Apparatus and method for preventing resonance in a fuel vapor pressure management apparatus

• US 6,851,443 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2002
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Veinotte, Andre, Perry, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US10/170,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20030070473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 137/493, 137/493.9, 137/535, 137/514.3, 137/2, 137/14, 123/518, 123/519, 123/520
• US Class Current: 137/2
• 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 137/0324 With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0396 Involving pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/778 Axes of ports co-axial
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7851 End of valve forms dashpot chamber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/792 Guide and closure integral unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8326 Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm

Abstract

A device and method for preventing resonance in a fuel vapor pressure management apparatus of a fuel system supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine. The fuel vapor pressure management apparatus performs leak detection on a headspace of the fuel system, performs excess negative pressure relief of the headspace, and performs excess positive pressure relief of the headspace. The device includes a housing defining an interior chamber, a pressure operable device separating the interior chamber into first and second portions, and a device preventing resonance. The pressure operable device includes a poppet that is movable along an axis and a seal that is adapted to cooperatively engage the poppet. The device preventing resonance includes at least one of a dashpot defined by the housing and the poppet, a gap between the poppet and the seal, and a resilient element applying a force biasing the poppet toward the seal. The dashpot damps movement of the poppet associated with the performing excess positive pressure relief. The gap modulates fluid flow that occurs between the surface and the tip during the performing excess negative pressure relief. And the force is applied eccentrically with respect to the axis so as to damp resonance due to movement of the poppet associated with the performing excess positive pressure relief.

Claims

1. A device for preventing resonance in a fuel vapor pressure management apparatus of a fuel system supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine, the fuel vapor pressure management apparatus performing leak detection on a headspace of the fuel system, performing excess negative pressure relief of the headspace, and performing excess positive pressure relief of the headspace, the device comprising:

a housing defining an interior chamber, the housing including a wall projecting into the interior chamber and surrounding an axis; and

a pressure operable device separating the interior chamber into first and second portions, the pressure operable device including a poppet movable along the axis, the poppet includes a surface matingly and telescopically engaging the wall so as to define a variable volume sub-chamber within the second portion of the interior chamber;

wherein the sub-chamber and the telescopic movement of the poppet with respect to the wall define a dashpot that damps movement of the poppet while the fuel vapor pressure management apparatus performs excess positive pressure relief.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wall comprises a right circular cylinder centered about the axis.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the surface of the poppet comprises a right circular cylinder centered about the axis.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wall comprises a radially inner face and a radially outer face, and the surface of the poppet comprises first and second parts, the first part confronts the radially inner face, and the second part confronts the radially outer face.

5. A device for preventing resonance in a fuel vapor pressure management apparatus of a fuel system supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine, the fuel vapor pressure management apparatus performing leak detection on a headspace of the fuel system, performing excess negative pressure relief of the headspace, and performing excess positive pressure relief of the headspace, the apparatus comprising:

a poppet movable along an axis, the poppet includes a corrugation having a surface facing away from the axis; and

a seal adapted to cooperatively engage the poppet, the seal including a lip projecting toward the axis, and the lip includes a tip that is adapted to confront the surface during movement of the lip that is associated with the performing excess negative pressure relief.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the surface extends generally parallel to the axis.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the surface extends generally obliquely with respect to the axis.

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein the surface extends generally parallel to a path traced by the tip during the movement of the lip that is associated with the performing excess negative pressure relief.

9. The device according to claim 5, wherein a gap between the surface and the tip modulates fluid flow that occurs between the surface and the tip during the performing excess negative pressure relief.

10. A device for preventing resonance in a fuel vapor pressure management apparatus of a fuel system supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine, the fuel vapor pressure management apparatus performing leak detection on a headspace of the fuel system, performing excess negative pressure relief of the headspace, and performing excess positive pressure relief of the headspace, the apparatus comprising:

a housing defining an interior chamber;

a pressure operable device separating the interior chamber into first and second portions, the pressure operable device including a poppet movable along an axis and a seal adapted to cooperatively engage the poppet; and

a resilient element applying a force biasing the poppet toward the seal, the force being applied eccentrically with respect to the axis, and the resilient element being deformed while the fuel vapor pressure management apparatus performs excess positive pressure relief.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the resilient element extends between the housing and the poppet.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the resilient element comprises a coil spring eccentrically surrounding the axis.

13. The device according to claim 10, wherein resilient element being eccentrically located with respect to the axis dampens movement of the poppet associated with the performing excess positive pressure relief.

14. A fuel vapor pressure management apparatus for a fuel system supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine, the fuel vapor pressure management apparatus performing leak detection on a headspace of the fuel system, performing excess negative pressure relief of the headspace, and performing excess positive pressure relief of the headspace, the apparatus comprising:

a housing defining an interior chamber;

a pressure operable device separating the interior chamber into first and second portions, the pressure operable device including a poppet movable along an axis and a seal adapted to cooperatively engage the poppet; and

a device preventing resonance including at least one of;

a dashpot defined by the housing and the poppet, the dashpot damping movement of the poppet associated with the performing excess positive pressure relief;

a gap between the poppet and the seal, the gap modulating fluid flow that occurs between the surface and the tip during the performing excess negative pressure relief; and

a resilient element applying a force biasing the poppet toward the seal, the force being applied eccentrically with respect to the axis so as to damp resonance due to movement of the poppet associated with the performing excess positive pressure relief.

15. A method of preventing resonance in a fuel vapor pressure management apparatus of a fuel system supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine, the fuel vapor pressure management apparatus performing leak detection on a headspace of the fuel system, performing excess negative pressure relief of the headspace, and performing excess positive pressure relief of the headspace, the method comprising:

providing a housing and a pressure operable device, the housing defining an interior chamber, and the pressure operable device separating the interior chamber into first and second portions, the pressure operable device including a poppet movable along an axis and a seal adapted to cooperatively engage the poppet;

positioning a dashpot damping movement of the poppet associated with the performing excess positive pressure relief;

modulating fluid flow occurring between the surface and the seal during the performing excess negative pressure relief; and

applying a force biasing the poppet toward the seal, the force being applied eccentrically with respect to the axis so as to damp resonance due to movement of the poppet associated with the performing excess positive pressure relief.