# US 11,441,463 B1 · System and method for heating a catalyst

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- Number: US 11,441,463 B1
- Document ID: US11441463B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 17/302,791
- Filed: 2021-05-12
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2021-05-12
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Michael Hopka
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441463B1

## CPC

- F01N 3/2013: {using electric or magnetic heating means}
- F01N 9/00: Electrical control of exhaust gas treating apparatus (monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus F01N11/00; conjoint electrical control of two or more combustion engine functions F02D43/00)
- H02P 9/006: {Means for protecting the generator by using control (control effected upon generator excitation circuit to reduce harmful effects of overloads or transients H02P9/10)}
- H02P 9/305: {controlling voltage (H02P9/302 takes precedence)}
- H02P 29/62: for raising the temperature of the motor
- F01N 2240/16: an electric heater, i.e. a resistance heater
- F01N 2390/02: using electric components only
- F01N 2900/1404: Exhaust gas temperature
- F01N 2900/1602: Temperature of exhaust gas apparatus
- H02P 2101/45: for motor vehicles, e.g. car alternators
- F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16)
- H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS

## Abstract

Systems and methods for providing electric energy to an electrically heated catalyst are described. In one example, the electrically heated catalyst may be a three phase device with heating elements that are arranged in a delta configuration. In other examples, the electrically heated catalyst may include a single heating element.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle system, comprising:
an engine;
a first alternator including an armature, the armature not in electrical communication with an electric energy storage device;
a second alternator;
an electrically heated catalyst electrically coupled to the first alternator and not electrically coupled to the second alternator; and
the electrically heated catalyst electrically coupled to the second alternator.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle system of claim 1, further comprising a controller including executable instructions stored in non-transitory memory that cause electric current to be supplied to a field winding of the first alternator when the first alternator is supplying electrical energy to the electrically heated catalyst.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The vehicle system of claim 2, further comprising additional instructions that cause electric current to not be supplied to the field winding of the first alternator when the first alternator is not supplying electrical energy to the electrically heated catalyst.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The vehicle system of claim 3, further comprising additional instructions to prevent increasing electric current supplied to the field winding of the first alternator and increasing electric current supplied to a field winding of the second alternator at a substantially same time.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The vehicle system of claim 4, where the first alternator does not include a voltage rectifier.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The vehicle system of claim 4, further comprising additional instructions to vary an amount electric current provided to the field of the first alternator as a temperature of the electrically heated catalyst varies.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The vehicle system of claim 4, where the first alternator includes a voltage rectifier.