Method for controlling a filling operation of a vehicular liquid storage system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017190564-A1
Application number	US-201515315166-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 29, 2015
Priority date	May 30, 2014
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for controlling a filling operation of a vehicular liquid storage system including a tank including a fill level limiting valve. The method includes: detecting start of a first filling event; measuring a first fill level of the tank; verifying whether the measured first fill level has reached a predetermined fill level; if the verifying is positive, starting a first timer for a first amount of time; upon expiry of the first timer, closing the fill level limiting valve.

First claim

1 - 15 . (canceled)

16 . A method for controlling a filling operation of a vehicular liquid storage system including a tank including a fill level limiting valve, the method comprising:
detecting start of a first filling event; measuring a first fill level of the tank; verifying whether the measured first fill level has reached a predetermined fill level; if the verifying is positive, starting a first timer for a first amount of time based on an estimate of an unused capacity of the tank; upon expiry of the first timer, closing the fill level limiting valve.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:
obtaining an estimate of an amount of fuel consumed between the first filling event and a previous filling event; and determining the first amount of time on the basis of the estimated amount of consumed fuel.

18 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:
detecting an end of the first filling event occurring during the first amount of time; and estimating a remaining unused capacity of the tank at the end of the first filling event.

19 . The method according to claim 18 , further comprising:
detecting start of a subsequent filling event; measuring a subsequent fill level of the tank; verifying whether the measured subsequent fill level has reached the predetermined fill level; and if the verifying is positive:
obtaining an estimate of an amount of fuel consumed between the subsequent filling event and the first filling event;
determining a subsequent amount of time on the basis of the estimated amount of consumed fuel, increased by an amount proportional to the estimated remaining unused capacity of the tank;
starting the first timer for the subsequent amount of time; and
upon expiry of the first timer, closing the fill level limiting valve.

20 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the first amount of time is increased by an amount proportional to an estimate of an unused capacity of the tank at an end of a previous filling operation.

21 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:
if the verifying is negative, starting a second timer for a second amount of time; upon expiry of the second timer, measuring a second fill level of the tank; determining the first amount of time on the basis of the first fill level, the second fill level, and the second amount of time.

22 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein the verifying, the starting of the second timer, the measuring of the second fill level, and the determining of the first amount of time are carried out iteratively, and wherein a minimum value of the first amount of time as obtained over a plurality of iterations is used in the starting the first timer.

23 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein the verifying, the starting of the second timer, the measuring of the second fill level, and the determining of the first amount of time are carried out iteratively, and wherein an average value of the first amount of time as obtained over a plurality of iterations is used in the starting the first timer.

24 . The method according to claim 21 , further comprising:
determining a reference pressure level during the second amount of time; determining an end stage pressure level upon finding that the second verifying is positive; and adjusting the determined first amount of time in function of a ratio between the end stage pressure level and the reference pressure level.

25 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the vehicular liquid storage system is a fuel storage system.

26 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the vehicular liquid storage system is a system for storing an aqueous urea solution.

27 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer code means configured to cause a processor to carry out the method of claim 16 .

28 . A vehicular liquid storage system comprising:
a tank including a fill level limiting valve; a level gauge; and a controller configured to obtain fill levels from the level gauge and to control the fill level limiting valve, the controller being configured to carry out the method of claim 16 .

29 . A motor vehicle comprising the vehicular liquid storage system according to claim 28 .

Assignees

• Furmanczyk Ed
• Hill David
• Criel Bjorn
• Plastic Omnium Advanced Innovation & Res

Inventors

• Furmanczyk Ed
• Hill David
• Criel Bjorn

Classifications

• B60K2015/03566

  comprising means for stopping the venting of fuel vapor, e.g. during refuelling or engine stop · CPC title

• B60K2015/03576

  Venting during filling the reservoir · CPC title

• B60K2015/0358

  the venting is actuated by specific signals or positions of particular parts · CPC title

• B60K15/035

  characterised by venting means · CPC title

• B60K15/03 Primary

  Fuel tanks · CPC title