pressure to increase a fuel to air ratio.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
74 words
An apparatus for initiating regeneration of a particulate matter (PM) filter in an EGR system in an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber and an intake valve in fluid communication thereof, comprising: means for determining a change in pressure of exhaust gases passing through the PM filter; and a controller for extending an open duration of the intake valve in response to the change in pressure to increase a fuel to air ratio.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 14 , further including: an intake passageway located in fluid communication with the intake valve; and a throttle valve located within the intake passageway.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the throttle valve is actuated by the controller in cooperation with the extended open duration of the intake valve.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the means for determining a change in pressure includes a pressure sensor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 14 , further including means for determining a flow of exhaust gases passing through the PM filter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 18 , wherein the means for determining a flow of exhaust gases includes a flow sensor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 18 , wherein the controller is adapted to extend the open duration of the intake valve beyond a normal open duration in response to determining at least one of the change in pressure of the exhaust gases and the change in flow of exhaust gases being greater than a predetermined threshold.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 20 , wherein the extended open duration is a portion of a compression stroke of the internal combustion engine.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for initiating regeneration of a particulate matter (PM) filter in an EGR system in an internal combustion engine, comprising: a combustion chamber located in the engine; an intake valve in fluid communication with the combustion chamber; a variable intake valve closing mechanism configured to keep the intake valve open by selective operation of the variable intake valve closing mechanism; means for determining a change in pressure of exhaust gases passing through the PM filter; and a controller for actuating the variable intake valve closing mechanism to extend the open duration of the intake valve in response to determining the change in pressure being greater than a predetermined threshold to increase a temperature of the gases passing through the PM filter.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for initiating regeneration of a particulate matter (PM) filter in an EGR system in an internal combustion engine, comprising: a combustion chamber located in the engine; an intake valve in fluid communication with the combustion chamber; a variable intake valve closing mechanism configured to keep the intake valve open by selective operation of the variable intake valve closing mechanism; means for determining a change in pressure of exhaust gases passing through the PM filter; and a controller for actuating the variable intake valve closing mechanism to extend the open duration of the intake valve in response to determining the change in pressure being greater than a predetermined threshold to increase a temperature of the gases passing through the PM filter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 22 , further including: an intake passageway located in fluid communication with the intake valve; and a throttle valve located within the intake passageway, wherein the throttle valve is actuated by the controller in cooperation with the extended open duration of the intake valve.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 22 , wherein the means for determining a change in pressure includes a pressure sensor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 22 , further including means for determining a flow of exhaust gases passing through the PM filter.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 25 , wherein the means for determining a flow of exhaust gases includes a flow sensor.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
66 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 22 , wherein the controller is adapted to extend the open duration of the intake valve beyond a normal open duration in response to determining at least one of the pressure of the exhaust gases in the PM filter increasing above a predetermined threshold and the flow of exhaust gases through the PM filter decreasing below another predetermined threshold.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 27 , wherein the extended open duration is a portion of a compression stroke of the internal combustion engine.
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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) | 2009-01-02 | 2009-07-04 | 2010-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-01-02 | 2013-07-04 | 2014-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-01-02 | 2017-07-04 | 2018-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |