Patent ID: 7219493

Claim:
A regeneration control device which regenerates a filer for trapping particulate matter in exhaust gas from an engine, the regeneration control device burning the particulate matter trapped in the filter by raising an exhaust gas temperature, the regeneration control device comprising: a load detection sensor which detects an engine load, and a microcomputer having first and second reference values which are respectively criterion values in determining an initiation of regeneration of the filter, the microcomputer being programmed to: compute a trapped amount of particulate matter trapped by the filter based on an engine running state including an engine load; compare the computed trapped amount with the first reference value and second reference value; start engine control to adjust the exhaust gas temperature for regeneration of the filter, when the computed trapped amount is equal to or more than the first reference value and less than the second reference value, and the detected load is equal to or more than a reference load, and continue the engine control to adjust the exhaust gas temperature for regeneration of the filter until the trapped amount of particulate matter reaches a minimum value; and start engine control to adjust the exhaust gas temperature for regeneration of the filter regardless of the detected load, when the computed trapped amount is equal to or more than the second reference value, and continue the engine control to adjust the exhaust gas temperature until the trapped amount of particulate matter reaches a third reference value above the first reference value.