Purge Valve Controlled By Engine Parameter Patents (Class 123/520)
  • Patent number: 10612495
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel treating device includes: a canister configured to adsorb evaporated fuel generated in a fuel tank through a vapor passage; a blocking valve configured to close and open the vapor passage, the blocking valve having a stepping motor as a drive source; and a controller configured to operate the blocking valve by controlling electric power that is supplied from a predetermined power supply to the blocking valve. The controller is configured, when there is a request to drive the blocking valve, to operate the blocking valve by controlling the electric power such that when a voltage that is supplied from the power supply to the blocking valve is less than a predetermined value, a driving period which is an interval between pulses that are supplied to the stepping motor becomes long compared to when the voltage is equal to or higher than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Fukui, Makoto Yamazaki, Yoshikazu Miyabe
  • Patent number: 10605182
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine in response to a condition of an engine air intake throttle being degraded are presented. In one example, the engine air intake throttle is held closed while a position of a fuel vapor storage canister vent valve is adjusted to control air flow into the engine based on a position of an accelerator pedal. In this way, the engine air amount may be adjusted to provide additional torque from an engine while a throttle is degraded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 10557441
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel processing device may include: a canister configured to adsorb fuel evaporated in a fuel tank; a purge passage through which a purge gas sent from the canister to the intake passage passes; a control valve provided on the purge passage and having a variable aperture; and a differential pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure difference between an upstream side and a downstream side of the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kato, Daisaku Asanuma
  • Patent number: 10556503
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel treatment device executes a pressure reducing control while monitoring inner pressure of a fuel tank, so that when the inner pressure of the fuel tank exceeds a predetermined value prior to fueling to the fuel tank, pressure reduction progresses within a range that the flow rate of a vapor passage does not exceed the boundary flow rate where the vapor passage is closed by a valve element of an ORVR valve, and also a valve opening speed of the closing valve is made higher as the inner pressure of the fuel tank becomes lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Fukui, Makoto Yamazaki, Yoshikazu Miyabe
  • Patent number: 10550775
    Abstract: In a vaporized fuel processing apparatus in which fuel vapor within a fuel tank is adsorbed by a canister, the adsorbed vaporized fuel is drawn to an engine, a closing valve is provided connecting the fuel tank and the canister for controlling communication between the fuel tank and the canister, and a purge valve is provided connecting the canister and the engine for controlling communication between the canister and the engine. The vaporized fuel processing apparatus includes an internal pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure of a space within the fuel tank as an internal pressure, and a closing valve control means configured to open the closing valve for supplying an atmospheric pressure to the fuel tank via the canister when the sensor detects that the internal pressure of the fuel tank is negative, while the purge valve is closed. Therefore, the air/fuel ratio is prevented from being disturbed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Miyabe, Junya Kimoto
  • Patent number: 10550788
    Abstract: A controller for an internal combustion engine is configured to execute a dither control process, a purge control process, and a limiting process. The dither control process operates the fuel injection valves such that at least one of the cylinders is a lean combustion cylinder, in which the air-fuel ratio is leaner than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, and at least another one of the cylinders is a rich combustion cylinder, in which the air-fuel ratio is richer than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. The purge control process controls the purge flow rate by operating the adjustment device. The limiting process limits the purge control process such that, when the dither control process is being executed, the purge flow rate is reduced as compared to a case in which the dither control process is not being executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiichi Myojo, Yuki Nose, Eiji Ikuta
  • Patent number: 10550799
    Abstract: An evaporative emissions control system for an internal combustion engine having an air intake manifold is provided. The system includes a carbon canister configured to receive fuel vapor, a purge valve fluidly coupled to the carbon canister, an air induction system configured to fluidly couple to the air intake manifold, a conduit fluidly coupled between the purge valve and the air induction system, and an inlet valve disposed in the air induction system. The inlet valve is configured to selectively move between an open position and a closed position to vary an air restriction in the air induction system and generate a vacuum. The vacuum draws fuel vapor from the carbon canister through the conduit into the air induction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Colton Wyatt
  • Patent number: 10533524
    Abstract: An apparatus for purging fuel vapor includes: a turbocharger; a recirculation valve; a canister connected with a fuel tank through a vapor line and collecting fuel vapor of fuel stored in the fuel tank; a purge control solenoid valve installed in a main purge line connected with the canister and selectively blocking the fuel vapor collected in the canister; a first check valve; a second check valve; and a differential pressure creating valve installed in the intake line at the upstream portion of the compressor, and creating negative pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Choo Saeng Choi, Dong Hee Han
  • Patent number: 10493991
    Abstract: The systems and methods provided herein are directed to enabling a vehicle to enter into and/or exit from a transport mode using a backup fuse. The vehicle may enter into the transport mode from a normal mode when an ignition of the vehicle transitions from off to on if the backup fuse has been removed and the vehicle has been placed in park or neutral. The transport mode may, in part, reduce electrical loads and power as well as limit other components of the vehicle during shipping. The dealer, or other party, may remove the transport mode when the vehicle arrives and is ready to be sold. The vehicle may exit the transport mode when the backup fuse has been re-installed and the fuel cap or lid has been removed or opened, thus returning the vehicle to the normal mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kurauchi, Kevin Hawkins, Charles J Franklin, II, Kiyomi Catalina Ito
  • Patent number: 10457267
    Abstract: A controller controls a valve device for opening and closing of a passage to control a flow of evaporative fuel evaporating and flowing from a fuel tank. The valve device includes a valve body housed in the passage to open and close the passage, a biasing member biasing the valve body to close the passage, and a driver driving the valve body to open the fuel passage. The controller includes a detector detecting load of the driver and a determiner to determine the position of the valve body. The determiner determines that the passage is open when a magnitude of the change of the driver load is equal to or greater than a threshold value. The controller accurately detects an open valve position without detecting an internal pressure change of the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirofumi Onodera, Kunio Namba, Yasuo Kato
  • Patent number: 10451010
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting a canister purging operation and for rationalizing components of a vehicle evaporative emission system. In one example, after completion of a refueling event, a first fuel vapor canister purge operation is conducted to desorb hydrocarbon light ends from the fuel vapor canister, and subsequently the canister is heated to desorb hydrocarbon heavy ends from the canister, which are routed to a hydrocarbon sensor to rationalize the hydrocarbon sensor, before being purged to engine intake in a second purging operation. In this way, a fuel vapor storage canister may be thoroughly cleaned of hydrocarbon light ends and hydrocarbon heavy ends, while additionally indicating whether a canister heating element, and a hydrocarbon sensor positioned between the canister and atmosphere, are functioning as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 10428771
    Abstract: A vaporized-fuel processing apparatus includes an intake passage, a chamber, a first purge guide hole, and a second purge guide hole. The intake passage is defined by an intake manifold and a throttle body. The chamber communicates with the intake passage. The first purge guide hole is to guide vaporized fuel adsorbed in a canister toward the chamber. The second purge guide hole is to guide the vaporized fuel adsorbed in the canister toward the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsunobu Yamamoto, Kazunori Koura, Takayuki Namai
  • Patent number: 10408143
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for rationalizing a hydrocarbon sensor in a hybrid vehicle, the hydrocarbon sensor used for feed-forward air/fuel ratio control during fuel vapor canister purging events. In one example, a method comprises routing blow-by gasses from a crankcase of an engine of the vehicle to an intake manifold of the engine and then to a fuel vapor storage canister, and indicating whether the hydrocarbon sensor is functioning as desired based on a magnitude of a response of the hydrocarbon sensor during the routing. In this way, the hydrocarbon sensor may be diagnosed under conditions when the canister is substantially free from fuel vapors, and where engine run-time is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 10400688
    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 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Fukui, Makoto Yamazaki, Yoshikazu Miyabe
  • Patent number: 10379022
    Abstract: An air-mass measuring apparatus for a vehicle, that has a support element, an air-mass sensor for providing air-mass data, the air-mass sensor being disposed on the support element, at least one further sensor for providing further sensor data, the at least one further sensor being disposed on the support element, and an evaluation circuit having a first input interface to receive the air-mass data, at least one second input interface to receive the further sensor data and having an output interface, the evaluation circuit being disposed on the support element and being designed to provide the air-mass data and the further sensor data as bundled sensor data via the output interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Schneider, Michael Horstbrink, Uwe Konzelmann, Andreas Kuehn, Michael Rittmann
  • Patent number: 10378469
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel treating device includes a canister, a first purge passage connected to the canister, a second purge passage connected to a second end of the first purge passage and an intake passage, a purge control valve disposed in the first purge passage, a pulsation detection sensor disposed in the second purge passage, and an electronic control unit configured to execute abnormality detection control that detects abnormality of the second purge passage. The electronic control unit is configured to detect pulsation of a purge gas flowing through the second purge passage, based on an output signal from the pulsation detection sensor when the electronic control unit execute a control that opens and closes the purge control valve, and determine abnormality of the second purge passage, based on the detected pulsation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Leuth Insixiengmai
  • Patent number: 10371075
    Abstract: An EGR rate estimation method using an EGR valve opening area involves aggravated EGR rate estimation accuracy as an EGR valve is deteriorated and is unable to satisfy required accuracy when a target EGR rate is high. With a method for correcting a fuel injection amount by a fuel injection valve through estimation of a purge air-fuel ratio on the basis of variations in an air-fuel ratio variable depending on whether purging is performed, the fuel injection correction fails to accommodate the change in the air-fuel ratio when concentration of fuel evaporative emissions adsorbed by an activated carbon of a canister is high, resulting in reduced conversion efficiency of a catalyst. An arrangement includes an introduction port that is disposed in an intake pipe and through which a gas other than fresh air flows in the intake pipe and humidity sensors disposed upstream and downstream, respectively, of the introduction port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Matohara, Yoshihiko Akagi, Seiji Asano, Kazuhiro Oryoji
  • Patent number: 10363812
    Abstract: A vapour recovery system recovers vapour coming from a vehicle tank. The system includes a valve that is positionable in a closed position, an open position creating a passageway with a first size, and one or more intermediate positions each creating a passageway with a size smaller than the first size. The system also includes an electronic controller to control an actuator to position the valve in a sequence of positions over time. The sequence includes at least one of the intermediate positions during a time period larger than 1 second. The valve is arranged in a line of the vapour recovery system between a vapour outlet of the vehicle tank and the atmosphere. The actuator is a stepper-motor based linear actuator. The controlling includes selecting at least one intermediate position, and the selection includes selecting a number of steps to be set from a predetermined reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Plastic Omnium Advanced Innovation and Research
    Inventor: David Hill
  • Patent number: 10352260
    Abstract: A fuel vapor purge system includes: a fuel tank; a canister; a passage component that defines an intake passage of an internal-combustion engine; a purge pump pumping vapor fuel; and a valve device having a valve object, a main part having an internal passage, an inflow port through which the vapor fuel pumped from the canister flows into the main part, an outflow port connected with the inflow port through the internal passage and being opened to the intake passage, and a leak port connected with the inflow port through the internal passage and being opened to outside of the main part. The leak port has a leak preventive structure which prevents the vapor fuel from leaking to outside when the valve device is attached to the passage component such that the vapor fuel is able to flow into the intake passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Hamanakodenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideya Tochihara
  • Patent number: 10316799
    Abstract: A first electromagnetic valve includes a suction port that communicates with a purge pipe and sucks vaporized gas from a canister, a discharge port that communicates with a first purge pipe and discharges the vaporized gas to a downstream side of a throttle, a branch port that communicates with second purge pipes to which a second electromagnetic valve is attached and causes the vaporized gas to branch off to an upstream side of a compressor, a branch passage that diverges into and communicates with the suction port, the discharge port and the branch port. The branch passage includes a chamber having an inner diameter larger than each inner diameter of the ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yutaro Tawa
  • Patent number: 10316953
    Abstract: An assembly of a lubrication system for fluid machinery includes a transmission shaft, an oil-injection insulating ring and a labyrinth ring. The transmission shaft defines axially power and passive sides. The power side includes a body unit having first and second bearings. The oil-injection insulating ring located between the first and second bearings sleeves the transmission shaft and connects a fuel-supply looping having outer and inner rings. The outer ring has at least one first hole communicatively connected with the fuel-supply looping. The labyrinth ring having first and second axial ends has outer diameters tapering from the second axial end to the first axial end. The first and second axial ends face the power and passive sides, respectively. A circumference of the labyrinth ring includes circular grooves to form a circumferential step-like structure. The labyrinth ring sleeves the transmission shaft and is embedded into the body unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Ying-Che Weng, Teng-Yuan Wu, Jer-Lin Huang, Jyh-Nan Ho, Chun-Hsiang Yang
  • Patent number: 10308103
    Abstract: A feed pump supplies fuel to a port injection valve of an engine through low pressure fuel piping by applying a pressure to fuel. An engine ECU controls a fuel pressure which is a pressure applied to fuel by driving the feed pump. When the feed pump is driven to lower the fuel pressure, and it is determined that vapor is generated in the fuel piping, the engine ECU executes a fuel pressure control that increases the fuel pressure provided at the time of determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Kaneko
  • Patent number: 10302031
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an evaporative emissions system in a turbocharged engine. In one example, a method may include pulsing open a canister purge valve responsive to the turbocharged engine entering a boosted mode of operation. The canister purge valve may be opened for a duration long enough to close a check valve coupled between the canister purge valve and an intake of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Kevin William Plymale, Charlie P. Threadingham, David Martin, Terry Vandenbrink, Mark W. Peters
  • Patent number: 10294895
    Abstract: An abnormality sensing device for an evaporation fuel purge system is equipped with a purge passage that connects a canister to an intake passage of an internal combustion engine, a purge pump, a purge control valve, and a valve component that closes and opens the purge passage at a target passage including at least a first purge passage defined between the purge control valve and the intake passage. An abnormality determining portion detects a physical quantity relevant to a pressure change in the target passage in a determination possible state where the purge control valve allows the evaporation fuel to flow through the first purge passage and where the valve component prohibits the evaporation fuel from being supplied to the intake passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignees: HAMANAKODENSO CO., LTD., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kosuke Shirai
  • Patent number: 10287941
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for expediting catalyst warm-up. In one example, a method may include flowing exhaust gas from an engine first through an emission control device and then through a turbine to rotate the turbine in a reverse direction, the rotation of the turbine in the reverse direction generating intake manifold vacuum for a vacuum consumer via a compressor coupled to the turbine. In this way, heat loss through a turbine may be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Xiaogang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10280820
    Abstract: An evaporative emission control canister system comprises an initial adsorbent volume having an effective incremental adsorption capacity at 25° C. of greater than 35 grams n-butane/L between vapor concentration of 5 vol % and 50 vol % n-butane, and at least one subsequent adsorbent volume having an effective incremental adsorption capacity at 25° C. of less than 35 grams n-butane/L between vapor concentration of 5 vol % and 50 vol % n-butane, an effective butane working capacity (BWC) of less than 3 g/dL, and a g-total BWC of between 2 grams and 6 grams. The evaporative emission control canister system has a two-day diurnal breathing loss (DBL) emissions of no more than 20 mg at no more than 210 liters of purge applied after the 40 g/hr butane loading step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: INGEVITY SOUTH CAROLINA, LLC
    Inventors: Laurence H. Hiltzik, Peter D. McCrae, James R. Miller, Roger S. Williams
  • Patent number: 10280851
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and device for determining a model of flowrate for a valve, including: instantiation of the model initially equal to an approximate model; choosing flowrate setting; determination of an initial command corresponding to the flowrate setting by the model; application of the initial command to the valve; observation of a discrepancy indicative of a difference between the flowrate setting and a flowrate achieved; if the discrepancy is not zero, application of a correction to the initial command, and return to the application step; if the discrepancy is zero, correction of the model by replacing, for the flowrate setting, the initial command by the corrected command, where the flowrate passing through the valve ends up in a combustion engine admission collector including a small-area controller regulating the flowrate of air admitted, and where the discrepancy of the observation step is the deviation of the small-area controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Thierry Collet
  • Patent number: 10267267
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel processing device includes a flow control valve that is used as a valve to be installed in a pathway connecting a canister and a fuel tank. The device includes an inner pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure in an interior space of the fuel tank as an inner pressure, a valve-opening start position determination means configured to calculate a second order differential value of the inner pressure after a valve opening operation of the flow control valve is started and to determine a valve opening position of the flow control valve as a valve-opening start position when the second order differential value is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value, and a learning means configured to store the valve-opening start position as a learned value that is used when a valve-opening control of the flow control valve is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junya Kimoto, Yoshikazu Miyabe
  • Patent number: 10267248
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel processing device configured to adsorb evaporated fuel in a fuel tank to a canister and to feed the adsorbed evaporated fuel to an engine. The device includes an inner pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure in an interior space of the fuel tank, a valve-opening start position determination means configured to change the stroke amount of a flow control valve from an initial condition and to determine a valve-opening start position of the flow control valve based on a requirement that a range of variation of the inner pressure is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, a learning means configured to store the valve-opening start position, and a prohibition means configured to prohibit the valve-opening start position determination means from determining the valve-opening start position when the inner pressure falls within a predetermined pressure range relative to the atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junya Kimoto, Yoshikazu Miyabe
  • Patent number: 10221811
    Abstract: A pressure sensor is provided in a purge pipe connecting a fuel tank to a canister, so that the pressure sensor outputs an electrical signal of a first sensor value depending on an inside pressure of the canister. A control unit calculates an estimated sealed pressure, which corresponds to the inside pressure of the canister in a condition that the canister and the fuel tank are in a sealed condition. The control unit determines that there is no leakage of fuel vapor, when the first sensor value is out of a first pressure range. The control unit determines that there is a small leakage of the fuel vapor, when the first sensor value is within the first pressure range but out of a second pressure range, wherein the second pressure range is smaller than the first pressure range. The control unit determines that there is a large leakage or a blocked-up condition in the purge pipe when the first sensor value is within the second pressure range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryoyu Kishi, Tomohiro Itoh
  • Patent number: 10196992
    Abstract: An engine control device configured to control an engine includes: a turbocharger having a turbine that is configured to be driven by exhaust gas of the engine; and a compressor coupled to the turbine and configured to compress fresh air; an air-bypass passage that communicates between an upstream and a downstream of the compressor; an air-bypass valve configured to open/close the passage; a canister configured to store evaporated fuel gas generated in a fuel tank; an ejector configured to suction the evaporated fuel gas from the canister by using differential pressure between the upstream and the downstream of the compressor and introduce the evaporated fuel gas to the upstream; a purge valve configured to open/close a purge passage through which the evaporated fuel gas is to delivered from the canister to the ejector; and a purge valve diagnosis unit configured to detect stuck open malfunction of the purge valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Imaizumi, Makoto Ito
  • Patent number: 10190514
    Abstract: A purge device includes a canister; a purge passage configured to extend from the canister and be connected to an upstream side of a compressor of a supercharger in an intake passage; a supply unit configured to supply purge gas to the upstream side of the compressor in the intake passage during supercharging; a throttle configured to be provided in a portion of the intake passage connected with the purge passage and limit an inflow of gas from the purge passage; a sensor configured to detect internal pressure downstream of the supply unit in the purge passage; and a control device configured to determine that a passage end of the purge passage deviates from the intake passage, in a case where a detection value obtained by the sensor during the operation of the supply unit is lower than a predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko Akita
  • Patent number: 10190515
    Abstract: A control system of a vehicle includes a fuel vapor canister that traps fuel vapor from a fuel tank of the vehicle. A purge valve, when open, allows fuel vapor flow into an intake system of an engine at a first location and, when closed, prevents fuel vapor flow to the intake system of the engine. A purge control module controls opening of the purge valve and determines a fuel vapor flow into cylinders of the engine based on: (i) a first pressure at the first location, (ii) a second pressure at a second location between the purge valve and the intake system, and (iii) at least one delay period between opening of the purge valve and fuel vapor reaching cylinders of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Martino Casetti, Darrell W. Burleigh
  • Patent number: 10167820
    Abstract: A fuel tank system including a fuel tank internally storing fuel, a canister in which vaporized fuel generated in the fuel tank is adsorbed and desorbed by an adsorbent, and open to the atmosphere by an atmosphere communication pipe, a purging pipe placing an engine in communication with the canister, a vent pipe placing the fuel tank in communication with the canister, a negative pressure pump provided at the atmosphere communication pipe, causing negative pressure to act on the fuel tank from the canister, and a negative pressure open/close valve provided at the vent pipe, maintaining an open state at a pressure difference between a negative pump pressure acting from the negative pressure pump and a tank internal pressure acting from the fuel tank, and closing at a pressure difference between a negative purging pressure acting from the engine and the tank internal pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinji Shimokawa
  • Patent number: 10161323
    Abstract: A vapor canister of an evaporative emissions (EVAP) system is configured to store fuel vapor evaporated from a liquid fuel housed in a fuel tank of a vehicle. A boost line is connected between a high-pressure side of a boost system of an engine and the vapor canister, a boost pressure control valve is disposed in-line along the boost line and configured to control an amount of boost pressure provided to the vapor canister, and a set of purge lines are connected between the vapor canister and at least one of the engine, an induction system of the engine, and an exhaust treatment system of the engine. A controller is configured to control the boost pressure control valve to control the boost pressure provided to the vapor canister to control an amount of fuel vapor forced from the vapor canister through at least one of the set of purge lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Roger C Sager, Ryan Sturgeon, James Daley, Joseph Dekar, Jospeh B Unsworth, Luis Del Rio, Ronald A Yannone, Jr., Jeffrey P Wuttke
  • Patent number: 10156210
    Abstract: Embodiments for controlling fuel vapors are provided. In one example, a method comprises initiating a purge of a fuel vapor canister responsive to a temperature profile at a vent side of the fuel vapor canister. In this way, release of fuel vapors to the atmosphere may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Dennis Seung-Man Yang
  • Patent number: 10151263
    Abstract: An intake system may include a purge supply device; an exhaust gas recirculation device; and a pressure adjustor. The purge supply device may include a purge path connected to an intake path of an engine mounted on a vehicle, and be configured to supply evaporative fuel from a fuel tank to the intake path through the purge path. The exhaust gas recirculation device may include a circulation path connected to the intake path between a throttle valve and a first connecting position connecting the intake path and the purge path, and be configured to supply to the intake path a part of exhaust gas of the engine through the circulation path. The pressure adjustor may be disposed between the first connecting position and a second connecting position connecting the intake path and the circulation path, and be configured to adjust a pressure at the second connecting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takehide Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10138847
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel processing device includes: an evaporated fuel passage connecting a fuel tank and a canister; a purge passage connecting the canister and an intake passage of an internal combustion engine a first purge control valve arranged to open and close the purge passage; a tank open passage connecting a position on an upstream side of the first purge control valve in the purge passage, and the tank; and a second purge control valve arranged to open and close the tank open passage, when the fuel tank becomes a negative pressure, the second purge control valve being opened to introduce an atmospheric pressure through the canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Watanabe, Kazuki Toyoda, Hitoshi Oohashi
  • Patent number: 10107233
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a high load purge line of a boosted engine system for undesired evaporative emissions. In one example, a method for diagnosing the high load purge line includes drawing vacuum in the high load purge line under natural aspiration conditions and concurrently purging a fuel vapor canister. In this way, the high load purge line may be diagnosed for undesired evaporative emissions without disrupting a canister purge schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Scott A. Bohr, Matthew Werner, Matthew Masucci
  • Patent number: 10060367
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing fuel vapors in a vehicle fuel system. In one example, a method includes commanding or maintaining closed a vapor blocking valve during a purging operation such that vapor flow is directed from a fuel tank to a fresh air side of a vapor canister via a first restricted vapor line, thereby enabling high purge flow rates and deep vapor canister vacuum while avoiding fuel tank vacuum. In this way, canister purge operation may be made more efficient, thereby reducing hydrocarbon bleed emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 10041449
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting an evaporative emissions test on a fuel tank and an evaporative emissions system in a vehicle. In one example, pressure for the evaporative emissions test is provided by inductive heating of the fuel tank while the vehicle undergoes an inductive battery charging operation. In this way, evaporative emissions testing may be enabled under conditions wherein sufficient heat rejection from the engine to the fuel tank is not available, and further enables evaporative emissions testing without the use of an external pump thus eliminating additional costs, and reducing the space occupied in the vehicle for evaporative emissions testing diagnostics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 10030780
    Abstract: A valve assembly for an air flow system, where the air flow system has a turbocharger unit and a venturi valve member for receiving a portion of the pressurized air from the turbocharger unit, and generating back pressure. The valve assembly includes a bypass switching valve and a bypass check valve. During a first mode of operation, the valve assembly is exposed to vacuum pressure, and the bypass check valve is exposed to the vacuum pressure such that the bypass check valve is placed in a closed position. During a second mode of operation the turbocharger unit is activated, pressurized air flows through the bypass switching valve, and places the bypass check valve in an open position, and the back pressure generated by the venturi valve member and the pressurized air from the turbocharger unit creates a pressure differential in the bypass check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Douglas Jefford, Benjamin Dominick Manton Williams, Adrian Ovidiu Crisan
  • Patent number: 9989018
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for indicating restrictions in a fuel system vapor recirculation line. In one example, a fuel tank is evacuated responsive to a fuel level below a threshold, and if the vacuum is relieved via a negative pressure relief valve in a capless fuel filler system, the negative pressure relief valve is indicated to be functional such that, responsive to a fuel level greater than a threshold, the fuel system may be evacuated and a restriction may be indicated in the vapor recirculation line responsive to the negative pressure valve not relieving the applied vacuum. In this way, restrictions in the vapor recirculation line may be rapidly diagnosed and excessive loading of a fuel vapor canister may be prevented, thus reducing the potential for evaporative emissions being released to the atmosphere and prolonging fuel vapor canister function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 9932937
    Abstract: Methods and system are provided for distinguishing fuel tank vacuum generation due to canister purge valve degradation from vacuum generation due to canister vent valve degradation. A fuel tank vacuum level is monitored after sealing the fuel tank from the atmosphere following an engine pull-down. If there is an ensuing change in fuel tank vacuum, canister purge valve degradation is determined, else, canister vent valve degradation is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Roy Jentz, Mark W. Peters, Scott A. Bohr, Russell Randall Pearce, Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 9915233
    Abstract: The compressor of a forced induction device is provided in the intake passage of an internal combustion engine. An introduction passage for introducing purge gas into the intake passage is connected to the intake passage. A bent portion is provided at a position of the intake passage that is upstream of the compressor. The curvature of the bent portion in the direction in which the intake passage extends is greater than the curvatures of the portions of the intake passage that are located upstream and downstream of the bent portion. The introduction passage is connected to a part of the bent portion that is on the inner side of the bending direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fernando Dilshan
  • Patent number: 9879638
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide an evaporated fuel treatment device capable of performing a function diagnosis of a sealing valve with high accuracy even if an internal combustion engine is in operation. The evaporated fuel treatment device includes a sealing valve that blocks a fuel tank from the atmosphere, a canister, a canister internal pressure detection unit, a control part that performs an instruction for opening or closing the sealing valve and controls a purge, and a diagnostic part that performs a function diagnosis of an evaporated fuel sealing system including the fuel tank, the canister, and the sealing valve. The diagnostic part performs the function diagnosis of the sealing valve based on whether or not a canister internal pressure detected by the canister internal pressure sensor varies beyond a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ayumu Horiba, Mahito Shikama
  • Patent number: 9874137
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enhancing purge flow when applying shallow intake manifold vacuum. An alternate purge route that circumvents the more restrictive canister purge valve and directs purge vapors through a branched path via a less restrictive mechanical purge valve is used during low intake manifold vacuum conditions. By enabling higher purge flow rates when manifold vacuum is lower, a more complete canister cleaning is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Mark W. Peters
  • Patent number: 9863373
    Abstract: An active purge system module which includes a passive bypass valve assembly that allows for purge of a canister with engine vacuum or through the use of a pump, and also provides the functions of allowing air to escape the fuel tank during refueling. The valve assembly includes two valve members, which are moved between open and closed positions to direct air through the valve assembly during periods of engine vacuum, or when the valve assembly receives positive pressure from a pressure pump. The module is also used to perform a leak check when the valves are both in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Gordon Woods, Thierry Collet
  • Patent number: 9855839
    Abstract: A method for controlling a pressure inside a fuel tank system including a fuel tank and a controllable pressure relief valve. The method includes assessing whether a predetermined vapor expulsion risk is present, the predetermined vapor expulsion risk pertaining to a vapor expulsion from a main volume of the tank into a space accessible to an operator; if said risk is present, operating the pressure relief valve in accordance with a first pressure threshold, if the risk is not present, operating the pressure relief valve in accordance with a second pressure threshold which is higher than the first pressure threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Plastic Omnium Advanced Innovation and Research
    Inventor: Jurgen Dedeurwaerder
  • Patent number: 9850854
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine for a vehicle to ensure a stable driving state of the engine on an electrical failure of a Purge Control Solenoid Valve (PCSV) may include determining, by a controller, whether a situation of an electrical failure where an opening state of the Purge Control Solenoid Valve (PCSV) is held is detected, increasing, by the controller, a failure detecting counter to a first reference value according to a state where the situation of the electrical failure of the PCSV has been detected is kept as a result of performing the failure detecting, and compensating, by the controller, a rotation number of the engine to increase the rotation number of the engine when the failure detecting counter exceeds the first reference value as a result of performing the increasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jung Sup Byun, Seong Kyu Park