Fluid handling – Systems – With pump
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-24
2001-10-16
Chambers, A. Michael (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Systems
With pump
C137S565370, C137S576000, C123S509000, C123S514000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302144
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to vehicle fuel systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Typical automotive fuel systems have a fuel pump which may be mounted within or outside of a fuel tank, a fill pipe extending into the tank through which fuel is introduced into the tank, and one or more vapor vent valves or rollover valves which communicate with a vapor canister outside of the fuel tank. Each component is typically received through a separate opening in the fuel tank and is sealed thereto in assembly. Each opening through the fuel tank provides a leak path through which hazardous hydrocarbon vapors may escape to the atmosphere. Under increasingly strict governmental regulations, the emissions of hydrocarbons from vehicles must be reduced.
Additionally, in prior fuel systems, the operation of the fuel pump is controlled by the vehicle electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU also controls a plurality of other engine and vehicle functions and processes information provided from a plurality of sensors including sensors within the fuel tank such as a fuel level sensor. Notably, different fuel pumps, fuel tanks and other components may be used in different fuel system applications thereby requiring the ECU's to be programmed or calibrated for each particular application to properly function and control the various components. The various components for the vehicle fuel system also require a plurality of fluid connections and electrical connections between the interior of the tank and the exterior of the tank which undesirably increases the assembly time and cost of a vehicle fuel system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A vehicle fuel system has an electronic control module received within a fuel tank to send data to and receive data from the electronic control unit (ECU) for the vehicle engine and other vehicle control systems, to provide an electronic control of the vehicle fuel system and to receive signals from one or more sensors mounted within the fuel tank which provide information about the operation of the fuel system. Further, the fuel system integrates a plurality of components into the vehicle fuel tank in addition to the electronic control module to reduce the number of openings through the vehicle fuel tank and the number of connections which must be made in assembly of the fuel system into a vehicle. For example, by disposing a fuel vapor canister within the fuel tank, each vapor vent valve within the fuel tank can communicate completely within the tank with the vapor canister with a single outlet extending from the fuel tank to communicate fuel vapor from the canister with an intake manifold of the engine. Desirably, this outlet may extend through the same opening in the fuel tank through which the fuel pump, vapor canister, electronic control module and other components of the vehicle fuel system are inserted into the fuel tank. Notably, the number of openings in the tank is reduced and in one embodiment, only two openings are used in the tank, one for a fill pipe through which fuel is introduced into the tank and the second for the insertion of the various fuel system components into the tank.
The electronic control module also greatly reduces the number of electrical connections between the interior and the exterior of the fuel tank by transmitting data to the ECU and other vehicle control systems and receiving data from the ECU and other vehicle control systems through a limited number of wires which may extend through a single electrical connector. In one embodiment, only four wires are needed between the interior and exterior of the fuel tank with two wires providing a power supply and ground, and the other two wires being a multiplex bus positive wire and a multiplex bus negative wire. Desirably, all of the information provided from the ECU and other vehicle control systems to operate the vehicle fuel system can be provided through these wires along with all of the information from the fuel system to the ECU. Further, the electronic control module may be calibrated or programmed for a particular fuel system to eliminate the need for the engine ECU to be programmed for particular fuel systems and to thereby enable a standard engine ECU to be used with a plurality of vehicle fuel systems and fuel tanks.
Thus, a plurality of components of the fuel system which were previously disposed outside of the fuel tank and a plurality of fuel system functions which previously occurred outside of the fuel tank have been incorporated within the fuel tank to reduce the complexity of the fuel system outside of the fuel tank and enable standardization of many components outside of the tank and to facilitate assembly of the fuel system into a vehicle.
Objects, features and advantages of this invention include providing a vehicle fuel system which reduces the number of openings in a vehicle fuel tank, reduces the escape to the atmosphere of hazardous hydrocarbon fuel vapors, has an electronic control module received within the fuel tank to provide signals of fuel system operation to an engine ECU and other vehicle control systems through a limited number of wires and to receive information from the ECU and other vehicle control systems to control the operation of the fuel system, eliminates the need for the vehicle ECU to be calibrated or programmed for any particular fuel system, enables a vehicle ECU to be used with a wide range of fuel systems, greatly facilitates assembly of the vehicle fuel system into a vehicle, can provide increased control of the vehicle fuel system by enabling the use of a plurality of sensors, significantly reduces the complexity of the vehicle fuel system outside of the fuel tank, substantially reduces the vehicle fuel system functions which occur outside of the fuel tank, is of relatively simple design and economical manufacture and assembly, is rugged, durable and has a long useful in service life.
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Graham Joseph M.
Kuperus Peter P.
Roche Ronald H.
Tuckey Charles H
Werner Matthew L.
Chambers A. Michael
Reising Ethington, Barnes, Kisselle, Learman & McCulloch, P.C.
Walbro Corporation
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