EP0554587A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Flow device for fuel evaporative control system
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1992-12-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-12-22
Abstract
Abstract A flow device for detecting a malfunction of the fuel evaporative control system comprises a two-way flow device (32) in the atmospheric air vent of the evaporative canister (14) with a sensor (92) to detect whether fluid is flowing through the canister during selected operating conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Fornuto
- 👤 Karen Marie Meyer
- 👤 William Elihu Gifford
- 👤 Otto Muller-Girard, Jr.
- 👤 Harold Milton Haskew
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:33
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M25/00; F02M25/08; F02M25/0809
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A flow device (32) for detecting a malfunction in a fuel evaporative control system having a canister (14) for adsorbing fuel vapour evaporated from a fuel tank (10), the canister having an opening to the fuel tank, an opening to atmosphere, and an opening to a vacuum source for an engine (12), the flow device comprising a housing (42) having first and second valve chambers (62,64), located in the opening from the canister to atmosphere, and having two apertures (50,52) for flow into and out of the valve chambers, one of the apertures (52) opening to atmosphere, and the other of the apertures (50) opening to the canister, each valve chamber having a check valve (66,68) comprising a valve seat (74,88), a valve member (72,30) engageable with the valve seat, and a valve spring (80,34) urging the valve member against the valve seat to inhibit flow through the valve chamber, wherein the valve member of the first valve chamber opens in response to pressure conditions in said other aperture to permit fluid flow from the fuel tank through the canister and the first valve chamber, and the valve member of the second valve chamber opens in response to vacuum conditions in said other aperture to permit flow of air through the second valve chamber and canister; and means (92) to detect movement of at least one of the valve members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A flow device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve chambers (62,64) are adjacent to each other in longitudinal passages (58,60) in the housing (42), and the housing also has transverse passages (54,56) that communicate with upper and lower ends of the longitudinal passages, and the upper transverse passage also communicating with said other aperture (50) and the lower transverse passage communicating with said one aperture (52).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
123 words
A flow device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the first valve chamber (62) includes a stop member (82) against which the valve member (72) of the first valve chamber abuts when in the open position in response to pressure conditions in said other aperture (50) thereby permitting fluid from the fuel tank (10) to flow through the canister (14) and around the valve member; and wherein the second valve chamber (64) includes a stop member (94) against which the valve member (30) of the second valve chamber abuts when in the open position in response to vacuum conditions in said other aperture thereby permitting air flow from the atmosphere to flow around the valve member and through the canister.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A flow device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the valve member (30) of the second valve chamber (64) is guided by a shaft (90) that communicates with said means in the form of a sensor (92) that can detect movement of the shaft and thereby detect a malfunction of the fuel evaporative control system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
99 words
A flow device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the valve member (172) of the first valve chamber (162) is guided by a steel shaft (176) which communicates with a magnetic proximity sensor (178) that can detect movement of the shaft; and wherein the valve member (130) of the second valve chamber (164) is guided by a second steel shaft (190) which communicates with a magnetic proximity sensor (192) that can detect movement of the second shaft, the sensors defining the means whereby the flow device detects malfunctions of the fuel evaporative control system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
193 words
A flow device (32) for detecting a malfunction in a fuel evaporative control system having a canister (14) for adsorbing fuel vapour evaporated from a fuel tank (10), the canister having an opening to the fuel tank, an opening to atmosphere, and an opening to a vacuum source for an engine (12), the flow device comprising a housing (42) located in the opening from the canister to atmosphere, and having a valve chamber (64) and two apertures (50,52) for flow into and out of the valve chamber, the first of said apertures (52) opening to atmosphere, and the second of said apertures (50) opening to the canister, the valve chamber having a valve member (30), the valve member being sensitive to change in pressure within the two apertures, whereby the valve member moves in response to a difference in pressure conditions between the second aperture and the first aperture to permit air flow through the valve chamber, and wherein the flow device includes means (92) to detect movement of the valve member (30), whereby a malfunction of the fuel evaporative control system is detected when no movement of the valve member is detected.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
WO1991012426A1
Cited
DE4035158C1
Cited
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