Abstract:
System and method for regenerating a diesel particulate filter in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine driven vehicle that is equipped with an automatic mechanical transmission. The particulate load in the diesel particulate filter is determined to exceed a minimum predetermined threshold amount which is sufficiently high to warrant regeneration of the filter. Current vehicle conditions are determined to exist that permit the establishment of appropriate conditions in the exhaust system to affect regeneration of the particulate loaded filter by appropriately configuring the AMT. The immediate future driving conditions are analyzed to assure they permit operation of the combustion engine under sufficient load and at sufficiently low speeds to maintain a sufficiently high regeneration temperature and exhaust flow in the exhaust system under the control of the AMT to affect regeneration of the diesel particulate filter. Finally, successful regeneration of the filter is executed by appropriately configuring the AMT to cause the combustion engine to run in a manner that establishes a sufficiently high regeneration temperature and exhaust flow in the exhaust system and that is maintained for a prescribed period of time.
Abstract:
An apparatus for achieving internal EGR in a four-stroke internal combustion engine which, for each cylinder, has at least one inlet valve and at least one exhaust valve for controlling the connection between combustion chambers in the cylinder and an inlet system and exhaust system respectively. A rotary camshaft with a cam curve is designed to interact with a follower member and has a first lobe portion for generating the normal exhaust valve lift of the engine. The camshaft is provided with a second lobe portion, which has a height measurement over and above its basic curve which falls short of the measurement for normal exhaust valve clearance when driving at low load and accompanying low heat development in the engine. As a result of thermal expansion in the valve mechanism, the height measurement exceeds the measurement for normal exhaust valve clearance when driving at high load and accompanying high heat development in the engine. The second lobe portion is situated within a crankshaft angular range of about 360-480 degrees.