Positive-pressure crankcase ventilation
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJoseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for combusting a vapor of a fuel accumulated in a crankcase of an engine, the engine disposed in a vehicle having a fuel tank and an adsorbent canister coupled to the fuel tank. The method comprises flowing compressed air from a first air source through the crankcase to yield a crankcase effluent enriched in gasses leaked from the combustion chamber, which include the fuel vapor. The method further comprises combining the crankcase effluent with an effluent from the adsorbent canister, also enriched in the vapor, and, flowing the combined crankcase and adsorbent-canister effluent to an intake of the engine via a conduit.
Claims20
A method for combusting a vapor of a fuel accumulated in a crankcase of an engine, the engine disposed in a vehicle having a fuel tank and an adsorbent canister coupled to the fuel tank, the method comprising:
- flowing compressed air from a first air source through the crankcase to yield a crankcase effluent enriched in the vapor;
- combining the crankcase effluent with an effluent from the adsorbent canister also enriched in the vapor;
- and
- flowing the combined crankcase and adsorbent-canister effluent to an intake of the engine via a conduit.
A method for combusting a vapor of a fuel accumulated in a crankcase of an engine, the engine disposed in a vehicle having a fuel tank and an adsorbent canister coupled to the fuel tank, the method comprising:
- flowing compressed air through the crankcase to yield a crankcase effluent enriched in the vapor;
- flowing air through the adsorbent canister to yield a canister effluent also enriched in the vapor;
- and
- flowing the crankcase effluent combined with the canister effluent through a conduit and to an intake of the engine.
A method for combusting a vapor of a fuel accumulated in a crankcase of an engine, the method comprising:
- when a throttle-intake pressure of the engine is greater than barometric pressure, flowing the compressed air through the crankcase along a first flow path to yield a first crankcase effluent enriched in the vapor;
- when a manifold air pressure of the engine is less than barometric pressure, drawing uncompressed air through the crankcase along a second flow path different that the first flow path to yield a second crankcase effluent enriched in the vapor, and, portioning the second crankcase effluent;
- mixing effluent from the adsorbent canister into one or both of the first crankcase effluent and the second crankcase effluent;
- and
- flowing the first and second crankcase effluents to an intake of the engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.