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:
Oct. 07, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 11, 2000
Akira Murakami, Wako, JP;
Mistuo Hashizume, Wako, JP;
Kotaro Miyashita, Wako, JP;
Toshikatsu Takanohashi, Wako, JP;
Yuichiro Tanabe, Wako, JP;
Akira Hashimoto, Wako, JP;
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An exhaust emission control system for an internal combustion engine, having a nitrogen oxide removing device provided in an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine for absorbing nitrogen oxides contained in exhaust gases in an exhaust lean condition. The exhaust emission control system includes first and second oxygen concentration sensors respectively provided upstream and downstream of the nitrogen oxide removing device for detecting an oxygen concentration in the exhaust gases. The air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture to be supplied to the engine is changed from a lean region to a rich region with respect to a stoichiometric ratio. An amount of reducing components flowing into the nitrogen oxide removing device from the time when an output value from the first oxygen concentration sensor has changed to a value indicative of a rich air-fuel ratio after enrichment of the air-fuel ratio is calculated. Deterioration of the nitrogen oxide removing device is determined according to the calculated amount of reducing components and an output value from the second oxygen concentration sensor.