Method and device for regenerating a fuel vapor filter for a direct injection engine

• US 6,293,260 B1
• Filed: 08/09/1999
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Atanasyan, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIMIE, MAHMOUD
• Application Number:
  US09/367,200
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 123/520, 123/518, 123/519, 123/295, 123/302, 123/432, 123/533
• US Class Current: 123/520
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/125 Direct injection in the combustion chamber for spark ignition engines, i.e. not in pre-combustion chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 23/101 the injector being placed on or close to the cylinder centre axis, e.g. with mixture formation using spray guided concepts
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/003 Adding fuel vapours, e.g. drawn from engine fuel reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/008 Controlling each cylinder individually
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3029 further comprising a homogeneous charge spark-ignited mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3076 with special conditions for selecting a mode of combustion, e.g. for starting, for diagnosing
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/08 adding fuel vapours drawn from engine fuel reservoir electrical control of purge system F02D41/003
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for regenerating a fuel vapor filter for a direct injection engine, and to a corresponding device. The process according to the invention comprises the following steps, while the engine is running on stratified charge:

authorizing the purging of the fuel vapor filter (18),

letting the fuel vapors into at least one of the cylinders (11), and

performing homogeneous combustion in the cylinder receiving the fuel vapors.

The invention also relates to a corresponding device (24). This device comprises, in particular, a pump (19) allowing the fuel vapors to be circulated from the filter (18) to the cylinders (11).

Claims

1. A fuel vapor filter regeneration process for a direct injection engine of the type having:

a plurality of cylinders supplied directly with fuel;

a filter for collecting fuel vapors at a fuel tank; and

a fuel vapor discharge line fitted with a fuel vapor discharge valve, and a pump associated with the line for discharging the fuel vapors stored in the filter and for conveying the fuel vapors towards the cylinders;

the process which comprises, while the engine is operating on stratified charge, the following steps;

opening the fuel vapor discharge valve when a degree of saturation of the filter exceeds a given threshold;

allowing the fuel vapors to enter at least one of the cylinders but not simultaneously all of the cylinders;

p2 cyclically determining the cylinder receiving the fuel vapors such that each cylinder of the plurality of cylinders receives fuel vapor in turn; and

homogeneously combusting the fuel vapors in the respective cylinder.

2. The process according to claim 1, which further comprises:

monitoring a value of a torque output by the cylinder receiving the fuel vapor; and

managing one of an ignition advance of the cylinder receiving the fuel vapor and a fuel injection period such that the torque output by the respective cylinder receiving the fuel vapor is similar to torques output from the other cylinders.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the allowing step comprises letting the fuel vapors enter a single cylinder.

4. The process according to claim 1, which comprises managing an instant of fuel injection for defining a homogeneous combustion.

5. A device for regenerating a fuel vapor filter for an internal combustion engine with a plurality of cylinders, comprising:

a fuel vapor filter for storing fuel vapors originating from a fuel tank;

a fuel vapor discharge line communicating with said filter for conveying the fuel vapors from the filter to an immediate vicinity of a plurality of cylinders of an internal combustion engine;

a discharge valve mounted at said fuel vapor discharge line in the vicinity of the cylinders;

a fuel vapor discharge pump connected to cause the fuel vapors to circulate between the filter and the cylinders when an opening of said saturation valve is authorized, whereby the vapors are introduced into at least one of the cylinders, but not simultaneously into all of the plurality of cylinders, said at least one of the cylinders being cyclically determined from said plurality of cylinders such that each cylinder of the plurality of cylinders receives fuel vapor in turn.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said discharge valve is adapted to open and close in synchronism with an inlet valve of the respective cylinder receiving the fuel vapors.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein said discharge valve is a valve with proportional opening.