US 5,323,607 A · Exhaust emission control system and method having improved heating control function for catalyst

Abstract

A catalyst purifies an exhaust gas exhaled from an internal combustion engine by catalysis thereof as a result of the exhaust gas passing therethrough. A heating unit heats the catalyst so as to cause the catalyst to perform the desired catalysis. A temperature detector detects the temperature of the catalyst. A deriving unit derives a required heat energy quantity to be applied to the catalyst, by which the temperature of the catalyst reaches an activating temperature so as to perform the desired catalysis, according to the temperature of the catalyst detected through the temperature detector before the internal combustion engine starts. A heat control unit causes the heating unit to stop the heating of the catalyst after the required heat energy has been applied to the catalyst.

Claims28

Dependent claims

An exhaust emission control system comprising:

catalyst means for purifying an exhaust gas exhaled from an internal combustion engine by catalysis thereof as a result of the exhaust gas passing therethrough;
heating means for heating said catalyst means so as to cause said catalyst means to perform the desired catalysis;
temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of said catalyst means;
deriving means for deriving a required heat energy quantity to be applied to said catalyst means, by which energy quantity the temperature of said catalyst means reaches an activating temperature so as to perform the desired catalysis, according to the temperature of said catalyst means detected through said temperature detecting means before said internal combustion engine starts;
and
heat control means for causing said heating means to stop the heating of said catalyst means after the heat energy quantity applied to said catalyst means has reached the required heat energy quantity which has been derived by said deriving means.

3 more elements

An exhaust emission control method comprising steps of:

(a) purifying an exhaust gas exhaled from an internal combustion engine by catalysis with a catalyst as a result of the exhaust gas passing through said catalyst;
(b) heating said catalyst so as to cause said catalyst to perform the desired catalysis;
(c) detecting the temperature of said catalyst;
(d) deriving a required heat energy quantity to be applied to said catalyst means, by which energy quantity the temperature of said catalyst reaches an activating temperature so as to perform the desired catalysis, according to the temperature of said catalyst detected through said temperature detecting step (c) before said internal combustion engine starts;
and
(e) stopping the heating of said catalyst after the heat energy quantity having been applied to said catalyst means has reached said required heat energy quantity which has been obtained in said deriving step (d).

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Exhaust emission control system and method having improved heating control function for catalyst

Life of this patent

Exhaust emission control system and method having improved heating control function for catalyst

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28