Evaporative fuel control system for internal combustion engine

• US 6,990,962 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2005
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Ryoji
• Primary Examiner(s): YUEN, HENRY C
• Application Number:
  US11/134,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20050257780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 256 Days
• Field of Search: 123/518, 123/519, 123/520, 123/521, 123/198.D
• 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 25/0827 by monitoring engine running conditions
• 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

Abstract

An evaporative fuel control system for an internal combustion engine having a canister that absorbs evaporative fuel generated in the fuel tank. An atmosphere open passage connects the canister with the atmosphere. A purge valve is disposed between the intake passage and the canister. A purge controller controls the purge valve so that the evaporative fuel absorbed by the canister is purged and supplied to the intake passage. A leak check system examines leakage in the evaporative fuel control system by causing negative pressure in the evaporative fuel control system during stop of the engine. The leak check system includes a factory test mode which is provided with a decreased leak check time which is shorter than that for normal leak check when the evaporative fuel control system receives a factory test signal.

Claims

1. An evaporative fuel control system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a canister for absorbing evaporative fuel generated in a fuel tank, said canister being disposed on an evaporative fuel control passage that connects to an intake passage for the engine and the fuel tank;

an atmosphere open passage which connects the canister with the atmosphere;

a purge valve disposed between the intake passage for the engine and the canister;

a purge controller configured to selectively control the purge valve so that the absorbed evaporative fuel is purged by the canister and supplied to the intake passage for the engine; and

a leak check system for examining leakage in the evaporative fuel control system by generating negative pressure in the evaporative fuel control system when the engine is stopped;

wherein said leak check system operates in a factory test mode when the evaporative fuel control system receives a factory test signal, said factory test mode having a leak check time that is shorter in duration than a leak check time for a normal leak check.

2. The evaporative fuel control system for the internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the leak check conducted in the factory test mode can be performed independently from an operation of the engine.

3. The evaporative fuel control system for the internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the leak check system includes, on the atmosphere open passage:

a switching valve to selectively communicate/disconnect the leak check system to the atmosphere;

a pressure reducing means to generate a negative pressure inside of the evaporative fuel control system;

a pressure detector to detect a pressure within the evaporative fuel control system;

a reference pressure regulator to adjust the pressure applied to the pressure detector to the reference pressure; and

a leak determination means to determine whether there is a leakage in the evaporative fuel control system by using the reference pressure adjusted by the reference pressure regulator and a reduced pressure in which the switching valve disconnects the leak check system from the atmosphere and the pressure reducing means generates a negative pressure within the evaporative fuel control system during stop of the engine.