Leak detection module having electric-operated toggle levers for pump and valve
First Claim
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 adapted to be communicated to atmosphere;
a pump disposed within the interior space comprising a pumping chamber having an inlet in communication with the interior space and a flow passage for communicating the pumping chamber with an evaporative emission space to allow the evaporative emission space to be pressurized by the pump;
a vent valve that is disposed within the interior space and 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 disposed within the interior space for operating both the pump and the vent valve to perform a leak test on the evaporative emission space;
a first electromagnetic coupling for operatively coupling the actuator with the pump;
a second electromagnetic coupling for operatively coupling the actuator with the valve;
the actuator comprising an electromagnet coil disposed about an axis, the first coupling comprising a first magnetically responsive element that is disposed proximate an axial end of the coil to be displaced with a principal component of motion parallel to the coil axis, and the second coupling comprising a second magnetically responsive element that is disposed proximate an axial end of the coil to be displaced with a principal component of motion parallel to the coil axis.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A module for an on-board evaporative emission leak detection system that detects leakage from an evaporative emission space of an automotive vehicle fuel system. A pump disposed within interior space of the module has an inlet in communication with the interior space and a flow passage through which the evaporative emission space is pressurized by the pump. A vent valve within the interior space is selectively operable to a first state that vents the flow passage to the interior space of the module and to a second state that does not vent the flow passage to the interior space. An electromechanical actuator within the interior space operates both the pump and the vent valve. The actuator has an electromagnet coil disposed on the middle leg of an E-shaped core comprising a stack of ferromagnetic laminations. A first magnetically responsive lever for operating the pump is mounted for pivotal motion about a first pivot axis proximate a distal end of one of the outer legs of the core, and a second magnetically responsive lever for operating the vent valve is mounted for pivotal motion about a second pivot axis that is disposed proximate a distal end of the other outer leg of the core.
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Citations
24 Claims
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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:
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an enclosure comprising an interior space adapted to be communicated to atmosphere; a pump disposed within the interior space comprising a pumping chamber having an inlet in communication with the interior space and a flow passage for communicating the pumping chamber with an evaporative emission space to allow the evaporative emission space to be pressurized by the pump; a vent valve that is disposed within the interior space and 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 disposed within the interior space for operating both the pump and the vent valve to perform a leak test on the evaporative emission space; a first electromagnetic coupling for operatively coupling the actuator with the pump; a second electromagnetic coupling for operatively coupling the actuator with the valve; the actuator comprising an electromagnet coil disposed about an axis, the first coupling comprising a first magnetically responsive element that is disposed proximate an axial end of the coil to be displaced with a principal component of motion parallel to the coil axis, and the second coupling comprising a second magnetically responsive element that is disposed proximate an axial end of the coil to be displaced with a principal component of motion parallel to the coil axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. 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:
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an enclosure comprising an interior space adapted to be communicated to atmosphere; a pump disposed within the interior space comprising a pumping chamber having an inlet in communication with the interior space and a flow passage for communicating the pumping chamber with an evaporative emission space to allow the evaporative emission space to be pressurized by the pump; a vent valve that is disposed within the interior space and 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 disposed within the interior space for operating both the pump and the vent valve to perform a leak test on the evaporative emission space; the actuator comprising an electromagnet coil disposed on a ferromagnetic core having legs; a first coupling that couples the actuator with the pump comprising a first lever mounted for pivotal motion about a first pivot axis that is disposed proximate a distal end of a first of the legs of the core; and a second coupling that couples the actuator with the vent valve comprising a second lever mounted for pivotal motion about a second pivot axis that is disposed proximate a distal end of a second of the legs of the core. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. 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:
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an enclosure comprising an interior space adapted to be communicated to atmosphere; a pump disposed within the interior space comprising a pumping chamber having an inlet in communication with the interior space and a flow passage for communicating the pumping chamber with an evaporative emission space to allow the evaporative emission space to be pressurized by the pump; a vent valve that is disposed within the interior space and 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 electric-operated actuator mechanism disposed within the interior space for operating the pump and the vent valve to perform a leak test on the evaporative emission space; the electric-operated actuator mechanism comprising a first lever mounted for pivotal motion about a first pivot axis to operate the pump and a second lever mounted for pivotal motion about a second pivot axis to operate the vent valve; the first lever comprising first and second lever arms each extending at a different angle from the first pivot axis; and the second lever comprising first and second lever arms each extending at a different angle from the second pivot axis. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A leak detection method for detecting leakage from an evaporative emission space of a fuel system of an automotive vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing an enclosure comprising an interior space adapted to be communicated to atmosphere; providing within the interior space a pump comprising a pumping chamber having an inlet in communication with the interior space and a flow passage for communicating the pumping chamber with an evaporative emission space to allow the evaporative emission space to be pressurized by the pump; providing within the interior space a vent valve 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; providing within the interior space a first lever for operating the pump and a second lever for operating the valve; operating the pump by swinging the first lever about a first pivot axis; and operating the vent valve by swinging the second lever about a second pivot axis.
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Specification