Patent ID: 6401450
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: F01N,Y02T

Abstract:
A catalyst deterioration detector for determining deterioration of a first catalytic device that is disposed in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, the first catalytic device adsorbs hydrocarbons and oxidizes the hydrocarbons at a temperature equal to or higher than an activation temperature of the first catalytic device, the catalyst deterioration detector comprising:an adsorption detector that detects a degree of adsorption of hydrocarbons by the first catalytic device; a controller that determines the deterioration of the first catalytic device based on the degree of adsorption of hydrocarbons detected by the adsorption detector, wherein the adsorption detector is disposed in the exhaust passage downstream of the first catalytic device, and the adsorption detector detects an amount of hydrocarbons discharged from the first catalytic device, wherein the adsorption detector includes a second catalytic device that oxidizes hydrocarbons and a first temperature detector that detects a temperature of the second catalytic device, wherein the second catalytic device is electrically actuated to generate heat or to heat up; and a second temperature detector that detects the temperature of the first catalytic device, and the second temperature detector and the first temperature detector are respectively disposed upstream and downstream of the second catalytic device.