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US 6,550,239 B2Granted
Method of reduction of exhaust gas emissions from internal combustion engines
AssigneeVolvo Car Corporation
InventorsGöran Almkvist, Krister Fredriksson
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AssigneeVolvo Car Corporation
InventorsGöran Almkvist, Krister Fredriksson
Estimating the term…
A method for reducing harmful and toxic exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine. The engine includes at least one cylinder to which an air/fuel mixture is supplied when a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine is rotated. The method includes supplying an air/fuel mixture with a lambda value greater than one to the cylinder, and controlling the pressure in the intake channel by an electric motor/generator coupled to the crankshaft. When the pressure in the intake channel exceeds a predetermined pressure, the electric motor/generator is controlled in such a way that the pressure in the intake channel can decrease, and when the pressure in the intake channel falls below a predetermined pressure, the electric motor/generator is controlled in such a way that the pressure in the intake channel can increase.
A method for reducing harmful and toxic exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder supplied by an air/fuel mixture when a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine rotates, comprising the steps of:
A method for reducing harmful and toxic exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder supplied by an air/fuel mixture when a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine rotates, comprising the steps of:
A method for reducing harmful and toxic exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder supplied by an air/fuel mixture when a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine rotates, the method comprising the steps of:
A method for reducing harmful and toxic exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder supplied by an air/fuel mixture when a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine rotates, the method comprising the steps of:
A method for reducing harmful and toxic exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder supplied by an air/fuel mixture when a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine rotates, the method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
For engine starting or warming up: for starting
Controlling combustion engines
Term ended 29 Feb 2020 (estimated)
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to internal combustion engines and their related exhaust emissions. More specifically, the present invention discloses a method for reducing harmful and toxic exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder supplied with an air/fuel mixture when a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine is rotated.
2. Background Information
The invention will be explained in greater detail below on the basis of an illustrative embodiment which is shown in the attached drawings, where:
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor/generator for carrying out the method according to an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart representing the method according to an embodiment of the present invention, and
FIG. 1 provides a schematic diagram of an internal combustion engine 1 having four cylinders 2. Arranged in each cylinder 2 there is a reciprocating piston 3 that is connected to a rotatable crankshaft 4. Connected to each cylinder 2 there is at least one intake channel 5. Although only one intake channel 5 is shown in FIG. 1, it should be understood that there can be multiple channels. Connected to the intake channels 5 there are fuel injection nozzles 6 that are controlled by a control unit 7. The control unit 7 is also coupled to a number of sensors 8 in the internal combustion engine 1. The sensors can detect the temperature of the internal combustion engine 1, its rotation speed, etc. It is also possible to arrange pressure sensors 9 in the intake channels 5 for detecting the pressure in the intake channels 5. As illustrated, these pressure sensors 9 are connected to the control unit 7.
An electric motor/generator 10, which functions as an integrated starting motor and generator (ISG), is coupled to the crankshaft 4 of the internal combustion engine 1. As an alternative to direct coupling of the electric motor/starting motor 10 to the crankshaft 4, it is possible to use a belt, chain or gearwheel transmission for coupling the electric motor/generator 10 to the crankshaft 4. The electric motor/generator 10 is connected to a battery 12 via a control device 13. The control device 13 is connected to the control unit 7 and receives information from the control unit 7 on how the electric motor/generator 10 is to be driven.
When the internal combustion engine 1 is in operation, air arrives at an intake manifold 14 via an air inlet pipe 15. From the inlet manifold 14, the air flows onward to the intake channels 5 where the air is mixed with fuel that is injected into the intake channels 5 by means of the fuel injection nozzles 6. The air/fuel mixture then flows into the cylinders 2 and is ignited by an ignition plug (not shown) arranged in each cylinder 2. Lastly, the combusted air/fuel mixture in the form of exhaust gases runs off into the atmosphere through an exhaust gas system 16 connected to the internal combustion engine 1.