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US 7,841,173 B2Granted
Conservation of energy catalyst monitor
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorTim J. Clever
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A marine engine control system comprising a water jacket, an outlet sensor, and a control module. The water jacket directs a flow of water across a catalytic converter to cool the catalytic converter. The outlet sensor module measures an actual temperature of the water. The control module determines an expected temperature of the water when the catalytic converter is functional.
Claims20
A marine engine control system comprising:
- a water jacket that directs a flow of water across a catalytic converter to cool the catalytic converter;
- an outlet sensor module that measures an actual temperature of the water;
- and
- a control module that determines an expected temperature of the water when the catalytic converter is functional.
1 more element
A method for determining functionality of a water cooled catalytic converter comprising:
- comparing an actual temperature of water flowing from the catalytic converter and not mixed with engine exhaust to an expected temperature of the water when the catalytic converter is functional;
- and
- determining whether the actual temperature of the water is within a predetermined range of the expected temperature of the water.
An engine control system comprising:
- a control module that determines an actual temperature of water flowing from a catalytic converter and not mixed with engine exhaust, and determines an expected temperature of the water when the catalytic converter is functioning;
- wherein the control module compares the actual temperature to the expected temperature to determine when the catalytic converter is functioning.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.