Regenerative catalytic apparatus in hybrid vehicle

• US 6,718,758 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2000
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Denion, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, DIEM T
• Application Number:
  US09/662,731
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 602/84, 602/95, 603/00, 603/20, 602/85, 602/99, 180/65.2, 180/65.4
• US Class Current: 60/300
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/22 characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/54 Transmission for changing ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/44 Heat storages, e.g. for cabin heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/068 Engine exhaust temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2240/10 a heat accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2006 Periodically heating or cooling catalytic reactors, e.g. at cold starting or overheating by electrically controlling the supply of combustible mixture or its constituents only F02D41/0235
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/904 Component specially adapted for hev
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/917 with transmission for changing gear ratio

Abstract

The exhaust emission of a hybrid vehicle is improved by providing a technology of achieving effective functioning of a regenerative catalytic apparatus by utilizing a feature of the hybrid vehicle of being driven by selectively operating an internal combustion engine and an auxiliary power source. The regenerative catalytic apparatus in a hybrid vehicle is provided with a hybrid mechanism for driving the vehicle by selectively operating an internal combustion engine and an auxiliary power source; an exhaust-purifying catalyst provided in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine for purifying exhaust flowing in the exhaust passage; and heat-storage mechanism for storing heat generated in the internal combustion engine while the internal combustion engine is in an operating state, and utilizing the stored heat to suppress decrease in the temperature of the exhaust-purifying catalyst after the internal combustion engine is stopped.

Claims

1. A regenerative catalytic apparatus in a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a hybrid mechanism for driving the vehicle by selectively operating an internal combustion engine and an auxiliary power source, whereby the internal combustion engine may be operated exclusively to generate heat when the auxiliary power source alone powers the vehicle;

an exhaust-purifying catalyst provided in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine for purifying exhaust flowing in the exhaust passage; and

heat-storage means, enveloped by a vacuum layer, for storing heat generated in the internal combustion engine while the internal combustion engine is in an operating state, and utilizing the stored heat to suppress decrease in the temperature of the exhaust-purifying catalyst after the internal combustion engine is stopped, wherein the vacuum layer inhibits the radiation of heat away from the catalyst and heat storage means and transmits heat from the heat storage means to the catalyst.

2. A regenerative catalytic apparatus in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the heat-storage means is provided with a heat-storage material for storing heat of the exhaust emitted from the internal combustion engine.

4. A regenerative catalytic apparatus in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 2 further comprising temperature-detecting means for detecting a temperature of the heat-storage means, and wherein:

the engine control means determines the amount of heat stored in the heat-storage means by using a detection value of the temperature-detecting means as a parameter.

7. A regenerative catalytic apparatus in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the heat-storage means is provided with a heat-storage material for storing heat of the exhaust emitted from the internal combustion engine.

8. A regenerative catalytic apparatus in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the internal combustion engine is controlled to idle and the vehicle is controlled to run with the rotational torque output from an electric motor when the heat-storage control is executed by the heat-storage means.

9. A regenerative catalytic apparatus in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the control means is to settle a revolution speed of the generator at a predetermined value by controlling adjustment of a magnitude of the exciting current applied to the generator, calculation of a required driving torque from output signals of an accelerator opening and a vehicle speed and adjustment of a driving electric power applied to the electric motor to satisfy the required driving torque regarded as a required motor torque, and the predetermined value is such a revolution speed that a rotational torque output from the internal combustion engine is no longer transmitted to a motor rotary shift.

3. A regenerative catalytic apparatus in a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a hybrid mechanism for driving the vehicle by selectively operating an internal combustion engine and an auxiliary power source, whereby the internal combustion engine may be operated exclusively to generate heat when the auxiliary power source alone powers the vehicle;

an exhaust-purifying catalyst provided in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine for purifying exhaust flowing in the exhaust passage;

heat-storage means, enveloped by a vacuum layer, for storing heat generated in the internal combustion engine while the internal combustion engine is in an operating state, and utilizing the stored heat to suppress decrease in the temperature of the exhaust-purifying catalyst after the internal combustion engine is stopped, wherein the vacuum layer inhibits the radiation of heat from the catalyst and heat storage means and transmits heat from the heat storage means to the catalyst; and

engine control means for controlling the operating state of the internal combustion engine through the hybrid mechanism so that an amount of heat stored in the heat-storage means becomes equal to or more than a predetermined amount.

5. A regenerative catalytic apparatus in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the engine control means controls the operating state of the internal combustion engine so as to increase an amount of heat generated in the internal combustion engine when the detection value of the temperature-detecting means is less than a predetermined value, and controls the operating state of the internal combustion engine into a normal operating state when the detection value of the temperature-detecting means is equal to or more than the predetermined value.

6. A regenerative catalytic apparatus in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the engine control means inhibits the stopping of operation of the internal combustion engine when the internal combustion engine is in the operating state and the detection value of the temperature-detecting means is less than the predetermined temperature value, and allows the stopping of operation of the internal combustion engine when the detection value of the temperature-detecting means is the predetermined value or more.