Exhaust gas particle burning method and apparatus for an internal

Abstract

An exhaust gas particle burning-away method for an internal combustion engine in which a burner is operated for a predetermined period of time the first time the engine idles after the detected exhaust gas pressure on the upstream side of a filter has exceeded a stored reference exhaust gas pressure predetermined according to the detected engine speed and engine load. The apparatus according to the present invention comprises a memory unit, a comparator, an output unit including an idle switch and a timer, and various sensors such as an engine speed sensor, an engine load sensor, etc., in addition to a burner with a glow plug and a heater, and an exhaust gas filter. A control unit retrieves reference pressure values according to currently-detected engine speed and load, and compares the reference value to the current detected exhaust gas pressure. The output unit outputs a command signal for a predetermined length of time when the detected pressure exceeds the reference pressure and the engine is idling. The command signal causes a fuel pump for the burner and a glow plug for the burner both to operate. The predetermined length of time is sufficient to burn away the accumulated exhaust gas particles.