Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Scott Christopher Williams

Haren S Gandhi

Andrew A Adamczyk

Clifford N Montreuil

Andrew Anthony Adamczyk, Jr

Mario G Meneghel

A catalytic converter having a first highly loaded palladium or trimetal catalytic element containing palladium of relatively large particle size closely coupled to the engine exhaust manifold, followed by one or more second catalytic elements having high oxygen storage capacity to provide protection against warmed-up engine emissions break through, is efficient in reducing cold-start emissions through early catalyst light-off. The catalytic converter is advantageously used in conjunction with an engine strategy employing oscillative spark retard during warm up to further reduce catalyst light-off and transient spark advance dampening to eliminate spiking of HC and CO during engine transients. When employed in conjunction with secondary air injection, the engine EEC is programmed to delay air injection for a period following cold-start sufficient to assure that catalyst light-off is rapidly attained.

Closely coupled exhaust catalyst system and engine strategy associated

An automotive engine and exhaust aftertreatment system includes an engine, a catalytic exhaust aftertreatment device for receiving exhaust gas from the engine, and an air source for supplying air to the exhaust stream entering the catalyst. An exhaust gas oxygen sensor determines the amount of oxygen contained in the exhaust entering the catalyst, and an engine control computer connected with the air source and with the oxygen sensor monitors the amount of oxygen contained in the exhaust and controls the amount of air supplied to the exhaust stream by the air source such that the available oxygen is slightly in excess of the stoichiometric requirement. In this manner, the light-off time of the catalyst is minimized.

Automotive engine having catalytic exhaust aftertreatment device and

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Dearborn, MI, United States of America

Scott Christopher Williams