Patent ID: 6155239
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: B60K,F02D,F02M,Y02T

Abstract:
A fuel vapor system for an internal combustion engine that creates a vacuum during operation comprising:a. a reservoir that holds liquid fuel and that has a space above the fuel;b. a bubble pan under the fuel in the reservoir, the bubble pan defining a multiplicity of small holes;c. an air inlet tube that connects the bubble pan to the atmosphere;d. a fuel vapor passage leading from the space in the reservoir to the engine, the engine drawing fuel vapor having a first air/fuel ratio from the space in the reservoir in a downstream direction through the fuel vapor passage during operation and thereby drawing air through the air inlet and the bubble pan and through the fuel in the reservoir to the space in the reservoir to vaporize some of the fuel to the first air/fuel ratio; ande. means for changing the first air/fuel ratio in the fuel vapor passage to deliver a predetermined air/fuel ratio to the engine, wherein the means for changing the first air/fuel ratio in the vapor passage comprises:i. means for sensing the first air/fuel ratio;ii. means for introducing auxiliary air into the fuel vapor passage;iii. means for introducing auxiliary fuel into the fuel vapor passage;iv. means for controlling the means for introducing auxiliary air and the means for introducing auxiliary fuel to change the first air/fuel ratio to the predetermined air/fuel ratio; andv. means for sensing the predetermined air/fuel ratio.