Patent · US Expired

Integrity confirmation of evaporative emission control system against leakage

US5383437A · kind A · utility

47Cited by
13References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 23, 1992
Grant dateJan 24, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 23, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF04B9/1215
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An on-board diagnostic system for an evaporative emission control system of an internal combustion engine powered vehicle employs a positive displacement reciprocating pump to create in evaporative emission space a pressure that differs significantly from ambient atmospheric pressure. The pump is powered by using engine intake manifold vacuum to force an intake stroke during which both an internal spring is increasingly compressed and a charge of ambient atmospheric air is created in an air pumping chamber space. Vacuum is then removed, and the spring relaxes to force a compression stroke wherein a portion of the air charge is forced into the evaporative emission space. The rate at which the pump reciprocates to alternately execute intake and compression strokes indicates the pressure and flow through a leak in the evaporative emission space. Detection of this rate serves as a measurement of leakage for the purpose of distinguishing integrity of the evaporative emission space from non-integrity.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.