Hydrocarbon vapor control system for an internal combustion engine
First Claim
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1. A system for controlling the flow of fuel to an air-breathing internal combustion engine having a fuel vapor storage apparatus, said system comprising:
- vapor flow means for determining the actual mass flow rate of fuel vapor transported from the storage apparatus into the air intake of the engine, and for controlling said mass flow rate in response to commands from a fuel controller means wherein said vapor flow means comprises a variable area critical flow nozzle which discharges the transported fuel vapor upon an impactor so as to impose a force upon the impactor which is proportional to the mass flow rate of the vapor;
main fuel means for supplying fuel to the engine in addition to said fuel vapor; and
fuel controller means, operatively connected with said main fuel supply means and said vapor flow means, for;
measuring a plurality of engine operating parameters, including the actual air/fuel ratio at which the engine is operating;
calculating a desired air/fuel ratio; and
operating the main fuel means and said vapor flow means to deliver an amount of fuel required to achieve the desired air/fuel ratio, based upon the determined mass flow of fuel vapor from the vapor storage apparatus and upon the actual air/fuel ratio.
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Abstract
A fuel vapor handling system for an internal combustion engine uses a calibrated nozzle in a device which determines the mass flow of fuel vapor being drawn into the engine, while controlling the vapor flow in response to commands from a fuel controller, so as to permit finer control of the air/fuel ratio.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A system for controlling the flow of fuel to an air-breathing internal combustion engine having a fuel vapor storage apparatus, said system comprising:
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vapor flow means for determining the actual mass flow rate of fuel vapor transported from the storage apparatus into the air intake of the engine, and for controlling said mass flow rate in response to commands from a fuel controller means wherein said vapor flow means comprises a variable area critical flow nozzle which discharges the transported fuel vapor upon an impactor so as to impose a force upon the impactor which is proportional to the mass flow rate of the vapor; main fuel means for supplying fuel to the engine in addition to said fuel vapor; and fuel controller means, operatively connected with said main fuel supply means and said vapor flow means, for; measuring a plurality of engine operating parameters, including the actual air/fuel ratio at which the engine is operating; calculating a desired air/fuel ratio; and operating the main fuel means and said vapor flow means to deliver an amount of fuel required to achieve the desired air/fuel ratio, based upon the determined mass flow of fuel vapor from the vapor storage apparatus and upon the actual air/fuel ratio. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for controlling the flow of fuel to an air-breathing internal combustion engine having a fuel vapor storage apparatus, said system comprising:
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vapor flow means for determining the mass flow rate of fuel vapor being transported by purge air flowing from the fuel vapor storage apparatus into the air intake of the engine as a combined gas stream and for controlling the flow of fuel vapor to the engine, comprising; volumetric flow means for determining the volume flow rate of the combined gas stream; density measuring means for determining the mass density of the fuel vapor in the combined gas stream; mass processor means for using said determined volumetric flow rate and said determined mass density to calculate the mass flow rate of said fuel vapor; and flow governing means for controlling the flow of fuel vapor through said vapor flow means, response to commands from a fuel controller; main fuel means for supplying fuel to the engine in addition to the fuel contained in said purge flow; and fuel controller means, operatively connected with said main fuel supply means, said mass processor means, and said flow governing means, for; measuring a plurality of engine operating parameters, including the actual air/fuel ratio at which the engine is operating; calculating a desired air/fuel ratio; and operating the main fuel means and said flow governing means to deliver an amount of fuel required to achieve the desired air/fuel ratio, based upon the determined mass flow of fuel vapor from the vapor storage apparatus and upon the actual air/fuel ratio. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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Specification