Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for internal combustion engine control

US5657625A · kind A · utility

175Cited by
6References
77Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 13, 1995
Grant dateAug 19, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 13, 2015

Classification

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

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine having an exhaust purifying catalytic device which absorbs nitrogen oxides contained in exhaust when the engine is in a lean-combustion mode and which deoxidizes the absorbed nitrogen oxides when the engine is in a rich-combustion mode. The engine control apparatus includes an electronic control unit for estimating the amount of purifying capability reducing substances other than nitrogen oxides, which decreases the nitrogen oxide adsorbing ability of the catalytic device, absorbed by the catalytic device, on the basis of the accumulated value of vehicle travel distance, fuel consumption of engine, or intake air amount. The control unit changes the operating condition of engine so that the exhaust gas temperature is increased when it is judged that the estimated adsorption amount has reached a predetermined adsorption amount. The exhaust purifying catalytic device is heated by high-temperature exhaust gas to remove the purifying capability reducing substances from the catalytic device.

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