Systems and methods for purge air flow routing
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsNiels Christopher Kragh, Mark W. Peters, Donald Ignasiak, Mike Dong, Dhaval P. Vaishnav
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method, comprising: purging fuel vapors from a fuel vapor canister and/or a fuel vapor bleed element to an engine intake with air routed through a transmission bellhousing. In this way, purge air may be warmed by heat generated in the transmission bellhousing during engine operation, thereby increasing desorption efficiency and reducing bleed emissions. Further, purge air may be pressurized in the transmission bellhousing to allow purging operations irrespective of intake manifold vacuum.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- purging fuel vapors from a fuel vapor canister and/or a fuel vapor bleed element to an engine intake with air routed through a transmission bellhousing, where the air routed through the transmission bellhousing is pressurized at an interface between a bellhousing wall and a ring gear.
An engine system, comprising:
- a fuel vapor canister coupled to a fuel tank;
- a fuel vapor bleed element coupled to the fuel vapor canister;
- a purge line coupled between an engine intake and one or more of the fuel vapor canister and fuel vapor bleed element;
- a vent line coupled between a transmission bellhousing and one or more of the fuel vapor canister and fuel vapor bleed element;
- and
- one or more air inlets coupled between the transmission bellhousing and atmosphere.
A method for purging a fuel vapor canister, comprising:
- opening a purge valve coupled between the fuel vapor canister and an engine intake;
- opening a vent valve coupled between the fuel vapor canister and a transmission bellhousing;
- flowing atmospheric air into the transmission bellhousing via an air filter;
- transferring heat to the atmospheric air;
- pressurizing the atmospheric air in the transmission bellhousing between a bellhousing wall and a ring gear;
- flowing the heated, pressurized atmospheric air to the fuel vapor canister to purge fuel vapor stored in the fuel vapor canister;
- and
- flowing the purged fuel vapor to the engine intake.
A method, comprising:
- opening a purge valve coupled between an engine intake and a fuel vapor canister and/or a fuel vapor bleed element;
- opening a vent valve coupled between a transmission bellhousing and the fuel vapor canister and/or the fuel vapor bleed element;
- and
- purging fuel vapors from the fuel vapor canister and/or the fuel vapor bleed element to the engine intake with air routed through the transmission bellhousing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.