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Evaporative emission leak detection system including vacuum regulator with sensitive seal

  • US 6,330,878 B1
  • Filed: 05/31/2000
  • Issued: 12/18/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An automotive vehicle comprising:

  • a fuel-consuming internal combustion engine that powers the vehicle and comprises an intake manifold;

    a fuel storage system for storing volatile liquid fuel for consumption by the engine and comprising an evaporative emission space for containing fuel vapor;

    an evaporative emission control system comprising a vent valve for selectively opening and closing a vent path from the evaporative emission space to atmosphere, a fuel vapor collection medium disposed in the vent path for trapping fuel vapors so their escape to atmosphere through the vent path is prevented, and a purge valve for selectively opening and closing a vapor purge path from the evaporative emission space to the intake manifold to selectively purge fuel vapors from the evaporative emission space and medium to the engine; and

    a vacuum regulator valve for regulating vacuum in the evaporative emission space to a defined magnitude when the vent valve is closed, the purge valve is open, and the engine is running;

    wherein the vacuum regulator valve comprises a movable wall dividing a housing into a first chamber space communicated to atmosphere and a second chamber space communicated to the evaporative emission space, a spring resiliently biasing the movable wall in a sense toward decreasing the volume of the first chamber space while increasing the volume of the second chamber space, a through-hole in the movable wall via which the two chamber spaces can communicate, and a compliant, impermeable seal element toward which the movable wall is resiliently biased, the seal element comprising a face disposed to confront the movable wall for selectively sealing against the movable wall around the margin of the through-hole to close the through-hole and unsealing from the margin of the through-hole to open the through-hole.

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