Fuel system control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10662900-B2
Application number	US-201715589404-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2017
Priority date	May 16, 2016
Publication date	May 26, 2020
Grant date	May 26, 2020

Abstract

An evaporative emissions control system includes a first vent valve configured to selectively open and close a first vent, a second vent valve configured to selectively open and close a second vent, a fuel level sensor configured to sense a fuel level in the fuel tank, a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure in the fuel tank, an accelerometer configured to measure an acceleration of the vehicle, and a controller configured to regulate operation of the first and second vent valves to provide pressure relief for the fuel tank. The controller is programmed to determine if a refueling event is occurring based one signals indicating the fuel level is increasing, the pressure in the fuel tank is increasing, and the vehicle is not moving, and open at least one of the first and second vent valves based on determining the refueling event is occurring.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling an evaporative emissions control system associated with a fuel tank for a vehicle, the evaporative emissions control system including at least one vent valve configured to selectively open and close a vent, a fuel level sensor configured to sense a fuel level in the fuel tank, a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure in the fuel tank, and an accelerometer configured to measure an acceleration of the vehicle, the method comprising:
determining if the vehicle is not moving based on a signal from the accelerometer;
determining if a fuel level in the fuel tank is increasing based on a first signal from the fuel level sensor;
determining if a pressure in the fuel tank is increasing based on a signal from the pressure sensor;
determining a refueling event is occurring if it is determined that all of (a) the fuel level is increasing, (b) the pressure in the fuel tank is increasing, and (c) the vehicle is not moving; and
opening the at least one vent valve in response to determining the refueling event is occurring.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining if the fuel level in the fuel tank has exceeded a first predetermined shutoff level threshold based on a second signal from fuel level sensor; and
closing the at least one vent valve if the determined fuel level exceeds the predetermined shutoff level threshold.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one vent valve comprises a first vent valve and a second vent valve, the first vent valve having a smaller orifice than a corresponding orifice of the second vent valve, the method further comprising:
determining if the first predetermined shutoff level threshold is a final shutoff level;
opening the first vent valve after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since closing the at least one vent valve based on the first predetermined shutoff level threshold not satisfying the final shutoff level; and
determining if the fuel level in the fuel tank has exceeded a second predetermined shutoff level threshold based on a third signal from the fuel level sensor.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising closing the first vent valve if the determined fuel level exceeds the second predetermined shutoff level threshold.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
opening the at least one vent valve after a second predetermined amount of time has elapsed since closing the at least one valve;
determining if the fuel level in the fuel tank has exceeded a third predetermined shutoff level threshold based on a fourth signal from the fuel level sensor; and
closing the at least one vent valve if the determined fuel level exceeds the third predetermined shutoff level threshold.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein opening the at least one vent valve comprises:
actuating a rotary actuator that rotates a cam assembly, the cam assembly having at least a first cam having a first cam profile that opens a first vent valve of the at least one vent valve based on the determination that a refueling event is occurring.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein opening the at least one vent valve comprises:
actuating the rotary actuator that rotates the cam assembly, the cam assembly having at least a second cam having a second cam profile that opens a second vent valve of the at least one vent valve based on the determination that a refueling event is occurring.

8. A method of controlling an evaporative emissions control system associated with a fuel tank for a vehicle, the evaporative emissions control system including at least one vent valve configured to selectively open and close a vent, a fuel level sensor configured to sense a fuel level in the fuel tank, a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure in the fuel tank, and an accelerometer configured to measure an acceleration of the vehicle, the method comprising:
providing a cam driven tank venting control assembly having a rotary actuator that rotates a cam assembly based on operating conditions, the cam assembly having a first cam having a first cam profile configured to open and close a first vent valve of the at least one vent valve;
determining if the vehicle is not moving based on a signal from the accelerometer sensor;
determining if a fuel level in the fuel tank is increasing based on a first signal from the fuel level sensor;
determining if a pressure in the fuel tank is increasing based on a signal from the pressure sensor;
determining a refueling event is occurring if it is determined the fuel level is increasing, the pressure in the fuel tank is increasing, and the vehicle is not moving; and
opening the at least one vent valve in response to determining the refueling event is occurring, wherein the opening comprises actuating the rotary actuator.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein opening the at least one vent valve comprises:
actuating the rotary actuator that rotates the cam assembly, the cam assembly having at least a second cam having a second cam profile that opens a second vent valve of the at least one vent valve based on the determination that a refueling event is occurring.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
determining if the fuel level in the fuel tank has exceeded a first predetermined shutoff level threshold based on a second signal from fuel level sensor; and
closing the at least one vent valve if the determined fuel level exceeds the predetermined shutoff level threshold.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one vent valve comprises a first vent valve and a second vent valve, the first vent valve having a smaller orifice than the second vent valve, the method further comprising:
determining if the first predetermined shutoff level threshold is a final shutoff level;
opening the first vent valve after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since closing the at least one vent valve based on the first predetermined shutoff level threshold not satisfying the final shutoff level; and
determining if the fuel level in the fuel tank has exceeded a second predetermined shutoff level threshold based on a third signal from the fuel level sensor.

12. A method of controlling an evaporative emissions control system associated with a fuel tank for a vehicle, the evaporative emissions control system including at least one vent valve configured to selectively open and close a vent, a fuel level sensor configured to sense a fuel level in the fuel tank, a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure in the fuel tank, and an accelerometer configured to measure an acceleration of the vehicle, the method comprising:
providing a first vent valve configured to selectively open and close a first vent;
providing a second vent valve configured to selectively open and close a second vent;
determining if a fuel level in the fuel tank is increasing based on a first signal from the fuel level sensor;
determine if a pressure in the fuel tank is increasing based on a second signal from the pressure sensor;
determine if the vehicle is not moving based on a third signal from the accelerometer;
determine a refueling event is occurring if the first signal indicates the fuel level is increasing, the second signal indicates pressure in the fuel tank is increasing, and the third signal indicates the vehicle is not moving; and
opening at least one of the first and second vent valves based on determining the refueling event is occurring.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein opening the at least one vent valve comprises:
actuating a rotary actuator that rotates a cam assembly, the cam assembly having at least a first cam having a first cam pr

Assignees

• Eaton Corp

Inventors

• Franklin Max Russell
• Nahar Nikhil
• Mills Vaughn Kevin
• Beaupre Mark
• Memmer Matthew
• Ambrose Steven L
• Benjey Robert P
• Brauning Kenneth

Classifications

• F02M2025/0863

  with means dealing with condensed fuel or water, e.g. having a liquid trap · CPC title

• B60K2015/03256

  characterised by special valves, the mounting thereof · CPC title

• B60K2015/03203

  during refuelling · CPC title

• B60K2015/03585

  by gas pressure · CPC title

• F16K31/0627

  with movable valve member positioned between seats · CPC title