Vapor fuel processing apparatus

摘要

A canister absorbs evaporated fuel produced in a fuel tank and supplies the absorbed evaporated fuel to an engine. A sealing valve is equipped between the fuel tank and the canister. A detection unit detects a state of a lid of the fuel tank. An intention estimation unit estimates existence of a refueling intention according to an activity of a user. A release time period estimation unit estimates a release time period, which is needed to release a pressure in the fuel tank, according to a state of a vehicle. A manipulation control unit opens the sealing valve when the lid is opened. The manipulation control unit opens the sealing valve, even in a case where the lid is closed, on estimation that the refueling intention exists, and on determination that the estimated release time period is greater than a predetermined time period.

主权项

1. A vapor fuel processing apparatus configured to cause a canister to absorb evaporated fuel produced in a fuel tank and to supply evaporated fuel absorbed in the canister to an internal combustion engine, the vapor fuel processing apparatus comprising:
a sealing valve equipped to a vapor passage, which communicates the fuel tank with the canister; and a control section including:
a manipulation control unit configured to control manipulation of the sealing valve;a lid opening-and-closing detection unit configured to detect an opening/closing state of a lid of a fill opening of the fuel tank;a refueling intention estimation unit configured to estimate existence of a refueling intention with reference to user activity information related to an activity of a user; anda release time period estimation unit configured to estimate a release time period, which is needed to release a pressure in the fuel tank, with reference to vehicle information relating to a state of a vehicle, wherein the manipulation control unit is further configured to open the sealing valve when the lid is opened, and the manipulation control unit is further configured to open the sealing valve, even in a case where the lid is closed,
when the refueling intention estimation unit estimates that the refueling intention exists, andwhen the release time period, which is estimated by the release time period estimation unit, is determined to be greater than a predetermined time period.