Method and system for adjusting a fuel tank isolation valve

• US 9,518,677 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2014
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Dudar, Aed M., Yang, Dennis Seung-Man, Jentz, Robert Roy, Ognjanovski, Robert Jr., Aitken, Brian Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): MO, XIAO EN
• Application Number:
  US14/496,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20150122229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0032 Controlling the purging of the canister as a function of the engine operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2025/0845 Electromagnetic valves
• 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: F16K 37/0041 for measuring valve parameters F16K37/0033 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting and diagnosing a position of a fuel tank isolation valve (FTIV) of a fuel system. In one example, a method comprises adjusting a FTIV of a fuel system by sending an electrical pulse to the FTIV; and comparing a current draw of the FTIV to a known current draw profile to verify the position of the FTIV. In this way, the position of the FTIV may be diagnosed, thereby resulting in increased accuracy of subsequent valve control.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

adjusting a fuel tank isolation valve (FTIV) of a fuel system by sending electrical pulses to the FTIV;

counting each of the electrical pulses to track a position of the FTIV; and

using a canister temperature to verify the position of the FTIV when the position of the FTIV is unknown or invalid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein using the canister temperature to verify the position of the FTIV comprises indicating the FTIV is open responsive to the canister temperature increasing above a threshold within a duration and indicating the FTIV is closed otherwise.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein using the canister temperature to verify the position of the FTIV comprises applying a vacuum to the engine fuel system and verifying the position of the FTIV based on changes to the canister temperature.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein applying the vacuum includes operating a vacuum pump of an evaporative leak check module positioned in the engine fuel system.

5. A fuel system, comprising:

an engine;

a fuel tank;

a canister for storing fuel vapors;

a fuel tank isolation valve (FTIV) coupled in a vapor line between the fuel tank and the canister, the FTIV held in both opened and closed positions without any applied current;

a controller with computer readable instructions for diagnosing a position of the FTIV and subsequently adjusting the FTIV based on the diagnosed position and engine operating conditions; and

a temperature sensor coupled to the canister, and wherein diagnosing the position of the FTIV includes setting a known position of the FTIV as an open position when a temperature of the canister increases above a threshold temperature within a time duration.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein diagnosing the position of the FTIV comprises comparing a current draw of the FTIV to known current draw profiles to determine if the FTIV is open, closed, or degraded.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein diagnosing the position of the FTIV includes setting a known position of the FTIV as a closed position when one or more of a pressure of the fuel tank increases above a threshold pressure or decreases below a vacuum threshold pressure.