Method for controlling a filling process of an operating fluid container, and operating fluid container system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11148523-B2
Application number	US-201816485014-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2018
Priority date	Feb 10, 2017
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

A method for controlling a filling process of an operating fluid container, which can be filled by a filling device via a filling tube opening into the operating liquid container, wherein the operating fluid container is provided with a venting valve, which can be electrically operated between an open position, in which the operating liquid container is fluidically connected to the atmosphere, at least indirectly, by the venting valve, and a closed position, in which the operating fluid container is fluidically separated from the atmosphere by the venting valve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling a filling process of an operating fluid container, which is fillable by a filling device via a filler pipe opening out into the operating fluid container, wherein the operating fluid container has a venting valve, which is electrically actuable between an open position, in which the operating fluid container is fluidically connected to atmosphere, at least indirectly, by the venting valve, and a closed position, in which the operating fluid container is fluidically separated from the atmosphere by the venting valve, comprising:
a) moving the venting valve into its open position;
b) determining a filling level of the operating fluid container;
c) reducing a venting volume flow through the venting valve if the filling level of the operating fluid container has reached or exceeded a predetermined shut-off filling level;
d) determining a filling stop of the filling device; and
e) moving the venting valve into its closed position after a predetermined time period after determining the filling stop; and
wherein a first venting volume flow through the venting valve after a determination that the filling level of the operating fluid container has reached or exceeded the predetermined shut-off filling level, and before the beginning of the predetermined time period, differs from a second venting volume flow through the venting valve during the predetermined time period.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the venting volume flow is changed by intermittently actuating the venting valve between its open position and its closed position.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
b1) determining a filling speed at which the operating fluid container is filled with the operating fluid; and
b2) determining a reduction of the venting volume flow by which the venting volume flow through the venting valve is reduced after reaching the shut-off filling level, as a function of the filling speed, wherein the reduction of the venting volume flow is falling as the filling speed increases.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
f) determining a further filling stop of the filling device;
g) setting a venting volume flow through the venting valve when the further filling stop is determined; and
h) moving the venting valve into its closed position after a predetermined second time period after determining the filling stop.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the predetermined second time period is a function of a difference between a target filling level and the determined filling level.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the second time period is shorter than the predetermined time period, in which, in method step e), the venting valve or an outlet valve remains in the intermediate position between the open position and the closed position after determining the filling stop.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time period is a function of a difference between a target filling level and the determined filling level.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the function is a function monotonously rising with the difference between the target filling level and the determined filling level, wherein, when there is a difference between the target filling level and the determined filling level of zero, the function is likewise zero.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
b1) determining a filling speed at which the operating fluid container is filled with the operating fluid; and
b2) determining the predetermined shut-off filling level as a function of the filling speed, wherein the predetermined shut-off filling level is falling as the filling speed increases.

10. An operating fluid container system for a motor vehicle comprising:
at least one operating fluid container, an interior space of the operating fluid container is fillable with an operating fluid via a filler pipe that opens out into the operating fluid container;
at least one venting valve for aerating and/or venting the operating fluid container, wherein the venting valve is electrically actuable between an open position and a closed position, wherein, in the open position, the interior space in the operating fluid container is fluidically connected to atmosphere, at least indirectly, by the venting valve, and wherein, in the closed position, the interior space in the operating fluid container is fluidically separated from the atmosphere by the venting valve;
at least one filling level sensor to determine a filling level of the operating fluid in the operating fluid container; and
an electronic control device, which is coupled to the filling level sensor via a first data line to receive data, and which is coupled to the venting valve via a second data line to emit control signals; and
wherein the control device is configured to perform the method for controlling the filling process of the operating fluid container as claimed in claim 1 .

11. The operating fluid container system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the venting valve is electrically adjustable discretely between the open position and the closed position.

12. The operating fluid container system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the venting valve is configured as a proportional valve and is electrically adjustable continuously between an open position and the closed position.

13. The operating fluid container system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein:
the operating fluid container system also has an electrically actuable outlet valve, which is electrically actuable between an open position, in which the filler pipe is fluidically connected to the interior space in the operating fluid container, and a closed position, in which the filler pipe is fluidically separated from the interior space in the operating fluid container by the outlet valve.

14. The operating fluid container system as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising:
the operating fluid container system has a sound sensor, by which a filling stop of a filling device inserted into the filler pipe is detectable; and
the sound sensor is connected by a data line to the control device to transmit data representing the filling stop to the control device.

Assignees

• Kautex Textron Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Hedevang Poul
• Wind Stefan
• Wolf Hartmut
• Barkow Axel
• Bouffier Roman
• Koukan Ibrahim

Classifications

• B60K2015/0319

  with electronic systems, e.g. for controlling fuelling or venting · CPC title

• B60K2015/03394

  for preventing expulsion of fuel during filling of the tank · CPC title

• B60K2015/03576

  Venting during filling the reservoir · CPC title

• B60K2015/03217

  Fuel level sensors · CPC title

• B60K15/04

  Tank inlets (B60K15/077 takes precedence) · CPC title