IP Library Granted Patent US 12,460,608
Granted Patent B2
US 12,460,608 · App. 18/454,279 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Methods and systems for an evaporative emission system

Inventor: Aed Dudar (Canton, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
F02M25/0854B60H1/2206F02D41/0032F02D41/021F02M25/0836F02M2025/0881
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,460,608
App. No.
18/454,279
Granted
Nov 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for a fuel system. In one example, a method may include adjusting operation of a fuel-operated heater (FOH) in response to a condition of a canister. The FOH is activated and configured to flow heated air to the canister to promote desorption of fuel vapors stored therein.

Claims (25)

1 . A method, comprising:

heating air using a fuel-operated heater (FOH);

routing heated air from the FOH to a canister in an evaporative emissions control system; and

routing vapors from the canister to the FOH, wherein the FOH combusts the vapors.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein using the FOH further comprises deactivating an engine.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising routing heated air from the FOH to a vehicle cabin interior.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising routing vapors from the canister to an engine, wherein intake valves of the engine are open and exhaust valves of the engine are closed.

5 . A system, comprising:

an engine;

an evaporative emissions control system comprising a canister;

a fuel tank; and

a fuel-operated heater (FOH) fluidly coupled to the canister, wherein the FOH is fluidly coupled to the canister via a first passage coupled to a purge line of the canister and a second passage coupled to a vent line of the canister, and wherein the first passage comprises a first valve configured to control an amount of vapor flowing to the FOH.

6 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising a controller with computer-readable instructions stored in non-transitory memory thereof that when executed enable the controller to flow heated air from the FOH to the canister during a purge event.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the instructions further cause the controller to close the first valve in the first passage and open a canister purge valve to flow vapors from the canister only to the engine.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the instructions further cause the controller to adjust fueling of the engine upon an engine restart following the purge event based on one or more of a fueling of the FOH and a cabin heating request during the purge event.

9 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising a controller with computer-readable instructions stored in non-transitory memory thereof that when executed enable the controller to flow heated air from the FOH to the canister in response to an ambient temperature being greater than a threshold temperature.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the controller to adjust a position of the first valve in the first passage to flow vapors from the canister to the FOH, and wherein the instructions further cause the controller to adjust a position of a second valve in a second passage to flow heated air from the FOH to the canister.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the controller to adjust a fueling of the FOH based on one or more of an engine stop duration, a canister load, the ambient temperature, and a desorption rate of the canister.

12 . A method, comprising:

fueling a fuel-operated heater (FOH);

routing heated air from the FOH to a canister arranged in an evaporative emission control system; and

flowing vapors from the canister to the FOH via a purge line and a first passage, wherein fueling the FOH is adjusted based on a desorption rate of the canister.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising flowing vapors from the canister to an engine via a purge line, further comprising adjusting a fueling of the engine upon an engine restart based on one or more of the FOH fueling and a desorption rate of the canister.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein each of the canister and the FOH is fluidly coupled to a fuel tank.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein fueling the FOH is adjusted based on a cabin heating request.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2023
From: DUDAR, AED
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 064679/0042 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250067232A1 · Feb 27, 2025
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