Multiple tap aspirator with leak passage

• US 9,297,341 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2014
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: VanDerWege, Brad Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Low, Lindsay
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOUBRY, JAMES G
• Application Number:
  US14/159,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20150204283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 123/559.1, 123/564, 123/184.53, 123/184.54, 123/184.58, 123/184.59
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10144 Connections of intake ducts to each other or to another device
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10157 Supercharged engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10222 Exhaust gas recirculation [EGR]; Positive crankcase ventilation [PCV]; Additional air admission, lubricant or fuel vapour admission
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10229 the intake system acting as a vacuum or overpressure source for auxiliary devices, e.g. brake systems; Vacuum chambers air storage chamber F02B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for engine systems including a multiple tap aspirator with a throat tap and a diffuser tap. Suction passages coupled to the throat and diffuser taps, respectively, may fluidly communicate via a leak passage with a flow restriction. During conditions where the pressure at a suction flow source of the diffuser tap is less than the pressure at the diffuser tap, backflow from the diffuser tap may travel through the leak passage into the throat tap.

Claims

1. A method for an engine, comprising:

selectably recirculating intake air from downstream of a compressor to upstream of the compressor through a bypass passage and an aspirator arrangement arranged in parallel with the bypass passage, the aspirator arrangement comprising a suction tap at a throat of an aspirator fluidly coupled via a leak passage with a suction tap at a diffuser of the aspirator, an exit of the suction tap at the diffuser narrowing as it approaches the diffuser, wherein the selectably recirculating intake air is based on a desired level of vacuum generation and a desired level of compressor recirculation flow.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectably recirculating intake air from downstream of the compressor to upstream of the compressor by controlling an aspirator shut-off valve arranged in series with the aspirator and a compressor bypass valve arranged in the bypass passage based on the desired level of vacuum generation and the desired level of compressor recirculation flow.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising controlling an air induction system throttle arranged in an intake passage upstream of a mixed flow outlet of the aspirator based on the desired level of vacuum generation and the desired level of compressor recirculation flow.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

if the desired level of compressor recirculation flow is less than a first threshold, opening the aspirator shut-off valve and closing the compressor bypass valve;

if the desired level of compressor recirculation flow is greater than the first threshold and vacuum generation is desired, or if the desired level of compressor recirculation flow is greater than a second threshold and vacuum generation is not desired, opening the aspirator shut-off valve and the compressor bypass valve; and

if the desired level of compressor recirculation flow is greater than the first threshold and less than the second threshold and vacuum generation is not desired, closing the aspirator shut-off valve and opening the compressor bypass valve.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising, if compressor recirculation flow is not desired, closing the aspirator shut-off valve and the compressor bypass valve and fully opening the air induction system throttle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired level of compressor recirculation flow is based on a compressor pressure ratio and wherein the desired level of vacuum generation is based on a level of stored vacuum in a vacuum reservoir coupled with the suction tap at the throat and the suction tap at the diffuser.