# US 2012/0237367 A1 · Method and System for Providing Vacuum > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0237367 A1 - Document ID: US20120237367A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/050,664 - Filed: 2011-03-17 - Published: 2012-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-17 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham; Moses Alexander Fridman; Todd Anthony Rumpsa; Mansour Beshay; Cliff Maki; Ross Dykstra Pursifull - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120237367A1 ## CPC - F02M 35/10: Air intakes; Induction systems - F04F 5/20: for evacuating - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - F04F: PUMPING OF FLUID BY DIRECT CONTACT OF ANOTHER FLUID OR BY USING INERTIA OF FLUID TO BE PUMPED {(evacuating by sorption F04B)}; SIPHONS {(conveying materials in bulk by flows of gas, liquid of foam B65G53/00)} ## Abstract A vacuum source arbitration system is disclosed. In one example, vacuum is supplied to a vacuum reservoir via an ejector during a first condition, and vacuum is supplied to the vacuum reservoir via an engine intake manifold during a second condition. The approach may provide a desired level of vacuum in a reservoir while reducing engine fuel consumption. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for providing vacuum for a vehicle, comprising: directing air from a compressor to an ejector; and adjusting a flow rate of air from the compressor in response to a rate of vacuum consumption within a vacuum system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where the air is directed from the compressor to the ejector when a pressure of a vacuum reservoir is greater than a first threshold pressure, and where the air is not directed from the compressor to the ejector when a pressure of the vacuum reservoir is less than the first threshold pressure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising directing air from the vacuum reservoir to a low pressure port of the ejector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising directing air from the vacuum reservoir to an intake manifold of the engine, and where the rate of vacuum consumption is based on a mass flow of air from a higher pressure to a lower pressure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, where the intake manifold is comprised of at least two air intake passages that may be operated at different pressures, and where a first passage of the at least two passages is operated at a pressure less than the pressure of the vacuum reservoir, and where air flows from the vacuum reservoir to the first passage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising commanding at least one vacuum consumer to hold a present state or to a state of reduced vacuum consumption in response to a pressure of a vacuum reservoir. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing an amount of air flowing through the ejector in response to a torque demand exceeding a threshold torque demand. ### Claim 8 A method for providing vacuum for a vehicle, comprising: directing air from a compressor to an ejector; adjusting a flow rate of air from the compressor in response to a rate of vacuum consumption within a vacuum system; and directing an output of the ejector to an air intake system of an engine. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising directing air from a vacuum reservoir to a low pressure port of the ejector, and where the output of the ejector is directed to a location in the air intake system upstream of the compressor or to an intake manifold of the engine. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising directing air from the vacuum reservoir to an intake manifold of the engine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising reducing a pressure of the intake manifold via increasing slipping a clutch of a transmission. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising reducing a pressure of the intake manifold via down shifting a transmission to increase engine speed and decrease engine load. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising reducing a pressure of the intake manifold via selectively reducing loads coupled to the engine. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising decreasing the flow rate of air from the compressor in response to adjusting operation of the engine to decrease the pressure of the intake manifold of the engine. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising decreasing the flow rate of air from the compressor when a torque demand of the engine exceeds a threshold level. ### Claim 16 A vacuum system, comprising: an engine with an intake manifold; a turbocharger coupled to the engine and supplying air the intake manifold; a vacuum reservoir; an ejector in communication with the vacuum reservoir and the turbocharger; and a controller, the controller including instructions for, during a condition where a pressure of the intake manifold is greater than a vacuum reservoir pressure, reducing vacuum reservoir pressure via directing air from a compressor of the turbocharger to the ejector without directing air from the vacuum reservoir to the intake manifold; and during a condition where the pressure of the intake manifold is less than the vacuum reservoir pressure, reducing vacuum reservoir pressure via directing air from the vacuum reservoir to the intake manifold without directing air from the compressor to the ejector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vacuum system of claim 16, where the controller includes further instructions for suspending cold start spark retard when a pressure in the vacuum reservoir is greater than a threshold pressure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The vacuum system of claim 16, where the controller includes further instructions for decreasing intake manifold pressure via adjusting intake valve timing to decrease intake manifold pressure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The vacuum system of claim 16, further comprising an ejector vacuum flow control valve and further controller instructions for opening the ejector vacuum flow control valve during the condition where the pressure of the intake manifold is greater than the first threshold pressure and where the pressure of the vacuum reservoir is greater than the second threshold pressure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The vacuum system of claim 16, further comprising a first conduit for coupling an outlet of the ejector to the intake manifold and a second conduit for coupling the outlet of the ejector to an intake air system at a location upstream of the compressor.