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Pump apparatus, system having the same, and method for operating the samePump apparatus, system having the same, and method for operating the same description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070189907, Pump apparatus, system having the same, and method for operating the same. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001]This application is based on and incorporates herein by reference Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-39180 filed on Feb. 16, 2006. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002]The present invention relates to a pump apparatus, a system having the same, and a method for operating the same. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003]For example, according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,407 (JP-A-2002-364465), a leak check system detects leakage in an evaporator system through which fuel vapor is purged from a fuel tank into an intake passage. In this system, a pump decreases or increases pressure in the evaporator system, so that a leak check operation is conducted in accordance with pressure in the evaporator system. A vane type pump may be used for decreasing or increasing pressure of gas. The vane pump includes a housing that eccentrically accommodates a rotor. The rotor has vanes that are radially movable in the rotor. The rotor rotates, thereby generating centrifugal force, so that the centrifugal force is applied to the vanes. Thus, the vanes slide along the inner circumferential periphery of the housing while being urged onto the inner circumferential periphery of the housing. The vanes decrease or increase pressure of gas while radially reciprocating in the rotor. [0004]In this vane type pump, dew condensation may occur between the rotor and the vanes in dependence upon ambient temperature and moisture, for example. When the vanes adhere to the rotor due to dew condensation, the vanes cannot radially extend outwardly from the rotor by being applied with the centrifugal force. Accordingly, the vanes cannot slide on the inner circumferential periphery of the housing. In this condition, the vane type pump cannot sufficiently decrease or increase pressure of gas. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005]The present invention addresses the above disadvantage. According to one aspect of the present invention, a pump apparatus includes a housing. The pump apparatus further includes a rotor that is eccentrically accommodated in the housing. The pump apparatus further includes a motor for rotating the rotor. The pump apparatus further includes a vane that is substantially radially movable relative to the rotor. The vane has a radially outer end that is slidable relative to an inner circumferential periphery of the housing as both the rotor and the vane rotate for increasing or decreasing pressure of gas. The pump apparatus further includes a pressure sensor that detects pressure of the gas. The pump apparatus further includes a control unit that evaluates whether an adherence abnormality, in which the vane adheres to the rotor, occurs, in accordance with both a detection signal of the pressure sensor and electricity supplied to the motor when the motor rotates the rotor. When the control unit determines the adherence abnormality to be caused, the control unit operates the motor to remove the vane from the rotor. [0006]According to another aspect of the present invention, a leak check system for an evaporator system, which is adapted to purging fuel vapor from a fuel tank into an intake passage of an internal combustion engine, the leak check system includes the above pump apparatus for decreasing or increasing pressure in the evaporator system. The leak check system further includes a reference orifice for detecting reference pressure used for evaluating whether leakage occurs in the evaporator system. The leak check system further includes an evaluating unit that evaluates whether leakage occurs in the evaporator system by comparing pressure detected using the pressure sensor with the reference pressure when the pump apparatus decreases or increases pressure in the evaporator system. The control unit evaluates whether the adherence abnormality occurs in accordance with both a detection signal of the pressure sensor and electricity supplied to the motor when detecting the reference pressure. [0007]According to another aspect of the present invention, a method, which is for operating a pump apparatus, includes supplying electricity to a motor for rotating a rotor and radially extending a vane from the rotor by centrifugal force for increasing or decreasing pressure of gas. The method further includes detecting pressure of the gas. The method further includes evaluating whether the vane adheres to the rotor in accordance with both the pressure of the gas and the electricity supplied to the motor. The method further includes operating the motor to remove the vane from the rotor when determining the vane to be adhering to the rotor. [0008]According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for operating a system, which is substantially enclosed, includes operating a switching valve to communicate a pump with the system through a reference orifice. The method further includes supplying electricity to a motor of a pump for rotating a rotor and radially extending a vane from the rotor by centrifugal force for increasing or decreasing pressure of gas in the system through the reference orifice. The method further includes detecting pressure of the gas. The method further includes evaluating whether both the pump and the switching valve are normal, in accordance with both the pressure of the gas and the electricity supplied to the motor when detecting the pressure of the gas. The method further includes operating the switching valve to communicate the pump directly with the system when both the pump and the switching valve are determined to be normal. The method further includes evaluating whether leakage occurs in the system by comparing a time trend of the pressure of the gas with a predetermined time trend. [0009]According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for operating a system, which is substantially enclosed, includes operating a switching valve to communicate a pump with the system through a reference orifice. The method further includes supplying electricity to a motor of a pump for rotating a rotor and radially extending a vane from the rotor by centrifugal force for increasing or decreasing pressure of gas in the system through the reference orifice. The method further includes detecting pressure of the gas. The method further includes evaluating whether both the pump and the switching valve are normal in accordance with both the pressure of the gas and the electricity supplied to the motor when detecting the pressure of the gas. The method further includes determining the vane to be adhering to the rotor when pressure of the gas is abnormal and electricity supplied to the motor is equal to or greater than predetermined threshold. The method further includes determining the switching valve to be abnormal when pressure of the gas is abnormal and when electricity supplied to the motor is less than predetermined threshold. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010]The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: [0011]FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a leak check system; [0012]FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a pump module of the leak check system; [0013]FIG. 3 is a time chart showing change in pressure in a leak check operation; [0014]FIG. 4 is a time chart showing change in pressure and a motor current in a normal condition; [0015]FIG. 5 is a time chart showing change in pressure and a motor current in an abnormal condition; [0016]FIG. 6 is a time chart showing change in pressure and a motor current in an abnormal condition in which dew condensation is caused; and [0017]FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the leak check operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Example Embodiment Continue reading about Pump apparatus, system having the same, and method for operating the same... 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