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Temperature control of exhaust gas catalytic converters in vehicles

  • US 6,057,605 A
  • Filed: 07/02/1998
  • Issued: 05/02/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A temperature control system for a catalytic converter in a parallel hybrid vehicle, the system comprising:

  • an engine for producing driving torque for the vehicle;

    an electrical machine capable of producing driving or braking torque for the vehicle, said engine and said electrical machine collectively forming a powertrain for the vehicle;

    an exhaust system including treating means for treating exhaust gases from the engine, the efficiency of the treating means being at least partially dependent of the temperature of the exhaust gases;

    sensing means for sensing the temperature of at least one place in the exhaust system; and

    control means arranged to monitor the temperature sensed by the sensing means and to control the torque produced by the electrical machine and the engine in response to said sensed temperature as to control the efficiency of the treating means whilst maintaining the desired output torque from the powertrain, wherein the control means is arranged to temporarily increase the torque produced by the electrical machine if the temperature sensed by the sensing means indicated that the treating means is at a temperature so as to temporarily decrease the load on the engine, such that the temperature of said exhaust gases is lowered in order to maintain the desired output torque from the powertrain despite a cool down of the treating means.

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