DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE AND DIAGNOSTIC METHOD FOR FUEL VAPOR TREATMENT SYSTEM OF VEHICLE

• US 20090277427A1
• Filed: 05/01/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshimura, Seiji
• Granted Patent: US 8,033,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/520
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0032 Controlling the purging of the canister as a function of the engine operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2422 Selective use of one or more tables
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0809 Judging failure of purge control system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A diagnostic device for a fuel vapor treatment system having: a canister that captures fuel vapor generated in a fuel tank; a purge passage for purging fuel vapor from the canister to an intake passage of an internal combustion engine; a purge valve provided in the purge passage to adjust a flow rate of fuel vapor; a processing device that depressurize an fuel vapor path extending from the fuel tank to the purge valve via the canister by a pump and performs a diagnostic processing for diagnosing a leak of fuel vapor from the fuel vapor path based on a change in pressure in the fuel vapor path during depressurization; and an angle detection device that detects an angle of inclination of the vehicle. The processing device determines, based on an inclination angle of the vehicle detected by the angle detection device, whether the diagnostic processing can be performed.

Claims

1. A diagnostic device for a fuel vapor treatment system of a vehicle comprising:

a canister that captures fuel vapor generated in a fuel tank;

a purge passage for purging fuel vapor removed from the canister to an intake passage of an internal combustion engine;

a purge valve provided in the purge passage to adjust a flow rate of fuel vapor;

a processing device that reduces a pressure in an fuel vapor path extending from the fuel tank to the purge valve via the canister by means of a pump and performs a diagnostic processing for diagnosing a leak of fuel vapor from the fuel vapor path based on a change in pressure in the fuel vapor path during reduction of the pressure; and

an angle detection device that detects an angle of inclination of the vehicle,

wherein the processing device determines, based on an angle of inclination of the vehicle detected by the angle detection device, whether the diagnostic processing can be performed.

2. The diagnostic device according to claim 1, wherein the processing device increases the angle of inclination at which the diagnostic processing is prohibited from being performed as an amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank decreases.

3. The diagnostic device according to claim 1, wherein:

the processing device compares the angle of inclination with a preset criterial value, and prohibits the diagnostic processing from being performed when the angle of inclination is larger than the criterial value; and

the criterial value is variably set so as to increase as the amount of remaining fuel decreases.

4. The diagnostic device according to claim 2, wherein:

the processing device compares the angle of inclination with a preset criterial value, and prohibits the diagnostic processing from being performed when the angle of inclination is larger than the criterial value; and

the criterial value is variably set so as to increase as the amount of remaining fuel decreases.

5. The diagnostic device according to claim 2, wherein:

the processing device is equipped with a map for setting, based on the angle of inclination, a value of a flag indicating whether the diagnostic processing can be performed; and

the map is set such that the angle of inclination at which a value of the flag for prohibiting the diagnostic processing from being performed is set increases as the amount of remaining fuel decreases.

6. The diagnostic device according to claim 1, wherein the angle detection device detects at least one of a pitch angle of the vehicle and a roll angle of the vehicle as the angle of inclination.

7. The diagnostic device according to claim 6, wherein the angle detection device detects the pitch angle of the vehicle and the roll angle of the vehicle as the angle of inclination.

8. The diagnostic device according to claim 2, wherein the angle detection device detects at least one of a pitch angle of the vehicle and a roll angle of the vehicle as the angle of inclination.

9. The diagnostic device according to claim 8, wherein the angle detection device detects the pitch angle of the vehicle and the roll angle of the vehicle as the angle of inclination.

10. The diagnostic device according to claim 3, wherein the angle detection device detects at least one of a pitch angle of the vehicle and a roll angle of the vehicle as the angle of inclination.

11. The diagnostic device according to claim 10, wherein the angle detection device detects the pitch angle of the vehicle and the roll angle of the vehicle as the angle of inclination.

12. The diagnostic device according to claim 4, wherein the angle detection device detects at least of a pitch angle of the vehicle and a roll angle of the vehicle as the angle of inclination.

13. The diagnostic device according to claim 12, wherein the angle detection device detects the pitch angle of the vehicle and the roll angle of the vehicle as the angle of inclination.

14. The diagnostic device according to claim 5, wherein the angle detection device detects at least one of a pitch angle of the vehicle and a roll angle of the vehicle as the angle of inclination.

15. The diagnostic device according to claim 14, wherein the angle detection device detects the pitch angle of the vehicle and the roll angle of the vehicle each as the angle of inclination.

16. The diagnostic device according to claim 1, wherein:

the processing device compares the angle of inclination with a preset criterial value, and prohibits the diagnostic processing from being performed when the angle of inclination is larger than the criterial value; and

the criterial value is set to a maximum pitch angle or a maximum roll angle at which a surface of oil does not reach a suction port of the pump when the fuel tank is filled with fuel.

17. A method of diagnosing a leak of fuel vapor in an fuel vapor treatment system composed of a canister that captures fuel vapor generated in a fuel tank, a purge passage for purging fuel vapor removed from the canister to an intake passage of an internal combustion engine, and a purge valve provided in the purge passage to adjust a flow rate of fuel vapor, comprising:

reducing a pressure in an fuel vapor path extending from the fuel tank to the purge valve via the canister by means of a pump;

diagnosing a leak of fuel vapor from the fuel vapor path on based on a change in pressure in the fuel vapor path during reduction of the pressure; and

determining, on based on an angle of inclination of a vehicle, whether a processing of the diagnostic can be performed.