Patent ID: 7467513

Claim:
An exhaust emission control system, comprising: a generator having a thermoelectric conversion element for achieving thermoelectric conversion by use of heat of exhaust gas; an exhaust purifying catalyst disposed in the generator or on the exhaust downstream of the generator; and heat conduction varying means for making heat conduction from the exhaust gas to the thermoelectric conversion element variable between a high conduction state and a low conduction state, wherein when a temperature of the exhaust purifying catalyst is higher than a predetermined temperature, the heat conduction varying means varies the heat conduction from the exhaust gas to the thermoelectric conversion element into the high conduction state; wherein the thermoelectric conversion element is arranged movable along the periphery of the heat re-collector and is selectively controlled to be in contact with or to be detached from the heat re-collector, depending upon moving locations thereof, and wherein the heat conduction varying means brings the thermoelectric conversion element into contact with the heat re-collector to achieve the high conduction state, and wherein the heat conduction varying means detaches the thermoelectric conversion element from the heat re-collector to achieve the low conduction state; and wherein the thermoelectric conversion element is pulled so that the thermoelectric conversion element is rotated relative to the heat re-collector around a fulcrum at one end of the thermoelectric conversion element, whereby the thermoelectric conversion element is detached from the exhaust path.