Patent · US Expired

Apparartus for detecting deterioration of catalysts

US5528898A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
2References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 6, 1995
Grant dateJun 25, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 6, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T10/40
  • WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A catalyst deterioration determination is performed in two stages. In the first stage of determination, an amplitude of an output signal from a downstream oxygen sensor is detected and this amplitude is compared with a reference value in order to determine possible deterioration in a catalyst. When correct performance is expected, while taking into account variations (amplitude and response) in the upstream and downstream oxygen sensors, then the detection in a second stage is omitted. However when possible catalyst deterioration may be present, the determination at the seconds stage is performed. After adjusting the response of the upstream oxygen sensor to the characteristic of the slowest response, the total response delay time of the downstream sensor is obtained within a specified amount of time, and this sum then is compared with a reference value indicating catalyst deterioration. A final determination is made as to whether catalyst deterioration is present.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.