Evaporative fuel-processing system for internal combustion engines for vehicles

• US 5,803,054 A
• Filed: 07/31/1996
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Nakajima, Takeaki, Hara, Takeshi, Wakashiro, Teruo, Yamazaki, Kazumi, Hidano, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, CARL STUART
• Application Number:
  US08/688,858
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 123/520, 123/519, 123/518, 123/521, 123/516, 123/198 D
• US Class Current: 123/519
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0854 Details of the absorption canister

Abstract

An evaporative fuel-processing system for an internal combustion engine for use in a vehicle. A passage extends between the fuel tank and the intake passage, for guiding evaporative fuel generated in the fuel tank, for processing, across which a canister is arranged. A first passage and a second passage are connected to the canister. A first valve is arranged across the first passage to allow air to flow into the canister through the first passage and inhibit air containing evaporative fuel from being discharged from the canister through the first passage. A second valve is arranged across the second passage to inhibit air from flowing into the canister through the second passage and allow air containing evaporative fuel to be discharged from the canister through the second passage. A filter is arranged in the first passage.

Claims

1. An evaporative fuel-processing system for an internal combustion engine for use in a vehicle, said engine having an intake passage and a fuel tank, comprising:

a passage extending between said fuel tank and said intake passage, for guiding evaporative fuel generated in said fuel tank, for processing;

a canister arranged across said passage;

a first passage connected to said canister;

a second passage connected to said canister;

a first valve arranged across said first passage, for allowing air to flow into said canister through said first passage and for inhibiting air containing evaporative fuel from being discharged from said canister through said first passage;

a second valve arranged across said second passage, for inhibiting air from flowing into said canister through said second passage and for allowing air containing evaporative fuel to be discharged from said canister through said second passage; and

a filter arranged in said first passage,

wherein said vehicle has a chassis including a wheel house defining a space located inwardly thereof, said first and second passages having respective distal ends, said distal end of said first passage having said filter arranged therein and opening into said space at a relatively upper portion of said space, said distal end of said second passage opening into said space at a relatively lower portion of said space.

2. An evaporative fuel-processing system for an internal combustion engine for use in a vehicle, said engine having an intake passage and a fuel tank, comprising:

a passage extending between said fuel tank and said intake passage, for guiding evaporative fuel generated in said fuel tank, for processing;

a canister arranged across said passage, said canister having an air communication port;

a drain passage connected to said air communication port;

a first passage connected to said drain passage;

a second passage connected to said drain passage;

a first valve arranged across said first passage, for allowing air to flow into said canister through said first passage and said air communication port and for inhibiting air containing evaporative fuel from being discharged from said canister through said air communication port and said first passage;

a second valve arranged across said second passage, for inhibiting air from flowing into said canister through said second passage and said air communication port and for allowing air containing evaporative fuel to be discharged from said canister through said air communication port and said second passage; and

a filter arranged in said first passage,

wherein said vehicle has a chassis including a wheel house defining a space located inwardly thereof, said first and second passages having respective distal ends, said distal end of said first passage having said filter arranged therein and opening into said space at a relatively upper portion of said space, said distal end of said second passage opening into said space at a relatively lower portion of said space.

3. An evaporative fuel-processing system for an internal combustion engine for use in a vehicle, said engine having an intake passage and a fuel tank, comprising:

a passage extending between said fuel tank and said intake passage, for guiding evaporative fuel generated in said fuel tank, for processing;

a canister arranged across said passage, said canister having an air communication port;

a first passage connected to said air communication port;

a second passage connected to said air communication port;

a first valve arranged at a junction of said first passage with said air communication port and directly connected to said air communication port, for allowing air to flow into said canister through said first passage and said air communication port and for inhibiting air containing evaporative fuel from being discharged from said canister through said air communication port and said first passage;

a second valve arranged at a junction of said second passage with said air communication port and directly connected to said air communication port, for inhibiting air from flowing into said canister through said second passage and said air communication port and for allowing air containing evaporative fuel to be discharged from said canister through said air communication port and said second passage; and

a filter arranged in said first passage,

wherein said vehicle has a chassis including a wheel house defining a space located inwardly thereof, said first and second passages having respective distal ends, said distal end of said first passage opening into said space at a relatively upper portion of said space, said distal end of said second passage opening into said space at a relatively lower portion of said space.