Automotive catalyst excess oxygen reduction system

• US 7,258,101 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2006
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Graham, Christopher R., McDonald, Mike M., Albertson, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): ARGENBRIGHT, TONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/386,301
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 123/325, 123/326, 123/336, 123/337, 123/394, 123402-405, 123/442, 123/493
• US Class Current: 123/325
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/083 Cyclically operated valves disposed upstream of the cylinder intake valve, controlled by external means
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/02 Cutting-out cutting-out engines in multiple engine arrangements F02D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/36 Control for minimising NOx emissions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0005 during deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0275 the exhaust gas treating apparatus being a NOx trap or adsorbent
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/123 the fuel injection being cut-off
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

An excess oxygen reduction system includes a fuel cut-off condition module, an injector module, and a valve module. The fuel cut-off condition module determines whether a fuel cut-off condition exists. The injector module prevents a fuel injector from fueling a cylinder when said fuel cut-off condition exists. The valve module closes an impulse charging valve when said fuel cut-off condition exists.

Claims

1. An excess oxygen reduction system, comprising:

a fuel cut-off condition module that determines whether a fuel cut-off condition exists;

an injector module that prevents a fuel injector from fueling a cylinder when said fuel cut-off condition exists; and

a valve module that closes an impulse charging valve when said fuel cut-off condition exists.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said fuel cut-off condition module determines that said fuel cut-off condition exists when said cylinder is not to be fueled.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said fuel cut-off condition module determines that said fuel cut-off condition exists when an engine speed is greater than an engine speed threshold.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said fuel cut-off condition module reads a fuel cylinder flag to determine whether said cylinder is to be fueled.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein said fuel cut-off condition module sets an excess oxygen reduction flag to a first state when said fuel cut-off condition exists.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said injector module prevents said fuel injector from fueling said cylinder when said excess oxygen reduction flag is in said first state.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said injector module sets a fuel pulse flag to a second state to prevent said injector from fueling said cylinder when said fuel cut-off condition exists.

8. The system of claim 3 wherein said valve module closes said impulse charging valve when said fuel cut-off condition exists.

9. A method to reduce excess oxygen in a catalytic converter, comprising:

determining whether a fuel cut-off condition exists;

preventing a fuel injector from fueling a cylinder when said fuel cut-off condition exists; and

preventing excess oxygen flow to the catalytic converter by closing an impulse charging valve when said fuel cut-off condition exists.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said fuel cut-off condition exists when said cylinder is not to be fueled.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said fuel cut-off condition exists when an engine speed is greater than an engine speed threshold.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising reading a fuel cylinder flag to determine whether said cylinder is to be fueled.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising setting an excess oxygen reduction flag to a first state when said fuel cut-off condition exists.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising preventing said fuel injector from fueling said cylinder when said excess oxygen reduction flag is in said first state.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising closing said impulse charging valve when said fuel cut-off condition exists.