US5085197A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arrangement for the detection of deficiencies in a tank ventilation system
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1990-07-26
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Granted: 1992-02-04
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Expires: 2010-07-26
Abstract
Abstract With the present tank ventilation system formed of a fuel tank, an active carbon filter, a control unit, a lambda probe, a tank ventilation valve and a flow sensor it is possible to recognize defects at the connecting lines and the ventilation valve immediately. For the recognition of the defect, a control unit is provided which examines the signals arriving from the lambda probe and from the flow sensor along with the outgoing tank ventilation control signals for unreasonable events. When a defect is recognized, the error signal is stored. A ceramic PTC resistor is preferably employed as the flow sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerhard Mader
- 👤 Hans Meixner
- 👤 Hans Schreiber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:59
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M25/00; F02M25/08; F02M25/0809
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
An arrangement for the detection of defects in a tank ventilation system having a fuel tank, an active carbon filter having an input connected to an output of the fuel tank, a tank ventilation valve connected between an intake section of an internal combustion engine and an output of the active carbon filter, a lambda probe at an exhaust section of the internal combustion engine which generates a probe signal, and a control unit which provides a control signal for actuating the tank ventilation valve so as to either open or block gas flow from the output of the filter to the intake section of the internal combustion engine, comprising: flow sensor means arranged to measure the gas flow from the output of the filter to the tank ventilation valve and for generating a corresponding flow signal; and said control unit having means for comparing said probe signal from the lambda probe to the control signal which actuates the tank ventilation valve, and for providing an error signal in case the probe signal from the lambda probe remains unchanged for a defined period of time when the control signal being supplied is for opening the control valve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
An arrangement for the detection of defects in a tank ventilation system having a fuel tank, an active carbon filter having an input connected to an output of the fuel tank, a tank ventilation valve connected between an intake section of an internal combustion engine and an output of the active carbon filter, a lambda probe at an exhaust section of the internal combustion engine which generates a probe signal, and a control unit which provides a control signal for actuating the tank ventilation valve so as to either open or block gas flow from the output of the filter to the intake section of the internal combustion engine, comprising: flow sensor means arranged to measure the gas flow from the output of the filter to the tank ventilation valve and for generating a corresponding flow signal; and said control unit having means for comparing said probe signal from the lambda probe to the control signal which actuates the tank ventilation valve, and for providing an error signal in case the probe signal from the lambda probe remains unchanged for a defined period of time when the control signal being supplied is for opening the control valve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
219 words
An arrangement for the detection of defects in a tank ventilation system having a fuel tank, an active carbon filter having an input connected to an output of the fuel tank, a tank ventilation valve connected between an intake section of an internal combustion engine and an output of the active carbon filter, and a control unit which provides a control signal for actuating the tank ventilation valve so as to either open or block gas flow from the output of the filter to the intake section of the internal combustion engine, comprising: a flow sensor means arranged to indicate a gas flow from the output of the filter to the tank ventilation valve and for generating a corresponding flow signal, said flow sensor means comprising a ceramic PTC resistor in series with a drop resistor which is not exposed to the gas flow; and said control unit having means for comparing said flow signal to the control signal which actuates the tank ventilation valve, and for providing an error signal in the case of one of the conditions: (1) the control signal being supplied is for closing the air valve and the flow signal indicates gas flow; or (2) the control signal being supplied is for opening the air valve and the flow signal indicates no gas flow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
219 words
An arrangement for the detection of defects in a tank ventilation system having a fuel tank, an active carbon filter having an input connected to an output of the fuel tank, a tank ventilation valve connected between an intake section of an internal combustion engine and an output of the active carbon filter, and a control unit which provides a control signal for actuating the tank ventilation valve so as to either open or block gas flow from the output of the filter to the intake section of the internal combustion engine, comprising: a flow sensor means arranged to indicate a gas flow from the output of the filter to the tank ventilation valve and for generating a corresponding flow signal, said flow sensor means comprising a ceramic PTC resistor in series with a drop resistor which is not exposed to the gas flow; and said control unit having means for comparing said flow signal to the control signal which actuates the tank ventilation valve, and for providing an error signal in the case of one of the conditions: (1) the control signal being supplied is for closing the air valve and the flow signal indicates gas flow; or (2) the control signal being supplied is for opening the air valve and the flow signal indicates no gas flow.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the connecting wires of the PTC resistor comprise an iron-nickel alloy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the flow sensor means is attached between the active carbon filter and the ventilation valve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the drop resistor has a non-linear resistance whose characterization curve compensates a dependency of the flow signal on environmental temperature.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
164 words
A method for the detection of defects in a tank ventilation system having a fuel tank, an active carbon filter having an input connected to an output of the fuel tank, a tank ventilation valve connected between an intake section of an internal combustion engine and an output of the active carbon filter, a lambda probe at an exhaust section of the internal combustion engine which generates a probe signal, and a control unit which provides a control signal for actuating the tank ventilation valve so as to either open or block gas flow from the output of the filter to the intake section of the internal combustion engine, comprising steps of: comparing the probe signal of the lambda probe to the control signal which actuates the tank ventilation valve, and providing an error signal if the probe signal from the lambda probe remains unchanged for a defined period of time and if the control signal being supplied is for opening the control valve.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
164 words
A method for the detection of defects in a tank ventilation system having a fuel tank, an active carbon filter having an input connected to an output of the fuel tank, a tank ventilation valve connected between an intake section of an internal combustion engine and an output of the active carbon filter, a lambda probe at an exhaust section of the internal combustion engine which generates a probe signal, and a control unit which provides a control signal for actuating the tank ventilation valve so as to either open or block gas flow from the output of the filter to the intake section of the internal combustion engine, comprising steps of: comparing the probe signal of the lambda probe to the control signal which actuates the tank ventilation valve, and providing an error signal if the probe signal from the lambda probe remains unchanged for a defined period of time and if the control signal being supplied is for opening the control valve.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for the detection of defects in a tank ventilation system having a fuel tank, an active carbon filter having an input connected to an output of the fuel tank, a tank ventilation valve connected between an intake section of an internal combustion engine and an output of the active carbon filter, and a control unit which provides a control signal for actuating the tank ventilation valve so as to either open or block gas flow from the output of the filter to the intake section of the internal combustion engine, comprising steps of: measuring a gas flow from the filter to the tank ventilation valve and generating a corresponding flow signal; and comparing said flow signal to the control signal which actuates the tank ventilation valve, and providing an error signal if the control signal being supplied is for closing the air valve and the flow signal indicates gas flow.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for the detection of defects in a tank ventilation system having a fuel tank, an active carbon filter having an input connected to an output of the fuel tank, a tank ventilation valve connected between an intake section of an internal combustion engine and an output of the active carbon filter, and a control unit which provides a control signal for actuating the tank ventilation valve so as to either open or block gas flow from the output of the filter to the intake section of the internal combustion engine, comprising steps of: measuring a gas flow from the filter to the tank ventilation valve and generating a corresponding flow signal; and comparing said flow signal to the control signal which actuates the tank ventilation valve, and providing an error signal if the control signal being supplied is for closing the air valve and the flow signal indicates gas flow.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the error signal is also provided if the control signal being supplied is for opening the air valve and the flow signal indicates no gas flow.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-02-03 | 1995-08-05 | 1996-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-02-03 | 1999-08-05 | 2000-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-02-03 | 2003-08-05 | 2004-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |