Claims
- 1. An evaporative emission leak detection system for detecting leakage from an evaporative emission space of a fuel system of an automotive vehicle comprising:a pump comprising a reciprocal pumping mechanism for pumping gaseous fluid with respect to an evaporative emission space; a vent valve that is selectively operable to a first state that vents the evaporative emission space to atmosphere and to a second state that does not vent the evaporative emission space to atmosphere; and an electromechanical actuator for operating both the pump and the vent valve comprising, an electric device comprising an electromagnetic coil for receiving an electric control signal for controlling operation both of the pump and of the vent valve, a first electromechanical coupling operatively coupling the device with the pump such that the pump operation is controlled by the electric control signal, and a second electromechanical coupling operatively coupling the device with the vent valve such that the vent valve operation is also controlled by the electric control signal; including an electric circuit providing the electric control signal to the coil wherein the electric circuit comprises a first current path to the coil comprising a controlled conduction device that is connected in series circuit relationship with the coil and is cycled alternately between different states of conductivity to reciprocate the reciprocal pumping mechanism of the pump, and a second current path to the coil comprising an electric circuit component for maintaining a threshold electric current in the coil.
- 2. A system as set forth in claim 1 in which the electric circuit component for maintaining a threshold electric current in the coil comprises a resistor for maintaining threshold electric current in the coil when no current flows through the first path.
- 3. A system as set forth in claim 2 in which the controlled conduction device comprises a semiconductor.
- 4. A system as set forth in claim 3 in which the semiconductor comprises a field effect transistor, and the circuit further comprises a zener diode connected between drain and source terminals of the field effect transistor for limiting the magnitude of reverse voltage across the drain and source terminals of the field effect transistor.
- 5. A system as set forth in claim 1 in which the electric circuit component comprises a resistor, and the controlled conduction device comprises a semiconductor switch.
- 6. A system as set forth in claim 1 including a sensing circuit for providing a sensed signal representative of pressure in the evaporative emission space and controlling operation of the controlled conduction device in accordance with the sensed signal.
- 7. A system as set forth in claim 6 in which the sensed signal controls the application of a pulse waveform signal to the controlled conduction device.
- 8. A system as set forth in claim 7 in which the pulse waveform causes the pumping mechanism to execute a pumping stroke during a pulse of the waveform and to execute a charging stroke between pulses.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS, INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE, AND PRIORITY CLAIM
This application expressly claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority from the following commonly owned patent applications: U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/072,842 filed on Jan. 28, 1998 in the names of Cook et al and entitled “LDP2/N.G.C. DRIVER CIRCUIT”; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/075,953 filed on Feb. 25, 1998 in the names of Cook et al and entitled “ELECTRIC-OPERATED, PUMP-TYPE VAPOR LEAK DETECTION MODULE”; U.S. Non-Provisional Application Ser. No. 09/065,956 filed on Apr. 24, 1998 and entitled “VAPOR LEAK DETECTION MODULE HAVING A SHARED ELECTROMAGNET COIL FOR OPERATING BOTH PUMP AND VENT VALVE”; U.S. Non-Provisional Application Ser. No. 09/065,964 filed on Apr. 24, 1998 and entitled “VAPOR LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM HAVING A SHARED ELECTROMAGNET COIL FOR OPERATING BOTH PUMP AND VENT VALVE”; U.S. Non-Provisional Application Ser. No. 09/107,517, filed Jun. 30, 1998, entitled “LEAK DETECTION MODULE HAVING ELECTRIC-OPERATED TOGGLE LEVERS FOR PUMP AND VALVE”; U.S. Non-Provisional Application Ser. No. 09/107,519, filed Jun. 30, 1998, entitled “ELECTRIC-OPERATED TOGGLE LEVER OF LEAK DETECTION MODULE PUMP”; and U.S. Non-Provisional Application Ser. No. 09/107,515, filed Jun. 30, 1998, entitled “CALIBRATED TOGGLE LEVER OF LEAK DETECTION MODULE PUMP”. The entirety of each of those earlier-filed, co-pending patent applications is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (16)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
PCT Search Report mailed Nov. 18, 1999 for International Application No. PCT/CA99/00068. |