Vapor leak detection module having a shared electromagnet coil for operating both pump and vent valve

• US 5,974,861 A
• Filed: 04/24/1998
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Canada Limited (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Canada Limited (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Cook, John E., Perry, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): LARKIN, DANIEL SEAN
• Application Number:
  US09/065,956
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 73/40, 73/49.2, 73/49.7, 73/118.1, 123/518, 123/519, 123/520
• US Class Current: 73/40
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0818 having means for pressurising the evaporative emission space

Abstract

A module for an on-board evaporative emission leak detection system that detects 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.

Claims

1. A module for an on-board evaporative emission leak detection system that detects leakage from an evaporative emission space of a fuel system of an automotive vehicle, the module comprising:

an enclosure comprising an interior space communicated to atmosphere;

a pump disposed within the interior space comprising a pumping chamber having an inlet communicated to the interior space and a flow passage for communicating the pumping chamber with an evaporative emission space to allow the pump to create pressure in the evaporative emission space suitable for performance of a leak test;

a vent valve that is disposed within the interior space and that is selectively operable to a first state that vents the flow passage to the interior space to thereby vent the evaporative emission space to atmosphere and to a second state that does not vent the flow passage to the interior space; 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.

2. A module as set forth in claim 1 in which the device comprises a pair of electric terminals via which the control signal is conducted to the device.

3. A module as set forth in claim 2 in which the device comprises an electromagnet, and the control signal comprises electric current flow that is conducted through the electromagnet via the pair of terminals and that causes the electromagnet to create an associated magnetic flux field.

4. A module as set forth in claim 3 in which the electromagnet comprises a single solenoid coil through which the electric current flow is conducted to create the magnetic flux field, and the magnetic flux field comprises a first magnetic circuit conducting a first portion of the magnetic flux field and a second magnetic circuit conducting a second portion of the magnetic flux field.

5. A module as set forth in claim 4 in which the electromagnet comprises an E-shaped stator comprising outer legs and a middle leg, the single solenoid coil is disposed on the middle leg of the stator, the first magnetic circuit includes a first of the outer legs and a first portion of the middle leg, and the second magnetic circuit includes a second of the outer legs and a second portion of the middle leg.

6. A module as set forth in claim 5 in which the first electromechanical coupling comprises a first armature having a distal end that is disposed proximate a distal end of the stator middle leg and a distal end of the first outer leg of the stator, and the second electromechanical coupling comprises a second armature having a distal end that is disposed proximate the distal end of the stator middle leg and a distal end of the second outer leg of the stator.

7. A module as set forth in claim 6 in which the distal end of the first armature comprises a permanent magnet, and the distal end of the second armature comprises a soft iron slug.

8. A module as set forth in claim 7 in which the first armature comprises a first spring strip having proximal and distal ends, the permanent magnet is disposed at the distal end of the first spring strip, the proximal end of the first spring strip cantilever mounts the first armature in a first mounting, the second armature comprises a second spring strip having proximal and distal ends, the soft iron slug is disposed at the distal end of the second spring strip, and the proximal end of the second spring strip cantilever mounts the second armature in a second mounting.

9. A module as set forth in claim 8 in which the first and second spring strips comprise respective sides of a U-shaped band having a base joining the sides, and the first and second mountings are contained in a mount that holds the base through an elastomeric grip.

10. A module as set forth in claim 9 in which the pump comprises a housing, and the mount is part of the pump housing.

11. A module as set forth in claim 6 in which the pump comprises a pumping mechanism that is operatively connected with the first armature at a location proximal to the distal end of the first armature, and the vent valve comprises a closure operatively connected with the second armature at a location proximal to the distal end of the second armature member.

12. A module as set forth in claim 8 in which the first and second spring strips are respective sides of a U-shaped band having a base joining the sides, and the first and second mountings are contained in a mount that engages the base through an elastomer.

13. A module as set forth in claim 5 in which one of the electromechanical couplings comprises an armature having a proximal end mounting the armature with respect to the enclosure and a free distal end that is disposed to be acted upon by the electric device to operate the armature.

14. A module as set forth in claim 13 including a mount cantilever mounting the armature, and in which the armature comprises a spring strip that is flexed from a relaxed condition by the control signal.

15. A module as set forth in claim 13 in which the device comprises an electromagnet, the control signal comprises electric current flow that is conducted through the electromagnet and that causes the electromagnet to create an associated magnetic flux field, and the distal end of the armature comprises a magnetically responsive mass that is disposed in the magnetic flux field for operating the armature.

16. A leak detection module comprising:

an enclosure; and

an electromagnet coil, an electromechanically operated pump, and an electromechanically operated valve disposed within the enclosure;

wherein the pump and the valve share a common portion of the electromagnet coil for their respective operation.

17. A leak detection module as set forth in claim 16 in which the pump and the valve share the entire electromagnet coil.

18. A leak detection module as set forth in claim 17 in which the electromagnet coil comprises a winding having two terminations via which respective electric current components for operating the pump and the valve respectively can flow through the winding.

19. A leak detection module comprising:

an enclosure comprising an interior space and a passage that is partitioned from the interior space;

an electric-operated pump and an electric-operated valve disposed within the interior space;

the pump comprising an inlet communicating with the interior space and an outlet;

the valve having an inlet communicating with the pump outlet and an outlet communicating with the interior space;

a first port for externally communicating the interior space;

a second port for externally communicating the pump outlet and the valve inlet;

a third port for externally communicating the passage; and

a fourth port for externally communicating the passage.

20. A leak detection module as set forth in claim 19 in which the second and third ports are disposed in a common sidewall of the enclosure.