US5898103A — Arrangement and method for checking the tightness…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 102 words

An arrangement for checking the tightness of a vessel such as a tank system of a motor vehicle, the vessel having a possible leak defining a first flow resistor, and the arrangement comprising: pressure source means for generating a pressure change in said vessel; a pressure divider system connected between said pressure source means and said vessel and being subjected to said pressure change; said pressure divider system being defined by and including said first flow resistor and a reference branch having a predetermined second flow resistor; and, a difference pressure sensor for measuring a pressure difference in said pressure divider system.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 102 words

An arrangement for checking the tightness of a vessel such as a tank system of a motor vehicle, the vessel having a possible leak defining a first flow resistor, and the arrangement comprising: pressure source means for generating a pressure change in said vessel; a pressure divider system connected between said pressure source means and said vessel and being subjected to said pressure change; said pressure divider system being defined by and including said first flow resistor and a reference branch having a predetermined second flow resistor; and, a difference pressure sensor for measuring a pressure difference in said pressure divider system.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 132 words

An arrangement for checking the tightness of a vessel such as a tank system of a motor vehicle, the vessel having a possible leak defining a first flow resistor, and the arrangement comprising: pressure source means for generating a change in pressure in said vessel; a pressure divider bridge including: one branch including said first flow resistor and a second flow resistor connected between said first flow resistor and said pressure source means; an other branch including third and fourth flow resistors connected between said pressure source means and the atmosphere; and, a bridge diagonal connected between said one branch and said other branch; and, a difference pressure sensor connected into said bridge diagonal to measure the pressure difference between said branches which defines a measure of a leak in said vessel.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 132 words

An arrangement for checking the tightness of a vessel such as a tank system of a motor vehicle, the vessel having a possible leak defining a first flow resistor, and the arrangement comprising: pressure source means for generating a change in pressure in said vessel; a pressure divider bridge including: one branch including said first flow resistor and a second flow resistor connected between said first flow resistor and said pressure source means; an other branch including third and fourth flow resistors connected between said pressure source means and the atmosphere; and, a bridge diagonal connected between said one branch and said other branch; and, a difference pressure sensor connected into said bridge diagonal to measure the pressure difference between said branches which defines a measure of a leak in said vessel.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 54 words

The arrangement of claim 2, further comprising a bypass channel connected in parallel to said pressure divider system; and, a bypass valve mounted in said bypass channel and being operable to close and open said bypass channel to increase or reduce the flow resistance in one of the branches of said pressure divider system.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 145 words

The arrangement of claim 2, further comprising: a flow channel connected between said one branch and said other branch to define said bridge diagonal; said difference pressure sensor being provided for measuring the difference pressure between said one branch and said other branch; said difference pressure sensor including: two springs mounted in said flow channel so as to develop spring return forces in mutually opposite directions; a seal ring mounted in said flow channel and defining a cross section; a flow body arranged in said seal ring so as to cooperate therewith to close off said flow channel; and, said flow body being disposed between said springs so as to be displaceable from an initial position within said seal ring against the return force of either of said springs in dependence upon said difference pressure thereby opening said cross section defined by said seal ring.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

The arrangement of claim 4, further comprising a position switch which closes when said flow body is in said initial position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 172 words

An arrangement for checking the tightness of a vessel such as a tank system of a motor vehicle, the vessel having a possible leak defining a first flow resistor, and the arrangement comprising: pressure source means for generating a change in pressure in said vessel; a pressure divider bridge including: one branch including said first flow resistor and a second flow resistor connected between said first flow resistor and said pressure source means; an other branch including third and fourth flow resistors connected between said pressure source means and the atmosphere, and, a bridge diagonal connected between said one branch and said other branch; a difference pressure sensor connected into said bridge diagonal to measure the pressure difference between said branches which defines a measure of a leak in said vessel; and, said second, third and fourth flow resistors each being dimensioned so that they have the same flow resistance as said first flow resistor with said first flow resistor defining the smallest leak in said vessel which is to be diagnosed.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 172 words

An arrangement for checking the tightness of a vessel such as a tank system of a motor vehicle, the vessel having a possible leak defining a first flow resistor, and the arrangement comprising: pressure source means for generating a change in pressure in said vessel; a pressure divider bridge including: one branch including said first flow resistor and a second flow resistor connected between said first flow resistor and said pressure source means; an other branch including third and fourth flow resistors connected between said pressure source means and the atmosphere, and, a bridge diagonal connected between said one branch and said other branch; a difference pressure sensor connected into said bridge diagonal to measure the pressure difference between said branches which defines a measure of a leak in said vessel; and, said second, third and fourth flow resistors each being dimensioned so that they have the same flow resistance as said first flow resistor with said first flow resistor defining the smallest leak in said vessel which is to be diagnosed.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

The arrangement of claim 6, said difference pressure sensor defining a cross section dependent upon said pressure difference.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 106 words

A method for checking the tightness of a vessel of a fuel tank system of a motor vehicle, the vessel having a possible leak defining a first flow resistor, and the method comprising: providing a pressure source for generating a pressure change in said fuel tank; providing a reference branch including at least a second flow resistor; connecting said first flow resistor and said second flow resistor to define a pressure divider system connected to said pressure source; and, measuring a pressure difference in said pressure divider system utilizing a difference pressure sensor and applying the same as a measure for said leak of said vessel.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 106 words

A method for checking the tightness of a vessel of a fuel tank system of a motor vehicle, the vessel having a possible leak defining a first flow resistor, and the method comprising: providing a pressure source for generating a pressure change in said fuel tank; providing a reference branch including at least a second flow resistor; connecting said first flow resistor and said second flow resistor to define a pressure divider system connected to said pressure source; and, measuring a pressure difference in said pressure divider system utilizing a difference pressure sensor and applying the same as a measure for said leak of said vessel.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-04-26	2002-10-26	2003-04-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-04-26	2006-10-26	2007-04-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-04-26	2010-10-26	2011-04-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Arrangement and method for checking the tightness of a vessel

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