The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 10, 2003
Filed:
Nov. 29, 2001
Grant Alan Ingram, West Lafayette, IN (US);
Gopichandra Surnilla, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, Birmingham, MI (US);
John M. Roth, Grosse Ile, MI (US);
Joseph Robert Theis, Rockwood, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A method for improving a purge conversion efficiency of a Lean NOx Trap coupled downstream of a lean-burn internal combustion engine is presented. This method recognizes that during a purge of the LNT, its temperature increases due to the exothermic reactions in the LNT. Once the LNT temperature exceeds a certain threshold, further increases lead to a reduction in the NOx storage capacity, and therefore an increase in NOx emissions during the purge of the LNT. Therefore, it is proposed to cool the LNT temperature once the threshold is exceeded. This method improves emission control and fuel economy during purge.