Air Or Fuel Vapor Purging System Patents (Class 123/516)
  • Patent number: 12092057
    Abstract: A method and a device for diagnosing a ventilation line of a motor vehicle are provided. The ventilation line is arranged between a fuel tank and an activated carbon filter. The motor vehicle has a control unit (ECU) and is powered by an internal combustion engine. The state of a vacuum switch is evaluated for the diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Pichler, Thomas Koenig
  • Patent number: 11773810
    Abstract: The present description provides low DBL bleed emission performance properties that allows the design of evaporative fuel emission control systems that are simpler and more compact than those possible by prior art by inclusion of a vent-side volume comprising a parallel passage adsorbent such as a carbon honeycomb with narrow channel width and low cell pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: INGEVITY SOUTH CAROLINA, LLC
    Inventors: Stephan Charles Cronin, Marta Leon Garcia, Laurence H. Hiltzik, Eyma Y. Marrero-Alfonso, Erik W. Versen, James R. Miller, Roger S. Williams
  • Patent number: 11591990
    Abstract: The present description provides low DBL bleed emission performance properties that allows the design of evaporative fuel emission control systems that are simpler and more compact than those possible by prior art by inclusion of a vent-side volume comprising a parallel passage adsorbent such as a carbon honeycomb with narrow channel width and low cell pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: INGEVITY SOUTH CAROLINA, LLC
    Inventors: Stephan Charles Cronin, Marta Leon Garcia, Laurence H. Hiltzik, Eyma Y. Marrero-Alfonso, Erik W. Versen, James R. Miller, Roger S. Williams
  • Patent number: 11578676
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing degradation and/or alteration in an evaporative emission control system of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, during a refueling, monitoring a fuel tank pressure and a fuel fill level, and detecting a presence or an absence of a fuel vapor canister of the EVAP system based on a change in fuel tank pressure with an increase in fuel level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 11485221
    Abstract: A universal fuel-supply assembly is adaptable during manufacturing to be made for use with one of multiple different fuel types (e.g., gasoline or diesel fuel). A method for assembling a fuel-supply assembly includes providing a plate structure configured to be secured to a fuel tank. The plate structure has multiple bosses. According to one example, the method determines whether the fuel-supply assembly is for use as a diesel fuel-supply assembly or as a gasoline fuel-supply assembly. The method provides an opening through one of two different bosses that communicates with both the top side and the bottom side of the plate structure depending on whether the fuel-supply assembly is for use as a diesel fuel-supply assembly or a gasoline fuel-supply assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Hyster-Yale Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Brien Gonzalez, Alan Kolkemo, Hoon Kim, Christopher Beck
  • Patent number: 11458834
    Abstract: A fluid control valve is made compact by changing the shape of a communication passage within the fluid control valve. The fluid control valve includes a valve casing, an electric valve disposed in the valve casing, and a relief valve disposed in the valve casing. The valve casing includes: a main passage that has a first valve port sealed by the electric valve; a bypass passage for bypassing the first valve port; a first valve chamber in fluid communication with the downstream side of the first valve port and housing the electric valve; and a second valve chamber in fluid communication with the upstream side of the first valve port and housing the relief valve. The bypass passage includes a communication passage configured to allow the first valve chamber and the second valve chamber to fluidly communicate with each other. The communication passage opens to a first side surface of the first valve chamber and/or into a side surface of the second valve chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Makino, Yasuhiro Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 11345230
    Abstract: A valve system of a fuel system for a vehicle may close a jet pump-side flow path when a pressure of fuel supplied from a fuel pump to an engine is lower than a prescribed fuel pressure at engine start-up, and open the jet pump-side flow path when the pressure of fuel is equal to or higher than the prescribed fuel pressure at the engine start-up, thereby improving cold startability of an engine, and may also allow the jet pump-side flow path to be kept in an opened state between a low load region and a high load region of the engine after the engine start-up, thereby smoothly keeping a function of the jet pump after the engine start-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Keun Soo Kim, Jung Hoon Park, Dong Hyun Kim, Seung Kyun Lee
  • Patent number: 11339754
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a fuel separation system, a combustion engine, and a computer control system. The fuel separation system includes one or more fuel separation units, the vehicle system is configured to recover from the fuel separation system and maintain vapor fuel fractions as vapor throughout the vehicle system, and the combustion engine is configured to receive a vapor fuel feed and a liquid fuel feed. A method for operating the vehicle system includes separating a vehicle fuel with a fuel separation system into a plurality of fuel fractions, recovering and maintaining the vapor fuel fractions as vapor throughout the vehicle system, producing a vapor fuel feed and a liquid fuel feed, and introducing at least one of the vapor fuel feed and the liquid fuel feed to a combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Esam Z. Hamad, David J. Cleary
  • Patent number: 11313293
    Abstract: A vapor fuel processing includes a canister for absorbing vapor fuel, a purge pipe, a purge control valve, a pump, a pressure sensor, and a determination unit. The pump may be provided on the purge pipe upstream of the purge control valve. The pressure sensor may be provided between the purge control valve and the pump. The determination unit may determine a state of a purge path by comparing a first detected value of the pressure sensor detected when the pump is driven with the purge control valve in a cutoff state with a first reference value and then comparing a second detected value of the pressure sensor detected when the pump is driven with the purge control valve in the communicated state with a second reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Kato
  • Patent number: 11300026
    Abstract: A skip fire engine controller and method of control is described wherein during transitions from a first firing density to a second firing density, a firing density and a pumping density are separately set so as to balance the conflicting demands of (a) torque control, (b) Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH), (c) air flow through the engine and (d) air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shikui Kevin Chen, Matthew A. Younkins, Louis J. Serrano
  • Patent number: 11299035
    Abstract: This flow regulation device comprises a housing (200) having an inlet port (202) and an outlet port (204), and a fluid flow conduit (206) between them, a valve body (208) mounted in the housing (200), and a first (210) and a second (212) orifices allowing fluid flow in the conduit (206). The valve body (208) is movable between an open position, in which the first and second orifices (210, 212) are open, and a closed position, in which only one (210) of the first and second orifices (210, 212) is open. The flow regulation device (20) comprises a resilient element (214) urging the valve body (208) towards its open position, and the valve body (208) passes from its open to its closed position under action of fluid pressure (P) entering in the inlet port (202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: François Giroud, Hervé Coste, Manas Phatak
  • Patent number: 11292336
    Abstract: A vehicle equipped with a high pressure tank has mounted in the interior of a vehicle body a high pressure tank having a resin liner and a reinforced layer, the vehicle comprising a tank chamber, a filling port, a concave portion in which the filling port and a ventilation port are disposed, a fuel lid capable of opening and closing an opening of the concave portion, and a ventilation passage that allows communication between the ventilation port and the tank chamber. When the fuel lid is opened, the ventilation port is opened to the exterior of the vehicle body, whereas when the fuel lid is closed, the ventilation port is covered by the fuel lid in a state in which the ventilation port is allowed to communicate with the exterior of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Kawase, Naoki Ogiwara, Kazuyuki Kadowaki
  • Patent number: 11255305
    Abstract: A manifold configured to inhibit air recirculation in an engine fueling system, the manifold comprising: a housing including an internal chamber in communication with a high pressure pump (“HPP”) port configured to receive drain fuel from a HPP; a drain port configured to return fuel to a fuel tank; an air bleed port configured to receive air bled from the fueling system; and a check valve positioned within the internal chamber, the check valve configured to inhibit air from flowing from the air bleed port to the HPP port, thereby inhibiting air recirculation into the engine fueling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Iannelli Olivares, Bryce Short
  • Patent number: 11208963
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided herein for increasing an efficiency of an evaporative emissions system of a vehicle by adjusting a purge flow in response to a predicted vapor slug. In one example, a method for an engine of a vehicle includes, upon approaching a location of a predicted vapor slug, ramping down a purge flow rate from a fuel vapor canister to an engine intake, the location of the predicted vapor slug inferred based on communication of the vehicle with one or more other vehicles and/or a network cloud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M Dudar
  • Patent number: 11187147
    Abstract: A pressure variation in a fuel tank can be prevented, and leakage of liquid fuel can be prevented even if the fuel tank is inclined in a predetermined direction, without operation for opening and closing a breather passage. An engine generator includes: a first breather passage having an opening at a position above a liquid fuel in a tank bulge section when the engine generator is inclined to the right (corresponding to a first direction); and a second breather passage having an opening at a position above the liquid fuel in the tank bulge section when the engine generator is inclined in the left direction (a second direction).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kojima, Masashi Kai, Jun Yamamoto, Mitsuhiro Ito
  • Patent number: 11149670
    Abstract: This exhaust purification system includes: a pump disposed in an exhaust-side purge passage to supply air or purge gas purged from a canister to a catalyst; a three-way valve disposed upstream of the pump in the exhaust-side purge passage and configured to switch the exhaust-side purge passage between a communicating state allowing the pump to communicate with the canister and an atmosphere open state allowing the pump to communicate with the atmosphere; a flow control valve disposed downstream of the pump and configured to control a flow rate of air to be supplied to the catalyst; and a controller configured to, when a request to regenerate the catalyst occurs, control a purge valve, the pump, the three-way valve, and the flow control valve to supply, to the catalyst, purge gas purged from the canister and air by a necessary amount to burn particulates trapped in the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mamoru Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 11118548
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a fuel vapor separator for an internal combustion engine includes a main body at least partially defining a chamber for holding fuel, a lid carried by the main body to close the chamber and at least partially define a vapor chamber above a level of fuel in the chamber, and a thermoelectric heat exchanger coupled to the main body. In at least some implementations, the main body is a thermally conductive polymeric material that is resistant to degradation or dimensional changes, and in some implementations, the main body may be formed from a metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventor: Kevin L. Israelson
  • Patent number: 11105302
    Abstract: An evaporative emissions control system comprising an evaporative emissions control (evap) canister. A fuel vapor feed conduit includes a first end fluidically connected to the evap canister, a second end connected to an internal combustion (IC) engine and a purge valve fluidically connected thereto. A fuel vapor conduit includes a first end fluidically connected to the evap canister and a second end configured to extend into a vehicle fuel tank. A fuel vapor vent valve is fluidically connected to the fuel vapor conduit at the second end thereof. A vapor return system includes a fuel pump fluidically connected to the fuel vapor conduit through an intermediate bypass conduit having a first end fluidically connected to an intermediate portion of the fuel vapor conduit and a second end extending into the vehicle fuel tank and in communication with the vapor return system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: William L. Villaire, Manoj R. Chaudhari, Edward J. Strzelecki
  • Patent number: 11067016
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for tracking a fuel puddle mass in the intake port of a deactivated engine cylinder. The difference in fuel evaporation rate in the deactivated cylinder intake is accounted for by applying distinct time constant and gain values to a transient fuel compensation model. A fuel vapor content is clipped once the intake vapor pressure in the intake port of the deactivated cylinder reaches a saturation pressure limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Amey Karnik, Pravin Sashidharan, Gopichandra Surnilla, Michael Howard Shelby, Eric Storhok
  • Patent number: 11055600
    Abstract: A card is provided, such as a credit card or security card, that may transmit information to a magnetic stripe reader via a magnetic emulator. The emulator may transmit the information serially in order to reduce the amount of circuitry needed to emulate a particular block of information. Additionally, for example, a serial encoder may send any amount of information through a single emulation segment. Such a magnetic emulator may be provided on a credit card. A dynamic credit card number may be provided by, for example, coding a number with a different coding scheme for different periods of time. The magnetic emulator may be utilized to transmit a particular coded number for a particular period of time. In this manner, a dynamic credit card number may be provided such that to help secure, and progress, a payment transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: DYNAMICS INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Mullen, David Lambeth, Ryan Kellog
  • Patent number: 10967734
    Abstract: In a valve device for a fuel tank, a fuel liquid level of filling-up fuel feed and an allowable fuel amount of additional fuel feed can be easily and appropriately changed by replacing only a part of components forming the valve device. A first valve chamber has a structure of positioning an open end below a support portion of a first float having a passage portion for a fluid. A second valve chamber includes a support portion of a second float having a passage portion for the fluid. The first valve chamber and the second valve chamber are formed by fitting a lower-portion including the support portion and the open end of the first float and the support portion of the second float relative to an upper-portion including a first valve opening and a second valve opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Xiaohui Sui, Tsuyoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 10953742
    Abstract: A fuel tank includes a tank main body configured to reserve a quantity of fuel therein and an oil feed tube fitted to the tank main body to form a fuel feed port. The fuel feed tube has a tip end configured to protrude inwardly of the tank main body, and the tip end is positioned below the upper limit level of the fuel. At a location of the fuel feed tube above the upper limit level, a vent hole is formed to communicate between the interior of the tank main body and the interior of the oil feed tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventor: Teruaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10920723
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a liquid and vapor separator includes a body and a cover, a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet and a vent passage. A fuel pump has an inlet in communication with the interior volume and an outlet in communication with the fuel outlet. A fuel pressure regulator has an inlet in communication with the fuel pump outlet, an outlet in communication with the interior volume and a valve between the fuel pressure regulator inlet and the fuel pressure regulator outlet. The fuel pressure regulator is carried by the cover and the cover defines at least part of a fuel passage between the fuel pump outlet and the fuel outlet. An inlet valve is received within the interior volume and associated with the fuel inlet. A wall at least partially separates the area of the fuel pump from the area of the inlet valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Hanby, Kevin L. Israelson, Elton J. Fisch
  • Patent number: 10899409
    Abstract: A saddled vehicle includes: a vehicle body frame; an internal combustion engine supported at a lower portion of the vehicle body frame; a fuel tank supported at an upper portion of the vehicle body frame; and a canister. The canister is disposed around the fuel tank at a position lower than a seating portion of an occupant seat. A removable hermetic sealing cap or a one-way valve that prevents entry of rainwater from an outside is included in a drain pipe disposed at a lower portion of the canister. Accordingly, entry of rainwater into the canister is prevented with a simple structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Koyama, Akinobu Masunaga, Yoshiaki Nakashima, Makoto Hotozuka
  • Patent number: 10844810
    Abstract: A leakage detecting device includes a first sensor, a second sensor, a pump, a leakage determination portion and a determination resetting portion. The first sensor, which is provided in a first passage connecting a fuel tank to a canister, detects density of vaporized fuel generated in the fuel tank. The second sensor, which is provided in a third passage connecting the canister to the pump, detects pressure in the third passage. The pump is provided between the third passage and an atmospheric passage. The leakage determination portion determines whether there is leakage in a vaporized fuel processing system or not, based on a time-variable amount of the pressure detected by the second sensor. The determination resetting portion resets a leakage determination result of the leakage determination portion, based on a time-variable amount of the density and the time-variable amount of the pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taiki Yasuzaka, Tomohiro Itoh
  • Patent number: 10828981
    Abstract: An evaporative emissions control system configured to recapture and recycle emitted fuel vapor on a vehicle fuel tank is provided. The control system includes a first and second vent tube disposed in the fuel tank, a first and second vent valve, a vent shut-off assembly, a purge canister and a control module. The vent shut-off assembly selectively opens and closes the first and second valves to provide overpressure and vacuum relief for the fuel tank. The control module regulates operation of the vent shut-off assembly based on operating conditions to vent the first and second vent valves to the purge canister. The vehicle fuel tank comprises a saddle tank having first and second lobes and a raised portion arranged generally at a top portion of the fuel tank. The first vent valve is arranged generally in the first lobe and the second vent valve is arranged in the raised portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Vaughn Kevin Mills, Max Franklin, Robert P. Benjey
  • Patent number: 10823119
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dual purge system for a vehicle, which varies a purging amount depending on a pressure condition of an intake manifold surge tank to realize desired purging efficiency suitable for a vehicle driving range. In the dual purge system, by desorbing fuel evaporation gas from all canisters in a state of engine negative pressure, a purging amount increases thereby improving fuel efficiency, and by desorbing the fuel evaporation gas from some canisters in a state of engine positive pressure, flow resistance of the gas is reduced in comparison with previous flow resistance thereby increasing desorption efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTORS COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tae Kwang Eom, Soo Hong Lee, Kyu Sup Kim
  • Patent number: 10787999
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel processing apparatus is provided with a canister to collect vapor, a purge passage to purge the vapor collected in the canister to an intake passage, a purge valve provided in the purge passage to regulate a purge flow rate of the vapor, a purge pump provided between the canister and the purge valve to pressure-feed the vapor from the canister to the purge passage, and a vapor pressure sensor to detect vapor pressure in the purge passage. An inside of the canister is communicated with the atmosphere, a capacity chamber (the canister) is provided upstream of the purge pump, and the vapor pressure sensor is provided in the purge passage between the purge valve and the purge pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daisaku Asanuma
  • Patent number: 10773820
    Abstract: A liquid tank system comprises a main liquid tank, an outlet communicating between a fluid circuit and the main liquid tank, an inlet communicating between the fluid circuit and the main liquid tank, and an auxiliary cavity. First vent passage and second vent passage(s) communicate between the main liquid tank and the auxiliary cavity and allows liquid and gas to flow from the main liquid tank to the auxiliary cavity. The second vent passage has a flow control device regulating flow through the second vent passage and having a set point at which it allows liquid and gas to flow from the main liquid tank to the auxiliary cavity only when a pressure in the main liquid tank is beyond a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Sebastien Bergeron, Pierre Gauvin, Johnny Vinski, Genevieve McMurray
  • Patent number: 10774799
    Abstract: An air separator, fuel delivery system and installation set are provided. The air separator includes a vessel defining a hollow interior chamber having an inlet for receiving fuel from a fuel source and an outlet for fluidic communication with an engine. An air-bleed receives and removes a quantity of undesired gas, which is in fluidic communication with a discharge port. Further, a filter media for contact with fuel received and a conduit for delivering fuel passing through the filter media to the outlet. The air separator removes gas from the fuel prior to passage through the outlet to the engine, with the gas passing through the air-bleed. The air bleed includes a fluidic mixing alcove for passage of the gas through the discharge port. The air separator is between the transfer pump and the engine. Finally, installation sets for mounting the air separator to the fuel delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: CD PATENTS, LLC
    Inventor: Charles L. Ekstam
  • Patent number: 10731578
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel processing device may include a canister retaining evaporated fuel in a fuel tank, a vent passage communicating the canister and an intake passage of an engine, a first pump that discharges mixed gas of air and the evaporated fuel to the intake passage via the vent passage, a detector that detects a first pressure value indicating a pressure of the mixed gas discharged by the first pump, a memory storing pressure value-concentration correlated data indicating mixed gas, an acquisition unit that acquires a third pressure value indicating an air pressure detected by the detector in a case where the air containing substantially no evaporated fuel is discharged by the first pump, and an estimation unit that estimates a concentration of the evaporated fuel contained in the mixed gas discharged by the first pump by using the first and third pressure values and the pressure value-concentration correlated data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Hatano
  • Patent number: 10717355
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for inferring a current operational state of one or more fuel tank grade vent valves. In one example, a method comprises predicting an upcoming fuel slosh event in a fuel tank positioned in a fuel system of a vehicle, and in response to such a prediction, sealing the fuel system within a threshold duration of the upcoming fuel slosh event and diagnosing a grade vent valve as a function of fuel level in the tank at the time of the fuel slosh event and a pressure monitored in the fuel system during the fuel slosh event. In this way, issues related to fuel tank overpressurization and/or release of undesired evaporative emissions to atmosphere may be reduced or avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 10717353
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve (10, 70) is provided having a first tubing (14a) connectable to a fuel tank (62) and a second tubing (14b) connectable to a fuel vapor treating device (64), the pressure relief valve comprising: an externally actuated (hereinafter EA) valve (20) disposed between the first tubing (14a) and the second tubing (14b) and being configured for pulsed actuation by a controller (28) thereby allowing pulsed fluid flow through a primary port (18a) disposed between the first tubing (14a) and the second tubing (14b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: RAVAL A.C.S. LTD.
    Inventors: Omer Vulkan, Vladimir Olshanetsky, Paul Handy, Denis Kleyman
  • Patent number: 10717354
    Abstract: A fuel tank isolation valve 10, wherein, the shaft 18 is assembled coaxially inside hole 42 of moving plunger 46 of seal sub assembly 16 and then flow limiter 22 is guided over the shaft 18 through guiding hole 34 to maintain sealing seat 36 in parallel with respect to the sealing surface 38 of rubber seal 44 and avoid misalignment of flow limiter 22 with respect to sealing surface 38 during and after the operation; the sealing seat 36 of flow limiter 22 on the sealing surface 38 of the rubber seal 44 fixed into moving plunger 46 of seal sub assembly 16 performs the over pressure relief function; the sealing surface 40 of rubber seal 44 fixed into moving plunger 46 of seal sub-assembly 16 is resting on surface 48 of nozzle body 20 to perform over vacuum relief function; and the rubber seal 44 assist both over pressure relief (OPR) and over vacuum relief (OVR) function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Padmini VNA Mechatronics Pvt. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kabir Bhandari, Amardip Kumar, Torsten Gerlich, Varun Kumar, Krishan Kant Sharma, Sahil Singla
  • Patent number: 10697399
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing a purge valve of a canister purge system includes (a) determining whether a purge valve, which is installed on a purge pipe connecting a canister with an intake system of an engine, is open and whether a purge pump is running, wherein the purge pump is configured to pump evaporative emission captured in the canister toward the intake system, and (b) determining whether the purge valve is in a close stuck state, based on upstream pressure and downstream pressure of the purge pump, when the purge valve is open while the purge pump is running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Choo Saeng Choi
  • Patent number: 10697408
    Abstract: A vehicle gas processing device is configured to supply gas generated by a vehicle to an intake pipe of a combustion engine. The device may includes: a gas pipe configured to communicate a gas generation source to the intake pipe, the gas pipe having a flexible end at least at an intake pipe side of the gas pipe; a check valve disposed between the intake pipe and the gas pipe, and configured to allow the gas to flow from the gas pipe toward the intake pipe and prohibit the gas to flow from the intake pipe toward the gas pipe; and a determining unit configured to determine that the gas pipe is detached from the check valve. The check valve is fixed to the intake pipe, and the gas pipe is detachably attached to the check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisaku Asanuma, Masanori Sugiura
  • Patent number: 10653994
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a fuel vapor filter for a tank ventilation device of a motor vehicle, wherein the fuel vapor filter has a filter housing with a receiving space for receiving a filter material for at least temporarily binding fuel vapors. The filter housing has a charging opening for the introduction of fuel vapors into the receiving space and a ventilation opening for the ventilation of the receiving space. The fuel vapor filter has a diverting device which is arranged in the receiving space and which serves for diverting a fluid flow between the charging opening and the ventilation opening. The diverting device is arranged in a region between the charging opening and the ventilation opening or in a region between the charging opening and a passage opening of a fluid channel fluidically connected to the ventilation opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: KAUTEX TEXTRON GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Bjorn Stell, Manfred Pruser, Lars Hansonis, Volker Treudt
  • Patent number: 10625600
    Abstract: A fuel vapor suppression system in a fuel tank in a vehicle comprises a fuel storage compartment, an opening, an inlet check valve in the opening connected to a fuel filler pipe, and a vapor suppression device disposed in the fuel storage compartment and connected with the inlet check valve. The vapor suppression device may include a cylindrical mesh body having a pore size of no less than 1 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Graham Higgin
  • Patent number: 10605206
    Abstract: A fuel vapor processing apparatus may include a canister and a valve device. The canister may include a canister case and may adsorb fuel vapor and allow desorption of fuel vapor. The valve device may include a valve housing defining a fuel vapor passage therein. A valve may be disposed within the valve housing and may control a flow of fuel vapor through the fuel vapor passage. The valve housing may be directly connected to the canister case, so that the fuel vapor passage communicates within the canister case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuki Nishiura, Shinji Murai
  • Patent number: 10598132
    Abstract: A method for diagnosis of a tank ventilation valve in a tank ventilation system for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle includes actuating a tank ventilation valve via a control unit, and checking the functionality of the tank ventilation valve in a manner dependent on a pressure oscillation measured by the pressure sensor. The tank ventilation system includes a filter having a first feed line from a fuel tank, a second feed line with a connection to a surrounding atmosphere, and a third feed line to a tank ventilation valve, wherein the tank ventilation valve has a connection to two different introduction points at an intake pipe, wherein the connection has a first line system and a second line system, wherein the tank ventilation system further includes at least one pressure sensor installed in the second line system between tank ventilation valve and intake pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Markus Timmer
  • Patent number: 10563622
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel processing device including a purge passage through which a purge gas sent from a canister to an intake passage passes, a pump sending the purge gas to the intake passage, a control valve switching between a communication state and a cutoff state, a branch passage branching from the purge passage at an upstream end and joining the purge passage at a downstream end, a pressure specifying unit comprising a small diameter portion disposed on the branch passage, and specifying a pressure difference of the purge gas passing through the small diameter portion between an upstream side and a downstream side, and an estimation unit estimating a flow rate of the purge gas sent from the pump by using an evaporated fuel concentration in the purge gas that is estimated using an air-fuel ratio and the pressure difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisaku Asanuma, Nobuhiro Kato
  • Patent number: 10533506
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for including a single pressure sensor in an evaporative emissions system and fuel system. In one example, a method may include venting a fuel tank of the fuel system, which is isolated from the evaporative emissions system by a fuel tank isolation valve (FTIV), in response to a depressurization condition determined based on a differential pressure measured by a delta pressure sensor coupled across the FTIV. The venting may include pulsing the FTIV open and closed and may further include adjusting the pulsing responsive to the differential pressure measured while the FTIV is closed and independent of the differential pressure measured while the FTIV is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 10495030
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing an evaporative emission control system that includes during a first state of a vapor blocking valve, determining a first rate of change of a fuel tank vacuum, during a second state of the vapor blocking valve different from the first state, determining a second rate of change of the fuel tank vacuum, and diagnosing an operational condition of the vapor blocking valve based on the first and second rates of change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Mark Peters, Donald Ignasiak, Deborah Dukatz, John Hefferon
  • Patent number: 10480430
    Abstract: An intake pipe of an evaporated fuel processing device is provided with a throttle valve downstream of a supercharger, and an ejector in parallel to the supercharger. A purge passage is branched into first and second branch passages, which connect to the intake pipe at a position downstream of the throttle valve and to a suction port of the ejector, respectively. In the ejector, its intake port is connected to the intake pipe at a position between the supercharger and the throttle valve, and its exhaust port is connected to the intake pipe at a position upstream of the supercharger. A flow rate of purge gas in the second branch passage is obtained based on at least two of a first pressure downstream of the throttle valve, a second pressure between the supercharger and the throttle valve, and a third pressure upstream of the supercharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignees: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Tsutsumi, Tatsuhiko Akita, Yuusaku Nishimura
  • Patent number: 10414270
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for opening a refueling door of a vehicle. The method comprises adjusting a speed of opening the refueling door based on a fuel tank vapor pressure in response to a detected refueling request. Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a refueling door assembly for a vehicle. The refueling door assembly comprises a fuel tank; a refueling inlet to receive a fuel dispensing nozzle; a fuel fill line coupled between the fuel tank and the refueling inlet; a refueling door located at a vehicle body; an operating mechanism connected to the refueling door to open and close the refueling door; and a control module configured to open the refueling door responsive to a refueling request and control an opening speed of the operating mechanism based on a fuel tank vapor pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Charles Qin, Russell Randall Pearce, Neil Wu, Le Hong
  • Patent number: 10399434
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling the pressure inside a fuel tank of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle including a fuel vapor vent circuit connecting the tank to a fuel vapor canister, the vent circuit including an isolation valve for isolating the tank and a rollover valve. The pressure control method includes steps of: determining an activation duration required for the isolation valve to transition from a closed state to a fully open state, referred to as the “full opening duration”, when a predefined rollover valve closure risk criterion is satisfied: controlling the isolation valve in repeated activations of respective durations that are shorter than the full opening duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Oliver Grunwald, Thierry Collet, Aurelien Groussard
  • Patent number: 10400689
    Abstract: A fuel tank system includes a fuel tank, a canister, a first path, a pump, a switching device, a reference path, a first on-off valve, a second on-off valve, a third on-off valve, a pressure sensor, and a control device configured to control the pump, the switching device, the first on-off valve, the second on-off valve, and the third on-off valve and determine a system state based on a pressure measured by the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yojiro Iriyama, Chiaki Kataoka, Masanobu Shinagawa
  • Patent number: 10393071
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting an evaporative emissions test diagnostic on a vehicle fuel system and evaporative emissions control system during engine-on conditions. In one example, a first fuel vapor storage device is separated from a second fuel vapor storage device by a one-way check valve, thus preventing loading of the first fuel vapor storage device during conditions such as refueling operations, diurnal temperature fluctuations, or from running-loss vapors from a vehicle fuel tank. In this way, the evaporative emissions test diagnostic may be conducted during a cold-start event where an exhaust catalyst is below a predetermined threshold temperature required for catalytic oxidation of hydrocarbons in the engine exhaust, without increasing undesired exhaust emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Mark W. Peters
  • Patent number: 10354459
    Abstract: A first vehicle includes a hydrocarbon sensor and a controller in communication with the hydrocarbon sensor. The controller is programmed to receive data from the hydrocarbon sensor indicating hydrocarbon emissions and determine that the hydrocarbon emissions originated in a second vehicle and are exceed a predetermined threshold. The controller may further be programmed to transmit a message reporting the hydrocarbon emission to a remote server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Douglas Raymond Martin, Kenneth James Miller
  • Patent number: RE48638
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel processing apparatus is provided with an initializer configured to increase a step number with which a stepping motor is rotated in a valve closing direction, when there is an initialization request for the blocking valve and tank pressure of the fuel tank is in a predetermined pressure range near atmospheric pressure, in comparison with when the tank pressure is out of the predetermined pressure range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Fukui, Makoto Yamazaki, Yoshikazu Miyabe