Emission control device

• US 20050193721A1
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Surnilla, Gopichandra, Smith, Stephen B., Goralski, Christian T. Jr., O'Neill, James P., Zawacki, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,159,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/285
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/009 having two or more separate purifying devices arranged in series
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/011 having two or more purifying devices arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/107 More than one exhaust manifold or exhaust collector
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2330/02 Metallic plates or honeycombs, e.g. superposed or rolled-up corrugated or otherwise deformed sheet metal
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2330/06 Ceramic, e.g. monoliths
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/02 Cutting-out cutting-out engines in multiple engine arrangements F02D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/003 Adding fuel vapours, e.g. drawn from engine fuel reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0275 the exhaust gas treating apparatus being a NOx trap or adsorbent
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3029 further comprising a homogeneous charge spark-ignited mode

Abstract

Various systems and methods are disclosed for carrying out combustion in a fuel-cut operation in some or all of the engine cylinders of a vehicle. Further, various subsystems are considered, such as fuel vapor purging, air-fuel ratio control, engine torque control, catalyst design, and exhaust system design.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an engine having a bank of cylinders; and

an emission control device in an upstream position coupled to at least a first and second cylinder on said bank, said emission control device having a first path for treating exhaust from said first cylinder, and a second path for treating exhaust from said second cylinder, said first and second paths being separated at least through a portion along a path of flow of said emission control device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said engine is V-type engine.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said engine further has a variable valve actuator coupled to said bank of cylinders.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a fuel vapor purge control valve coupled to one of said first and second cylinders, but not the other of said first and second cylinders.

5. A system comprising:

an engine having a first and second bank of cylinders, said first bank having a first and second group of cylinders, said second bank having a third and fourth group of cylinders;

a first emission control device coupled to said first and second group for treating gasses from said first and second group separately;

a second emission control device coupled to said third and fourth group for treating gasses from said third and fourth group separately; and

a controller for operating said first and third group about stoichiometry and said second and fourth group to pump air without injected fuel.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said controller further operates said first, second, third, and fourth cylinders to combust injected fuel.

7. The system of claim 5 further comprising a first variable valve actuator coupled to said first bank and a second variable valve actuator coupled to said second bank.

8. The system of claim 5 further comprising a fuel vapor purge control valve coupled to said first and third group.

9. The system of claim 5 further comprising an exhaust gas oxygen sensor coupled upstream of said first emission control device and to said first cylinder group.

10. An emission control device for treating exhaust gasses of a vehicle'"'"'s internal combustion engine, comprising:

a substrate material having a washcoat thereon including at least one precious metal;

a first passageway coupled to one end of said substrate to pass a first gas stream to a first side of the device; and

a second passageway coupled to said one end of said substrate to pass a second gas stream to a second side the device, said first and second passageways preventing mixing of said first and second gas stream before contacting said substrate.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said substrate comprises metal.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein said substrate comprises a ceramic.

13. The device of claim 10 wherein said precious metal comprises platinum.

14. The device of claim 10 wherein washcoat comprises-rhodium.

15. The device of claim 10 wherein said first and second passageways are formed with a plate, with said plate positioned with a face of said plate substantially perpendicular to a direction of flow through said substrate.

16. The device of claim 10 further comprising at least one boss upstream of said substrate, said boss adapted to be connected to an exhaust gas oxygen sensor.

17. The device of claim 10 further comprising at least one boss downstream of said substrate, said boss adapted to be connected to an exhaust gas oxygen sensor.

18. A method for treating exhaust gasses produced by an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, the gasses treated at least by an emission control device, the method comprising:

passing a first exhaust gas stream to a first portion of the device;

passing a second exhaust gas stream to a second portion of the device, said first and second exhaust gas stream prevented from mixing before being at least partially treated by said device; and

passing a mixture of said first and second streams exiting said device to a downstream emission control device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein both said first and second stream pass through said device in the same direction.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said first and second exhaust gas stream are prevented from mixing in said device.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein said first stream is generated from cylinders of an engine pumping air without fuel injection.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said second stream is generated from cylinders of said engine combusting air and fuel.