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:
Jul. 15, 2003
Filed:
Jun. 19, 2001
Applicant:
Inventors:
Gopichandra Surnilla, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Grant Alan Ingram, West Lafayette, IN (US);
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
F01N 3/00 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
F01N 3/00 ;
Abstract
An improved method for monitoring an efficiency of a three-way catalyst coupled in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine is presented. First, a reference efficiency estimate (shortly after a SOx purge) is generated based on several data points obtained during normal vehicle driving conditions over varying device temperatures. Next, a current efficiency estimate is obtained from several data points. The two estimates are compared to obtain a measure of reduction in the catalyst efficiency due to device sulfation.