Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Global Tech.inc

Michael William Soltis

Aed M Dudar

Scott Alan Bohr

Matthew Werner

Robert H Thompson

Michael Joseph Harrigan, Sr

Damien Baldwin

Jeffrey Dumler

Methods and systems are provided for conducting an evaporative emissions test on a fuel system and an emissions control system in a vehicle. In one example, in response to an indication that a vehicle parking condition may result in the isolation of the fuel system from the emissions control system via the unintentional closing of fuel tank valves, a vehicle's active suspension system may be employed in order to level the vehicle a determined amount such that the fuel system isolation issues may be mitigated prior to an evaporative emissions test procedure. In this way, the entire fuel system and emissions control system may be diagnosed for potential undesired emissions, and potential violations of regulatory requirements for evaporative emissions testing may be reduced.

Evaporative emissions detection method with vehicle self leveling suspension compensation

A fuel tank having an interior space defined by a wall, a fill tube to admit fuel into the interior space, and a vent to discharge air and vapor from the interior space as the fuel is admitted. The vent includes a vent tube extending through the wall and downward into the interior space, and having a non-circular opening. In this manner ejection of fuel from the fill tube can be prevented reliably under a wide range of refueling conditions, and without imparting excessive length to the vent tube.

Fuel tank pressure-relief vent to prevent ejection of fuel during refill

A fuel system which selectively receives, stores and delivers volatile fuel . Fuel system includes a variable volume fuel tank having a movable piston which is attached to a pair of bellows diaphragm members . Members selectively contract and expand to move piston within tank , effective to alter the volume of the fuel containing portion of tank , thereby maintaining fuel in a pressurized state and substantially preventing the accumulation of vapors within tank

Fuel system

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Michael William Soltis