WILLIAM BERNARD BLOMQUIST
Pilots at Dabish Dr, Lake Orion, MI

6374847, Apr 23, 2002

Aug 30, 1999

09/385251

Gary D. Dawson - Rochester MI
William B. Blomquist - Lake Orion MI
Chris J. Booms - Milford MI

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

F02M 3500

137 1506, 137242, 123520, 134 18, 134 24, 134 32, 134 42

A method is provided for cleansing a seal of a device used for sealing an evaporative emission control system of an automotive vehicle. The method starts by determining if a request to close the device has been made. If the request to close the device has been made, the method cycles the device a plurality of times to press and lift the seal off of a seat repeatedly. The method also determines if the seal is closed after the cycling step. If the seal is not closed after the cycling step, the method closes the seal. Preferably, the cycling step includes cycling the device at a pre-selected duty cycle, frequency and cycle count. The duty cycle, frequency, and cycle count correspond to calibration tables prepared for the particular device employed to insure that the seal strikes its seat about three times before sealing.

6530265, Mar 11, 2003

Aug 30, 1999

09/385252

Gary D. Dawson - Rochester MI
William B. Blomquist - Lake Orion MI
Chris J. Booms - Milford MI
Fadi S. Kanafani - Rochester MI

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

G01M 304

73 497, 73 405 R, 731181, 707 51

A method is provided for detecting a small or gross leak in an evaporative emission control system of an automotive vehicle. The method includes initially purging and then sealing the evaporative emission control system. A vacuum switch coupled to the evaporative emission control system is then monitored for an opening event caused by a loss of a natural vacuum created in the evaporative emission control system. If said opening event is detected, the method determines if a leak check timer has exceeded a first or second predetermined threshold value. If the leak check timer has not exceeded said first predetermined threshold value a first fault code is set indicating that the gross leak has been detected. If the leak check timer has not exceeded the second predetermined threshold value, a second fault code is set indicating that the small leak has been detected. The first threshold value corresponds to an amount of time required for a leak to be detected having a diameter of about 0.

6148804, Nov 21, 2000

Nov 22, 1999

9/447136

William B. Blomquist - Lake Orion MI
Sandra N. Thomson - Rochester Hills MI
Patrick T. McCourt - Auburn Hills MI
Yi Cheng - Jackson MI

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

F02M 3704

123520

A method of controlling a proportional purge solenoid is provided to improve low flow resolution. The method includes looking-up a primary duty cycle corresponding to purge current in a three-dimensional surface by using purge flow and vacuum level as inputs. Should the primary duty cycle fall below a lowest allowable purge current threshold value, a secondary purge duty cycle (i. e. , an on/off pattern of the primary duty cycle) is obtained from a two-dimensional table by using the actual calculated purge flow as an input. The two-dimensional table includes a sequence of program loops subdivided into a delay region wherein the purge flow and vacuum level data are learned, an updating region wherein the purge current of the three-dimensional surface is updated, and a control region wherein the primary duty cycle is toggled between on and off states. When the current program loop falls within the delay region, a recorded primary duty cycle is output. When the current program loop falls within the updating region, the primary duty cycle is applied at a time determined during the last program sequence.

6202478, Mar 20, 2001

Aug 17, 1999

9/375621

William B. Blomquist - Lake Orion MI
Roland T. Richardson - Detroit MI
Gary D. Dawson - Rochester MI

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

G01M 304

73 497

A method is provided for testing an evaporative emission control system for a missing or loose fuel cap comprising detecting a refueling event and running a leak detection test of the evaporative emission control system to determine if a large leak is present. If a large leak is detected, the methodology sets a fault code and activates a driver warning lamp indicating a potential cap sealing problem. The leak detection test is repeatedly re-executed after the large leak is detected to determine when the large leak condition ceases. When the large leak condition ceases, the previously set fault code is removed and the driver warning lamp is deactivated. If the large leak does not cease and is detected again after the next refueling event when an opportunity for resealing the cap existed, a new fault code is set indicating that the potential cap sealing problem is a persistent problem so that the integrity of the evaporative system may need to be tested. After setting the new fault code, fuel cap specific leak detection testing is suspended until the condition is serviced and the fault code is cleared or a normal leak detection test determines that there is no longer a problem. If no large leak is detected, the fuel cap is assumed to be properly sealed.

6314797, Nov 13, 2001

Aug 30, 1999

9/385206

Gary D. Dawson - Rochester MI
William B. Blomquist - Lake Orion MI
Chris J. Booms - Milford MI

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

G01M 304

73 492

A method is provided for detecting a very small leak in an evaporative emission control system of an automotive vehicle. The method includes sealing the evaporative emission control system at a key-off event and monitoring a vacuum switch coupled to the evaporative emission control system for a closing event due to a natural vacuum created in the evaporative emission control system as it cools. If the closing event is not detected, the method determines if a leak detection timer has exceeded a predetermined threshold value. If the timer has exceeded the predetermined threshold value, the method sets a fault code indicating that the very small leak has been detected. Preferably, the leak detection timer includes a first time value corresponding to an amount of time the automotive vehicle has been operating since a previous small leak detection test was conducted and a second time value corresponding to an amount of time the automotive vehicle has been inoperative since a previous small leak detection test was conducted. The first time value includes a series of individual trip times of the automotive vehicle while the second time value includes a series of individual inoperative session times of the automotive vehicle.

6327901, Dec 11, 2001

Aug 30, 1999

9/386095

Gary D. Dawson - Rochester MI
William B. Blomquist - Lake Orion MI
Chris J. Booms - Milford MI

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

G01M 1500

731181

A method is provided for determining the rationality of a device for monitoring the pressure within an evaporative emission control system of an automotive vehicle. The method includes opening a valve of the evaporative emission control system and determining if a vacuum switch of the evaporative emission control system opened. If the vacuum switch opened, a code is set indicating that the vacuum switch passed an opening test. If the vacuum switch did not open, the method determines if a fail timer is greater than a first fail threshold value. The first fail threshold value corresponds to an amount of time within which a properly functioning vacuum switch should open after said valve is opened. If the fail timer is greater than the fail threshold value, the method sets a code indicating that the vacuum switch failed the opening test. If the fail timer is less than or equal to the first fail threshold value, the method increments the fail timer.

7131322, Nov 7, 2006

Apr 7, 2005

11/101119

Chris J Booms - Milford MI, US
Roger C Sager - Munith MI, US
William B Blomquist - Lake Orion MI, US

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

G01M 15/00

731181

A diagnostic method for an evaporative emission control system of an automotive vehicle determines functionality of one of a purge valve and/or a vacuum switch and valve assembly. The vacuum switch and valve assembly is located between a carbon canister and atmosphere and is either open or closed according to whether the system is in a high or low negative pressure condition. A controller determines if the vacuum switch and valve assembly is functioning properly according to the high or low negative pressure condition. The controller determines if the purge valve is functioning properly based on engine performance characteristics.

7204237, Apr 17, 2007

Apr 7, 2005

11/100848

Chris J Booms - Milford MI, US
Roger C Sager - Munith MI, US
William B Blomquist - Lake Orion MI, US

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

F02M 33/02, F02B 77/08, G01M 3/04, G01M 19/00

123518, 123198 D, 73 497, 731181, 701 31, 701 36

A loose or missing fuel cap detection method for an evaporative emission control system of an automotive vehicle detects a loose or missing fuel cap based in part on whether fuel level changed. The method determines whether the fuel level changed, which is indicative of a refueling event. The method then determines if one or more leaks are present. If the fuel level changed and one or more leaks are present, the method determines that the fuel cap is loose or missing.