Evaporative fuel handling apparatus
First Claim
1. An evaporative fuel handling apparatus for a vehicle with an air intake system of an engine and a fuel tank, the evaporative fuel handling apparatus comprising:
- a purge system for purging evaporative fuel from the fuel tank into the air intake system, wherein the purge system defines an inside and an outside;
a first communication passage fluidly coupled with the purge system;
a second communication passage fluidly coupled with the purge system;
a first restrictor fluidly coupled to the second communication passage, wherein an axial cross sectional area of the first restrictor is less than an axial cross sectional area of the second communication passage such that the second communication passage has a greater loss of pressure of flowing fluid than the first communication passage;
a check device coupled to the second communication passage for checking a leak of evaporative fuel from the purge system, the check device including a second restrictor and a pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor is operatively coupled between the first restrictor and the second restrictor;
a pump for producing a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the purge system;
a selector device for switching fluid communication of the pump between one of the first communication passage and the second communication passage; and
a controller that controls the selector device to allow fluid communication between the first communication passage and the pump and then controls the pump to produce the pressure difference to thereby perform forcible purge of evaporative fuel; and
wherein the controller is further operable for controlling the selector device to allow fluid communication between the second communication passage and the pump, and then controls the pump to produce the pressure difference and controls the check device to check for a leak of evaporative fuel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel handling apparatus with a purge system, a first communication passage, and a second communication passage with a greater pressure loss than the first communication passage. A check device is coupled to the second communication passage for checking a leak of evaporative fuel from the purge system. A pump is included, and a selector device is included for switching fluid communication of the pump between one of the first communication passage and the second communication passage. A controller controls the selector device to allow fluid communication between the first communication passage and the pump and then controls the pump to produce the pressure difference for forcible purging. The controller further controls the selector device to allow fluid communication between the second communication passage and the pump, and then controls the pump to produce the pressure difference and controls the check device for leak checking.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An evaporative fuel handling apparatus for a vehicle with an air intake system of an engine and a fuel tank, the evaporative fuel handling apparatus comprising:
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a purge system for purging evaporative fuel from the fuel tank into the air intake system, wherein the purge system defines an inside and an outside; a first communication passage fluidly coupled with the purge system; a second communication passage fluidly coupled with the purge system; a first restrictor fluidly coupled to the second communication passage, wherein an axial cross sectional area of the first restrictor is less than an axial cross sectional area of the second communication passage such that the second communication passage has a greater loss of pressure of flowing fluid than the first communication passage; a check device coupled to the second communication passage for checking a leak of evaporative fuel from the purge system, the check device including a second restrictor and a pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor is operatively coupled between the first restrictor and the second restrictor; a pump for producing a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the purge system; a selector device for switching fluid communication of the pump between one of the first communication passage and the second communication passage; and a controller that controls the selector device to allow fluid communication between the first communication passage and the pump and then controls the pump to produce the pressure difference to thereby perform forcible purge of evaporative fuel; and wherein the controller is further operable for controlling the selector device to allow fluid communication between the second communication passage and the pump, and then controls the pump to produce the pressure difference and controls the check device to check for a leak of evaporative fuel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14)
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6. An evaporative fuel handling apparatus for a vehicle with an air intake system of an engine and a fuel tank, the evaporative fuel handling apparatus comprising:
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a purge system for purging evaporative fuel from the fuel tank into the air intake system, wherein the purge system defines an inside and an outside; a first communication passage fluidly coupled with the purge system; a second communication passage fluidly coupled with the purge system and having a greater loss of pressure of flowing fluid than the first communication passage; a check device coupled to the second communication passage for checking a leak of evaporative fuel from the purge system; a pump for producing a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the purge system; a selector device for switching fluid communication of the pump between one of the first communication passage and the second communication passage; and a controller that controls the selector device to allow fluid communication between the first communication passage and the pump and then controls the pump to produce the pressure difference to thereby perform forcible purge of evaporative fuel; and a first open passage and a second open passage that are each open to the atmosphere; wherein the controller is further operable for controlling the selector device to allow fluid communication between the second communication passage and the pump, and then controls the pump to produce the pressure difference and controls the check device to check for a leak of evaporative fuel; wherein the purge system has a canister for adsorbing evaporative fuel from the fuel tank and purges evaporative fuel desorbed from the canister, and wherein the first communication passage and the second communication passage are fluidly coupled to the canister; wherein the purge system has a purge passage that is fluidly coupled to the air intake system and the canister; wherein the selector device includes a first selection part that switches to allow fluid communication of the pump between one of the first communication passage and the first open passage; wherein the selector device includes a second selection part that switches to allow fluid communication of the pump between one of the second communication passage and the second open passage; wherein the controller, to perform the forcible purge, controls the first selection part and the second selection part to allow for fluid communication between the first communication passage and pump and to allow for fluid communication between the second communication passage and the pump, and then controls the pump to pressurize the first communication passage. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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11. An evaporative fuel handling apparatus for a vehicle with an air intake system of an engine and a fuel tank, the evaporative fuel handling apparatus comprising:
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a purge system for purging evaporative fuel from the fuel tank into the air intake system, wherein the purge system defines an inside and an outside; a first communication passage fluidly coupled with the purge system; a second communication passage fluidly coupled with the purge system and having a greater loss of pressure of flowing fluid than the first communication passage; a check device coupled to the second communication passage for checking a leak of evaporative fuel from the purge system; a pump for producing a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the purge system; a selector device for switching fluid communication of the pump between one of the first communication passage and the second communication passage; and a controller that controls the selector device to allow fluid communication between the first communication passage and the pump and then controls the pump to produce the pressure difference to thereby perform forcible purge of evaporative fuel; and wherein the controller is further operable for controlling the selector device to allow fluid communication between the second communication passage and the pump, and then controls the pump to produce the pressure difference and controls the check device to check for a leak of evaporative fuel; wherein the purge system has a canister for adsorbing evaporative fuel from the fuel tank and purges evaporative fuel desorbed from the canister, and wherein the first communication passage and the second communication passage are fluidly coupled to the canister; and wherein the purge system includes an introduction passage for introducing evaporative fuel from the fuel tank into the canister, and wherein the first communication passage is fluidly coupled to the fuel tank, such that fluid communication between the first communication passage and the canister occurs through the fuel tank and the introduction passage.
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Specification