Turbo purge valve-check valve OBD vacuum relief

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9360125-B2
Application number	US-201414258253-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2014
Priority date	Apr 23, 2013
Publication date	Jun 7, 2016
Grant date	Jun 7, 2016

Abstract

An integrated valve assembly, which integrates two check valves and a solenoid assembly which functions as a purge valve. When the solenoid assembly is in an open position, during a first mode of operation, vacuum pressure places the first check valve in an open position and the second check valve in a closed position, and during a second mode of operation, pressurized air places the first check valve in a closed position, and vacuum pressure generated by a venturi valve member places the second check valve in an open position. Each check valve utilizes a nylon insert along with an over molded rubber seal. The design of the check valves prevents actuation at low vacuums and flows when the vehicle is shut off. The integrated valve assembly eliminates the need for an OBD relief valve, and simplifies the EVAP system, saving costs, complexity, and eliminates several possible leak connections.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
an integrated valve assembly which is part of an air flow system, including:
a solenoid assembly having an open position and a closed position;
a first valve in fluid communication with the solenoid assembly, the first valve unbiased open or closed; and
a second valve in fluid communication with the solenoid assembly, the second valve unbiased open or closed;
wherein during a first mode of operation and the solenoid assembly is in an open position, vacuum pressure places the first valve in an open position and the second valve in a closed position, and during the second mode of operation and the solenoid assembly is in an open position, pressurized air places the first valve in a closed position, and vacuum pressure places the second valve in an open position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an overmold assembly, the solenoid assembly located in the overmold assembly;
a cap connected to the overmold assembly;
a reservoir connected to the cap;
a cap aperture formed as part of the cap, the cap aperture providing fluid communication between the overmold assembly and the reservoir when the solenoid assembly is in an open position; and
wherein purge vapor flows from the overmold assembly through the cap aperture to the reservoir during both the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
an overmold assembly cavity formed as part of the overmold assembly, the solenoid assembly disposed within the overmold assembly adjacent the overmold assembly cavity; and
a reservoir cavity formed as part of the reservoir, the cap aperture in fluid communication with the reservoir cavity and the overmold assembly cavity;
wherein the reservoir cavity is in fluid communication with the overmold assembly cavity when the solenoid assembly is in the open position.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first valve is a first check valve, further comprising:
a first valve plate moveable between an open position and a closed position;
a first valve seat selectively in contact with the first valve plate; and
a first plurality of vents;
wherein during the first mode of operation, the first valve plate is located such that the first check valve is in the open position, allowing purge vapor to flow from the reservoir through the first check valve, and through the first plurality of vents, and during the second mode of operation, pressurized air places the first valve plate in contact with the first valve seat such that purge vapor is prevented from entering the first check valve.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , the first check valve further comprising:
a first seal member connected to and circumscribing the first valve plate, the first seal member selectively in contact with the first valve seat;
a first inner wall, the first seal member selectively in contact with the first inner wall;
a first check valve aperture in fluid communication with the reservoir, the first check valve aperture surrounded by the first valve seat; and
a first check valve cavity, the first check valve aperture in fluid communication with the first check valve cavity;
wherein during the first mode of operation, the first valve plate is located in the first check valve cavity and moves away from the first valve seat, placing the first check valve in the open position, allowing purge vapor to flow from the reservoir through the first check valve aperture, into the first check valve cavity, and out of the first check valve, and during the second mode of operation, pressurized air places the first seal member in contact with the first valve seat, preventing purge vapor from entering the first check valve cavity from the reservoir.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , the first check valve further comprising
a first base portion, the first inner wall formed as part of the first base portion;
a first vent port integrally formed with the first base portion; and
a first guide member at least partially extending into the reservoir cavity and partially extending into the first vent port, the first valve plate integrally formed with the first guide member;
wherein during the first mode of operation, the first valve plate moves such that the first seal member contacts the first inner wall, allowing purge vapor to flow from the reservoir through the first check valve aperture, through the first check valve cavity, and through the first plurality of vents and out of the first vent port, and during the second mode of operation, pressurized air moves the first valve plate such that the first seal member is in contact with the first valve seat, preventing purge vapor from entering the first check valve cavity from the reservoir.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second valve is a second check valve, further comprising:
a second valve plate moveable between an open position and a closed position;
a second valve seat selectively in contact with the second valve plate; and
a second plurality of vents formed as part of the base portion;
wherein during the first mode of operation, the second valve plate is located such that the second valve plate is in contact with the second valve seat and in the closed position, such that purge vapor is prevented from entering the second check valve, and during the second mode of operation, the second valve plate is moved away from the second valve seat, placing the second check valve in the open position, allowing purge vapor to flow from the reservoir through the second check valve, and through the second plurality of vents.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , the second check valve further comprising:
a second seal member connected to and circumscribing the second valve plate;
a second inner wall, the second seal member selectively in contact with the second inner wall;
a second check valve aperture in fluid communication with the reservoir, the second check valve aperture at least partially surrounded by the second valve seat; and
a second check valve cavity, the second check valve aperture in fluid communication with the second check valve cavity;
wherein during the first mode of operation, the second valve plate is located in the second check valve cavity, is in contact with the second valve seat, and is in the closed position, preventing purge vapor from entering the second check valve cavity from the reservoir, and during the second mode of operation, the second valve plate moves away from the second valve seat, placing the second check valve in the open position, allowing purge vapor to flow from the reservoir through the second check valve aperture, into the second check valve cavity, and out of the second check valve.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , the second check valve further comprising:
a second base portion, the second inner wall formed as part of the base portion;
a second vent port integrally formed with the second base portion; and
a second guide member at least partially extending into the reservoir cavity and partially extending into the second vent port, the second valve plate integrally formed with the second guide member;
wherein during the first mode of operation, the second seal member is in contact with the second valve seat, preventing purge vapor from entering the second check valve cavity from the reservoir, and during the second mode of operation, the second valve plate moves toward and contacts the second inner wall, allowing purge vapor to flow from the reservoir through the second check valve aperture, through the second check valve cavity, and through the second plurality of vents and out of the second vent port.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , furth

Assignees

• Continental Automotive Systems

Inventors

• Jefford Robert Douglas
• Lloyd John Nelson

Classifications

• F16K15/186 Primary

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