Method and Apparatus for Evaporative Emissions Control
First Claim
1. A method of controlling an evaporative emissions system of a vehicle comprising:
- determining that a refueling event has been requested by a vehicle occupant;
detecting a pressure inside a fuel tank; and
impeding opening of a fuel tank inlet if the pressure is above a limit value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of controlling an evaporative emissions system of a vehicle includes determining that a refueling event has been requested by a vehicle occupant, detecting a pressure inside a fuel tank, and impeding opening of a fuel tank inlet if the pressure is above a limit value. After the refueling event, an open/closed status of a fuel inlet access door is monitored, a fuel level inside a fuel tank is monitored, and a vehicle engine an operating condition is monitored. Pressure buildup within the fuel tank is disabled if a) the open/closed status has not changed from closed to open, and b) the fuel level has increased, and c) the vehicle engine is operating. An operator alert may be generated, and/or a fault code may be set in a vehicle diagnostic system.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of controlling an evaporative emissions system of a vehicle comprising:
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determining that a refueling event has been requested by a vehicle occupant; detecting a pressure inside a fuel tank; and impeding opening of a fuel tank inlet if the pressure is above a limit value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of controlling an evaporative emissions system of a vehicle after refueling comprising:
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monitoring an open/closed status of a fuel inlet access door; monitoring a fuel level inside a fuel tank; detecting that a vehicle engine is in an operating condition; and disabling a pressure buildup within the fuel tank if a) the open/closed status has not changed from closed to open, and b) the fuel level has increased, and c) the vehicle engine is operating. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Apparatus for controlling evaporative emissions from a fuel system of an automotive vehicle comprising:
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a fuel tank; a tank inlet for adding fuel to the tank; a refueling access door limiting access to the tank inlet; a fuel tank pressure sensor; a vapor recovery canister receiving vapors from the tank; an isolation valve between the tank and the recovery canister and closable to allow pressure to increase in the tank; a refuel input device usable by a vehicle occupant to direct opening of the refueling access door; and a controller operatively interfaced with the refueling access door, the pressure sensor, the isolation valve, and the tank refuel input device and impeding opening of the refueling access door when the pressure sensor detects an internal tank pressure greater than a threshold pressure. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification