Integrated pressure management system for a fuel system

• US 6,460,566 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2000
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1999
• 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): RIVELL, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US09/542,052
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 123/516, 123/518, 123/519, 123/520, 137/493, 137/494, 137/495, 137/493.9, 137/560, 251/65, 251/129.15, 200/83.Q, 200/61-86
• US Class Current: 137/495
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0809 Judging failure of purge control system
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0836 Arrangement of valves controlling the admission of fuel vapour to an engine, e.g. valve being disposed between fuel tank or absorption canister and intake manifold
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0854 Details of the absorption canister
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7771 Bi-directional flow valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7782 With manual or external control for line valve

Abstract

An integrated pressure management system manages pressure and detects leaks in a fuel system. The integrated pressure management system also performs a leak diagnostic for the head space in a fuel tank, a canister that collects volatile fuel vapors from the head space, a purge valve, and all associated.

Claims

1. An integrated pressure management apparatus comprising:

a housing defining an interior chamber and a signal chamber in fluid communication with the interior chamber, the housing including first and second ports communicating with the interior chamber;

a pressure operable device separating the chamber into a first portion and a second portion and separating the signal chamber from the second portion of the interior chamber, the first portion communicating with the first port, the second portion communicating with the second port, the pressure operable device permitting fluid communication between the first and second ports in a first configuration and preventing fluid communication between the first and second ports in a second configuration; and

a switch signaling displacement of the pressure operable device in response to negative pressure at a first pressure level in the first portion of the interior chamber.

2. The integrated pressure management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing defines, an aperture through which the first and second ports communicate in the first configuration, and the pressure operable device includes a poppet occluding the aperture in the second configuration.

3. The integrated pressure management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

an annular poppet seal fitted in the aperture and having a sealing lip engaging the poppet in the second configuration, the sealing lip projecting inwardly and obliquely toward the poppet.

4. The integrated pressure management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure operable device includes a diaphragm separating the signal chamber and the second portion of the interior chamber.

5. The integrated pressure management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switch is disposed within the housing.

6. The integrated pressure management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of electrical connections fixed to the housing and electrically interconnected with the switch.

7. The integrated pressure management apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a control circuit disposed in the housing and electrically interconnecting the switch and the plurality of electrical connections.

8. The integrated pressure management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first resilient element opposing the displacement of the device in response to vacuum in the first portion.

9. The integrated pressure management apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

an adjuster calibrating a biasing force of the first resilient element.

10. The integrated pressure management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second resilient element opposing displacement of the device from the first configuration to the second configuration.

11. The integrated pressure management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a body that is integrally formed from a homogeneous material and a minimum number of covers.

12. The integrated pressure management apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a respective seal prevents fluid leakage at an interface of the body with a corresponding one of the minimum number of covers.

13. The integrated pressure management apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the housing consists of a single cover cooperatively defining the signal chamber generally enclosing the switch.

14. An integrated pressure management apparatus comprising:

a housing defining an interior chamber, the housing including first and second ports communicating with the interior chamber;

a pressure operable device separating the chamber into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion communicating with the first port, the second portion communicating with the second port, the pressure operable device permitting fluid communication between the first and second ports in a first configuration and preventing fluid communication between the first and second ports in a second configuration, the pressure operable device including;

a poppet preventing fluid communication between the first and second ports in the second configuration;

a spring biasing the poppet toward the second configuration;

a diaphragm separating the second portion of the interior chamber from a signal chamber in fluid communication with the first portion of the interior chamber; and

a switch signaling displacement of the pressure operable device in response to negative pressure at a first pressure level in the first portion of the interior chamber.

15. The integrated pressure management apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a negative pressure below the first pressure level displaces the poppet against the spring bias to the first configuration.

16. The integrated pressure management apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a positive pressure above a second pressure level in the signal chamber displaces the diaphragm and the poppet against the spring bias to the first configuration.

17. An integrated pressure management apparatus comprising:

a housing defining an interior chamber, the housing including first and second ports communicating with the interior chamber;

a pressure operable device separating the chamber into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion communicating with the first port, the second portion communicating with the second port, the pressure operable device permitting fluid communication between the first and second ports in a first configuration and preventing fluid communication between the first and second ports in a second configuration;

a switch signaling displacement of the pressure operable device in response to negative pressure at a first pressure level in the first portion of the interior chamber; and

a solenoid displacing the device from the first configuration to the second configuration, the solenoid including a stator extending transversely with respect to a displacement direction of the device between the first and second configurations.

18. The integrated pressure management apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first portion communicates with a signal chamber via a passage defined at least in part by a void between the housing and the solenoid.

19. An integrated pressure management apparatus comprising:

a housing defining an interior chamber, the housing including first and second ports communicating with the interior chamber, the housing being a body that is integrally formed from a homogenous material and a minimum number of covers;

a pressure operable device separating the chamber into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion communicating with the first port, the second portion communicating with the second port, the pressure operable device permitting fluid communication between the first and second ports in a first configuration and preventing fluid communication between the first and second ports in a second configuration, the pressure operable device including a diaphragm separating the signal chamber from the second portion of the interior chamber, the diaphragm defining a seal between a single cover and the body; and

a switch signaling displacement of the pressure operable device in response to negative pressure at a first pressure level in the first portion of the interior chamber.

20. An integrated pressure management apparatus comprising:

a housing defining an interior chamber, the housing including first and second ports communicating with the interior chamber, the housing being a body that is integrally formed from a homogenous material and a minimum number of covers, the minimum number of covers consisting of a first cover engaging the body and cooperatively defining a first chamber generally enclosing the switch, and a second cover engaging the body and cooperatively defining a second chamber generally enclosing a solenoid;

a pressure operable device separating the chamber into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion communicating with the first port, the second portion communicating with the second port, the pressure operable device permitting fluid communication between the first and second ports in a first configuration and preventing fluid communication between the first and second ports in a second configuration; and

a switch signaling displacement of the pressure operable device in response to negative pressure at a first pressure level in the first portion of the interior chamber.