IP Library Granted Patent US 8,484,953
Granted Patent B2
US 8,484,953 · App. 11/876,136 · Granted Jul 16, 2013

Electrically heated particulate filter using catalyst striping

Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze (Pinckney, MI); Michael J. Paratore, Jr. (Howell, MI); Frank Ament (Troy, MI)
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,484,953
App. No.
11/876,136
Filed
Oct 22, 2007
Granted
Jul 16, 2013
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3748
USPC
60/295
Abstract

An exhaust system that processes exhaust generated by an engine is provided. The system generally includes a particulate filter (PF) that filters particulates from the exhaust wherein an upstream end of the PF receives exhaust from the engine. A grid of electrically resistive material is applied to an exterior upstream surface of the PF and selectively heats exhaust passing through the grid to initiate combustion of particulates within the PF. A catalyst coating is applied to the PF that increases a temperature of the combustion of the particulates within the PF.

Claims (33)

1. An exhaust system that processes exhaust generated by an engine, comprising:

a particulate filter (PF) that filters particulates from the exhaust wherein an upstream end of the PF receives exhaust from the engine;

a grid of electrically resistive material that is applied to an exterior upstream surface of the PF and that selectively heats exhaust passing through the grid to initiate combustion of particulates within the PF;

a catalyst coating that is applied to the PF and that increases a temperature of the combustion of the particulates within the PF, wherein the catalyst coating is applied with a first thickness in a first sub-section of the PF, the catalyst coating is applied with a second thickness in a second sub-section of the PF, the first thickness is greater than the second thickness; and

an electronic circuit that, when an exhaust flow rate is within a desired range, is configured to activate the grid of electrically resistive material for a predetermined period that is less than a regeneration period of the PF.

2. The exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuit includes at least one of an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a processor and memory including one or more programs, and a combinational logic circuit.

3. An exhaust system that processes exhaust generated by an engine, comprising:

a particulate filter (PF) that filters particulates from the exhaust wherein an upstream end of the PF receives exhaust from the engine, the PF including a closed channel that is closed at the upstream end;

a grid of electrically resistive material that is applied to an exterior upstream surface of the PF and that selectively heats exhaust passing through the grid to initiate combustion of particulates within the PF;

a catalyst coating that is applied to the PF and that increases a temperature of the combustion of the particulates within the PF, wherein the catalyst coating is applied to an inner surface of the closed channel at a first thickness in a first sub-section of the PF, the catalyst coating is applied to the inner surface of the closed channel at a second thickness in a second sub-section of the PF that is downstream from the first sub-section, and the first thickness is greater than the second thickness; and

an electronic circuit that, when an exhaust flow rate is within a desired range, is configured to activate the grid of electrically resistive material for a predetermined period that is less than a regeneration period of the PF.

4. The exhaust system of claim 3 wherein the first sub-section is a first distance from an inlet of the PF and the second sub-section is a second distance from the inlet of the PF and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

5. The exhaust system of claim 3 wherein the catalyst coating includes an oxidation catalyst material.

6. The exhaust system of claim 3 wherein the catalyst coating is applied in a step format.

7. The exhaust system of claim 3 wherein the catalyst coating linearly decreases in thickness from the first thickness to the second thickness.

8. The exhaust system of claim 3 , wherein the electronic circuit includes at least one of an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a processor and memory including one or more programs, and a combinational logic circuit.

9. The exhaust system of claim 3 wherein the electronic circuit is configured to control current to the grid to initiate regeneration during an initial period of a PF regeneration cycle.

10. The exhaust system of claim 9 wherein the electronic circuit is configured to estimate an amount of particulates within the PF and wherein the current is controlled when the amount exceeds a threshold amount.

11. A method of regenerating a particulate filter (PF) of an exhaust system, comprising:

applying a grid of electrically resistive material to a front exterior surface of the PF, the PF including a closed channel that is closed at an upstream end of the PF;

heating the grid when an exhaust flow rate is within a desired range by supplying current to the electrically resistive material for a predetermined period that is less than a regeneration period of the PF;

inducing combustion of particulates present on the front surface of the PF via the heated grid;

directing heat generated by combustion of the particulates into the PF to induce combustion of particulates within the PF via exhaust;

increasing a temperature of the combustion of the particulates via a carbon monoxide conversion of the exhaust;

providing a catalyst coating on an inner surface of the closed channel at a first thickness in a first sub-section of the PF; and

providing the catalyst coating on the inner surface of the closed channel at a second thickness in a second sub-section of the PF that is downstream from the first sub-section, wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising controlling current to the grid to initiate regeneration during an initial period of a PF regeneration cycle.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising estimating an amount of particulates within the PF and wherein the controlling is performed when the amount exceeds a threshold amount.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the catalyst coating performs the carbon monoxide conversion.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the catalyst coating includes an oxidation catalyst material.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the providing the catalyst coating comprises providing the catalyst coating in a step format.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the catalyst coating linearly decreases in thickness from the first thickness to the second thickness.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the first sub-section is a first distance from an inlet of the PF, the second sub-section is a second distance from the inlet of the PF, and the second distance is greater than the first distance.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034185/0587 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jul 7, 2011
From: GENERAL MOTORS GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS
To: ENERGY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
Reel/Frame 026566/0571 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0035 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0057 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0780 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0187 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0215 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023155/0880 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023124/0670 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022554/0479 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 3, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0363 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2007
From: GONZE, EUGENE V; PARATORE, MICHAEL J, JR.; AMENT, FRANK
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS. INC.
Reel/Frame 019997/0382 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 60934988 · Jun 15, 2007
Related Publication 20080307781A1 · Dec 18, 2008