Tank-venting apparatus for a motor vehicle and method for operating the apparatus

A tank-venting apparatus for a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine equipped with a charger having a charger output line, the tank-venting apparatus comprising:

• a tank;
• an adsorption filter having a venting line extending therefrom;
• a tank supply line connecting said tank to said adsorption filter;
• a tank-venting valve connected to the engine;
• a valve line connecting said tank-venting valve to said adsorption filter;
• control valve means for connecting said charger output line to said venting line;
• said control valve means including a directional valve switchable between a first position wherein said venting line is connected to said charger output line and a second position wherein said venting line is connected to the ambient;
• and,
• said control valve means further including a pressure control valve having an input end and an output end and being mounted in said charger output line with said output end connected to said directional valve;
• and, said pressure control valve being configured to adjust the pressure at said output end to a predetermined maximum pressure.

A tank-venting apparatus for a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine equipped with a charger having a charger output line, the tank-venting apparatus comprising:

• a tank;
• an adsorption filter having a venting line extending therefrom;
• a tank supply line connecting said tank to said adsorption filter;
• a tank-venting valve connected to the engine;
• a valve line connecting said tank-venting valve to said adsorption filter;
• control valve means for connecting said charger output line to said venting line;
• said control valve means including a directional valve switchable between a first position wherein said venting line is connected to said charger output line and a second position wherein said venting line is connected to the ambient;
• and,
• a control device operatively connected to said charger for receiving a signal therefrom indicating when said charger is operating;
• and, said control device being configured to switch said directional value into said first position when said adsorption filter is to be regenerated with air from said charger.

A method for operating a tank-venting apparatus which includes a tank, a charger, an adsorption filter having a venting line extending therefrom;

• a tank supply line connecting said tank to said adsorption filter;
• a tank-venting valve connected to the engine;
• a valve line connecting as a tank-venting valve to said adsorption filter;
• and, control value means for connecting a charger output line to said venting line, said control valve means including a directional valve switchable between a first position wherein said venting line is connected to said charger output line and a second position wherein said venting line is connected to the ambient, the method comprising the step of switching said directional valve between said first position wherein said venting line is connected to said charger output line so as to pass air under pressure to said venting line for scavenging said adsorption filter when said charger is in operation and said second position wherein said venting line opens to the ambient.