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:
Sep. 16, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 27, 2002
Harold Sean Hilbert, Canton, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for reducing the amount of vehicular emissions during and shortly after a vehicle has been started. The assembly includes at least one heater which is coupled to a catalytic converter assembly and which heats the catalytic assembly during and/or for a period occurring shortly after the vehicle has been started. The assembly also includes a load, such as motor/generator , which is selectively applied to the internal combustion engine of the vehicle during and/or for a period occurring shortly after the vehicle has been started in order to increase the temperature and the amount of exhaust gasses which are communicated to the catalytic converter assembly from the internal combustion engine