On-board diagnosis of emissions from catalytic converters
US6192324A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 14, 1995 |
| Grant date | Feb 20, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 14, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/40
- WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
This invention is an on-board means to verify that a vehicle's exhaust emissions control system functions normally. It monitors hydrocarbon (HC) exhaust emissions for a few minutes after a cold start or at other selected times. If used from cold start, it is an on-board approximation to taking the first bag sample in an FTP test. The measurement involves storing a portion of the exhaust HC. Various embodiments are discussed. Some involve measuring the cumulative amount of stored HC (as on a substrate) during the test. Other embodiments wait until the end of the test to measure the amount of stored HC. At the end of each test (or trip), the storage means is returned to an empty state to await the next test. If HC is stored on or in a substrate, for example, the temperature of the substrate is raised. This decreases the amount of stored HC vapor and renews the substrate for the next test.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.