Controlled flow purge system and apparatus

Claim 2

In combination with an engine having an interior crankcase space, suction producing air induction means having a movable throttle and hydrocarbon vapor storage means having an inlet to atmosphere and an outlet, a purge system and apparatus to withdraw hydrocarbon vapors from the engine interior space and the vapor storage means for passage into the air induction means comprising: first passage means communicating the air induction means with the engine interior space thereby producing a continuous evacuating action when the engine is operative, second passage means selectively communicating with engine interior space with the outlet of the vapor storage means including a pressure responsive valving control with multifunction flow capabilities to regulate air flow through the storage means, the flow through the engine interior space and storage means into the air induction means characterized by substantially zero flow under a wide open throttle engine condition, a relatively low rate of flow under idle engine conditions, a greater rate of flow under part throttle cruise conditions and a maximum rate of flow under closed throttle deceleration engine conditions.

Claim 3

In combination with an engine having an interior crankcase space, suction producing air induction means having a movable throttle and hydrocarbon vapor storage means having an inlet to atmosphere and an outlet, a purge system and apparatus to withdraw hydrocarbon vapors from the engine interior space and the vapor storage means for passage into the air induction means comprising: first passage means communicating the air induction means with the engine interior space thereby producing a continuous evacuating action when the engine is operative, second passage means selectively communicating the engine interior space with the outlet of the vapor storage means including a pressure responsive valving control with multifunction flow capabilities to regulate air flow through the storage means, the flow through the engine interior space and the storage means into the air induction means characterized by substantially zero flow under a wide open throttle engine condition, a relatively low rate of flow under idle engine conditions, a greater rate of flow under part throttle cruise conditions and a maximum rate of flow under closed throttle deceleration engine conditions, the pressure responsive valving control including a hollow housing defining a flow passage therethrough with an apertured wall therein extending between the inlet and outlet and defining a flow opening, a movable valving element in the housing having an elongated and particularly contoured portion extending through the flow opening hus occupying portions thereof for controlling flow whereby each contour corresponds to one of the particularly characterized flow condition and the position of the elongated portion relative to the flow opening is established in correspondence with the vacuum pressure level in the engine interior space produced by the suction of the air induction means.

Claim 4

In combination with an engine having an interior crankcase space, suction producing air induction means having a movable throttle and hydrocarbon vapor storage means having an inlet to atmosphere and an outlet, a purge system and apparatus to withdraw hydrocarbon vapors from the engine interior space and the vapor storage means for passage into the air induction means comprising: first passage means communicating the air induction means with the engine interior space thereby producing a continuous evacuating action when the engine is operative, second passage means selectively communicating the engine interior space with the outlet of the vapor storage means including a pressure responsive valving control with multifunction flow capabilities to regulate air flow through the storage means, the flow through the engine interior space and the storage means into the air induction means characterized by substantially zero flow under a wide open throttle engine condition, a relatively low rate of flow under idle engine conditions, a greater rate of flow under part throttle cruise conditions and a maximum rate of flow under closed throttle deceleration engine conditions, the pressure responsive valving control including a hollow housing defining a flow passage therethrough with an apertured wall therein extending between the inlet and outlet and defining a flow opening, a movable valving element in the housing having an elongated and particularly contoured portion extending through the flow opening hus occupying portions thereof for controlling flow whereby each contour corresponds to one of the particularly characterized flow condition and the position of the elongated portion relative to the flow opening is established in correspondence with the vacuum pressure level in the engine interior space produced by the suction of the air induction means.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 2 and including yieldable spring means urging the movable valving element toward the zero flow position whereby increasing vacuums in the engine interior space sequentially forces the spring and the valving element into the positions corresponding to the characterized flow conditions.

Claim 6

The combination set forth in claim 2 in which the flow opening is circular and the valving element has circular contours in cross-section of varying diameters to produce a variable flow passage in cooperation with the flow opening, a first circular contour of the valving element corresponding to the substantially zero flow condition and having a diameter only sufficiently less than the circular flow opening to permit axial movements of the element, a second circular contour integral with the first and corresponding to the greater cruise flow rate resulting from a reduced diameter contour, a third circular contour integral with the second and corresponding to the low idle flow rate produced by a contour with a diameter dimensioned between the diameters of the first and second portions, a fourth circular contour integral with the third and corresponding to the maximum deceleration flow rate produced by a contour with a diameter range less than the diameter of the second portion.

Claim 7

In a vehicle having an engine, a pressure responsive valving control for regulating air flow between a hydrocarbon storage means and an engine air induction means, comprising: a hollow housing defining a flow passage therethrough including inlet and an outlet passage means for connection respectively to the hydrocarbon storage means and the engine, an apertured wall extending across the flow passage and defining a flow control opening therethrough between the inlet and outlet, a valving element in the housing with an elongated portion extending through the flow control opening, yieldable means responsive to pressures produced by the engine air induction means and operably attached to the valving element to permit axial reciprocation of the elongated portion in the flow control opening, the elongated portion having a first contour thereon with a cross-sectional area only sufficiently less than the area of the flow control opening to permit reciprocation, a second contour integral with the first and having a cross-sectional area substantially less than the first portion, a third contour integral with the second and having a cross-sectional area between the areas of the first and second contours and a fourth contour integral with the third and having a cross-sectional area less than the area of the second contour whereby as the first, second, third and fourth contours are sequentially moved into alignment across the flow control opening in response to pressure changes and resultantly the flow rate varies from zero to a greater rate then to a reduced rate and finally to a maximum rate.

Claim 8

In a vehicle having an engine, a pressure responsive valving control for regulating air flow between a hydrocarbon storage means and an engine air induction means, comprising: a hollow housing defining a flow passage therethrough including inlet and an outlet passage means for connection respectively to the hydrocarbon storage means and the engine, an apertured wall extending across the flow passage and defining a flow control opening therethrough between the inlet and outlet, a valving element in the housing with an elongated portion extending through the flow control opening, yieldable means responsive to pressures produced by the engine air induction means and operably attached to the valving element to permit axial reciprocation of the elongated portion in the flow control opening, the elongated portion having a first contour thereon with a cross-sectional area only sufficiently less than the area of the flow control opening to permit reciprocation, a second contour integral with the first and having a cross-sectional area substantially less than the first portion, a third contour integral with the second and having a cross-sectional area between the areas of the first and second contours and a fourth contour integral with the third and having a cross-sectional area less than the area of the second contour whereby as the first, second, third and fourth contours are sequentially moved into alignment across the flow control opening in response to pressure changes and resultantly the flow rate varies from zero to a greater rate then to a reduced rate and finally to a maximum rate.