Evaporative emission control system

• US 9,051,905 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2013
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Jentz, Robert Roy, Dudar, Aed M
• Primary Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US13/858,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20140303830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 793 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29.1, 701/33.9, 701/34.4, 702/51, 123/516, 123/518, 123/519, 73/405.R, 731/143.9, 73/40, 73/49, 731/143.8, 73/407
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/08 adding fuel vapours drawn from engine fuel reservoir electrical control of purge system F02D41/003
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0809 Judging failure of purge control system
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0818 having means for pressurising the evaporative emission space
• 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 25/0872 Details of the fuel vapour pipes or conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/089 Layout of the fuel vapour installation
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/26 by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/3236 by monitoring the interior space of the containers
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/3263 using a differential pressure detector G01M3/3245, G01M3/3272 take precedence

Abstract

A combined system for detecting leaks in an evaporative emission control system and for inflating flat tires. The evaporative emission control system includes a vapor capture canister with a purge valve and a system pressure sensor, and the flat tire repair kit includes a reservoir containing tire inflation fluid, an attachment tube for attaching the reservoir to a tire, and a pump selectively connected to the evaporative emission control system and the reservoir. A controller is configured to perform the following actions: initiate a leak detection sequence by pressurizing the evaporative emission control system, and then performing a leak detection operation by measuring the pressure within the evaporative emission control system over time. A tire pressure monitoring system may be provided, allowing the pump to be switched between performing evaporative system testing and inflating a flat tire.

Claims

1. A combined evaporative emission control system leak detection and tire inflation system for an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a fuel tank, comprising:

an evaporative emission control system, including;

a canister, in fluid communication with a fuel tank and an engine;

a canister purge valve (CPV), interposed in a communication line between the canister and an intake manifold of the engine; and

a pressure sensor, positioned to sense vapor pressure in the evaporative emission control system;

a flat-tire repair kit, including

a reservoir containing a tire inflation fluid and

an attachment tube extending from the reservoir and adapted for connection to a tire on the vehicle; and

a pump in fluid communication with the evaporative emission control system and the reservoir; and

a controller, configured to

initiate a leak detection sequence;

pressurize the evaporative emission control system;

measure the evaporative emission control system pressure over a selected period of time; and

upon a determination that the evaporative emission control system pressure falls below a preselected threshold within a preselected time, provide a warning of an evaporative emission control system leak.

2. The combined evaporative emission control system leak detection and tire inflation system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the pump.

3. The combined evaporative emission control system leak detection and tire inflation system of claim 2, wherein the pump is configured to be connected to, and disconnected from the controller, a power line, and a pneumatic interface to the evaporative emission control system.

4. The combined evaporative emission control system leak detection and tire inflation system of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to provide an indication to reconnect the pump to the controller when the pump is disconnected from the controller.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the attachment tube is fixedly connected to each vehicle tire.

5. A combined evaporative emission control system leak detection and tire inflation system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

an evaporative emission control system, including;

a canister, in fluid communication with a fuel tank and an engine;

a canister purge valve (CPV), interposed in the communication line between the canister and an intake manifold of the engine; and

a pressure sensor, positioned to sense vapor pressure in the evaporative emission control system;

a flat-tire repair kit, including

a reservoir containing a tire inflation fluid;

an attachment tube extending from the reservoir and adapted for connection to a tire on the vehicle; and

a pump in fluid communication with the evaporative emission control system and the reservoir; and

a controller, configured to initiate a leak detection sequence;

pressurize the evaporative emission control system;

measure the evaporative emission control system vapor pressure over a selected period of time; and

upon a determination that the evaporative emission control system vapor pressure falls below a preselected threshold within a preselected time, provide a warning of a possible evaporative emission control system leak,

wherein the pump is configured to pressurize the evaporative emission control system, and

to cease operation if a leak is detected in the evaporative emission control system.

6. The combined evaporative emission control system leak detection and tire inflation system of claim 5, wherein the preselected time for monitoring vapor pressure within the evaporative emission control system is five minutes.

7. The combined evaporative emission control system leak detection and tire inflation system of claim 6, wherein the pump is configured to be connected to, and disconnected from the controller, a power line, and a pneumatic interface to the evaporative emission control system.

16. The system of claim 5, wherein the attachment tube is fixedly connected to each vehicle tire.

8. A system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

an evaporative emission control system including;

a canister, in fluid communication with a fuel tank and an engine;

a canister purge valve, interposed in the communication line between the canister and an intake manifold of the engine; and

a pressure sensor, positioned to sense vapor pressure in the evaporative emission control system;

a flat-tire repair system, including

a reservoir containing a tire inflation fluid and

an attachment tube extending from the reservoir and adapted for connection to each tire on the vehicle; and

a pump in fluid communication with the evaporative emission control system and the reservoir;

a controller, configured to

perform a leak detection sequence, including

pressurizing the evaporative emission control system;

measuring the evaporative emission control system vapor pressure over a selected period of time; and

upon a determination that the evaporative emission control system vapor pressure falls below a preselected threshold within a preselected time, providing a warning of an evaporative emission control system leak; and

upon a determination that a vehicle tire is flat, initiate a tire inflation sequence, including signaling the flat tire repair kit the identity of the tire requiring inflation and signaling the pump to commence operation;

a tire pressure monitoring system, in fluid communication with the vehicle tires and operatively connected with the controller.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured, upon a determination that a vehicle tire pressure is low, to initiate a tire pressurization sequence, including signaling the flat tire repair system the identity of the tire requiring inflation and signaling the pump to commence operation.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the tire pressure monitoring system is configured to continuously monitor pressure in each vehicle tire.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the pump is configured to pressurize the evaporative emission control system, and wherein the pump is turned off when a leak in the fuel supply is detected.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the attachment tube is fixedly connected to each vehicle tire.

12. A system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

an evaporative emission control system including;

a canister, in fluid communication with a vehicle fuel tank and engine;

a canister purge valve, interposed in the communication line between the canister and an intake manifold of the engine;

and

a pressure sensor, positioned to sense vapor pressure in the evaporative emission control system;

a flat-tire repair system, including

a reservoir containing a tire inflation fluid and

an attachment tube extending from the reservoir and adapted for connection to each tire on the vehicle; and

a pump in fluid communication with the evaporative emission control system and the reservoir;

a controller, configured to

perform a leak detection sequence, including

pressurizing the evaporative emission control system;

measuring the evaporative emission control system vapor pressure over a selected period of time; and

upon a determination that the evaporative emission control system vapor pressure falls below a preselected threshold within a preselected time, providing a warning of an evaporative emission control system leak;

perform a system purge sequence, including

closing a vapor bypass valve to isolate the gasoline tank from the evaporative emission control system;

opening the canister purge valve; and

operating the pump to create an airflow through the canister and into the intake manifold; and

upon a determination that a vehicle tire is flat, initiate a tire inflation sequence, including signaling the flat tire repair kit the identity of the tire requiring inflation and signaling the pump to commence operation;

a tire pressure monitoring system, in fluid communication with the vehicle tires and operatively connected with the controller.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured, upon a determination that a vehicle tire pressure is low, to initiate a tire pressurization sequence, including signaling the flat tire repair system the identity of the tire requiring inflation and signaling the pump to commence operation.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the tire pressure monitoring system is configured to continuously monitor pressure in each vehicle tire.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the attachment tube is fixedly connected to each vehicle tire.