Flow sensor for purge valve diagnostic
First Claim
1. A fuel vapor management apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a housing located upstream of an intake manifold, canister and purge valve and downstream of a vent port, the housing defining an interior chamber and a valve separating the interior chamber into first and second portions; and
a device including a temperature sensor disposed within the chamber, the device being configured to detect fuel vapor flow based upon a temperature detected by the sensor.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for managing fuel vapor pressure in a fuel system that supplies fuel to an internal combustion engine. The fuel vapor pressure management apparatus performs leak detection on a headspace of the fuel system, performs excess negative pressure relief of the headspace, performs excess positive pressure relief of the headspace, and performs a diagnostic on the purge valve. The apparatus includes a housing, a pressure operable device, and a printed circuit board. The housing defines an interior chamber. The pressure operable device separates the interior chamber into first and second portions. And the pressure operable device includes a poppet that moves along an axis and a seal that is adapted to cooperatively engage the poppet. The printed circuit board is supported by the housing in the interior chamber. And the printed circuit board includes a first sensor that is adapted to be actuated by movement of the poppet along the axis and a second sensor that measures a flow rate within the housing.
44 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A fuel vapor management apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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a housing located upstream of an intake manifold, canister and purge valve and downstream of a vent port, the housing defining an interior chamber and a valve separating the interior chamber into first and second portions; and
a device including a temperature sensor disposed within the chamber, the device being configured to detect fuel vapor flow based upon a temperature detected by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A fuel vapor pressure and flow apparatus of a fuel system supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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a housing defining an interior chamber, the housing being located upstream of an intake manifold, canister and purge valve and downstream of a vent port;
a valve separating the interior chamber into first and second portions, the first portion adapted for being continuously exposed to fuel vapor and the second portion adapted for being periodically exposed to fuel vapor;
a pressure sensor located within the interior chamber; and
a flow sensor located within the interior chamber, the flow sensor including a thermistor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for diagnosing a purge valve of a fuel vapor pressure management system of an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:
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heating a temperature sensor, the sensor being located upstream of an intake manifold, canister and purge valve and downstream of a vent port; and
detecting fuel vapor flow using the temperature sensor and determining, based on the detected fuel vapor flow, whether the purge valve is purging fuel vapor. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for diagnosing a purge valve of a fuel system for an internal combustion engine, wherein the purge valve is upstream of the engine intake manifold and a fuel vapor collection canister is upstream of the purge valve, the purge valve being controlled by the ECU, comprising the steps of:
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providing a housing upstream of the canister and downstream of an external air intake, the housing containing a valve and a temperature sensor controlled by the ECU;
sending a command to the purge valve;
sending a command to heat the temperature sensor; and
measuring a plurality of temperatures using the temperature sensor and, based on the plurality of temperatures, determining a flow rate within the housing indicative of an open purge valve. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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Specification