[go: up one dir, main page]

EP0658691A1 - Abgasrückführvorrichtung für Brennkraftmaschine mit Auspuffbremse - Google Patents

Abgasrückführvorrichtung für Brennkraftmaschine mit Auspuffbremse Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0658691A1
EP0658691A1 EP94118145A EP94118145A EP0658691A1 EP 0658691 A1 EP0658691 A1 EP 0658691A1 EP 94118145 A EP94118145 A EP 94118145A EP 94118145 A EP94118145 A EP 94118145A EP 0658691 A1 EP0658691 A1 EP 0658691A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
exhaust
gas
valve
egr
control valve
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP94118145A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0658691B1 (de
Inventor
Hisashi Ohki
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Toyota Motor Corp
Original Assignee
Toyota Motor Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Toyota Motor Corp filed Critical Toyota Motor Corp
Publication of EP0658691A1 publication Critical patent/EP0658691A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0658691B1 publication Critical patent/EP0658691B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D9/00—Controlling engines by throttling air or fuel-and-air induction conduits or exhaust conduits
    • F02D9/04—Controlling engines by throttling air or fuel-and-air induction conduits or exhaust conduits concerning exhaust conduits
    • F02D9/06—Exhaust brakes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M26/00—Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding exhaust gases to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture, e.g. by exhaust gas recirculation [EGR] systems
    • F02M26/52—Systems for actuating EGR valves
    • F02M26/55—Systems for actuating EGR valves using vacuum actuators
    • F02M26/56—Systems for actuating EGR valves using vacuum actuators having pressure modulation valves
    • F02M26/57—Systems for actuating EGR valves using vacuum actuators having pressure modulation valves using electronic means, e.g. electromagnetic valves
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M26/00—Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding exhaust gases to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture, e.g. by exhaust gas recirculation [EGR] systems
    • F02M26/52—Systems for actuating EGR valves
    • F02M26/59—Systems for actuating EGR valves using positive pressure actuators; Check valves therefor
    • F02M26/61—Systems for actuating EGR valves using positive pressure actuators; Check valves therefor in response to exhaust pressure
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M26/00—Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding exhaust gases to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture, e.g. by exhaust gas recirculation [EGR] systems
    • F02M26/52—Systems for actuating EGR valves
    • F02M26/59—Systems for actuating EGR valves using positive pressure actuators; Check valves therefor
    • F02M26/61—Systems for actuating EGR valves using positive pressure actuators; Check valves therefor in response to exhaust pressure
    • F02M26/615—Systems for actuating EGR valves using positive pressure actuators; Check valves therefor in response to exhaust pressure the exhaust back pressure

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an EGR (exhaust-gas recirculation) device for an internal combustion engine equipped with an exhaust-gas brake, and more specifically to an EGR device, for an internal combustion engine equipped with an exhaust-gas brake, which can prevent an undesirable recirculation of the exhaust-gas through the EGR device when the exhaust-gas brake is operated.
  • EGR exhaust-gas recirculation
  • an exhaust-gas recirculation (hereafter referred to as EGR) device In order to reduce the amount of NOx (nitrogen oxides) in the exhaust-gas, an exhaust-gas recirculation (hereafter referred to as EGR) device has been used.
  • the EGR device recirculates exhaust-gas to an air-intake passage via a recirculation passage (hereafter referred to as an EGR passage) usually provided between an exhasut manifold and an intake manifold.
  • an EGR control valve is usually provided within the EGR passage. This EGR control valve controls the amount of exhaust-gas supplied to the air-intake passage.
  • an exhaust-gas brake device is used as an assisting brake system.
  • the exhaust-gas brake device has a cutoff valve disposed midway in the exhaust-gas passage. When the cutoff valve is closed, the exhaust-gas passage is blocked, thereby increasing the backpressure.
  • the increased backpressure creates a braking action at the engine of the vehicle by means of increased pumping resistance.
  • a conventional exhaust-gas brake is operated, and if the backpressure increases above a certain pressure, the exhaust valves of the engine are forcibly pushed down by means of the backpressure during the intake cycle. As a result, the opening of the exhaust valves allows exhaust-gas to escape from the exaust passage, thereby preventing the backpressure exceeding the predetermined value.
  • the increase in backpressure due to the operation of the exhaust-gas brake causes the EGR control valve to be forcibly pushed open. If the EGR control valve is forcibly opened, it allows exhaust-gas to escape via the EGR passage, resulting in a drop in backpressure and leading to the problem of a reduction in the exhaust-gas braking action.
  • an EGR device which increases the opening force on the EGR control valve when the exhaust-gas brake is operated, is proposed in the Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 63-79463.
  • the stem of the EGR control valve is mounted on a diaphragm provided in a diaphragm chamber of the EGR device.
  • the diaphragm chamber is divided, into an opening pressure chamber, with a spring inside thereof and a closing pressure chamber by the diaphragm.
  • the opening pressure of the EGR control valve is set by the spring in the opening pressure chamber.
  • the EGR control valve closing pressure chamber is open to atmospheric pressure.
  • the EGR control valve is opened by applying a vacuum which exceeds the closing force of the spring provided inside the opening pressure chamber.
  • vacuum is applied to the closing pressure chamber of the EGR control valve to increase the force required to open the EGR control valve. That is, when a vacuum is applied to the closing pressure chamber of the EGR control valve, the force required to open the EGR control valve becomes the sum of the closing force of the spring inside the opening pressure chamber and the force of the vacuum applied to the closing pressure chamber.
  • the force of the vacuum is due to the pressure difference between the atmospheric pressure and the vacuum.
  • the sum of the closing force of the spring and the force of the vacuum is greater than normal force. Therefore, if backpressure from the exhaust-gas passage is applied to the valve of the EGR control valve when the exhaust-gas brake is operated, the EGR control valve will not open.
  • VSV vacuum switching valve
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an EGR device for an internal combustion engine equipped with an exhaust-gas brake downstream of an EGR passage, that realizes an sufficient exhaust-gas braking force when the exhaust-gas brake is operated by setting the force required to open the EGR control valve of the EGR device higher than the same to open the exhaust valve.
  • an EGR device for an internal combustion engine equipped with an exhaust-gas brake device, which temporarily shuts off the flow of exhaust-gas within the exhaust passage and an EGR device which returns part of the exhaust-gas, from the exhaust pipe upstream of the exhaust-gas brake device, to the air-intake manifold, wherein the pressure required to open the exhaust valve is set to a value which provides a suitable exhaust-gas braking force and is set lower than the pressure required to open the EGR control valve of the EGR device.
  • the exhaust valves of cylinders that are in the intake cycle open at a lower pressure than the EGR control valve when the exhaust-gas brake is operated and the backpressure on the upstream side from the exhaust-gas brake valve rises, since the valve opening pressure of the exhaust valve is set to a value which provides a suitable exhaust-gas braking force and is lower than the pressure required to opne the EGR control valve of the EGR device.
  • the EGR control valve does not open, and there is no leakage of exhaust-gas towards the air-intake manifold side and a suitable exhaust-gas braking force is provided.
  • the invention realizes a suitable exhaust-gas braking force in the internal combustion engine equipped with an EGR device and the exhaust brake.
  • FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an EGR device of an internal combustion engine with an exhaust-gas brake according to the present invention.
  • reference numeral 1 denotes a 4-cylinder internal combustion engine
  • 2 denotes an air-intake manifold
  • 3 denotes an exhaust manifold
  • 4 denotes an exhaust passage
  • 5 denotes an exhaust-gas brake device having a exhaust-gas control valve 51 provided within the exhaust-gas passage 4
  • 6 denotes a muffler
  • 7 denotes an exhaust-gas recirculation passage (EGR passage) which brings exhaust-gas from the exhaust manifold 3 to the air-intake manifold 2
  • 8 denotes an EGR control valve
  • 9 denotes a vacuum pump
  • 10 denotes a control circuit
  • 11 and 12 denote control valves which are open/close controlled by the control circuit 10
  • 13 denotes a vacuum intake pipe.
  • the vacuum intake pipe 13 supplies vacuum from the vacuum pump 9 to the exhaust-gas brake device 5 via the control valve 11 and
  • the EGR control valve 8 is opened when vacuum from the vacuum pump 9 is brought in through the vacuum intake pipe 13 via the control valve 12, after the the control valve 12 is opened by a signal from the control circuit 10.
  • exhaust-gas is returned, from exhaust-gas manifold 3 via the EGR passage 7, to air-intake manifold 2, thereby reducing the amount of NOx in the exhaust-gas.
  • the exhaust-gas brake device 5 is operated when the control circuit 10 detects a reduction in the speed of the vehicle.
  • the control circuit 10 detects a reduction in the speed of the vehicle, the control circuit 10 sends a signal to open the control valve 11.
  • vacuum from the vacuum pump 9 is applied to the exhaust-gas brake device 5, through the vacuum intake pipe 13, to close the exhaust-gas control valve 51.
  • the closure of the exhaust-gas control valve 51 causes exhaust-gas to be trapped in the exhaust-gas pipe 4 and within the EGR pipe 7, thereby increasing the backpressure.
  • the pumping resistance of the engine piston increases to act as a brake.
  • the pressure required to open the exhaust valve 5 by the backpressure is set higher than the lower limit value at which it is possible to achieve exhaust-gas-braking force, and the pressure required to open the EGR control valve 8 by the backpressure is set higher than the same to open the exhaust valve 5.
  • Figure 3 is a configuration diagram which includes a cross-sectional view that shows the details of an EGR control valve 8 and an exhaust valve 30 which is provided in the internal combustion engine 1, with the exhaust-gas brake shown in Fig. 1.
  • reference numeral 14 denotes an intake passage which is connected to an air-intake manifold 2
  • 15 denotes an air-intake-control valve which is provided within the air-intake passage 14
  • 16 denotes an air-intake port
  • 17 denotes a combustion chamber
  • 18 denotes a piston
  • 19 denotes an exhaust port
  • 20 denotes an air-intake valve.
  • Exhaust valve 30 has a valve 31 which opens and closes the exhaust port 19, a spring 32 which applies force in the direction which causes the valve 31 to close the exhaust port 19, and an exhaust cam 33 for the purpose of opening the valve 31 in opposition to the force of the spring 32.
  • the EGR control valve 8 is divided into a valve part 8A and a valve-drive part 8B.
  • the valve drive part 8B has a housing 88 which is separated into an atmospheric pressure chamber 88A and a vacuum chamber 88B by a diaphragm 83.
  • a spring 84 is located inside the vacuum chamber 88B.
  • the end of the valve stem 82 is connected to the diaphragm 83 inside the atmospheric pressure chamber 88A.
  • the spring 84 applies force to the diaphragm 83 in a direction that causes the valve 81 to close.
  • the reason the overall rise in pressure stops after the passage of time is that when the backpressure reaches the closing force set on the spring 32 of the exhaust valve 30, the valve 31 of the exhaust valve 30 of the cylinder in the air-intake cycle is pushed downward by the backpressure.
  • the opening of the exhaust valve 30 of the cylinder in the air-intake cycle causes the exhaust-gas to escape to the combustion chamber 17 of the cylinder in the air-intake cycle.
  • the EGR control valve 8 opens at a lower pressure than the exhaust valve 30, when the exhaust control valve 51 closes the exhaust-gas passage 4 to cause a rise in backpressure.
  • the EGR control valve 8 opens at a lower pressure than the exhaust valve 30 when the exhaust-gas-brake device 5 is operated, the backpressure in the exhaust-gas passage 4 drops and the braking performance of the exhaust-gas brake falls.
  • the opening pressure required to open the exhaust valve 30 is set to a value that provides a suitable exhaust braking performance.
  • the closing force of the spring 84 of the EGR control valve 8 is set to a value higher than the closing force of the spring 32 of the exhaust valve 30 to prevent a reduction in the exhaust-gas braking performance due to the opening operation of the EGR control valve 8.
  • valve-closing-force of the spring 32 of the exhaust valve 30 Examples of calculations of the valve-closing-force of the spring 32 of the exhaust valve 30 and the valve-closing-force of the spring 84 of the EGR control valve 8 are shown below.
  • reference Dex denotes the surface diameter over which backpressure is applied to valve body 31 of exhaust valve 30 in the opening direction
  • Pex denotes the backpressure required when the exhaust-gas brake is operated (this value depends on the type of the vehicle)
  • Degr denotes the surface diameter over which backpressure is applied to valve 81 of the EGR control valve 8 in the opening direction.
  • Fex is the valve-closing-force of the spring 32 of the exhaust valve 30
  • Fex is expressed by the following equation1 :
  • Fex [ ⁇ ⁇ (Dex)2 ⁇ Pex] ⁇ 1/4 1 ⁇
  • Fegr is the valve-closing-force of the spring 84 of EGR control valve 8
  • Fegr is expressed by the following equation 2 : Fegr ⁇ [ ⁇ ⁇ (Degr)2 ⁇ Pex] ⁇ 1/4 2 ⁇
  • valve-closing-force Fegr of the spring 84 of the EGR control valve 8 should be determined so as to achieve the value of force determined according to the equation 4.
  • the EGR device of an internal combustion engine with an exhaust-gas brake according to the present invention to control the backpressure to produce a suitable exhaust brake force when the exhaust-gas-brake device 5 is operated, because the exhaust valve 30 opens at a lower backpressure than the EGR control valve 8.
  • the EGR device of the present invention produces a suitable exhaust-gas-braking force in an internal combustion engine using an exhaust-gas brake device.
  • a suitable exhaust-gas-brake force can be obtained by setting the opening pressure required to open the exhaust-gas valve to a value which allows the production of a suitable exhaust-gas-braking force but lower than the opening pressure required to open the EGR control valve of EGR device.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Control Of Throttle Valves Provided In The Intake System Or In The Exhaust System (AREA)
  • Exhaust-Gas Circulating Devices (AREA)
  • Output Control And Ontrol Of Special Type Engine (AREA)
EP94118145A 1993-11-19 1994-11-17 Abgasrückführvorrichtung für Brennkraftmaschine mit Auspuffbremse Expired - Lifetime EP0658691B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP290702/93 1993-11-19
JP29070293A JP3156470B2 (ja) 1993-11-19 1993-11-19 排気ブレーキ付内燃機関

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0658691A1 true EP0658691A1 (de) 1995-06-21
EP0658691B1 EP0658691B1 (de) 1997-03-19

Family

ID=17759411

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94118145A Expired - Lifetime EP0658691B1 (de) 1993-11-19 1994-11-17 Abgasrückführvorrichtung für Brennkraftmaschine mit Auspuffbremse

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0658691B1 (de)
JP (1) JP3156470B2 (de)
DE (1) DE69402160T2 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1998041746A1 (en) * 1997-03-14 1998-09-24 Scania Cv Aktiebolag (Publ) Method for controlling a combustion engine during starting and a combustion engine for implementing the method
AT411545B (de) * 2001-05-14 2004-02-25 Man Steyr Ag Brennkraftmaschine in einem fahrzeug mit einer motorbremsvorrichtung und einer abgasrückführeinrichtung
EP1715162A3 (de) * 2005-04-19 2007-10-10 Dr.Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft Abgasabführungssystem für eine Brennkraftmaschine sowie Absperrklappe für ein Abgasabführungssystem

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19940264B4 (de) * 1999-08-25 2008-08-07 Robert Bosch Gmbh Verfahren zum Bremsen eines Verbrennungsmotors eines Kraftfahrzeugs

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS56528A (en) * 1979-06-15 1981-01-07 Aisin Seiki Co Ltd Exhaust brake
JPS60243329A (ja) * 1984-05-16 1985-12-03 Mitsubishi Motors Corp エンジンの過給装置
JPS6379463U (de) * 1986-11-13 1988-05-25
JPH03258960A (ja) * 1990-03-08 1991-11-19 Toyota Motor Corp ディーゼル機関の排気ガス再循環装置
JPH05180010A (ja) * 1991-12-27 1993-07-20 Fuji Oozx Kk 排気ブレーキの制御装置
JPH06147025A (ja) * 1992-11-11 1994-05-27 Toyota Motor Corp 排気還流装置
JPH06241071A (ja) * 1993-02-19 1994-08-30 Jidosha Kiki Co Ltd エキゾーストブレーキバルブ装置

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS56528A (en) * 1979-06-15 1981-01-07 Aisin Seiki Co Ltd Exhaust brake
JPS60243329A (ja) * 1984-05-16 1985-12-03 Mitsubishi Motors Corp エンジンの過給装置
JPS6379463U (de) * 1986-11-13 1988-05-25
JPH03258960A (ja) * 1990-03-08 1991-11-19 Toyota Motor Corp ディーゼル機関の排気ガス再循環装置
JPH05180010A (ja) * 1991-12-27 1993-07-20 Fuji Oozx Kk 排気ブレーキの制御装置
JPH06147025A (ja) * 1992-11-11 1994-05-27 Toyota Motor Corp 排気還流装置
JPH06241071A (ja) * 1993-02-19 1994-08-30 Jidosha Kiki Co Ltd エキゾーストブレーキバルブ装置

Non-Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 10, no. 114 (M - 473) 26 April 1986 (1986-04-26) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 16, no. 69 (M - 1212) 20 February 1992 (1992-02-20) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 17, no. 604 (M - 1506) 8 November 1993 (1993-11-08) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 18, no. 465 (M - 1665) 30 August 1994 (1994-08-30) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 18, no. 628 (M - 1713) 30 November 1994 (1994-11-30) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 5, no. 43 (M - 060) 23 March 1981 (1981-03-23) *

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1998041746A1 (en) * 1997-03-14 1998-09-24 Scania Cv Aktiebolag (Publ) Method for controlling a combustion engine during starting and a combustion engine for implementing the method
US6230682B1 (en) 1997-03-14 2001-05-15 Scania Cv Aktiebolag (Publ) Combustion engine and method of controlling same
AT411545B (de) * 2001-05-14 2004-02-25 Man Steyr Ag Brennkraftmaschine in einem fahrzeug mit einer motorbremsvorrichtung und einer abgasrückführeinrichtung
EP1715162A3 (de) * 2005-04-19 2007-10-10 Dr.Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft Abgasabführungssystem für eine Brennkraftmaschine sowie Absperrklappe für ein Abgasabführungssystem

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69402160D1 (de) 1997-04-24
JPH07139377A (ja) 1995-05-30
DE69402160T2 (de) 1997-08-28
EP0658691B1 (de) 1997-03-19
JP3156470B2 (ja) 2001-04-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0751285B1 (de) Mehrschritt-Ventilöffnungssteuervorrichtung
US6945240B2 (en) Device and method for exhaust gas circulation of internal combustion engine
US5009199A (en) Intake reservoir for an engine having a check valve
EP0658691B1 (de) Abgasrückführvorrichtung für Brennkraftmaschine mit Auspuffbremse
EP1367230A1 (de) Turboaufgeladener Motor
JPH0324838Y2 (de)
JP3828209B2 (ja) 過給式エンジンの吸気装置
JPS60243329A (ja) エンジンの過給装置
JP3063119B2 (ja) 過給機付内燃機関の吸気装置
JP3426417B2 (ja) 排気還流装置
JPH078554U (ja) ターボチャージャ付内燃機関の排気還流制御装置
KR100311161B1 (ko) 차량용 배기 브레이크 시스템
JPH1162721A (ja) 排気ガス再循環装置
JPH0118806Y2 (de)
JP3341555B2 (ja) 排気ガス再循環装置用多段開度弁制御装置
JPS6126595Y2 (de)
JPH0326256Y2 (de)
JPS6126594Y2 (de)
JPH0531236Y2 (de)
JPS6218646Y2 (de)
KR100350114B1 (ko) 배기가스 재순환 시스템
JPS6033301Y2 (ja) 過給装置
JP2606055Y2 (ja) エンジンの吸気絞り装置
JPS6329867Y2 (de)
JPH0139866Y2 (de)

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19941117

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19950804

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69402160

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19970424

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20041109

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20041111

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20041117

Year of fee payment: 11

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20051117

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20060601

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20051117

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20060731

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20060731