IP Library Granted Patent US 8,122,758
Granted Patent B2
US 8,122,758 · App. 12/355,926 · Granted Feb 28, 2012

Purge valve leak diagnostic systems and methods

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,122,758
App. No.
12/355,926
Granted
Feb 28, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A leak diagnostic system for a vehicle comprises a tank pressure module and a leak diagnostic module. The tank pressure module selectively outputs first and second fuel tank pressures when an engine is shut down and when engine vacuum is greater than a predetermined engine vacuum, respectively. The leak diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a leak in a fuel vapor purge valve based on the second fuel tank pressure when the first fuel tank pressure is less than a first predetermined pressure.

Claims (29)

1. A leak diagnostic system for a vehicle, comprising:

a tank pressure module that selectively outputs first and second fuel tank pressures when an engine is shut down and when engine vacuum is greater than a predetermined engine vacuum, respectively; and

a leak diagnostic module that selectively diagnoses a leak in a fuel vapor purge valve based on said second fuel tank pressure when said first fuel tank pressure is less than a first predetermined pressure.

2. The leak diagnostic system of claim 1 wherein said leak diagnostic module selectively disables diagnosing said leak based on said second fuel tank pressure when said first fuel tank pressure is greater than said first predetermined pressure.

3. The leak diagnostic system of claim 1 wherein said tank pressure module determines that said fuel vapor purge valve and a vent valve are in closed positions before outputting said first and second fuel tank pressures.

4. The leak diagnostic system of claim 1 wherein said leak diagnostic module diagnoses said leak when said second fuel tank pressure is greater than a second predetermined pressure that is greater than said first predetermined pressure.

5. The leak diagnostic system of claim 4 wherein said second predetermined pressure is based on said predetermined engine vacuum.

6. The leak diagnostic system of claim 1 wherein said tank pressure module selectively determines a pressure offset based on a difference between said first fuel tank pressure and said first predetermined pressure, and

wherein said tank pressure module subtracts said pressure offset from said second fuel tank pressure before outputting said second fuel tank pressure.

7. The leak diagnostic system of claim 6 wherein said tank pressure module determines said pressure offset when said first fuel tank pressure is less than said first predetermined pressure.

8. The leak diagnostic system of claim 1 wherein said tank pressure module outputs said first fuel tank pressure a predetermined period after said engine is shut down.

9. The leak diagnostic system of claim 8 wherein said predetermined period based on an expected period when a vacuum forms within a fuel tank after said engine is shut down.

10. A plug-in hybrid vehicle system comprising:

the leak diagnostic system of claim 1 ; and

the fuel vapor purge valve.

11. A leak diagnostic method for a vehicle, comprising:

selectively outputting first and second fuel tank pressures when an engine is shut down and when engine vacuum is greater than a predetermined engine vacuum, respectively; and

selectively diagnosing a leak in a fuel vapor purge valve of said vehicle based on said second fuel tank pressure when said first fuel tank pressure is less than a first predetermined pressure.

12. The leak diagnostic method of claim 11 wherein said vehicle is a plug-in hybrid vehicle.

13. The leak diagnostic method of claim 11 further comprising selectively disabling said selectively diagnosing said leak when said first fuel tank pressure is greater than said first predetermined pressure.

14. The leak diagnostic method of claim 11 further comprising determining that said fuel vapor purge valve and a vent valve are in closed positions before said outputting said first and second fuel tank pressures.

15. The leak diagnostic method of claim 11 wherein said selectively diagnosing said leak comprises diagnosing said leak when said second fuel tank pressure is greater than a second predetermined pressure that is greater than said first predetermined pressure.

16. The leak diagnostic method of claim 15 wherein said second predetermined pressure is based on said predetermined engine vacuum.

17. The leak diagnostic method of claim 11 further comprising:

selectively determining a pressure offset based on a difference between said first fuel tank pressure and said first predetermined pressure; and

subtracting said pressure offset from said second fuel tank pressure before said selectively outputting said second fuel tank pressure.

18. The leak diagnostic method of claim 17 wherein said selectively determining comprises determining said pressure offset when said first fuel tank pressure is less than said first predetermined pressure.

19. The leak diagnostic method of claim 11 wherein said selectively outputting said first fuel tank pressure comprises outputting said first fuel tank pressure a predetermined period after said engine is shut down.

20. The leak diagnostic method of claim 19 wherein said predetermined period based on an expected period when a vacuum forms within a fuel tank after said engine is shut down.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034185/0789 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0245 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0515 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0046 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025246/0056 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0237 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0313 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2009
From: WANG, ZHONG; MAXEY, MILES K.; ETHINGTON, JAMES D.; HALL, ERIC M.; SPOHN, BRIAN; PROUT, DAVID EDWARD
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 022124/0647 →