US Patent No: 5,956,941

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Method and system for estimating a midbed temperature of a catalytic converter

Stats

ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)
 

Importance

Loading Importance Indicators... loading....

Abstract

A method and system for estimating the midbed temperature of a catalytic converter in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. A rate of change in the speed of the engine is sensed and an estimated number of misfires occurring in the engine over a predetermined number of cylinder filling events is determined based on the sensed rate of change in engine speed. An instantaneous temperature of exhaust gas at the exhaust flange is determined based on the estimated rate of misfires. An instantaneous temperature at the midbed point of the catalytic converter is then determined based on the instantaneous temperature of exhaust gas at the exhaust flange. The instantaneous temperature at the midbed point is compared to a predetermined temperature threshold and the estimate rate of misfires is compared to a predetermined misfire rate threshold. A malfunction signal is then generated if both the instantaneous temperature at the midbed point exceeds the predetermined temperature threshold and the estimated rate of misfires exceeds the predetermined misfire rate threshold. A method for monitoring catalyst degradation is also disclosed.

Loading the Abstract Image... loading....

First Claim

Related Publications

Loading Related Publications... loading....

Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.DEARBORN, MI3271

International Classification(s)

  • [Classification Symbol]
  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Baskins, Robert Sarow Chelsea, MI 23 43
Cullen, Michael John Northville, MI 103 1126
Davey, Christopher K Novi, MI 8 228
Nader, David R Farmington Hills, MI 3 52
Zaghati, Ziad Dearborn Heights, MI 2 24

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (3)
5,303,168 Engine operation to estimate and control exhaust catalytic converter temperature 55 1991
5,414,994 Method and apparatus to limit a midbed temperature of a catalytic converter 123 1994
5,722,236 Adaptive exhaust temperature estimation and control 99 1996
 
HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA (2)
5,509,268 Combustion state-determining system and combustion state control system for internal combustion engines 6 1994
5,513,520 Combustion state-determining system for internal combustion engines 2 1994
 
FLUIDYNE ENGINEERING CORPORATION (1)
4,433,631 Method and apparatus for producing a useful stream of hot gas from a fluidized bed combustor while controlling the bed's temperature 3 1981
 
NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD. (1)
5,729,971 Engine catalyst temperature estimating device and catalyst diagnostic device 35 1996
 
UNISIA JECS CORPORATION (1)
5,606,855 Apparatus and method for estimating the temperature of an automotive catalytic converter 36 1995

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC (7)
6,691,507 Closed-loop temperature control for an emission control device 11 2000
6,993,899 System and method for controlling catalyst storage capacity 2 2001
6,601,382 Method and apparatus for determining a temperature of an emission catalyst 3 2001
6,739,123 Temperature management of catalyst system for a variable displacement engine 18 2002
6,681,563 Exhaust gas oxygen sensor temperature control for a variable displacement engine 4 2002
7,143,574 System and method for determining set point location for oxidant-based engine air/fuel control strategy 1 2004
6,938,410 Temperature management of catalyst system for a variable displacement engine 2 2004
 
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (3)
6,415,601 Temperature management of catalyst system for a variable displacement engine 60 2000
6,389,806 Variable displacement engine control for fast catalyst light-off 72 2000
6,381,953 Exhaust gas oxygen sensor temperature control for a variable displacement engine 7 2000
 
CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH (2)
6,314,723 Method of checking the functional capability of a catalytic converter 8 2000
7,831,376 Method and device for operating an internal combustion engine 0 2006
 
MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO K.K. (A.K.A. MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION) (2)
6,729,301 Ignition timing control system for internal combustion engine 20 2003
6,957,527 Device and method for estimating catalytic temperature 5 2004
 
CHRYSLER GROUP LLC (1)
6,295,806 Catalyst temperature model 5 2000
 
DENSO CORPORATION (1)
7,316,157 Device and method for estimating temperature of exhaust pipe of internal combustion engine 3 2006
 
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC (1)
7,051,517 Apparatus and method for electronic throttle control power management enhancements 2 2003
 
NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD. (1)
6,494,037 Engine exhaust purification device 4 2001
 
PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SA (1)
7,299,689 Process and device for determining the internal temperature of a catalytic converter of a vehicle equipped with a heat engine 2 2004
 
RENAULT S.A.S. (1)
7,673,503 Method for estimating an engine exhaust temperature and method for diagnosing a cylinder pressure sensor using an exhaust temperature estimate 1 2006