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The present invention relates to a method and system for homogenizing exhaust from an engine. In one embodiment, the present invention includes an automobile. The automobile can include a fuel delivery unit, an engine, an exhaust system, and a control unit. The exhaust system can include a swirl ind

The present invention relates to a method and system for homogenizing exhaust from an engine. In one embodiment, the present invention includes an automobile. The automobile can include a fuel delivery unit, an engine, an exhaust system, and a control unit. The exhaust system can include a swirl inducement unit, multiple sensors, and multiple catalytic converters. The swirl inducement unit can homogenize an exhaust from the engine. The swirl inducement unit can include a plurality of vanes and/or a plurality of protrusions. The protrusions can be a plurality of bumps and/or a plurality of semi-circular rings. The plurality of vanes can be rotatable with the rotation of the vanes being controlled by the control unit. The rotation of the vanes can be based on an operating condition of the engine.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An exhaust system comprising: a swirl inducement unit including a plurality of vanes and a pipe section, with the pipe section configured for an exhaust from an engine to pass therethrough and having a completely open central portion, each of the plurality of vanes having a first end connected to

1. An exhaust system comprising: a swirl inducement unit including a plurality of vanes and a pipe section, with the pipe section configured for an exhaust from an engine to pass therethrough and having a completely open central portion, each of the plurality of vanes having a first end connected to the pipe section and a second end extending away from the first end in a direction towards the completely open central portion, each of the plurality of vanes being rotatable about a corresponding axis to increase or decrease a surface area of the plurality of vanes relative to a directional flow of the exhaust through the pipe section, the plurality of vanes being configured to substantially homogenize the exhaust when the exhaust passes through the pipe section to thereby produce a substantially homogenized exhaust;an air-to-fuel ratio sensor configured to detect an air-to-fuel ratio of the substantially homogenized exhaust produced by the swirl inducement unit; andan electronic control unit configured to: rotate each of the plurality of vanes about the corresponding axis of the vane to thereby decrease the surface area of the plurality of vanes relative to the directional flow of the exhaust through the pipe section when there is a relative increase in the directional flow of the exhaust, androtate each of the plurality of vanes about the corresponding axis of the vane to thereby increase the surface area of the plurality of vanes relative to the directional flow of the exhaust through the pipe section when there is a relative decrease in the directional flow of the exhaust. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the pipe section is a section of a pipe, the pipe configured such that the exhaust from the engine travels through the pipe to reach the swirl inducement unit. 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the swirl inducement unit includes a plurality of bumps extending from the pipe section in a direction towards the completely open central portion, or includes a plurality of semi-circular rings extending from the pipe section in a direction towards the completely open central portion. 4. An automobile comprising: an engine for generating an exhaust; andan exhaust system for receiving the exhaust, the exhaust system including a pipe connected to the engine, wherein the exhaust travels through the pipe,a swirl inducement unit connected to the pipe and having an unobstructed central portion and including a plurality of vanes, each of the plurality of vanes having a first end connected to the pipe and a second end extending from the first end in a direction towards the unobstructed central portion, each of the plurality of vanes being rotatable about a corresponding axis to increase or decrease a surface area of the plurality of vanes relative to a directional flow of the exhaust through the pipe, the plurality of vanes being configured to substantially homogenize the exhaust when the exhaust passes through the pipe to thereby produce a substantially homogenized exhaust,a sensor configured to detect an air-to-fuel ratio of the substantially homogenized exhaust produced by the swirl inducement unit, andan electronic control unit configured to: rotate each of the plurality of vanes about the corresponding axis of the vane to thereby decrease the surface area of the plurality of vanes relative to the directional flow of the exhaust through the pipe section when there is a relative increase in the directional flow of the exhaust, androtate each of the plurality of vanes about the corresponding axis of the vane to thereby increase the surface area of the plurality of vanes relative to the directional flow of the exhaust through the pipe when there is a relative decrease in the directional flow of the exhaust. 5. The automobile of claim 4 wherein each of the plurality of vanes have a semi-circular shape, a triangular shape, a square shape, a circular shape, or an oval shape. 6. The automobile of claim 4 wherein the swirl inducement unit includes a plurality of bumps extending from the pipe in a direction towards the unobstructed central portion. 7. The automobile of claim 4 wherein the swirl inducement unit includes a plurality of semi-circular rings extending from the pipe in a direction towards the unobstructed central portion. 8. A method for homogenizing exhaust from an engine comprising: substantially homogenizing the exhaust by passing the exhaust through a pipe section of a swirl inducement unit having a plurality of vanes, with the pipe section having a completely open central portion, and each of the plurality of vanes having a first end connected to the pipe section and a second end extending away from the first end in a direction towards the completely open central portion, each of the plurality of vanes being rotatable about a corresponding axis to increase or decrease a surface area of the plurality of vanes relative to a directional flow of the exhaust through the pipe section;detecting, with a sensor, an air-to-fuel ratio of the substantially homogenized exhaust;rotating, using an electronic control unit, each of the plurality of vanes about the corresponding axis of the vane to thereby decrease the surface area of the plurality of vanes relative to the directional flow of the exhaust through the pipe section when there is a relative increase in the directional flow of the exhaust; androtating, using the electronic control unit, each of the plurality of vanes about the corresponding axis of the vane to thereby increase the surface area of the plurality of vanes relative to the directional flow of the exhaust through the pipe section when there is a relative decrease in the directional flow of the exhaust. 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the swirl inducement unit includes a plurality of bumps extending from the pipe section in a direction towards the completely open central portion, or includes a plurality of semi-circular rings extending from the pipe section in a direction towards the completely open central portion. 10. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of vanes have a semi-circular shape, a triangular shape, a square shape, a circular shape, or an oval shape. 11. The system of claim 2 wherein the air-to-fuel ratio sensor is connected to the pipe, with the pipe configured such that the substantially homogenized exhaust from the swirl inducement unit travels through the pipe to reach the air-to-fuel ratio sensor. 12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a catalytic converter positioned such that the substantially homogenized exhaust from the swirl inducement unit passes the air-to-fuel ratio sensor before reaching the catalytic converter. 13. The system of claim 12 wherein the catalytic converter is a first catalytic converter and the air-to-fuel ratio sensor is a first air-to-fuel ratio sensor, and the system further comprises a second catalytic converter and a second air-to-fuel ratio sensor being positioned such that the substantially homogenized exhaust from the first catalytic converter passes the second air-to-fuel ratio sensor before reaching the second catalytic converter, the second air-to-fuel ratio sensor being configured to detect an air-to-fuel ratio of the substantially homogenized exhaust passing from the first catalytic converter to the second catalytic converter. 14. The system of claim 13 wherein the electronic control unit is connected to the first air-to-fuel ratio sensor, to the second air-to-fuel ratio sensor, and to the swirl inducement unit. 15. The system of claim 14 wherein the electronic control unit is configured to rotate each of the plurality of vanes about the corresponding axis of the vane in response to the air-to-fuel ratio detected by the first air-to-fuel ratio sensor and the air-to-fuel ratio detected by the second air-to-fuel ratio sensor. 16. The automobile of claim 4 wherein the pipe is configured such that the substantially homogenized exhaust from the swirl inducement unit travels through the pipe to reach the sensor. 17. The automobile of claim 4 further comprising a catalytic converter positioned such that the substantially homogenized exhaust from the swirl inducement unit passes the sensor before reaching the catalytic converter. 18. The automobile of claim 4 wherein the electronic control unit is connected to the sensor and to the swirl inducement unit. 19. The method of claim 8 further comprising passing the substantially homogenized exhaust from the swirl inducement unit to a catalytic converter. 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the sensor is positioned such that the substantially homogenized exhaust passes the sensor to reach the catalytic converter.