Fuel sampling method and apparatus

A method according to 5 wherein the method includes the further steps of:

• providing a cylinder having a bore;
• providing a piston rod defining an axial passage having an inlet port and a discharge port;
• positioning the piston rod in the bore with the inlet port positioned in the bore and the discharge port positioned outside of the cylinder;
• mounting the piston rod for movement in the bore between an operative position in which the passage discharge port is positioned in overlying relation to the sample cup and a retracted position in which the discharge port is withdrawn from the sample cup;
• and
• with the engine running during the previous running cycle, delivering pressurized fuel from the fuel container to the cylinder in a manner to move the piston rod from its retracted to its operative position and delivering pressurized fuel to the inlet port of the passage in response to arrival of the piston rod at its operative position, whereby to deliver fuel to the sample cup through the passage and discharge port.

A method of controlling emissions in a motor vehicle drive system of the type including an internal combustion engine and a fuel container for containing a fuel for delivery to the engine, the method comprising:

• providing an onboard sensor operative to determine a driveability index of the fuel;
• utilizing the sensor to sense the driveability index of the fuel upon shut-down of the engine;
• and
• utilizing the sensor driveability index to determine the engine fueling algorithm for the next cold start-up of the engine.

An onboard method of isolating a fuel sample for testing purposes in a motor vehicle having an engine and a fuel container for containing a quantity of the fuel to be isolated and tested, the method comprising:

• providing an onboard sample cup for containing a fuel sample;
• providing an onboard cylinder having a bore;
• providing an onboard piston rod defining an axial passage having an inlet port and a discharge port;
• positioning the piston rod in the bore with the inlet port positioned in the bore and the discharge port position outside of the cylinder;
• mounting the piston rod in the bore for movement between an operative position in which the passage discharge port is positioned in overlying relation to the sample cup and a retracted position in which the discharge port is withdrawn from the cup;
• and
• with the engine running, delivering pressurized fuel from the fuel container to the cylinder in a manner to move the piston rod from its retracted to its operative position and delivering pressurized fuel to the inlet port of the passage in response to arrival of the piston rod at its operative position, whereby to deliver fuel to the sample cup through the passage and discharge port.

For use with a motor vehicle including an internal combustion engine, an engine controller, a fuel container, and a fuel pump for delivering fuel from the container to the engine controller, a fuel sampling apparatus for isolating a fuel sample for testing purposes, the fuel sampling apparatus comprising:

• a sample cup;
• a cylinder having a bore and an inlet port for connection to the fuel pump;
• and
• a piston rod defining an axial passage having an inlet port and a discharge port, the piston rod mounted in the bore for movement between an operative position in which the passage inlet port communicates with the cylinder inlet port and the passage discharge port is positioned in overlying relation to the sample cup to allow the delivery of pressurized fuel from the fuel pump to the cylinder inlet port to the passage inlet port and through the passage discharge port to the sample cup, and a retracted position in which the passage inlet port is blocked from communication with the cylinder inlet port and the discharge port is withdrawn from the sample cup whereby to isolate a fuel sample in the sample cup.

A fuel module for positioning in a fuel container of a motor vehicle, the module comprising:

• a reservoir bucket;
• a fuel pump positioned in the bucket for connection to an engine of the vehicle;;
• a sample cup;
• and
• a sample isolating device receiving fuel from the fuel pump and operative to position a sample of the fuel in the sample cup.