Internal-combustion engines – Charge forming device – Having fuel vapor recovery and storage system
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-05
2002-10-29
Rivell, John (Department: 3753)
Internal-combustion engines
Charge forming device
Having fuel vapor recovery and storage system
C123S519000, C137S493000, C137S495000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06470861
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to an integrated pressure management system that manages pressure and detects leaks in a fuel system. The present invention also relates to an integrated pressure management system that performs a leak diagnostic for the headspace in a fuel tank, a canister that collects volatile fuel vapors from the headspace, a purge valve, and all associated hoses.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
In a conventional pressure management system for a vehicle, fuel vapor that escapes from a fuel tank is stored in a canister. If there is a leak in the fuel tank, canister or any other component of the vapor handling system, some fuel vapor could exit through the leak to escape into the atmosphere instead of being stored in the canister. Thus, it is desirable to detect leaks.
In such conventional pressure management systems, excess fuel vapor accumulates immediately after engine shutdown, thereby creating a positive pressure in the fuel vapor management system. Thus, it is desirable to vent, or “blow-off,” through the canister, this excess fuel vapor and to facilitate vacuum generation in the fuel vapor management system. Similarly, it is desirable to relieve positive pressure during tank refueling by allowing air to exit the tank at high flow rates. This is commonly referred to as onboard refueling vapor recovery (ORVR).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a sensor or switch signals that a predetermined pressure exists. In particular, the sensor/switch signals that a predetermined vacuum exists. As it is used herein, “pressure” is measured relative to the ambient atmospheric pressure. Thus, positive pressure refers to pressure greater than the ambient atmospheric pressure and negative pressure, or “vacuum,” refers to pressure less than the ambient atmospheric pressure.
The present invention is achieved by providing an integrated pressure management apparatus. The apparatus comprises a housing defining an interior chamber, the housing including first and second ports communicating with the interior chamber; a pressure operable device separating the chamber into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion communicating with the first port, the second portion communicating with the second port, the pressure operable device permitting fluid communication between the first and second ports in a first configuration and preventing fluid communication between the first and second ports in a second configuration; a signal chamber in fluid communication with the first portion of the interior chamber, the pressure operable device further separating the signal chamber from the second portion of the interior chamber; and a passageway through the housing, the passageway providing the fluid communication between the first portion of the interior chamber and the signal chamber.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3110502 (1963-11-01), Pagano
patent: 3190322 (1965-06-01), Brown
patent: 3413840 (1968-12-01), Basile et al.
patent: 3516279 (1970-06-01), Maziarka
patent: 3586016 (1971-06-01), Meyn
patent: 3640501 (1972-02-01), Walton
patent: 3720090 (1973-03-01), Halpert et al.
patent: 3754568 (1973-08-01), Gallagher et al.
patent: 3802267 (1974-04-01), Lofink
patent: 3841344 (1974-10-01), Slack
patent: 3861646 (1975-01-01), Douglas
patent: 3927553 (1975-12-01), Frantz
patent: 4009985 (1977-03-01), Hirt
patent: 4136854 (1979-01-01), Ehmig et al.
patent: 4164168 (1979-08-01), Tateoka
patent: 4166485 (1979-09-01), Wokas
patent: 4215846 (1980-08-01), Ishizuka et al.
patent: 4240467 (1980-12-01), Blatt et al.
patent: 4244554 (1981-01-01), DiMauro et al.
patent: 4354383 (1982-10-01), Hätel
patent: 4368366 (1983-01-01), Kitamura et al.
patent: 4474208 (1984-10-01), Looney
patent: 4494571 (1985-01-01), Seegers et al.
patent: 4518329 (1985-05-01), Weaver
patent: 4561297 (1985-12-01), Holland
patent: 4616114 (1986-10-01), Strasser
patent: 4717117 (1988-01-01), Cook
patent: 4766557 (1988-08-01), Twerdochlib
patent: 4766927 (1988-08-01), Conatser
patent: 4852054 (1989-07-01), Mastandrea
patent: 4901559 (1990-02-01), Grabner
patent: 4905505 (1990-03-01), Reed
patent: 4925157 (1990-05-01), Troy
patent: 5036823 (1991-08-01), MacKinnon
patent: 5069188 (1991-12-01), Cook
patent: 5090234 (1992-02-01), Maresca, Jr. et al.
patent: 5096029 (1992-03-01), Bauer et al.
patent: 5101710 (1992-04-01), Baucom
patent: 5116257 (1992-05-01), Szlaga
patent: 5193512 (1993-03-01), Steinbrenner et al.
patent: 5209210 (1993-05-01), Ikeda et al.
patent: 5211151 (1993-05-01), Nakajima et al.
patent: 5253629 (1993-10-01), Fornuto et al.
patent: 5259424 (1993-11-01), Miller et al.
patent: 5263462 (1993-11-01), Reddy
patent: 5273071 (1993-12-01), Oberrecht
patent: 5317909 (1994-06-01), Yamada et al.
patent: 5327934 (1994-07-01), Thompson
patent: 5337262 (1994-08-01), Luthi et al.
patent: 5372032 (1994-12-01), Filippi et al.
patent: 5388613 (1995-02-01), Krüger
patent: 5390643 (1995-02-01), Sekine
patent: 5390645 (1995-02-01), Cook et al.
patent: 5415033 (1995-05-01), Maresca, Jr. et al.
patent: 5429097 (1995-07-01), Wojts-Saary et al.
patent: 5437257 (1995-08-01), Giacomazzi et al.
patent: 5474050 (1995-12-01), Cook et al.
patent: 5507176 (1996-04-01), Kammeraad et al.
patent: 5524662 (1996-06-01), Benjey et al.
patent: 5564306 (1996-10-01), Miller
patent: 5579742 (1996-12-01), Yamazaki et al
patent: 5584271 (1996-12-01), Sakata
patent: 5603349 (1997-02-01), Harris
patent: 5614665 (1997-03-01), Curran et al.
patent: 5635630 (1997-06-01), Dawson et al.
patent: 5644072 (1997-07-01), Chirco et al.
patent: 5671718 (1997-09-01), Curran et al.
patent: 5681151 (1997-10-01), Wood
patent: 5687633 (1997-11-01), Eady
patent: 5743169 (1998-04-01), Yamada
patent: 5803056 (1998-09-01), Cook et al.
patent: 5826566 (1998-10-01), Isobe et al.
patent: 5863025 (1999-01-01), Noya
patent: 5878729 (1999-03-01), Covert et al.
patent: 5884609 (1999-03-01), Kawamoto et al.
patent: 5893389 (1999-04-01), Cunningham
patent: 5894784 (1999-04-01), Bobbitt, III et al.
patent: 5911209 (1999-06-01), Kouda et al.
patent: 5979869 (1999-11-01), Hiddessen
patent: 6003499 (1999-12-01), Devall et al.
patent: 6053151 (2000-04-01), Cook et al.
patent: 6073487 (2000-06-01), Dawson
patent: 6089081 (2000-07-01), Cook et al.
patent: 6142062 (2000-11-01), Streitman
patent: 6145430 (2000-11-01), Able et al.
patent: 6168168 (2001-01-01), Brown
patent: 6202688 (2001-03-01), Khadim
patent: 6203022 (2001-03-01), Struschka et al.
patent: 6328021 (2001-12-01), Perry et al.
patent: 6343505 (2002-02-01), Cook et al.
patent: 0 688 691 (1995-12-01), None
patent: WO 99/50551 (1999-07-01), None
Rivell John
Siemens Canada Limited
LandOfFree
Fluid flow through an integrated pressure management apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Fluid flow through an integrated pressure management apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fluid flow through an integrated pressure management apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2998942