SYSTEM FOR EVAPORATIVE AND REFUELING EMISSION CONTROL FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20120152210A1
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karma Automotive LLC (Wanxiang Group Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fisker Automotive, Inc. (Wanxiang Group Corporation)
• Inventors: Reddy, Sam, Walsh, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 9,422,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/520
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03504 adapted to avoid loss of fuel or fuel vapour, e.g. with vapour recovery systems
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0809 Judging failure of purge control system
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0836 Arrangement of valves controlling the admission of fuel vapour to an engine, e.g. valve being disposed between fuel tank or absorption canister and intake manifold
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/089 Layout of the fuel vapour installation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0402 Cleaning, repairing, or assembling

Abstract

A fuel tank evaporative emissions control and diagnostic system includes a fuel tank, a canister in fluid communication with the fuel tank to receive vapor escaping from the fuel tank, at least one isolation valve positioned between the fuel tank and the canister, a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the canister, a purge valve positioned between the canister and an internal combustion engine to be in fluid communication with the canister and the internal combustion engine, a canister vent valve positioned on an air inlet of the canister for allowing air to purge vapor from the canister to exit the and into the internal combustion engine, and one or more electronic controllers coupled to the pressure sensor, the isolation valve, the purge valve, and the canister vent valve for controlling the valves according to a preset diagnostic test for checking for malfunctions in the system.

Claims

1. A fuel tank evaporative emissions control and onboard evaporative diagnostic system comprising:

a fuel tank;

a canister in fluid communication with the fuel tank to receive vapor escaping from the fuel tank;

at least one isolation valve positioned between the fuel tank and the canister;

a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the canister;

a purge valve positioned between the canister and an internal combustion engine to be in fluid communication with the canister and the internal combustion engine;

a canister vent valve positioned on an air inlet of the canister for allowing air to purge vapor from the canister to exit the canister and into the internal combustion engine; and

one or more electronic controllers coupled to the pressure sensor, the isolation valve, the purge valve, and the canister vent valve for controlling the valves according to preset diagnostic tests for checking for malfunctions in the system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the results of the diagnostic test initiate a notification to a user of the system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is arranged between the fuel tank and the canister.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is external the fuel tank.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is arranged to obtain a pressure reading external the fuel tank.

6. The system of claim 1, the one or more electronic controllers configured to control the at least one isolation valve to selectively seal the fuel tank from the canister.

7. The system of claim 6,

wherein the one or more controllers control perfoi In a first diagnostic in a case where the at least one isolation valve is closed to seal the fuel tank from the canister;

and

wherein the one or more controllers perform a second diagnostic in a case where the at least one isolation valve is open such that the fuel tank and the canister are in fluid communication.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more controllers control the at least one isolation valve to allow a pressure in the fuel tank and a pressure in the canister to equalize for a predetermined amount of time.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein, after the predetermined amount of time, in a case where the canister is sealed and the pressure sensor senses decay in the pressure of the canister, the one or more electronic controls provide a indication that there may be a malfunction in the system.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein, after the predetermined amount of time, in a case where the canister is sealed and the pressure sensor does not sense that the pressure of the canister is above a predetermined value, the one or more electronic controls provide a indication that there may be a malfunction in the system.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the diagnostic tests is performed upon starting the vehicle after the vehicle has been off for a predetermined amount of time.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to purge the vapor in the canister.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the vapor is purged during operation of the internal combustion engine.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the vapor is purged after refueling the fuel tank.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the vapor is purged in response to actuation of a switch by a user of the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the actuation of the switch causes a fuel door or cap to open to allow for refueling of the fuel tank.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the diagnostic tests is performed during the operation of the internal combustion engine.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the vapor is purged during operation of the internal combustion engine by opening the canister vent valve and the purge valve.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one isolation valve seals the fuel tank from the canister when the vapor is purged from the canister.

20. A method of manufacturing a fuel tank evaporative emissions control and onboard evaporative diagnostic system comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a fuel tank;

(b) arranging a canister in fluid communication with the fuel tank to receive vapor escaping from the fuel tank;

(c) positioning at least one isolation valve between the fuel tank and the canister;

(d) arranging a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the canister;

(e) positioning a purge valve between the canister and an internal combustion engine to be in fluid communication with the canister and the internal combustion engine;

(f) positioning a canister vent valve on an air inlet of the canister for allowing air to purge vapor from the canister to exit the canister and into the internal combustion engine; and

(g) coupling one or more electronic controllers to the pressure sensor, the isolation valve, the purge valve, and the canister vent valve for controlling the valves according to preset diagnostic tests for checking for malfunctions in the system.