Engine catalyst aging system and method for aging catalyst

• US 5,396,794 A
• Filed: 04/05/1993
• Issued: 03/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Japan Computer Engineering Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Japan Computer Engineering Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nichols, Angelo H.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US08/043,034
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 73/118.1, 73/865.6, 60/277
• US Class Current: 73/114.75
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 11/00 Monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus , e.g. for catalytic activity safety, indicating or supervising devices for internal combustion engines F02B77/08; testing of machines G01M13/00
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2550/02 Catalytic activity of catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2550/20 Monitoring artificially aged exhaust systems
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2900/0421 using an increment counter when a predetermined event occurs
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2900/0422 measuring the elapsed time
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/104 using oxygen or lambda-sensors testing catalytic converters F01N3/18, F01N11/007
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for catalytic aging and a system for catalytic aging. The system modifies the operation of the engine while running in combination with a catalyst, making the engine a programmable gas generator for the catalyst. The present invention allows an operator to alter the operation of the engine by varying the signals to the engine'"'"'s injectors, thereby altering the exhaust gas of the engine. While the engine is operating under user initiated injector signals, a simulated exhaust gas oxygen signal is provided to the engine control module. This signal results in maintaining the engine in stable operation while operating in an unstable state. In a preferred embodiment additional gases are injected into the exhaust gas being supplied to the catalyst. The system periodically returns all functions to the engine control modules allowing the establishment of new operating parameters for the engine.

Claims

1. An engine catalyst aging system which uses an engine as a programmable gas generator for aging a catalyst, the engine being fitted with standard engine injectors, an engine control module, an exhaust system, at least one exhaust gas oxygen sensor for providing exhaust gas oxygen signals to at least one exhaust gas signal input of the engine control module, and a wiring harness having multiple wires which terminate in a harness connector which inserts into an engine control module connector, the harness connecting the engine control module to the engine so as to include all related sensors such as the injectors and the exhaust gas oxygen sensor, the system comprising:

means for generating at least one set of operator defined injector pulse widths for providing an operator defined fuel supply to the engine;

means for switching the engine injection mode between the engine control module injector signals and said engine catalyst aging system;

means for providing reference injector pulses from the engine control module;

means for generating at least one set of simulated exhaust gas oxygen signals for the engine control module;

means for switching at least one exhaust gas signal input of the engine control module between the at least one set of exhaust gas oxygen signals and said at least one set of simulated exhaust gas oxygen signals; and

means for selectively breaking the wires of the harness providing an system/engine interface.

2. The engine catalyst aging system of claim 1 wherein said means for switching the engine injection mode further comprising:

at least one injection relay;

an injector flag for each of said at least one injector relay providing an injector relay state to define a desired injection mode;

a signal conditioner for each of said at least one injector relay which outputs the rising edge of said reference injector pulse;

a flip flop device for each at least one injector relay triggered by said rising edge; and

an injector relay driver logic triggered by said flip flop, said driver logic activating said at least one injector relay.

3. The engine catalyst aging system of claim 2 wherein said means for switching the at least one gas sensor further comprises:

an at least one gas sensor relay; and

an at least one exhaust gas flag providing a gas sensor relay state to define the desired exhaust oxygen sensor signal;

at least one gas relay driver triggered by said exhaust gas flag.

4. The engine catalyst aging system of claim 3 further comprising:

a CPU;

a CPU clock for providing a CPU time reference;

an input device for said CPU, said input device reads operator selected time based instructions, said time based instructions allow CPU to said injector flag state and said gas flag state.

5. The engine catalyst aging system of claim 4 wherein said means for providing at least one reference injector pulse further comprises:

an artificial injector load circuit being in parallel with the engine control module, said artificial injector load circuit generating a conditioned reference pulse; and

at least a pulse width counter for measuring at least one conditioned reference pulse width.

6. The engine catalyst aging system of claim 5 wherein said artificial injector load circuit has a resistor to provide the load.

7. The engine catalyst aging system of claim 6 wherein said means for generating at least one set of operator defined injector pulse widths for providing an operator defined fuel supply to the engine further comprises:

a falling edge sensitive injection driver which turns on said injector when said falling edge of said conditional reference pulse is detected; and

operator defined algorithm for setting pulse width.

8. The engine catalyst aging system of claim 7 further comprising:

means for storing said conditioned reference pulse widths in said CPU; and

means for transforming selected stored pulse widths.

9. The engine catalyst aging system of claim 8 further comprising:

an exhaust port positioned in said exhaust;

a valve for opening and closing said port; and

an emission additive supply.

10. The engine catalyst aging system of claim 9 further comprising a valve driver communicating with said CPU.

11. A method for aging a catalyst which uses an engine as a programmable gas generator for aging the catalyst, the engine being fitted with standard engine injectors, an engine control module, an exhaust system, at least one exhaust gas oxygen sensor for providing exhaust gas oxygen signals to at least one exhaust gas signal input of the engine control module, and a wiring harness having multiple wires which terminate in a harness connector which inserts into an engine control module connector, the harness connecting the engine control module to the engine so as to include all related sensors such as the injectors and the exhaust gas oxygen sensor, the method comprising:

stabilizing the engine to determine a predetermined load and speed;

running the engine under its engine control module for a time sufficient to establish a base line operation;

calculating a base average pulse width for the base line operation;

transferring the operation of the injectors of the engine from the engine control module to operator defined pulse widths; and

providing a simulated exhaust gas oxygen signal to the engine control module to substitute for the exhaust gas oxygen signal while operating under said operator provided signals.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of transferring the operation of the injector further comprising the steps of:

monitoring to observe the closing of the injectors; and

delaying said transfer of the operation of the injectors until each of the injectors is observed closing.

13. The method of 12 further comprising the steps of:

periodically returning the operation of the injectors to the engine control module for a timed interval;

calculating a new pulse width average for said timed interval;

comparing said new pulse average with said base width average and scaling said operator defined pulse width with respect to the difference in said base average pulse width and said current pulse width.