Method for converting constituent gases in an internal combustion engine exhaust gas mixture and a vehicle incorporating the same
First Claim
1. A vehicle, comprising:
- an internal combustion engine operatively disposed within the vehicle, the engine to generate exhaust gases, the engine having a front end accessory drive (FEAD);
an alternator operatively connected to the engine to be driven by the FEAD, the alternator producing DC power;
an ultracapacitor operatively connected to the alternator to receive electrical energy therefrom;
an exhaust gas treatment system operatively connected to the engine to receive exhaust gases therefrom, the exhaust gas treatment system including an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) device electrically connected to the ultracapacitor to selectively heat a catalytic exhaust system component wherein the ultracapacitor stores energy converted by the alternator from vehicle kinetic energy during vehicle deceleration and releases the stored energy to heat the EHC; and
a regenerative braking controller operatively connected to a drivetrain to control a clutch to selectively couple the drivetrain to the engine during deceleration of the vehicle to drive the engine at a speed above an engine idle speed, thereby driving the alternator through the FEAD and converting vehicle kinetic energy to electrical energy to store in the ultracapacitor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine operatively disposed therein. The engine generates exhaust gases. The vehicle further includes an alternator operatively connected to the engine. The alternator produces DC power. An ultracapacitor is operatively connected to the alternator to receive electrical energy therefrom. The vehicle still further includes an exhaust gas treatment system operatively connected to the engine to receive exhaust gases therefrom. The exhaust gas treatment system includes an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) device electrically connected to the ultracapacitor to selectively heat a catalytic exhaust system component. The ultracapacitor stores energy converted by the alternator from vehicle kinetic energy and releases the stored energy to heat the EHC.
13 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A vehicle, comprising:
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an internal combustion engine operatively disposed within the vehicle, the engine to generate exhaust gases, the engine having a front end accessory drive (FEAD); an alternator operatively connected to the engine to be driven by the FEAD, the alternator producing DC power; an ultracapacitor operatively connected to the alternator to receive electrical energy therefrom; an exhaust gas treatment system operatively connected to the engine to receive exhaust gases therefrom, the exhaust gas treatment system including an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) device electrically connected to the ultracapacitor to selectively heat a catalytic exhaust system component wherein the ultracapacitor stores energy converted by the alternator from vehicle kinetic energy during vehicle deceleration and releases the stored energy to heat the EHC; and a regenerative braking controller operatively connected to a drivetrain to control a clutch to selectively couple the drivetrain to the engine during deceleration of the vehicle to drive the engine at a speed above an engine idle speed, thereby driving the alternator through the FEAD and converting vehicle kinetic energy to electrical energy to store in the ultracapacitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of converting constituent gases in an internal combustion engine exhaust gas mixture, the method comprising:
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operatively connecting an alternator to an internal combustion engine to produce DC power by driving the alternator via a front end accessory drive (FEAD) of the engine; operatively connecting an ultracapacitor to the alternator to receive electrical energy therefrom; operatively connecting an exhaust gas treatment system to the engine to receive exhaust gases therefrom, the exhaust gas treatment system including an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) device electrically connected to the ultracapacitor to selectively heat a catalytic exhaust system component wherein the ultracapacitor stores energy converted by the alternator from vehicle kinetic energy and releases the stored energy to heat the EHC; and operatively connecting a regenerative braking controller to a drivetrain to control a clutch to selectively couple the drivetrain to the engine during deceleration of the vehicle to drive the engine at a speed above an engine idle speed, thereby driving the alternator through the FEAD and converting vehicle kinetic energy to electrical energy to store in the ultracapacitor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification