Integrated pressure management apparatus having electronic control circuit

• US 6,502,560 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2000
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Canada Limited (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Canada Limited (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Perry, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIVELL, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US09/566,133
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 123/516, 123/518, 123/519, 123/520, 123/198.D, 137/493, 137/494, 137/495, 137/493.9, 137/560, 137/587, 251/65, 251/129.15, 200/83.Q, 200/61.86
• US Class Current: 123/519
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2025/0845 Electromagnetic valves
• 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: G05D 16/2095 using membranes within the main valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7771 Bi-directional flow valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7781 With separate connected fluid reactor surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86324 Tank with gas vent and inlet or outlet

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 headspace in a fuel tank, a canister that collects volatile fuel vapors from the headspace, a purge valve, and all associated hoses and connections.

Claims

1. 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 providing relief for a positive pressure that is greater than a first predetermined pressure value and providing relief for a negative pressure that is less than a second predetermined pressure value;

a solenoid displacing the device from the first configuration to the 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 control circuit disposed in the housing and electrically interconnecting the switch, the solenoid, and a plurality of electrical connections fixed to the housing.

2. 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.

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

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

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

5. The integrated pressure management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing further defines a signal chamber in fluid communication with the first portion of the interior chamber, and the pressure operable device further separates the signal chamber from the second portion of the interior chamber.

6. The integrated pressure management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure operable device includes a ferrous armature, and the solenoid has a magnetic circuit including a stator, a strap, and the armature.

9. 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.

10. The integrated pressure management apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a respective seal prevents fluid leakage at an interface of the body with a corresponding one of the minimum number of covers.

11. The integrated pressure management apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the housing consists of a single cover cooperatively defining a signal chamber generally enclosing the switch.

7. 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 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;

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

8. An integrated pressure management apparatus comprising:

a housing defining an interior chamber and a signal 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 solenoid displacing the device from the first configuration to the second configuration, wherein the first portion communicates with the signal chamber via a passage defined at least in part by a void between the housing and the solenoid;

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

12. An integrated pressure management apparatus comprising:

a housing having a body defining an interior chamber, the body integrally formed from a homogeneous material and a minimum number of covers consisting of a first cover and a second cover, 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, the first cover engaging the body and cooperatively defining a first chamber generally enclosing the switch;

a solenoid displacing the device from the first configuration to the second configuration, the second cover engaging the body and cooperatively defining a second chamber generally enclosing the solenoid; and

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