EP0301944B1 - Vorrichtung zum Auffangen von Kraftstoffdämpfen - Google Patents

Vorrichtung zum Auffangen von Kraftstoffdämpfen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0301944B1
EP0301944B1 EP88401884A EP88401884A EP0301944B1 EP 0301944 B1 EP0301944 B1 EP 0301944B1 EP 88401884 A EP88401884 A EP 88401884A EP 88401884 A EP88401884 A EP 88401884A EP 0301944 B1 EP0301944 B1 EP 0301944B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pipe
engine
control instrument
filter
air
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP88401884A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0301944A1 (de
Inventor
Jean Tiphaine
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Automobiles Peugeot SA
Automobiles Citroen SA
Original Assignee
Automobiles Peugeot SA
Automobiles Citroen SA
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Automobiles Peugeot SA, Automobiles Citroen SA filed Critical Automobiles Peugeot SA
Publication of EP0301944A1 publication Critical patent/EP0301944A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0301944B1 publication Critical patent/EP0301944B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M25/00—Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding non-fuel substances or small quantities of secondary fuel to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture
    • F02M25/08—Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding non-fuel substances or small quantities of secondary fuel to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture adding fuel vapours drawn from engine fuel reservoir
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M25/00—Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding non-fuel substances or small quantities of secondary fuel to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture
    • F02M25/08—Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding non-fuel substances or small quantities of secondary fuel to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture adding fuel vapours drawn from engine fuel reservoir
    • F02M2025/0881—Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding non-fuel substances or small quantities of secondary fuel to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture adding fuel vapours drawn from engine fuel reservoir with means to heat or cool the canister

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to devices for recovering petrol vapors from the tank of a motor vehicle.
  • Such devices comprise a filter containing a material adsorbing said gasoline vapors, this filter being connected by a first pipe to the upper part of the tank, by a second pipe to a vacuum source which is generally constituted by the engine intake circuit, and via a third pipe to a source of air for regenerating the adsorbent material, means which may also be provided for heating this regeneration air.
  • Such a device makes it possible to fix the petrol vapors which come from the tank, either due to the evaporation of the petrol, especially in hot weather or because of the displacement of the gaseous mass covering the liquid in the tank during filling. of it.
  • the material adsorbing said gasoline vapors can be activated carbon which becomes charged with gasoline vapors when the gas stream passes from the first pipe to the second one passing through the filter and which regenerates when it is swept against current through the regeneration air passing from the third pipe to the second.
  • This sweeping is carried out by suction in the second pipe, suction due in particular to the vacuum in the intake circuit of the engine when the latter is operating.
  • the object of this invention is to improve the working capacity of a filter incorporated in a device for recovering gasoline vapors, without risking rapid deterioration of the active material contained in this filter.
  • the invention also proposes, due to the improvement in this capacity, to reduce the size of the filter and consequently its price and its bulk.
  • the subject of the invention is a device for recovering gasoline vapors from a tank, comprising a filter containing a material adsorbing said vapors, this filter being connected by a first pipe to the upper part of the tank, by a second pipe to a source of vacuum and by a third pipe to a source of air for regenerating the adsorbent material, means being provided for heating said regeneration air, as well as means for regulating the temperature of the air which flows in the third pipe, these regulating means comprising a temperature-sensitive control member characterized in that the means for heating the regeneration air are located in the third pipe, outside the filter, and in that the control member of said regulation means is embedded in the mass of adsorbent material of the filter.
  • FIG. 1 shows schematically a fuel tank 1 in a motor vehicle.
  • This reservoir comprises a filling duct 2 and from a point located in its upper part extends a first pipe 3 connected to a filter 4 itself containing a material 5 capable to absorb gasoline vapors, for example activated carbon. From this filter extends a second pipe 6 connected to a vacuum source 7 which is preferably the engine intake duct (not shown) fitted to the vehicle.
  • the filter is connected by a third line 8 to a source of air for regenerating the activated carbon, designated by 9.
  • an electrical resistor 10 which can be supplied from the vehicle battery.
  • This resistor is mounted in series with a switch 11 closed when the engine is running and with a cell 12 with a positive temperature coefficient carried by a metal plate 13, made of aluminum for example, embedded in the mass of activated carbon.
  • Cell 12 constitutes a probe whose resistance varies as a function of the temperature of the mass of activated carbon.
  • the metal plate 13 acts as a radiator to bring the cell to the surrounding temperature.
  • the resistance of cell 12 varies as a function of the temperature along the curve shown in FIG. 2. Above a temperature T a , this resistance increases very rapidly.
  • the operation of the device is then as follows:
  • the gasoline vapors coming from the tank through the line 3 are fixed in the filter, by adsorption on the activated carbon 5, in particular when filling the tank and when the vehicle is actuated in very hot weather.
  • the activated carbon When the vehicle engine is running, the activated carbon is regenerated by being traversed by a stream of air coming from line 8 and sucked in by line 6.
  • the fact of heating this current of air by means of the resistor 10 facilitates this regeneration and increases the working capacity of the activated carbon. It will be recalled in this regard that this working capacity is measured by the difference between the mass of the filter in the saturated state and its mass in the purged or regenerated state.
  • cell 12 with a positive temperature coefficient reacts to the temperature prevailing in the mass of activated carbon. As long as this temperature remains below the value T a , its electrical resistance is low, so that the current can flow and that the resistance 10 releases by Joule effect a relatively large amount of heat, causing the heating of the activated carbon.
  • the temperature of the activated carbon exceeds the value T a , the resistance of the cell 12 increases, thus making very small and even negligible the amount of heat released by the Joule effect by the resistance 10.
  • the heating of the activated carbon s 'interrupts, its temperature stabilizes.
  • the characteristics of the cell 12 are determined so that its own heating by Joule effect is negligible compared to that due to the heating resistance 10.
  • an order of magnitude will be given for the electric power dissipated by the heating resistor 10: a few tens of watts.
  • the diagram in FIG. 3 represents the supply circuit of the heating resistor 10 and of the cell 12 with a positive temperature coefficient, this circuit being controlled for example from a computer 20 ensuring the control and the management engine operation and arranged to allow purging or regeneration of the filter only if a number of conditions related to engine operation are actually met.
  • the computer can be connected to suitable means 21, 22, 23 which are also known per se, which supply it with signals representative of the temperature of the engine cooling water, of the engine load. and controlling the richness of the mixture supplied to this same engine.
  • purging will only be authorized if the engine is sufficiently hot, if its load exceeds a determined value, and if the richness of the admitted mixture, is controlled and regulated to a determined value.
  • the cell 12 with a positive temperature coefficient can be replaced by a thermal switch carried by the metal plate, which is normally closed and which opens when the temperature exceeds a determined value.
  • the pipe 8 can be connected, under the action of a flap 30, either to a source of cold air 31, or to a source of hot air 32.
  • the air can be heated up by bringing it into contact with the engine exhaust manifold.
  • This component is controlled by a vacuum capsule 33 controlled by a thermovalve 34 mounted on the metal plate 13 embedded in the mass of activated carbon 5.
  • the capsule 33 is connected by a conduit 35 to the thermovalve 34 itself connected by a second conduit 36 to a source of vacuum produced by a tap 37 on the intake circuit 38 of the engine.
  • this tapping is placed downstream of the throttle valve 39 so that it is constantly under vacuum when the engine is running.
  • a solenoid valve 40 controlled from a computer 41 for controlling and managing the operation of the engine, this computer being as previously arranged for processing information representative of the temperature of the engine coolant, the load and richness of the mixture, supplied by probes or other suitable means 42, 43, 44.
  • this solenoid valve 45 controlled by the same computer.
  • the purpose of this solenoid valve 45 control is to purge or regenerate the filter under conditions such that this purge does not cause any appreciable disturbance in the supply of the engine, since the gasoline vapors coming from the filter are then transmitted to the engine intake.
  • This causes the capsule 33 to be placed under vacuum and the shutter 30 to move to a position in which it closes the duct 31 for supplying cold air and opens the duct 32 for supplying hot air.
  • a current of hot air then crosses the filter in the direction of the pipe 6 and the regulation of this current is carried out by the thermovalve 34 acting through the capsule 33 on the flap 30 to ensure that the temperature of the activated carbon does not not exceed a specified value.
  • the working capacity of the activated carbon filter is improved and its dimensions can therefore be reduced as well as its price and size. This is particularly interesting in the envisaged application where it is associated with a motor vehicle tank.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Supplying Secondary Fuel Or The Like To Fuel, Air Or Fuel-Air Mixtures (AREA)

Claims (10)

1. Vorrichtung zur Rückgewinnung von Treibstoffdämpfen, mit einem Tank (1), mit einem Filter (4), der aus einem diese Dämpfe adsorbierenden Material (5) besteht, der über eine erste Leitung (3) mit einem oberen Teil des Tanks, über eine zweite Leitung (6) mit einer Unterdruckquelle (7) und über eine dritte Leitung (8) mit einer Frischluftquelle aus adsorbierendem Material verbunden ist, mit Einrichtungen zum Aufheizen der Frischluft, mit Einrichtungen zum Regeln der Temperatur der durch die dritte Leitung strömenden Luft, die temperaturempfindliche Steuereinrichtungen umfassen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Einrichtungen (10; 32) zum Aufheizen der Frischluft innerhalb der dritten Leitung (8) außerhalb des Filters (4) angeordnet und daß die Steuereinrichtung (12; 34) der Einrichtungen zum Regeln in die Masse des adsorbierenden Materials (5) des Filters (4) eingebettet ist.
2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Steuereinrichtung (12, 34) von einer in die adsorbierende Masse (5) eingebetteten metallischen Platte (13) getragen wird.
3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Einrichtungen zum Aufheizen und zum Regeln einen mit der Steuereinrichtung (12) in Reihe geschalteten Widerstandsheizdraht (10) umfassen.
4. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Steuereinrichtung (12) als Zelle mit positivem Temperaturkoeffizienten ausgebildet ist.
5. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Steuereinrichtung als Thermoschalter ausgebildet ist, der bei einer bestimmten Temperatur schaltet.
6. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die dritte Leitung (8) mit einer Quelle für Kaltluft (31) und mit einer Quelle für Warmluft (32) verbunden ist, die von einer Klappe (30) betätigt werden.
7. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Klappe (30) von einer Unterdruckkapsel (33) betätigt wird, die über ein Thermoventil (34) als Zwischenstück mit einem Einströmkanal (38) eines Motors verbunden ist und die Steuereinrichtung bildet.
8. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ein durch mindestens einen Betriebsparameter des Motors funktional gesteuertes Elektroschieberventil (40) zwischen dem Thermoventil (34) und dem Einströmkanal (38) angeordnet ist.
9. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ein durch mindestens einen Betriebsparameter des Motors funktional gesteuertes Elektroschieberventil (40) oberhalb der zweiten Leitung (6) angeordnet ist.
10. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9 zur Verwendung an einem Motorfahrzeug, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Steuereinrichtung (12) und/oder die Elektroschieberventile (40; 45) von einer Recheneinrichtung (20; 41) gesteuert werden, die den Betrieb des Motors überwacht und steuert.
EP88401884A 1987-07-30 1988-07-20 Vorrichtung zum Auffangen von Kraftstoffdämpfen Expired - Lifetime EP0301944B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8710830 1987-07-30
FR8710830A FR2618855B1 (fr) 1987-07-30 1987-07-30 Dispositif de recuperation de vapeurs d'essence

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0301944A1 EP0301944A1 (de) 1989-02-01
EP0301944B1 true EP0301944B1 (de) 1991-10-23

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88401884A Expired - Lifetime EP0301944B1 (de) 1987-07-30 1988-07-20 Vorrichtung zum Auffangen von Kraftstoffdämpfen

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US4846135A (de)
EP (1) EP0301944B1 (de)
DE (1) DE3865767D1 (de)
FR (1) FR2618855B1 (de)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0301944A1 (de) 1989-02-01
DE3865767D1 (de) 1991-11-28
FR2618855A1 (fr) 1989-02-03
FR2618855B1 (fr) 1992-08-21
US4846135A (en) 1989-07-11

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