Joseph Theis

US Patent:

6823843, Nov 30, 2004

Filed:

Jan 13, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/757947

Inventors:

Joseph R. Theis - Rockwood MI
Gopichandra Surnilla - West Bloomfield MI
Justin A. Ura - Livonia MI
Hungwen Jen - Troy MI

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F02M 700

US Classification:

123435, 12356811, 123704

Abstract:

A method is described for controlling lean and rich operation of an internal combustion engine coupled to a lean NOx trap. In one example, the termination of the lean air-fuel mixture is based on an oxygen storage capacity and temperature of the NOx trap. In another example, the level and duration of rich air-fuel ratio purging operation is also controlled based on the oxygen storage capacity of the NOx trap.

US Patent:

7104045, Sep 12, 2006

Filed:

Jan 28, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/767395

Inventors:

Shane Elwart - Ypsilanti MI, US
Gopichandra Sumilla - West Bloomfield MI, US
Joseph R. Theis - Rockwood MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F01N 3/00

US Classification:

60285, 60274, 60276, 60277, 60295, 60301

Abstract:

In an apparatus having a combustion engine and an emissions system including a catalytic converter and a metal oxide catalyst disposed downstream of the catalytic converter, a method of controlling a chemical transformation of hydrogen sulfide in an emissions stream to a less-noxious sulfur-containing compound is disclosed. The method includes reacting the hydrogen sulfide with the metal oxide catalyst to form a metal sulfide, monitoring a saturation of the metal oxide catalyst with the metal sulfide, and when a predetermined saturation of metal sulfide on the metal oxide is reached, changing an air/fuel ratio supplied to the combustion engine.

US Patent:

7481046, Jan 27, 2009

Filed:

Feb 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/069526

Inventors:

Joseph R. Theis - Rockwood MI, US
Justin Ura - Livonia MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F01N 3/00
F01N 3/10

US Classification:

60295, 60285, 60286, 60301

Abstract:

A method of desulfating a catalytic NOstorage and conversion device is disclosed, wherein the method includes determining an amount of sulfur stored in the catalytic NOstorage and conversion device; determining an interval for exposing the catalytic NOstorage and conversion device to a rich exhaust stream based upon the determined amount of sulfur stored, wherein the interval is longer for lower amounts of sulfur stored and shorter for higher amounts of sulfur stored; and exposing the catalytic NOstorage and conversion device to the rich exhaust stream for the determined interval.

US Patent:

7673445, Mar 9, 2010

Filed:

Nov 9, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/985576

Inventors:

Joseph R. Theis - Rockwood MI, US
Gopichandra Surnilla - West Bloomfield MI, US
Justin Ura - Livonia MI, US
Shane Elwart - Ypsilanti MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F01N 3/00

US Classification:

60286, 60274, 60295, 60297

Abstract:

A mechanical apparatus including a combustion engine, a conduit for transporting an exhaust stream away from the engine, a first catalytic NOstorage and conversion region disposed along the conduit, and a second catalytic NOstorage and conversion region disposed along the conduit at a location downstream from the first catalytic NOstorage and conversion region is disclosed. Each of the first catalytic NOstorage and conversion region and the second catalytic NOstorage and conversion region includes at least one catalytic metal configured to convert NOto NOwhen the engine is supplied a lean air/fuel mixture, and at least one NOadsorbing compound configured to adsorb NOfor storage when the engine is supplied a lean air/fuel mixture, and wherein the one of the first and the second catalytic NOstorage and conversion regions has a lower concentration of catalytic metal than the other of the first and second catalytic NOstorage and conversion regions.

US Patent:

7718150, May 18, 2010

Filed:

Mar 14, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/048670

Inventors:

Joseph Robert Theis - Rockwood MI, US
Robert Walter McCabe - Novi MI, US
Justin Anthony Ura - Livonia MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B01D 53/56
B01D 53/94
B01J 23/42
B01J 23/46
F01N 3/10
F01N 3/28

US Classification:

4232132, 4232135, 4232137, 4232391, 60282, 60299, 60301, 60302, 502304, 502325

Abstract:

The invention, in at least one embodiment, relates to a reverse platinum group metal zoned lean NOtrap system included in a vehicle and its method of use. One embodiment of the trap system is in a vehicle exhaust system operable during lean and rich periods. The trap system may include a first trap having a first substrate supporting a quantity of platinum and a second trap, positioned downstream of the first trap, and having a second substrate supporting a quantity of platinum and a quantity of rhodium. The total loading of platinum plus rhodium on the second trap is greater than or equal to the platinum on the first trap. In at least one embodiment, the second trap has a higher overall NOconversion at a low temperature and the first trap has a higher overall NOconversion at a high temperature.

US Patent:

7797929, Sep 21, 2010

Filed:

May 21, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/751414

Inventors:

Shane Elwart - Ypsilanti MI, US
Jason Aaron Lupescu - Ypsilanti MI, US
Joseph Robert Theis - Rockwood MI, US
Gopichandra Surnilla - West Bloomfield MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F02B 27/04
F01N 3/00
F01N 3/10

US Classification:

60295, 60273, 60285, 60286, 60301

Abstract:

A method of controlling an engine having a lean NOx trap in the exhaust is described. The method comprises during a first mode, at a first temperature, storing NOx at a lean condition and then purging stored NOx from the NOx trap at a rich condition without concurrently supplying oxygen to the trap during the purging and during a second mode, at a second, lower temperature, storing NOx at a lean condition and then purging stored NOx from the NOx, where an exothermic reaction is generated to temporarily raise the temperature of the trap by supplying oxygen and reductants with an overall rich mixture to the trap during the purging.

US Patent:

7827782, Nov 9, 2010

Filed:

Mar 23, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/277285

Inventors:

Joseph Theis - Rockwood MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F01N 3/00

US Classification:

60286, 60274, 60295, 60296, 60297, 60303

Abstract:

A method for remediating an emission containing NOx emissions includes introducing an exotherm generating agent into the NOx emissions when the inlet temperature of the NOx emissions is in a range of 300 C. to 600 C. and an air/fuel ratio is greater than or equal to 15; exposing the NOx emissions to a lean NOx trap; introducing a reducing agent into the emissions when the inlet temperature of the emissions is greater than 130 C. and less than 600 C. ; exposing the NOx emissions having an air/fuel ratio greater than or equal to 15 to a selective catalytic reduction catalyst; and producing a remediated emission having an air/fuel ratio greater than or equal to 15.

US Patent:

7998447, Aug 16, 2011

Filed:

Jan 28, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/767339

Inventors:

Shane Elwart - Ypsilanti MI, US
Gopichandra Surnilla - West Bloomfield MI, US
Joseph R. Theis - Rockwood MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B01D 53/48

US Classification:

42324402, 42324401

Abstract:

A method of removing hydrogen sulfide from an emissions stream is disclosed, wherein the method includes directing the emissions stream into a hydrogen sulfide converter having a metal oxide catalyst, adsorbing the hydrogen sulfide in the emissions stream to the metal oxide catalyst in the hydrogen sulfide converter, reacting the hydrogen sulfide with at least one of an oxidant and a reductant in the hydrogen sulfide converter to chemically transform the hydrogen sulfide, and adjusting an air-fuel ratio of the emissions stream based on exhaust temperature of an emission control device, where the adjustment varies a duration of at least one of lean and rich operation to perform the adsorbing and reacting even as exhaust temperature varies.