Patent ID: 6220230
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: F02M

Abstract:
In an evaporative emission control system for an internal combustion engine including a canister having an atmospheric vent, a first conduit providing communication between a fuel tank and the canister, a second conduit providing communication between the canister and an intake pipe portion downstream of a throttle valve of the engine, a bypass valve disposed between the fuel tank and the canister and mounted on the first conduit for selectively allowing and preventing communication between the fuel tank and the canister, a purge control valve disposed between the canister and the intake pipe portion and mounted on the second conduit for selectively allowing and preventing communication between the canister and the intake pipe portion, and a vent control valve for selectively opening and closing the atmospheric vent of the canister, the evaporative emission control system comprising:a pressure reducing device for closing said vent control valve and said bypass valve while opening said purge control valve for thereby introducing a vacuum prevailing in said intake pipe portion into a portion of said first and second conduits extending between said bypass valve and said intake pipe portion and thereby reducing a pressure in said portion of said first and second conduits to a predetermined value and thereafter closing said purge control valve;a pressure measuring device for opening said bypass valve after reduction of said pressure in said portion of said first and second conduits to said predetermined value and measuring a pressure variation in a portion of said first and second conduits extending between said fuel tank and said purge control valve after lapse of a predetermined time from said opening of said bypass valve; anda diagnostic device for making a leak diagnosis on the basis of said pressure variation measured by said pressure measuring device.