Method and system for detecting fluid leak via a strain gauge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016356668-A1
Application number	US-201514731067-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 4, 2015
Priority date	Jun 4, 2015
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for determining a fluid leakage of a vehicle component. In one example, a method may include measuring a strain of an underbody cover in order to determine the fluid leakage.

First claim

1 . A method, comprising:
determining a fluid leak of one or more vehicle components via a plurality of strain sensing elements located at different locations underneath the vehicle components at an underbody cover.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the fluid leak is based on a strain of the underbody cover exceeding a threshold strain, wherein the strain sensing element is positioned on an underside surface of the underbody cover.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the threshold strain is adjusted based on an engine temperature, and wherein the strain sensing element is positioned directly on an upper or lower surface of the underbody cover.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of strain sensing elements measures a different strain magnitude, where the strain magnitude measured is based on a distance between a strain epicenter and a single strain sensing element.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising identifying which vehicle component is leaking based on a strain magnitude measured by a strain sensing element nearest the vehicle component.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising adjusting a vehicle operation based on an identified vehicle component leaking.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of strain sensing elements are located underneath one or more of an engine, a transmission, and a radiator.

8 . A method, comprising:
affixing one or more strain gauges on an underbody cover below one or more of an engine, a transmission, and a radiator; determining a leakage of one or more of the engine, the transmission, and the radiator based on a strain detected via a corresponding strain gauge.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the corresponding strain gauge is a strain gauge nearest one or more of the engine, the transmission, and the radiator.

10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising identifying if the engine, the transmission, or the radiator is leaking based on entries in a look-up table.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the entries in the look-up table include strain values of the underbody cover based on the engine, the transmission, or the radiator leaking at a given vehicle operation.

12 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising adjusting a vehicle operation in response to identifying which of the engine, the transmission, or the radiator is leaking.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the adjusting in response to the engine leaking includes one or more of decreasing a torque output, decreasing boost, and advancing an injection timing.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the adjusting in response to the transmission leaking includes one or more of decreasing a transmission gear.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the adjusting in response to the radiator leaking includes one or more of decreasing a torque output, decreasing boost, and advancing an injection timing.

16 . A system, comprising:
first, second, third, and fourth strain gauges are vertically displaced underneath one or more of an engine, a transmission, and a radiator on an underbody cover; and a controller with computer readable instructions stored in memory for:
determining a fluid leakage in response to a strain gauge measuring a strain of the underbody cover exceeding a threshold strain.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the controller further comprises instructions for adjusting a vehicle operation based on a strain detected by either the first, second, third, or fourth strain gauge.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the first strain gauge is located underneath the engine and proximal to the engine, a front end accessory drive, and a cooler, the second strain gauge is located underneath an opposite side of the engine compared to the first strain gauge and proximal to the transmission and the engine, the third strain gauge is located between the transmission and the radiator, and the fourth strain gauge is located underneath and proximal to the radiator.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the fluid leakage leaks one or more of oil, coolant, washer fluid, brake fluid, fuel, power steering fluid, and transmission fluid.

20 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the controller activates an indicator lamp in response to the strain exceeding the threshold strain.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Remes Enrique

Classifications

• G01M17/007

  Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles (G01M17/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01M3/00

  Investigating fluid-tightness of structures · CPC title

• G01M3/165 Primary

  by means of cables or similar elongated devices, e.g. tapes · CPC title

• G01M15/02

  Details or accessories of testing apparatus · CPC title

• G01M3/40 Primary

  by using electric means, e.g. by observing electric discharges · CPC title