Electrical connections for an integrated pressure management apparatus

• US 6,948,481 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2004
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Perry, Paul, Veinotte, Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Application Number:
  US10/794,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20040226544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 123/516, 123518-521, 731/172, 731/173, 731/181, 137/493, 137/494, 137/495, 137/554, 137/584, 200/83.Q, 200/83.R
• US Class Current: 123/518
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2025/0845 Electromagnetic valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2026/0025 Intake vacuum or overpressure modulating valve
• 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 16/0669 characterised by the loading mechanisms of the membrane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7771 Bi-directional flow valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/778 Axes of ports co-axial
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7781 With separate connected fluid reactor surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7852 End of valve moves inside dashpot chamber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7935 Head slides on guide-rod concentric with spring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method of establishing a threshold for a leak detection test that is performed on a headspace of a fuel system. A fuel vapor pressure management apparatus includes a housing, a pressure operable device, and a sensor. The housing defines an interior chamber. The pressure operable device separates the interior chamber into first and second portions, and includes a poppet that moves along an axis and a seal that is adapted to cooperatively engage the poppet. A first arrangement of the pressure operable device occurs during the leak detection test when the seal is in a first deformed configuration. A sensor detects the first arrangement of the pressure operable device during the leak detection test. And a processor is coupled to the sensor and reduces sensitivity of the fuel vapor pressure management apparatus during the leak detection test.

Claims

1. A fuel vapor 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;

an outlet terminal fixed to the housing; and

an intermediate lead member electrically coupling the switch and the outlet terminal, the intermediate lead member including a resilient element.

2. The fuel vapor pressure management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resilient element comprises a coil spring extending between first and second end portions, at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion presses contiguously against the outlet terminal.

3. The fuel vapor pressure management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a main body piece, a first cover piece, and a second cover piece.

4. The fuel vapor pressure management apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a cover terminal being fixed to the first cover piece, the cover terminal being electrically coupled to the switch; and

the outlet terminal being fixed to the second cover piece.

5. The fuel vapor pressure management apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the switch is fixed to the first cover piece.

6. The fuel vapor pressure management apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a printed circuit board electrically coupling the switch and the cover terminal, the switch being fixed to the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board being fixed to the first cover piece, and the cover terminal projecting from the printed circuit board.

7. The fuel vapor pressure management apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the resilient element extends between and electrically couples the cover terminal and the outlet terminal.

8. The fuel vapor pressure management apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the resilient element comprises a coil spring extending between first and second end portions, the first end portion receives therein the cover terminal, and the second end portion presses contiguously against the outlet terminal.

9. The fuel vapor pressure management apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the resilient element further comprises an intermediate portion coupling the first and second end portions, the intermediate portion being constricted relative to the first end portion such that the cover terminal passes through an opening defined by the first end portion and engages an inner periphery of the intermediate portion.

10. The fuel vapor pressure management apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the intermediate portion is constricted relative to the second end portion.

11. The fuel vapor pressure management apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the coil spring is compressed between the cover terminal and the outlet terminal.

12. The fuel vapor pressure management apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the coil spring has a compressed length that is approximately 50% of its uncompressed length.

13. A fuel system for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine, the fuel system comprising:

a fuel tank having a headspace;

a fuel vapor collection canister having first and second sides, the first side being in fluid communication with the headspace;

an intake manifold of the internal combustion engine;

a purge valve including an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being in fluid communication with the first side of the fuel vapor collection canister and the outlet being in fluid communication with the intake manifold; and

a fuel vapor pressure management apparatus including first and second ports, the first port being in fluid communication with the second side of the fuel vapor collection canister, and the second port being in fluid communication with atmosphere, a first arrangement of the fuel vapor pressure management apparatus occurs when there is a first negative pressure level in the fuel vapor collection canister relative to atmosphere, a second arrangement of the fuel vapor pressure management apparatus permits a first fluid flow from atmosphere to the fuel vapor collection canister when there is a second negative pressure level less than the first negative pressure level, and a third arrangement of the fuel vapor pressure management apparatus permits a second fluid flow from the fuel vapor collection canister to atmosphere when there is a positive pressure in the fuel vapor collection canister relative to atmosphere, the fuel vapor pressure management apparatus including;

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

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 preventing fluid communication between the first and second ports in first arrangement, and the pressure operable device permitting fluid communication between the first and second ports in the second and third arrangements;

a switch signaling displacement of the pressure operable device in response to the first negative pressure level;

an outlet terminal fixed to the housing; and

an intermediate lead member electrically coupling the switch and the outlet terminal, the intermediate lead member including a resilient element.

14. The fuel system according to claim 13, further comprising:

an engine control unit electrically coupled to the switch via the outlet terminal and the intermediate lead member.

15. The fuel system according to claim 14, wherein the engine control unit is electrically coupled to the purge valve.

16. The fuel system according to claim 15, wherein the fuel vapor pressure management apparatus excludes an electromechanical actuator.

17. A method of assembling a fuel vapor pressure management apparatus, the fuel vapor pressure management apparatus including a housing having a main body piece and first and second cover pieces, an outlet terminal being fixed to the first cover piece, and a cover terminal fixed to the second cover piece and electrically coupled to the switch, the method comprising:

attaching the first cover piece to the main body piece such that the outlet terminal projects into the main body piece;

positioning in the main body an intermediate lead member including first and second end portions, the first end of the intermediate lead member contiguously engaging and being electrically coupled with the outlet terminal; and

attaching the second cover piece to the main body piece such that the cover terminal projects into the main body piece, the cover terminal engaging the second end of the intermediate lead member and resiliently deforming the intermediate lead member.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the attaching the first cover piece, the positioning, and the attaching the second cover piece comprise an electrically coupling between the switch and the outlet terminal.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the positioning comprises inserting a coil spring into the main body.