Port-based evaporative emissions capture
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsBrendan Diamond, Jim Stevens, David Guglielmo, Kenneth Middleton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for reducing evaporative emissions from a vehicle. In one example, the vehicle may include a system for capturing emissions including a plurality of vacuum ports coupled to a vacuum source. The plurality of vacuum ports may be disposed in vehicle components prone to emitting hydrocarbon vapors and activation of the vacuum source draws the vapors from the vehicle components to a fuel canister where the evaporative emissions are stored until the fuel canister is purged.
Claims20
A system for capturing evaporative emissions, comprising:
- a plurality of vacuum ports disposed in hydrocarbon-emitting components of a vehicle, the plurality of vacuum ports fluidically coupled to a vacuum source configured to evacuate the hydrocarbon-emitting components and route evacuated evaporative emissions to an engine of the vehicle, wherein the vacuum source is activated to draw vacuum through each of the plurality of vacuum ports when the engine is not operating.
A method for a port-based emissions capture system, comprising:
- upon detection of engine shutdown,
- activating a first, vacuum pump to draw evaporative emissions from components of a vehicle, the vacuum pump coupled to the components by vacuum ports and vacuum lines, into a fuel canister fluidically coupled to an engine of the vehicle;
- and
- upon detection of engine startup,
- deactivating the vacuum pump and purging the evaporative emissions from the fuel canister into the engine.
A port-based emissions capture (PBEC) system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of vacuum ports disposed in surfaces of vehicle components;
- a vacuum pump fluidically coupled to the vehicle components by the plurality of vacuum ports;
- at least one fuel canister fluidically coupled to the vacuum pump, the at least one fuel canister configured to receive and store evaporative emissions from the vehicle components;
- and
- a controller including executable instructions for:
- upon detection of engine shutdown,
- operating the vacuum pump to draw evaporative emissions from the vehicle components into the at least one fuel canister.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.