Multi-fuel engine control with canister purge
First Claim
1. A fuel control for a vehicle engine having a fuel tank containing a liquid fuel mixture comprising first and second combustible fuels and having a volatility varying with the relative proportion of one of the first and second fuels, induction means effective to provide the liquid fuel mixture and air to the engine in a predetermined air/fuel ratio, a fuel composition sensor in the fuel conduit responsive to a physical parameter of the fuel mixture to generate a fuel composition signal indicative of the relative proportions of the first and second fuels in the fuel mixture, canister means in fluid communication with fuel vapor in the fuel tank and effective to store fuel vapor therefrom, and canister purge means for establishing fluid communication from the canister means to the induction means for removal of fuel vapor from the canister means to the engine at a controlled purge rate, the canister purge means being responsive to the fuel composition signal to vary the purge rate as a function of the fuel composition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel control for a vehicle engine using a liquid mixture of two fuels includes a fuel vapor canister open to the fuel tank and canister purge apparatus effective to allow fuel vapors to be drawn from the canister to the engine at a controlled purge rate during engine operation. The canister purge apparatus is responsive to a fuel composition sensor to vary the purge rate as a function of the fuel composition. If the two fuels are gasoline and methanol, the canister purge rate is varied, in a predetermined range of fuel temperature, so as to provide a higher purge rate for mixtures of gasoline and methanol, in at least some proportions, than for either gasoline or methanol alone. The canister purge rate may further be varied in response to fuel temperature.
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Citations
4 Claims
- 1. A fuel control for a vehicle engine having a fuel tank containing a liquid fuel mixture comprising first and second combustible fuels and having a volatility varying with the relative proportion of one of the first and second fuels, induction means effective to provide the liquid fuel mixture and air to the engine in a predetermined air/fuel ratio, a fuel composition sensor in the fuel conduit responsive to a physical parameter of the fuel mixture to generate a fuel composition signal indicative of the relative proportions of the first and second fuels in the fuel mixture, canister means in fluid communication with fuel vapor in the fuel tank and effective to store fuel vapor therefrom, and canister purge means for establishing fluid communication from the canister means to the induction means for removal of fuel vapor from the canister means to the engine at a controlled purge rate, the canister purge means being responsive to the fuel composition signal to vary the purge rate as a function of the fuel composition.
Specification