Patent · US Expired

Heating system for catalytic converter

US5644913A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
8References
1Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 8, 1995
Grant dateJul 8, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 8, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T10/12
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A heating system for a catalytic converter of a multi-cyclinder, spark-ignition engine is provided. Half of the cylinders of the engine, for example, the cylinder #2 and the cylinder #3, are operated on a rich gas mixture with an excess air ratio of 0.6 or less to produce a combustible gas mixture comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and unburned fuel components, while the remaining half of the cylinders, for example, the cylinder #1 and the cylinder #4, are utilized as air blowers to which no fuel is fed. The flammable gas mixture produced from the combustible gas produced in the cylinder #2 and the cylinder #3 and the air supplied by the cylinder #1 and the cylinder #4 is burned in the combustor equipped with an ignition device which is installed upstream from the catalytic converter to provide heat energy to activate the catalyst. The system can rapidly heat and activate the catalyst without requiring a special fuel supply system and air blower.

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