Thermal management system for catalytic converters

US5937640A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Ford Global Technologies, LLC · US

Inventors

• Heinrich Z Krzykowski · Herdecke, DE
• Klemens Grieser · Langenfeld, DE
• Patrick Phlips · Cologne, DE
• Thomas Mayer · Reutlingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 10, 1997
• Grant date: Aug 17, 1999
• Expiry date: Dec 10, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T10/12
• WIPO field: Environmental technology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A thermal management system for catalytic converters of an automotive internal combustion engine includes exhaust pipes from one bank of cylinders crossing over to a second side of the engine to a catalytic converter, while the exhaust pipe from the other bank of cylinders crosses over to the first side of the engine to connect to a corresponding catalytic converter, thereby resulting in a crosswise pattern of exhaust flow. Bypass pipes connect between the exhaust pipes of one bank of cylinders directly to the catalytic converter located on the same side of the engine to provide a short exhaust path to rapidly heat the converter.