Particulate Filter Maintenance System for Internal Combustion Engine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Particulate filters in internal combustion engines often clog due to unfavorable vehicle use conditions, necessitating forced regeneration, which deteriorates lubricating oil and requires costly maintenance, including oil replacement and increased fuel consumption.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that monitor the particulate filter's clogging tendency, providing advance warnings to drivers to facilitate natural regeneration, thereby avoiding forced regeneration, and manage vehicle usage to optimize filter conditions, reducing maintenance and fuel costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If forced regeneration is performed to clear the clogged particulate filter, then the filter reliability is improved, but the lubricating oil deteriorates and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticulate filter reliabilityVSAvoidlubricating oil deterioration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by calculating the clogging tendency and providing advance warning to the driver before the filter becomes severely clogged. This allows the driver to take preventive measures (such as driving at higher speeds or using higher gear ratios) to facilitate natural regeneration, thereby avoiding the need for forced regeneration that would deteriorate the lubricating oil.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If forced regeneration is performed to clear the clogged particulate filter, then the filter reliability is improved, but the fuel consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticulate filter reliabilityVSAvoidfuel consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system calculates the clogging tendency in advance and warns the driver before the filter reaches a critical clogging level. This preliminary warning enables the driver to adopt driving behaviors that promote natural regeneration (such as maintaining higher speeds or using higher gear ratios), thereby preventing the need for forced regeneration that would consume excessive fuel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the driver is warned in advance of filter clogging tendency, then the natural regeneration is facilitated and forced regeneration is avoided, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticulate filter reliabilityVSAvoidmaintenance management system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs feedback by continuously monitoring engine operating parameters (such as speed, gear ratio, and acceleration) and using this information to calculate the clogging tendency. The calculated tendency is then fed back to the driver through a warning display, enabling the driver to adjust driving behavior accordingly. This feedback loop facilitates natural regeneration while maintaining relatively simple system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Reliability

If the vehicle is managed to reach ideal conditions for natural regeneration, then the maintenance costs are reduced, but the driver's operational flexibility is constrained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticulate filter reliabilityVSAvoiddriver operational flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides advance warning of filter clogging tendency before the filter reaches a critical state. This preliminary warning gives the driver flexibility to choose when and how to facilitate natural regeneration, rather than being forced to adhere to rigid maintenance schedules or operate under constrained conditions. The driver can naturally adjust driving behavior at convenient times to promote filter regeneration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2746550B1System for managing the maintenance of a particulate filter of an internal combustion engine
Publication Date: 2016.07.20 IVECO SPA
  • EP2746550B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

System for managing the maintenance of a particulate filter of an internal combustion engine (E), comprising a device suitable to display a warning message containing a threshold within which a forced regeneration of the particulate filter is necessary.