Exhaust emission control system for internal combustion engine
US6629408B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 11, 2000 |
| Grant date | Oct 7, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 20, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/40
- WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An exhaust emission control system for an internal combustion engine, having a nitrogen oxide removing device provided in an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine for absorbing nitrogen oxides contained in exhaust gases in an exhaust lean condition. The exhaust emission control system includes first and second oxygen concentration sensors respectively provided upstream and downstream of the nitrogen oxide removing device for detecting an oxygen concentration in the exhaust gases. The air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture to be supplied to the engine is changed from a lean region to a rich region with respect to a stoichiometric ratio. An amount of reducing components flowing into the nitrogen oxide removing device from the time when an output value from the first oxygen concentration sensor has changed to a value indicative of a rich air-fuel ratio after enrichment of the air-fuel ratio is calculated. Deterioration of the nitrogen oxide removing device is determined according to the calculated amount of reducing components and an output value from the second oxygen concentration sensor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.