Vacuum supply system

• US 7,966,996 B1
• Filed: 03/03/2010
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Pursifull, Ross Dykstra
• Primary Examiner(s): SOLIS, ERICK R
• Application Number:
  US12/717,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20110132331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 123/198.C, 123/518, 123/519, 603/97
• US Class Current: 123/518
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/162 by bypassing, e.g. partially, intake air from pump inlet to pump outlet
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/186 Arrangements of actuators or linkage for bypass valves
• 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 25/089 Layout of the fuel vapour installation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A method of operating a boosted engine system is described in which an ejector coupled with a fuel vapor purging system can generate vacuum during both purging and non-purging conditions, and during both boosted and non-boosted conditions. The vacuum can therefore be used to power vacuum actuated brakes, and/or other vacuum actuators, irrespective of the purging conditions, and irrespective of boost levels.

Claims

1. A method of operating a boosted engine system including a fuel vapor canister, a purge pump, and an ejector, comprising,

pumping a purge flow through the fuel vapor canister, through the ejector, and into an engine intake;

and

applying the ejector to a vacuum actuator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vacuum actuator includes a power brake or a wastegate actuator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the ejector is positioned downstream of the purge pump.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein pumping a purge flow includes, opening a canister vent valve, closing a vapor bypass valve, and operating the pump.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein pumping a purge flow to an engine intake includes pumping the purge flow to downstream of an intake throttle and/or upstream of a compressor.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising,

pumping an air flow, while bypassing the fuel vapor canister, through the ejector and into to the engine intake;

and

applying vacuum from the ejector to the vacuum actuator.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein pumping an air flow includes, closing the canister vent valve, opening the vapor bypass valve, and operating the pump, the method further comprising, in the absence of engine boost, applying a vacuum from the engine intake to the vacuum actuator and/or the fuel vapor canister.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein pumping a purge flow includes pumping a purge flow through the fuel vapor canister, then through the ejector, and then into an engine intake.

9. A method of operating a fuel vapor recovery system including a fuel vapor canister, a purge pump, and one or more ejectors, the fuel vapor recovery system coupled to a boosted engine intake, comprising,

during a purging condition, operating the purge pump to pump a purge flow through the canister, through the one or more ejectors, and into the engine intake, and applying vacuum from the one or more ejectors to a vacuum actuator;

and

during a non-purging condition, operating the purge pump to drive an air flow bypassing the canister, through the one or more ejectors, and into the engine intake, and applying vacuum from the one or more ejectors to the vacuum actuator.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more ejectors are positioned downstream of the purge pump.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more ejectors includes a first ejector coupled to a first actuator, positioned downstream of the purge pump, and a second ejector coupled to the first actuator, positioned downstream of the purge pump and upstream of a compressor.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the vacuum actuator is a power brake.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the vacuum actuator is a wastegate actuator.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein at least some of the purge flow and/or air flow is delivered to the engine intake downstream of an intake throttle, and at least some of the purge flow and/or air flow is delivered to the engine intake upstream of a compressor.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising, adjusting a fuel injection to the engine during a transition between the purging and non-purging conditions, wherein the adjustment includes, during the purging condition, adjusting a fuel injection responsive to the purge flow, and during the non-purging condition, adjusting a fuel injection responsive to the air flow, wherein adjusting the fuel injection responsive to the purge flow includes reducing fuel injection based on an amount of fuel vapors in the purge flow.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein pumping a purge flow includes pumping a purge flow through the fuel vapor canister, then through the ejector, and then into an engine intake.

17. An engine system, comprising,

an engine intake;

a boosting device including a compressor configured to boost intake air;

a fuel vapor canister configured to receive fuel vapors from a fuel tank, the fuel vapor canister communicating with atmosphere via a first canister vent valve and a second vapor bypass valve;

a purge pump;

an ejector coupled downstream of the pump;

a vacuum actuator; and

a controller configured to,

operate the compressor to provide a boost; and

in the presence of boost,

operate the purge pump to pump a purge flow through the canister, through the ejector, into the engine intake, during purging conditions; and

operate the purge pump to pump an air flow bypassing the canister, through the ejector, into the engine intake, during non-purging conditions; and

during purging and non-purging conditions, apply vacuum from the ejector to the vacuum actuator.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein driving pumping a purge flow includes opening the opening the canister vent valve and closing the vapor bypass valve, and wherein pumping an air flow includes opening the vapor bypass valve and closing the canister vent valve.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the vacuum actuator is one of a power brake and a wastegate actuator, and wherein the controller is further configured to, in the absence of boost,

apply vacuum from the engine intake on the fuel vapor canister and/or ejector.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein pumping a purge flow to the engine intake includes driving at least some purge flow to the engine intake downstream of an intake throttle, and driving at least some purge flow to the engine intake upstream of the compressor.