Leak detection system
AssigneePlastic Omnium Advanced Innovation and Research
InventorsDavid HILL, Antoine CHAUSSINAND, Mihai BAJA
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a leak detection system on board of a vehicle comprising a fuel tank (301, 401), a filler pipe (302, 402), a venting line (303, 403) for recirculating fuel vapors from the tank to the filler pipe, said system having a combination pressure and temperature sensor mounted in the vapor dome of the fuel tank, and a pressure sensor located in the recirculation line above the highest possible liquid level that could be present in the recirculation line and to methods to detect said leak.
Claims15
A sealed fuel system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a fuel tank,
- a filler pipe,
- a venting line for recirculating fuel vapors from the tank to the filler pipe, and
- a leak detection device,
- wherein the leak detection device comprises:
- a first pressure sensor provided to measure a pressure in a vapor dome of the fuel tank,
- a second pressure sensor, and
- a controller,
- wherein:
- the filler pipe has a sealing means located near the fuel tank,
- a part of the venting line forms a sump, and
- the second pressure sensor is provided to measure a pressure in the venting line above the highest possible liquid level that could be present in the venting line or to measure a pressure in the filler pipe above the highest possible liquid level that could be present in the filler pipe.
A method for detecting a leak in a sealed fuel system of a vehicle comprising a fuel tank, a filler pipe, and a venting line for recirculating fuel vapors from the tank to the filler pipe, wherein a part of the venting line forms a sump, the method comprising:
- a) measuring and storing a pressure (P1), and if needed optionally a temperature, in a vapor dome of a tank of the fuel tank at predetermined time points;
- b) measuring a pressure (P2) in the filler pipe of the fuel system or in the venting line of the fuel system above the highest possible liquid level that could be present in the venting line or in the filler pipe at predetermined time points;
- c) comparing the pressure (P1) in the vapor dome of a tank of the fuel tank and the pressure (P2) in the filler pipe of the fuel system or in the venting line of the fuel system above the highest possible liquid level at the same predetermined time point that could be present in the venting line or in the filler pipe, and
- d) detecting a leak using the result obtained on step c).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.