Method and System for Prioritizing Vehicle Vacuum
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorRoss Dykstra Pursifull
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vacuum prioritization system for a vehicle is disclosed. In one example, use and availability of vacuum provided via vacuum sources is allocated to higher priority vacuum operated actuators when a pressure in the vacuum system exceeds a threshold pressure. The lower priority vacuum operated actuators have access to vacuum supplied via the vacuum sources when pressure in the vacuum system is less than a threshold pressure. The approach may allow higher priority actuators to operate for an extended amount of time.
Claims20
A vacuum prioritization method for a vehicle, comprising:
- providing vacuum via at least one vehicle vacuum source solely to a first actuator group when a pressure of a first vacuum reservoir is greater than a first threshold pressure;
- and
- providing vacuum via the at least one vehicle vacuum source to the first actuator group and a second actuator group when the pressure of the first vacuum reservoir is less than the first threshold pressure.
A system for providing vacuum for a vehicle, comprising:
- a first vacuum reservoir;
- a second vacuum reservoir;
- a first vacuum source in communication with the first and second vacuum reservoirs;
- a second vacuum source in communication with the first and second vacuum reservoirs;
- and
- a device to provide priority to receive vacuum at the first vacuum reservoir over the second vacuum reservoir via the first vacuum source and the second vacuum source.
A system for providing vacuum for a vehicle, comprising:
- a first vacuum reservoir;
- a second vacuum reservoir;
- a first group of vacuum operated actuators in pneumatic communication with the first vacuum reservoir;
- a second group of vacuum operated actuators in pneumatic communication with the second vacuum reservoir;
- a first vacuum source comprising an engine intake manifold in pneumatic communication with the first vacuum reservoir and the second vacuum reservoir;
- a second vacuum source in pneumatic communication with the first vacuum reservoir and the second vacuum reservoir;
- and
- a controller configured to limit air flow from the second vacuum reservoir to the first vacuum reservoir, the first vacuum source, and the second vacuum source when a pressure of the first vacuum reservoir is greater than a first threshold pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.