Diagnostic apparatus and method for an evaporative control system including an integrated pressure management apparatus
First Claim
1. A diagnostic apparatus for a fuel system supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine, the fuel system including a fuel tank having a headspace and a filler occluded by a removable cap, a charcoal canister in fluid communication with the headspace, and an integrated pressure management apparatus having a pressure operable device and a switch signaling displacement of the pressure operable device in response to negative pressure at a first pressure level in the charcoal canister, the diagnostic apparatus comprising:
- a pressure source to operate the pressure operable device and switch;
a first fitting adapted to be occluded by the removable cap, the first fitting being in fluid communication with the pressure source;
a second fitting adapted to sealingly engage the filler, the second fitting being in fluid communication with the pressure source and with the first fitting;
an orifice being in fluid communication with the pressure source, with the first fitting, and with the second fitting; and
a first valve controlling the fluid communication with the orifice.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A diagnostic appartus and method for a fuel system that supplies fuel to an internal combustion engine. The fuel system includes a fuel tank that has a headspace and a filler occluded by a removable cap, a charcoal canister in fluid communication with the headspace, and an integrated pressure management apparatus. The integrated pressure management apparatus has a pressure operable device and a switch that signals displacement of the pressure operable device in response to negative pressure at a first pressure level in the charcoal canister. The diagnostic apparatus comprises a pressure source, a first fitting adapted to be occluded by the removable cap, a second fitting adapted to sealingly engage the filler, an orifice in fluid communication with the pressure source, with the first fitting, and with the second fitting, and a first valve controlling the fluid communication with the orifice. The first fitting is in fluid communication with the pressure source, and the second fitting is in fluid communication with the pressure source and with the first fitting.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A diagnostic apparatus for a fuel system supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine, the fuel system including a fuel tank having a headspace and a filler occluded by a removable cap, a charcoal canister in fluid communication with the headspace, and an integrated pressure management apparatus having a pressure operable device and a switch signaling displacement of the pressure operable device in response to negative pressure at a first pressure level in the charcoal canister, the diagnostic apparatus comprising:
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a pressure source to operate the pressure operable device and switch;
a first fitting adapted to be occluded by the removable cap, the first fitting being in fluid communication with the pressure source;
a second fitting adapted to sealingly engage the filler, the second fitting being in fluid communication with the pressure source and with the first fitting;
an orifice being in fluid communication with the pressure source, with the first fitting, and with the second fitting; and
a first valve controlling the fluid communication with the orifice. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of diagnosing a fuel system supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine, the fuel system including a fuel tank having a headspace and a filler occluded by a removable cap, a charcoal canister in fluid communication with the headspace, and an integrated pressure management apparatus having a pressure operable device and a switch providing a signal indicating displacement of the pressure operable device in response to negative pressure at a predetermined pressure level in the charcoal canister, the method comprising:
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installing a diagnostic apparatus between the filler and the cap, the diagnostic apparatus including a pressure source;
operating the pressure source to draw a vacuum relative to ambient pressure; and
detecting the signal provided by the switch. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification