Vapor leak detection system having a shared electromagnet coil for operating both pump and vent valve
First Claim
1. An on-board evaporative emission leak detection system for detecting leakage from an evaporative emission space of a fuel system of an automotive vehicle comprising:
- a pump for pumping gaseous fluid with respect to an evaporative emission space;
a vent valve that is selectively operable to a first state that vents the evaporative emission space to atmosphere and to a second state that does not vent the evaporative emission space to atmosphere; and
an electromechanical actuator for operating both the pump and the vent valve comprising, an electric device for receiving an electric control signal having a first component for controlling operation of the pump and a second component for controlling operation of the vent valve, a first electromechanical coupling operatively coupling the device with the pump such that the pump operation is controlled by the first component of the electric control signal, and a second electromechanical coupling operatively coupling the device with the vent valve such that the vent valve operation is controlled by the second component of the electric control signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An on-board evaporative emission leak detection system has a module for detecting leakage from an evaporative emission space of a fuel system of an automotive vehicle. Interior space of the module'"'"'s enclosure is communicated to atmosphere. A pump is disposed within space and has an inlet communicated to the interior space and a flow passage at its outlet to allow the pump to create pressure in the evaporative emission space suitable for performance of a leak test. A vent valve is disposed within space and is selectively operable to vent and not vent the flow passage to space. An electromagnet actuator has a single electric coil that operates both the pump and the vent valve by cantilever-mounted armatures responsive to electric control current in the coil having a first current component for controlling the pump and a second current component for controlling the vent valve.
66 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An on-board evaporative emission leak detection system for detecting leakage from an evaporative emission space of a fuel system of an automotive vehicle comprising:
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a pump for pumping gaseous fluid with respect to an evaporative emission space; a vent valve that is selectively operable to a first state that vents the evaporative emission space to atmosphere and to a second state that does not vent the evaporative emission space to atmosphere; and an electromechanical actuator for operating both the pump and the vent valve comprising, an electric device for receiving an electric control signal having a first component for controlling operation of the pump and a second component for controlling operation of the vent valve, a first electromechanical coupling operatively coupling the device with the pump such that the pump operation is controlled by the first component of the electric control signal, and a second electromechanical coupling operatively coupling the device with the vent valve such that the vent valve operation is controlled by the second component of the electric control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A leak detection system comprising:
an electromagnet coil, an electromechanically operated pump, and an electromechanically operated valve, wherein the pump and the valve share a common portion of the electromagnet coil for their respective operation. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method of operating a pump and a valve during detection of leakage from an evaporative emission space of a fuel system of an automotive vehicle, the method comprising:
- conducting through a common portion of an electromagnet coil, electric current that has a first component for operating the pump and a second component for operating the valve.
- View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method of detecting leakage from an evaporative emission space of a fuel system of an automotive vehicle, the method comprising:
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operating a pump and a valve from a commonly shared portion of an electromagnet coil; and monitoring an operating parameter than conveys information representative of pressure in the evaporative emission space. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. An on-board evaporative emission leak detection system for detecting leakage from an evaporative emission space of a fuel system of an automotive vehicle, the system comprising:
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a pump for pumping gas to create pressure in the evaporative emission space suitable for performance of a leak test; a vent valve that is selectively operable to a first state for venting the evaporative emission space to atmosphere and to a second state that does not vent the evaporative emission space to atmosphere; and an electromechanical actuator comprising an electromechanical mechanism for operating one of the pump and the vent valve comprising an electric device for receiving an electric control signal, an electromechanical coupling operatively coupling the device with the one of the pump and vent valve comprising an armature having a proximal end mounting the armature for operation and a free distal end disposed to be acted upon by the electric device to operate the armature in accordance with the control signal. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification