USH1113H
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for supplying power to electrically heated catalyst converter
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1992-02-21
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Granted: 1992-12-01
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Expires: 2012-02-21
Abstract
Abstract A catalyst heating apparatus includes an electrically heated catalyst converter mounted in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, the catalyst converter having a catalyst and a heating element for electrically heating the catalyst so that catalytic conversion of exhaust gases from the engine is carried out, a capacitor that is charged with electric power, in advance, before an ignition switch is turned on for starting operation of the engine, and a controller for applying a terminal voltage of the capacitor to the heating element of the catalyst converter when the ignition switch is turned on, so that a temperature of the heating element is increased owing to electric energy supplied from the capacitor to the converter through the controller for accelerating the rate of the catalytic conversion of the exhaust gases.
Inventors
- 👤 Kouji Yoshizaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:38
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N9/00; F01N3/00; F01N3/08; F01N3/10; F01N3/18; F01N3/20; F01N3/2006; F01N3/2013; F01N2390/00; F01N2390/02; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A catalyst heating apparatus comprising: an electrically heated catalyst converter mounted in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, said catalyst converter having a catalyst and a heater for electrically heating said catalyst so that catalytic conversion of exhaust gases from said engine is carried out; a capacitor that is charged with electric power, in advance, before an ignition switch is turned on for starting operation of the engine; and control means for applying a terminal voltage of said capacitor to said heater of said catalyst converter when the ignition switch is turned ON, so that a temperature of said heater is increased owing to the electric energy applied by said control means to said heater for accelerating the rate of the catalytic conversion of the exhaust gases.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A catalyst heating apparatus comprising: an electrically heated catalyst converter mounted in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, said catalyst converter having a catalyst and a heater for electrically heating said catalyst so that catalytic conversion of exhaust gases from said engine is carried out; a capacitor that is charged with electric power, in advance, before an ignition switch is turned on for starting operation of the engine; and control means for applying a terminal voltage of said capacitor to said heater of said catalyst converter when the ignition switch is turned ON, so that a temperature of said heater is increased owing to the electric energy applied by said control means to said heater for accelerating the rate of the catalytic conversion of the exhaust gases.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A catalyst heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means stops applying a terminal voltage of said capacitor to said heater of said converter when it is detected that a temperature of said heater is higher than a predetermined level, said predetermined level corresponding to a temperature at which said catalyst reaches a catalytic activation condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
A catalyst heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising detection means for generating a signal indicative of a temperature of said heating element, said control means continuing to apply a terminal voltage of said capacitor to said converter when it is detected, in response to the signal generated by said detection means, that the temperature of said heating element is higher than a predetermined level corresponding to a temperature of at which said catalyst reaches a catalytic activation condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A catalyst heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an air injection pump that sends a secondary air into the exhaust passage of the engine upstream of said converter when the engine is in a given operating condition after the engine operation is started.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A catalyst heating apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said control means applies a terminal voltage of said capacitor to said converter after a secondary air is sent by said air injection pump into the exhaust passage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
108 words
A catalyst heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pair of switches, provided at both ends of said capacitor, an alternator and a charge controller controlling an output of electric power supplied from said alternator, said control means, before the ignition switch is turned on, permitting an electrical connection between said capacitor and said charge controller by connecting one of said switches to a connection point coupled to a terminal of said charge controller, and connecting the other switch to a connection point connected to a ground, said capacitor thus being charged, in advance, with electrical power supplied from said alternator through said charge controller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
A catalyst heating apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said control means, after the ignition switch is turned on, permits an electrical connection between said capacitor and said converter by connecting one of said switches to a connection point coupled to said converter, and connecting the other switch to a connection point coupled to said alternator, so that a temperature of said heating element is increased owing to electric power being supplied from said capacitor to said converter through said control means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
A catalyst heating apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said control means stops applying a terminal voltage of said capacitor to said converter when it is detected that a temperature of said heating element is higher than a predetermined level, said predetermined level corresponding to a temperature at which said catalyst reaches a catalytic activation condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A catalyst heating apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising an air injection pump which sends a secondary air into the exhaust passage of the engine upstream of said converter when the engine is in a given operating condition after the engine operation is started.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
A catalyst heating apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising detection means for generating a signal indicative of a temperature of said heating element, said control means continuing to apply a terminal voltage of said capacitor to said converter when it is detected, in response to the signal generated by said detection means, that the temperature of said heating element is not higher than a predetermined level corresponding to a temperature at which said catalyst reaches a catalyst activation condition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1308736A
Cited
US4102127A
Cited
US4274132A
Cited
US4928485A
Cited
US5050545A
Cited
US5105776A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-12-01 | 1996-06-01 | 1996-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-12-01 | 2000-06-01 | 2000-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-12-01 | 2004-06-01 | 2004-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |