Vehicle Reduced Emission Deployment

• US 20110056185A1
• Filed: 09/02/2010
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clean Emissions Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Clean Emissions Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Diehl, Joel Craig, Turnbow, Wayne, Bradley, Bill C., Nazzaro, Steward B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,631,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/274
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/00 Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust electric control F01N9/00; monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus F01N11/00 ; collecting or removing exhaust gases of vehicle engines in workshops B08B15/00, on highways E01C1/005
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 9/00 Electrical control of exhaust gas treating apparatus monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus F01N11/00; conjoint electrical control of two or more combustion engine functions F02D43/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A reduced emission apparatus is coupled to a vehicle such that the vehicle is enabled to operate in a reduced emission mode by use of the reduced emission apparatus. A data acquisition apparatus is mounted on the vehicle and configured to acquire data relating to operation of the vehicle. Security may be provided for the reduced emission apparatus and vehicle-mounted data acquisition apparatus. The credits from operating the reduced emission apparatus apply to resources for deploying the reduced emission apparatus.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a reduced emission apparatus connected to a vehicle and configured to operate the vehicle in a reduced emission mode;

a data acquisition apparatus connected to the vehicle and configured to acquire data pertaining to operation of the vehicle; and

a control logic apparatus connected to the vehicle and coupled to the reduced emission apparatus and the data acquisition apparatus, the control logic apparatus configured to encourage operation of the vehicle in the reduced emission mode by the reduced emission apparatus in response to an analysis of the data pertaining to the operation of the vehicle by the data acquisition apparatus.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a security device for the reduced emission apparatus and the data acquisition apparatus, wherein the security device is configured to prevent removal or disablement of the reduced emission apparatus or data acquisition apparatus, wherein the data acquisition apparatus is configured to communicate data for emission credits, the credits being based on vehicle operation in the reduced emission mode, and wherein the credits from operating the reduced emission apparatus apply to resources for deploying the reduced emission apparatus.

3. The system of claim 2, comprising a global positioning system coupled to the vehicle configured to communicate a location of the vehicle to a remote location, wherein the security device is configured to prevent removal of the global positioning system and from interrupting broadcasting of the location of the vehicle by the global positioning system.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein communicating the location of the vehicle to a remote location includes communicating to a mobile tracking device, so that the mobile tracking device can be used to retrieve the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control logic apparatus is configured to charge batteries used for energizing an electric motor that is configured to propel the vehicle when the data acquisition system receives data from a global positioning system that the vehicle is within a specified distance from a geographic area designated as restricting vehicle emissions beyond a threshold level.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control logic apparatus is configured to prevent starting of an internal combustion engine that propels the vehicle when the vehicle is located within a specified geographic area.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the specified geographic area is designated as restricting vehicle emissions beyond a threshold level.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the reduced emission mode comprises the vehicle producing less noise during operation.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control logic apparatus displays one or more routes the vehicle can travel to increase operation in the reduced emission mode.

10. A method for operating a vehicle comprising:

acquiring, by a data acquisition apparatus, data pertaining to operation of the vehicle; and

encouraging operation of the vehicle in a reduced emission mode, by a reduced emission apparatus, in response to an analysis of the data pertaining to the operation of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising preventing removal or disablement of the reduced emission apparatus or data acquisition apparatus, wherein the data acquisition apparatus is configured to communicate data for emission credits, the credits being based on vehicle operation in the reduced emission mode, and wherein the credits from operating the reduced emission apparatus apply to resources for deploying the reduced emission apparatus.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising communicating from a global positioning system coupled to the vehicle a location of the vehicle, wherein the security device is configured to prevent removal of the global positioning system and from interrupting broadcasting of the location of the vehicle by the global positioning system.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising charging batteries used for energizing an electric motor that is configured to propel the vehicle when the data acquisition system receives data from a global positioning system that the vehicle is within a specified distance from a geographic area designated as restricting vehicle emissions beyond a threshold level.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising preventing starting of an internal combustion engine that propels the vehicle when the vehicle is located within a specified geographic area.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the specified geographic area is designated as restricting vehicle emissions beyond a threshold level.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the reduced emission mode comprises the vehicle producing less noise during operation.

17. The method of claim 10, displaying to an operator of the vehicle one or more routes the vehicle can travel to increase operation in the reduced emission mode.