Fuel vapor leak test system and method comprising successive series of pulse bursts and pressure measurements between bursts

[0001] This invention relates generally to a system and method for detecting gas leakage from an enclosed space, such as fuel vapor leakage from an evaporative emission space of a motor vehicle fuel system, especially to a system and method where a pump, such as a diaphragm pump, creates superatmospheric pressure in the space during a test.

[0002] A known on-board evaporative emission control system for a motor vehicle comprises a vapor collection canister that collects volatile fuel vapors generated in the headspace of a fuel tank by the volatilization of liquid fuel in the tank and a purge valve for periodically purging fuel vapors to an intake manifold of the engine. A known type of purge valve, sometimes called a canister purge solenoid (or CPS) valve, is under the control of a microprocessor-based engine management system, sometimes referred to by various names, such as an engine management computer or an engine electronic control unit.

[0003] During conditions conducive to purging, the purge valve is opened by a signal from the engine management computer in an amount that allows intake manifold vacuum to draw fuel vapors that are present in the tank headspace and/or stored in the canister for entrainment with combustible mixture passing into the engine's combustion chamber space at a rate consistent with engine operation so as to provide both acceptable vehicle driveability and an acceptable level of exhaust emissions.

[0004] Certain governmental regulations require that certain motor vehicles powered by internal combustion engines which operate on volatile fuels such as gasoline, have evaporative emission control systems equipped with an onboard diagnostic capability for determining if a leak is present in the evaporative emission space.

[0005] One known type of vapor leak detection system for determining integrity of an evaporative emission space performs a leak detection test by positively pressurizing the evaporative emission space using a positive displacement diaphragm pump. The diaphragm is reciprocated to create test pressure. Commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,743, issued Feb. 27, 2001, discloses a module comprising such a pump.

[0006] Known test methods include creating superatmospheric pressure in the closed space being tested and detecting changes that are indicative of leakage. One method comprises measuring a characteristic of pump operation. An example of a time-based measurement is a measurement of how frequently a diaphragm pump must be cycled in order to maintain pressure. Other methods of measurement are pressure-based, such as measuring the rate at which pressure decays. Those methods can provide accuracy when ambient conditions are relatively stable, such as when a vehicle has been parked for an extended period of time. Less stable conditions may impair accuracy of measurements. The dynamics of operating a vehicle may prevent a leak test method from providing consistently accurate results. For example, movement of liquid fuel in a tank, i.e. fuel slosh, might create certain pressure anomalies that could give a false result for a leak test.

[0007] The inclusion of various filters, both electrical and mechanical, may mitigate the effects of such anomalies. Even with the presence of such aids, it is believed that further improvement toward assuring consistent accuracy of test results is desirable, and it is toward that objective that the present invention is directed.

[0008] Commonly owned pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/896,247, filed 29 June, 2001, discloses a system and method that compensates for changes in the output efficiency of a pump due to factors such as temperature, age, friction, etc., so that a leak test can be performed and completed within a specified window of time as the pump efficiency changes. The pump is operated in a manner that creates a succession of pressurizing pulse bursts. Each burst contains a number of pressurizing pulses corresponding to the number of times that the pump is stroked, and the bursts are separated by time intervals during which the pump is not stroked. The invention of that patent application concerns self-compensation for changing pump efficiency as the pump ages.

[0009] The present invention concerns a leak test system and method that in a preferred embodiment employs a diaphragm pump that is stroked to force air into the space being tested. The pump is operated in a manner that creates a succession of pressurizing pulse bursts. Each burst contains a number of pressurizing pulses corresponding to the number of times that the pump is stroked, and the bursts are separated by time intervals during which the pump is not stroked. The present invention departs from the content of Ser. No. 09/896,247 in that it involves measuring leakage in a novel manner that can contribute to more consistent accuracy of results in less than perfectly stable ambient conditions for a leak test. This is because measurements can be taken in greater number and at greater frequency. Because of these larger numbers, any momentary irregularity or disturbance that affects a small percentage of the measurements as they are being taken may well have less effect on the final result than if one measurement of a fewer number of measurements were affected.

[0010] That said, the invention does not necessarily require the taking of multiple measurements, and in fact it is possible to perform an acceptable test using a single measurement taken at a certain point in the test, such as at the end of an allotted test time.

[0011] Another advantage of the invention is that it can be implemented in software that operates existing hardware in a new and different way according to the inventive principles.

[0012] One general aspect of the invention relates to a leak test system for a motor vehicle fuel system that holds volatile liquid fuel for operating the vehicle. The leak test system comprises a processor for establishing steps of a leak test and a pump for forcing air under pressure into vapor containment space of the fuel system during a leak test. The pump operates in accordance with steps established by the processor to create a superatmospheric pressure in the space during an initial step of the leak test. After completion of the initial step, a further step is performed. That further step comprises operating the pump to force pulses of air into the space in a succession of pulse bursts, wherein each burst comprises a succession of individual pulses of air, and each successive burst is delayed from an immediately prior burst by a time interval substantially longer than the time intervals between individual pulses in each burst. The processor processes data corresponding to a measurement of pressure in the space after the occurrence of at least one of such bursts and as a result of that processing indicates leakage from the space.

[0013] A further aspect of the invention relates to a leak test method for such a motor vehicle fuel system. The method comprises forcing air under pressure into vapor containment space of the fuel system during a leak test in accordance with steps of the method. During an initial step of the method, the forcing of air into the space creates in the space a superatmospheric pressure suitable for performing the leak test. After completion of the initial step, a pump is operated to perform a further step of the method that comprises forcing pulses of air into the space in a succession of pulse bursts. Each burst comprises a succession of individual pulses of air, and each successive burst is delayed from an immediately prior burst by a time interval substantially longer than the time intervals between individual pulses in each burst. Data corresponding to a measurement of pressure in the space after the occurrence of at least one of such bursts is obtained and processed and leakage from the space is indicted as a result of that processing.

[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, include one or more presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with a general description given above and a detailed description given below, serve to disclose principles of the invention in accordance with a best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a general schematic diagram of an exemplary automotive vehicle evaporative emission control system including a leak test system embodying principles of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a cross section view through an exemplary embodiment of leak test module.

[0017] FIG. 3 is another cross section view generally in the direction of arrows 3-3 in FIG. 2.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a graph plot showing several traces of pressure versus time representative of tests on spaces having different sized leaks.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of steps of an algorithm embodying the inventive method.

[0020] FIG. 6 is a graph plot of pressure versus time illustrating a representative signature of a refueling event that interrupts a leak test.

[0021] FIG. 7 is graph plot showing a lack of substantial influence of effective leak size and fuel level on the inventive leak test method.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows an example of a portion of a motor vehicle fuel system 10, including a leak test system 12. A fuel tank 14 holds a supply of volatile liquid fuel for an engine 15 that powers the vehicle. Fuel vapors that are generated within headspace of tank 14 are collected in a vapor collection canister 16 that forms a portion of an evaporative emission control system.

[0023] At times conducive to canister purging, the collected vapors are purged from canister 16 to engine 15 through a purge valve 17. For purging, purge valve 17 and a canister vent valve 18 are both open. Vent valve 18 vents canister 16 to atmosphere through a particulate filter 19, allowing engine manifold vacuum to draw air into and through canister 16 where collected vapors entrain with the air flowing through the canister and are carried into the engine intake system, and ultimately into engine 15 where they are combusted.

[0024] From time to time, leak test system 12 conducts a leak test for ascertaining the integrity of the evaporative emission control system against leakage. Purge valve 17 and vent valve 18 are operated closed to close off the space of the evaporative emission system that contains the fuel vapors. That space is then positively pressurized to determine if any leakage is present. A diaphragm pump 20 is used to pressurize the space being tested. Although the space has been closed off, the pump is still able to draw air from atmosphere through filter 19 and a check 21 and to force air under pressure through a check 22 to develop suitable positive pressure in the space for conducting the test.

[0025] Details of such a pump and an associated module, and prior leak test procedures, are disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,967,124; 5,974,861; 6,009,746; 6,016,691; 6,016,793; and 6,192,743 where vent valve 18 is integrated with the module and pump 20 is housed with the module enclosure. The module has ports for establishing proper communication of the pump with the emission control system and of the vent valve with atmosphere through the particulate filter.

[0026] As shown by FIGS. 2 and 3, a representative leak test module 20A houses a pump 20 comprises a movable wall 23 that has an outer perimeter margin held sealed to the pump housing so as to create a variable volume pumping chamber 24 within the pump interior. When the pump is stroked by a return spring to displace movable wall 23 in a direction that increases the volume of pumping chamber 24, atmospheric air passes through check 21 to create a charge of air in pumping chamber 24 while check 22 prevents the pump from sucking vapor-laden air out of the space being tested. When pump 20 is stroked to displace movable wall 23 in an opposite direction that decreases the volume of pumping chamber 24, the charge of air in the pumping chamber is forced through check 22 while check 21 prevents the charge from being forced back into the atmosphere. Pump is repeatedly stroked back and forth in this manner during a leak test that will be more fully disclosed later.

[0027] A pressure sensor 30 of module 20A typically provides a measurement of pressure in the space under test. The sensing port 30A of sensor 30 is communicated to sense pressure immediately after check 22. Pressure sensor 30 may be either an analog device that provides an output that follows sensed pressure over a range of pressures to provide pressure measurements over that range or a device that switches from one condition to another when sensed pressure passes through a pressure corresponding to a selected pressure. The latter type of device may have multiple switches that switch at different pressure settings.

[0028] An engine electronic control unit (ECU) 32 typically controls purge valve 17. It is also typical to place module 20A under control of ECU 32. In its broadest aspect, the present invention contemplates control not only by an engine ECU, but any other control, such as a standalone control that is devoted exclusively to module 20A and may be integrated with the module, as referenced at 33 in FIG. 3. ECU 32 comprises a processor that can obtain and process pressure data from sensor 30, and that can initiate and exercise control over a leak test from start to finish.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows some of the various filtering devices mentioned earlier. An electrical filter 34, which may be a hardware filter or a software filter, filters the pressure measurement signal from sensor 30 to ECU 32. An orifice 36 forms a pneumatic filter that filters abrupt changes in pressure that would otherwise be applied directly to sensing port 30A of sensor 30.

[0030] Stroking of pump 20 to force air out of pumping chamber 24 is performed by an operator that includes an electric actuator 38 under the control of ECU 32. Each time a pulse from ECU 32 is applied to actuator 38, the actuator causes pump 20 to execute one complete compression stroke that forces a charge of air from pumping chamber 24 into the space under test. In this way, a substantially constant mass of air is pumped into the space under test for each pulse applied by ECU 32 to actuator 38 to stroke pump 20. When the pulse terminates, the return spring expands pumping chamber 24, with a fresh charge of air being drawn into the pumping chamber in the process through check 21 and filter 19.

[0031] A preferred leak test method according to the present invention comprises an initial step of operating pump 20 to force air under pressure into the space to create a superatmospheric pressure suitable for performing the test. This is also referred to as the charge, or charging, phase.

[0032] After completion of the initial step, pump 20 is operated to perform a further step of the method that comprises forcing pulses of air into the space in a succession of pulse bursts. Each burst comprises a succession of individual pulses of air in substantially equal numbers, and each successive burst is delayed from an immediately prior burst by a substantially constant time interval that is substantially longer than the time intervals between individual pulses in each burst. This further step is also referred to as the measurement, or measuring, phase.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows the initial step, reference numeral 40, that concludes when sensor 30 measures a certain superatmospheric pressure deemed suitable for performing the test, 10 millibars in the example. A further step, i.e. the measurement phase, reference numeral 42, then commences. Pump 20 now operates in the manner described above. For example, a burst of pulses may comprise forty pulses, each applied long enough to assure that pump 20 executes a complete pressurizing stroke that forces a given mass of air from chamber space 24 into the space under test. The mass of air that each pulse forces into the space under test is therefore substantially constant. By using an equal number, or at least a substantially equal number, of pulses for each burst, a substantially equal mass of air is forced into the space as a result of each burst. If the pulses are applied at a rate of 20 hertz, the forty-pulse burst will have a duration of approximately two seconds. A burst having fewer pulses, such as one having only five pulses for example, will have a shorter duration, about one-quarter of a second for a five-pulse burst.

[0034] If the space under test is completely free of leaks, pressure in the space will continue to increase during this measurement phase. The trace 44 is an example of this that represents zero leakage.

[0035] If the space under test leaks exactly the same amount of air that is being introduced by pump 20, then pressure will remain substantially at the pressure at which the measurement phase began, i.e. 10 millibars of the example. Each burst will increase the pressure by some incremental amount and the pressure will have decayed back to 10 millibars by the time that the next burst commences. Trace 46 therefore represents such a leak condition. Because the pressure of 10 millibars is known, a corresponding measurement of effective leak size is defined by trace 46. In the same way, any trace that lies between traces 44 and 46 will provide a measurement of a corresponding effective leak size. Traces 44 AND 46, and any trace that lies between them, represent results of leak tests on fuel system that have passed a leak test. This is the PASS condition.

[0036] If the space under test leaks more than the amount of air that is being introduced by pump 20, then pressure will decrease over time. The specific nature of the decrease depends on the effective leak size. The larger the effective leak size, the greater the rate at which pressure will decay. Although each pulse burst will increase the pressure by some incremental amount, the increase is insufficient to prevent the pressure from falling to a still lower pressure by the time that the next burst commences. Trace 48 therefore represents such a leak condition and correlates with a particular effective leak size. In the same way as discussed above, any trace that lies between traces 46 and 48 will provide a measurement of a corresponding effective leak size. Hence, any such trace, including trace 48, represents a leak test result on a fuel system that has failed a leak test. This is the FAIL condition.

[0037] ECU 32 can read pressure from sensor 30 continually, or it can periodically sample the pressure at suitably appropriate times. An indication of leakage can be obtained on the basis of one or more measurements during the measurement phase. It may be desirable for ECU 32 to obtain and process multiple measurements using an analog pressure sensor 30 because that should enable a more accurate measurement to be made, for example, taking of a measurement promptly upon the conclusion of each pulse burst. Such measurements can define a measurement phase trace, similar to the examples of traces 44, 46, and 48, that correlates with a corresponding effective leak size. As an example, trace 46 may correlate with a leak equivalent in size to that of a circular hole having a diameter of approximately 0.40 millimeters. Measurements do not necessarily have to be taken promptly after each burst, but it desirable that they be taken at the same point in time relative to a preceding burst for purposes of consistency. Alternatively, the method may use simply the final pressure measurement as the result, rather than processing multiple measurements obtained during the measurement phase.

[0038] For any of various reasons, it may be important to perform a leak test within a limited amount of allotted time. An example of an allotted test time for measurement phase 42 is 240 seconds. Where a trace shows that pressure is being lost beyond the ability of the pump to make it up, but that the trace may eventually stabilize at some pressure less than the initial 10 millibar pressure, but not within the allotted time, various calculational techniques may be employed to predict a final stabilized pressure for correlation with a corresponding effective leak size.

[0039] The method that has been described may be viewed as a constant duty cycle, fixed pulse duration, test because a burst occurs at a regular interval, approximately every eight seconds for example, corresponding to a fixed duty cycle, and each pulse burst spans a fixed duration even though it comprises an equal number of multiple pulses.

[0040] If a gross leak is present, a measurement of its effective size may be unnecessary. Such a determination can be made during the initial step 40 of the test. FIG. 5 represents an algorithm that ECU 32 follows and illustrates some detail of this step including a pressure progress test that serves to identify a gross leak.

[0041] During charge phase 40, ECU 32 regularly processes data corresponding to the pressure measurement provided by sensor 30. The processing compares the pressure measurement data with a predetermined intermediate pressure P-low that is less than the superatmospheric pressure P-cycle desired for beginning the measurement phase 42. After that comparison, elapsed time on a timer that ECU started at the beginning of the test is compared with a predetermined amount of time TchPlmax.

[0042] As long as the measured pressure continues to be less than the predetermined intermediate pressure P-low, and the elapsed time does not exceed the predetermined amount of time TchPlmax, the charge phase continues. However, if the elapsed time exceeds that predetermined amount of time TchPlmax before pressure reaches P-low, the test is aborted because failure to attain the pressure is indicative of a gross leak.

[0043] Once the measured pressure reaches the predetermined intermediate pressure P-low within time allowed by the predetermined time TchPlmax, the charge phase is allowed to continue, with pressure continuing to be read and processed. Now however, the processing compares the pressure measurement data with the desired pressure P-cycle. After each such comparison, elapsed time on the timer that ECU started at the beginning of the test is compared with a predetermined amount of time TchPcmax.

[0044] As long as the measured pressure continues to be less than the pressure P-cycle, and the elapsed time does not exceed the predetermined amount of time TchPcmax, the charge phase continues. However, if the elapsed time exceeds that predetermined amount of time TchPcmax before the pressure reaches the pressure P-cycle, the test is aborted because failure to attain the pressure is indicative of a gross leak.

[0045] Once the measured pressure reaches the desired test pressure P-cycle within time allowed by the predetermined time TchPcmax, one final comparison is made. If the charge time is less than a time Tpl or if the time for charging from pressure P-low to pressure P-cycle is less than a time TchPlPmin, then the test is also aborted. The reason for this final comparison is to detect a blocked or pinched line that could falsely signal a valid test.

[0046] Step 42, i.e. the measurement phase, comprises repeatedly executing individual steps 42A, 42B, and 42C of the algorithm, steps that have already been described within the broader context of step 42. Once the allotted time TTTmax for measurement phase 42 has elapsed, the results are processed (step 42D) to yield a leak determination. While the test can provide an actual effective leak size measurement by various processing techniques as discussed above, results in the example of FIG. 5 are presented in one of four ways based on the final pressure measurement obtained upon completion of measurement phase 42 that has a defined time duration, 240 seconds in this example.

[0047] If final pressure is greater than a pressure Ps that distinguishes between a sealed system and a system that is passable yet has a small leak, the result indicated is pass-sealed. If final pressure is greater than a pressure Psm that distinguishes between a system that is failed with a small leak and a system that is passable yet has a small leak, but equal to or less than the pressure that distinguishes between a sealed system and a system that is passable yet has a small leak, the result indicated is pass-small leak. If final pressure is greater than a pressure Pgr that distinguishes between a system that is failed with a gross leak and a system that is failed yet has a small leak, but equal to or less than the pressure that distinguishes between a system that is failed yet has a small leak and a system that is passable yet has a small leak, the result indicated is fail-small leak. If final pressure is equal to or less than pressure Pgr, the result indicated is fail-gross leak.

[0048] As the algorithm is executing measuring phase 42 by repeatedly executing steps 42A, 42B, and 42C, it also checks for refueling and various faults that may occur as a test is proceeding, by an interposed step 43 between steps 42B and 42C. FIG. 6 shows one example of how a refueling event can be detected by one reference pressure at 10 millibars and another at 5 millibars. Detection of a refueling event will cause a test that is in progress to be discontinued. A refueling event can also be detected during charging phase 40, as shown by the example of FIG. 6 where the test is aborted as a consequence of a distinctive refueling spike. Low power supply voltage and pressure extremes can also discontinue a test in progress or prevent a new test from commencing.

[0049] An analog pressure sensor 30 that has a suitable range can be used in any embodiment of module. All of the various forms of testing that have been described can be performed using such a sensor.

[0050] A switch-type sensor that has one or more switches can be used to perform certain forms of testing. For example a pressure sensor that has a single switch is capable of performing a leak test that distinguishes between a passed fuel system and a failed fuel system by using the switch setting as a border between a passed system and a failed one. A fuel system that passes a leak test will be one where the final pressure equals or exceeds the switch setting, in which case the switch will assume a final position in a corresponding one of its two states. A fuel system that fails a leak test will be one where the final pressure is below the switch setting, in which case the switch will assume a final position in the other one of its two states. A module that uses such a pressure sensor would be unable to perform the pressure progress test during the charge phase, and hence be incapable of an early abort of a leak test where a gross leak exists, but a gross leak would still eventually be disclosed as a failure at the end of the total test time.

[0051] If a pressure sensor has multiple switches set to different pressures, it can perform the pressure progress test and can detect a refueling event. Using the example of FIG. 6, a first switch of such a sensor is set to 10 millibars and a second is set to 5 millibars. The second switch enables the pressure progress test to be performed, and it also serves to detect a refueling event. The first switch distinguishes between a passed fuel system and a failed one.

[0052] The invention also enables a basic module to be tailored to different leak size settings for various vehicle applications without hardware modification. Tailoring can be accomplished by software modifications. By using software in ECU 32 to set the number of pulses in a pulse burst and/or to set duration between bursts, the average mass of air that is forced by the pump into the space under test will obviously change. When the average mass of air pumped into the space under test just equals the mass lost due to leakage from the space, the measurement phase will show an essentially flat trace like trace 46. Without changing the pressure sensor switch setting, change in the number of pulses in a pulse burst and/or duration between bursts will therefore change the effective leak size corresponding to the switch setting.

[0053] In addition to advantages previously discussed, the method of the present invention also has the advantage of being fairly insensitive to influences such as fluctuations in power supply voltage and in fuel level in a tank. This is shown by FIG. 7.

[0054] It is to be understood that because the invention may be practiced in various forms within the scope of the appended claims, certain specific words and phrases that may be used to describe a particular exemplary embodiment of the invention are not intended to necessarily limit the scope of the invention solely on account of such use.